GB2172058A

GB2172058A - A gasket for use in combination with a valve mounting cup

Info

Publication number: GB2172058A
Application number: GB08602720A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Werner A Radtke; Joseph L Roe
Original assignee: PLASTIC SPECIALITIES AND TECHN
Current assignee: PLASTIC SPECIALITIES AND TECHN
Priority date: 1982-07-06
Filing date: 1986-02-04
Publication date: 1986-09-10
Also published as: CA1207717A; GB2123899B; FR2529867B1; DE3302662A1; BE895710A; GB8311617D0; IT8321220A0; FR2529867A1; GB2172058B; GB2123899A; IT1171069B; GB8602720D0

Abstract

The subject matter of this specification is substantially the same as that described in GB A 2123899, but the claims are concerned with the gasket itself rather than with the assembly of gasket and mounting cup and the method and apparatus for making the assembly. <IMAGE>

Description

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GB2172058A 1

SPECIFICATION

A gasket for use in combination with a valve mounting cap

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THIS INVENTION relates to a gasket for use in combination with a valve mounting cup, to a valve mounting assembly incorporating such gasket and to a method of, and apparatus for, 10 assembling valve mounting assemblies.

The dispensing valve for aerosol containers and like pressurised containers is normally mounted on the container by a valve mounting assembly comprising a mounting cap and an 15 associated gasket. Such a mounting assembly usually includes a gasket receiving channel which is positioned over and clinched to a rolled rim of the container about the upper end thereof. The mounting cup is typically 20 clinched to the upper part of the container by a device which displaces the cylindrical wall of the mounting cup radially outwards.

Much effort has been directed to enable the provision of a gasket or gasket seal within the 25 cup which ensures a positive sealing of the cup to the container in a manner which minimizes loss of the pressurised contents.

One known form of gasket comprises a conventional pre-cut flat rubber washer or an-30 nular gasket which is loosely received within a channel, formed about a central body of the cup, to sit freely within the channel. Such gaskets are relatively expensive and could, due to their relatively loose reception within 35 the mounting cup, be displaced during handling of the mounting assembly prior to and during securement of the cup to the container. Such gaskets are especially susceptible to movement during propellant filling operations 40 and during valve assembly, which may lead to impairment of the clinching operation. In addition, such pre-cut gaskets generally reside only in the receiving channel of the mounting cup and do not provide an adequate seal in 45 the critical area at which the mounting cup is clinched to the container.

A more common type of gasket currently in commercial use is a "flowed-in" gasket in which a liquid solvent-based gasket-forming 50 composition is deposited in the channel and caused to flow over the surfaces thereof. The solvent is then evaporated from the material and the remaining material cured. This is an expensive procedure requiring multiple pro-55 duction steps including the use of curing ovens, or other means for effecting the drying and curing of the gasket material, and solvent removal means, such as hoods and venting ductwork where non-aqueous solvents are 60 used. Further, means must be provided for rotating the mounting cup beneath a metering apparatus which dispenses pre-determined amounts of gasket-forming compositions. The mounting cup must be handled carefully to 65 maintain it in the desired position until the gasket solidifies. The resulting gasket tends to be of non-uniform thickness in the clinch area of the cup and container. Such a "flowed-in" gasket is described in U.S. Patent No.3,342,381.

Another method for disposing a gasket on a mounting cup, described in U.S. Patent No. 3,417,177, comprises the positioning of a circular band of heat-shrinkable material over a portion of the cylindrical wall of the mounting cup and thereafter heating the cup to shrink the band of material into contact with the cup wall.

U.S. Patent No. 3,443,006 discoses another method wherein a band of gasket material is swelled into place using a suitable swelling agent.

The heat shrinking and swelling methods are time consuming and require relatively expensive equipment to either heat the material or to recover swelling agent.

Another form of gasket currently in use is a sleeve gasket in which a tube of low density polyethylene is applied around the central cylindrical body of the mounting cup to extend at least partially into the annular channel, and is then cut to a desired length. Such a sleeve gasket has some advantages over the afore-described gaskets in the elimination of the complex and time consuming curing and solvent removal procedures. However, the procedures and equipment involved in the utilization of an extruded polyethylene tube are complex, particularly if the desired intimate, frictional engagement of the sleeve gasket with the body wall is to be achieved. The tube insertion and cutting operations must be carefully performed to seat the tube properly onto the mounting cup. Moreover, it is difficult to dispose the polyethylene tube more than about halfway into the receiving channel. The use of such polyethylene tubes to form gaskets is described in European Patent Application No. 81300339.9.

The aim of the present invention is to at least mitigate the problems of the prior art.

In one aspect, the invention provides a gasket for use in combination with a valve mounting cup having a body portion defined by a cylinrical wall and terminating in an annular surrounding channel, said gasket being adapted for forcible reception over said body portion into intimate engagement with the interior of said channel and the cylindrical wall immediately adjacent thereto, and being annular, flat and formed of a self-sustaining defor-mable resinous material.

In another aspect, the invention provides a valve mounting assembly including a mounting cup comprising a base, a cylindrical body portion of predetermined diameter extending upwardly from said base, said body portion terminating at an upper end in an outwardly rolled peripheral flange defining a downwardly directed annular gasket receiving channel, an

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annular planar gasket having coaxial inner and outer peripheries defining inner and outer diameters respectively, said inner diameter being smaller than the diameter of said cylindrical 5 body portion, and said outer diameter being greater than the diameter of the cylindrical body, said gasket being adapted for forcible engagement over said body such that an outer portion of the gasket is moved into seated 10 engagement within the annular gasket receiving channel, and an inner portion of the gasket, adjacent the inner periphery thereof, is annularly and laterally deformed into intimate frictional engagement about the periphery of 15 the cylindrical body portion.

In a further aspect, the invention provides a method of assembling a valve mounting assembly including a sealing gasket and a mounting cup having a central cylindrical body 20 portion having a predetermined diameter and an annular gasket receiving channel formed thereabout; said method including the steps of providing a planar annular gasket having an inner peripheral diameter smaller than the dia-25 meter of said body portion; coaxially aligning said gasket normal to and adjacent said body portion, and forcibly moving said gasket into engagement with and about said body such that a portion of the gasket adjacent the inner 30 periphery thereof deforms into a sleeve-like configuration to be in intimate frictional conformance with the body portion.

In a still further aspect, the invention provides apparatus for use in the assembly of a 35 planar gasket to a mounting cup having a cylindrical body portion surrounded by an annular gasket receiving channel; said apparatus comprising: a guide bushing having a passage defined therethrough to form openings at op-40 posite first and second ends of the bushing, said passage being adapted to receive a planar gasket therein adjacent the first end; an inserter introducable through said second end for longitudinal movement within said passage; 45 a chamber defined in said inserter and opening through a leading end thereof to define a gasket engaging annular edge, said chamber being adapted to receive at least a part of the central body portion of a mounting cup 50 through the first end of the bushing, the arrangement being such that the annular edge of the inserter engages the gasket to effect a seating thereof within the gasket receiving channel of a mounting cup as the body por-55 tion of the cup moves into the chamber of the inserter.

The invention has been found to provide significant advances over the art as heretofore described, producing significant savings in 60 both production time and materials. A gasket of the invention, when mounted on a mounting cup to form a valve mounting assembly is similar in appearance to the mounted sleeve gasket previously described. Such gasket is 65 formed and mounted to provide a positive frictional engagement with the mounting cup during the positioning of the gasket, providing a sealing capability which is consistent and is at least as effective as any previously available commercially feasible system, notwithstanding the unique simplicity of the gasket and mounting procedure involved. In addition, the method of application of the gasket of the present invention eliminates a step required in the installation of the above described sleeve gasket in that the method of the invention does not require cutting of the gasket to size after installation.

The method of this invention allows placement of a gasket on the mounting cup over the entire area at which sealing between the cup and container is desired. Unlike with "flowed-in" gaskets and pre-cut gaskets, the invention conveniently provides a gasket of substantially uniform thickness at the clinch area between the cup and container. Unlike the polyethylene tube gasket, the invention provides a gasket which can occupy any desired portion within the receiving channel of the mounting cup. Thus, the gasket can be positioned to achieve maximum sealing.

The gasket of the valve mounting assembly of the present invention is in the nature of a thin planar annular sheet of an appropriate self-sustaining deformable material. Preferably the gasket is from about 0.007 inches (0.178mm) in thickness to about 0.025 inches (0.635mm) in thickness. The gasket material is preferably a plastic or elastomeric material, or a combination of such materials. The gasket material is most preferably low density polyethylene and, desirably, has a thickness of approximately 0.014 inches (0.356mm). This most preferred material is basically the same material and material thickness as the above referred polyethylene tubes used in the formation of sleeve gaskets. In applications in which increased flexibility and resistance to stress cracking is required it has been found advantageous to employ a gasket comprising low density polyethylene and one or more additives, such as butyl rubber, in amounts of up to about 50 weight percent.

The planar gasket of the invention includes an inner periphery having a diameter at least slightly less than the diameter of the body portion of the mounting cup. The outer diameter of the planar gasket may be up to about one eighth inch (3mm) greater than the outer diameter of the mounting cup, as defined by the peripheral edge of the outwardly rolled flange which forms the gasket receiving channel. The exact dimensions of the gasket will depend upon the dimensions of the mounting cup and upon the gasket material. The gasket should be of such dimensions that when installed by the method recited herein the gasket substantially completely fills the volume between the rolled rim of the container and the mounting cup.

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The cylindrical body of a conventional 1 inch (26mm) aerosol mounting cup used with a pre-cut or "flowed-in" gasket has an outside diameter of from about 0.98 inches 5 (24.9mm) to about 0.99 inches (25.15mm). In a preferred embodiment of this invention, the gasket is disposed on the cylindrical wall of the mounting cup, as well as at least partially with, in the receiving channel. Consequently, 10 the diameter of the cylindrical central body portion of the mounting cup may be slightly less than the conventional mounting cup to accommodate the thickness of the gasket. For gaskets of the preferred thickness of 0.014 15 inches (0.356mm), satisfactory results can be obtained with mounting cups, of diameters in the range of from about 0.95 inches (24.15) to about 0.96 inches (24.4mm).

In positioning the gasket within the mount-20 ing cup, the gasket is coaxially aligned over the cylindrical body and forced inward thereover, deforming as it moves due to the inherent flow characteristics of the sheet material, into a configuration which conforms to the an-25 nular channel and an adjacent portion of the cylindrical body portion. The gasket, when installed, is in intimate frictional engagement with the body wall, precluding any possibility of leakage, displacement, or the like. 30 In order that the invention may be more readily understood, and so that further features thereof may be appreciated, embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the ac-35 companying drawings, in which:

Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a valve mounting assembly of the invention positioned for mounting on a container;

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the 40 mounting assembly and container of Fig. 1 in a clinched relationship;

Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the mounting assembly of Fig. 1, showing a mounting cup and a planar gasket; 45 Figures 4, 5 and 6 illustrate, sequentially, stages in the mounting of the gasket on the mounting cup;

Figures 7 and 8 illustrate one embodiment of an apparatus which may be used in mount-50 ing of the gasket; and

Figures 9 and 10 illustrate another embodiment of an apparatus which may be used in mounting of the gasket.

Referring to the drawings, a valve mounting 55 assembly of the present invention is generally indicated at 10. The assembly 10 includes a valve mounting cup 12, of generally conventional construction, and a gasket 14, unique in both its construction and manner of associa-60 tion with the mounting cup.

Fig. 1 illustrates the valve mounting assembly 10 positioned within an opening in a container 16 to which the assembly is to be mounted. The opening in the container 16 is 65 defined by a rolled rim 18 that directly receives and supports an appropriate peripheral portion of the assembly 10.

Fig. 2 illustrates the valve mounting assembly 10 secured to the container 16 by clinching in a region 11. To ensure an effective, lasting seal between the mounting cup 12 and the container 16 the gasket 14 is positioned to contact intimately the mounting cup 12 and the container 16 along the entire circumference of clinch 11.

Figs. 3 and 4 illustrate more clearly the construction of the mounting cup 12 and the gasket 14. The cup 12 is illustrated in an inverted position and, for the sake of clarity the gasket 14 is illustrated upward therefrom. The mounting cup 12 includes a central cylindrical body portion 20 defined by an annular body wall 22 extending integrally from a circular base 24 and terminating in an outwardly and reversely rolled flange 26. The rolled flange 26 defines an annular gasket receiving channel 28 surrounding the body portion 20. A cylindrical well or boss 30, terminating in a circular end panel 32, is provided centrally within the base 24. The end panel 32 in turn has a central valve receiving aperture 34 therethrough.

It is essential that a positive pressure resistant seal be provided between the cup 12 and the container 16, more particularly between the rolled rim 18 of the container 16 and the channel 28 defined by the rolled flange 26 and the adjacent portion of the body wall 22 of the body portion 20. In the present invention this positive sealing is achieved using a unique gasket 14. The gasket 14 is formed as a planar annular disk of low density polyethylene, preferably having a constant thickness of approximately 0.014 inches (0.35mm). Such gaskets can be both readily and economically stamped from polyethylene sheet and are, because of the inherent nature of the material thereof, capable of deforming into intimate engagement with the mounting cup channel 28 and adjacent wall as shall be described in detail below.

The planar gasket 14 includes an inner periphery 36 and an outer annular periphery 38. The inner periphery 36 has a diameter substantially less than the diameter of the cylindrical body portion 20. For example, the diameter of the cylindrical body portion 20 may be approximately 0.96 inches (24.4mm), in which case the associated gasket 14 may have an inner diameter approximately one-eighth inch (3mm) to approximately one-half inch (13mm) smaller than the diameter of the body portion 20. This provides an overlap of approximately one-sixteenth inch (15mm) to one-quarter inch (6mm) when the gasket 14 is positioned in overlying coaxial arrangement with the base 24 of the body portion 20. This relationship will be best appreciated from Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawings. The diameter of the outer periphery 38 of the gasket 14 is prefer-

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ably from approximately one-eighth inch (3mm) less than, to upto about one-eighth (3mm) greater than, that of the mounting cup 12, as defined by the outer edge of the rolled 5 flange 26.

The configuration of the gasket 14 and its size relationship to the mounting cup 12, in conjunction with the inherent properties of the material from which the gasket is formed, 10 means that it is adapted to provide an economical and highly effective seal between the mounting cup and the container. This is achieved by incorporating the gasket 14 into the mounting assembly 10 in the manner se-15 quentially illustrated in Figs. 4, 5 and 6. As illustrated, the planar gasket 14 is first coaxi-ally aligned over the inverted mounting cup 12. When so aligned, approximately one-eighth inch (3mm) or more of the inner periph-20 eral portion of the gasket 14 overlies the base 24 of the cylindrical body portion 20. In this position, the outer periphery 38 of the gasket is aligned generally above the annular edge of the rolled flange 26, as shown in Fig. 4. 25 As illustrated in Fig. 5, the gasket is then forcibly moved over the cylindrical body portion 20, deforming as it telescopes over the body to enter into an intimate frictional engagement with the cylindrical wall 22 of the 30 body portion 20. The inherent properties of the low density polyethylene material of the gasket 14 allow progressive deformation of the initially planar gasket 14 into a body engaging tubular configuration. The gasket 14, in 35 its innermost position defines both a body encircling tubular or sleeve-like portion and a channel conforming annular portion. The innermost, seated, position of the gasket will be best appreciated from Fig. 6. It is preferred 40 that in the final seated position the gasket be disposed on the wall 22 beyond the point at which the mounting cup and container are clinched, as indicated by arrow A in Fig. 6. It is also preferred that the gasket be disposed 45 at least to approximately the mid-point of the receiving channel 28, as indicated by arrow B in Fig. 6.

Unlike the prior art "flowed-in" gaskets and pre-cut gaskets, this invention allows the easy 50 disposition of a gasket on any portion of wall 22. Moreover, unlike known tube gaskets, this invention allows the disposition of a gasket in any portion of the receiving channel 28.

The gasket 14, in essentially a single step, 55 is forcibly introduced over the cylindrical body portion 20 of the mounting cup 12, the gasket deforming through engagement with the cylindrical body portions into intimate frictional engagement with both a substantial por-60 tion of the cylindrical body portion and the peripheral gasket receiving channel thereabout. Thus, a highly effective seal may be achieved between the mounting cup and a container without the expense, extensive apparatus, and 65 operational difficulties encountered in the systems presently used.

Figs. 7 and 8 illustrate one form of apparatus suitable for assembling the gasket 14 and mounting cup 12 to form a mounting assembly. Figs. 7 and 8 correspond to the stages in the assembly procedure shown in Figs. 4 and 6 respectively.

The apparatus includes a tubular guide bushing 40 having a central passage therethrough receiving, for relative longitudinal movement therein, an elongate tubular inserter 42. The guide bushing 40, and more particularly the internal passage therethrough, is inwardly stepped at two points therealong, defining first and second annular shoulders or seats 44 and 46. The first annular shoulder 44 is inwardly set from the lower end of the bushing 40 at a distance slightly greater than the height of the channel 28 formed in the mounting cup 12. The second shoulder 46 is inwardly spaced from the first shoulder 44 by a relatively greater amount.

The inserter 42 includes a downwardly opening chamber 48 defining an annular lower edge 52 to the inserter 42. The chamber 48 is inwardly stepped to define an annular shoulder or seat 50 spaced upwardly from the lower edge 52 of the inserter 42 at a distance greater than the height of the gasket receiving channel 28 of the mounting cup and at a height generally corresponding to the desired height of the formed sleeve-like portion of the gasket 14 in its innermost seated position. The lower edge 52 of the inserter 42 is rounded to generally conform to the shape of the channel 28 to ensure proper seating of the gasket 14 within the channel 28. The width or thickness of the peripheral edge portion of the inserter below the shoulder is such as to move the gasket, into cooperation with the mounting cup, in the manner illustrated in the sequence of Figs. 4, 5 and 6.

In using the apparatus of Figs. 7 and 8, the gasket 14 is positioned, in any appropriate manner, within the lower portion of the guide bushing 40 immediately below the shoulder 44, this portion being configured to receive closely both the gasket 14 and the annular outwardly rolled flange 26 of the mounting cup. With the gasket 14 so positioned, the gasket and cup are axially aligned and moved relative to each other for introduction of the body portion 20 of the cup into the downwardly opening chamber 48 of the inserter 42. At this time, the gasket, through the action of the lower portion of the inserter 42, is forcibly engaged with the mounting cup in the sequence illustrated in Figs. 4, 5 and 6. As will be appreciated from Fig. 8 in particular, the cylindrical body portion 20 of the cup 12 is closely.received within the chamber 48 of the inserter 42, the shoulder 50 limiting upwards movement of the sleeve-like portion of the finally positioned gasket, thus encouraging proper orientation of the gasket. Similarly, en70

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gagement of the peripheral edge of the cup flange 26 with the shoulder 44 of the guide bush 40 limits inward movement of the cup. Depending upon the nature and size of the 5 operation involved, the apparatus may be either manually operated or automated by appropriate means not herein specifically illustrated.

Figs. 9 and 10 illustrate another, preferred, 10 embodiment of a mounting apparatus suitable for assembling the gasket 14 and mounting cup 12 to form a mounting assembly. Fig. 9 illustrates the apparatus with a gasket 14 received therein and a mounting cup 12 aligned 15 therewith immediately prior to assembly. Fig. 10 illustrates the apparatus on completion of the engagement of the gasket with the mounting cup, immediately prior to removal of the assembled cup and gasket.

20 The apparatus of Figs. 9 and 10 includes a tubular guide bushing 54 having a central passage therethrough for the longitudinal reception of an elongate tubular inserter 56.

The guide bushing 54 includes a relatively 25 wide annular recess 58 formed peripherally about an inner wall 60 thereof. The recess 58 is formed towards the lower end of the bushing 54 and defines a narrow annular support shoulder 61 at the lower end thereof. The 30 support shoulder 61 receives, and initially stabilizes and positions, the gasket 14 in a manner which will be readily apparent from Fig. 9. The internal diameter of the bushing 54 at and below the shoulder is slightly less than the 35 internal diameter above the recess 58, the wall below the recess being sized to accommodate the outwardly rolled flange 26 of a cup 12 while the wall above the recess 58 centrally positions and guides the longitudinally 40 movable inserter 56 for appropriate engagement thereof with the gasket 14 and for movement into the gasket receiving channel 28 of the cup 12.

The inserter 56 is of generally cylindrical 45 construction and includes a lower portion 62 having an external diameter closely although freely receivable within the guide bushing 54 for longitudinal movement relative thereto. An upper portion of the inserter 56, that forms 50 the main body thereof, has a slightly smaller external diameter than the lower portion 62.

A central enlarged downwardly opening lower chamber 64, provided within the lower portion 62, defines an annular lower edge 69 55 of the inserter. This lower edge 66 is rounded or configured generally to conform to the shape of the channel 28 of the mounting cup 12, this arrangement enabling the desired seating of the gasket 14 in the channel 28. 60 An upper chamber 68, having a diameter smaller than the diameter of the lower chamber 64, communicates centrally with the chamber 64. An inner or upper end of the upper chamber 68 in turn communicates, 65 through a central, reduced diameter, aperture

70, with an elongate bore 72 which opens through the upper end of the inserter 56. The bore 72 has a diameter that is slightly larger than the diameter of the aperture 70 but is smaller than the diameter of the upper chamber 68.

A centering unit 74 is received within the chambers of the inserter 56. The unit 74 includes a head 76, that is configured for close sliding accommodation within the chamber 64. The head includes an annular downwardly directed seat 78 defined peripherally about the lower face thereof and is thus adapted for seating engagement against the gasket 14, as indicated in the phantom extension of the head 76 shown in Fig. 9. In addition, a cylindrical centering knob or projection 80, of lesser diameter than the annular seat 78, depends centrally from the head for engagement, through gasket 14, within the upwardly directed well 30 of the cup 12, thus combining with the annular seat 78 for accurate aliqnment of the components to be assembled.

The centering unit 74 also includes a vertically elongate guide stem 82 that is formed integrally with the head 78 and projects centrally therefrom upwardly into the upper chamber 68. Cooperation of the stem 82 with the upper chamber 68, serves to guide the movement of the centering unit 74. The guide stem is in turn retained for limited longitudinal reciprocation by a travel limiter 84. The travel limiter 84 comprises an elongate retaining bolt engaged through the aperture 70 and thread-edly or otherwise affixed to the stem 82. The upper end of the limiter 84 includes an enlarged head 86 which is positioned within the bore 72 and is sized to preclude passage through the aperture 70. The length of the bolt limiter 84 corresponds with the desired length of movement of the centering unit 74.

Finally, an expanded coil compression spring 88 encircles the bolt limiter 84 within an upper portion of the upper chamber 68, engaging between the upper end of the guide stem 82 and the upper end of the upper chamber to effect a resilient biasing of the centering unit 74 to the lower position thereof in which, the head 86 of the limiter 84 engages with the bottom of the bore 72 adjacent aperture 70.

In use of the apparatus illustrated in Figs. 9 and 10, a gasket 14 is positioned, in any appropriate manner, within the annular recess 58 of the guide bushing 54 for supporting engagement on the lower shoulder or seat 61. The flexible nature of the gasket 14 allows this to be readily effected. The head 76 on the lower portion of the centering unit 74 aligns with the gasket 14, the centering knob 80 being received through the central aperture of the gasket 14, and the seat 78 receiving the inner portion of the gasket 14. Arranged in this manner the gasket 14 is centrally lo70

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cated and stabilized about both the inner and outer peripheries thereof immediately below the annular lower edge 68 of the inserter.

With the gasket 14 so positioned the 5 gasket 14 and the cup 12 are moved relative to each other for introduction of the cup into the guide bushing 54 with the central cylindrical body portion 20 of the cup moving into the downwardly opening chamber 64 and the 10 centering knob 80 extending into the upwardly opening well 30. Continued relative movement of the cup and gasket towards each other effects engagement of the gasket about the mounting cup as illustrated in Figs. 4, 5 and 15 6. Thus, an initially planar gasket 14 is shaped to form a sleeve-like inner portion which closely conforms to the annular wall 22 of the cylindrical body portion 20, and an outer portion which lies within and intimately 20 conforms to the channel 28.

As will be noted in Figs. 9 and 10, the lower portion of the chamber 64 has a slightly larger diameter, as indicated at 90, to accommodate the upward configuration of the inner 25 portion of the gasket 14 to the cylindrical wall 22. Upon completion of the gasket mounting operation, pressure is released, the compressed spring 86 acting to assist in ejecting the assembled cup and gasket therefrom. As 30 with the previously described apparatus, depending upon the nature and size of the operation involved, the apparatus may be manually operated or automated in any appropriate manner.

35 From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that a unique gasket for a valve mounting assembly has been defined, along with apparatus and a procedure whereby the gasket, notwithstanding its initial planar or flat configura-40 tion, forms a seal which includes a sleeve-like portion surrounding the central cylindrical body of the mounting cup and conforms to and may fully fill the body surrounding annular gasket channel.

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Claims

1. A gasket for use in combination with a valve mounting cup having a body portion defined by a cylindrical wall and terminating in

50 an annular surrounding channel, said gasket being adapted for forcible reception over said body portion into intimate engagement with the interior of said channel and the cylindrical wall immediately adjacent thereto, and being 55 annular, flat and formed of a self-sustaining deformable resinous material.

2. A gasket according to claim 1, having a thickness of from about 0.007 inches (0.178mm) to about 0.025 inches (0.635mm).

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3. A gasket according to claim 2, wherein said gasket has an approximate thickness of 0.014 inches (0.356mm).

4. A gasket according to claim 1, claim 2 or claim 3, wherein said resinous material 65 comprises a low density polyethylene.

5. A gasket according to claim 4, wherein said resinous material includes one or more additives in amounts up to about 50 weight percent.

6. A gasket according to claim 5, wherein one said additive is butyl rubber.

7. A valve mounting assembly incorporating a gasket according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

8. A valve mounting assembly including a mounting cup comprising a base, a cylindrical body portion of predetermined diameter extending upwardly from said base, said body portion terminating at an upper end in an outwardly rolled peripheral flange defining a downwardly directed annular gasket receiving channel, an annular planar gasket having coaxial inner and outer peripheries defining inner and outer diameters respectively, said inner di-amter being smaller than the diameter of said cylindrical body portion, and said outer diameter being greater than the diameter of the cylindrical body portion, said gasket being adapted for forcible engagement over said body such that an outer portion of the gasket is moved into seated engagement within the annular gasket receiving channel, and an inner portion of the gasket, adjacent the inner periphery thereof, is annularly and laterally deformed into intimate frictional engagement about the periphery of the cylindrical body portion.

9. An assembly according to claim 8, wherein the inner portion of said gasket, when the gasket is in seated engagement within the gasket receiving channel, defines a body encircling sleeve engaging the body portion to a desired height above the channel.

10. An assembly according to claim 8 or claim 9, wherein the outer periphery of said gasket, when the gasket is in seated engagement with the gasket receiving channel, is positioned in general alignment with said peripheral flange.

11. A method of assembling a valve mounting assembly including a sealing gasket and a mounting cup having a central cylindrical body portion having a predetermined diameter and an annular gasket receiving channel formed thereabout; said method including the steps of providing a planar annular gasket having an inner peripheral diameter smaller than the diameter of said body portion; coaxi-ally aligning said gasket normal to and adjacent said body portion, and forcibly moving said gasket into engagement with and about said body such that a portion of the gasket adjacent the inner periphery thereof deforms into a sleeve-like configuration to be in intimate frictional conformance with the body portion.

12. A method according to claim 11, wherein the movement of the gasket over the body portion is continued until a portion of the gasket achieves seated engagement within

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the annular channel surrounding said body portion.

13. Apparatus for use in the assembly of a planar gasket to a mounting cup having a

5 cylindrical body portion surround by an annular gasket receiving channel; said apparatus comprising: a guide bushing having a passage defined therethrough to form openings at opposite first and second ends of the bushing, said 10 passage being adapted to receive a planar gasket therein adjacent the first end; an inserter introducable through said second end for longitudinal movement within said passage; a chamber defined in said inserter and opening 15 through a leading end thereof to define a gasket engaging annular edge, said chamber being adapted to receive at least a part of the central body portion of a mounting cup through the first end of the bushing, the ar-20 rangement being such that the annular edge of the inserter engages the gasket to effect a seating thereof within the gasket receiving channel of a mounting cup as the body portion of the cup moves into the chamber of the 25 inserter.

14. Apparatus according claim 13, wherein the passage through said guide bushing, has an annular gasket positioning recess defined therein adjacent said first end.

30 15. Apparatus according to claim 13 or claim 14, wherein said inserter includes a centering unit within said chamber, said centering unit being reciprocally movable towards and away from the leading end of said chamber 35 and including a head that is configured for close sliding accommodation within the chamber and has a central projection directed outwardly towards the leading end for centering engagement with a mounting cup. 40 16. Apparatus according to claim 15, including an outwardly directed gasket receiving annular seat defined in said head peripherally about the central projection and in spaced relation thereto.

45 17. Apparatus according to claim 15 Or claim 16, including means resiliently biasing said central unit outwardly relative to said leading end, and means limiting such outward movement.

50 18. Apparatus according to claim 15, claim 16 or claim 17, further including a second chamber inward of said first chamber and centrally communicating therewith, said centering unit having a guiding extension projecting cen-55 trally from said head and extending into guiding engagement within said second chamber.

19. Apparatus according to claim 18, including an elongate bore communicating with said second chamber remote from said first

60 chamber, said means limiting outward movement of the centering unit engaging said guiding extension within said second chamber and extending longitudinally into said bore.

20. A gasket, for use in combination with 65 a valve mounting cup, substantially as herein described with reference to, and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

21. A valve mounting assembly substantially as herein described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.

22. A method of assembling a valve mounting assembly substantially as herein described.

23. Apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to, and as shown in, Figs. 7 and 8 of the accompanying drawings.

24. Apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to, and as shown in, Figs. 9 and 10 of the accompanying drawings.

25. Any novel feature and any novel combination of features-disclosed herein.

Amendments to the claims have been filed, and have the following effect-

Claims 1 to 25 above have been deleted

New claims have been filed as follows:-

1. A gasket for use in combination with a valve mounting cup having a body defined by a cylindrical wall terminating in an outwardly circularly rolled annular surrounding channel; the gasket being an annular planar gasket formed of a self-sustaining deformable resinous material having a uniform thickness with coaxial inner and outer peripheries defining inner and outer diameters respectively, said gasket having top and bottom surfaces, said gasket inner diameter being less than the diameter of said cylindrical wall, said outer diameter being greater than the diameter of said cylindrical wall, said gasket being adapted for forcible reception over said cylindrical wall and into intimate engagement of said gasket bottom surface with the interior of said channel and the cylindrical wall immediately adjacent thereto, the inner portion of the gasket, adjacent the inner periphery thereof, being adapted for annular and lateral deformation such that said gasket bottom surface is adapted for curling into said intimate frictional engagement with said channel and said cylindrical wall.

2. A gasket according to claim 1 wherein the inner peripheral portion of said gasket is adapted for encircling said wall as a sleeve engaged against said wall to a height above the channel.

3. A gasket according to claim 1 wherein the outer periphery of said gasket is adapted for general alignment with said peripheral flange.

4. A gasket according to claim 1, having a thickness of from 0.007 inches (0.178 mm) to 0.025 inches (0.635 mm).

5. A gasket according to claim 4, wherein said gasket has an approximate thickness of 0.014 inches (0.356 mm).

6. A gasket according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein said resinous material comprises

70

75

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8. A gasket, for use in combination with a valve mounting cup, substantially as herein described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.

Printed in the United Kingdom for

Her Majesty's Stationery Office, Dd 8818935, 1986, 4235.

Published at The Patent Office, 25 Southampton Buildings,

London, WC2A 1AY, from which copies may be obtained.

8

GB2172058A 8

a low density polyethylene.

7. A gasket according to claim 6, wherein said resinous material includes one or more additives in amounts up to 50 percent by

5 weight.