Method for forming a seal between mating components
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsBarbara J. Jones, Edward Stanley Papciak, Michael John DeCello, Scott Louis Radabaugh
Life of this patent
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Abstract
There is disclosed a method for forming a gasket or seal between mating faces of two components. The method includes the steps of forming an initial seal and forming a primary seal by injecting a liquid material into a groove formed between the mated components. The method further includes the steps of monitoring sealant volume and injection pressure to determine whether a viable seal has been formed.
Claims16
A method for forming a viable seal comprised of initial and primary seals at an interface between two mating components defining a fluid containing cavity therebetween, each of the components having a mating face, comprising the steps of:
- forming a groove in the mating face of at least one of the mating components and forming an inlet port in fluid communication with the groove;
- providing at least one of the mating faces with a predetermined surface finish;
- securing the components together with the mating faces in a face-to-face contacting relationship to form a flange area at an interface between the mating faces and extending from an edge of the groove to an edge of the mating faces;
- providing a liquid gasket-forming material;
- forming the initial seal between the secured components in the flange area adjacent the edge of and along an entire length of the groove by injecting the liquid gasket-forming material at a predetermined pressure through the inlet port into the groove, to overflow the groove and fill the flange area with a flash portion of the injected liquid gasket-forming material the mating face with the predetermined surface finish having a surface roughness sufficient to permit air to escape from the groove and through the flange area to the edge of the mating faces and to permit a portion of the injected liquid gasket-forming material to flow from the groove into the flange area along the edge of the groove to form the initial seal;
- measuring an injection pressure of the liquid gasket-forming material as the material is being injected into the groove;
- stopping the injection of the liquid gasket-forming material when the injection pressure reaches a predetermined value;
- and
- forming the primary seal between the secured components by curing the injected liquid gasket material in the groove to prevent leaking of fluid in the cavity from between the secured components.
A method for forming a viable seal comprised of initial and primary seals between two mating components defining a fluid containing cavity therebetween, each of the components having a mating face, comprising the steps of:
- preparing the mating faces of the components to have a predetermined surface roughness sufficient to allow air to pass between the mating faces of the components when the mating faces are secured together in face-to-face contacting relationship;
- forming a groove in the mating face of at least one of the components and forming an inlet port in fluid communication with the groove;
- securing the components with the mating faces in a face-to-face contacting relationship so as to define a flange area at an interface between the mating faces;
- providing a liquid gasket-forming material;
- forming the initial seal between the components in the flange area by injecting the liquid gasket-forming material at a predetermined pressure into the groove and causing the injected liquid gasket-forming material to overflow the groove and fill at least a portion of the flange area extending from an edge of the groove with a flash portion of the injected liquid gasket-forming material;
- measuring a rate of change of injection pressure of the liquid gasket-forming material as the material is being injected into the groove over a predetermined amount of time, and stopping the injection of liquid gasket-forming material when the rate of change of the injection pressure over the predetermined amount of time exceeds a predetermined value;
- measuring a volume of the liquid gasket-forming material being injected into the groove and comparing the measured volume to a predetermined value and signaling an operator when the measured volume deviates from the predetermined volume by a value greater than a predetermined limit;
- and
- forming the primary seal between the mating components by curing the liquid gasket-forming material in the groove to prevent leaking of fluid in the cavity from between the secured components.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.