Active sealing ring, in particular for an auto coupling

A sealing ring for providing a fluid seal between a first flange and a second flange, the sealing ring forming a tubular element, the sealing ring comprising:

• a tapering wall member defining an interior funnel-shaped through-going opening extending axially and tapering from a proximal end to a distal end, the tapering wall member being made from a resilient material proving an axial deflection of the tapering wall member when exposed to an axial force;
• a first abutment surface provided at the proximal end for providing a fluid seal when abutting a surface of one of the flanges;
• a second abutment surface provided at the distal end for providing a fluid seal when abutting a surface of another one of the flanges;
• and
• a reinforcement member made from a stiffer material than a material of the tapering wall member and being shaped as a closed ring-shaped element with an axial extension being smaller than an axial distance between the proximal end and the distal end, said reinforcement member being arranged in or on the tapering wall member at an axial position between the proximal end and the distal end so as to limit or prevent outward or inward deflection of at least a part of the tapering wall member when a pressure difference is applied across the tapering wall member.

A pump support comprising:

• a first flange;
• a second flange;
• and
• a sealing ring forming a tubular element, the sealing ring comprising:
• a tapering wall member defining an interior funnel-shaped through-going opening extending axially and tapering from a proximal end to a distal end, the tapering wall member being made from a resilient material proving an axial deflection of the tapering wall member when exposed to an axial force;
• a first abutment surface provided at the proximal end for providing a fluid seal when abutting a surface of one of the flanges;
• a second abutment surface provided at the distal end for providing a fluid seal when abutting a surface of another one of the flanges;
• and
• a reinforcement member made from a stiffer material than a material of the tapering wall member and being shaped as a closed ring-shaped element with an axial extension being smaller than an axial distance between the proximal end and the distal end, said reinforcement member being arranged in or on the tapering wall member at an axial position between the proximal end and the distal end so as to limit or prevent outward or inward deflection of at least a part of the tapering wall member when a pressure difference is applied across the tapering wall member, wherein the first and the second flange are configured to be connected with each other with the sealing ring disposed there in-between, both flanges comprising through going openings aligned when connected to each other with the sealing ring encircling the openings, wherein the first flange is configured for carrying or forming part of a pump housing and the second flange forms part of a fluid channel configured for receiving fluid from the pump housing and delivery the fluid at a delivery position, and wherein the sealing ring is arranged to provide a sealing between the first flange and the second flange.

A method of providing a sealing between said two flanges of the pump support comprising:

• a first flange;
• a second flange;
• and a sealing ring forming a tubular element, the sealing ring comprising:
• a tapering wall member defining an interior funnel-shaped through-going opening extending axially and tapering from a proximal end to a distal end, the tapering wall member being made from a resilient material proving an axial deflection of the tapering wall member when exposed to an axial force;
• a first abutment surface provided at the proximal end for providing a fluid seal when abutting a surface of one of the flanges;
• a second abutment surface provided at the distal end for providing a fluid seal when abutting a surface of another one of the flanges;
• and a reinforcement member made from a stiffer material than a material of the tapering wall member and being shaped as a closed ring-shaped element with an axial extension being smaller than an axial distance between the proximal end and the distal end, said reinforcement member being arranged in or on the tapering wall member at an axial position between the proximal end and the distal end so as to limit or prevent outward or inward deflection of at least a part of the tapering wall member when a pressure difference is applied across the tapering wall member, wherein the first and the second flange are configured to be connected with each other with the sealing ring disposed there in-between, both flanges comprising through going openings aligned when connected to each other with the sealing ring encircling the openings, wherein the first flange is configured for carrying or forming part of a pump housing and the second flange forms part of a fluid channel configured for receiving fluid from the pump housing and delivery the fluid at a delivery position, and wherein the sealing ring is arranged to provide a sealing between the first flange and the second flange, the method comprising the steps of:
• arranging the sealing ring on one of said first and second flanges;
• and
• connecting the two flanges flange through-going openings aligned with the sealing ring encircling said through-going openings.