Patent US3720223A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3720223A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Seal construction for steam traps
Assignee: Clark Reliance LLC
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Filing: 1971-04-12
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Granted: 1973-03-13
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Expires: 1991-04-12
Abstract
Abstract A steam trap having an improved means for sealing a control chamber within the body of the trap, particularly with respect to the inlet and outlet passages. The body of the trap has a bore with a threaded counterbore and the bore receives a cylindrical valve seat element. A beveled annular shoulder is formed between the bore and the counterbore and an adjacent beveled annular shoulder is formed in the seat so that the two shoulders together form a V-shaped annular groove that receives a radially expansible annular metal sealing gasket with a convexly curved bottom surface. The bottom surface of the gasket bears initially, when unflexed, against only the shoulder in the seating element. However, when the gasket is forced downward and outward during assembly of the trap, it is rolled and radially expanded into continuous sealing engagement with the shoulder formed between the bore and counterbore as well as with the shoulder of the valve seat element.
Inventors
- 👤 A Goellner
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 20:55
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16T; F16T1/00; F16T1/12; F16T1/16; F16T1/165; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/2931; Y10T137/3003; Y10T137/3021; Y10T137/304
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
168 words
A seal for an annular joint between a body having a bore and a cylindrical element received in said bore and having a circular end face facing away from said bore, said seal comprising a beveled annular shoulder on said element at the edge of said circular end face and a beveled annular shoulder at the edge of said bore location adjacent to and slightly below and radially outward from said shoulder on said element, said shoulders defining with one another a V shaped groove, a radially expansible gasket having a convexly curved bottom surface that fits in said groove and that initially bears circumferentially only against said shoulder of said element when said gasket is in its original condition, and said gasket when forced downwardly into said groove being expanded and rolled downwardly and outwardly into sealing engagement with said beveled shoulder of said body to provide a continuous annular seal between said gasket and said body and another continuous seal between said gasket and said element.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
168 words
A seal for an annular joint between a body having a bore and a cylindrical element received in said bore and having a circular end face facing away from said bore, said seal comprising a beveled annular shoulder on said element at the edge of said circular end face and a beveled annular shoulder at the edge of said bore location adjacent to and slightly below and radially outward from said shoulder on said element, said shoulders defining with one another a V shaped groove, a radially expansible gasket having a convexly curved bottom surface that fits in said groove and that initially bears circumferentially only against said shoulder of said element when said gasket is in its original condition, and said gasket when forced downwardly into said groove being expanded and rolled downwardly and outwardly into sealing engagement with said beveled shoulder of said body to provide a continuous annular seal between said gasket and said body and another continuous seal between said gasket and said element.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
168 words
A seal for an annular joint between a body having a bore and a cylindrical element received in said bore and having a circular end face facing away from said bore, said seal comprising a beveled annular shoulder on said element at the edge of said circular end face and a beveled annular shoulder at the edge of said bore location adjacent to and slightly below and radially outward from said shoulder on said element, said shoulders defining with one another a V shaped groove, a radially expansible gasket having a convexly curved bottom surface that fits in said groove and that initially bears circumferentially only against said shoulder of said element when said gasket is in its original condition, and said gasket when forced downwardly into said groove being expanded and rolled downwardly and outwardly into sealing engagement with said beveled shoulder of said body to provide a continuous annular seal between said gasket and said body and another continuous seal between said gasket and said element.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
168 words
A seal for an annular joint between a body having a bore and a cylindrical element received in said bore and having a circular end face facing away from said bore, said seal comprising a beveled annular shoulder on said element at the edge of said circular end face and a beveled annular shoulder at the edge of said bore location adjacent to and slightly below and radially outward from said shoulder on said element, said shoulders defining with one another a V shaped groove, a radially expansible gasket having a convexly curved bottom surface that fits in said groove and that initially bears circumferentially only against said shoulder of said element when said gasket is in its original condition, and said gasket when forced downwardly into said groove being expanded and rolled downwardly and outwardly into sealing engagement with said beveled shoulder of said body to provide a continuous annular seal between said gasket and said body and another continuous seal between said gasket and said element.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
12 words
A seal according to claim 1 having a gasket composed of steel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
A seal according to claim 2 wherein the top surface of the gasket is flat.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
223 words
In a steam trap including a body having a sealed control chamber therein, a valve seating element secured within said body and having a circular end face within said control chamber, a port in said seating element opening into said control chamber, and valve means in said control chamber for controlling the opening and closing of said port, the improvement which comprises: a beveled annular shoulder on said seating element at the edge of said circular end face, a beveled annular shoulder in said body located radially outward from and adjacent to and slightly below said shoulder in said seat element, said shoulders defining with one another a V shaped annular groove with the legs of the V slightly offset from one another, an annular, radially expansible gasket having a convexly curved bottom surface that fits in said groove and that initially bears circumferentially only against said shoulder of said seating element and is spaced from said shoulder in said body when said gasket is in its original condition, and means for forcing said gasket downwardly into said groove whereby said gasket is advanced downwardly and outwardly into sealing engagement with said beveled shoulder of said body to provide a continuous annular seal line between said gasket and said body and another continuous annular seal line between said gasket and said seating element.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
223 words
In a steam trap including a body having a sealed control chamber therein, a valve seating element secured within said body and having a circular end face within said control chamber, a port in said seating element opening into said control chamber, and valve means in said control chamber for controlling the opening and closing of said port, the improvement which comprises: a beveled annular shoulder on said seating element at the edge of said circular end face, a beveled annular shoulder in said body located radially outward from and adjacent to and slightly below said shoulder in said seat element, said shoulders defining with one another a V shaped annular groove with the legs of the V slightly offset from one another, an annular, radially expansible gasket having a convexly curved bottom surface that fits in said groove and that initially bears circumferentially only against said shoulder of said seating element and is spaced from said shoulder in said body when said gasket is in its original condition, and means for forcing said gasket downwardly into said groove whereby said gasket is advanced downwardly and outwardly into sealing engagement with said beveled shoulder of said body to provide a continuous annular seal line between said gasket and said body and another continuous annular seal line between said gasket and said seating element.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
64 words
A steam trap as defined in claim 4 wherein said gasket has a flat top surface and said bore has a threaded counterbore and wherein said means for forcing said gasket downwardly comprises a cap with a threaded hollow shaft received in said threaded counterbore and having a curved annular bottom edge that makes sealing engagement with the flat top surface of said gasket.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-03-12 | 1976-09-11 | 1977-03-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-03-12 | 1980-09-11 | 1981-03-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-03-12 | 1984-09-11 | 1985-03-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |