Seal molding sleeve

摘要

Systems and methods for manufacturing seals (e.g., metal end cap (MEC) seals) having inner and/or outer surfaces that include grooves are provided. In particular, seal mold assemblies may include removable, flexible, non-metallic annular mold inserts (e.g., sleeves) that may be inserted into annular mold cavities of inner and outer annular mold rings. As such, the mold inserts may be used interchangeably and modularly to create many different types of grooved seals, without the need to use different inner and outer annular mold rings. Using mold inserts in this manner eliminates the need for secondary machining processes on the inner and/or outer surfaces of the grooved seals, thereby reducing overall manufacturing costs and time as well as providing greater consistency and repeatability between manufactured grooved seals.

主权项

1. A method, comprising:
providing an inner annular mold ring of a seal mold assembly; providing an outer annular mold ring of the seal mold assembly; positioning the outer annular mold ring radially outside of the inner annular mold ring; positioning an elastomeric material preform, at least one metal end cap, and a mold sleeve between the inner and outer annular mold rings, wherein the mold sleeve comprises a radially inward or radially outward facing profile having a protrusion that faces a volume defined between the inner and outer annular mold rings, wherein the at least one metal end cap is disposed at a bottom axial end or a top axial end of the inner and outer annular mold rings, wherein the mold sleeve is disposed in a substantially stationary position, or the mold sleeve is flexible, or a combination thereof; subsequently allowing the elastomeric material preform to partially cure; and removing the partially cured elastomeric material preform from the seal mold assembly.