Seal with integrated fluid regulating device
AssigneeHamilton Sundstrand Corporation
InventorJames S. Elder
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A seal housing with fluid regulating capability is provided for use with an outlet. The seal housing includes a seal element, a fitting and a valve. The seal element includes an angled flange that is fittable to the outlet and a seal element body from which the angled flange extends. The seal element body defines a bore extending between opposite open ends of the body and receptive of fluid from the outlet. The fitting is configured to tightly engage with the outlet and to urge the angled flange against the outlet with increasing pressure as fitting-outlet engagement proceeds. A valve is constrained within the bore and configured to regulate a flow of the fluid, which is received from the outlet, through the bore.
Claims20
A seal housing with fluid regulating capability for use with an outlet, the seal housing comprising:
- a seal element comprising an angled flange that is fittable to the outlet and a seal element body from which the angled flange extends, the seal element body defining a bore extending between opposite open ends of the body and receptive of fluid from the outlet;
- a fitting configured to tightly engage with the outlet and to urge the angled flange against the outlet with increasing pressure as fitting-outlet engagement proceeds;
- and
- a valve constrained within the bore and configured to regulate a flow of the fluid, which is received from the outlet, through the bore.
A seal for a male outlet having a predefined fluid regulating capability, the seal comprising:
- a seal body comprising:
- an aft end including a first surface abuttable with the male outlet and a second surface opposite the first surface;
- and
- a forward end defining a bore having a fluid regulating capability reduced as compared to the predefined fluid regulating capability of the male outlet;
- a female fitting comprising:
- an aft end configured for engagement with the male outlet;
- and
- a forward end disposable about the seal body;
- and
- an intermediate body interposable between the female fitting and the seal body and movable about the seal body with the female fitting,
- the intermediate body comprising a surface configured to abut with the second surface and to force the first surface against the male outlet as the aft end of the female fitting engages with the male outlet.
A method of providing a seal for a male outlet having a predefined fluid regulating capability, the method of providing the seal comprising:
- forming a seal body such that the seal body comprises:
- a seal feature including a first surface abuttable with the male outlet and a second surface opposite the first surface;
- a tubular feature defining a bore having a fluid regulating capability reduced as compared to the predefined fluid regulating capability of the male outlet;
- and
- a retention feature configured to trap the seal feature against the tubular feature;
- forming a female fitting such that the female fitting comprises:
- an aft end configured for engagement with the male outlet;
- and
- a forward end disposable about the seal body;
- and
- forming an intermediate body to be interposable between the female fitting and the seal body and movable about the seal body with the female fitting, the intermediate body comprising a surface configured to abut with the second surface and to force the first surface against the male outlet as the aft end of the female fitting engages with the male outlet.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.