Thermostat housing assembly

A thermostat housing assembly (10, 100) comprising;

• a housing (12, 102) having a flange (16, 106) for mounting said housing (12, 102) on a support structure and a tubular spout (18, 108) extending from said flange (16, 106) and defining a passageway (20,110) extending from a spout opening (22, 112) in said tubular spout (18, 108) to a flange opening (24) in said flange (16, 106) for fluid to flow therethrough,
• said flange (16, 106) presenting a mounting face (26, 112) for engaging the support structure and including a seal groove (28, 114) extending annularly about said flange (16, 106) opening and having a U-shaped cross section with a bottom (30, 115) and opposing side walls (32, 34, 116, 118),
• a seal (36, 124) disposed in said seal groove (28, 114) for sealing said flange (16, 106) to the support structure, and
• said assembly (10, 100) characterized by opposing channels (38, 40, 120, 122) defined in said opposing side walls (32, 34, 116, 118) and extending annularly thereabout and said seal (36, 124) having annular rings (42, 44, 126, 128) extending radially into said opposing channels (38, 40, 120, 122) for retaining said seal (36, 124) in said seal groove (28, 114).