U.S. patent application number 10/507871 was filed with the patent office on 2006-03-16 for sealing element.
This patent application is currently assigned to Johnson Controls Interiors GmbH & CO. KG. Invention is credited to Birgit Budde, Martin Wolff.
Application Number | 20060055124 10/507871 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 27815698 |
Filed Date | 2006-03-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060055124 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Wolff; Martin ; et
al. |
March 16, 2006 |
Sealing element
Abstract
The invention relates to a sealing element for sealing off
component groups capable of being positioned in relation to one
another, for use, in particular, in the vehicle and building
technology sector, the sealing element has a first seal part 11
performing a sealing function and having a soft fraction and a
second seal part 12 performing a reinforcing function and having a
hard fraction. The sealing element is essentially an annular design
and has an essentially arcuately designed first seal part directed
inward in the operating position, with a soft fraction, and an
essentially frame-shaped second seal part arranged at the inwardly
projecting end of the first seal part, with a hard fraction.
Inventors: |
Wolff; Martin; (Hattingen,
DE) ; Budde; Birgit; (Remscheid, DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FOLEY & LARDNER LLP
777 EAST WISCONSIN AVENUE
SUITE 3800
MILWAUKEE
WI
53202-5308
US
|
Assignee: |
Johnson Controls Interiors GmbH
& CO. KG
Wuppertal
DE
|
Family ID: |
27815698 |
Appl. No.: |
10/507871 |
Filed: |
March 14, 2003 |
PCT Filed: |
March 14, 2003 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP03/02693 |
371 Date: |
August 11, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
277/650 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F16J 15/025 20130101;
F16J 15/022 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
277/650 |
International
Class: |
F16J 15/10 20060101
F16J015/10 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 15, 2002 |
DE |
102 11 684.9 |
Claims
1. A sealing element for sealing off component groups capable of
being positioned in relation to one another, the sealing element
comprising a first seal part performing a sealing function and
having a soft fraction and a second seal part performing a
reinforcing function and having a hard fraction, wherein the
sealing element has an annular design having an arcuately designed
first seal part directed inward in the operating position, with a
soft fraction, and a frame-shaped second seal part arranged at the
inwardly projecting end of the first seal part and having a hard
fraction.
2. The sealing element as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second
seal part has a hard fraction and is positioned as a peripheral
reinforcement.
3. The sealing element as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second
seal part has a hard fraction and is integrally formed by injection
molding.
4. The sealing element as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
essentially annularly designed sealing element is a closed
ring.
5. The sealing element as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
frame-shaped second seal part of the sealing element is not
visible
6. The sealing element as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
frame-shaped second seal part of the sealing element is
visible.
7. The sealing element as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
frame-shaped second seal part of the sealing element is designed
with the same color as the first seal part.
8. The sealing element as claimed in claim 6, wherein the
frame-shaped second seal part of the sealing element, further
comprises an injection overmolding.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application incorporates by reference and claims
priority to the following application: German Patent Application
Serial Number 102 11 684.9, filed Mar. 15, 2002, and International
Patent Application Serial Number PCT/EP03/02693, filed Mar. 14,
2003.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The invention relates to a sealing element for sealing off
component groups capable of being positioned in relation to one
another, in particular for use in the vehicle and building
technology sector, the sealing element including a first seal part
performing a sealing function and a second seal part.
[0003] Various sealing elements are known from the prior art. In
this context, on the one hand, sealing elements are known which
consist only of a soft material, and in the case of an open profile
configuration which can be produced without further additional
measures, tend under loads, especially transverse to the seal
position, to experience distortions of the profile of the sealing
element, thus leading to a leak and possibly to operational
failure. Furthermore, sealing elements having a compound
construction are also known from the prior art. Thus, for example,
DE 696 04 094 T2 discloses a sealing profile and a method for
producing it, said sealing profile being produced by means of
extrusion and having a reinforcement composed of thermoplastic and
also a coating composed of elastomer, the reinforcement consisting
of fiber-filled thermoplastic and being completely covered by at
least one film or thin layer of non-fiber-filled thermoplastic to
which the coating composed of elastomer adheres. Although an
arrangement of this type satisfies demands as regards the
requirements relating to the operational properties, the
construction is nevertheless highly complicated here, and
production is therefore likewise complicated and
cost-intensive.
[0004] Proceeding from the known embodiments of sealing elements,
the object on which the invention is based is, while preserving the
advantages existing hitherto, to improve or develop further the
known sealing elements to the effect that a sealing-off
construction is made available, in which the sealing function is
afforded in full and in which there is stabilization against
deformation loads which may lead to functional restrictions or to
operational failure. A cost-effective and visually pleasing design
capable of being produced simply in a reproducible quality is at
the same time to be implemented.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
[0005] According to one embodiment of the invention, a sealing
element is of an essentially annular design and has an essentially
arcuately designed first seal part directed inward in the operating
position, with a soft fraction, and an essentially frame-shaped
second seal part arranged at the inwardly projecting end of the
first seal part, with a hard fraction. This affords the
possibility, by simple means, of using a sealing element of simple
construction between two component groups, and in this case, during
the assembly of the component groups, even a load acting
transversely to the seal position can be compensated; in the
sealing element according to the invention, this takes place in
that the hard fraction of the second seal part stabilizes the
geometry of the soft fraction of the first seal part and acting
transverse forces can be absorbed, with the result that a possible
profile distortion is prevented. The sealing function itself in
this case continues to be carried out by sealing bearing contact
via the soft fraction.
[0006] In the sealing element according to the invention, the load
acting transversely to the sealing direction is in this case
absorbed by the essentially frame-shaped second seal part with a
hard fraction, in such a way that a regional distortion of the
sealing element can no longer take place, a sealing deformation of
the soft fraction in the sealing direction continuing to be present
in a functionally appropriate way, and, moreover, a uniform sealing
bearing contact being assisted by this construction, since a
regional profile collapse is prevented by the supporting action of
the frame-shaped seal part with a hard fraction. This results,
overall, in a sealing element which no longer permits any profile
distortion and thereby increases operating reliability, which gives
rise to an action supporting the entire soft profile in the sealing
direction and thereby contributes to quality optimization, and
which can be produced cost-effectively in a process sequence.
Moreover, the sealing element according to the invention can have a
visually pleasing design and affords increased freedom of
configuration.
[0007] In the preferred embodiment of the sealing element according
to the invention, the second seal part with a hard fraction is
designed as a peripheral reinforcement. This design is especially
advantageous in structural terms.
[0008] According to a further feature of the present invention, the
second seal part with a hard fraction is designed as a part element
integrally formed by injection molding. This design is advantageous
in manufacturing terms.
[0009] It is recommended, according to a further feature of the
present invention, that the essentially annularly designed sealing
element be designed as a closed ring. This is an embodiment which
is advantageous for achieving good sealing off.
[0010] It is expedient, according to a further feature, that the
essentially frame-shaped second seal part of the sealing element is
not arranged in direct range of vision. In this case, there is no
need for the provision of additional visually effective means for
improving the external appearance.
[0011] In an alternative embodiment, the essentially frame-shaped
second seal part of the sealing element is arranged in direct range
of vision.
[0012] It is recommended, furthermore, that the essentially
frame-shaped second seal part of the sealing element be designed
with the same color as the first seal part.
[0013] According to a final feature of the present invention,
should the essentially frame-shaped second seal part of the sealing
element be arranged in direct range of vision, this essentially
frame-shaped second seal part, in particular together with the
first seal part, has an injection overmolding.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURE
[0014] FIG. 1 shows a vertical section through the sealing element
according to the invention for an air outlet seal of a door trim on
the B-column of a vehicle.
DESCRIPTION
[0015] A sealing element 10 serves for sealing off component groups
capable of being positioned in relation to one another, in
particular for use in the vehicle and building technology sector.
The sealing element 10 comprises a first seal part, designated by
11, performing a sealing function and having a soft fraction and a
second seal part, designated by 12, performing a reinforcing
function and having a hard fraction. In this respect, FIG. 1 of the
drawing illustrates the sealing element 10 according to the
invention with the first seal part 11 and with the second seal part
12, the sealing element 10 being used here between two component
groups merely indicated and not designated. In this case, broken
lines illustrate a profile distortion, designated by 14, of the
first seal part 11, with a soft fraction, of a sealing element 10,
as is known from the prior art.
[0016] The sealing element 10 is of essentially annular design, and
it has an essentially arcuately designed first seal part 11
directed inward in the operating position, with a soft fraction,
and an essentially frame-shaped second seal part 12 arranged at the
inwardly projecting end of the first seal part 11, with a hard
fraction. In this case, the second seal part 12 with a hard
fraction is designed as a peripheral reinforcement 13. This second
seal part 12 with a hard fraction may in this case preferably be
designed as a part element integrally formed by injection
molding.
[0017] In the exemplary embodiment illustrated, the essentially
annularly designed sealing element 10 is designed as a closed ring.
In this version, this closed ring is provided, for example, for use
on an air outlet seal of a door trim on the B-column of a vehicle.
In this case, with a separate ventilation of the back region of a
vehicle, the air from the instrument panel region can be conducted
into the door and, via an air duct, into the B-column and from
there into the back space. In this case, the transitions of the
components are to be sealed off against the outlet of air, and
roses with seals can be used in the door trim. Particularly in the
rear door region, it may be possible, owing to the vehicle
structure, that the closing direction of the doors is transverse to
the seal routing. Thus, at the soft seal, transverse forces arise
which may lead to profile-distorting loads. The solution
possibility illustrated is a seal which is produced in one part in
a process sequence as a 2-component injection molding with a soft
fraction for the seal itself and with a peripheral frame-shaped
hard fraction which is firmly tied to the open geometrical end of
the soft fraction.
[0018] The sealing element 10 according to the invention can be
used between two component groups, and, during the assembly of the
component groups, even a load acting transversely to the seal
position, see the arrow A in FIG. 1, can be compensated; in the
sealing element 10 according to the invention, this takes place in
that the hard fraction of the second seal part 12 stabilizes the
geometry of the soft fraction of the first seal part 11 and acting
transverse forces can be absorbed, with the result that possible
profile distortion is prevented. The sealing function itself in
this case continues to take place by means of sealing bearing
contact via the soft fraction.
[0019] Thus, in the sealing element 10 according to the invention,
by means of the essentially frame-shaped second seal part 12 with a
hard fraction, the load according to the arrow A which acts
transversely to the sealing direction is absorbed in such a way
that a regional distortion of the sealing element 10 can no longer
take place, a sealing deformation of the soft fraction in the
sealing direction continuing to be present in a functionally
appropriate way, and, moreover, uniform sealing bearing contact
being assisted by this construction, since a regional profile
collapse is prevented by the supporting action of the frame-shaped
seal part 12 with a hard fraction. This results, overall, in a
sealing element 10 which no longer permits any profile distortion
and thereby increases operating reliability, which gives rise to
the action of supporting the entire soft profile in the sealing
direction and thereby contributes to quality optimization, and
which can be produced cost-effectively in a process sequence.
[0020] Moreover, the sealing element 10 according to the invention
can have visually pleasing design and affords increased freedom of
configuration. Thus, in a preferred embodiment, the essentially
frame-shaped second seal part 12 of the sealing element 10 cannot
be arranged in direct range of vision. In another embodiment, the
essentially frame-shaped second seal part 12 of the sealing element
10 may be arranged in direct range of vision. In this case, the
essentially frame-shaped second seal part 12, in particular
together with the first seal part 11, may have an injection
overmolding, not designated in any more detail here. In this case,
however, a somewhat increased outlay in die terms is required
during manufacture. Moreover, it is also possible that the
essentially frame-shaped second seal part 12 of the sealing element
10 is designed with the same color as the first seal part 11.
[0021] Different possibilities of use, particularly in the vehicle
and building technology sector, arise for the sealing element 10
according to the invention. Thus, for example, the sealing element
10 according to the invention can be used for all seals, such as,
for example, air routing seals with a support requirement, for
example on vehicle parts. There is provision, furthermore, for use
also for bearing edge optimization from a soft component to a
reception component.
[0022] As already mentioned, the embodiments illustrated are merely
exemplary implementations of the invention which is not restricted
to these, but, on the contrary, many different changes and designs
are also possible. Thus, in particular, modifications with regard
to the structural configuration of the sealing element 10 or of its
first seal part 11 with a soft fraction and/or of its second seal
part 12 with a hard fraction may be envisaged. Furthermore, of
course, uses in component groups other than those illustrated in
the figure of the drawing are provided.
* * * * *