O-Ring sealing arrangements for ultra-high vacuum systems

Patent · Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1981

OSTI ID:863941

Kim, Chang-Kyo ^[1]; Flaherty, Robert ^[2]

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1. Knoxville, TN
2. Mt. Lebanon, PA

An all metal reusable O-ring sealing arrangement for sealing two concentric tubes in an ultra-high vacuum system. An O-ring of a heat recoverable alloy such as Nitinol is concentrically positioned between protruding sealing rings of the concentric tubes. The O-ring is installed between the tubes while in a stressed martensitic state and is made to undergo a thermally induced transformation to an austenitic state. During the transformation the O-ring expands outwardly and contracts inwardly toward a previously sized austenitic configuration, thereby sealing against the protruding sealing rings of the concentric tubes.

• DOE Contract Number: E(11-1)-3073
• Assignee: United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): US 4281841
• OSTI ID: 863941
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

o-ring
sealing
arrangements
ultra-high
vacuum
systems
metal
reusable
arrangement
concentric
tubes
heat
recoverable
alloy
nitinol
concentrically
positioned
protruding
rings
installed
stressed
martensitic
undergo
thermally
induced
transformation
austenitic
expands
outwardly
contracts
inwardly
previously
sized
configuration
sealing rings
vacuum systems
thermally induced
concentric tubes
o-ring seal
ultra-high vacuum
sealing arrangement
o-ring sealing
sealing arrangements
concentrically positioned
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