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US 5,540,448 AGranted
Seal with electrical conductor wear indicator
OwnerRalph Heinzeninventor
Life of this patent
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OwnerRalph Heinzeninventor
Estimating the term…
A seal prevents leakage of fluid between the seal and a moving surface. The seal includes a seal body and a conductor. The seal body can undergo wear to a specified depth before the seal requires replacement. The conductor is placed about the moving surface such that wear of the seal body to a specified depth brings the conductor into contact with the moving surface. The conductor may be embedded in the seal body or otherwise attached to position the conductor about the moving surface. Wear of the seal body to a specified depth can be checked by checking electrical continuity of the conductor. The existence of electrical continuity between the conductor and the moving surface may indicate that the seal requires replacement. Alternatively, the conductor may be positioned such that the conductor has worn entirely through when the seal body has worn to a specified depth, with a loss of electrical continuity through the conductor indicating that the seal requires replacement.
A seal for preventing leakage of fluid from between a first member and a second member, the second member moving with respect to the first member, said seal comprising:
A seal for preventing leakage of a fluid from between a first member and a second member, the second member remaining a constant distance from and moving with respect to the first member, said seal comprising:
A method of determining wear of a seal having a sealing means which prevents leakage of a fluid from between a first member and a second member, the second member remaining a constant distance from and moving with respect to the first member, said method comprising the steps of:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.