Liquid Injection Sealing New and Novel Approach to Meet Gasketing Needs 2003-01-0943

By fastening the two substrates together prior to sealing, a mated fit of the dry surface is achieved. With proper molding, machining or casting of the substrates a channel is created for an injection of gasketing material to follow, similar to the grove for a hand placed compression gasket. The material developed is flowable enough to fill the entire channel with small injection pressures. Once the channel is filled, the material cures in a very short time. This method allows for varying surface irregularities to be accounted for and sealed easily by the material. The material itself is designed to expand upon thermal exposure and exposure to the fluid it is sealing in or out. This swell then puts pressure within the channel and upon the opposing substrates increasing the seal force and enhancing the seal performance. Materials have been design to seal oils, coolants, water and transmission fluid. Other materials can be designed to meet different and new seal needs.

Without the need to hand place a premoulded gasket, production times can be significantly reduced. During implementation the surface damage, which caused leaking in premoulded gaskets or cure in place gaskets, was eliminated. In one application 11 cents worth of material replaced a viton O-ring costing 65 cents. This savings was multipled by 10 when added to the cost savings of the manufacturing process and the warranty claims.