Abstract:
A seal assembly and method according to which a plurality of seal members are provided, each of which is formed by a strip of material having two interlocking portions. One of the interlocking portion of each seal member interlocks with one interlocking portion of another seal member, and the other interlocking portion of the each seal member interlocks with one interlocking portion of another seal member.

Description:
BACKGROUND  
         [0001]    This disclosure relates generally to a seal member, an assembly of seal members, and a sealing method, all for the purpose of sealing against the ingress of air through a joint between two components.  
           [0002]    Seals are often employed with drying equipment in which air and moisture-laden materials are passed through the length of a dryer tube to dry the materials. The discharge end of the dryer tube usually extends through an opening in an enclosure that contains a screw conveyor, or the like, for receiving the dried material from the dryer tube and passing the material to other equipment. Seals are often provided at the joint between the discharge end of the dryer tube and the enclosure to prevent the ingress of “tramp” air into the enclosure via the opening.  
           [0003]    However, existing seals of this type are often very complicated and expensive and often are fabricated from stainless steel which further increases the cost.  
           [0004]    Therefore, what is needed is an air seal of the above type which is simple in design, easy to install, and relatively inexpensive.  
         SUMMARY  
         [0005]    According to an embodiment of the present invention a plurality of seal members are provided, each of which is formed by a strip of material having two interlocking portions. One of the interlocking portions of each seal member interlocks with an interlocking portion of another seal member, and the other interlocking portion of each seal member interlocks with an interlocking portion of still another seal member. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0006]    [0006]FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a seal member according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0007]    [0007]FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the seal member of FIG. 1 shown in an interlocked position with another identical seal member.  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 3 is a partial isometric view of a dryer tube shown connected to an enclosure.  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line  4 - 4  of FIG. 3.  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 5 is a view, similar to FIG. 3, but depicting a seal assembly installed on the dryer tube of FIG. 3.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line  6 - 6  of FIG. 5. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0012]    Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawings, the reference numeral  10  refers, in general, to a seal member according to an embodiment of the present invention. The seal member  10  is fabricated from an arcuate strip of flexible material, such as an urethane, which for the purpose of example, can be a 85 durometer urethane. The seal member varies in its radial dimension, or thickness, along its length to form a stepped cross section. More particularly, the seal member  10  includes a first section  10   a  having a relatively small radial dimension, a second section  10   b  extending from the section  10   a  and having a relatively large radial dimension which extends, or projects radially outwardly from the section  10   a  to form a shoulder  10   c . The radial inner surfaces of the sections  10   a  and  10   b  are coextensive. A third section  10   d  extends from the section  10   b , and its radial outer surface is coextensive with the radial outer surface of the section  10   b . The radial inner surface of the section  10   d  is stepped radially outwardly from the radial inner surface of the section  10   b  to form a shoulder  10   e . The sections  10   b  and  10   d  are formed integrally with section  10   a.    
         [0013]    A rib  12  is formed along one marginal edge portion of the sections  10   b  and  10   d  and projects radially outwardly from the latter sections. A rib  14  is also formed on the sections  10   b  and  10   d  and projects radially outwardly from the latter sections and in a spaced relation to the rib  12  to define a spring seat  16  therebetween. A flange  18  is formed along the opposite marginal edge portion of the sections  10   b  and  10   d  and projects radially outwardly from the latter sections. The ribs  12  and  14  and the flange  18  are formed integrally with the strip  10 .  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 2 depicts the seal member of  10  interlocked with a seal member  20  which is identical to the seal member  10 . Thus, the seal member  20  is fabricated from an arcuate strip of flexible material such as polythene which includes a first section  20   a  having a relatively small radial dimension, a second section  20   b  extending from the section  20   a  and having a relatively large cross section which extends, or projects radially outwardly from the section  20   a  to form a shoulder  20   c . The radial inner surfaces of the sections  20   a  and  20   b  are coextensive. A third section  20   d  extends from the section  20   b  and its radial outer surface is coextensive with the radial outer surface of the section  20   b . The radial inner surface of the section  20   c  is stepped radially outwardly from the radial inner surface of the section  20   a  to form a shoulder  20   e . The sections  20   a ,  20   b  and  20   c  are formed integrally.  
         [0015]    A rib  22  is formed along one marginal edge portion of the sections  20   b  and  20   c  and projects radially outwardly from the latter sections; and a rib  24  is also formed on the sections  20   b  and  20   c  and projects radially outwardly from the latter sections and in a spaced relation to the rib  24  to define a spring seat  26  therebetween. A flange  28  is formed along the opposite marginal edge portion of the sections  20   b  and  20   c  and projects radially outwardly from the latter sections. The ribs  24  and  26  and the flange  28  are formed integrally with the strip  20 .  
         [0016]    The members  10  and  20  are interlocked by placing the distal end of the section  20   d  of the member  20  against the shoulder  10   c  of the member  10 , and the distal end of the section  10   a  of the member  10  against the shoulder  20   e  of the member  20 . In this interlocked position, the radial inner surface of the section  20   d  engages the corresponding radial outer surface of the section  10   a.    
         [0017]    The arcuate length of the assembly of seal members thus formed can be extended by adding other seal members identical to the seal members  10  and  20 . In this case the seal member  10  would be connected to another identical seal member (not shown) in the same manner as described above, with the distal end of the corresponding section of the other seal member engaging the shoulder  10   e  of the member  10 . Still another seal member (not shown) can be connected to the seal member  20  in the same manner, with the distal end of the corresponding section of the latter other seal member engaging the shoulder  20   c  of the member  20 . According to an embodiment of the present invention, the number of seal members that are assembled in the above manner are such that a complete ring is formed, as will be discussed in detail later.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIGS. 3 and 4 depict the lower, or discharge, end portion of a dryer tube  30  that cooperates with an enclosure  32  and extends through an opening  32   a  (FIG. 4) in the enclosure  32 . A support ring  34  is affixed to the outer surface of the enclosure  32  in any conventional manner, and surrounds the opening  32   a . The function of the support ring  34  will be described later. Moisture-laden particulate material is introduced into the other end (not shown) of the dryer tube  30  and is passed through the length of the tube to dry the material before it is discharged into the interior of the enclosure  32 . The enclosure  32  usually contains a screw conveyor, or the like, (not shown) for receiving the dried material from the dryer tube  30  and passing the material to another location.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIGS. 5 and 6 depict a seal assembly  40  which is formed by a series of interlocked seal members that are identical to the seal members  10  and  20 , and which extends around the outer circumference of the dryer tube  30 . The assembly  40  functions to seal against the ingress of air through the interface between the discharge end of the dryer tube  30  and the opening  32   a  in the enclosure  32 . To this end, the assembly  40  is mounted adjacent the discharge end of the dryer tube  30  with a portion of the inner radial surface of the assembly extending over, and being supported by, the support ring  34 . The above first-mentioned marginal edge portions of the seal members  10  and  20 , as well as those of the remaining seal members in the assembly  40 , abut the corresponding outer surface of the enclosure  32 .  
         [0020]    As better shown in FIG. 6, a support flange  42 , having a T-shaped cross section, is mounted to the outer surface of the dryer tube  30  in any conventional manner and extends in a spaced relation to the support ring  34 . The outer radial surface of the flange  42  is aligned with the outer radial surface of the ring  34  and supports another portion of an inner radial surface of the seal assembly  40 .  
         [0021]    A ring-shaped bracket  44  is placed over an axial portion of the assembly  10  including the flanges  18  and  28  of the seal members  10  and  20 , respectively, and the corresponding flanges of the remaining seal members. The bracket  44  extends around the entire circumference of the latter portion of the seal assembly  40 , and a conventional clamp  44   a  (FIG. 5) is mounted to the respective end portions of the bracket and secures the bracket in place. As a result, the bracket  44  urges the corresponding portion of the seal assembly  40  into engagement with the support ring  34 .  
         [0022]    The remaining axial portion of the assembly  40 , including the ribs  12  and  14  of the seal member  10  (shown in FIG. 6), the ribs  22  and  24  of the seal member  20 , as well as those of the remaining seal members, are not engaged by the bracket  44 . A ring-shaped spring  46  is placed in the seats  16  and  26  of the seal members  10  and  20 , respectively, and the other seal members of the seal assembly  40 . The spring  46  extends for the entire circumference of the seal assembly  40  and is sized so as to apply a spring-loaded force to the assembly to force the corresponding portion of each seal ring into engagement with the support flange  42 . Thus, a strong and effective seal against the ingress of air into the enclosure opening  32   a  is established.  
         [0023]    In addition to installing the seal assembly  40  on the lower, or discharge, end portion of the dryer tube  30 , it is understood that another seal assembly could be installed on the upper, or inlet end portion of the dryer tube.  
         [0024]    The seal members and the seal assembly of the above embodiments establish a superior seal yet are are simple in design, easy to manufacture and install, and relatively inexpensive.  
         [0025]    It is understood that variations may be made in the foregoing without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the seal members disclosed above can be fabricated of any material consistent with the purpose of the invention. Also, the number of seal members used in a particular assembly can vary within the scope of the invention. Further, the expression “tube” is meant to cover other similar structure, such as conduits, pipes, ducts, etc., and the seal members and seal assembly can be used for sealing gases and liquids.  
         [0026]    Since other modifications, changes, and substitutions are intended in the foregoing disclosure, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the scope of the invention.