# US 10,480,661 B2 · Leak rate reducing sealing device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,480,661 B2 - Document ID: US10480661B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/696,343 - Filed: 2017-09-06 - Published: 2019-03-07 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2017-09-06 - Assignees: Baker Hughes, A Ge Company, LLC - Applicants: Doseo Park; Zhi Yong HE - Inventors: Doseo Park; Zhi Yong HE - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10480661B2 ## CPC - F16K 1/42: Valve seats (for double-seat valves F16K1/44) - E21B 34/00: Valve arrangements for boreholes or wells - E21B 34/10: operated by control fluid supplied from outside the borehole - F16K 1/14: with ball-shaped valve member (check valves F16K15/04) - E21B 2200/04: Ball valves - F16K: VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING {(devices for emptying and evacuating the excess liquid in valves or conduits F16L55/07)} - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS ## Abstract A sealing assembly includes a flow control body and a sealing device configured to engage the flow control body to prevent fluid flow through the sealing assembly. The sealing device includes a primary engagement feature configured to contact the flow control body upon engagement of the sealing device with the flow control body, the primary engagement feature having a front surface exposed to the fluid, and a secondary engagement feature disposed behind the primary engagement feature relative to the exposed surface, the primary engagement feature and the secondary engagement feature forming a cavity therebetween, the cavity configured to create a pressure drop in response to a leak of the fluid through the primary engagement feature. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A sealing assembly comprising: a flow control body; and a sealing device configured to engage the flow control body to prevent fluid flow through the sealing assembly, the sealing device including: a primary engagement feature configured to contact the flow control body upon engagement of the sealing device with the flow control body, the primary engagement feature having a front surface exposed to the fluid; a secondary engagement feature disposed behind the primary engagement feature relative to the exposed surface, the primary engagement feature and the secondary engagement feature forming a first cavity therebetween, the first cavity configured to create a pressure drop in response to a leak of the fluid through the primary engagement feature; and a third engagement feature disposed behind the secondary engagement feature, the third engagement feature forming a second cavity successive to the first cavity, wherein the first cavity and the second cavity have different volumes. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The sealing assembly of claim 1, wherein the primary engagement feature and the secondary engagement feature contact the body upon engagement of the sealing device with the flow control body. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The sealing assembly of claim 1, wherein the secondary engagement feature forms a gap between the secondary engagement feature and the flow control body upon engagement of the sealing device with the flow control body. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The sealing assembly of claim 3, wherein the gap has a thickness selected so that the secondary engagement feature contacts the body in response to deformation of the primary engagement feature. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The sealing assembly of claim 3, wherein the primary engagement feature includes a coating configured to contact the flow control body and upon engagement of the sealing device with the flow control body, and the gap has a thickness selected so that the secondary engagement feature contacts the body in response to removal of the coating. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The sealing assembly of claim 1, wherein the first cavity and the second cavity are successive cavities having successively larger volumes. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The sealing assembly of claim 1, wherein the primary engagement feature is configured to withstand a higher contact stress than the secondary engagement feature. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The sealing assembly of claim 1, wherein the sealing device and the flow control body form at least part of a fluid injection valve. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The sealing assembly of claim 1, wherein the primary engagement feature is configured as a seat that provides a mechanical stop to the flow control body. ### Claim 10 A method of controlling flow of a fluid via a sealing assembly, the method comprising: engaging a flow control body of the sealing assembly with a sealing device of the sealing assembly to prevent fluid flow through the sealing assembly, the sealing device including a primary engagement feature configured to contact the flow control body upon engagement of the sealing device with the flow control body, the primary engagement feature having a front surface exposed to the fluid, the sealing device including a secondary engagement feature disposed behind the primary engagement feature relative to the exposed surface, the primary engagement feature and the secondary engagement feature forming a first cavity therebetween, the sealing device further including a third engagement feature disposed behind the secondary engagement feature, the third engagement feature forming a second cavity successive to the first cavity, wherein the first cavity and the second cavity have different volumes; injecting the fluid into a component and preventing flow of the fluid through the sealing assembly by the primary engagement feature, the fluid applying an external pressure to the primary engagement feature; and based on a leak of the fluid through the primary engagement feature into at least one of the first cavity and the second cavity, causing a reduction of fluid pressure in at least one of the first cavity and the second cavity relative to the external pressure. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein engaging the flow control body with the sealing device includes contacting the primary engagement feature and the secondary engagement feature with the flow control body. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the secondary engagement feature forms a gap between the secondary engagement feature and the flow control body upon engagement of the sealing device with the flow control body. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the gap has a thickness selected so that the secondary engagement feature contacts the body in response to deformation of the primary engagement feature. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the primary engagement feature includes a coating configured to contact the flow control body and upon engagement of the sealing device with the flow control body, and the gap has a thickness selected so that the secondary engagement feature contacts the body in response to removal of the coating. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the first cavity and the second cavity are successive cavities having successively larger volumes. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the primary engagement feature is configured to withstand a higher contact stress than the secondary engagement feature. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the sealing device and the flow control body form at least part of a fluid injection valve. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the primary engagement feature is configured as a seat that provides a mechanical stop to the flow control body.