US3642248A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Sealing mechanism
Assignee: ALLEN AND CO FOF FUN Pty
•
Filing: 1969-05-07
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Granted: 1972-02-15
•
Expires: 1989-05-07
Abstract
Abstract This disclosure is directed to a sealing machine for sealing a first member and a second member against the flow of system pressure. In this mechanism a wear ring is used which is comprised of a seating surface and a flange area which cooperates with the flanges of a groove located in the first member to lock said wear ring in said groove. A backing ring is generally disposed in said groove, beneath the wear ring and is locked within said groove by said wear ring. The backing ring serves to force or preload said seating surface of said wear ring against said second member when the sealing mechanism is closed. The backing ring may be eliminated in an embodiment of the invention wherein the wear ring is so adapted to provide its own preloading force and the additional preload of the backing ring is not needed. In one embodiment of the invention the backing ring acts as a seal against system pressure trying to leak under and around said wear ring. Furthermore, provision is made to communicate system pressure into said groove behind said wear ring to aid the backing ring in urging said wear ring against said second member. The backing ring preload and the system pressure communicated into said groove combine to create a piston action on the widest part of said wear ring which causes to amplified force on the narrower seating surface which is in contact with the second member.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert Edgar Benware
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 15:56
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16K; F16K3/00; F16K3/02; F16K3/12; F16K1/00; F16K1/16; F16K1/18; F16K1/22; F16K1/226; F16K1/2263; F16K1/2266; F16K1/32; F16K1/34; F16K1/36; F16K5/00; F16K5/06; F16K5/0663; F16K5/0673
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 53
Claim 1
Independent Claim
448 words
A sealing mechanism to seal against the fluid pressure of a system comprising: a. a first member having an elongated groove extending with respect to a surface of the first member, the elongated opening of the groove adjacent to the surface being defined by two elongated flanges depending from the opposite sides of said groove and extending toward one another, the width of the opening between the flanges being less than the width of the bottom portion of said groove between said sides thereof, b. an elongated wear ring disposed in part in said groove and extending along the length thereof, the fit of the wear ring enabling the wear ring to move inwardly and outwardly with respect to said groove, said wear ring having a seating surface portion with a seating surface thereon, said seating surface portion having a width enabling said seating surface portion to extend through the opening, and a shoulder portion movable with respect to said groove and having a width greater than the width of said groove opening, said width enabling said shoulder portion to be abuttable against said groove flanges to retain said wear ring in said groove, the area of the bottom of the shoulder portion facing the bottom portion of the groove being greater than the area of the seating surface, the bottom of said shoulder portion having an elongated channel extending along the length of said wear ring and upwardly into said shoulder portion substantially to said seating surface portion, said channel bifurcating said shoulder portion into two portions, each of which is movable toward or away from the sides of the groove, one portion of said shoulder portion enabling fluid pressure to enter the groove by passing between one side of said groove and said wear ring to urge the other portion of the shoulder portion adjacent the other side of said groove toward the side and flange related thereto, c. a second member having an elongated sealing surface which is engageable with said wear ring seating surface along the length thereof to close said sealing mechanism against the fluid pressure, the sealing pressure between the sealing surface And the seating surface being greater than the fluid pressure on the bottom of the shoulder portion of said wear ring in response to the greater area thereof as compared to the area of the seating surface of the wear ring, and d. a backing ring disposed in said groove between the channel of the wear ring and the bottom of the groove, said backing ring urging said wear ring outwardly with respect to said groove and urging said portions of said shoulder portion toward the sides of the groove.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
448 words
A sealing mechanism to seal against the fluid pressure of a system comprising: a. a first member having an elongated groove extending with respect to a surface of the first member, the elongated opening of the groove adjacent to the surface being defined by two elongated flanges depending from the opposite sides of said groove and extending toward one another, the width of the opening between the flanges being less than the width of the bottom portion of said groove between said sides thereof, b. an elongated wear ring disposed in part in said groove and extending along the length thereof, the fit of the wear ring enabling the wear ring to move inwardly and outwardly with respect to said groove, said wear ring having a seating surface portion with a seating surface thereon, said seating surface portion having a width enabling said seating surface portion to extend through the opening, and a shoulder portion movable with respect to said groove and having a width greater than the width of said groove opening, said width enabling said shoulder portion to be abuttable against said groove flanges to retain said wear ring in said groove, the area of the bottom of the shoulder portion facing the bottom portion of the groove being greater than the area of the seating surface, the bottom of said shoulder portion having an elongated channel extending along the length of said wear ring and upwardly into said shoulder portion substantially to said seating surface portion, said channel bifurcating said shoulder portion into two portions, each of which is movable toward or away from the sides of the groove, one portion of said shoulder portion enabling fluid pressure to enter the groove by passing between one side of said groove and said wear ring to urge the other portion of the shoulder portion adjacent the other side of said groove toward the side and flange related thereto, c. a second member having an elongated sealing surface which is engageable with said wear ring seating surface along the length thereof to close said sealing mechanism against the fluid pressure, the sealing pressure between the sealing surface And the seating surface being greater than the fluid pressure on the bottom of the shoulder portion of said wear ring in response to the greater area thereof as compared to the area of the seating surface of the wear ring, and d. a backing ring disposed in said groove between the channel of the wear ring and the bottom of the groove, said backing ring urging said wear ring outwardly with respect to said groove and urging said portions of said shoulder portion toward the sides of the groove.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
235 words
an elongated wear ring disposed in part in said groove and extending along the length thereof, the fit of the wear ring enabling the wear ring to move inwardly and outwardly with respect to said groove, said wear ring having a seating surface portion with a seating surface thereon, said seating surface portion havIng a width enabling said seating surface portion to extend through the opening, and a shoulder portion movable with respect to said groove and having a width greater than the width of said groove opening, said width enabling said shoulder portion to be abuttable against said groove flanges to retain said wear ring in said groove, the area of the bottom of the shoulder portion facing the bottom portion of the groove being greater than the area of the seating surface, the bottom of said shoulder portion having an elongated channel extending along the length of said wear ring and upwardly into said shoulder portion substantially to said seating surface portion, said channel bifurcating said shoulder portion into two portions, each of which is movable toward or away from the sides of the groove, one portion of said shoulder portion enabling fluid pressure to enter the groove by passing between one side of said groove and said wear ring to urge the other portion of the shoulder portion adjacent the other side of said groove toward the side and flange related thereto;
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
235 words
an elongated wear ring disposed in part in said groove and extending along the length thereof, the fit of the wear ring enabling the wear ring to move inwardly and outwardly with respect to said groove, said wear ring having a seating surface portion with a seating surface thereon, said seating surface portion havIng a width enabling said seating surface portion to extend through the opening, and a shoulder portion movable with respect to said groove and having a width greater than the width of said groove opening, said width enabling said shoulder portion to be abuttable against said groove flanges to retain said wear ring in said groove, the area of the bottom of the shoulder portion facing the bottom portion of the groove being greater than the area of the seating surface, the bottom of said shoulder portion having an elongated channel extending along the length of said wear ring and upwardly into said shoulder portion substantially to said seating surface portion, said channel bifurcating said shoulder portion into two portions, each of which is movable toward or away from the sides of the groove, one portion of said shoulder portion enabling fluid pressure to enter the groove by passing between one side of said groove and said wear ring to urge the other portion of the shoulder portion adjacent the other side of said groove toward the side and flange related thereto;
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
235 words
an elongated wear ring disposed in part in said groove and extending along the length thereof, the fit of the wear ring enabling the wear ring to move inwardly and outwardly with respect to said groove, said wear ring having a seating surface portion with a seating surface thereon, said seating surface portion having a width enabling said seating surface portion to extend through the opening, and a shoulder portion movable with respect to said groove and having a width greater than the width of said groove opening, said width enabling said shoulder portion to be abuttable against said groove flanges to retain said wear ring in said groove, the area of the bottom of the shoulder portion facing the bottom portion of the groove being greater than the area of the seating surface, the bottom of said shoulder portion having an elongated channel extending along the length of said wear ring and upwardly into said shoulder portion substantially to said seating surface portion, said channel bifurcating said shoulder portion into two portions, eaCh of which is movable toward or away from the sides of the groove, one portion of said shoulder portion enabling fluid pressure to enter the groove by passing between one side of said groove and said wear ring to urge the other portion of the shoulder portion adjacent the other side of said groove toward the side and flange related thereto;
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
235 words
an elongated wear ring disposed in part in said groove and extending along the length thereof, the fit of the wear ring enabling the wear ring to move inwardly and outwardly with respect to said groove, said wear ring having a seating surface portion with a seating surface thereon, said seating surface portion having a width enabling said seating surface portion to extend through the opening, and a shoulder portion movable with respect to said groove and having a width greater than the width of said groove opening, said width enabling said shoulder portion to be abuttable against said groove flanges to retain said wear ring in said groove, the area of the bottom of the shoulder portion facing the bottom portion of the groove being greater than the area of the seating surface, the bottom of said shoulder portion having an elongated channel extending along the length of said wear ring and upwardly into said shoulder portion substantially to said seating surface portion, said channel bifurcating said shoulder portion into two portions, eaCh of which is movable toward or away from the sides of the groove, one portion of said shoulder portion enabling fluid pressure to enter the groove by passing between one side of said groove and said wear ring to urge the other portion of the shoulder portion adjacent the other side of said groove toward the side and flange related thereto;
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
A sealing mechanism according to claim 1 wherein said groove formed in said first member has a substantially inverted T-shaped cross section intersecting the length of the groove.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
A sealing mechanism according to claim 1 wherein said wear ring is comprised of a resilient plastic material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
82 words
an elongated sealing surface formed on said valve seat, said sealing surface being engageable with said wear ring seating surface along the length thereof to close said sealing mechanism against the fluid pressure, the sealing pressure between the sealing surface and the seating surface being greater than the fluid pressure on the bottom of the shoulder portion of said wear ring in response to the greater area thereof as compared to the area of the seating surface of the wear ring; and
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
82 words
an elongated sealing surface formed on said valve seat, said sealing surface being engageable with said wear ring seating surface along the length thereof to close said sealing mechanism against the fluid pressure, the sealing pressure between the sealing surface and the seating surface being greater than the fluid pressure on the bottom of the shoulder portion of said wear ring in response to the greater area thereof as compared to the area of the seating surface of the wear ring; and
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
83 words
an elongated sealing surface formed on said movable sealing means, said sealing surface being engageable with said wear ring seating surface along the length thereof to close said sealing mechanism against the fluid pressure, the sealing pressure between the sealing surface and the seating surface being greater than the fluid pressure on the bottom of the shoulder portion of said wear ring in response to the greater area thereof as compared to the area of the seating surface of the wear ring; and
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
83 words
an elongated sealing surface formed on said movable sealing means, said sealing surface being engageable with said wear ring seating surface along the length thereof to close said sealing mechanism against the fluid pressure, the sealing pressure between the sealing surface and the seating surface being greater than the fluid pressure on the bottom of the shoulder portion of said wear ring in response to the greater area thereof as compared to the area of the seating surface of the wear ring; and
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
47 words
a backing ring disposed in said groove between the channel of the wear ring and the bottom of the groove, said backing ring urging said wear ring outwardly with respect to said groove and urging said portions of said shoulder portion toward the sides of the groove.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
47 words
a backing ring disposed in said groove between the channel of the wear ring and the bottom of the groove, said backing ring urging said wear ring outwardly with respect to said groove and urging said portions of said shoulder portion toward the sides of the groove.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
A sealing mechanism according to claim 1 wherein said portions of said shoulder portion form a generally V-shaped channel therebetween.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
47 words
a backing ring disposed in said groove between the channel of the wear ring and the bottom of the groove, said backing ring urging said wear ring outwardly with respect to said groove and urging said portions of said shoulder portion toward the sides of the groove.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
47 words
a backing ring disposed in said groove between the channel of the wear ring and the bottom of the groove, said backing ring urging said wear ring outwardly with respect to said groove and urging said portions of said shoulder portion toward the sides of the groove.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
26 words
A sealing mechanism according to claim 1 wherein said shoulder portion of said wear ring is yieldably and slidably biased against both sides of said groove.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
17 words
A sealing mechanism according to claim 1 wherein said backing ring is comprised of an elastomeric material.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
54 words
A sealing mechanism according to claim 1 further comprising: a means extending through at least a portion of said wear ring for communicating fluid pressure of the system into said groove beneath the shoulder portion of said wear ring to aid in urging said wear ring seating surface against the second member sealing surface.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
65 words
A sealing mechanism according to claim 7 wherein said means for communicating fluid pressure into said groove comprises said wear ring having at least one port extending from adjacent said seating surface portion to one side of said channel and adjacent to one side of said groove, said one port being adapted to communicate said fluid pressure beneath the shoulder portion of said wear ring.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
70 words
A sealing mechanism according to claim 7 wherein said means for communicating fluid pressure comprises said wear ring having at least one port at each side of said wear ring extending from adjacent said seating surface portion to said channel along each side thereof and adjacent respectively to each side of said groove, said ports being adapted to communicate said fluid pressure beneath the shoulder portion of said wear ring.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
33 words
A sealing mechanism according to claim 1 wherein said backing ring is comprised of a coil spring having the turns thereof disposed about an axis which extends along the length of the groove.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
18 words
A sealing mechanism according to claim 1 wherein said wear ring is comprised of an elastically deformed metal.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
26 words
A sealing mechanism according to claim 11 wherein said shoulder portion of said wear ring is yieldably and slidably biased against both sides of said groove.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
17 words
A sealing mechanism according to claim 11 wherein said backing ring is comprised of an elastomeric material.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
33 words
A sealing mechanism according to claim 11 wherein said backing ring is comprised of a coil spring having the turns thereof disposed about an axis which extends along the length of the groove.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
15 words
A sealing mechanism according to claim 1 wherein said wear ring is comprised of asbestos.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
27 words
A sealing mechanism according to claim 1 wherein said shoulder portion of said wear ring further comprises at least one stiffening element to stiffen said shoulder portion.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
45 words
A sealing mechanism according to claim 16 wherein at least one of said stiffening elements of said shoulder portion of said wear ring comprises a resilient plate adapted to urge said shoulder portion of said wear ring against the laterally offset sidewalls of said groove.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
24 words
A sealing mechanism according to claim 1 further comprising: a cushion material disposed between said wear ring and said backing ring within said groove.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
19 words
A sealing mechanism according to claim 18 wherein said cushion material comprises at least one piece of cushion material.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
22 words
A sealing mechanism according to claim 1 wherein said backing ring comprises at least one tensile band coaxial with said wear ring.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
24 words
A sealing mechanism according to claim 10 further comprising: at least one tensile band coaxial with said coil spring and interior to said spring.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
24 words
A sealing mechanism according to claim 14 further comprising: at least one tensile band coaxial with said coil spring and interior to said spring.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
17 words
A sealing mechanism according to claim 1 wherein said backing ring is comprised of a finger spring.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
32 words
A sealing mechanism according to claim 1 wherein said wear ring is unsymmetrical with respect to a plane bisecting said wear ring and perpendicular to the seating surface of said wear ring.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
37 words
A sealing mechanism according to claim 24 wherein the seating surface portion of said wear ring is unsymmetrical with respect to a plane bisecting said seating surface and perpendicular to the seating surface of said wear ring.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
36 words
A sealing mechanism according to claim 24 wherein said shoulder portion of said wear ring is unsymmetrical with respect to a plane bisecting said seating surface and perpendicular to the seating surface of said wear ring.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
37 words
A sealing mechanism according to claim 1 further comprising: at least one metal band adapted to cooperate with said wear ring and to have a portion thereof contiguous with said seating surface portion of said wear ring.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
34 words
A sealing mechanism comprising a plurality of sealing mechanisms according to claim 1 arranged in tandem and provided with means to relieve system pressure from the regions disposed between said plurality of sealing mechanisms.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
79 words
A sealing mechanism according to claim 1 wherein: said first member comprises a valve body having a chamber, an inlet port and an outlet port connected to said chamber, and a valve seat located in said valve body; and said second member comprises a sealing element movable with respect to said chamber in said valve body and adapted to permit or to stop the flow of system pressure from the inlet port to the outlet port of said body.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
79 words
A sealing mechanism according to claim 1 wherein: said second member comprises a valve body having a chamber, an inlet port and an outlet port connected to said chamber, and a valve seat located in said valve body; and said first member comprises a sealing element movable with respect to said chamber in said valve body and adapted to permit or to stop the flow of system pressure from the inlet port to the outlet port of said body.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
121 words
In a valve to seal against the flow of system pressure including: a. a valve body having a chamber, said chamber including an inlet port and an outlet port, b. a valve seat in said valve body, c. a sealing means movable with respect to said chamber in said valve body and adapted to permit or to stop the flow of system pressure from said inlet port to said outlet port, d. means to move said sealing means from a position where the flow of system pressure is permitted from the inlet port to the outlet port to a position where system pressure is blocked from flowing from the inlet port to the outlet port and vice versa, the improvement comprising:
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
121 words
In a valve to seal against the flow of system pressure including: a. a valve body having a chamber, said chamber including an inlet port and an outlet port, b. a valve seat in said valve body, c. a sealing means movable with respect to said chamber in said valve body and adapted to permit or to stop the flow of system pressure from said inlet port to said outlet port, d. means to move said sealing means from a position where the flow of system pressure is permitted from the inlet port to the outlet port to a position where system pressure is blocked from flowing from the inlet port to the outlet port and vice versa, the improvement comprising:
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
121 words
In a valve to seal against the flow of system pressure including: a. a valve body having a chamber said chamber including an inlet port and an outlet port, b. a valve seat in said valve body, c. a sealing means movable with respect to said chamber in said valve body and adapted to permit or to stop the flow of system pressure from said inlet port to said outlet port, d. means to move said sealing means fro a position where the flow of system pressure is permitted from the inlet port to the outlet port to a position where system pressure is blocked from flowing from the inlet port to the outlet port and vice versa, the improvement comprising:
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
121 words
In a valve to seal against the flow of system pressure including: a. a valve body having a chamber said chamber including an inlet port and an outlet port, b. a valve seat in said valve body, c. a sealing means movable with respect to said chamber in said valve body and adapted to permit or to stop the flow of system pressure from said inlet port to said outlet port, d. means to move said sealing means fro a position where the flow of system pressure is permitted from the inlet port to the outlet port to a position where system pressure is blocked from flowing from the inlet port to the outlet port and vice versa, the improvement comprising:
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
13 words
A sealing mechanism according to claim 1 wherein said backing ring is resilient.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
15 words
A sealing mechanism according to claim 1 wherein said backing ring is a resilient spring.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
63 words
A sealing mechanism according to claim 1 wherein the overall width of said portions of said shoulder portion is wider than the width of the bottom portion of said groove when said wear ring is in an unconfined condition, whereby said portions of said shoulder portion are preloaded against the sides of said groove when said wear ring is disposed within said groove.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
63 words
A sealing mechanism according to claim 11 wherein the overall width of said portions of said shoulder portion is wider than the width of the bottom portion of said groove when said wear ring is in an unconfined condition, whereby said portions of said shoulder portion are preloaded against the sides of said groove when said wear ring is disposed within said groove.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
58 words
A sealing mechanism according to claim 1 wherein the concave curvature of said seating surface, with regard to said sealing surface, is slightly greater than the convex curvature of said sealing surface with regard to said seating surface, whereby the upstream and downstream edges of said seating surface may be brought into firm engagement with said sealing surface.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
58 words
A sealing mechanism according to claim 11 wherein the concave curvature of said seating surface, with regard to said sealing surface, is slightly greater than the convex curvature of said sealing surface with regard to said seating surface, whereby the upstream and downstream edges of said seating surface may be brought into firm engagement with said sealing surface.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-02-14 | 1975-08-16 | 1976-02-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-02-14 | 1979-08-16 | 1980-02-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-02-14 | 1983-08-16 | 1984-02-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |