초록 ▼

An expansion ring assembly and method for sealingly installing a gasket within an opening in a wall of a structure. The expansion ring assembly includes an expansion ring having first and second adjacent end portions, and first and second cam members are rotatably coupled to the first and second end

An expansion ring assembly and method for sealingly installing a gasket within an opening in a wall of a structure. The expansion ring assembly includes an expansion ring having first and second adjacent end portions, and first and second cam members are rotatably coupled to the first and second end portions. Each cam member includes tool engagement structure for rotating the cam members, and cam surfaces of the cam members are engageable with one another such that, upon rotation of each cam member, the cam surface thereof engages the cam surface of the other cam member to drive the first and second end portions of the ring apart from one another, thereby radially expanding the ring to compress a gasket into sealing engagement with the wall opening. Only one cam member may be rotated, or alternatively, both cam members may be rotated sequentially, depending upon the amount of expansion which is needed. The expansion ring assembly also includes structures which prevent reverse rotation of the cam members to lock the expansion ring in its radially expanded condition, and optionally, may include only a single cam member.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. An expansion ring assembly, comprising: a ring having first and second adjacent end portions; a first cam member disposed interiorly within said ring, said first cam member rotatably coupled to said first ring end portion, said first cam member having a cam surface engageable

What is claimed is: 1. An expansion ring assembly, comprising: a ring having first and second adjacent end portions; a first cam member disposed interiorly within said ring, said first cam member rotatably coupled to said first ring end portion, said first cam member having a cam surface engageable with at least a portion of said second ring end portion upon rotation of said first cam member to drive said first and second ring end portions apart from one another and thereby radially expand said ring, wherein said first cam member further includes a tool-receiving structure, said tool receiving structure coincident with an axis of rotation of said first cam member, in combination with: a wall having a substantially circular opening; and a resilient, substantially annular gasket fitted within said opening, said expansion ring assembly disposed within said gasket such that rotation of said first cam member in a first direction drives said first and second ring end portions apart from one another to thereby radially expand said ring and radially compress said gasket against said opening. 2. The expansion ring assembly of claim 1, further comprising an oversleeve element overlapping said first and second end portions of said ring. 3. An expansion ring assembly for use in radially expanding a gasket into sealing relationship with an opening in a wall, said expansion ring assembly comprising: a ring defining a longitudinal axis coincident with a center of said ring, said ring having first and second adjacent end portions; a first cam member rotatably coupled to said first ring end portion about a rotation axis, said rotation axis is perpendicular to said longitudinal axis, said first cam member having a cam surface engageable with at least a portion of said second ring end portion upon rotation of said first cam member to drive said first and second ring end portions apart from one another and thereby radially expand said ring, wherein said first cam member is rotatably coupled to said first ring end portion via a one-way clutch mechanism which allows rotation of said first cam member in a first direction and prevents rotation of said first cam member in a second direction opposite said first direction. 4. The expansion ring assembly of claim 3, further comprising an oversleeve element overlapping said first and second end portions of said ring. 5. An expansion ring assembly for use in radially expanding a gasket into sealing relationship with an opening in a wall, said expansion ring assembly comprising: a ring defining a longitudinal axis coincident with a center of said ring, said ring having first and second adjacent end portions; a first cam member rotatably coupled to said first ring end portion about a rotation axis, said rotation axis is perpendicular to said longitudinal axis, said first cam member having a cam surface engageable with at least a portion of said second ring end portion upon rotation of said first cam member to drive said first and second ring end portions apart from one another and thereby radially expand said ring, wherein said first cam member further includes a plurality of ratchet teeth, and said first ring end portion includes a ratchet pawl sequentially engageable with said ratchet teeth upon rotation of said first cam member in a first direction to thereby prevent rotation of said first cam member in a second direction opposite said first direction. 6. The expansion ring assembly of claim 5, further comprising an oversleeve element overlapping said first and second end portions of said ring. 7. An expansion ring assembly, comprising: a ring defining a longitudinal axis coincident with a center of said ring, said ring having first and second adjacent end portions; a first cam member disposed interiorly within said ring, said first cam member rotatably coupled to said first ring end portion about a rotation axis which extends along a direction perpendicular to said longitudinal axis, said first cam member having a cam surface engageable with at least a portion of said second ring end portion upon rotation of said first cam member to drive said first and second ring end portions apart from one another and thereby radially expand said ring, in combination with: a wall having a substantially circular opening; and a resilient, substantially annular gasket fitted within said opening, said expansion ring assembly disposed within said gasket such that rotation of said first cam member in a first direction drives said first and second ring end portions apart from one another to thereby radially expand said ring and radially compress said gasket against said opening. 8. The expansion ring assembly of claim 7, further comprising an oversleeve element overlapping said first and second ring end portions. 9. The expansion ring assembly of claim 7, comprising first and second cam members rotatably coupled to said first and second ring end portions, respectively, said first and second cam members each having a cam surface engageable with the other cam member upon rotation thereof to drive said first and second ring end portions apart from one another and thereby radially expand said ring. 10. The expansion ring assembly of claim 9, wherein said first and second cam members are each rotatable in the same direction to engage the cam surfaces thereof with one another. 11. An expansion ring assembly, comprising: a ring having first and second adjacent end portions; first and second cam members rotatably coupled to said first and second end portions, respectively, said first and second cam members each having a cam surface engageable with the other cam member upon rotation thereof to drive said first and second ring end portions apart from one another and thereby radially expand said ring, wherein said first and second cam members each further include a tool-receiving structure, said tool-receiving structures coincident with respective rotational axes of said first and second cam members, in combination with: a wall having a substantially circular opening; and a resilient, substantially annular gasket fitted within said opening, said expansion ring assembly disposed within said gasket such that rotation of said first and second cam members drives said first and second ring end portions apart from one another to thereby radially expand said ring and radially compress said gasket against said opening. 12. The expansion ring assembly of claim 11, further comprising an oversleeve element overlapping said first and second end portions of said ring. 13. An expansion ring assembly for use in radially expanding a gasket into sealing relationship with an opening in a wall, said expansion ring assembly, comprising: a ring defining a longitudinal axis coincident with a center of said ring, said ring having first and second adjacent end portions; first and second cam members rotatably coupled to said first and second end portions each about a respective rotation axis, each said rotation axis is perpendicular to said longitudinal axis, respectively, said first and second cam members each having a cam surface engageable with the other cam member upon rotation thereof to drive said first and second ring end portions apart from one another and thereby radially expand said ring, wherein said first and second cam members are rotatably coupled to said first and second ring end portions, respectively, via one-way clutch mechanisms which allow rotation of each of said first and second cam members in a first direction and prevent rotation of said first and second cam members in a second direction opposite said first direction. 14. The expansion ring assembly of claim 13, further comprising an oversleeve element overlapping said first and second end portions of said ring. 15. An expansion ring assembly for use in radially expanding a gasket into sealing relationship with an opening in a wall, said expansion ring assembly, comprising: a ring defining a longitudinal axis coincident with a center of said ring, said ring having first and second adjacent end portions; first and second cam members rotatably coupled to said first and second end portions each about a respective rotation axis, each said rotation axis is perpendicular to said longitudinal axis, respectively, said first and second cam members each having a cam surface engageable with the other cam member upon rotation thereof to drive said first and second ring end portions apart from one another and thereby radially expand said ring, wherein said first and second cam members each further include a plurality of ratchet teeth, and said first and second ring end portions each include a ratchet pawl sequentially engageable with respective said ratchet teeth of said first and second cam members upon rotation of said first and second cam members in a first direction to thereby prevent rotation of said first and second cam members in a second direction opposite said first direction. 16. The expansion ring assembly of claim 15, further comprising an oversleeve element overlapping said first and second end portions of said ring. 17. An expansion ring assembly, comprising: a ring defining a longitudinal axis coincident with a center of said ring, said ring having first and second adjacent end portions; first and second cam members each disposed interiorly within said ring, said first and second cam members rotatably coupled to said first and second end portions each about a respective rotation axis, each said rotation axis extending along a direction perpendicular to said longitudinal axis, respectively, said first and second cam members each having a cam surface engageable with the other cam member upon rotation thereof to drive said first and second ring end portions apart from one another and thereby radially expand said ring, in combination with: a wall having a substantially circular opening; and a resilient, substantially annular gasket fitted within said opening, said expansion ring assembly disposed within said gasket such that rotation of said first cam member in said first direction drives said first and second ring end portions apart from one another to thereby radially expand said ring and radially compress said gasket against said opening. 18. The expansion ring assembly of claim 17, further comprising an oversleeve element overlapping said first and second end portions of said ring. 19. The expansion ring assembly of claim 17, wherein said first and second cam members are each rotatable in the same direction to engage the cam surfaces thereof with one another.