GB2214995A - Seals - Google Patents

Abstract

A fluid seal of a kind suitable for use in a rotatable water faucet for sealing the annular space between inner and outer cylindrical surfaces comprises a sealing element having an inner cylindrical surface 31, a pair of beaded outer surfaces 34 separated by a valley 33 and a groove 32 of V-shaped section behind each of the beaded portions. A simplified form of the invention has only a single bead 34 with its V-shaped groove. <IMAGE>

Description

Improved Fluid Seal ar.d Facets Incorporatin- Such Seals.

The present invention relates to an improved fluid seal for sealing the space between a pair of relatively rotatable coaxial cylinders against flow of fluid in an axial direction. Seals of this kind are useable in particular in rotatable faucets to prevent leakage of fluid between the fixed and the swivelling portions of the faucets.

Hereto such seals have generally used the well-known elastomeric O-rings, but these have certain disadvantages. In particular they are fairly rigid and are difficult to mount in assembly, they may wear unevenly and their stiffness may make it difficult to position the swivelling position of the faucets with accuracy.

An object of the invention, which is defined in the claims appended hereto, is to provide a seal which is efficient at preventing leakage, which is more readily deformable than the conventional O-ring seal and therefore easier to assemble, and which is less liable to wear in use.

The invention will be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a part-sectional view of a rotatable faucet incorporating the present invention; Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the sealing element of the faucet of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a radial section through the sealing element in Figure 2; and Figure 4 is a section through an alternative simplified form of sealing element.

Referring first to Figure 1, a water faucet comprises a cylindrical inner body 2, a swivelling spout portion, 4 having a cylindrical barrel 5 coaxial with, and fitting over, the cylindrical body 2 and a pair of sealing elements 3 sealing the annular gap between the barrel 5 and the body 2, suc that tE spout can rotate relative to the body without water escaping between them.

Figure 2 shows in more detail one of the sealing elements 3. The element has an inner cylindrical surface 31 fitting closely over a portion of the body 2. The outside of the element consists of a pair of beads 34 separated by a valley 33, the toric outer surfaces of the beads 34 contacting the inside of the barrel portion 5 of the faucet.

Immediately behind the beads 34, are a pair of grooves 32 of general V-shaped or triangular section, their outer surface, that is to say the surface immediately to the back of the beads 34 being cylindrical and coaxial with the inner surface 31.

The cross-section of the element is shown in Figure 3, which indicates how, in operation, water pressure applied at the grooves 32 forces the beads 34 outward, and causes them to seal more securely against the inside of the barrel 5.

It will be noted also that the structure, because of its form in cross section is more flexible than the conventional O-ring of comparable material, and therefore is easier to assemble on the body 2 during manufacture of the faucet.

Figure 4 shows, in section, a simplified element of a similar type to that shown in Figure 2 and 3, but only having a single bead and groove. This simpler structure may be suitable for certain applications, it is of course necessary that the V-shaped groove should face the direction from which the higher fluid pressure is to be applied.

Claims (4)

1. A fluid seal comprising-spaced apart inner and outer coaxial cylindrical surfaces rotatable with respect to one another about their common axis and with at least one flexible annular sealing element positioned between them to seal the space between them against flow of fluid in axial direction, and in which the sealing element has a cylindrical inner surface sealing against the inner cylinder, and an outer surface in the form of a toric bead sealing against the outer cylinder and a groove of a V-shaped section at the rear of the bead.

2. A fluid seal according to claim 1 in which the sealing element has two said toric beads, each with its V-shaped groove and with a valley between them, the V-shaped grooves facing away from one another in axial directions.

3. A fluid seal according to claim 1 or claim 2 in which the face of the or each groove immediately to the rear of its bead is coaxial with the cylindrical surfaces.

4. A rotatable faucet incorporating a fluid seal according to any preceding claim.