The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 17, 1998
Filed:
Jun. 05, 1997
Robert C Wilkie, Jr, Virginia Beach, VA (US);
Robert M Galewski, Virginia Beach, VA (US);
George E Slemp, Lanexa, VA (US);
Cooper Split Roller Bearing Corporation, Virginia Beach, VA (US);
Advex Corporation, Hampton, VA (US);
Abstract
A seal ring having first and second semicircular metal ring segments, each segment having first and second ends, the first end of the first segment having an interference interfit with the first end of the second segment, and the second end of the first segment having an interference fit with the second end of the second segment, to form the seal ring; the segments being separable or interconnectable by temporary deformation thereof, the first and second ends of the first segment having a radially convex surface and the first and second ends of the second segment having a radially concave surface of matching configuration to the convex surface, to form the interference interfit. A method of forming a metal seal ring of separable semicircular segments of a predetermined diameter by providing an annular metal ring workpiece, wire EDM cutting transversely through the ring workpiece at a first circumferential location to form a first set of two adjacent ends, cutting a circumferentially extending shoulder on the radially inner portion of one of the adjacent ends and an opposite circumferentially extending shoulder on the radially outer portion of the other adjacent end, wire EDM cutting transversely through the ring workpiece at a second circumferential location diametrically opposite the first circumferential location, to separate the ring and thereby form a second set of two adjacent ends, forming by said cutting at the second location a circumferentially extending shoulder on the radially inner portion of one of the second set of adjacent ends and an opposite circumferentially extending shoulder on the radially outer portion of the other of the second set of adjacent ends, the cutting steps forming a pair of semicircular ring segments and including forming of interfitted, radially oriented, concave and convex surfaces on the first and second shoulders to create an interference fit and thereby allow the seal ring to be snap fitted together to form the seal ring separable into the two segments as necessary.