Fluid-filled O-ring for maintaining a seal under low temperature conditions
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
InventorPiyush K. Dutta
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An O-ring seal for sealing two concentric members is disclosed. A hollow ring made from an elastomeric material is provided with a central liquid core. Temperature changes which normally result in a contraction in the elastomer material are compensated by the expansion of the liquid core. The O-ring maintains a sealed condition between the two members over a wider temperature range.
Claims4
A seal for sealing two concentric members comprising a hollow ring having an inside diameter substantially equal to the outside diameter of a groove in a first one of said members, and an outside diameter substantially equal to an inside diameter of a second one of said members, said hollow ring made of a material that will contract when exposed to changing temperatures, said hollow ring containing a fluid forming a liquid core which expands and contracts with temperature changes, thereby maintaining a seal between said concentric members under various temperature conditions, said fluid having a negative expansion coefficient greater than or equal to the contraction of said ring under low temperatures such that a seal is maintained.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.