Metal gasket with rigid seal

Abstract

A seal joint for sealing a fluid is particularly adapted for use in extreme pressure and/or temperature environments. The seal joint includes a first member having a first sealing surface and a first opening therein, and a second member having a second sealing surface and a second opening therein, such that the first opening and the second opening comprise mating openings, and together comprise a fluid passageway. The seal joint also includes a metal gasket sheet located between the first sealing surface and the second sealing surface which has an aperture through the sheet which corresponds to the mating openings. The seal joint also includes a rigid seal which surrounds the perimeter of the aperture and which is attached to the surface of the metal gasket sheet. The rigid seal has a thickness and a width which vary as a function of position along the length of the seal. The seal joint also includes a means for applying a sealing force to press the first member, metal gasket sheet and second member together to form the seal joint between them, such that the means for applying the sealing force causes elastic deformation of at least one of the first sealing surface or the second sealing surface by the rigid seal.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.