Adjustable shims for mold seals

A molding apparatus for applying a coating to a surface of a shell and having an adjustable sealing assembly, the molding apparatus including a molding surface and a seal groove adapted for retaining a seal, the molding apparatus is capable of receiving the shell and forming a molding cavity between a surface of the shell and the molding surface, the seal establishes sealed contact between the shell and the molding surface when the molding apparatus is closed, said adjustable sealing assembly comprising:

• a seal for insertion and retention in a seal groove, having suitable dimensions and elastomeric properties which facilitate insertion and retention in a seal groove of the molding apparatus such that a portion of said seal extends from the seal groove to a selected height when the molding apparatus is opened;
• and
• seal height adjustment means disposed under the seal in the seal groove which is capable of adjusting the height of the seal above the seal groove to correspond to a particular contour of a shell being molded, whereby the shell establishes sealed contact with the seal forming a sealed molding cavity between the shell and the receptable molding surface, said seal height adjustment means having one or more structural elements having a width dimension sufficient to fit within said seal groove and a length dimension extending under said seal, and a variably selectable height dimension extending along said length dimension for adjusting the height of the seal above the seal groove to match the particular contour of the shell being molded, said structural element further having:
• a first planar member disposed on said surface opposing said opening;
• a second planar member vertically disposed from said first member for contacting said seal and maintaining the height of said seal above said seal groove;
• and
• a separation element vertically disposed between said first and second planar members capable of providing variable spacing between said first and second planar members, said separation element being an object having a selected height dimension for placement between said first and said second planar members, wherein such object includes a ball bearing.

An adjustable sealing assembly in a molding apparatus for applying a coating to a surface of a shell, the molding apparatus including a molding surface and a seal groove having a bottom wall and opposing side walls adapted for retaining a seal, the molding apparatus is capable of receiving the shell and forming a molding cavity between a surface of the shell and the molding surface, the seal establishes sealed contact between the shell and the molding surface when the molding apparatus is closed, the adjustable sealing assembly comprising:

• a seal in a seal groove, and having a bottom, dimensions and elastomeric properties which facilitate insertion and retention in a seal groove of the molding apparatus such that a portion of said seal extends from the seal groove to a selected height when the molding apparatus is opened;
• a pair of oppositely disposed side flanges protruding from said seal for retaining said seal within the respective opposing side walls;
• and
• seal height adjustment means disposed under the seal, said height adjustment means having a width that is at least equal to the width of the portion of said seal that extends from said seal groove and which is capable of adjusting the height of the seal above the seal groove to correspond to a particular contour of a shell being molded, whereby the shell establishes sealed contact with the seal forming a sealed molding cavity between the shell and the receptacle molding surface, said height adjustment means comprising at least one structural element having a width dimension that is at least equal to said seal groove width and a length dimension extending under said seal, and means having variable heights extending along said length dimension for adjusting the height of the seal above the seal groove bottom to match the particular contour of the shell being molded.