초록 ▼

A method of forming a seal ring includes heating an extruded rod to a temperature above a glass transition temperature. The extruded rod has first and second ends. The method further includes bending the extruded rod into a circular structure while the temperature is above the glass transition tempe

A method of forming a seal ring includes heating an extruded rod to a temperature above a glass transition temperature. The extruded rod has first and second ends. The method further includes bending the extruded rod into a circular structure while the temperature is above the glass transition temperature, joining the first and second ends of the extruded rod to form a semi-finished ring, and annealing the semi-finished ring.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A method of forming a seal ring, the method comprising: heating a thermoplastic rod to a temperature above a glass transition temperature, the thermoplastic rod having first and second ends;bending the thermoplastic rod into a circular structure while the temperature is above the glass transition

1. A method of forming a seal ring, the method comprising: heating a thermoplastic rod to a temperature above a glass transition temperature, the thermoplastic rod having first and second ends;bending the thermoplastic rod into a circular structure while the temperature is above the glass transition temperature;joining the first and second ends of the thermoplastic rod to form a semi-finished ring; andannealing the semi-finished ring, wherein annealing includes ramping the temperature of the semi-finished ring to a temperature greater than the glass transition temperature at a rate in a range of 5° C. per hour to 15° C. per hour, maintaining the semi-finished ring at the temperature for a period of at least 2 hours, and cooling the semi-finished ring at a controlled rate in a range of 5° C. per hour to 15° C. per hour. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the thermoplastic rod is an extruded thermoplastic rod. 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the thermoplastic rod is a compression molded thermoplastic rod. 4. The method of claim 1, wherein joining comprises: heating the first and second ends to a temperature above a melting point of the material of the thermoplastic rod; andpressing the first and seconds ends together. 5. The method of claim 4, wherein heating the first and second ends includes heating with a non-contact heat source. 6. The method of claim 4, wherein pressing the first and second ends together includes pressing the first and second ends together with a pressure of at least 50 psi. 7. The method of claim 1, wherein heating the rod includes heating to a heating index in a range of 0.6 to 0.999. 8. A method of forming a seal ring, the method comprising: heating an extruded rod to a temperature above a glass transition temperature, the extruded rod having first and second ends;bending the extruded rod into a circular structure while the temperature is above the glass transition temperature;joining the first and second ends of the extruded rod to form a semi-finished ring; andannealing the semi-finished ring, wherein annealing includes ramping the temperature of the semi-finished ring to a temperature greater than the glass transition temperature, maintaining the semi-finished ring at the temperature for a period of at least 6 hours, and cooling the semi-finished ring at a controlled rate in a range of 5° C. per hour to 15° C. per hour. 9. The method of claim 8, wherein joining comprises: heating the first and second ends to a temperature above a melting point of the material of the extruded rod; andpressing the first and seconds ends together. 10. The method of claim 9, wherein heating the first and second ends includes heating with a non-contact heat source. 11. The method of claim 9, wherein pressing the first and second ends together includes pressing the first and second ends together with a pressure of at least 50 psi. 12. The method of claim 9, wherein pressing the first and second ends together includes pressing the first and second ends to extrude material in the amount of at least ⅛″ of rod material per square inch of rod cross-section. 13. The method of claim 8, further comprising drying the bent extruded rod prior to joining. 14. The method of claim 8, further comprising cooling the bent extruded rod to a temperature below the glass transition temperature after bending and removing the cooled bent extruded rod from a forming device used to bend the extruded rod. 15. The method of claim 8, wherein bending includes bending to a radius at least 5 times the radial thickness of the extruded rod. 16. A method of forming a seal ring, the method comprising: heating an extruded rod to a temperature above a glass transition temperature of a material of the extruded rod, the extruded rod having first and second ends;bending the extruded rod while the temperature is above the glass transition temperature;cooling the bent extrude rod to a temperature below the glass transition temperature;melt welding the first and second ends of the extruded rod to form a semi-finished ring; andannealing the semi-finished ring, wherein annealing includes ramping the temperature of the semi-finished ring to a temperature greater than the glass transition temperature, maintaining the semi-finished ring at the temperature for a period of at least 4 hours, and cooling the semi-finished ring at a controlled rate in a range of 5° C. per hour to 15° C. per hour. 17. The method of claim 16, wherein melt welding comprises: heating the first and second ends to a temperature above a melting point of the material of the extruded rod with a non-contact heat source; andpressing the first and seconds ends together. 18. The method of claim 17, wherein pressing the first and second ends together includes pressing the first and second ends together with a pressure of at least 50 psi. 19. The method of claim 16, further comprising cutting the bent extruded rod proximal to the first end prior to melt welding.