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:
May. 04, 1999
Filed:
Sep. 14, 1998
Karl Paul Kroetsch, Williamsville, NY (US);
Jeffrey Leo Minner, Lockport, NY (US);
General Motors Corporation, Detroit, MI (US);
Abstract
A radiator tank of the type that has a perimeter foot clinched into a U shaped header plate channel to compress an elastomer seal is improved with a means to help assure that portions of the gasket that are displaced from beneath the foot at installation either do not create leak paths, or create leak paths that are static and easier to detect. Integrally molded discrete ribs above the bottom of the perimeter foot extend out and over the inner surface of the header plate, in a location where they can engage and pinch displaced portions of the gasket down against the header plate. Leaks are thereby either prevented, or, at least, the displaced and pinched down section of the gasket is held fast and prevented from moving in and out of the crevice between the tank foot and the channel under the influence of negative to positive pressure variations in the coolant. This makes leak detection easier, because the leak is static and consistent.