# US 2014/0360020 A1 · Springs and Methods of Forming Same

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- Number: US 2014/0360020 A1
- Document ID: US20140360020A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/333,141
- Filed: 2014-07-16
- Published: 2014-12-11
- Earliest claimed: 2009-12-29
- Assignees: Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics Corporation
- Applicants: Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics Corporation
- Inventors: Hamid Reza Ghalambor; Karthik Vaideeswaran
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140360020A1

## CPC

- F16J 15/3452: {the pressing force resulting from the action of a spring}
- B23K 26/0093: {combined with mechanical machining or metal-working covered by other subclasses than B23K}
- F16F 1/02: made of steel or other material having low internal friction {(characterised by their special construction from fibre-reinforced plastics F16F1/366; spring units consisting of several springs F16F3/02; making springs from wire B21F35/00)}; Wound, torsion, leaf, cup, ring or the like springs, the material of the spring not being relevant
- F16J 15/3212: with metal springs
- F16J 15/3236: with at least one lip for each surface, e.g. U-cup packings
- Y10T 29/49609: Spring making
- F16J: PISTONS {(specially adapted for dampers F16F9/32)}; CYLINDERS; SEALINGS
- B23K: SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; WELDING; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM
- F16F: SPRINGS; SHOCK-ABSORBERS; MEANS FOR DAMPING VIBRATION
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

A seal includes a polymeric jacket defining a seal surface and an inner cavity extending within the polymeric jacket along a length of the polymeric jacket. The seal further includes a spring extending within the inner cavity and including a plurality of laser cut spring elements. The seal can be disposed between a static component and a rotatable component.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of forming a seal, the method comprising:
providing a ribbon of sheet metal;
laser cutting a plurality of spring elements distributed longitudinally along the ribbon to form a spring work piece; and
folding the spring work piece to form a spring.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein laser cutting includes laser cutting with a fiber laser.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein laser cutting includes laser cutting the plurality of spring elements to extend latitudinally across the ribbon.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of spring elements extend to have a ratio of the width of a spring work piece formed from the ribbon to the width of the ribbon of at least 0.9.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the ratio is at least 0.95.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, wherein the ratio is approximately 1.0.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the sheet metal has a thickness of not greater than 10 mils.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the spring work piece is a continuous piece and wherein folding the spring work piece includes continuously folding the spring work piece.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising laser cutting the ribbon to form separate spring work pieces.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein folding the spring work piece includes positioning the spring work piece and folding the positioned spring work piece.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising inserting the spring into a seal jacket.

### Claim 12

A method of forming a seal, the method comprising:
dispensing a ribbon of sheet metal having a thickness of not greater than 8 mils;
forming with a fiber laser device a plurality of spring elements distributed along a length of the ribbon and extending latitudinally across the ribbon;
cutting the laser cut ribbon with the laser device to form a spring work piece; and
folding the spring work piece along a longitudinal length of the ribbon.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the plurality of spring elements extend to have a ratio of the width of a spring work piece formed from the ribbon to the width of the ribbon of at least 0.9.

### Claim 14 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein folding the spring work piece includes positioning the spring work piece and folding the positioned spring work piece.

### Claim 15 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, further comprising inserting the spring into a seal jacket.

### Claim 16

A method of forming a seal, the method comprising:
dispensing a tube;
laser cutting the tube to form a spring work piece; and
inserting the spring work piece into a jacket to form the seal.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The method of claim 16, wherein laser cutting the tube include cutting a spiral.

### Claim 18 (depends on 16)

The method of claim 16, wherein laser cutting the tube includes cutting a pattern of spring elements distributed longitudinally along the length of the tube.

### Claim 19 (depends on 16)

The method of claim 16, further comprising rotating the tube while laser cutting.

### Claim 20 (depends on 16)

The method of claim 16, wherein the tube includes a metal or metal alloy.