Seal ring and method

Abstract

A seal ring 10 for sealing between first and second members 12, 14 each having an outer groove surface 16, 126 and inner groove surface 18, 127 includes a metal seal body 26, 42, 52, 60, 70, 80, 92, 110, 122, 140 for engagement with the outer groove surface on the first and second members, and a metal flexible flange 30, 32, 44, 46, 54, 56, 62, 64, 76, 78, 88, 90, 94, 96, 112, 114, 128, 144, 146 with a cantilevered end of a flexible flange providing substantially line contact sealing engagement with the inner groove surface on respective first and second member. The metal flexible flange is configured for being fluid pressure energized, and is deformed beyond its elastic limit when securing members secure the first member to the second member.

1 . A seal ring for sealing between first and second members each having a through bore, a radially outer circumferential groove surface, and a radially inner circumferential groove surface, and securing members arranged circumferentially about the first and second members to secure the first member to the second member, the sealing ring comprising: 
 a metal seal body for engagement with each of the outer groove surfaces on the first and second members when the securing members secure the first member to the second member; and    a metal flexible flange radially inward at the seal body such that a cantilevered end of the flexible flange provides substantially line contact sealing engagement with the inner groove surface on a respective first and second member, a spacing between the flexible flange and the seal body providing for fluid pressure energization of the flexible flange, and the flexible flange being deformed beyond its elastic range when the securing members secure the first member to the second member.    
     
     
         2 . A seal ring as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the seal body and the flexible flange are formed from a unitary homogenous material.  
     
     
         3 . A seal ring as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the seal body has substantially line contact sealing engagement with the outer groove surface on a respective first and second member.  
     
     
         4 . A seal ring as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 an annular flange extending radially outward from the seal body for planar engagement with planar flange engaging faces on the first and second members.    
     
     
         5 . A seal ring is defined in  claim 4 , wherein the annular flange is supported on the seal body.  
     
     
         6 . A seal ring as defined in  claim 4 , wherein the annular flange and the seal body are formed from a unitary homogeneous material.  
     
     
         7 . A sealing ring as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the seal body and a pair of flexible flanges form a substantially C-shaped cross sectional configuration.  
     
     
         8 . A seal ring as defined in  claim 7 , wherein a spacing between each of the pair of flexible flanges and the seal body is substantially filled with an elastomer, such that fluid pressure on the elastomer exerts increasing sealing pressure between each flexible flange and the inner groove surface on a respective first and second member.  
     
     
         9 . A seal ring as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the flexible flange is fixedly secured to the seal body.  
     
     
         10 . A seal ring as defined in  claim 1 , wherein a slidable member supporting the flexible flange is axially movable relative to the seal body; and 
 a substantially line contact seal between the slidable member and the seal body.    
     
     
         11 . A seal ring as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the outer groove surface is a tapered surface directed radially inward in a direction away from an interface of the first and second members, and the inner groove surface is a tapered surface directed radially outward in a direction away from the interface of the first and second members.  
     
     
         12 . A seal ring as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 another flexible flange for substantially line contact sealing engagement with the other of the first and second members.    
     
     
         13 . A seal ring for sealing between first and second members each having a through bore, a radially outer circumferential groove surface, a radially inner circumferential groove surface, and a circumferential base surface between a respective outer groove surface and inner groove surface, and securing members arranged circumferentially about the first and second members to secure the first member to the second member, the seal ring comprising: 
 a metal seal body for engagement with each of the outer groove surface on the first and second members when the securing members secure the first member to the second member; and    a metal flexible flange supported on to the seal body and extending radially inward such that a cantilevered end of a flexible flange provides substantially line contact engagement with one of the base surface and the inward groove surface on a respective first and second member, the flexible flange being deformed beyond its elastic limit when the securing members secure the first member to the second member, and a spacing between the flexible flange and seal body providing for fluid pressure energization of the flexible flange.    
     
     
         14 . A seal ring as defined in  claim 13 , wherein the seal body has substantially line contact sealing engagement with the outer groove surface on a respective first and second member.  
     
     
         15 . A seal ring as defined in  claim 13 , wherein the cantilever end of the flexible flange is in sealing engagement with the base of a respective first and second member when the securing members secure the first member to the second member.  
     
     
         16 . A seal ring as defined in  claim 13 , wherein the cantilevered end of the flexible flange is in sealing engagement with the inner groove surface of a respective first and second member when the securing members secure the first member to the second member.  
     
     
         17 . A seal ring as defined in  claim 13 , further comprising: 
 another flexible flange for substantially line contact sealing engagement with the other of the first and second members.    
     
     
         18 . A seal ring as defined in  claim 13 , wherein the outer groove surface is a tapered surface directed radially inward in a direction away from an interface at the first and second members, and the inner groove surface is a tapered surface directed radially outward in a direction away from the interface of the first and second members.  
     
     
         19 . A seal ring as defined in  claim 14 , further comprising: 
 one or more radially extending slots in the seal body for increasing flexibility of the flexible flange in response to fluid pressure.    
     
     
         20 . A seal ring as defined in  claim 19 , wherein at least one of the one or more slots extends radially outward from a radially inner surface of the seal body and at least one of the one or more radially extending slots extends radially inward from a radially outer surface of the seal body.  
     
     
         21 . A seal ring for sealing between first and second members each having a through bore in fluid communication with the throughbore in the other member, each member having a circumferential mating surface extending radially outward from the respective throughbore and a circumferential groove in the mating surface open to the circumferential groove in the other member and having a radially outer circumferential groove surface, a radially inner circumferential groove surface, and a circumferential base surface between a respective outer groove surface and inner groove surface, the outer groove surface being a tapered surface directed radially inward in a direction away from an interface of the first and second members, and the inner groove surface being a tapered surface directed radially outward in a direction away from the interface of the first and second members, and securing members arranged circumferentially about the first and second members to secure the first member to the second member, the seal ring comprising: 
 a metal seal body for engagement with each of the outer groove surface on the first and second members when the securing members secure the first member to the second member;    a pair of metal flexible flanges supported on to the seal body and each extending radially inward such that a cantilevered end of a flexible flange provides substantially line contact engagement with one of the base surface and the inward groove surface on a respective first and second member;    the seal body and the pair of metal flexible flange having a substantially C-shaped cross-sectional configuration; and    each flexible flange being deformed beyond its elastic limit when the securing members secure the first member to the second member, and a spacing between the flexible flange and seal body providing for fluid pressure energization of the flexible flange.    
     
     
         22 . A seal ring as defined in  claim 21 , wherein a radially outer portion of the seal body is thicker than a thickness of either of the pair of metal flexible flanges.  
     
     
         23 . A seal ring as defined in  claim 21 , wherein each of the pair of metal flexible flanges extends axially toward each other.  
     
     
         24 . A seal ring as defined in  claim 21 , wherein the cantilevered end of each flexible flange is in sealing engagement with the inner groove surface of a respective first and second member when the securing members secure the first member to the second member.  
     
     
         25 . A seal ring as defined in  claim 21 , wherein a spacing between each of the pair of flexible flanges and the seal body is substantially filled with an elastomer, such that fluid pressure on the elastomer exerts increasing sealing pressure between each flexible flange and the inner groove surface on a respective first and second member.  
     
     
         26 . A method of sealing between first and second members each having a through bore in fluid communication with the throughbore in the other member, each member having a circumferential mating surface extending radially outward from the respective throughbore and a circumferential groove in the mating surface open to the circumferential groove in the other member and having a radially outer circumferential groove surface, a radially inner circumferential groove surface, and a circumferential base surface between a respective outer groove surface and inner groove surface, the outer groove surface being a tapered surface directed radially inward in a direction away from an interface of the first and second members, and the inner groove surface being a tapered surface directed radially outward in a direction away from the interface of the first and second members, and securing members arranged circumferentially about the first and second members to secure the first member to the second member, the method comprising: 
 engaging a metal seal body with each of the outer groove surface on the first and second members when the securing members secure the first member to the second member;    supporting a pair of flexible flanges on to the seal body and each extending radially inward such that a cantilevered end of a flexible flange provides substantially line contact engagement with one of the base surface and the inward groove surface on a respective first and second member; and    deforming each flexible flange beyond its elastic limit when the securing members secure the first member to the second member, and a spacing between the flexible flange and seal body providing for fluid pressure energization of the flexible flange.    
     
     
         27 . A seal ring as defined in  claim 26 , wherein a spacing between each of the pair of flexible flanges and the seal body is substantially filled with an elastomer, such that fluid pressure on the elastomer exerts increasing sealing pressure between each flexible flange and the inner groove surface on a respective first and second member.  
     
     
         28 . A method as defined in  claim 26 , further comprising: 
 dimensioning of the metal seal ring and grooves such that when the first and second members are drawn together, the seal body contacts the outer tapered surface of each groove and the line contact surface of each flexible flange contacts the inner tapered wall of a respective groove.    
     
     
         29 . A method as defined in  claim 26 , wherein movement of the members toward each other causes the seal body to slide on the outer surface of each groove creating a burnished seal contact surface, while also forcing the seal body radially inward thereby moving each flexible flange against the inner groove surface and forcing each flexible flange into a reduced diameter surface, causing each flexible flange to yield and confirm to the inner groove surface.