Valve seal assembly

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a valve seal assembly for use in multi-chamber vacuum devices. The seal assembly comprises a door and a deformable seal ring running along the periphery of the door, wherein the seal ring is held in place by a reversibly mounted securing means such as a disk, ring or clamp.

1 . A deformable seal ring shaped and sized to complementarily fit within a groove, said groove having a first sidewall and first lip overhanging said first sidewall, a base, a second sidewall and second lip overhanging said second sidewall, said seal ring comprising a first thin portion for complementarily engaging a first portion of said groove formed by said first sidewall, base and said first lip and a second thin portion for complementarily engaging a second portion of said groove formed by said second sidewall, base and second lip, and said seal ring having a thick portion located between said first and second thin portions and sized to extend beyond both said first and second sidewalls of said groove, said thick portion having a generally parabolic cross-section.  
   
   
       2 . A deformable seal ring of  claim 1  further comprising first and second portions of intermediate thickness located between said first and second thin portions and said thick portion.  
   
   
       3 . A deformable seal ring of  claim 1  wherein said first and second thin portions each have a generally rectangular cross-section.  
   
   
       4 . A deformable seal ring of  claim 1  fashioned from an elastomer selected from the group consisting of i) silicone rubber, ii) nitrile rubber, iii) hydrogenated nitrile rubber, iv) EPDM, v) copolymers of ethylene and an alpha olefin having at least four carbon atoms, and vi) fluoroelastomers.  
   
   
       5 . A deformable seal ring of  claim 2  wherein said fluoroelastomer is a perfluoroelastomer.