Sealing for a piston chamber

Abstract

A rodless slide assembly is provided having first and second longitudinally extending chambers. A piston assembly is disposed in the first longitudinally extending chamber and is movable relative thereto. A slide assembly is disposed in the second longitudinally extending chamber and also movable relative thereto.

1 . (cancel)  
   
   
       2 . A rodless piston chamber assembly comprising: 
 a body having a longitudinally extending chamber defined by an inner wall disposed within the body, and a longitudinally extending slot extending from the inner wall of the longitudinally extending chamber;    wherein the slot provides communication interiorly and exteriorly of the longitudinally extending chamber;    a piston seal located within the longitudinally extending chamber and engagable with the inner wall of the longitudinally extending chamber; and    a longitudinally extending band seal located at the longitudinally extending slot and configured to provide a barrier between the interior and exterior of the longitudinally extending chamber;    wherein the band seal is characterized by a convex-shaped head directed toward the longitudinally extending chamber, and configured to engage a corresponding concave-shaped cavity in the piston seal to allow the piston seal to move with respect to the band seal.    
   
   
       3 . The rodless piston chamber assembly of  claim 2 , wherein longitudinally spaced apart legs extend from the band seal and into the slot.  
   
   
       4 . The rodless piston chamber assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the spaced apart legs are configured with a bias that causes the legs to oppose each other.  
   
   
       5 . The rodless piston chamber assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the longitudinally extending slot is defined by opposing spaced apart walls, and the legs of the band seal further comprise feet extending therefrom each configured to engage one of the opposing spaced apart side walls.  
   
   
       6 . The rodless piston chamber assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the feet assist retaining the legs in the slot, and the legs are each located adjacent but spaced apart from their respective sidewall of the slot.  
   
   
       7 . The rodless piston chamber assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the feet assist keeping the band seal longitudinally centered in the longitudinally extending slot.  
   
   
       8 . The rodless piston chamber assembly of  claim 2 , wherein a corner of the concave-shaped cavity in the piston seal engages a corner of the band seal adjacent the convex-shaped head which engages the inner wall of the longitudinally extending chamber.  
   
   
       9 . A rodless piston chamber assembly comprising: 
 a body having a longitudinally extending chamber defined by an inner wall disposed within the body, and a longitudinally extending slot extending from the inner wall of the longitudinally extending chamber;    wherein the slot provides communication interiorly and exteriorly of the longitudinally extending chamber;    a piston seal located within the longitudinally extending chamber and engagable with the inner wall of the longitudinally extending chamber; and    a longitudinally extending band seal located at the longitudinally extending slot and configured to provide a barrier between the interior and exterior of the longitudinally extending chamber;    wherein the band seal is characterized by a convex-shaped head directed inwardly toward the longitudinally extending chamber.    
   
   
       10 . The rodless piston chamber assembly of  claim 9 , wherein longitudinally spaced apart legs extend from the band seal and into the slot.  
   
   
       11 . The rodless piston chamber assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the spaced apart legs are configured with a bias that causes the legs to oppose each other.  
   
   
       12 . The rodless piston chamber assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the longitudinally extending slot is defined by opposing spaced apart walls, and the legs of the band seal further comprise feet extending therefrom each configured to engage one of the opposing spaced apart side walls.  
   
   
       13 . The rodless piston chamber assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the legs are each located adjacent but spaced apart from their respective sidewall of the slot.  
   
   
       14 . The rodless piston chamber assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the feet assist keeping the band seal longitudinally centered in the longitudinally extending slot.  
   
   
       15 . A rodless piston chamber assembly comprising: 
 a body having a longitudinally extending chamber defined by an inner wall disposed within the body, and a longitudinally extending slot extending from the inner wall of the longitudinally extending chamber;    wherein the slot has opposing spaced-apart sidewalls, and provides communication interiorly and exteriorly of the longitudinally extending chamber;    a piston seal located within the longitudinally extending chamber and engagable with the inner wall of the longitudinally extending chamber; and    a longitudinally extending band seal located at the longitudinally extending slot and configured to provide a barrier between the interior and exterior of the longitudinally extending chamber;    wherein the band seal is characterized by spaced-apart legs that comprise feet extending therefrom;    wherein each foot is configured to engage one of the opposing spaced-apart sidewalls.    
   
   
       16 . The rodless piston chamber assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the feet assist retaining the legs in the slot, and the legs are each located adjacent but spaced apart from their respective sidewall of the slot.  
   
   
       17 . The rodless piston chamber assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the band seal is made from a resilient material.