Single piece redundant, bi-directional, seal damage prevention pressure seal
An example seal for use with a laminated window is described. The seal includes a first end formed from a first material and a second end formed from the first material, with the first material being compressible when a pressure force is applied to the first material. The seal also includes a connection portion positioned between the first end and the second end. At least some of the connection portion is formed from a second material having a greater indentation hardness than an indentation hardness of the first material. An example method for installing a seal is also described.
1. A seal for use with a window, the seal comprising:
a first end comprising a first seal bead and a first transition portion projecting from the first seal bead;
a second end comprising a second seal bead and a second transition portion projecting from the second seal bead; and
a connection portion joining the first transition portion and the second transition portion, the connection portion comprising:
a first corner comprising a first section, wherein the first section has a thickness that is smaller than a diameter of the first seal bead, and wherein the first section is connected to and parallel to the first transition portion, and
a second corner comprising a second section, wherein the second section has a thickness that is smaller than a diameter of the second seal bead, and wherein the second section is connected to and parallel to the second transition portion,
wherein the second end is formed from a first rubber that is compressible when a pressure force is applied, and
wherein the second corner is formed from a second rubber that is separate from and joined to the first rubber, the second rubber having a greater indentation hardness than an indentation hardness of the first rubber.
2. The seal of claim 1 , wherein the first corner is configured to abut an inner edge portion of the window and the second corner is configured to abut an outer edge portion of the window.
3. The seal of claim 2 , wherein the first corner and the second corner of the connection portion are formed from the second rubber.
4. The seal of claim 2 :
wherein the second section is thicker than the first section.
5. The seal of claim 4 , wherein the diameter of the first seal bead is larger than the diameter of the second seal bead.
6. The seal of claim 1 :
wherein the first transition portion has a thickness that is smaller than the diameter of the first seal bead, and
wherein the second transition portion has a thickness that is smaller than the diameter of the second seal bead.
7. The seal of claim 6 , wherein the first section is parallel to the second section.
8. The seal of claim 7 , wherein the thickness of the second transition portion is smaller than the thickness of the second section.
9. The seal of claim 7 , wherein the connection portion further comprises a center portion between the first corner and the second corner, and wherein the first section and the second section are orthogonal to the center portion.
10. The seal of claim 1 , wherein the thickness of the first section and the thickness of the second section limit compression of the first seal bead and the second seal bead, respectively, to between about 20% to about 30% when the pressure force is applied.
11. The seal of claim 1 , wherein the second rubber has a Shore hardness of about 80 A.
12. The seal of claim 1 , wherein the seal is a single-piece seal formed by co-processing the first rubber and the second rubber.
13. A window system comprising:
a frame having a first leg and a second leg, the first leg and the second leg defining a channel therebetween;
a window having an edge portion positioned in the channel; and
a seal positioned between the edge portion of the window and the channel, the seal comprising:
a first end comprising a first seal bead and a first transition portion projecting from the first seal bead,
a second end comprising a second seal bead and a second transition portion projecting from the second seal bead, and
a connection portion joining the first transition portion and the second transition portion, the connection portion comprising:
a first corner comprising a first section, wherein the first section has a thickness that is smaller than a diameter of the first seal bead, and wherein the first section is connected to and parallel to the first transition portion, and
a second corner comprising a second section, wherein the second section has a thickness that is smaller than a diameter of the second seal bead, and wherein the second section is connected to and parallel to the second transition portion,
wherein the second end is formed from a first rubber that is compressible when a pressure force is applied, and
wherein the second corner is formed from a second rubber that is separate from and joined to the first rubber, the second rubber having a greater indentation hardness than an indentation hardness of the first rubber.
14. The window system of claim 13 :
wherein the window has an inner surface and an outer surface, and
wherein the seal is positioned in an inner gap defined between the inner surface and the first leg and in an outer gap defined between the outer surface and the second leg.
15. The window system of claim 14 , wherein the seal is configured to maintain sealing functionality on the inner surface and the outer surface of the window when the pressure force is not applied and when the pressure force is applied.
16. The window system of claim 13 , wherein the first corner is configured to abut an inner edge portion of the window and the second corner is configured to abut an outer edge portion of the window.
17. The window system of claim 16 , wherein the first corner and the second corner of the connection portion are formed from the second rubber.
18. The window system of claim 13 , wherein the frame is part of a spacecraft.
19. A method for installing a seal for a window, wherein the seal comprises a first end comprising a first seal bead and a first transition portion projecting from the first seal bead, a second end comprising a second seal bead and a second transition portion projecting from the second seal bead, and a connection portion joining the first transition portion and the second transition portion, the connection portion comprising (i) a first corner comprising a first section, wherein the first section has a thickness that is smaller than a diameter of the first seal bead, and wherein the first section is connected to and parallel to the first transition portion, and (ii) a second corner comprising a second section, wherein the second section has a thickness that is smaller than a diameter of the second seal bead, and wherein the second section is connected to and parallel to the second transition portion, wherein the second end is formed from a first rubber that is compressible when a pressure force is applied, and wherein the second corner is formed from a second rubber that is separate from and joined to the first rubber, the second rubber having a greater indentation hardness than an indentation hardness of the first rubber, the method comprising:
positioning the seal around an edge portion of the window such that the first end abuts an inner surface of the window and the second end abuts an outer surface of the window; and
after positioning the seal around the edge portion of the window, securing the window within a channel of a frame.
20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the second corner is configured to abut an outer edge portion of the window, the method further comprising:
identifying the second corner of the connection portion of the seal, wherein positioning the seal around the edge portion of the window comprises positioning the seal around the edge portion of the window such that the second corner abuts the outer edge portion of the window.