Metallic hollow O-ring and process for producing same.

摘要

A metallic hollow O-ring (10) comprises a metallic shell (12) formed continuously in the circumferential direction into a ring-like form and a continuous hollow portion (14) formed in the circumferential direction inside the metallic shell, said metallic shell being welded (16) intermittently or continuously in the circumferential direction. A process for producing such a metallic hollow O-ring (10) comprises a step of bending a material to form the ring-like metallic shell (12) so that a hollow portion (14) is formed continuously in the circumferential direction inside the metallic shell and, at the same time, an opening (30) is formed continuously in the circumferential direction in a space between the edge portions (28) of said metallic shell, and a step of welding (16) the edge portions together intermittently or continuously in the circumferential direction so that said opening portion is blocked partially or wholly. Metallic hollow O-rings with such a welded structure are capable of easy low cost mass production and are excellent in sealing performance and mechanical strength. <IMAGE>