Metal valve stem seal and sealing system

A sealing system comprising:

• a valve body;
• a valve stem extending through a stem opening within the valve body;
• a bonnet member;
• a stem gasket positioned between a surface of the valve stem and a surface of the bonnet member, wherein the gasket has a first lip member and a second lip member that both extend 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;
• a wedge ring fitted into position between the interior surface of the first lip member and the interior surface of the second lip member;
• and
• at least one spring positioned adjacent a bottom portion of the wedge ring, wherein 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 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 valve stem and a second airtight seal contact area between the second lip member and the bonnet member.

A seal for sealing between a valve stem and a bonnet member, the seal comprising:

• a stem gasket positioned between a surface of the valve stem and a 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;
• a wedge ring positioned between the interior surface of the first lip member and the interior surface of the second lip member;
• and
• at least one spring positioned adjacent the wedge ring, wherein the 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 surface of the valve stem and a second airtight seal contact area between the second lip member and the surface of the bonnet member.