Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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RESILIENT METALLIC SEALING MEMBER
The invention relates to a device for sealing the contact zone between
a movable equipment part and a fixed equipment part.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Devices of the type referred to serve for example to ensure a reliable
and gas-tight seal between a movable shut-off element (for instance a hinge flap or
a slide valve plate) of a hot gas pipe of large dimensions and a stationary seat.
In the known constructions of this type, the two flat long edge regions
of the sealing element represent a straight-line extension of the curved zone and
these two flat long edge regions are generally fixed by means of separate clamping
arrangements. The principal disadvantages of these known constructions are that
the overall height is considerable and installation is difficult.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention, therefore, seeks to provide a device in which the
overall height of the sealing element is substantially reduced. In a further
development of the invention installation and removal of the sealing element aresubstantially simplified.
According to the invention a sealing element has a hollow, deformable
body having a domed top wall, two spaced apart side walls and a bottom wall.
Extensions projecting from the body are bent to overlie one another and extend
longitudinally of the body. Such a construction of the sealing element makes it
possible to achieve the spring rigidity of the sealing element which is desired for
the particular application with a minimum overall height. At the same time the
installation and removal of the sealing element is substantially simplified acco ng
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to the invention.
The invention in particular provides a sealing device for use in
effecting a hot gas seal between two relatively movable parts, the device
comprising at least one springy, integral, resilient metal member having a pair of
5 spaced apart side walls of uniform wall thickness joined at corresponding ends by a
convexly domed top wall of corresponding wall thickness, at least one of the side
walls being bent at its other end at an angle of substantially 90 and extending
toward the other of the side walls to form a bottom wall of corresponding wall
thickness underlying the top wall and spanning the space between the side walls
10 thereby forming with the top wall and the side walls a hollow, deformable body.
The bottom wall is free of the top wall and the other of the side walls and has an
integral extension projecting beyond the body, the other of the side walls has at its
other end an extension which extends beyond the body in overlying and
confronting relation with the extension of the bottom wall and means secure the
15 extensions to one another. Each of the top, bottom and side walls is resiliently
deformable from a non-deformed condition in response to the application of
compressive force on the body in a direction to move the top wall toward the
bottom wall, the movement of the top wall toward the bottom wall causing the
side walls to bow outwardly of the body and the bottom wall to bow inwardly of
20 the body. The resilience of the walls enables them to return to their non-deformed
condition in response to the removal of the compressive force.
Further advantageous constructions of the invention are explained in
greater detail in connection with the description of preferred embodiments.
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THE DRAWINGS 13 3 8 2 14
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a sealing element constructed
according to one embodiment of the invention before installation.
FIG. 2 shows the sealing element according to FIG. 1 in the installed
state.
FIGS. 3 to 8 are diagrammatic, sectional views of further
embodiments of the invention.
FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic isometric view of two sealing elements in
abutting relation.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The sealing element 1 illustrated in FIG. 1 is formed by an elongated
spring steel strip which is shown in cross-section and is shaped to form a hollow,
deformable body 4 having two spaced side walls, a convexly domed top and a
bottom wall. Extending from the body are two flat, overlying, parallel extensions 2
and 3. A bend 5 of substantially 90 is provided between the flat extension 2 and
the adjacent side wall. A corresponding bend 6 is located between the other sidewall to form the bottom wall and the extension 3. The two extensions 2 and 3 areflat and extend beyond the body in prolongation of the bottom wall at right angles
to the longitudinal extent thereof and towards the same side.
The two extensions 2 and 3 are firmly connected to one another at
certain intervals (at right angles to the drawing plane of FIG. 1 ) by spot welds 7, 8
and these welded connections take up the spring tension of the curved zone 4.
Through holes 9, 10 are also provided at certain intervals in the
extensions 2, 3 to receive connecting clamps.
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FIG. 2 shows the sealing element 1 according to FIG. 1 in the installed
state. The flat extensions 2, 3 are fixed between a stationary seat 11 and a
clamping strip 12, the clamping strip 12 being connected to the stationary seat 1 1
by means of connecting elements 13.
A movable shut-off element 14, which can be formed for example by
a hinged flap or a slide valve plate and is movable in the direction of the arrow 15
to apply compressive force on the sealing element, cooperates with the stationary
seat 1 1.
In the closed position of the shut-off element 14, the sealing element
1 comes to rest with a part of its curved zone 4 on the shut-off element 14 and
the top, bottom and side walls are thereby elastically deformed as illustrated by the
contour 1' shown in broken lines in FIG. 2.
The installation and removal of the sealing element 1 is extremely
simple and can readily be carried out by one person alone. In the installation of the
prefabricated sealing element, the extensions 2 and 3 of which are firmly
connected to one another, the clamping strip 12 is merely placed on it and the flat
long edge regions 2, 3 are fixed by means of the connecting elements 13. Any
replacement of the sealing element which may be necessary is equally simple.
In the embodiment according to FIG. 2 the two extensions 2, 3 of the
sealing element 1 are arranged at right angles to the direction of movement (arrow
15) of the movable part of the equipment (shut-off element 14). This construction
produces a particularly low installation height H of the sealing element.
In the embodiment according to FIG. 3 two sealing bodies I and la
which can be fixed by means of the same clamping strip 12 are provided in mirror
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symmetry. Such a construction is advantageous for example when a gaseous
sealing medium, e.g. sealing air, is to be introduced into the space 16 between the
two bodies I and la. The two bodies are joined by overlying extensions like the
extensions 2 and 3.
In the embodiment according to FIG. 4 two sealing bodies Ib, Ic which
are constructed in mirror symmetry are united in one integral double sealing
element and have central extensions 17, 18 Iying between and joining the two
curved zones 4b, 4c. The extensions 17, 18 overlie one another and are fixed by
means of the clamping strip 12 and the connecting elements 13. The two
extensions 17, 18 of this double sealing element are firmly connected to one
another, preferably by spot welding, so that they can be jointly fixed in the
ready-connected state by means of the clamping arrangement. In this embodiment
the bottom wall of each body is arcuate, rather than flat.
FIG. 5 shows an embodiment in which the two extensions 2, 3 of the
sealing element Id are arranged to extend in prolongation of one side wall of the
body and parallel to the direction of movement (arrow 15) of the movable part ofthe equipment (shut-off element 14). Here too the two extensions 2 and 3 which
are firmly connected to one another are jointly fixed by means of a clamping strip
12 and connecting elements 13. This construction is distinguished by a particularly
small overall width B of the sealing element Id.
In the embodiment according to FIG. 6 the two sealing elements le
and If are fixed on the movable shut-off element 14 by means of separate clamping
strips 12e and 1 2f and connecting elements 1 3e and 1 3f respectively.
In the closed position of the movable shut-off element 14 the sealing
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elements le and If come to rest on the stationary seat llg, for example a collar of
the pipe housing 19.
As in the embodiments described above, in the variant according to
FIG. 6 the two extensions are also firmly connected to one another, preferably by
5 spot welding, so that they can be jointly fixed in the ready-connected state with
the aid of the clamping arrangement.
FIG. 7 shows an embodiment in which (as in FIG. 4) sealing elements
lg and Ih are united to form one integral double sealing element. As in the
arrangement according to FIGS. 1 and 2, the two sealing elements each have two
bends 59, 69 and 5h, 6h respectively by means of which the central extensions
1 7a, 1 8a are connected to the curved zones 49 and 4h respectively.
The region of the sealing elements lg, Ih located between the two
bends 59, 69 and 5h, 6h respectively is supported with a part of its width on a
support 20 or 21 which is movable in the direction of the arrows 22, 23. The
15 spring force of the sealing elements lg, Ih can be set within wide limits by moving
these supports 20, 21. For example, a substantially reduced spring force, i.e. a
weaker springiness of the sealing element, is produced if the support 20 is moved
towards the right.
A similar means for alteration of the spring force is shown in FIG. 8.
20 The sealing element Id here corresponds to that of the embodiment according to
FIG. 5. An angled clamping strip 12' serves for fixing of the extensions 2 and 3
and one arm of the clamping strip supports the region of the sealing element
located between the bends 25 and 26 on only a part of its width. By alternating
the length of this arm it is possible to bring the spring force of the sealing element
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to the desired value in a simple manner. 13 3 8 21~
FIG. 9 shows how the contact points at the corners can be
constructed in the case of a sealing device composed for a plurality of sealing
elements. Of the two sealing elements I and ll" shown in FIG. 9, the sealing
element 1" butts against the other sealing element I at an angle of approximately
90 and the latter sealing element 1 projects somewhat beyond the contact point.The sealing element 1" has at its end facing the other sealing element
1 a thrust piece Ix which overlaps the main part Iy of the sealing element 1"
(overlap 26) and is freely movable in the axial direction of the sealing element 1"
for the purpose of adjustment. In this way, during installation of the sealing device
the thrust piece Ix can be pushed forwards until it rests on the sealing element 1
and can be fixed in this position by the appertaining clamping strip 12.
The sealing elements I and 1" butt loosely, that is to say unconnected,
against one another. Equally a loose overlap between the main part Iy and the
thrust piece Ix of the sealing element 1" is sufficient. The thrust piece Ix is cut out
at its end facing the sealing element I to correspond to the contour of the sealing
element 1, which leads to a reliable seal in the region of the curved zone which in
the closed position of the movable part of the equipment rests resiliently on anopposing surface.
In pipes which are subjected to hot gas there is a danger that
condensation and resulting pitting will occur on the cold side of the sealing element
facing the hot gas. In order to exclude this danger, it is possible within the scope
of the invention for the sealing element facing the hot gas to be heated, which can
be achieved for example by means of a heating spiral or a hot air stream. If the
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critical zones of the sealing element are heated in this way to above the dew point
temperature, instances of condensation and resulting damage are avoided.
The elastic deformation of all outer surfaces of the periphery
illustrated in FIG. 2 by broken lines is particularly characteristic of the sealing
5 element according to the invention. In this way a particularly large sprung
peripheral length is produced which makes it possible to achieve the desired
springiness of the sealing element with a substantially reduced overall height H.
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