Pressurised silicone rubber seal flange used in steam sterilisers

摘要

A new seal (10), e.g. for a steam autoclave, can be subjected to pressure. The seal has a silicone rubber wall (16) surrounding a cavity and is sufficiently elastic, so that applied pressure causes it to expand against the part being sealed. To this effect, there is a flange (12) let into the wall (16), allowing a pressure medium to be introduced, and subsequently released. In the silicone rubber wall (16) near the flange, there is a woven or braided mat (18, 20). The mat is made of a flexible metal, which has greater rigidity than the silicone rubber.