PatentsSealing a flat-panel device

Applicant: Candescent Technologies Corp,USA and Sony Corp, JapanA flat-panel display is hermetically sealed by aprocess in which a first plate structure is positionedgenerally opposite a second plate structure suchthat sealing material provided over the latterstructure lies between the plate structures. In agravitational sealing technique, the first platestructure is positioned vertically below the secondplate structure. The sealing material is heated sothat it moves vertically downwards under theinfluence of gravity to meet the first plate structureand seal together the two structures. In what isreferred to as a global-heating, gap-jumpingtechnique, the plate structures and sealing materialare heated to cause the material to jump a gapbetween the material itself and the first platestructure. When the first plate structure ispositioned vertically above the second one, thesealing material moves vertically upwards to meetthe first plate structure and close the gap.Patent number: WO 02/10846Inventors: P.N. Ludwig, T.S. Fahlen, S.Kanagawa, J.Y. Sun Publication date: 7 February 2002

Bearing device sealApplicant: Matsushita Electric Industrial CoLtd, JapanA bearing device formed in such a way as to sealone end of a bearing boss with a cap, comprisingan oil-impregnated sintered bearing, is described.This holds (‘rotatably’) a shaft fixed to a rotor andthe bearing boss. A lubricating oil that is leakingfrom the bearing can be held and collected byproviding a number of grooves in the inside wallof the cap, which means that the operationalservice life of the bearing can be increased.Patent number: WO 02/10602Inventor: H. FujinakaPublication date: 7 February 2002

Copolymer sealant compositionsApplicant: General Electric Co, USAThis patent provides details of condensationcurable poly(fluoroorgano)siloxane-poly(silary-lene)siloxane block copolymer compositions.These have a glass transition temperature that does not exceed about –54°C. They also havean excellent solvent resistance, a characteristicthat is useful in sealants. Polyalkoxysilylorganocompounds, such as 1,4-bis[trimethoxysilyl-(ethyl)]benzene are also effective as cross-linkers.Patent number: WO 02/10258

Inventors: N. Singh, J.T. Leman, J.M. Whitney,O.H. KrabbenhoftPublication date: 7 February 2002

Polymerization of olefinicorthoestersApplicant: E.I. Du Pont De Nemours and Co,USASelected novel olefinic orthoesters may be copoly-merized with other olefins using certain late metaltransition catalysts, to form novel polyolefinscontaining orthoester pendant groups. These orth-oester groups may be partially or fully hydrolyzedto esters and/or hydroxyl groups, and the resultingpolymers may be crosslinked by reaction with poly-functional compounds. These polymers are usefulas curable plastics or elastomers, for use in coatings,sealants and caulks, and as moulding resins.Patent number: WO 02/10230Inventors: L. Wang, N.E. DrysdalePublication date: 7 February 2002

Cylinder head gasketApplicant: Motorenfabrik Hatz GmbH & CoKg, GermanyIn a single-cylinder or multi-cylinder internal com-bustion engine a drainage channel is provided in thecylinder head, which opens out radially at one end,within the annular gasket, in the region of the innerwall of the cylinder liner. The other end is connectedto the inlet or outlet port in the cylinder head.Patent number: WO 02/10572Inventors: G. Kampichler, S. JägerPublication date: 7 February 2002

Joining pipesApplicant: Wamonde Co Ltd, JapanA method is described that corrects ‘peaking’,which occurs in the pipe joints, by attaching astiffening ring, a lock ring and a stop ring to theouter surfaces of steel pipes. Also detailed is amethod which, in attaching a joint ring to theinner surface of a steel pipe, corrects ‘peaking’which occurs in the joint ring, and a way ofproducing a stiffening ring that is used in this joint.The patent also provides details of a constructionfor a packing used in the joint; a method of layingsteel pipes having this joint; and a seal surfaceconstruction for the joint. According to the patentthe production of pipe joints in a factory can beautomated by using these techniques. The fieldoperation also can be simplified.Patent number: WO 02/12772Inventor: N. TakeiPublication date: 14 February 2002

Fluid delivery systemsApplicant: Anaid Nominees Pty Ltd, AustraliaThe subject of this patent is a bearing assemblyfor relatively moveable pipe sections in a fluid

delivery system. The assembly comprises a mainbody that is adapted to be connected to one endof one pipe section. The main body has in agenerally radially extending annular face; acoaxial seat; a generally annular bearing member;and a coaxial groove to receive an annular sealingmember. An annular centre swivel section isadapted to be connected to one end of a secondpipe section and has on one generally radiallyextending face, and a coaxial seat to engage thefirst bearing member. It also has a second coaxialseat on an opposed generally radially extendingface to receive a second annular bearing member.This swivel section includes an annular, axiallyextending boss. This extends away from the mainbody, with the opposed generally radiallyextending face pointing radially outwards fromthe boss. A bearing end cap is adapted to engagethe second pipe section and is fastened to themain body. It sandwiches the swivel section andbearing members. The end cap has a seat for thesecond bearing member, and a second sealmember is disposed between the end cap and theswivel section.Patent number: WO 02/12771Inventor: G. HavilandPublication date: 14 February 2002

Brush seal assemblyApplicant: Advanced Component & MaterialsInc, USAA brush seal assembly including a bristle strip(having a plurality of bristles mounted at an angleto at least one rail), and an annular holder forsupporting the bristle strip, is provided. In oneembodiment, the bristle strip is flexible, such thatthe strip can be readily bent by hand and theannular holder is preferably U-shaped. The brushseal assembly may be used with conventionalmounting techniques, and may be mountedwithin a unitary or segmented holder. Onceinstalled, the seal assembly acts as a static anddynamic seal in order to seal the gap between ahigh pressure source and a low pressure source.Patent number: WO 02/12759Inventors: A. DattaPublication date: 14 February 2002

Hermetic seal for a LED arrayApplicant: Power Signal Technologies Inc, USAA solid state light apparatus that is suited for usein traffic control signals uses glass-to-metalhermetically sealed light-emitting diodes (LEDs).Currently, solid-state signals utilize LEDs withplastic/epoxy seals. A glass-to-metal hermetic sealis over 1000 times better at sealing suchsemiconductor devices than a plastic/epoxy seal,which can allow oxygen and other contaminantsto come in contact with the LED semiconductormaterial. The LEDs comprise chemicals such as

PATENTS

11Sealing Technology July 2002

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