Abstract: An annular sealing device is provided that includes a composite material having a substantially rigid substrate with both a first major surface and a second major surface, and also of a shape where the substantially rigid substrate is configured to extend out of a plane parallel to a sealing surface at an angle. The annular sealing device also includes a polymer layer overlying at least one of the first major surface and the second major surface.

Abstract: A face seal is provided that includes an annular casing having an annular portion, an inner diameter portion extending axially from the annular portion, an outer diameter portion extending axially from the annular portion, and a generally circular opening defined by the contour of an outer surface of the inner diameter portion. The face seal further includes an inner seal member disposed along an inner surface of the inner diameter portion, and an outer seal member disposed along an inner surface of the outer diameter portion.

Abstract: The disclosure is directed to a method of forming a seal device. The method includes forming a laminate construction including a flexible material layer and a rigid material layer, patterning the rigid material layer after forming the laminate construction, and shape forming the laminate construction into the seal device.

Abstract: Seal devices of this invention are prepared by the process of depositing a polymer material onto a metallic substrate to form a composite construction, and shape forming the composite construction into the shape of a seal device. The so-formed seal device comprises a casing member that is formed from the metallic substrate, and a sealing element disposed along a surface of the casing member that is formed from the polymer material for placement against a sealing surface. Seal devices of this invention can be shaped formed into a variety of different types of seals, e.g., lips seals, L-shaped seals, and U-cup seals, which may or may not be energized. Seal devices prepared according to this invention using such preformed composite construction enable seal formation by a single step of shape forming, without having to both make and form individual seal members, and subsequently combine or join the separately formed seal members together.

Abstract: Seal devices of this invention are prepared by the process of depositing a polymer material onto a metallic substrate to form a composite construction, and shape forming the composite construction into the shape of a seal device. The so-formed seal device comprises a casing member that is formed from the metallic substrate, and a sealing element disposed along a 1C surface of the casing member that is formed from the polymer material for placement against a sealing surface. Seal devices of this invention can be shaped formed into a variety of different types of seals, e.g., lips seals, L-shaped seals, and U-cup seals, which may or may not be energized. Seal devices prepared according to this invention using such preformed composite construction enable seal formation by a single step of shape forming, without having to both make and form individual seal members, and subsequently combine or join the separately formed seal members together.

Abstract: A fluid swivel coupling device for rotatably interconnecting a pair of fluid conduits. The coupling device includes a plastic swivel housing forming an internal cavity and a fluidly connected first port. The internal cavity includes a cylindrical inner surface having an annular housing retention groove and a spaced apart annular seal groove. A plastic tubular second swivel body portion extends between an internal end and a second port. The internal end is rotatably seated within the internal cavity and includes an annular retention groove opposing the housing retention groove and an annular seal groove opposing the seal groove within the housing. The second swivel body portion is fluidly connected with the first port to define an all plastic fluid passageway between the first and second ports. An annular seal is seated within the internal cavity between the opposing seal grooves for preventing fluid from leaking out of the cavity.

Abstract: A mechanical seal assembly is provided for inhibiting a fluid located in a higher pressure region of an apparatus from flowing to a relatively lower pressure region. The seal assembly is configured for cooperation with a seal ring connected to a cylindrical shaft which rotates about its longitudinal axis and which is mounted in the apparatus housing. The seal assembly includes an outer casing in which is mounted a non-rotatable seal ring which encircles the shaft for limited axial movement toward and away from the shaft seal ring. A biassing element is mounted in the outer casing for urging the non-rotatable seal ring axially into slidably mating engagement with the sealing face of the rotatable shaft seal ring. The biassing element includes a cylindrical bellows which encircles the shaft and a spring. The bellows includes a collapsible outer wall with a first skirt on one end of the outer wall and a second skirt on the other end of the outer wall.

Abstract: A seal assembly having an exclusion portion and a seal portion so that the assembly functions as both a sealing and exclusion device. The seal portion includes surfaces which are shaped to provide chambers that create vortexes which reduce leakage of fluid or gas from the system. The exclusion portion, in combination with the seal portion, is shaped to prevent entry of contaminants into the system being sealed and to reduce extrusion of the excluder portion of the seal. Three different embodiments of the invention are disclosed using different elastomer energizer configurations.