U.S. patent application number 11/658799 was filed with the patent office on 2009-10-01 for seal.
Invention is credited to Gerhard Liepold.
Application Number | 20090243226 11/658799 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35241208 |
Filed Date | 2009-10-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090243226 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Liepold; Gerhard |
October 1, 2009 |
Seal
Abstract
The invention provides a seal (4, 5, 6, 7, 8) for sealing
between two members (1, 3) which are mutually movable so. as to
slide relative to each other. One of the members comprises a body
(3) with a channel (2) formed therein. The channel (2) has a
longitudinal axis and the other member (1) is receivable in the
channel (2) so that the two members (1, 3) slide relative to each
other in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis. The first
element (1) has at least one deformable plastics rib (4, 5, 6, 7,
8) formed on a surface thereof. The rib (4, 5, 6, 7, 8) faces the
second element (3) and in use deforms on abutment with the wall of
the channel (2) of the second member (3) to provide a seal between
the two elements (1, 3) when they are stationary or moving relative
to one another.
Inventors: |
Liepold; Gerhard; (Watchung,
NJ) |
Correspondence
Address: |
HOFFMANN & BARON, LLP
6900 JERICHO TURNPIKE
SYOSSET
NY
11791
US
|
Family ID: |
35241208 |
Appl. No.: |
11/658799 |
Filed: |
July 29, 2005 |
PCT Filed: |
July 29, 2005 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/US05/27288 |
371 Date: |
January 29, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60592698 |
Jul 30, 2004 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
277/563 ;
277/562 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F16J 1/003 20130101;
Y10T 137/0318 20150401; Y10T 137/1767 20150401; A61M 5/31513
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
277/563 ;
277/562 |
International
Class: |
F16J 15/32 20060101
F16J015/32 |
Claims
1. A seal for sealing between two members which are mutually
movable so as to slide relative to each other, a first one of the
members having formed on a surface thereof facing a second of the
members at least one deformable plastics rib for contacting the
second member and sealing between the two members when they are
stationary or moving relative to one another, and in which at least
two ribs are formed on the surface of the first member so that the
distance between the ribs alone the path of travel of the two
members relative one another is greater than a predetermined
distance of travel of the two members relative to each other along
the path so as to allow one of the ribs to always remain within a
predetermined area of the surface of the second member.
2. A seal as claimed in claim 1, in which the first one of the two
members is constructed of plastics material and the rib is formed
integrally therewith.
3. A seal as claimed in claim 1, in which the rib is sufficiently
deformable and flexible so that it drags or wipes along the surface
of the second member with which it is in contact as the two
elements slide with respect to one another.
4. (canceled)
5. A seal as claimed in claim 1, in which a plurality of the ribs
is provided, the ribs being axially spaced apart from one another
along the path of relative movement between the parts.
6. A seal as claimed in claim 1, in which one of the members
comprises a body with a channel formed therein, the channel having
a longitudinal axis and the other member being receivable in the
channel so that the two members slide relative to each other in a
direction parallel to the longitudinal axis, a first one of the
members having formed on a surface thereof facing a second of the
members the at least one deformable plastics rib.
7. A seal as claimed in claim 6, in which an adaptor is provided
between the wall of the channel and the receivable member, the
adaptor comprising an endless skirt provided around a surface of
one of the channel or the receivable member facing the other
member, the skirt being connected to the member and being movable
with the member so that mutually facing surfaces of the skirt and
of the member to which the skirt is attached are spaced to define a
gap therebetween, the at least one deformable plastics rib being
formed around one of the mutually facing surfaces of the skirt and
said other member, the skirt being sufficiently deformable and
flexible in order to enable adjustment of the skirt to accommodate
dimensional irregularities between the skirt and said other member
when the two members are engaged so as to allow the at least one
rib to seal between the mutually facing surfaces of the skirt and
said other member when the two members are stationary or moving
relative each other.
8. A seal as claimed in claim 7, in which the skirt comprises a
free end portion and a base portion about which the skirt is
connected to the member.
9. A seal as claimed in claim 7, in which the skirt is formed
around the receivable member and the rib is formed around the
external surface of the skirt so that in use the skirt deforms in
the channel to adjust to dimensional irregularities between the
external surface of the skirt and the wall of the channel to enable
the rib to seal therebetween.
10. A seal as claimed in claim 7, in which the skirt is
sufficiently resilient to regain its original state upon withdrawal
of deformation.
11. A seal as claimed in claim 7, in which the skirt is provided
about an outwardly facing surface of a piston movable within a
housing of a valve for sterile transfer of fluids with the rib
being formed around the external surface of the skirt.
12. A seal as claimed in claim 7, in which the skirt is provided as
an attachment connectable to the member via a coupling means.
13. A seal as claimed in claim 7, in which the coupling means
comprises a snap-fit arrangement between the skirt and the other
member.
14. A seal as claimed in claim 7, in which the snap-fit arrangement
comprises a series of alternating resiliently deformable ribs and
grooves formed around each of the mutually facing surfaces of the
skirt and the other member the ribs of the skirt and the other
member being deformable on assembly so as to engage with the
corresponding grooves of the member and the skirt.
15. A seal as claimed in claim 7, in which the skirt is formed
integrally with the member by forming an endless slot in the
material of the member so that the slot is defined by mutually
facing endless surfaces of the skirt and the member.
16. A seal as claimed in claim 7, in which the skirt is
manufactured from plastics material.
17. A seal as claimed in claim 7, in which the skirt is configured
to be sufficiently resiliently deformable under a predetermined
pressure range of fluid supplied into a gap between the mutually
facing surfaces of the skirt and the member to which the skirt is
attached, so as to deflect towards the other member thus enhancing
the sealing action of the at least one rib between the skirt and
the other member.
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to a seal and in particular to
a seal useful in systems for the sterile transfer of fluids.
[0002] Validation and accountability are vital in most scientific
industries and especially so in the pharmaceutical and
biotechnological industries. A major challenge to these industries
is the need to demonstrate accurately and reproducibly that
sterility is achieved and maintained throughout production lines
within a plant. This must be done in a manner which meets the
stringent requirements of regulatory bodies such as the United
States FDA. Acceptable standards can be difficult to be met when a
substance is transferred from one sterile location to another
sterile location by non direct means. Reliable and durable seal
means must be employed during such transfer.
[0003] The present invention provides a seal for sealing between
two members which are mutually movable so as to slide relative to
each other, a first one of the elements having formed on a surface
thereof facing a second of the elements at least one deformable
plastics rib for contacting the second member and sealing between
the two elements when they are stationary or moving relative to one
another.
[0004] In a most preferred embodiment, one of the members comprises
a body with a channel formed therein, the channel having a
longitudinal axis and the other member being receivable in the
channel so that the two members slide relative to each other in
direction parallel to the longitudinal axis, a first one of the
elements having formed on a surface thereof facing a second of the
elements the at least one deformable plastics rib for contacting
the second member and sealing between the two elements when they
are stationary or moving relative to one another.
[0005] Ideally, the first one of the two elements is constructed of
plastics material and the rib may be formed integrally
therewith.
[0006] The rib is sufficiently deformable and flexible so that it
in effect drags or wipes along the surface of the second element
with which it is in contact as the two elements slide with respect
to one another. A plurality of sealing ribs may be provided,
axially spaced apart from one another along the path of relative
movement between the parts.
[0007] The rib itself may have different shapes and configurations,
any of which will be suitable provided that they are such as to
provide an effective seal between the parts. For example, the rib
may be formed with its free, sealing edge shaped as a U, V, W or
any other suitable cross-sectional shape.
[0008] Of particular benefit is the use of such a sealing
arrangement in a valve where a piston slides within a housing so as
to open or close an open end of the valve. In such a case, it is
advantageous to form the rib about the radially outwardly facing
surface of the piston with the rib extending radially outwardly
therefrom to impinge upon the interior surface of the housing.
[0009] The seal of the present invention may have use as an
alternative or addition to known sealing means, such as an O-ring
seal.
[0010] The invention will now be described with reference to the
accompanying drawings which show, by way of example only, several
embodiments of the seal according to the invention.
[0011] In the drawings:
[0012] FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a first embodiment a seal
formed in a cylindrical body;
[0013] FIG. 2 is an enlarged portion of FIG. 1 showing the
seal;
[0014] FIG. 3 is a side elevation of a second embodiment a seal
formed in a cylindrical body;
[0015] FIG. 4 is an enlarged portion of FIG. 3 showing the
seal;
[0016] FIG. 5 is a side elevation of a third embodiment a seal
formed in a cylindrical body;
[0017] FIG. 6 is an enlarged portion of FIG. 5 showing the
seal;
[0018] FIG. 7 is a side elevation of a fourth embodiment a seal
formed in a cylindrical body;
[0019] FIG. 8 is an enlarged portion of FIG. 7 showing the
seal;
[0020] FIG. 9 is a side elevation of a fifth embodiment a seal
formed in a cylindrical body;
[0021] FIG. 10 is an enlarged portion of FIG. 9 showing the
seal;
[0022] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a sliding piece having one
seal of the first embodiment;
[0023] FIG. 12 is an elevation of a portion of a piston having
three seals of the fourth embodiment;
[0024] FIG. 13 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of FIG.
12 showing the seals; and
[0025] FIG. 14 is a sectional elevation of a fourth embodiment of
the seal used in combination with an O-ring.
[0026] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 10 there is shown a cylinder 1
slidably receivable in a circular channel 2 of a body 3. A seal
member according to the invention is provided in a form of
deformable ribs 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 of FIGS. 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10
respectively formed around the external surface of the cylinder 1.
The rib 4 has a U-shape in cross section, the ribs 5, 7 and 8 are
V-shaped in cross-section and the rib 6 is W-shaped in
cross-section. The diameter of the cylinder 1 is smaller than the
diameter of the channel 2 whereas the most peripheral region 9 of
the surface of the rib 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 projects beyond the external
surface 1 a of the cylinder 1 so that the diameter of the most
peripheral region 9 is greater than the diameter of the channel 2.
The cylinder 1 is made of a plastics material and the rib 4, 5, 6,
7, 8 is formed integrally with the cylinder. Other means of forming
the rib on the cylinder are also possible.
[0027] In use, when the cylinder 1 is loaded into the channel 2,
the most peripheral region 9 of the surface of the rib 4, 5, 6, 7,
8 abuts the wall of the channel 2 and deforms in order to permit
the cylinder 1 to enter the channel 2. The abutment is sufficiently
close and tight that a seal is formed between the wall 10 and the
rib 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. This seal remains intact during subsequent
movements of the cylinder 1 along the channel as the deformable rib
4, 5, 6, 7, 8 drags or "wipes" along the wall of the channel 2.
[0028] FIG. 11 shows a cylinder 1 in perspective having one rib
5.
[0029] FIGS. 12 and 13 show an end portion of a piston 12 for use
in a valve for sterile transfer of fluids. Such a piston is movable
within a housing of the valve in order to open or close an open end
of the housing. The piston 12 has three ribs 7 axially spaced apart
from each other along the path of the piston in the housing.
[0030] FIG. 14 shows a rib 7 formed around the external surface of
a piston 14 disposed in a channel 18 of a housing 15. The rib 7 is
used in combination with an O-ring 16 received in a groove 17 of
the piston 14 to provide a seal between the exterior of the piston
14 and the wall of the channel 18.
[0031] The ribs 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 have been described as formed around
a cylinder 1 but of course such ribs 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 may be provided
around the wall defining the channel 2 of the body 3 in order to
form a seal between the external surface 1a of a cylinder 1
received in the channel 2.
[0032] The seal member of the invention is not limited to use only
in a cylinder or in a circular channel and indeed can be provided
around a body or around a wall of a channel of any cross-sectional
shape, such as for example square or any other shape suitable to
provide a seal. Neither is the seal of the invention limited to
sealing between elements which slide relative to one another about
a common concentric axis. Rather, the seal of the invention can be
used to seal between any two surfaces which slide relative to each
other. The rib will be provided substantially perpendicular to the
axis substantially parallel to which the surfaces slide.
[0033] It will of course be understood that the invention is not
limited to the specific details as herein described, which are
given by way of example only, and that various alterations and
modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the
invention as defined in the appended claims.
* * * * *