HISTORY OF THE ISO 3601 SERIES OF STANDARDS FOR O-RINGS

摘要

In 1939, Niels A. Christensen was granted a U.S. Patent for "new and useful improvements in packings and the like for power cylinders," which were improved packing rings made of "solid rubber or rubber composition very dense and yet possessive of great liveliness and compressibility" suitable for use as packings for fluid medium pistons (liquid or air). The improved packing ring is the modern O-ring. The principle behind the successful sealing of fluid with an O-ring is that it deforms when compressed in its groove and "it has slight freedom of movement to be worked or kneaded during the piston reciprocation in order to maintain the rubber in a live state" and acts as a barrier, resisting leakage.