# US 9,752,684 B2 · Panel sealing apparatus and a seal assembly > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,752,684 B2 - Document ID: US9752684B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/952,285 - Filed: 2015-11-25 - Published: 2017-05-25 - Granted: 2017-09-05 - Earliest claimed: 2015-11-25 - Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC - Applicants: GM Global Technology Operations LLC - Inventors: Todd E. Allen; Bradford K. Gauker - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9752684B2 ## CPC - F16J 15/3252: with rigid casings or supports - B62D 1/16: Steering columns - F16J 3/041: {Non-metallic bellows} - F16J 15/3224: capable of accommodating changes in distances or misalignment between the surfaces, e.g. able to compensate for defaults of eccentricity or angular deviations - F16J: PISTONS {(specially adapted for dampers F16F9/32)}; CYLINDERS; SEALINGS - B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M) ## Abstract A seal assembly includes a cover. A panel sealing apparatus includes the seal assembly. The apparatus includes a wall defining an orifice and the cover is disposed through the orifice. The cover includes a collar and a flange extending outwardly away from the collar. The cover defines an aperture through the collar and the flange. The assembly also includes a plate overlapping the flange and defining a hole. The collar of the cover is disposed through the hole. The assembly further includes a seal defining a passageway. The cover is disposed through the passageway. The assembly also includes a bushing defining an opening. The collar of the cover is disposed through the opening such that the bushing surrounds the collar. At least one of the plate and the bushing is configured to allow movement of the cover independently of the seal. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A seal assembly comprising: a cover including a collar and a flange extending outwardly away from the collar, with the cover defining an aperture through the collar and the flange; a plate overlapping the flange and defining a hole, with the collar of the cover disposed through the hole; a seal defining a passageway, with the cover disposed through the passageway; a bushing defining an opening, with the collar of the cover disposed through the opening such that the bushing surrounds the collar; and wherein at least one of the plate and the bushing is configured to allow movement of the cover independently of the seal; wherein the plate includes a first side and a second side opposing the first side of the plate, with the hole of the plate disposed through the first and second sides of the plate, and wherein the bushing is disposed over the first side of the plate, and the second side of the plate defines a recess, with the flange disposed in the recess. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein the bushing includes a base secured to the plate and the seal extends outwardly from the base. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein the bushing includes a ring spaced from the base and defining the opening, with the ring movable in response to movement of the cover. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein the bushing includes a first connector and a second connector spaced from each other and each disposed between the ring and the base to space the ring from the base to define a pair of slots between the ring and the base that allow movement of the ring relative to the base. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein the opening of the ring and the hole of the plate are disposed along a first axis and the ring is offset from the hole of the plate along the first axis which allows the ring to move relative to the plate during movement of the cover such that the ring partially overlaps the plate. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein the hole of the plate is disposed along a first axis, and the plate includes an inner surface defining the hole, with the inner surface facing the first axis and defining a first diameter, and wherein the ring includes a periphery facing away from the first axis and the periphery defines a second diameter, and wherein the first diameter is greater than the second diameter. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein the flange includes a first side and a second side opposing the first side of the flange, and wherein the first side of the flange faces the bushing and includes a plurality of protrusions spaced from each other and disposed in the recess. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The assembly as set forth in claim 7 wherein the hole of the plate is disposed along a first axis and the recess extends into the second side of the plate to present a side surface disposed radially relative to the first axis and a bottom surface of the plate disposed transverse to the side surface, and wherein the flange includes an outer periphery facing the side surface, with the side surface and the outer periphery spaced from each other to define a gap therebetween which allows movement of the flange independently of the plate. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein both the plate and the bushing are configured to allow movement of the cover independently of the seal. ### Claim 10 A panel sealing apparatus comprising: a wall defining an orifice; a seal assembly including: a cover disposed through the orifice and including a collar and a flange extending outwardly away from the collar, with the cover defining an aperture through the collar and the flange; a plate overlapping the flange and defining a hole, with the collar of the cover disposed through the hole; a seal defining a passageway, with the cover disposed through the passageway; a bushing defining an opening, with the collar of the cover disposed through the opening such that the bushing surrounds the collar; and wherein at least one of the plate and the bushing is configured to allow movement of the cover independently of the seal; wherein the plate defines a recess, with the flange disposed in the recess; wherein the recess of the plate extends into a side of the plate to present a side surface disposed radially relative to the first axis, and wherein the flange includes an outer periphery facing the side surface, with the side surface and the outer periphery spaced from each other to define a gap therebetween which allows movement of the flange independently of the plate. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein the bushing includes a base secured to the plate and the seal extends outwardly from the base. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein the bushing includes a ring spaced from the base and defining the opening, with the ring movable in response to movement of the cover. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The apparatus as set forth in claim 12 wherein the bushing includes a first connector and a second connector spaced from each other and each disposed between the ring and the base to space the ring from the base to define a pair of slots between the ring and the base that allow movement of the ring relative to the base. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The apparatus as set forth in claim 12 wherein the opening of the ring and the hole of the plate are disposed along a first axis and the ring is offset from the hole of the plate along the first axis which allows the ring to move relative to the plate during movement of the cover such that the ring partially overlaps the plate. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The apparatus as set forth in claim 12 wherein the hole of the plate is disposed along a first axis, and the plate includes an inner surface defining the hole, with the inner surface facing the first axis and defining a first diameter, and wherein the ring includes a periphery facing away from the first axis and the periphery defines a second diameter, and wherein the first diameter is greater than the second diameter. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein the plate includes a first side and a second side opposing the first side of the plate, and wherein the side of the plate is further defined as the second side of the plate, and wherein the hole of the plate is disposed through the first and second sides of the plate, and wherein the bushing is disposed over the first side of the plate. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The apparatus as set forth in claim 16 wherein the flange includes a first side and a second side opposing the first side of the flange, and wherein the first side of the flange faces the bushing and includes a plurality of protrusions spaced from each other and disposed in the recess. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The apparatus as set forth in claim 17 wherein the hole of the plate is disposed along a first axis and the recess extends into the second side of the plate to present the side surface disposed radially relative to the first axis and a bottom surface of the plate disposed transverse to the side surface. ### Claim 19 (depends on 10) The apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein both the plate and the bushing are configured to allow movement of the cover independently of the seal. ### Claim 20 A seal assembly comprising: a cover including a collar and a flange extending outwardly away from the collar, with the cover defining an aperture through the collar and the flange; a plate overlapping the flange and defining a hole, with the collar of the cover disposed through the hole; a seal defining a passageway, with the cover disposed through the passageway; a bushing defining an opening, with the collar of the cover disposed through the opening such that the bushing surrounds the collar; wherein at least one of the plate and the bushing is configured to allow movement of the cover independently of the seal; wherein the bushing includes a base secured to the plate and the seal extends outwardly from the base; wherein the bushing includes a ring spaced from the base and defining the opening, with the ring offset from the hole of the plate such that the ring is suspended over the hole without being disposed inside the hole; and wherein the bushing includes a first connector and a second connector spaced from each other and each disposed between the ring and the base to space the ring from the base to define a pair of slots that surround the ring.