US4231546A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
High-temperature bidirectional metal seal
Assignee: Fisher Controls International LLC
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Filing: 1978-12-22
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Granted: 1980-11-04
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Expires: 1998-12-22
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed herein are valve seals wherein an annular metallic seal member is retained in an annular recess in a valve body wall, the seal member being resiliently deformable in both axial and radial directions. A resilient annular Belleville spring portion is provided linking an inner sealing portion and an outer flange portion which is sealingly engaged by the valve body. When a valve employing this seal arrangement is closed, differential pressure acting from either direction urges a valve closure member and the seal member in a downstream direction, and forces the seal member and the valve closure member into tighter sealing engagement.
Inventors
- 👤 Philip W. Eggleston
- 👤 Eugene R. Taylor, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 14:39
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16K; F16K1/00; F16K1/16; F16K1/18; F16K1/22; F16K1/226; F16K1/2263; F16K1/2266
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
279 words
A valve seal structure comprising: a unitary metallic annular seal member having an inner sealing portion of generally U-shaped cross section, a resilient flexible web portion extending generally outwardly from said sealing portion, and an outer periphery extending outwardly from said web portion, and including a locus of flexure points at the junction of said web and said periphery; a valve body having a central bore and means within said bore for sealingly engaging said periphery of said seal; valve closure means pivotable within said bore between open and closed positions, said closure means having a circumferential sealing surface converging generally toward an axis of said body bore for sealingly engaging said sealing portion of said seal in an interference fit in a region of contact when said closure means is in a closed position; said locus of flexure points being displaced in the direction of convergence of said sealing surface of said closure means from said region of contact between said seal member and said closure means, wherein said generally U-shaped cross section of said seal member sealing portion defines a center of curvature of said cross section, and wherein an imaginary line through said center of curvature of said U-shaped cross section and said locus of flexure points when said closure means is in the open position intersects said sealing surface of said closure means substantially perpendicularly when said closure means is in said closed position; and whereby upon pivoting of said closure means to said closed position, said inner sealing portion of said seal is radially stretched to accommodate said closure means, and said web portion is resiliently deflected axially and placed in generally outward compression.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
279 words
A valve seal structure comprising: a unitary metallic annular seal member having an inner sealing portion of generally U-shaped cross section, a resilient flexible web portion extending generally outwardly from said sealing portion, and an outer periphery extending outwardly from said web portion, and including a locus of flexure points at the junction of said web and said periphery; a valve body having a central bore and means within said bore for sealingly engaging said periphery of said seal; valve closure means pivotable within said bore between open and closed positions, said closure means having a circumferential sealing surface converging generally toward an axis of said body bore for sealingly engaging said sealing portion of said seal in an interference fit in a region of contact when said closure means is in a closed position; said locus of flexure points being displaced in the direction of convergence of said sealing surface of said closure means from said region of contact between said seal member and said closure means, wherein said generally U-shaped cross section of said seal member sealing portion defines a center of curvature of said cross section, and wherein an imaginary line through said center of curvature of said U-shaped cross section and said locus of flexure points when said closure means is in the open position intersects said sealing surface of said closure means substantially perpendicularly when said closure means is in said closed position; and whereby upon pivoting of said closure means to said closed position, said inner sealing portion of said seal is radially stretched to accommodate said closure means, and said web portion is resiliently deflected axially and placed in generally outward compression.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
A seal structure according to claim 1, wherein said line intersects said sealing surface within ten degrees of perpendicularly.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
A seal structure according to claim 2, wherein said line intersects said sealing surface perpendicularly.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
281 words
In a valve having a valve body, a central bore through said valve body, and disk retained within said bore and pivotable about an axis transverse to said bore between an open and a closed position for interrupting fluid flows through said valve over a range of differential pressures across said valve, a valve seal structure comprising: a metallic annular seal member surrounding said bore and having a resilient inner sealing portion of generally U-shaped cross section, an outer flange portion retained in leak proof relationship with said valve body, an intermediate web portion linking said inner and outer portions, and a locus of flexure points between said web portion and said outer flange portion, said web portion being resiliently flexible axially about said flexure points; and converging surface means circumferentially disposed about said disk, and converging toward an axis of said central bore on one side of said disk, for engaging said inner portion of said seal in an interference fit in a region of contact when said disk is in the closed position; said locus of flexure points being offset from said region of contact in the direction of convergence of said converging surface means; wherein a line through said locus of flexure points and a center of curvature of said U-shaped cross section of said inner sealing portion when said disk is open intersects subtantially perpendicularly said surface means of said disk when said disk is in the closed position; and said converging surface means circumferentially stretching said inner sealing portion of said seal to accommodate said surface means, and axially deflecting said web portion upon closure of said disk, placing said web portion in generally outward compression.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
281 words
In a valve having a valve body, a central bore through said valve body, and disk retained within said bore and pivotable about an axis transverse to said bore between an open and a closed position for interrupting fluid flows through said valve over a range of differential pressures across said valve, a valve seal structure comprising: a metallic annular seal member surrounding said bore and having a resilient inner sealing portion of generally U-shaped cross section, an outer flange portion retained in leak proof relationship with said valve body, an intermediate web portion linking said inner and outer portions, and a locus of flexure points between said web portion and said outer flange portion, said web portion being resiliently flexible axially about said flexure points; and converging surface means circumferentially disposed about said disk, and converging toward an axis of said central bore on one side of said disk, for engaging said inner portion of said seal in an interference fit in a region of contact when said disk is in the closed position; said locus of flexure points being offset from said region of contact in the direction of convergence of said converging surface means; wherein a line through said locus of flexure points and a center of curvature of said U-shaped cross section of said inner sealing portion when said disk is open intersects subtantially perpendicularly said surface means of said disk when said disk is in the closed position; and said converging surface means circumferentially stretching said inner sealing portion of said seal to accommodate said surface means, and axially deflecting said web portion upon closure of said disk, placing said web portion in generally outward compression.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
44 words
A seal structure according to claim 4, wherein said converging surface means imparts outward compressive loading to said web portion when said disk is displaced axially by differential fluid pressure acting on said disk from either side, throughout said range of operating pressure differentials.
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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) | 1983-11-04 | 1984-05-05 | 1984-11-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-11-04 | 1988-05-05 | 1988-11-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-11-04 | 1992-05-05 | 1992-11-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |