Metal valve stem and sealing system
AssigneePetrolvalves S.P.A.
InventorRoberto Pozzati
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A metal valve stem seal and sealing system includes a valve body, a metal valve stem housed within the valve body, a bonnet member housed within the valve body, and a U-shaped metal stem gasket positioned between the metal valve stem and the bonnet member. The gasket has a first lip member and a second lip member. The metal valve stem seal and sealing system also includes a metal wedge ring fitted between the first and second lip members and at least one metal energizing spring adjacent the wedge ring. The spring applies a sufficient force to the wedge ring to cause the wedge ring to apply a sufficient contact pressure to the first and second lip members to form a seal between the gasket and the metal valve stem and to form a seal between the gasket and the bonnet member.
Claims19
A metal valve stem sealing system comprising:
- (a) a valve body;
- a metal valve stem housed within the valve body;
- (b) a bonnet member housed within the valve body;
- (c) a U-shaped metal stem gasket positioned between the metal valve stem and the bonnet member, wherein the gasket has a first lip member and a second lip member each having an interior surface and an exterior surface, wherein the first and second lip members have upper portions and lower portions, and wherein the lower portion of each lip member has an exterior sloped surface;
- (d) a metal wedge ring fitted between the interior surface of the first lip member and the interior surface of the second lip member;
- and
- (e) at least one metal energizing spring adjacent the wedge ring, wherein the metal energizing spring applies a sufficient force to the wedge ring to cause the wedge ring to apply a sufficient contact pressure to the first and second lip members such that the exterior sloped surfaces of the first and second lip members rotate outwardly to extend, respectively, a first airtight seal contact area between the first lip member and the metal valve stem and a second airtight seal contact area between the second lip member and the bonnet member.
A metal valve stem sealing system comprising:
- (a) a valve body;
- a movable metal valve stem extending through a stem opening within the valve body;
- (b) a bonnet member housed within the valve body;
- (c) a U-shaped metal stem gasket positioned between an exterior surface of the metal valve stem and an exterior surface of the bonnet member, wherein the gasket has a first lip member and a second lip member that both extend downwardly from a gasket body, the first and second lip members each having an interior surface and an exterior surface, wherein the first and second lip members have upper portions and lower portions, and wherein the lower portion of each lip member has an exterior sloped surface;
- (d) a metal wedge ring fitted into position between the interior surface of the first lip member and the interior surface of the second lip member;
- and
- (e) at least one metal energizing spring positioned adjacent a bottom portion of the wedge ring, wherein the metal energizing spring applies a sufficient force to the wedge ring to cause the wedge ring to apply a sufficient contact pressure to the first and second lip members such that the exterior sloped surfaces of the first and second lip members rotate outwardly to extend, respectively, a first airtight seal contact area between the first lip member and the metal valve stem and a second airtight seal contact area between the second lip member and the bonnet member.
A metal-to-metal seal for sealing between a movable metal valve stem and a bonnet member, the metal seal comprising:
- (a) a U-shaped metal stem gasket positioned between an exterior surface of the metal valve stem and an exterior surface of the bonnet member, wherein the gasket has a first flexible lip member and a second flexible lip member, the first and second lip members each having an interior surface, an exterior surface, an upper portion, and a lower portion, and further wherein the lower portion of each lip member has an exterior sloped surface;
- (b) a metal wedge ring positioned between the interior surface of the first lip member and the interior surface of the second lip member;
- and
- (c) at least one metal energizing spring positioned adjacent the wedge ring, wherein the metal energizing spring applies a sufficient force to the wedge ring which causes the wedge ring to apply a sufficient contact pressure to the first and second lip members such that the exterior sloped surfaces of the first and second lip members rotate outwardly to extend, respectively, a first airtight seal contact area between the first lip member and the exterior surface of the metal valve stem and a second airtight seal contact area between the second lip member and the exterior surface of the bonnet member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.