# US 2014/0197603 A1 · Bi-directional seal assembly for use with valves > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0197603 A1 - Document ID: US20140197603A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/217,791 - Filed: 2014-03-18 - Published: 2014-07-17 - Earliest claimed: 2009-04-28 - Assignees: Fisher Controls International LLC - Inventors: Wayne Russell Faas - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140197603A1 ## CPC - F16J 15/16: between relatively-moving surfaces (F16J15/50, F16J15/52 take precedence; bellows pistons F16J3/06; piston-rings or ring sealings of similar construction F16J9/00) - F16J 15/3236: with at least one lip for each surface, e.g. U-cup packings - F16K 3/243: {Packings (F16K3/246 takes precedence)} - F16K 47/08: for decreasing pressure {or noise level} and having a throttling member separate from the closure member {, e.g. screens, slots, labyrinths} - Y10T 137/86734: With metering feature - F16J: PISTONS {(specially adapted for dampers F16F9/32)}; CYLINDERS; SEALINGS - 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)} - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract Seal assemblies for use with fluid valves are described. An example seal assembly includes a first seal and a second seal opposite the first seal. The first and second seals are to sealingly engage a closure member of a valve and a sealing surface opposite the closure member. A spacer ring is disposed between the first and second seals to prevent the first and second seals from contacting each other. The spacer ring has an aperture therethrough to enable pressurized fluid to flow from a first side of the spacer ring and a second side of the spacer ring opposite the first side. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A seal assembly for use with valves, comprising: a first seal and a second seal opposite the first seal, the first and second seals to sealingly engage a closure member of a valve and a sealing surface opposite the closure member; and a spacer ring disposed between the first and second seals to prevent the first and second seals from contacting each other, the spacer ring having an aperture therethrough to enable pressurized fluid to flow from a first side of the spacer ring and a second side of the spacer ring opposite the first side. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A seal assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein the spacer ring is sized so that the spacer ring does not contact the closure member or the sealing surface. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A seal assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein each of the first and second seals includes a cavity. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) A seal assembly as defined in claim 3, wherein the cavities of the first and second seals face each other. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) A seal assembly as defined in claim 3, wherein the spacer ring is at least partially disposed within the cavities of the first and second seals to prevent the first and second seals from contacting each other. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A seal assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein the sealing surface comprises an inner surface of a cage. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A seal assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein the first seal or the second seal includes a spring disposed within a jacket to urge the jacket against the sealing surface and the closure member. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A seal assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein the spacer ring comprises a metal or thermoplastic material. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A seal assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein the closure member comprises a plug. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A seal assembly as defined in claim 1 further comprising a valve body, the valve body having the closure member positioned within a fluid flow passageway of the valve body between an outlet and an inlet of the valve body. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) A seal assembly as defined in claim 10, wherein the closure member includes a vent to fluidly couple the fluid flow passageway of the valve body and the seal assembly. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) A seal assembly as defined in claim 11, wherein the vent enables pressure equalization across the seal assembly to reduce friction between the closure member and the sealing surface. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) A seal assembly as defined in claim 11, wherein the vent is to be in fluid communication with the aperture of the spacer ring. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) A seal assembly as defined in claim 11, wherein the closure member includes a conduit extending between a first end of the closure member and a second end of the closure member, the conduit to fluidly couple the first end of the closure member and the fluid flow passageway of the valve body to pressure balance the closure member. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) A seal assembly as defined in claim 14, wherein an axis of the conduit is substantially perpendicular to an axis of the vent. ### Claim 16 A seal assembly for use with fluid valves comprising: a first seal having a first leg and a second leg forming a first cavity therebetween; a second seal having a third leg and a fourth leg forming a second cavity therebetween; and a spacer ring disposed between the first and second seals to maintain the first and second seals in spaced apart relation to prevent the first and second seals from contacting each other, the spacer ring being at least partially positioned within the first cavity such that the spacer ring and the first leg define a first portion of the first cavity and the spacer ring and the second leg define a second portion of the first cavity, and the spacer ring being at least partially positioned within the second cavity such that the spacer ring and the third leg define a third portion of the second cavity and the spacer ring and the fourth leg define a fourth portion of the second cavity, the spacer ring including an aperture to enable pressurized fluid to flow between the first and third portions of the respective first and second cavities and the second and fourth portions of the respective first and second cavities. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) A seal assembly as defined in claim 15, wherein the spacer ring is sized to not contact a cage or a valve plug when the seal assembly is positioned within a valve body. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) A seal assembly as defined in claim 15, wherein the first and second seals are spring-loaded seals. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) A seal assembly as defined in claim 15, wherein the seal assembly further comprises a back-up ring adjacent the first and second seals and a piston ring adjacent the back-up ring. ### Claim 20 A seal for use with a valve, comprising: first means for sealing and second means for sealing opposite the first means for sealing, the first and second means for sealing to sealingly engage a closure member of a valve and a sealing surface opposite the closure member; and means for spacing the first means for sealing away from the second means for sealing to prevent the first and second means for sealing from contacting each other, the means for spacing being sized so that the means for spacing does not contact the closure member or the sealing surface, the means for spacing including means for allowing fluid flow through the means for spacing between a first side of the means for spacing and a second side of the means for spacing opposite the first side of the means for spacing.