WAX-MOTOR WITH HIGH CYCLE LIFE

摘要

A seal assembly for a wax motor or the like provides an elastomeric seal, fitting against an actuator shaft that may slide through the elastomeric seal, where the elastomeric seal has mold flash regions that are displaced from the contact area between the shaft and the elastomeric seal significantly increasing elastomeric seal life.

主权项

1. A thermally responsive actuator comprising:
a housing having a bore extending along an axis and opening at a first end of the housing; a piston slidable along the axis and having a shaft extendable through the opening of the housing with movement of the piston; a thermal expansion material positioned within the bore in contact with the piston; and a seal assembly attached to the first end of the housing to cover the opening and surround a portion of the shaft to allow the shaft to slide through the seal assembly while preventing escape of the thermal expansion material; wherein the seal assembly includes an elastomeric seal surrounding a portion of the shaft and contacting the portion of the shaft over a contact region, the elastomeric seal having mold flash regions displaced from a center of the contact region.