Method for producing sealing elements

Abstract

A method for producing annular metallic sealing elements by bringing at least two sheet metal strips or foil strips having predefinable thicknesses, lengths, and widths into operative connection with each other in the manner of a tailored blank or patchwork, subsequently winding this composite to obtain a tube, wherein the mutually facing end regions of the tubular multilayer composite are connected to each other non-positively or positively or by bonding, or combinations thereof, notably by thermal action such as by welding or soldering, and either dividing the tube into individual ring elements, which are subsequently formed using mechanical shape-forming to obtain the respective sealing element, or forming the entire tube and dividing the tube thus profiled into ring elements to obtain individual sealing elements.

1 . A method for producing annular metallic sealing elements, comprising bringing at least two sheet metal strips or foil strips having predetermined thicknesses, lengths, and widths into operative connection with each other to form a multiplayer composite, winding the composite to obtain a tube, operatively connecting mutually opposed end regions of the tubular multilayer composite to each other, and dividing the tube into individual ring elements and subsequently subjecting the individual ring elements to mechanical shape-forming to obtain respective annular metallic elements or profiling the entire tube and dividing the thus profiled tube into individual ring elements comprising respective individual annular metallic sealing elements. 
     
     
         2 . A method for producing annular metallic sealing elements, comprising forming tubes or tube segments from sheet metal strips or foil strips having predetermined thicknesses, lengths, and widths, placing the tubes or tube segments inside each other so as to obtain a tubular multilayer composite operatively connecting mutually opposed end regions of the tubular multilayer composite to each other, and dividing the tubular multilayer composite into individual ring elements and subsequently subjecting the individual elements to mechanical shape-forming to obtain respective annular metallic sealing elements or profiling the entire tube and dividing the thus profiled tube into respective individual ring elements comprising respective individual annular metallic sealing elements. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the winding is helical. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the sheet metal strips or foil strips comprise first and second strips differing from each other in at least one of thickness, length, and width, said first and second strips being connected to each other to form said multilayer composite. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the sheet metal strips or foil strips comprise first and second strips differing from each other in at least one of thickness, length, and width, a first of the tubes or tube segments being formed from the first strip and a second of the tubes or tube segments being formed from the second strip. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1  or  16 , wherein the winding of the respective strips is in the same or opposite directions and the strips are assembled to obtain a tailored blank composite, or a patchwork composite, or a tailored tube composite. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the mechanical shape-forming comprises engaging the tube or individual ring element with a contour roller and surfaces of a negative mold which mate with the contour roller. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the mechanical shape-forming comprises hydroforming, rubber pad forming or use of upsetting presses. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  1  or  2 , wherein the strips are brought into operative connection with each other to form a tailored blank or patchwork. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the tubular multilayer composite comprises a tailored tube. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the strips are coated in some regions or over the entire surface. 
     
     
         12 . A turbocharger sealed by the sealing element produced by the method according to  claim 1  or  2 . 
     
     
         13 . A motor vehicle exhaust tract sealed by a flange gasket comprising the sealing element produced by the method according to  claim 1  or  2 . 
     
     
         14 . A motor vehicle transmission housing sealed by the sealing element produced by the method according to  claim 1  or  2 . 
     
     
         15 . An internal combustion engine comprising a cylinder-head gasket, the cylinder head gasket comprising the sealing element produced by the method of  claim 1  or  2 . 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising forming the tubes or tube segments by helical winding of the strips. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1  or  2 , wherein said operatively connecting comprises welding or soldering.