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US 7,478,816 B2Granted
Seal stiffener
AssigneeFisher Controls International LLC
InventorsJason G. Olberding, Douglas J. Boyd
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Apparatus for increasing stiffness in a seal are disclosed. A disclosed apparatus includes a first flexible member having a curved sealing surface and a second flexible member adjacent to a retainer side of the first flexible member. The second flexible member is configured to increase a stiffness of the first flexible member in one of a plurality of flow directions.
Claims20
A sealing apparatus comprising:
- a first flexible member comprising a curved sealing portion having a concave surface and being configured to provide a first stiffness in a first flow direction;
- and
- a second flexible member disposed between a retainer and the concave surface of the first flexible member and configured to provide a second stiffness of the first flexible member in a second flow direction, wherein the second flexible member does not interfere with the first flexible member in the first flow direction.
A sealing device, comprising:
- a clamping portion configured to be rigidly coupled to a body of a fluid control device;
- a curved sealing portion configured to seal against a movable flow control member associated with the fluid control device, the curved sealing portion further comprising a flexible portion coupling the curved sealing portion to the clamping portion;
- and
- a stiffening member adjacent to the flexible portion on a concave side of the curved sealing portion, wherein the flexible portion provides a first stiffness to the curved sealing portion in a first flow direction and the stiffening member provides an increased second stiffness to the curved sealing portion in a second flow direction, and wherein the stiffening member does not interfere with the first flexible member in the first flow direction.
1 more element
A sealing device comprising:
- a clamping portion configured to be rigidly coupled to a body of a fluid control device;
- a curved sealing portion configured to seal against a movable flow control member associated with the fluid control device, the curved sealing portion further comprising a flexible portion coupling the curved sealing portion to the clamping portion;
- and
- a stiffening member adjacent to the flexible portion on a retainer side,
- wherein the flexible portion provides a first stiffness to the curved sealing portion in a first flow direction and the stiffening member provides an increased second stiffness to the curved sealing portion in a second flow direction,
- wherein the stiffening member does not interfere with the flexible portion in the first flow direction, and
- wherein the stiffening member is coupled to the curved sealing portion to contact a tip portion of the flexible portion in response to a reverse flow pressure drop in the second flow direction within the body of the fluid control device.
4 more elements
A fluid valve, comprising:
- a disk configured to control flow of a fluid;
- and
- a sealing structure comprising:
- a first flexible member comprising a curved sealing portion having a concave surface and being configured to engage the disk;
- and
- a second flexible member disposed between a retainer and the concave surface of the first flexible member and being configured to increase a stiffness of the first flexible member in a first flow direction, wherein the second flexible member does not interfere with the first flexible member in a second flow direction.
3 more elements
A fluid valve comprising:
- a disk configured to control flow of a fluid;
- and
- a sealing structure comprising:
- a first flexible member comprising a curved sealing surface configured to engage the disk;
- and
- a second flexible member adjacent to a retainer disposed in a first flow direction of the fluid valve and being configured to increase a stiffness of the first flexible member in a second flow direction,
- wherein the second flexible member does not interfere with the first flexible member in the first flow direction and
- wherein the second flexible member is configured to engage a tip portion of the first flexible member in response to a pressure associated with the second flow direction.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.