Externally supported wide tolerance seal

摘要

A fluid container assembly design has a wide tolerance variation in the width of an open seal gap between opposed sealing surfaces of different assemblies. A resilient seal is provided with a generally rectangular central section partially supported within a groove and partially unsupported by excessive extension beyond the groove. To avoid buckling, the extending portion includes resilient stabilizers including barb-like projections. These resiliently engage a component surface adjacent the groove to stabilize the extending portion and prevent buckling. This allows the seal to compress over its total height to seal the gap between the bottom of the retaining groove in one component and the opposite sealing surface of the other assembly component while the stabilizer projections yield to avoid involvement in the sealing function and act only to prevent buckling of the seal unsupported portion. Exemplary applications for engine rocker covers and oil pan-crankshaft seal gaps are disclosed.