Abstract: A seal for use in spherical disc type butterfly valves. The seal is T-shaped on the inside diameter region where contact is made with the disc and is cupped on radially opposite sides by contoured lips on the seal retainer ring and valve body such that the seal cannot be deformed by pressure by being pressed radially outwardly but rather is cupped by lips of retainer and valve body. The seal also has a rectangularly shaped region on the outside diameter for press fitting into the valve body. The seal has a groove containing a compressed spring element. The seal allows slight twisting motion about the fixed base region and radially toward the compressed spring element such that the seal can move axially with the disc under pressure to maintain uniform sealing contact with the disc without the seal becoming damaged.

Abstract: An aerospace housing and shaft assembly comprising a housing, a shaft rotatably mounted within the housing, a seal assembly operatively positioned between the housing and the shaft, and low pressure air (e.g., atmospheric air) having a pressure substantially less than 14 psia and being positioned on one side of the seal assembly. The seal assembly includes a first seal ring mounted on the housing, and a second seal ring mounted on the shaft in facing relation to the first seal ring. One of the first seal ring and the second seal ring includes a hydropad. The hydropad is positioned to pump low pressure air from the inner diameter toward the outer diameter. The hydropads can include an inner edge oriented substantially circumferentially, an outer edge oriented substantially circumferentially and spaced radially outward from the inner edge, a leading edge interconnecting the inner edge with the outer edge, and a trailing edge interconnecting the inner edge with the outer edge.

Abstract: A mechanical end face seal of the non-contacting type includes a primary seal ring having a back section, a seal face section and a middle section between the seal face and the back sections, each primary ring section having a radial dimension, defined as the difference between the outermost radius and the innermost radius of said respective section, the radial dimension of the back section being in a ratio relative to said middle section of between about 1.5 to about 3.1, and more preferably of between about 1.9 to about 2.5, and most preferably about 2.0 to about 2.3. Additionally, the mating seal ring includes grooves extending from one seal ring circumference toward the other and terminating adjacent a dam at a radius R.sub.g, it is beneficial to have the boundary between the grooves and the dam have a radius R.sub.g slightly larger or smaller, within about 10%, than the outer radius of the middle section.

Abstract: A metal laminate gasket of the invention is formed of first and second metal plates and an annular plate. The first metal plate has a base portion, a curved portion extending from the base portion to define a first opening corresponding to a hole of the engine to be sealed, and a flange extending from the curved portion and situated over the base portion. The annular plate is situated between the flange and the base portion and has the width at least partly shorter than that of the flange. The second metal plate is situated over the first metal plate at a side where the flange is located. The second metal plate has a second opening at least partly smaller than an outer diameter of the flange, and an edge portion around the second opening. The edge portion of the second plate is at least partly retained between the flange and the base portion. Thus, the first and second metal plates are assembled together with the annular plate.

Abstract: A planar cavity sealing article comprises:(a) at least one driver comprising a crosslinked foamable polymer, and(b) a sealer comprising an uncrosslinked foamable polymer in intimate contact with the at least one driver and substantially surrounding the at least one driver in the plane of the article.

Abstract: A metallic cylinder head gasket with a pair of deformation limiters for protecting each sealing bead which circumscribes a gasket opening aligned with an engine cylinder. The gasket has at least a first cover plate, which includes the resilient beads, a shim and a ring member. The edge of the combination chamber aligned opening in the shim is displaced radially outwardly from the associated bead, and the bead is thus not aligned with the shim, and a ring member overlaps the shim in an annular region adjacent the edge of the opening in the shim to define an outer deformation limiter. The ring member extends radially inward to the edge of the gasket opening and has a region of increased thickness which defines the inner deformation limiter.

Abstract: A head gasket assembly for an engine with minimal space between adjacent cylinder bores. Armoring including a bridge between adjacent combustion openings is provided with the legs of the combustion openings enclosing wire rings and being welded to each other in the zone of adjacency. The wires are stabilized and maintained in permanent close adjacency.