Seal assembly for a valve closure element

A valve assembly comprising:

• a valve body having a central flow passage and an annular valve seat extending circumferentially about the central flow passage;
• a closure element linearly displaceable along a central axis and including a cylindrical body having an outer circumferential surface, a first axial end disposeable against the annular valve seat to interrupt flow from the central flow passage and a second opposing axial end;
• and
• a seal assembly including:
• an outer seal including an annular body formed of a polymeric material and having a centerline, an inner circumferential surface defining a seal bore, an outer circumferential surface, and opposing first and second axial ends, the first axial end of the outer seal having a radially-extending, annular sealing surface sealingly engageable with the annular valve seat;
• and
• an inner connector including an annular body formed of a rigid material and disposed at least partially within the seal bore, the inner connector annular body having an inner circumferential surface with an inside diameter sized lesser than an outside diameter of the outer circumferential surface of the closure element body such that the inner connector annular body inner circumferential surface is frictionally engageable with the closure element cylindrical body outer circumferential surface to couple the outer seal with the closure element by an interference fit, the inside diameter of the inner connector annular body inner circumferential surface being constant along the entire axial length of engagement with the closure element cylindrical body outer circumferential surface.