Bidirectional pressure-intensified seal
AssigneeSPM Oil & Gas PC LLC
InventorsDavid Hugh NASH, Yevgen GORASH, Ali Ahmed ANWAR, Michael L. MANN
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A pressure-energized bidirectional seal having a main body having a first end and a second end and a pair of legs extending from the second end of the main body, the pair of legs having an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface forming a hollow interior opening in a first direction. The bidirectional seal includes at least one rib extending from the outer surfaces and configured to sealingly engage a mating surface of a mating body the at least one rib forming a sealing zone opening in a second direction opposite of the first direction.
Claims20
A pressure-energized bidirectional seal, comprising:
- a main body having a first end and a second end;
- a pair of legs extending from the second end of the main body, the pair of legs having an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface forming a hollow interior opening in a first direction;
- and
- at least one rib extending from the outer surfaces and forming a sealing zone opening in a second and generally opposite direction from the first direction, the at least one rib configured to sealingly engage a mating surface of a mating body.
A bidirectional pressure-energized seal comprising:
- a main body formed having a first upper surface and an opposed bottom second surface, an inner and an outer sidewall extending between the first and second surfaces;
- an inner leg and an outer leg extending from the second surface, the inner and outer legs having an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner surfaces forming a hollow interior opening in a first direction;
- and
- a plurality of spaced apart ribs extending from the outer leg outer surface and sized to sealingly engage a surface of a mating body, at least one of the plurality of ribs angularly extending toward the upper surface of the main body and forming a sealing zone opening in a second direction generally opposite to the first direction.
A method of installing a bidirectional pressure-energized seal, the method comprising:
- providing a bi-directional pressure-energized seal having a main body having a first upper surface and a second lower surface and a pair of legs extending from the second surface of the main body, the legs having an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface form a hollow interior opening into a first direction, and further including a plurality ribs extending from the outer surface in a direction toward the first upper surface, the plurality of ribs forming sealing zones opening in a second direction generally opposite the first direction;
- providing a fluid conduit with an outer surface;
- providing a valve, the valve being configured to receive a portion of the fluid conduit and having a mating surface for engaging a seal;
- seating the bidirectional seal on the outer surface of the fluid conduit;
- and
- inserting a portion of the fluid conduit into the valve such that the bidirectional seal sealingly engages the mating surface of the valve.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.