AU645506B2 - Compression seal - Google Patents

Description

64506 P/00/011 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT Name of Applicant: Address of Applicant: Actual Inventor: Address for Service: MIDLAND SHEET METAL WORKS PTY. LTD.

30 Clayton Street Bellevue 6056 Western Australia BRIAN DOUGLAS CLARK CLINTON GIRAUDO Suite 1A, 81 Guthrie Street Osborne Park 6017 Western Australia 0055 0* 5S Standard entitled: Complete Specification for the invention COMPRESSION SEAL Details of Associated Provisional Applications: PJ 7457 dated November 20, 1989 by applicant Details of Parent Application for Divisional Applications: The following is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me:- 2 COMPRESSION SEAL The present invention relates to a compression seal particularly, although not exclusively, envisaged for use in sealing between two substantially flat surfaces which may vary in their interspacings. The compression seal is particularly envisaged for use in sealing together panels for creating moulds for forming concrete.

In the art of forming concretes in moulds, it is known to use rubber seals between panels for forming the moulds. A problem of such prior art seals is that they must be relatively hard to withstand the forces created by the concrete when in a slurry state but then seals are not capable of conforming to variations in the spacings between the panels. Accordingly, concrete slurry leaks 15 through the seals and the resulting moulded concrete is imperfect.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a seal which is capable of conforming to variations in two surfaces whilst withstanding S 20 relatively high slurry or fluid pressures.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is provided a compression seal for sealing two panels together, the compression seal being elongate and continuous, one panel havino a groove for receiving the compression seal, the compression seal comprising: an elongate base having a void extending along its length; a body depending from and extending along the length of the base to close off the void, the body having a ridge and two crease lines, the ridge being disposed away from the base and extending along the length of the body, one crease line being located on each side of the ridge and extending substantially parallel to the ridge, the body being able to bend along the crease lines for compressing between an uncompressed state, in which the ridge projects from the base, and a compressed state, in which the body is compressed at least partway into the void of the base; 3 whereby, in use, the compression seal can be fitted into the groove of one of the panels and the body compressed into the void by hinging along the crease lines as the other panel is brought towards the first mentioned panel, and whereby the panels can be brought substantially into contact each with the other.

An exemplary embodiment of the present invention will now be described with particular reference tot he accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is an end view of a compression seal in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a side view of the compression seal of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a plan view of the compression seal of 15 Figure 1; ~Figure 4 is a perspective view, seen from above, of the compression seal of Figure 1; and, Figures 5 to 7 show various stages of compression of the compression seal as two panels are brought towards 20 each other.

In the drawings there is shown a compression seal 10 comprising a base 12 and a body 14. The seal Sis elongate as shown in Figure 4 and typically it is of indefinite length and constant cross section.

25 The base 12 comprises a floor 20 and two sides 22. The sides 22 are disposed outwardly from the floor The sides 22 may be at 900 to the floor 20 or as shown in Figure 1 or may diverge outwardly from the floor 20 as shown in Figure 5. Divergence in the sides 22 can occur due to inconsistencies in production of the seal 10 during extrusion and subsequent cooling. The body 14 is disposed between ends of the sides 22 opposite from the floor The body 14 together with the base 12 define a void 26.

The body 14 comprises a belly 30, a primary reach 32, two secondary ridges 34, and two shoulders 36.

The belly 30 is disposed adjacent the void 26 and is intended to depress into the void 26 as shown in Figures 6 3a and 7. The ridges 32 and 34 are disposed outwardly from the belly 30, with the secondary ridges 34 being disposed o•ft o ee 4 one on each side of the primary reach 32 and the primary reach 32 being located centrally of the body 14. The primary and secondary ridges 32 and 34 extend along the length of the seal 10 as shown in Figures 3 and 4. At the juncture between the primary ridge 32 and each of the secondary ridges 34 there is located a crease line 38.

The crease line is located intermediate the width of the belly 30 and overlies the void 26. The shoulders 36 are located at outer ends of the sides 22 and are located on opposite edges of the belly Typically, the seal 10 is made of rubber, nitrile, thermal plastic EPDM or the like material which is relatively flexible.

In use, the seal 10 is positioned in a groove 15 of a panel 52. Typically, the groove 50 is rectangular and is 10% narrower than the width of the seal 10. Also, the groove 50 is preferably the same height as the sides 22 so that the shoulders 36 are flush with a surface 54 of the panel 52. A second panel 60 is then brought down into contact with the primary ridge 32. As the panel 60 is brought closer to the panel 52 the primary ridge 32 is 9 depressed towards the floor 20 and the belly 30 deflects V into the void 26 as shown in Figure 6. During this process, th( body 14 hinges along the crease lines 48 25 which forces the sides 22 proximate the shoulders 36 to be forced against side walls 51 of the groove 50. As the oo.. panel 60 is brought closer to the surface 54 of the panel 52 the primary ridge 32 is further depressed towards the floor 20 and the belly 30 further extends into the void 26. Finally, when the panel 60 meets the surface 54 of the panel 52 the secondary ridges 34 come into contact with the panel 60 and the sides 22 are further pressed against the side walls 51 of the groove 50. In this condition, the belly 30 meets or almost meets the floor Accordingly, the seal 10 provides a sealing effect between the panels 52 and 60 by the action of the 5 pressure of the primary ridge 32 and the secondary ridges 34. Also, the seal 10 provides a seal within the groove by the pressure of the sides 22 against the side walls 51 of the ridge 50. Hence, a very effective sealing effect is provided between the panels 52 and The seal 10 of the present invention has the considerable advantage that, whilst the material from which the seal 10 is formed is relatively hard (although resilient), the body 10 is able to deflect into the void 26 so as to reduce the amount of force required to be applied in forcing the panels 52 and 60 together. This overcomes the disadvantage of the prior art seals wherein the seals commonly failed due to the excessive amount of force required to compress the seal over its length. It S* 15 is to be noted here that the seal typically has a length of up to about 40 metres. Also, the ends of the seal are closed off so that the void 26 is hermetically sealed.

Also, in the event that the panels 52 and 60 are not consistent in their separation (such as shown in Figure 6) the seal 10 is still able to provide a sealing effect between the panels 52 and 60. Further, on separating the panels 52 and 60 the seal 10 returns to its uncompressed state as shown in Figure 4 and is ready for reuse.

The seal 10 is also envisaged for use to seal 25 hatch covers and concrete mouldings and the like to inhibit water leakage.

:Modifications and variations such as would be apparent to a skilled addressee are considered within the scope of the present invention. For example, the ridges 34 could be omitted provided that the crease lines 38 are included so as to allow for hinging of the body 14 so that the bell 30 can deflect into the void 26. Also, the seal could have odd numbers of ridges in excess of three.

Further, the profiles of the ridges could be altered provided that the height of each of the ridges is substantially the same along its length.

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Claims (8)

1. 2. A compression seal according to claim 1, in which the ridge can, in the compressed state, be forced towards the elongate base and can protrude at least partway into the void.
2. 3. A compression seal according to claims 1 or 2, in which the elongate base has two sides projecting outwardly from a floor and the body has two shoulders located at ends of the sides remote from the floor, wherein the shoulders can be disposed to meet with a surface of the panel having the groove so as to avoid Iprotruding out of the groove. 7
3. 4. A compression seal according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the body has an odd number of ridges with the first mentioned ridge being disposed substantially centrally of the width of the body and protruding outwardly further than the other ridges, and in which one crease line is disposed between each adjacent ridge, whereby, in use, each of the ridges can bear against the panel which is devoid of the groove when in the compressed state.
4. 5. A compression seal according to claims 1 or 2, in which the elongate base has two sides projecting outwardly from a floor and the sides can deflect outwardly with respect to the void as the body bends into the compressed state, whereby, in use, the sides can seal 15 against side walls of the groove when in the compressed state.
5. 6. A compression seal according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the elongate base has a width which is about 10% g):eater than the width of the groove.
6. 7. A compression seal according to any one of the Spreceding claims, in which the compression seal is made S. :from rubber, nitrile, thermal plastic EPDM or the like. a
7. 8. A compression seal according to any one of claims 1 to 3, in which the ridge is substantially triangular in cross section and substantially constant in height with respect to the elongate base.
8. 9. A compression seal according to any one of the preceding claims substantially as herein described and as illustrated in any one of the preceding drawings. Dated this 22nd day of November 1993. 8- MIDLAND SHEET METAL WORKS PTY. LTD. By Their Patent Attorney CLINTON~ GIRAUDO Fellow of the Institute of Patent Attorneys of Australia. ,00:00 ABSTRACT A compression seal (10) for sealing between a first panel (52) having a groove (50) and a second panel The seal (10) has a base (12) dimensioned to be received in the groove (50) and having a void (26) into which a body (14) can bend as the panels (52, 60) are brought together. The body (14) hinges at crease lines (38) as the panels (52, 60) are brought together for allowing bending of the body (14) into the void (26) and deflection of sides walls (22) of the base (12) against side walls (51) of the groove (50) a multiple point seal between the panels (52, 60) and the groove (50) is thus established. E 0 S 0*ee 0* SO S. .5 S S S S 0@ S S 5 55 S S 0g S. S S V- 4 N