Sealing a gasket joint

Abstract

A thin walled crushable capsule filled with curable sealant is disposed over a pocket formed between adjacent gaskets sealing between structural members. Upon assembly of the structural members the capsule is crushed and sealant flows into the pocket as the gaskets are compressed.

1 . A method of sealing between a plurality of adjoining gaskets disposed between a plurality of structural members to be sealed by the gaskets comprising: 
 (a) providing corresponding surfaces on each of the gaskets and disposing the surfaces in adjoining relationship and forming a pocket therebetween;    (b) disposing a capsule of curable viscous sealant on one of said adjoining gaskets adjacent said pocket;    (c) squeezing said capsule with said structural members and dispensing said uncured viscous sealant therefrom into said pocket; and,    (d) curing said viscous sealant in said pocket.    
   
   
       2 . The method defined in  claim 1 , wherein said step of disposing a capsule includes forming a relatively thin walled semi-rigid container and filling the container with said sealant.  
   
   
       3 . The method defined in  claim 1 , wherein said step of disposing a capsule includes forming a relatively thin walled semi-rigid container and filling the container with elastomeric sealant material.  
   
   
       4 . The method defined in  claim 1 , wherein said step of disposing a capsule includes forming a relatively thin walled semi-rigid container and filling the container with RTV silicone material.  
   
   
       5 . The method defined in  claim 1 , wherein said step of curing the viscous sealant includes curing at ambient temperature.  
   
   
       6 . The method defined in  claim 1 , wherein said step of disposing a capsule includes disposing a crushable tubular shell.  
   
   
       7 . The method defined in  claim 1 , wherein said step of providing corresponding surfaces includes providing interdigitated surfaces.  
   
   
       8 . The method defined in  claim 1 , wherein said step of providing corresponding surfaces includes forming a projection on one gasket and a corresponding recess on another gasket; and, the step of disposing a capsule includes disposing the capsule on one of said projection and said recess.