Random packing element
AssigneeSaint-Gobain Norpro Corporation
InventorHassan S. Niknafs
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention provides a novel improved packing element having the basic shape of a polygon with arches formed around the periphery by deforming the edge area in one direction and an area axially within the edge area to form arches projecting in the opposite direction and providing an axially located aperture. Such packing elements can be conveniently formed using a simple cutting and stamping operation.
Claims11
A packing element in the form of a sheet located in a first plane and having the form of a polygon with 3 to 6 corners from which a first group of spaced peripheral strips between each of the corners of the sheet are deformed in a first direction to form arched structures with the apices of at least some of the arches in a second plane parallel to the first plane and removed therefrom in the first direction, and second group of parallel strips equal in number and parallel to the corresponding strips in the first group but each being displaced radially inwardly from the corresponding strip from the first group, each strip being deformed out of the first plane in a second direction diametrically opposite to the first direction to form arches with apices at least some of which are in a third plane parallel to the first plane, and an axially central aperture formed in the sheet and defined by a generally circular periphery.
A method of making a packing element which comprises:
- a) providing a polygonal sheet with from 3 to 6 corners and symmetrical about an axis perpendicular to the sheet:
- b) incising a first group of cut lines, each of which is adjacent to, parallel to and equidistant from one of the sides of the sheet to form a first group of strips each located between an edge of the sheet and a cut line;
- c) incising a second group of cut lines, each line being adjacent to, parallel to, and equidistant from one of the lines of the first group of cut lines to form a second group of strips parallel to the first;
- d) incising a group of cut lines of equal length radiating from the axis of the sheet;
- e) and then applying pressure to the sheet to deform the sides of the sheet between the edges and the first cut lines in a first direction to form arches;
- deforming the strips between the first and second cut lines in a diametrically opposite direction to said first direction to form arches, and bending the portions of the sheet between adjacent lines of those cut radially from the axis of the sheet so as to form a plurality of dependent tongues projecting in the first direction from the periphery of an aperture in the sheet.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.