Method and apparatus for making preformed seals

Abstract

A method of making a preformed seal includes coupling first and second sections of a mold to define a mold cavity. A cross-sectional shape of the mold cavity corresponds to a cross-sectional shape of the preformed seal. The method also includes providing a reservoir that has a port in flow communication with a reservoir cavity that extends to a parting surface. The method further includes filling the reservoir cavity with wet sealant such that the wet sealant is flush with the parting surface and a bead of wet sealant protrudes from the port. Additionally, the method includes coupling the reservoir to the first and second sections such that the reservoir cavity is in flow communication with the mold cavity at the parting surface, injecting wet sealant from a nozzle through the reservoir into the mold cavity, and curing the wet sealant in the mold cavity to make the preformed seal.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.