Flexitallic Investments Incorporated

Federal-mogul Technology Limited

Stephen Peter Bond

Stephen Woolfenden

Anthony Russell Currie

Dean John Kirby

John Robert Hoyes

Alan William Atkinson

Stuart John Shaw

Yi Li

Darryl Alfred Turland

John Brian Hoyes

Neal Skipper

Gary Briggs

Stephen Alexander Schultze

Julia Rosalind Mary Hood

Kevin Richard Holmes

George Deluca

Peter George Mowvley

Anthony Russel Currie

Brian Hasha

Paul Reuben Percival

Jamal Jamlyaria

Michael Nash

Richard Rodgers

Roberto Yumbla Orbes

David Peter Gerrard

Richard Rogers

John Hoyes

Jamal Jamalyaria

There is provided a gasket comprising a rigid core () defining an aperture (). The core has a serrated profile () on at least one of its upper and lower outer surfaces and the core is divided into upper and lower parts () each having a respective outer surface () and also an inner surface () opposite the outer surface. The gasket also includes an optional sealing facing () on the at least one outer serrated profile surface, wherein an inner insulating layer () is located between the said upper and lower parts so that it is operable to substantially reduce electrical conduction between the said upper and lower parts. There is described a method of production of the gasket and use of the gasket.

Gasket

There is provided a gasket () for sealing two mating surfaces, the gasket comprising: a rigid non-metal core () defining an aperture (), the core comprising a first face () extending away from the aperture and a second face () opposite the first face; and at least one sealing layer (); wherein the first face comprises: a substantially flat inner region () defining a plane; and a serrated region () comprising a plurality of serrations () that extend substantially perpendicular to the plane, wherein the substantially flat inner region is located between the aperture and the serrated region, wherein the serrations are recessed in the first face such that they do not cross the plane, wherein the at least one sealing layer overlays at least part of the serrated region of the first face.

A gasket having concentric or spiral serrations around the aperture on each side of the gasket, and wherein a facing is secured to such serrations, wherein each facing comprises a first layer which is in contact with a respective set of such serrations and a second layer which is in contact with the first layer. The first layer could be of a polyaryletherketone or polyimide, and the second layer could be of graphite or vermiculite. The serrations are designed to avoid damage to the first layer. An intact first layer can supply a property to the facing which may be absent in the second layer; for example, good dielectric properties.

A water resistant sealing material suitable as a gasket or valve seal is described. The sealing material comprises modified chemically exfoliated vermiculite (CEV) in a proportion of 30-70% w/w sealing material and a filler in a proportion of 70-30% w/w sealing material, and optionally other additives in a proportion of 0-10% w/w sealing material. The modified CEV comprises water resistance enhancing monovalent cations. The sealing material is particularly useful to provide improved water resistance in gaskets and valve seals.

Sealing material

A gasket sealing material for a fuel cell comprising: at least 25% dry w/w chemically exfoliated vermiculite; and at least 15% dry w/w plate-like filler; wherein the plate-like filler has an average particle size of less than or equal to 10 &#x3bc;m. Gaskets, fuel cells, uses of the gasket and sealing material are also defined.

Gasket sealing material for fuel cells

A method for fluidly sealing two conduits having mating surfaces is described. The method includes positioning a gasket between the surfaces, securing the two conduits together with the gasket interposed between the mating surfaces wherein the gasket includes an outer seal with a first thickness and an inner seal with a thickness greater than that of the outer seal. The step of positioning and/or the step of securing includes compressing the thickness of the inner seal. Methods of making the gaskets are also disclosed.

Gaskets for sealing two mating surfaces are described. The gaskets have an outer portion including a core between two sealing layers and an inner portion made of a deformable material and located in an aperature in the outer portion. The thickness of the inner portion is greater than the thickness of the outer portion. The inner portion may include a chemical treatment agent that can provide chemical protection to the mating surfaces. Methods of producing the gaskets and methods of using the gaskets for sealing joints, including corroded joints, are also described.

A spirally wound strip () is thicker in the middle and is curved on both sides. Short flats () are formed at each side by surfaces that converge towards each other. Soft sealant material () extends over the flats ().

Sealing arrangements

Flange joint sealing gasket

Flange joint sealing gasket with a handle

Gasket with a handle

A sealing-enhancing coating for a gasket or a portion of a gasket includes flaky particles of chemically exfoliated vermiculite, at least 90% by weight of the particles having a thickness of no more than 30 microns, and no dimension greater than 1 mm. The particles form 10 to 90 wt. % of the coating. The coating also includes 50 to 10 wt. % of an organic polymer binder which when formed into a film 1 mm or less in thickness and heated to 300&#xb0; C. in free air for 24 hours either does not decompose or decomposes leaving a residue of at least 20% by weight of film.

Gasket coating containing chemically exfoliated vermiculite

A gasket ( ) comprises a sealing member which forms a closed loop extending around a hole. The sealing member is formed from resilient metal and has a transverse cross section which is generally X-shaped and comprises two arms ( ) which project inwardly of the hole, and two arms ( ) which project outwardly of the hole. The inwardly projecting arms form a first seal around said hole, and the outwardly projecting arms form a second seal around said hole. Each arm extends from a junction ( ) with the remainder of the gasket to a tip ( ) of the arm which engages one of the bodies. Each arm has its greatest thickness at said junction ( ) and its smallest thickness at a point adjacent to or at said tip ( ), the arm continuously reducing in thickness between said junction and said point. The gasket can yield from the tips of the arms inwardly as the pressure on the gasket increases.

Gaskets

A gasket (,) comprises a first sealing member (,) and a second sealing member (,) both made of springy metal, and a clamping member (,) which holds the first and the second sealing members in an overlying relationship. The first sealing member (,) has an arm portion (,) projecting from the clamping member (,), the arm portion being adapted to resiliently form a seal with a first body. The second sealing member (,) has an arm portion projecting from the clamping member (,), the arm portion being adapted to resiliently form a seal with a second body. A compression limiting stop (,) is provided.

Sealing material comprises from 45% to 90% by weight exfoliated graphite, from 5% to 20% by weight thermosetting resin and from 5% to 50% by weight fibrous filler which is heat resistant at 250&deg; C. The fibrous filler has fibres at least 90% of which have a fibre length of less than 200 &mgr;m, and an aspect ratio of less than 10:1.

Growing community of inventors

Houston, TX, United States of America

Stephen Peter Bond