US 12,270,472 B2
Joint, motor, industrial robot and method of installing a seal
Harald Martini, Gothenburg (SE); and Su Zhao, Västerås (SE)
Assigned to ABB Schweiz AG, Baden (CH)
Appl. No. 17/593,885
Filed by ABB Schweiz AG, Baden (CH)
PCT Filed Mar. 29, 2019, PCT No. PCT/EP2019/058031
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Sep. 27, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/200401, PCT Pub. Date Oct. 8, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0170547 A1, Jun. 2, 2022
Int. Cl. F16J 15/02 (2006.01)
CPC F16J 15/022 (2013.01) 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of installing a seal, the method comprising:
providing a first member and a second member, the second member being connected to the first member such that a groove is formed between the first member and the second member, wherein the first member includes a main body and a protrusion extending from the main body, the groove being formed around the protrusion between the first member and the second member;
providing a hollow seal in a static expanded state, the seal including a shrinkable material;
sliding the seal in the static expanded state over one of the first member and the second member to be aligned with the groove; and
stimulating the shrinkable material such that the entire seal shrinks into the groove and is then configured in a shrunken state within the groove to seal the groove, the seal thereby axially or laterally pushes against faces of the first and second members in the groove;
wherein the shrinkable material is a shape memory material;
wherein the step of stimulating comprises stimulating the shape memory material such that the seal shrinks to a memorized dimension and shape for sealing the groove;
wherein the memorized dimension of the seal is smaller than an external dimension of the protrusion; and
wherein the step of stimulating includes the seal exerting a radially inward force against the protrusion.