초록 ▼

A method and article of manufacture for providing a mechanical bond and an improved water vapor seal between a lens (11, 41) and a base (17, 47) in an instrument housing (10, 40), includes heating the components and a hot butyl rubber sealant (18, 58) prior to assembly, maintaining a level of heatin

A method and article of manufacture for providing a mechanical bond and an improved water vapor seal between a lens (11, 41) and a base (17, 47) in an instrument housing (10, 40), includes heating the components and a hot butyl rubber sealant (18, 58) prior to assembly, maintaining a level of heating for the assembly during assembly, dispensing the heated sealant (18, 58) into a channel (25, 65) to form a ring-shaped body of sealant (18, 58), assembling the lens (11, 41) to the base (17, 47) and pressing a lower edge (11a, 41a) of the lens (11, 41) into the ring of sealant (18, 48) and bending an upper edge (17b, 47b) of the side wall (17a, 47a) over a portion (11b, 41b) of the lens (11, 41). The method is applied in a second embodiment to an instrument having at least two signal conductors (55) entering the base (47) at two entry points. Apparatuses manufactured with the method are also disclosed.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A method of providing a water vapor seal and mechanical bond between a lens and a base which are assembled to form an instrument housing, the method comprising:heating the lens and the base to at least approximately 180 degrees F.; heating an instrument works to a temperature of at least approxim

1. A method of providing a water vapor seal and mechanical bond between a lens and a base which are assembled to form an instrument housing, the method comprising:heating the lens and the base to at least approximately 180 degrees F.; heating an instrument works to a temperature of at least approximately 140 degrees F.; assembling the instrument works and the base, such that a channel is formed between the instrument works and an upstanding side wall of the base; dispensing a heated body of sealant into the channel to form a ring of sealant running along the side wall of the base; maintaining a level of heating for the assembly of the instrument works and the base, such that the channel is at a temperature of at least approximately 250 degrees F. during dispensing of the sealant; assembling the lens to the base and pressing a lower edge of the lens into the ring of sealant in the channel; and allowing the sealant to cure. 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising bending an upper edge of the side wall over the sealant towards a portion of the lens.3. The method of claim 1, wherein the dispensing of the sealant further comprises:dispensing the sealant through a nozzle at a temperature of at least approximately 380 degrees F. 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the nozzle is made of a beryllium and copper alloy.5. The method of claim 1, wherein the dispensing of the sealant further comprises:dispensing the sealant through a nozzle at a clearance of approximately 0.020 inches from edges defining the channel. 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the sealant is a hot melt butyl rubber sealant that is heated to at least 380 degrees before being dispensed.7. The method of claim 1, wherein the sealant is dispensed with sufficient pressure, and with a programmed shot size so that it will form a continuous body of sealant in which a portion of the sealant at the dispensing end point meets and merges with a portion of the sealant at the dispensing start point.8. The method of claim 1, wherein the ring of sealant is formed by dispensing the sealant through a stationary nozzle and rotating the assembly at a speed sufficient to form a substantially uniform bead of sealant.9. The method of claim 1, wherein a lower edge of the lens is pressed into a region where the sealant overlaps before being pressed into the other regions of the sealant.10. The method of claim 1, applied to an assembly comprising at least two signal conductors extending through a sidewall of the base, wherein the sealant is dispensed over the two signal conductors to form an overlap point spaced from the two signal conductors.11. The method of claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10 in which the lens is made of glass and the base is made of metal.12. The method of claim 11, wherein the base is made of a copper alloy.