# US 12,595,847 B2 · Energizing element and methods of making and using the same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,595,847 B2 - Document ID: US12595847B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/667,660 - Filed: 2024-05-17 - Published: 2024-11-21 - Granted: 2026-04-07 - Earliest claimed: 2023-05-18 - Assignees: Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics Corporation - Applicants: Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics Corporation - Inventors: Jean-Marie Lebrun; Curtis Robie; Herman M. Dubois; Beatrice De Gennaro; Michiel Keeris; Mark W. Armitage; Tong Jiao; Xiang Yan; Peter Aerts; Gino L. Stevenheydens; Jian Ma; Jay C. Cooper; Colby Stark; Sergio Gabarre; J. Alex Lee - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12595847B2 ## CPC - F16J 15/022: {characterised by structure or material} - F16F 1/025: {characterised by having a particular shape (F16F1/04, F16F1/14, F16F1/18, F16F1/32, F16F1/34 take precedence)} - F16F 1/373: characterised by having a particular shape {(F16F9/58 takes precedence)} - F16J 15/3212: with metal springs - F16J 15/3236: with at least one lip for each surface, e.g. U-cup packings - F16F 2234/02: cylindrical - F16J: PISTONS {(specially adapted for dampers F16F9/32)}; CYLINDERS; SEALINGS - F16F: SPRINGS; SHOCK-ABSORBERS; MEANS FOR DAMPING VIBRATION ## Abstract An energizing element including: an energizing element body oriented about a central axis, the energizing element body defining an inner radius, IR, and an outer radius, OR, where the difference between the outer radius and the inner radius defines an adjusted width, W, of the energizing element body, where the inner radius and the outer radius determine an average radius, R, of the energizing element body about the central axis, where the energizing element body defines an aspect ratio, W/R, where W/R>0.1, where the energizing element body has a maximum linear contact length on the inner radius, LIR, where the energizing element body has a perimeter on the inner radius, PIR, and LIR/PIR>0.80, where the energizing element body has a maximum linear contact length on the outer radius, LOR, where the energizing element body has a perimeter on the outer radius, POR, and LOR/POR>0.55, and where the adjusted width is less than 5 mm. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An energizing element comprising: an energizing element body oriented about a central axis, the energizing element body defining an inner radius (IR) and an outer radius (OR), wherein the difference between the outer radius and the inner radius defines an adjusted width (W) of the energizing element body, and wherein energizing element body comprises an annular filament oriented about the central axis, wherein the inner radius and the outer radius determine an average radius (R) of the energizing element body about the central axis, wherein the energizing element body defines an aspect ratio (W/R), wherein W/R>0.1, wherein the energizing element body has a maximum linear contact length on the inner radius (LIR), wherein the energizing element body has a perimeter on the inner radius (PIR), and LIR/PIR>0.80, wherein the energizing element body has a maximum linear contact length on the outer radius (LOR), wherein the energizing element body has a perimeter on the outer radius (POR), and LOR/POR>0.55, and wherein the adjusted width is less than 5 mm. ### Claim 2 An energizing element comprising: an energizing element body oriented about a central axis, the energizing element body defining an inner radius (IR) and an outer radius (OR), wherein the difference between the outer radius and the inner radius defines an adjusted width (W) of the energizing element body, and wherein energizing element body comprises an annular filament oriented about the central axis, wherein the inner radius and the outer radius determine an average radius (R) of the energizing element body about the central axis, wherein the energizing element body defines an aspect ratio (W/R), wherein W/R>0.2, wherein the energizing element body has a maximum linear contact length on the inner radius (LIR), wherein the energizing element body has a perimeter on the inner radius (PIR), and LIR/PIR>0.74, wherein the energizing element body has a maximum linear contact length on the outer radius (LOR), wherein the energizing element body has a perimeter on the outer radius (POR), and LOR/POR>0.38, and wherein the adjusted width is less than 5 mm. ### Claim 3 A seal comprising: an annular jacket comprising a body defining an annular recess; and an energizing element disposed within the annular recess, the energizing element comprising: an energizing element body oriented about a central axis, the energizing element body defining an inner radius (IR) and an outer radius (OR), wherein the difference between the outer radius and the inner radius defines an adjusted width (W) of the energizing element body, and wherein energizing element body comprises an annular filament oriented about the central axis, wherein the inner radius and the outer radius determine an average radius (R) of the energizing element body about the central axis, wherein the energizing element body defines an aspect ratio (W/R), wherein W/R>0.1, wherein the energizing element body has a maximum linear contact length on the inner radius (LIR), wherein the energizing element body has a perimeter on the inner radius (PIR), and LIR/PIR>0.80, wherein the energizing element body has a maximum linear contact length on the outer radius (LOR), wherein the energizing element body has a perimeter on the outer radius (POR), and LOR/POR>0.38, and wherein the adjusted width is less than 5 mm. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The energizing element of claim 1, wherein the energizing element is a polymeric material selected from the group consisting of acrylates, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), fluorinated ethylene-propylene (FEP), polyvinylidenfluoride (PVDF), polychlorotrifluoroethylene (PCTFE), ethylene chlorotrifluoroethylene (ECTFE), perfluoroalkoxy alkane (PFA), polyacetal, polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyimide (PI), polyetherimide, polyetheretherketone (PEEK), polyethylene (PE), polysulfone, polyamide (PA), polyphenylene oxide, polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), polyurethane, polyester, liquid crystal polymers (LCP), or any combination thereof. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The energizing element of claim 1, wherein the energizing element is a metal material selected from the group consisting of steel, spring steel, stainless steel, such as 301 Stainless Steel, 302/304 Stainless Steel, 316 Stainless Steel, or 17-7 Stainless Steel, bronze, copper, molybdenum, cobalt, iron, chromium, copper, manganese, titanium, zirconium, Monel, Inconel, aluminum, carbon, tungsten, Elgiloy, Hastelloy, or an amorphous metal compound, and oil tempered chrome silicon or vanadium. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The energizing element of claim 1, wherein the energizing element body comprises multiple tabs oriented about the central axis. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The energizing element of claim 6, wherein at least one tab is oriented radially inward. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The energizing element of claim 6, wherein at least one tab is oriented radially outward. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The energizing element of claim 1, wherein the energizing element body comprises a ribbon spring comprising a plurality of circumferential coils oriented about the central axis. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The energizing element of claim 1, wherein the energizing element body comprises a U-shaped cross-sectional spring oriented about the central axis. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The energizing element of claim 1, wherein the energizing element body comprises a V-shaped cross-sectional spring oriented about the central axis. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The energizing element of claim 1, wherein the energizing element body comprises an O-shaped cross-sectional spring oriented about the central axis. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The energizing element of claim 1, wherein the energizing element body is not welded. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The energizing element of claim 1, wherein the energizing element body defines a plurality of contact features comprising at least one inner contact feature on the inner radius and at least one outer contact feature on the outer radius. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The energizing element of claim 1, wherein the plurality of contact features is less than 20. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The energizing element of claim 15, wherein the cross-sectional shape of the at least one inner contact feature is different than the cross-sectional shape of the at least one outer contact feature. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The energizing element of claim 1, wherein the energizing element body comprises a plurality of oscillations, wherein each oscillation in the plurality of oscillations travels from one transversal of a circumferentially oriented line perpendicular and circumferential to the central axis at a fixed point in the filament to the neighboring transversal of the circumferentially oriented line perpendicular to the central axis at a neighboring point in the filament. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The energizing element of claim 17, wherein the plurality of oscillations comprise internal oscillations and external oscillations. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The energizing element of claim 1, wherein the energizing element comprises a plurality of energizing elements. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The energizing element of claim 19, wherein the plurality of energizing elements are stacked upon each other in the axial direction.