Mold seal, device with a mold seal, and method for using a mold seal

Abstract

A molded seal (1) for sealing a gap between a component (5) inserted into a recess (3) of a component (7) open to the environment, with a groove (27) arranged on the outside, and the component (7) which borders the recess (3) on all sides on the outside, a device (100) comprising the molded seal (1), and a method for using the molded seal (1) are described.The molded seal (1) comprises an annular first sealing area (11) for sealing a front area of ​​the gap facing the environment, which includes a front area (11a) adjacent to a front side (19) of the molded seal (1), the outer dimensions of which decrease towards the front side (19), a second sealing area (13) projecting inwards on an inside of the first sealing area (11), which is designed as a spring complementary to the groove (27) of the component (5), and a third sealing area (15) for rear support of the molded seal (1), which adjoins the first sealing area (11) on a side of the first sealing area (11) facing away from the front side (19).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a molded seal for sealing a gap between a component and a part surrounding the component on the outside and on all sides, a device comprising the molded seal, the component and the part, and a method for using at least one molded seal in the device.

[0002] There are a variety of devices in which a component is inserted into a recess in a component that surrounds the component on all sides, such as a housing or a fitting.

[0003] Examples of these include sensors, measuring devices, measuring arrangements and measuring systems for the metrological recording of a measurand of a medium, which usually comprise a component in contact with the medium during measurement operation, such as a window, a membrane or a measuring element. Sensors such as optical sensors, photometers and spectrometers usually have windows transparent to electromagnetic radiation through which the electromagnetic radiation used to measure the measurand passes. Examples of these are calorimetric sensors, turbidity sensors, sensors for measuring a spectral absorption coefficient, and sensors for measuring the concentration of an analyte contained in the medium, such as sensors for measuring a nitrite content, a nitrate content or an ammonium content. Another example are sensors such asConductivity sensors whose components include electrode surfaces in contact with the medium during measurement, as well as sensors whose components include a membrane in contact with the medium during measurement operation.

[0004] These components are usually inserted into a component, such as a housing or a fitting, in such a way that the component surrounds the component on all sides, at least in sections.

[0005] In particular, in conjunction with components that come into contact with a medium, such as a process medium or a measuring medium, reliable sealing of the gap between the component and the part is generally required. Depending on the application, this seal may also have to meet specific hygiene requirements.

[0006] Sealing the gap can be achieved, for example, by bonding, soldering, or a press fit. However, if the component and the part are made of materials with different thermal expansion coefficients, these sealing methods can result in temperature-dependent thermomechanical stresses. One example of this is glass windows inserted into metallic housings. To prevent damage to the seal and / or the component caused by thermomechanical stresses, it is generally necessary to limit the temperature range in which devices sealed in this way are used.

[0007] An alternative form of sealing is to insert the component into the part with the interposition of a seal, e.g. an O-ring.

[0008] In applications where high demands are placed on hygiene and cleanability, the component is regularly inserted into the part with the seal interposed in such a way that a small section of the clamped seal protrudes outwards. This avoids undercuts into which medium could penetrate and which cannot be easily removed by cleaning from the outside. A disadvantage, however, is that the protruding section can, under certain circumstances, affect the flow behavior of the medium along the outside of the component. This is particularly undesirable for sensors and measuring devices with components such as windows or measuring elements that are flush with the front of the housing, where flow shadows and / or turbulence caused by the protruding section can have a detrimental effect on the measuring properties.

[0009] A further disadvantage of this type of sealing is that in order to achieve a front-side sealing of the gap between the component and the part, it is regularly necessary to insert the seal together with the component into the part through a rear opening of the part opposite the front side.

[0010] For example, DE 10 2016 103 750 A1 describes a sensor cap which comprises a component designed as a plug-in component, the front of which has a membrane which is in contact with a medium during measuring operation. The plug-in component is inserted flush with the front of a sleeve-shaped component with the interposition of a seal, e.g. an O-ring. The sealing of the end region of the gap between the plug-in component and the sleeve-shaped component facing the medium is achieved by inserting the seal into an annular groove on the outside of the front of the plug-in component. The plug-in component, together with the seal, is then inserted into the sleeve-shaped component through an opening on the rear of the sleeve-shaped component and fastened there.

[0011] The front sealing of the gap by a seal and the associated requirement to install the component together with the seal through the rear opening of the component in the component inevitably means that any necessary replacement of the seal must also be carried out through the rear opening of the component. For this to happen, the rear opening of the component must be made accessible. However, this requirement is not always easy to meet. If we consider, for example, a sensor with a component that is flush with the front of a sensor housing with the interposition of a seal, such as a window or a measuring element, then replacing the seal requires opening the sensor housing. This is not only complex but can also, under certain circumstances, result in other components located in the sensor housing, such aselectronic components may be affected and / or may be exposed to unfavorable environmental conditions, such as high humidity.

[0012] It is an object of the invention to provide a seal for sealing a gap between a component and a component surrounding the component on the outside and on all sides, which overcomes the aforementioned disadvantages of the prior art.

[0013] In this respect, it is a particular object of the invention to provide a seal which satisfies high requirements for hygiene and / or cleanability, which enables flush installation of the seal and / or the component, with which a high-quality seal can be achieved without outwardly protruding sealing areas, and / or which is replaceable without a rear opening of the component having to be accessible for this purpose.

[0014] For this purpose, the invention comprises a shaped seal for sealing a gap between a component which can be inserted or is inserted into a recess of a component which is open to the environment on the front side and has a groove arranged on the outside, and the component which delimits the recess on all sides on the outside, wherein the shaped seal: an annular first sealing region for sealing a front region of the gap facing the environment, which comprises a front region adjacent to a front side of the shaped seal, the outer dimensions or outer diameter of which decreases towards the front side, a second sealing region projecting radially inwardly on an inner side of the first sealing region, which is designed as a tongue complementary to the groove of the component, and a third sealing area for supporting the shaped seal at the rear, which third sealing area adjoins the first sealing area on a side of the first sealing area facing away from the front side.

[0015] The molded seal has the advantage that it can be inserted into the recess from the outside together with the component, and the component is held in place by the molded seal. A further advantage is that the molded seal can be replaced from the outside if necessary, without requiring access to the rear of the component.

[0016] Furthermore, the molded seal has the advantage of being flush-mounted, thus meeting high standards of hygiene and / or cleanability. Unlike conventional O-rings, the molded seal achieves high-quality sealing of the gap without any sealing area protruding outward.

[0017] One embodiment consists in that the first sealing region comprises, on the side of the front region facing away from the front side of the molded seal, a rear region to which the second sealing region adjoins on the inside and whose radial width corresponds to a maximum radial width of the front region of the first sealing region.

[0018] According to a first development, the second sealing region has a projection formed on its inner edge, projecting in a direction facing away from the front side of the molded seal.

[0019] According to a second development, the third sealing area has outer dimensions in the radial direction over its entire axial height which are smaller than the outer dimensions of the first sealing area.

[0020] A third further development is that the third sealing area: has a cross-sectional geometry which corresponds to the basic shape of a triangle with one side facing the first sealing area and two sides each inclined relative to a longitudinal axis of the shaped seal, has a rounded or flattened rear side facing away from the first sealing area, and / or in the region facing the first sealing region, has a radially inwardly facing inner circumferential surface which runs parallel to a radially inwardly facing inner circumferential surface of a front region of the first sealing region adjacent to the front side and / or is arranged offset outwards in the radial direction by a distance relative to the inner circumferential surface of the front region of the first sealing region, wherein the distance is a predetermined distance, is 0.05 mm to 0.20 mm, and / or is dimensioned such that the inner circumferential surface of the third sealing region only bears against the component when the shaped seal surrounding the component on all sides on the outside is compressed in the radial direction and / or is clamped in the recess.

[0021] According to a fourth development, the shaped seal has an annular circumferential groove with a rounded cross-sectional geometry on the inside in a transition region between the first sealing region and the third sealing region, which transition region is adjacent to the second sealing region.

[0022] In a fifth development, the molded seal is designed such that its front side is planar, and / or its dimensions are dimensioned such that the front side of the molded seal facing the environment in the assembled state of the molded seal is planar, is flush with a front side of the component facing the environment, and / or is flush with an outer surface of the component surrounding the front side of the molded seal on all sides.

[0023] Furthermore, the invention comprises a device with a shaped seal according to the invention, a component with a groove arranged on the outside, and a component with a recess open to the environment, into which the component is inserted with the interposition of the shaped seal surrounding the component on all sides on the outside.

[0024] A first development of the device consists in that the recess comprises a region facing the environment, the dimensions or diameter of which decreases in the direction facing the environment.

[0025] A second development of the device is that the second sealing area has a projection formed on its inner edge, projecting in a direction away from the front side of the shaped seal, and the component has a recess adjacent to the groove with a shape complementary to the shape of the projection.

[0026] A third development of the device provides that a first cavity surrounding the third sealing area on the outside adjoins the third sealing area in the recess, and / or a second cavity surrounded by the third sealing area on the outside adjoins the third sealing area.

[0027] A fourth development of the device is that: the front side of the molded seal facing the environment is planar, is flush with a front side of the component facing the environment, and / or is flush with an outer surface of the component surrounding the front side of the molded seal on all sides, and / or the third sealing area is adjacent to a stop surface on its side facing away from the first sealing area, wherein: the shaped seal, in its radial region comprising the third sealing region, has an axial height in the axial direction adapted to a depth of the radial region of the recess delimited at the rear by the stop surface, the stop surface is a surface of the component having the recess or of another component of the device, and / or at least one outer edge of the component rests against the stop surface.

[0028] A fifth further development of the device provides that: the device is a sensor, a measuring instrument, a measuring device, a measuring arrangement or a measuring system for the metrological recording of a measurand of a medium, the component is a window, a membrane, a sensor element, a sensor element comprising at least one electrode, or a probe, and / or the component is a housing or a fitting.

[0029] Furthermore, the invention comprises a method for using at least one shaped seal according to the invention in a device according to the invention, wherein the method of use comprises an assembly method in which: the shaped seal is pushed onto the component in such a way that the shaped seal surrounds the component on all sides and the second sealing area designed as a spring engages in the groove of the component, the shaped seal is compressed in the radial direction by pushing the component together with the shaped seal pushed onto it in the axial direction into a sleeve whose cross-sectional area decreases in the axial direction, wherein a smallest cross-sectional area of ​​the sleeve present at one end of the sleeve is less than or equal to a cross-sectional area of ​​an opening of the recess adjacent to the environment, and the component is inserted into the recess of the component together with the radially compressed molded seal through the sleeve positioned in front of the recess.

[0030] A further development of this procedure includes a procedure in which: the component, together with the molded seal pushed onto it, is pushed into the sleeve by means of a punch and inserted through the sleeve into the recess, and the stamp has a stamping surface on the front side, which comprises an inner surface and an edge surface surrounding the inner surface, wherein: the inner surface has a shape adapted to a shape of a front side of the component facing the environment, and the edge surface has a shape adapted to the shape of the front side of the molded seal and protrudes in the axial direction by a predetermined distance or a distance of 0.1 mm to 0.5 mm from the inner surface.

[0031] According to a further development of the method, the shaped seal is replaced at least once with an identical replacement seal by removing the shaped seal from the recess using a tool or a hook, and the replacement seal is mounted in the recess together with the component or an identical replacement component using the assembly method.

[0032] The invention and its advantages will now be explained in more detail with reference to the figures of the drawing, which illustrate several exemplary embodiments. Identical elements are provided with the same reference numerals in the figures. Fig. 1 shows: a molded seal; Fig. 2 shows: a cross-sectional area of ​​the Fig. 1 shown shaped seal; Fig. 3 shows: a section of a molded seal of Fig. 1 device comprising; Fig. 4 shows: a component of the device of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 shows: a recess in the component of the device of Fig. 3; Fig. 6 shows: a housing with two recesses; Fig. 7 shows a method for assembling the molded seal of Fig. 1; Fig. 8 shows: a component with a curved front side and a stamp; and Fig. 9 shows: a component with an extension and a punch with a recess.

[0033] The invention relates to a shaped seal 1 for sealing a gap between a component 5 which can be inserted or is inserted into a recess 3 of a component 7 which is open to the environment at the front and the component 7 which delimits the recess 3 on all sides on the outside. An embodiment of the shaped seal 1 is shown in Fig. 1. An enlarged view of a Fig. 1 circled cross section A of the shaped seal 1 is in Fig. 2 shown.

[0034] The shaped seal 1 described here can be used in devices 100 of the most diverse types, such as sensors, measuring devices, measuring devices, measuring arrangements and measuring systems for the metrological detection of a measured variable of a medium, each of which has a component 7, such as a housing or a fitting, with a recess 3 open to the environment and a component 5, such as a probe, a membrane, a measuring element or a window, which is inserted at least partially into the recess 3 with the shaped seal 1 interposed.

[0035] A section of an embodiment of the device 100 comprising the shaped seal 1, the recess 3 of the component 7 and the component 5 is shown in Fig. 3 shown. Fig. 4 shows the component 5 of the device 100 as a single part and Fig. 5 shows the recess 3 in the component 7. The device 100 can of course also have two or more recesses 3 for receiving one of the components 5 and / or two or more components 7 each with at least one such recess 3.

[0036] Depending on the type of device 100, the component 5 is, for example, a sensor element, such as a membrane, e.g. an analyte-sensitive membrane of a sensor, e.g. an optochemical sensor, or a sensor element comprising at least one electrode, such as a sensor element comprising at least one measuring electrode of a conductivity sensor.

[0037] In conjunction with devices 100 designed as optical measuring devices or as optical sensors, the component 5 is, for example, a window through which, by means of the correspondingly designed devices 100, transmission radiation is sent into a medium adjacent to the outside of the window and / or through which measurement radiation is received. In this case, the Fig. 3, the device 100, only partially shown, is designed, for example, as an optical sensor, e.g., as a photometer or as a spectrometer, through whose component 5, designed as a window, electromagnetic radiation used to measure a measurand passes. In this case, the optical sensor is, for example, a calorimetric sensor, a turbidity sensor, a sensor for measuring a spectral absorption coefficient, or a sensor for measuring a concentration of an analyte contained in the medium, such as a sensor for measuring a nitrite content, a nitrate content, or an ammonium content.

[0038] Depending on the type of device 100, the component 7 is, for example, a fitting or a housing with at least one recess 3 for receiving a component 5. Fig. 6 shows, as an exemplary embodiment, a housing 9 which has two recesses 3 into each of which one of the previously described components 5 can be inserted with the interposition of one of the molded seals 1 described here in the manner described below.

[0039] As shown in Fig. 2, the molded seal 1 comprises an annular first sealing region 11, a second sealing region 13 projecting radially inward on an inner side of the first sealing region 11, and a third sealing region 15.

[0040] The molded seal 1, or the first sealing area 11, the second sealing area 13 and / or the third sealing area 15 each consist of a sealing material, e.g. of an elastomer, a plastic, such as polytetrafluoroethylene (PFTE), polyetheretherketone (PEEK) or polypropylene (PP) or another sealing material.

[0041] The first sealing region 11 is designed to seal a front region of the gap facing the environment and located in the recess 3.

[0042] Accordingly, the dimensions of the first sealing region 11 are preferably dimensioned such that the first sealing region 11, when mounted in the device 100, is clamped in the front region of the gap in the radial direction between an inner circumferential surface 17 of the component 7, which delimits the recess 3 on all sides on the outside, and an outer circumferential surface of the component 5.

[0043] Optionally, a front side 19 of the first sealing region 11 facing the environment in the assembled state of the molded seal 1 has, for example, a planar shape. Alternatively or additionally, the dimensions of the molded seal 1 are optionally dimensioned, for example, such that the front side 19 of the first sealing region 11 is substantially flush with a front side 21 of the component 5 facing the environment, and / or is substantially flush with an outer surface 23 of the component 7 surrounding the front side 19 of the molded seal 1 on all sides.

[0044] This avoids undercuts into which medium could penetrate and which cannot be easily removed by cleaning from the outside. In contrast to O-rings known from the prior art, which regularly have to be clamped in such a way that a partial area of ​​the O-ring protrudes from the gap to be sealed in order to avoid undercuts, the dimensions of the shaped seal 1 described here are optionally dimensioned, for example, such that the front side 19 of the first sealing area 11 is essentially planar when the shaped seal 1 is in the assembled state. This avoids the disadvantages previously described in connection with protruding partial areas of O-rings. The latter is particularly advantageous in devices 100 for the metrological detection of a measured variable of a medium, in which protruding partial areas can have a detrimental effect on the measuring properties.

[0045] The first sealing area 11 has, at least in a front area 11a adjacent to its front side 19, decreasing external dimensions in the axial direction running in the direction of the front side 19.

[0046] In this respect, the recess 3 of the component 7 of the device 100 preferably also has, at least in its region 3a facing the environment, dimensions decreasing in the axial direction towards the environment.

[0047] Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 shows an embodiment in which the front region 11a of the first sealing region 11 has a conical outer surface 25. For this purpose, the front region 11a has an outer diameter that decreases in the axial direction, in the direction of the front side 19. Fig. Figure 3 shows the complementary recess 3 of component 7, which has a diameter that decreases overall, or at least in its area 3a facing the surroundings, in the axial direction toward the surroundings. Accordingly, the area 3a of the recess 3 facing the surroundings is bounded on all sides by a conical area of ​​the inner lateral surface 17 of component 7.

[0048] This shape, which is actually disadvantageous with regard to the insertion of the shaped seal 1 from the outside through an opening 49 of the recess 3 facing the environment, offers the advantage that the inner circumferential surface 17 of the component 7, which borders the recess 3 on the outside, forms a counter-bearing for the shaped seal 1 inserted into the recess 3, on which the outer circumferential surface 25 of the first sealing region 11 rests in the inserted state. This fixes the shaped seal 1 in the recess 3 in addition to the radial clamping of the first sealing region 11 in the front region of the gap, which prevents the shaped seal 1 clamped in the gap from escaping from the recess 3 in the direction facing the environment.

[0049] To achieve this axial fixation, the first sealing area is optionally designed, for example, such that its outer dimensions decrease across its entire axial height in the axial direction toward the front side. In this case, the front area is identical to the first sealing area.

[0050] Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 show an alternative embodiment in which the first sealing region 11, on the side of the front region 11a facing away from the front side 19 of the molded seal 1, comprises a rear region 11b, to which the second sealing region 13 adjoins on the inside and whose radial width b corresponds to the largest radial width of the front region 11a of the first sealing region 11. The large radial width b achieves a high degree of stability in the region of the transition between the first sealing region 11 and the second sealing region 13. At the same time, the limitation of the radial width b limits the radial compression of the rear region 11b required for inserting the molded seal 1 into the recess 3.

[0051] Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 show an embodiment in which the rear region 11b has an outer diameter that is constant over its axial height and is equal to the maximum outer diameter of the front region 11a. Fig. 5 shows the recess 3, which is designed complementarily thereto, to whose area 3a facing the environment, in the direction facing away from the environment, a rear area 3b of the recess 3 adjoins, receiving the rear area 11b of the first sealing area 11 and the third sealing area 15. In Fig. 5, the rear region 3b of the recess 3 also has a diameter that increases in the direction away from the surrounding area. Alternatively, it can also have a different shape.

[0052] The second sealing area 13 is designed as a tongue which, when the molded seal 1 is pushed onto the component 5, engages in a complementary outer groove 27 of the component 5. This creates a positive connection between the molded seal 1 and the component 5. This offers the advantage that, by pushing the molded seal 1 onto the component 5, an assembly is formed which can then be inserted into the recess 3 from the outside. A further advantage is that the component 5 is held in the recess 3 by the molded seal 1 clamped in the component 7 and the tongue and groove connection.

[0053] An optional embodiment consists in that the second sealing region 13 has a projection 29 formed on its inner edge, projecting in the direction away from the front side 19 of the molded seal 1. In conjunction with this optional embodiment, the component 5 has, for example, a recess 31 adjacent to the groove 27. As shown in Fig. As shown in Figure 4, the recess 31 preferably has a shape complementary to the shape of the projection 29. This optional configuration offers the advantage that the projection 29 of the second sealing region 13 engages or snaps into the recess 31 when the molded seal 1 is pushed onto the component 5. This reinforces the positive, mechanical connection between the molded seal 1 and the component 5.

[0054] The third sealing region 15 borders the first sealing region 11 on a side of the first sealing region 11 facing away from the front side 19 of the molded seal 1. The third sealing region 15 is designed as a rear support for the molded seal 1. In this respect, the third sealing region 15 borders in the device 100, for example, on a stop surface 33 of the device 100, in particular of the component 7, which delimits at least one outer edge region of the recess 3 facing away from the surroundings. This limits the insertion depth to which the molded seal 1 can be inserted or is inserted into the recess 3, both during its assembly and in the installed state.

[0055] In order to achieve the rear support, the shaped seal 1 has, in its radial region comprising the third sealing region 15, an axial height h in the axial direction which is adapted to a depth of the radial region of the recess 3 delimited at the rear by the stop surface 33.

[0056] As in Fig. 3, shaped seals 1 according to the invention are used, for example, in devices 100 of the type described above. In this respect, the invention also includes a method for using at least one of the devices described above with reference to Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 described shaped seals 1 in one of the previously described Fig. 3 to 6 described devices 100.

[0057] This use procedure includes a Fig. 7. The assembly method comprises a first method step in which the molded seal 1 is mounted on the component 5. For this purpose, the molded seal 1 is pushed onto the component 5 in such a way that the molded seal 1 surrounds the component 5 on all sides and the second sealing region 13, designed as a spring, engages in the groove 27 of the component 5.

[0058] Subsequently, the molded seal 1 mounted on component 5 is compressed in the radial direction. For this purpose, the component 5, together with the molded seal 1 pushed onto it, is pushed axially into a sleeve 35 whose cross-sectional area decreases in the axial direction. The smallest cross-sectional area of ​​the sleeve 35 present at one end of the sleeve 35 is less than or equal to, preferably substantially equal to, the cross-sectional area of ​​the opening 49 of the recess 3 adjacent to the surrounding area.

[0059] Subsequently, component 5, together with the radially compressed molded seal 1, is inserted from the outside into the recess 3 of component 7. This step is carried out, for example, in such a way that component 5, together with the compressed molded seal 1, is inserted into the recess 3 of component 7 through the sleeve 35 positioned in front of the recess 3. The insertion depth of the molded seal 1 in the recess 3 is limited by the stop of the third sealing area 15 on the stop surface 33 of the device 100.

[0060] Depending on the type of device 100 and / or component 5, the stop surface 33 also serves as a stop surface 33 for component 5. In this case, the stop surface 33 of component 7 extends radially inward such that at least one outer edge of component 5 of device 100 bears against the stop surface 33. Alternatively, the device 100 can also have a stop surface of component 7 or another component of device 100 that is separate from the stop surface 33 and against which component 5 bears in device 100.

[0061] Both the pushing in of the assembly formed by the component 5 and the molded seal 1 pushed onto it and the pushing of this assembly through the sleeve 35 into the recess 3 can be carried out, depending on the axial length of the sleeve 35, for example, by hand or by means of a correspondingly shaped tool. Fig. 7 shows, as an example, a punch 37, with which the component 5 together with the molded seal 1 pushed onto it is pushed into the sleeve 35 for radial compression of the molded seal 1 and is then inserted through the sleeve 35 into the recess 3. As in Fig. As shown in Figure 7, the stamp 37 has, for example, a stamp surface 39 on the front side, which comprises an inner surface 41 and an edge surface 43 surrounding the inner surface 41.

[0062] The inner surface 41 preferably has a shape adapted to the shape of the front side 21 of the component 5 facing the environment. As in Fig. 7, the inner surface 41 is formed as a planar surface in conjunction with components 5 having a planar front side 21, such as windows. Fig. Figure 8 shows an alternative embodiment in which the front side 21' of the component 5' is curved outwards and the inner surface 41' of the punch 37' has a complementary shape thereto. Fig. 9 shows a further alternative embodiment in which the component 5" comprises an extension 45 projecting relative to a front side 21" which is annular in this case. In this variant, the punch 37" has a recess 47, such as a cutout or a bore, for receiving the extension 45. Accordingly, the inner surface 41" of the punch 37" is annular in this case and has a shape complementary to the annular front side 21" of the component 5".

[0063] Irrespective of the respective design of the stamp 37, 37', 37" adapted to the geometry of the component 5, 5', 5", the edge surface 43 of the stamp surface 39 of the stamp 37, 37', 37" has a shape adapted to the shape of the front side 19 of the molded seal 1.

[0064] Fig. 7 and Fig. 8 show embodiments in which the edge surface 43 protrudes in the axial direction by a predetermined distance x from the inner surface 41. As in Fig. 7 and Fig. 8, the punch 37, 37' can for this purpose have a shoulder of appropriate height on the outside, for example, the end face of which forms the edge surface 43 of the punch surface 39. This embodiment facilitates the radial compression of the molded seal 1 when it is pushed through the sleeve 35 and reduces the forces acting on the molded seal 1. The protruding edge surface 43 or the shoulder reduces the deformation of the molded seal during installation and thus prevents damage to the molded seal 1. In addition, the protruding edge surface 43 achieves a torsional stress-free end position of the molded seal 1 in the recess 3. Depending on the size of the molded seal 1, a small distance x is sufficient to achieve this effect, for example a distance x of 0.1 mm to 0.5 mm.

[0065] A further advantage is that the molded seal 1 is compressed axially during installation by the protruding edge surface 43 and assumes the clamped shape intended for it after the removal of the punch 37, 37'. This also ensures that the molded seal 1, in the assembled state, is supported on the rear side by the stop surface 33 and / or is clamped between the stop surface 33 and the inner surface 17 of the component 7.

[0066] Fig. 9 shows an alternative embodiment in which the edge surface 43" is arranged at the same height as the immediately adjacent outer edge of the inner surface 41" of the stamp 37".

[0067] Alternatively or in addition to the Fig. 7 and Fig. In addition to the shape of the stamping surface 39 shown in Figure 8, further measures can optionally be taken to reduce the mechanical stresses acting on the molded seal 1 during assembly. One optional measure involves a corresponding optimization of the shape of the molded seal 1.

[0068] For this purpose, an embodiment of the shaped seal is first considered, the dimensions of which are such that the shaped seal inserted into the recess completely or at least almost completely fills a partial space of the recess located on the side of the first sealing area facing away from the environment. In this embodiment, the first sealing area and the third sealing area must be compressed radially over their entire axial height during assembly to such an extent that they can be inserted into the recess through the front opening of the recess. In this case, compression forces are exerted on all sealing areas with external dimensions that exceed the cross-sectional area of ​​the opening. The compression forces are greater the larger the external dimensions are in comparison to the cross-sectional area of ​​the opening.

[0069] Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 show an alternative embodiment in which the third sealing region 15 has outer dimensions, such as an outer diameter, across its entire axial height in the radial direction that are smaller than the outer dimensions of the first sealing region 11. This embodiment offers the advantage over the previously mentioned embodiment that the third sealing region 15 can fulfill its function as a rear support without having to be compressed in the radial direction during assembly of the molded seal 1. This significantly reduces the mechanical stress on the molded seal 1 during insertion and avoids corresponding assembly-related impairments of the molded seal 1.

[0070] In connection with this embodiment of the third sealing area 15, the recess 3 of the device 100, as shown in Fig. 3 and Fig. 5 shown optionally, for example, dimensioned such that a first cavity 51 remains in the recess 3 surrounding the third sealing area 15 on the outside.

[0071] Alternatively or additionally, the third sealing region 15 is optionally dimensioned, for example, such that a second cavity 53 surrounded on the outside by the third sealing region 15 adjoins the third sealing region 15 in the device 100.

[0072] The first cavity 51, as well as the second cavity 53, each offer the advantage of being available as a swelling chamber into which the sealing material of the molded seal 1 can expand as needed, particularly when the ambient temperature changes. This protects the molded seal 1 from damage, especially even at very high temperatures and during large temperature fluctuations, and holds it in its position within the recess 3. The latter is particularly advantageous when the component 5 and the part 7 are made of materials with different thermal expansion coefficients, which, among other things, can lead to temperature-dependent changes in the gap width of the gap sealed by the molded seal 1. The swelling chambers offer the advantage that reliable sealing of the gap by the molded seal 1 is ensured over an even wider temperature range, without any sealing material protruding outwards.In addition, the expansion of sealing material into the swelling spaces reduces thermomechanical stresses that may occur depending on the temperature and that could otherwise have a detrimental effect on the molded seal 1 and / or the component 5.

[0073] The previously described optional configurations of the third sealing region 15 can be achieved by different shapes of the cross-sectional area of ​​the third sealing region 15. Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 show an embodiment in which the cross-sectional geometry of the third sealing region 15 corresponds to the basic shape of a triangle having one side facing the first sealing region 11 and two sides each inclined relative to the longitudinal axis L of the shaped seal 1.

[0074] The cross-sectional geometry is optionally designed, for example, such that the third sealing region 15, in its region facing away from the first sealing region 11 and corresponding to one of the three vertices of the triangle, has a rounded or flattened rear side 55, which is advantageous, in particular, with regard to the rear support of the shaped seal 1 in the recess 3.

[0075] Alternatively or additionally, the third sealing region 15 is designed, for example, such that in its region facing the first sealing region 11 it has a radially inwardly facing inner circumferential surface 57 which runs parallel to a radially inwardly facing inner circumferential surface 59 of the front region 11a of the first sealing region 11.

[0076] An optional embodiment consists in that the inner circumferential surface 57 of the third sealing region 15 is offset radially outwards relative to the inner circumferential surface 59 of the front region 11a of the first sealing region 11 by a predetermined distance d, e.g., a distance d of 0.05 mm to 0.20 mm. The distance d is dimensioned, e.g., such that the inner circumferential surface 57 of the third sealing region 15 only bears against the component 5 when the molded seal 1 surrounding the component 5 on all sides is compressed in the radial direction and / or clamped in the recess 3.

[0077] A further optional embodiment consists in the molded seal 1 having an annular, circumferential groove 61 with a rounded cross-sectional geometry on the inside in a transition region adjacent to the second sealing region 13 between the first sealing region 11 and the third sealing region 15. The groove 61, thus designed as a stress relief groove, offers the advantage of facilitating the deformation of the molded seal 1 during assembly and thereby reducing stress peaks occurring within the molded seal 1.

[0078] Regardless of the shape of the third sealing area 15, the installation of the shaped seal 1 in the recess 3, which is open to the environment and thus easily accessible from the outside, offers the advantage that no access to a region of the device 100 located on the side of the recess 3 facing away from the environment is required. This offers the advantage that the shaped seal 1 can be replaced if necessary without the device 100 having to be opened for this purpose.

[0079] In this respect, an optional embodiment of the previously described method of use comprises, for example, a further method step in which the shaped seal 1 mounted in the recess 3 of the device 100 in the manner described above is replaced at least once, when required or at predetermined times.

[0080] For example, the molded seal 1 is removed from the recess 3 using a tool, such as a hook. For this purpose, O-ring hooks known from the prior art and used for removing O-rings can be used. The molded seal 1 is then replaced with an identical replacement seal, which is installed in the recess 3 using the previously described assembly method together with component 5 or an identical replacement component.

[0081] Just like the installation of the molded seal 1 in the recess 3, which is open to the environment and thus easily accessible from the outside, the replacement of the molded seal 1 also offers the advantage that no access to an area of ​​the device 100 located on the side of the recess 3 facing away from the environment is required. This offers the advantage that the device 100 does not have to be opened or at least partially disassembled for the replacement. List of reference symbols: 1 molded seal 3 recess 5 Component 7 Component 9 housings 11 first sealing area 11a Front area 11b rear area 13 second sealing area 15 third sealing area 17 Surface of the component 19 Front side of the molded seal 21 Front of the component 23 Outer surface of the component 25 Surface of the front area 27 Groove of the component 29 Projection of the second sealing area 31 recess 33 Stop surface 35 sleeve 37 stamps 39 Stamp area 41 inner surface 43 Edge area 45 extension 47 recess 49 Opening 51 first cavity 53 second cavity 55 Back 57 inner surface 59 inner surface 61 groove

Claims

[1] Shaped seal (1) for sealing a gap between a component (5) which can be inserted or is inserted into a recess (3) of a component (7) which is open to the environment on the front side and has a groove (27) arranged on the outside, and the component (7) which delimits the recess (3) on all sides on the outside, wherein the shaped seal (1): an annular first sealing region (11) for sealing a front region of the gap facing the environment, which front region (11a) adjoins a front side (19) of the shaped seal (1), the outer dimensions or outer diameter of which decreases in the direction of the front side (19), a second sealing region (13) projecting radially inwardly on an inner side of the first sealing region (11), which is designed as a tongue complementary to the groove (27) of the component (5), and a third sealing region (15) for supporting the rear side of the shaped seal (1), which third sealing region adjoins the first sealing region (11) on a side of the first sealing region (11) facing away from the front side (19). [2] Shaped seal (1) according to claim 1, wherein the first sealing region (11) comprises, on the side of the front region (11a) facing away from the front side (19) of the shaped seal (1), a rear region (11b) to which the second sealing region (13) adjoins on the inside and whose radial width (b) corresponds to a maximum radial width of the front region (11a) of the first sealing region (11). [3] Shaped seal (1) according to claim 1 to 2, wherein the second sealing region (13) has a projection (29) formed on its inner edge and projecting in the direction facing away from the front side (19) of the shaped seal (1). [4] Shaped seal (1) according to claims 1 to 3, wherein the third sealing region (15) has outer dimensions over its entire axial height in the radial direction which are smaller than the outer dimensions of the first sealing region (11). [5] Shaped seal (1) according to claims 1 to 4, wherein the third sealing area (15): has a cross-sectional geometry which corresponds to the basic shape of a triangle with one side facing the first sealing area (11) and two sides each inclined relative to a longitudinal axis of the shaped seal (1), has a rounded or flattened rear side (55) facing away from the first sealing area (11), and / or in the region of which facing the first sealing region (11) has a radially inwardly facing inner circumferential surface (57) which runs parallel to a radially inwardly facing inner circumferential surface (59) of a front region (11a) of the first sealing region (11) adjacent to the front side (19) and / or is arranged offset outwards in the radial direction by a distance (d) relative to the inner circumferential surface (59) of the front region (11a) of the first sealing region (11), wherein the distance (d) is a predetermined distance, is 0.05 mm to 0.20 mm, and / or is dimensioned such that the inner circumferential surface (57) of the third sealing region (15) only bears against the component (5) when the shaped seal (1) surrounding the component (5) on all sides on the outside is compressed in the radial direction and / or is clamped in the recess (3). [6] Shaped seal (1) according to claims 1 to 5, which has an annular circumferential groove (61) with rounded cross-sectional geometry on the inside in a transition region between the first sealing region (11) and the third sealing region (15) adjacent to the second sealing region (13). [7] Shaped seal (1) according to claim 1 to 6, the front side (19) of which is planar, and / or the dimensions of which are such that the front side (19) of the shaped seal (1) facing the environment in the assembled state of the shaped seal (1) is planar, is flush with a front side (21) of the component (5) facing the environment, and / or is flush with an outer surface (23) of the component (7) surrounding the front side (19) of the shaped seal (1) on all sides. [8] Device (100) with a shaped seal (1) according to claims 1 to 7, a component (5) with a groove (27) arranged on the outside, and a component (7) with a recess (3) open to the environment, into which the component (5) is inserted with the interposition of the shaped seal (1) surrounding the component (5) on all sides on the outside. [9] Device (100) according to claim 8, wherein the recess (3) comprises a region (3a) facing the environment, the dimensions or diameter of which decreases in the direction facing the environment. [10] Device (100) according to claim 8 to 9, in which the second sealing area (13) has a projection (29) formed on its inner edge and projecting in a direction away from the front side (19) of the shaped seal (1), and the component (5) has a recess (31) adjacent to the groove (27) with a shape complementary to the shape of the projection (29). [11] Device (100) according to claims 8 to 10, wherein a first cavity (51) surrounding the third sealing region (15) on the outside adjoins the third sealing region (15) in the recess (3), and / or a second cavity (53) surrounded on the outside by the third sealing region (15) adjoins the third sealing region (15). [12] Device (100) according to claims 8 to 11, wherein: the front side (19) of the shaped seal (1) facing the environment is planar, is flush with a front side (21) of the component (5) facing the environment, and / or is flush with an outer surface (23) of the component (7) surrounding the front side (19) of the shaped seal (1) on all sides, and / or the third sealing area (15) is adjacent to a stop surface (33) on its side facing away from the first sealing area (11), wherein: the shaped seal (1) has, in its radial region comprising the third sealing region (13), an axial height (h) in the axial direction adapted to a depth of the radial region of the recess (3) delimited at the rear by the stop surface (33), the stop surface (33) is a surface of the component (7) having the recess (3) or of a further component of the device (100), and / or at least one outer edge of the component (5) rests against the stop surface (33). [13] Device (100) according to claims 8 to 12, wherein: the device (100) is a sensor, a measuring device, a measuring device, a measuring arrangement or a measuring system for the metrological detection of a measured variable of a medium, the component (5) is a window, a membrane, a sensor element, a sensor element comprising at least one electrode, or a probe, and / or the component (7) is a housing or a fitting. [14] Method for using at least one molded seal (1) according to claims 1 to 7 in a device (100) according to claims 8 to 13, comprising an assembly method in which: the shaped seal (1) is pushed onto the component (5) in such a way that the shaped seal (1) surrounds the component (5) on all sides and the second sealing area (11) designed as a spring engages in the groove (27) of the component (5), the shaped seal (1) is compressed in the radial direction by pushing the component (5) together with the shaped seal (1) pushed onto it in the axial direction into a sleeve (35) whose cross-sectional area decreases in the axial direction, wherein a smallest cross-sectional area of the sleeve (35) present at one end of the sleeve (35) is less than or equal to a cross-sectional area of an opening (49) of the recess (3) adjacent to the environment, and the component (5) together with the radially compressed shaped seal (1) is inserted into the recess (3) of the component (7) through the sleeve (35) positioned accordingly in front of the recess (3). [15] A method according to claim 14, wherein: the component (5) together with the shaped seal (1) pushed onto it is pushed into the sleeve (35) by means of a punch (37) and inserted through the sleeve (35) into the recess (3), and the stamp (37) has a stamp surface (39) on the front side, which comprises an inner surface (41) and an edge surface (43) surrounding the inner surface (41), wherein: the inner surface (41) has a shape adapted to a shape of a front side (21) of the component (5) facing the environment, and the edge surface (43) has a shape adapted to the shape of the front side (19) of the shaped seal (1) and protrudes in the axial direction by a predetermined distance (x) or a distance (x) of 0.1 mm to 0.5 mm from the inner surface (41). [16] Method according to claim 14 to 15, wherein the shaped seal (1) is replaced at least once with an identical replacement seal by removing the shaped seal (1) from the recess (3) by means of a tool or a hook, and the replacement seal is mounted in the recess (3) together with the component (5) or an identical replacement component by means of the assembly method.

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