Method for making an elastomeric sealing device

1. In a process of producing a plurality of knife cut concentric ring sections into a device having first and second faces and formed of a non metallic pliant material, said ring sections being concentric with an axis of said device and extending parallel with said axis, said process comprising the steps of:

a. mounting said first face of said device in a rotatable chuck means having a rotatable axis by means of a vacuum seal between said first device face and said chuck;

b. rotating said device about said axis on said chuck means;

c. positioning a knife means substantially perpendicular to the second face of said device at a first radial distance from said axis;

d. moving said knife means parallel with said axis relative to said device whereby said knife means cuts a slit ring into said device while said device is rotated, said knife means moving to a position more closely adjacent said first face;

e. continually rotating said device while said knife means continues to cut into said device;

f. positioning said knife at another radial distance from said axis, and repeating steps d. and e. thereby forming a ring section;

g. positioning said knife at another radial distance from said axis and repeating steps d. and e. to form a second ring section; and,

h. dismounting said device from said chuck without removing said ring sections from said device;

the improvement comprising increasing the size of said first face to create a thin extended elastomeric mounting flange such that the cross-sectional area of the first face disposed against said chuck is at least 150% of the cross-sectional area of the body of said device and further wherein the thin flange to be disposed against the vacuum chuck has a ridge disposed close to its outer perimeter which is received within a corresponding groove in the vacuum chuck.

2. In a process of producing a plurality of knife cut concentric ring sections into a device having first and second faces and formed of a non metallic pliant material, said ring sections being concentric with an axis of said device and extending parallel with said axis, said process comprising the steps of:

a. mounting said first face of said device in a rotatable chuck means having a rotatable axis by means of a vacuum seal between said first device face and said chuck;

b. rotating said device about said axis on said chuck means;

c. positioning a knife means substantially perpendicular to the second face of said device at a first radial distance from said axis;

d. moving said knife means parallel with said axis relative to said device whereby said knife means cuts a slit ring into said device while said device is rotated, said knife means moving to a position more closely adjacent said first face;

e. continually rotating said device while said knife means continues to cut into said device;

f. positioning said knife at another radial distance from said axis, and repeating steps d. and e. thereby forming a ring section;

g. positioning said knife at another radial distance from said axis and repeating steps d. and e. to form a second ring section; and,

h. dismounting said device from said chuck without removing said ring sections from said device;

the improvement comprising increasing the size of said first face to create a thin extended elastomeric mounting flange such that the cross-sectional area of the first face disposed against said chuck is at least 150% of the cross-sectional area of the body of said device and further wherein outer edges of the thin flange mate with the walls defining a corresponding recess on the vacuum chuck which secure the device against rotation relative to the chuck during working.

3. In a process for producing at least one knife cut concentric ring section in an elastomeric sleeve formed of a pliant non metallic material and which sleeve has a first face and a second face, said process comprising the steps of:

a. mounting said first face of said sleeve on a rotatable chuck means by means of a vacuum seal between said first device face and said chuck;

b. rotating said sleeve on said chuck means about an axis;

c. positioning a knife means substantially perpendicular to the second face of said sleeve;

d. moving said knife means in a direction substantially perpendicular to said second sleeve face whereby said knife means cuts a slit ring into said sleeve while said sleeve is rotated to form a concentric knife cut ring into said sleeve material;

e. rotating said sleeve while said knife means continues to cut a slit ring into said sleeve, said cut extending from said second face contiguous to said first face mounted on said chuck means;

f. withdrawing said knife means from said sleeve in a direction substantially perpendicular to said second face;

g. positioning said knife at another radial distance from said axis, and repeating steps d., e. and f. to form a ring section; and,

h. removing said sleeve from said chuck means without removing the cut ring section from said sleeve;

the improvement comprising increasing the size of said first face to create a thin flange such that the cross-sectional area of the first face disposed against said chuck is at least 150% of the cross-sectional area of the body of said device

and wherein the thin flange to be disposed against the vacuum chuck has a ridge disposed close to its outer perimeter which is received within a corresponding groove in the vacuum chuck.

4. In a process for producing at least one knife cut concentric ring section in an elastomeric sleeve formed of a pliant non metallic material and which sleeve has a first face and a second face, said process comprising the steps of:

a. mounting said first face of said sleeve on a rotatable chuck means by means of a vacuum seal between said first device face and said chuck;

b. rotating said sleeve on said chuck means about an axis;

c. positioning a knife means substantially perpendicular to the second face of said sleeve;

d. moving said knife means in a direction substantially perpendicular to said second sleeve face whereby said knife means cuts a slit ring into said sleeve while said sleeve is rotated to form a concentric knife cut ring into said sleeve material;

e. rotating said sleeve while said knife means continues to cut a slit ring into said sleeve, said cut extending from said second face contiguous to said first face mounted on said chuck means;

f. withdrawing said knife means from said sleeve in a direction substantially perpendicular to said second face;

g. positioning said knife at another radial distance from said axis, and repeating steps d., e. and f. to form a ring section; and,

h. removing said sleeve from said chuck means without removing the cut ring section from said sleeve;

the improvement comprising increasing the size of said first face to create a thin flange such that the cross-sectional area of the first face disposed against said chuck is at least 150% of the cross-sectional area of the body of said device and

wherein outer edges of the thin flange mate with the walls defining a corresponding recess on the vacuum chuck which secure the device against rotation relative to the chuck during working.