CA2034424C

CA2034424C - Variable gap filling system

Info

Publication number: CA2034424C
Application number: CA002034424A
Authority: CA
Inventors: James Frederick Keys; Douglas Charles Larsen
Original assignee: Standard Products Co
Current assignee: Cooper Standard Automotive Inc
Priority date: 1990-05-14
Filing date: 1991-01-17
Publication date: 2001-03-27
Anticipated expiration: 2011-01-17
Also published as: GB2244078A; JPH0777279A; US5181341A; GB2244078B; JP3123770B2; CA2034424A1; FR2661968B1; GB9110329D0; FR2661968A1

Abstract

A variable gap sealing article for sealing between a first surface and a second surface which are spaced from one another. The article includes an elongated body portion having a width. A first sealing surface is provided on the first side of the width for sealing against the first surface and a second surface is provided on a second side of the width for sealing against the second surface. The body portion includes a resilient contractible portion and an expandable portion. The contractible portion may be contracted and the expandable portion expanded and retained in the expanded position thereby bridging a gap between the first surface and the second surface. The contractible portion is held in a contracted position whereby the resiliency of the contracted contractible portion biases the article toward expansion of its width for assuring sealing between the first surface and the second surface.
In accordance with the method aspects of the present invention, an article as set forth above is utilized to fill a gap or a space between a pair of contiguous spaced surfaces by positioning the article between the surfaces. Thereafter, the expandable portion is expanded and the contractible portion is contracted to fill the space and leave the contractible portion in the contracted position. The expandable portion is also secured in the expanded position. This effectively bridges the gap and the resiliency of the contractible portion biases toward expansion of the width of the article to produce a positive pressure type seal between the surfaces.

Description

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VARIABLE GAP FILLING SYSTEM
RA~'KGROUND OF THE' INVE ION
The present invention relates to an article and method for filling and sealing of a gap between two contiguous surfaces. More specifically, the present invention relates to an elongated weatherstrip type member for molding to, filling and sealing of a variable gap between two members such as concrete roadway members or spaced flange members or other spaced surfaces in a vehicle.
In the past, it has been a goal in the art to provide advantageous methods for sealing between two adjacent spaced surfaces. This fs required in automotive applications, Eor instance between the doorway and frame of the automobile, to reduce noise and provide a weather tight seal for the interior compartment of the vehicle. In other applications, such as in roadway flanges, it is desired to reduce destructive water seepage through a particular joint, such as an expansion joint, to increase the longevity of the roadway.
In the past, there have been many articles and compositions which have been utilized to fill gaps in roadway surfaces. There have also been many weatherstrips designed to seal gaps in vehicle panels and the like. However, gaps to be filled are not always of standardized dimension, even when designed as such, therefore, effective sealing of gaps has bean problematic. For instance, while various gaps found in a 203~4~e vehicle are designed to be a certain dimension, because of production tolerances: fitting of parts during production;
wear and tear on the vehicle: and even because of vehicle use, a particular gap may have variable dimensions along the length of the gap. Also, weather variables may cause the dimensions of a gap to either expand or contract thereby reducing the possibility of a proper fit. As a result of these factors the effectiveness of a weatherstrip seal is reduced.
In a roadway construction type setting the sections forming a roadway contract and expand due to environmental factors. Therefore, it is desirable to provide a gap sealing which will contract and expand with the panels during these movements to effectively seal the joint.
Thus, it has been a goal in the art to provide a simple sealing article which could provide advantageous sealing properties for variable wridth dimension gap type situations.
In accordance with these goals, the present invention provides an advantageous sealing strip which can be applied to many uses wherein a variable gap is required to be sealed.
,~,~ OF INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention there is provided a variable gap sealing article fox sealing between a first surface and a second surface which are spaced from one another. The article includes an elongated body portion having a width. A first sealing surface is provided on the ~~3~~~f ~~
first side of the width for sealing against the first surface and a second surface is provided on a second side of the width for sealing against the second surface. The body portion includes a first resilient contractible portion and a second expandable and conforming portion. The first portion may be compressed or contracted and the second portion expanded for conforming to the second surface. The second portion is retained in the expanded and conformed position thereby bridging the gap between the first surface and the second surface and holding the contractible portion in a contracted position whereby the resiliency of the contracted portion biases the article toward expansion of its width for assuring sealing between the first surface and the second surface.
In accordance with the method aspects of the present invention, an article as set forth above is utilized to fill a gap or a space between a pair of contiguous spaced surfaces by positioning the article between the surfaces. Thereafter, the expandable portion is expanded and the contractible portion is contracted or compressed to fill the space and leave the contractible portion in the contracted position. The expandable portion also conforms to inconsistent varyin3 width gags between the surfaces and secured in the expanded position. This effectively bridges the gap and the resiliency of the contractible portion biases toward expansion of the width of the article to produce a positive pressure type seal between the surfaces.

Further advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art in light of the description of the preferred ambodiments given below and the drawings set forth herein.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DR W,A INGS
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a weatherstrip type variable gap sealing article made in accordance with the teachings of the present invention;
Fig. 2 is a perspective v~few and in cross-section showing a typical application of the weatherstrip invention made in accordance with the teachings of the present invention;
Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention utilized in sealing between two roadway panels or the like: and Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view similar to Fig. 3, showing the gap sealing article in its expanded position with the contractible portion contracted.
DESCRTPTTON OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring now to the drawings there is provided a eariable gap sealing article generally shown at 10. The sealing article 10 is adapted for sealing between a first surface and a second surface which are contiguous and spaced from one another.

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In accordance with the broadest aspects of the present invention, the article includes an elongated body portion, generally indicated at 12, which has a suitable width for closely bridging the gap between the two surfaces. The body portion includes a resilient contractible portion, generally indicated at 14, and a second expandable and conformable portion, generally indicated at 16. The present invention incorporates a assns for contracting the contractible portion and expanding at least the width of the expandable portion for conforming to the second surface while also retaining the expandable and conformable portion in the expanded, position.
Thus, when this is accomplished the expandable and conformable portion bridges the gap between the first surface and the second surface and conforms to the second surface. The resiliency of the contracted or compressed contractible portion 14 biases the article toward expansion of its width for providing a positive pressure type sealing between the first and second surface.
Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2 there is a variable gap sealing article 10 for use in sealing between a flange 18 of a vehicle frame and a vehicle door 20. In this embodiment of the present invention the elongated body portion 12 is made of an elastomeric material, such as EPDM rubbers or the like, and includes a first portion 22 for attachment to the flange 18.
The portion 22 includes a steel U-shaped core member 24 which is embedded in an elastomeric coating forming the securement ~f.~t~~~~':$~~~~
projections 26 for securing the elongated body portion 12 to the flange 18. Of course, other means of securement, such as clips, tape and the like which are readily known in the art, could be substituted for the securement projections 26. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the contractible portion is an elongated chamber 28 formed by v-shaped walls 27 and 29 in the central portion of the body 12. The v-shaped walls are adapted to bend inwardly upon collapse of portion 14 and are resilient. A second chamber 30 is provided which provides for the expandability of at least the width of portion 16 and also provides for conformability to the vehicle door 20 as will be described in further detail below. The walls of chamber 30 are elastic such that they will expand or conform upon internal pressure in the chamber 30. As illustrated in the figures, this may be accomplished by providing a thinner wall about chamber 30 when forming the article.
As described above, it is necessary to expand or conform the expandable or conformable portion while also contracting the contractible portion 14 to bridge the gap between the flange 18 and the vehicle door 20 when they are contiguous to one another. Thus, in accordance with the present invention there is provided a means for contracting the contractible portion and expanding the expandable portion 16 to provide a final structure which bridges the gap and conforms to vehicle door 20 and resiliently retains the seal between the door 20 and the flange 18 to provide an improved positive pressure seal. throughout the gap.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, this can be accomplished by evacuating the chamber 28 by way of a tube 32. This contracts portion 14 along with the overall width of the elongated body member 12 and prepares it for the next step of the present method.
In accordance with the next step of the present invention, while the door 20 and the flange 18 are contiguous with one another, such as with the vehicle door in the door closed position for instance, and the chamber 14 is evacuated, such as shown in Fig. 2, a hardening substance may be injected into the chamber 30 for expanding the chamber 30 thus widening the expandable portion and conforming the walls of the chamber 30 to the door surface 20. This may be accomplished by injecting a liquid under pressure or by injecting an expanding foaming type substance through tube 34 which will tend to expand the chamber 30 and take up the gap between flange 18 and door 20. During this expansion process the expandable portion 16 also conforms itself to the various dimensional widths and imperfections in the particular gap to be filled.
The substance injected into the chamber 30 is preferably an elastomeric type foaming material, such as an elevated temperature kickoff expanding one part urethane or polyurethene foam. RTV silicone sealant materials could be used which would harden such that the portion 16 would retain its conformed shape after curing of the material 36 in the chamber 30.
Alternately, the expandable or conformable chamber 30 of the weatherstrip can be pre-filled with a displaceable substance such as liquid, gel., beads or the aforementioned polyurethane. Door closure causes this substance (liquid, gel, beads or urethane) to be displaced and conform perfectly to its mating surface of t:he door 20. This displaced substance is now made to undergo an expansion or cure for solidifying the substance by the application of physical, chemical or electrical means such as heat in the case of the aforementioned polyurethane material. With the substance contained in the expandable and conformable portion having been cured, it now has the physical properties of being rigid or a combination of rigid and resilient to provide the desired mating seal.
Thus, upon curing of the material in chamber 30, the vacuum in chamber 28 is released and the chamber 28 is vented into the atmosphere which would allow the resiliency of the portion 14 to bias towards expansion of the width of the weatherstrip to ensure a tight sealing engagement with the door 20 thereby producing a uniform positive pressure type seal against the door 2C1.
In an alternate embodiment the positive pressure seal may be increased ii: desired by pumping of a fluid into chamber 28.

This would tend to expand the chamber 28 to increase the positive pressure seal against the door 20. This may be accomplished by directing air flow from along the surface of a moving vehicle into the chamber, by air scoops, ducts, vents or the like. In accordance with such a configuration the integrity of the seal would actually be~tightened as the speed of the vehicle increases, rather than loosening of the seal with increased speed, as is common in the prior art.' In an alternate embodiment of the method of the present invention the tube 32 could be used merely as a vent such that when the vehicle door surface 20 is adjacent to the flange 18 in a normal position the tube 34 could be used to pump under pressure a material into the chamber 30 or an expandable material to provide expansion of the chamber 30 and to provide at the same time contraction of the center portion 14. This would have the same effect as the earlier embodiment in that contraction and pre-stressing of the portion 14 would be accomplished while at the same time the chamber 30 would be filled with a hardening substance such that the chamber 14 will be biased toward expansion of the width of the weatherstrip for sealing mgainst the door portion 20.
Referring now to Figs. 3 and 4 there is shown an alternate embodiment of the present invention useful in forming a seal between a pair of roadway surfaces 102 and 104, for instance. The article 110 is adapted for sealing between a first surface of a roadway 112 and a second surface of a roadway 114. In accordance with this embodiment of the present invention, a first sealing portion 115 is provided for sealing against the first surface 112 and a second sealing portion 116 has a surface thereof for sealing against the second portion 114.
In accordance with this embodiment of the present invention there is also incorporated a contractible portion 118 and expandable portion 120. The contractible portion 118 in this embodiment includes a pair of accordion like walls 122 and 124 for forming a chamber 126. Chamber 126 is vented to the atmosphere by vent :L28. ~ second chamber 130 is provided in the expandable portion 120 which includes an injection tube 132 for injecting a suitable substance into the chamber 130.
In accordance with the method of this invention the article 110 is placed in between the first surface 112 and the second surface 114 and thereafter the chamber 130 is expanded by pumping of a solidifying substance, which in this application may be a cementatious material, a bitumen or asphalt or the like, into the chamber 130. The solidifying substance is injected into the chamber 130 under pressure for expanding of the chamber 130 and hardening therein. This compresses the accordion like walls 122 and 124. Thus, this expands the width of the portion 120 and contracts the contractible portion 118 to provide resilient expansion of the article between surfaces 112 and 114. This effectively seals off the space and allows for expansion and contraction of the NL
panels 102 and 104 forming surfaces 112 and 114 while retaining contact to provide good seal therebetween.
While the above description constitutes preferred ' embodiments of the present invention it is to be appreciated that the invention is susceptible to modification, variation and change without departing from the proper scope and fair meaning of the accompanying claims.

Claims

1. A variable gag sealing article for sealing between a first surface and a second surface spaced from one another, said article comprising:
an elongated body portion having a width, a first sealing surface on a first side of said width for sealing against said first surface and a second sealing surface on a second side of said width for sealing against the second surface; said body portion including a resilient first contractible portion and a second expandable and conformable portion: and a means for contracting said first contractible portion and expanding said second portion for expanding into and conforming to said second surface and retaining said second expandable or conformable portion in the expanded or conformable position wherein said expanded second expandable and conformable portion varies in width for bridging the gap between said first surface and said second surface and holds the contractible portion in the contracted position and said resiliency of said contracted contractible portion biases said article toward expansion of. said width further for assuring sealing between said first surface and said second surface.

2. The article of Claim 1 wherein said means comprise a first chamber along the length of said article adapted for contraction and a second chamber along the length of said article adapted for expansion of said expandable portion.

3. The article of Claim 2 wherein said second chamber contains an expanding substance.

4. The article of Claim 3 wherein said expanding substance further comprises an elevated temperature kickoff one part urethane.

5. The article of Claim 2 wherein said second chamber is expanded with a fluid under pressure and wherein said fluid cures to a solid state.

6. The article of Claim 2 wherein said first chamber is formed in said body portion by a pair of opposed V-shaped walls.

7. The article of Claim 2 wherein said first chamber is formed in said body portion by a pair of accordion like walls.

8. A variable gap sealing article for sealing between a first surface and a second surface spaced from one another comprising: an elongated body portion made of an expandable elastomeric material, said body portion including a first sealing surface for sealing against said first surface and a second sealing surface for sealing against said second surface, said first and second sealing surfaces running along the width of said elongated body portion; said body portion including first walls defining a first chamber and second walls defining a second chamber; said first chamber adapted to be filled with a first self curing substance for expanding the first chamber and curing therein while said variable gap sealing article is positioned between said first surface and said second surface, thereby acting to compress said second chamber to seal the gap between the first surface and the second surface and to conform to said second surface during alignment therebetween.

9. The article of Claim 8 wherein said walls forming second chamber further comprise a pair of opposed V-shaped walls.

10. The article of Claim 8 wherein said walls forming said second chamber further comprise a pair of accordion-like walls.

11. A method of sealing between a first surface and a second surface spaced from one another comprising the steps of:
a) providing a gap sealing article having an elongated body portion made of a resilient elastomeric material and including a first elongated chamber and a second elongated chamber, said first elongated chamber being adapted for expansion in response to injection of a fluid substance therein;
b) positioning said body portion between said first surface and said second surface;
c) evacuating the air from said second chamber; and thereby reducing the width of the body portion;
d) injecting a fluid into said first chamber for expanding said first chamber to an extent to take up the width lost by evacuation of said first chamber and for conforming to the dimensional widths between said first surface and said second surface; and e) releasing the vacuum imposed on said second chamber to allow the second chamber to expand thereby conforming to said second surface and providing a positive seal between said first surface and said second surface.

12. The method of Claim 11 wherein a fluid is injected under pressure for expanding of said first chamber.

13. The method of Claim 11 wherein said fluid further comprises a self-expanding foam material which is expanded in said first chamber.

14. The method of Claim 11 wherein said second chamber is formed by a pair of spaced V-shaped walls.

15. The method of Claim 11 wherein said second chamber is formed by a pair of spaced accordion-like walls.

16. The method of Claim 13 wherein said self expanding foam material further comprises an elevated temperature kickoff one part urethane material.

17. A vehicle weatherstrip for adapting to a variable gap between a first vehicle surface and a second vehicle surface contiguous to one another, for improved sealing therebetween, comprising:
an elongated body portion having a width, said body portion including: a first means for sealingly attaching said body portion to said first vehicle surface: a second means for contracting the width of said body portion of said weatherstrip while the weatherstrip is contiguous with said second vehicle surface; a third means for expanding a portion of the width of said body portion of the weatherstrip and maintaining the expanded position upon the release of said second means, said second portion being resilient for biasing said third portion into said second vehicle surface for conforming to said second vehicle and thereby providing a positive seal to said second vehicle surface.

18. The vehicle weatherstrip of Claim 17 wherein said second means further comprises an elongated chamber running along. the length of said body portion, said chamber being contractible by drawing a vacuum on said chamber.

19. The vehicle weatherstrip of Claim 17 wherein said third means further comprises an elongated chamber in said body portion, said chamber being expanded by the injection of a fluid into said chamber.

20. The weatherstrip of Claim 18 wherein said chamber is formed by a pair of spaced V-shaped walls in said body portion.

21. The weatherstrip of Claim 18 wherein said chamber is formed by a pair of spaced accordion-like walls.

22. The weatherstrip of Claim 18 further comprising a means for directing a pressurized fluid into said chamber for increasing the biasing toward expanding the width of said body portion of the weatherstrip.

23. A vehicle weatherstrip for adapting to a variable width gap between a first vehicle surface and a second vehicle surface contiguous to one another, for improved sealing therebetween, said weatherstrip comprising:
an elongated body having a width defined by a first securement portion, a contractible portion and an expandable portion;
a means for attachment of said securement portion to said first vehicle surface;
a first elongated chamber formed in said contractible portion, said first chamber allowing for contraction of the width of said contractible portion, said contractible portion being resilient for expanding after contraction thereof and a second elongated chamber formed in said expandable portion, said second chamber adapted for being expanded and secured in the expanded position for expanding the width of said elongated body for adapting to the variable width gap between said first vehicle surface and said second vehicle surface and conforming to said second vehicle surface while retaining the contractible portion in a contracted position wherein the resiliency of the contractible portion biases toward expansion of the width of said body portion for providing a positive pressure seal between said first vehicle surface and said second vehicle surface.

24. The vehicle weatherstrip of Claim 23 further comprising a means for injecting a fluid under pressure into said first elongated chamber for expanding said first chamber to increase said positive pressure seal.

25. The vehicle weatherstrip of Claim 24 wherein said means for injecting a fluid under pressure comprises a means for directing airflow pressure of the vehicle while in motion.

26. The vehicle weatherstrip of Claim 23 wherein said first elongated chamber is formed by a pair of spaced V-shaped walls.

27. The vehicle weatherstrip of Claim 23 wherein said first elongated chamber is formed by a pair of spaced accordion like walls.

28. A method of sealing between a first surface and a second surface spaced from and contiguous to one another comprising the steps of:
a) providing a gap sealing article which has an elongated body portion and a predetermined width wherein the body portion includes an elastic portion thereof for allowing contraction of the width and resilient expansion of the article and an expandable portion which allows for expansion of the width of the expandable portion;
b) positioning said body portion in said space between said first surface and said second surface;
c) providing for contraction of said elastic portion and expansion of said expandable portion for filling the space between said first surface and said second surface such that the elastic portion is contracted and the expandable portion is secured in the expanded position whereby the elastic portion, because of its resiliency, imparts a positive pressure for expanding the width of the article for conforming to inconsistent varying width gaps between said first surface and said second surface for enhancing sealing between said article, said first surface and said second surface.

29. A method of providing a conforming sealing of a gap between a first vehicle surface and a second vehicle surface, wherein the second vehicle surface and said first vehicle surface are movable with respect to one another from a first fixed position adjacent one another for forming said gap and a second open position removed from one another, said method comprising the steps of:
a. providing a gap sealing article having an elongated body portion having a length and a width, said body portion including a first connection portion, a resilient compressible portion and a chamber filled with an expellable and solidifyable substance, wherein said width of said article is greater than a widest dimension of said gap;
b. attaching said connection portion to one of said first and second surfaces when said surfaces are positioned in said second open position;
c. moving said first and second surfaces to said first fixed position with said article interposed therebetween for causing said article to conform to said surfaces and fill said gap by expelling a portion of the expellable substance from said chamber; and d. fixating said article in the conformed configuration by solidifying of the expellable and hardenable substance in said chamber.

30. The method of Claim 27 wherein said substance is made to expand in said chamber during the step of fixating for compressing the resilient compressible portion, the resiliency of the compressible portion providing a positive pressure seal between said first surface and said second surface.

31. The method of Claim 29 wherein said substance is an elevated temperature kickoff one part expandable urethane material.

32. The method of Claim 30 wherein said substance is an elevated temperature kickoff one part expandable urethane material.

33. The method of Claim 29 wherein said substance is a curable silicone fluid.

34. An article for conforming to and sealing of first and second vehicle surface forming a gap of a predetermined maximum width therebetween wherein the first vehicle surface and the second vehicle surface are movable with respect to one another from a first fixed position adjacent said first surface for forming said gap and a second position wherein said first surface and said second surface are removed from one another, said article comprising:
an elongated body having a width greater than said predetermined maximum width of said gap, said width defined by a first securement portion, a resilient compressible portion and a chamber formed by a conformable wall portion, said chamber being filled with a substance having fluid flow properties;
a means for attachment of said securement portion to one of said first vehicle surface and said second vehicle surface;
a means for allowing expulsion of a portion of said substance from said chamber when said article is interposed between said first surface and said second surface and said first surface and said second surface are moved from said second open position to said first gap defining position, due to said other one of said first surface and second surface causing said conforming wall to conform to said other one of said first surface and second surface; and a means for fixating said substance in said chamber in said conformed shape for retaining a shape for conforming to said other one of said first surface and said second surface for effectively bridging the gag.