Seal material having anisotropic properties
AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorJonathan W. Pressler
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A material comprised of two different polymers so that the material exhibits anisotropic properties. The anisotropic properties exhibit hardness and wear resistance along with flexibility. The anisotropic material is made up of a hard segment polymer and a soft segment polymer having contact with each other. This anisotropic material can be used to make seals, which exhibit these same properties and are therefore appropriate for use in high-pressure situations, where they will have a longer life than seals currently on the market.
Claims6
An annular seal for use in conditions requiring resistance to erosion and nibbling, said annular seal comprising:
- opposed faces and opposed walls wherein one of said faces engages a rotating or reciprocating shaft,
- said annular seal is made of an anisotropic material comprising a mixture of:
- (a) a hard segment polymer which imparts stiffness and wear resistance, the hard segment polymer being selected from the group consisting of polyamides, polyimides, polyether ether ketones, polyether ketones, polyphenaline sulfides, polyesters, and combinations thereof;
- and,
- (b) a soft segment polymer which imparts elasticity, the soft segment polymer being selected form the group consisting of nitrites, hydrogenated nitrites, fluorocarbons, silicones, polyacrylates, and combinations thereof;
- wherein said hard and soft segment polymers are oriented in such a way that said annular seal exhibits stiffness and wear resistance in a first direction, along said shaft, and elasticity in a second direction, perpendicular to the first direction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.