Valve with bi-loading seal
AssigneeKohler Co.
InventorChristopher Shay
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fluid control valve has at its lower inlet end a bi-loading seal. The seal is generally ring shaped in top view. However, it has a first flexible load section for sealing the stationary disk with respect to the housing and a second load section having an annular insert that in cross-section is hook-shaped to form a bend of more than 90 degrees. The insert can be molded within the resilient body of the seal so that its outer rim is disposed at a circular shoulder that bears against a seal stop of the housing. A high load can thus be applied between the bearing shoulder and seal stop to achieve a tight seal, while a lower load can be applied between the flexible, unrigidified part of the seal and a stationary valve disk.
Claims15
A valve, comprising:
- a valve housing;
- a stationary valve element positioned in the valve housing and having a hole there through;
- a moveable valve element also positioned in the valve housing and for regulating fluid flow through the valve in response to movement of the moveable element adjacent the stationary element;
- an operating member extending into the valve housing for moving the moveable element;
- and
- a seal proximate an inlet side of the stationary valve element and having a first flexible load section for sealing the stationary valve element with respect to the valve housing and a second load section having rigidifying member forming a bend that in vertical cross section extends for more than 90 degrees.
An annular seal having a first flexible load section and a second load section, the second load section having a rigidifying member associated with a bearing surface at an intermediate region located between a resilient first side of the seal where the first load section terminates and a resilient second side of the seal where the second load section terminates, wherein the rigidifying member is an annular member having a vertical cross-section forming a bend of more than 90 degrees.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.