Retainer gasket construction

Abstract

Sealing gasket construction for providing a fluid seal intermediate a pair of opposed, mating parts or structures. The gasket includes a metal retainer and a resilient seal element received in a groove portion formed between sections of the retainer.

1 . A gasket assembly comprising: 
 a retainer having extents in a radial direction and in an axial direction generally normal to the radial direction, the retainer including:    a first section having opposing first section radial surfaces which extend to a first axial surface defined therebetween, the first axial surface having a length;    a second section having opposing second section radial surfaces which extend to a second axial surface defined therebetween and defining with the first axial surface a gap between the first section and the second section, the second axial surface being disposed opposite the first axial surface along at least a portion of the length thereof to define a lengthwise extent of the gap, and being spaced-apart from the first axial surface along such portion to define a widthwise extent of the gap;    at least one bridge portion disposed intermediate the lengthwise extent of the gap, the bridge portion spanning the widthwise extent of the gap and having a bridge first radial surface extending radially intermediate the first and the second axial surface of the first and the second section and being disposed axially intermediate the first radial surfaces of the first section and the second radial surfaces of the second section, and a bridge second radial surface disposed opposite the bridge first radial surface and extending radially intermediate the first and the second axial surface of the first and the second section, and being disposed axially intermediate the first axial surfaces of the first section and the second axial surfaces of the second section, the bridge first radial surface defining with the first and second axial surface a first groove portion within the gap, and the bridge second radial surface defining with the first and the second axial surface a second groove portion within the gap disposed opposite the first groove portion;    a resilient seal element formed of an elastomeric material disposed within the gap, the seal element extending along at least a portion of the lengthwise extent of the gap and through the first and the second groove portion of the bridge portion.    
   
   
       2 . The gasket assembly of  claim 1  wherein the seal element has a first side attached to the first axial surface, and a second side attached to the second axial surface.  
   
   
       3 . The gasket assembly of  claim 1  wherein the seal element has a radial first sealing surface and a radial second sealing surface disposed opposite the first sealing surface.  
   
   
       4 . The gasket assembly of  claim 3  wherein seal element first sealing surface extends axially beyond the corresponding radial surfaces of the first and the second section, and wherein the seal element second sealing surface extends axially beyond the other radial surfaces of the first and second section.  
   
   
       5 . The gasket assembly of  claim 1  wherein the corresponding radial surfaces of the first and the second section are generally coplanar.  
   
   
       6 . The gasket assembly of  claim 4  wherein each of the seal element first and second sealing surface is configured as a bead.  
   
   
       7 . The gasket assembly of  claim 1  wherein the retainer is formed of a metal or plastic.  
   
   
       8 . The gasket assembly of  claim 1  wherein the elastomeric material forming the seal element is selected from the group consisting of natural rubbers and synthetic rubbers.  
   
   
       9 . The gasket assembly of  claim 1  wherein the gap lengthwise extent forms a generally closed geometry, and wherein the seal element extends along substantially the entirety of the gap lengthwise extent.  
   
   
       10 . The gasket assembly of  claim 1  wherein the retainer has an inner and outer perimeter, and wherein the gap is formed intermediate the retainer inner and outer perimeter.  
   
   
       11 . The gasket assembly of  claim 10  wherein the retainer inner and outer perimeter forms a generally closed geometry.  
   
   
       12 . The gasket assembly of  claim 11  wherein the gap extends lengthwise generally about the closed geometry of the retainer.