Stem or shaft seal arrangement

A valve assembly comprising:

• a valve body configured to support a valve closure member;
• a stem extending from said valve body, said stem coupled to said valve closure member for moving said closure member;
• a compression member which extends about said stem;
• a monolithic seal which extends about said stem, and wherein at least a portion of said seal is disposed between said compression member and said valve body;
• and
• means for urging said compression member toward said valve body such that said seal is pressed between said compression member and said valve body, wherein:
• said seal includes an inclined surface, and said valve body includes an inclined surface which faces toward said stem,
• said inclined surface of said seal contacts said inclined surface of said valve body when said compression member is urged toward said valve body such that said seal is urged toward said stem,
• said inclined surface of said seal is disposed between said valve body and said stem,
• said compression member includes an inclined surface which contacts a further inclined surface provided on said seal to further urge said seal toward said stem when said compression member is urged toward said valve body,
• said inclined surface of said compression member faces said stem, and said further inclined surface of said seal is disposed between said inclined surface of said compression member and said stem,
• said compression member includes a third inclined surface and said seal includes a fourth inclined surface, and
• said third inclined surface contacts said fourth inclined surface to urge said seal toward said stem when said compression member is urged toward said valve body.

A valve assembly comprising:

• a valve body configured to support a valve closure member;
• a stem extending from said valve body, said stem coupled to said valve closure member for moving said closure member;
• a compression member which extends about said stem;
• a monolithic seal which extends about said stem, and wherein at least a portion of said seal is disposed between said compression member and said valve body;
• and
• means for urging said compression member toward said valve body such that said seal is pressed between said compression member and said valve body, wherein:
• said seal includes an inclined surface, and said valve body includes an inclined surface,
• said inclined surface of said seal contacts said inclined surface of said valve body when said compression member is urged toward said valve body such that said seal is urged toward said stem,
• said compression member has a recess, said recess including an inner surface which faces toward said stem,
• said seal includes a first portion disposed in said recess and a second portion disposed between said compression member and said valve body, and
• said first portion is disposed between said inner surface and said stem, wherein,
• said compression member includes at least one inclined surface disposed in said recess which urges said first portion of said seal toward said stem when said compression member is urged toward said valve body,
• said seal includes three inclined surfaces, and
• two of said three inclined surfaces contact said compression member and a third of said three inclined surfaces contacts said valve body when said compression member is urged toward said valve body such that said seal is urged toward said stem.

A valve assembly comprising:

• a valve body configured to support a valve closure member;
• a stem extending from said valve body, said stem coupled to said valve closure member for moving said closure member;
• a compression member which extends about said stem;
• a monolithic seal which extends about said stem, and wherein at least a portion of said seal is disposed between said compression member and said valve body;
• and
• means for urging said compression member toward said valve body such that said seal is pressed between said compression member and said valve body, wherein,
• said seal includes an inclined surface, and said valve body includes an inclined surface,
• said inclined surface of said seal contacts said inclined surface of said valve body when said compression member is urged toward said valve body such that said seal is urged toward said stem,
• said compression member has a recess, said recess including an inner surface which faces toward said stem,
• said seal includes a first portion disposed in said recess and a second portion disposed between said compression member and said valve body,
• said first portion is disposed between said inner surface and said stem,
• said compression member includes a pair of inclined surfaces, and
• one of said pair of inclined surfaces is disposed at a top of said recess and another of said pair of recesses is disposed at a bottom of said recess.

A valve assembly comprising:

• a valve body configured to support a valve closure member;
• a stem extending through said valve body, said stem coupled to said valve closure member for moving said valve closure member;
• a compression member which extends about said stem, said compression member including a recess and a pair of inclined surfaces, wherein at least one of said inclined surfaces is disposed in said recess, and wherein said recess includes an inner surface which faces toward said stem;
• a monolithic seal contacting said valve body and which extends about said stem and which includes a first portion disposed in said recess and a second portion disposed between said compression member and said valve body, and wherein said first portion is disposed between said stem and said inner surface of said recess;
• and
• means for urging said compression member toward said valve body such that said seal is pressed between said compression member and said valve body, wherein:
• said pair of inclined surfaces of said compression member contacts said seal to urge said seal toward said stem when said compression member is urged toward said valve body, and
• each inclined surface of said pair of inclined surfaces is obliquely arranged with respect to a longitudinal axis of said stem.

An assembly which provides an improved seal arrangement to reduce leakage between a housing and an exterior of the housing in which the interior and exterior of the housing are at different pressures, the assembly comprising:

• a housing having an interior at a first pressure;
• a shaft extending from a location inside of said housing, through said housing and to a location exterior to said housing, and wherein said location exterior to said housing is at a second pressure that is different from said first pressure;
• a compression member which extends about said shaft at said location exterior to said housing, said compression member including a recess and a pair of inclined surfaces, wherein at least one of said inclined surfaces is disposed in said recess, and wherein said recess includes an inner surface which faces toward said shaft;
• a monolithic seal contacting said housing and which extends about said shaft at said location exterior to said housing and which includes a first portion disposed in said recess and a second portion disposed between said compression member and said housing, and wherein said first portion is disposed between said shaft and said inner surface of said recess;
• and
• means for urging said compression member toward said housing such that said seal is pressed between said compression member and said housing, wherein:
• said pair of inclined surfaces of said compression member contacts said seal to urge said seal toward said shaft when said compression member is urged toward said housing, and
• each inclined surface of said pair of inclined surfaces is obliquely arranged with respect to a longitudinal axis of said shaft.