External Pressure Gasket

Abstract

A gasket having an upper surface, a substantially cylindrical inner surface abutting the upper surface, a lower surface abutting the inner surface, and generally opposite the upper surface, and an outer surface abutting the upper surface and the lower surface, and generally opposite the inner surface. The outer surface has a sealing surface between the upper surface and the lower surface, a first depression between the sealing surface and the upper surface, and a second depression between the sealing surface and the lower surface. A distance between the first depression and the second depression may be less than a distance between the upper surface and the lower surface. The outer surface may have a first seal wing between the sealing surface and the upper surface, and a second seal wing between the sealing surface and the lower surface.

1 . A gasket comprising:
 an upper surface;   a substantially cylindrical inner surface abutting the upper surface;   a lower surface abutting the inner surface, and generally opposite the upper surface; and   an outer surface abutting the upper surface and the lower surface, and generally opposite the inner surface, the outer surface comprising
 a sealing surface between the upper surface and the lower surface, 
 a first depression between the sealing surface and the upper surface, and 
 a second depression between the sealing surface and the lower surface. 
   
   
   
       2 . The gasket of  claim 1 , wherein a distance between the first depression and the second depression is less than a distance between the upper surface and the lower surface. 
   
   
       3 . The gasket of  claim 1 , wherein the outer surface is configured to fit into a standard gasket seat profile. 
   
   
       4 . The gasket of  claim 1 , wherein the outer surface is configured to fit into a new gasket seat profile. 
   
   
       5 . The gasket of  claim 1 , wherein the outer surface further comprises:
 a first seal wing between the sealing surface and the upper surface; and   a second seal wing between the sealing surface and the lower surface.   
   
   
       6 . The gasket of  claim 5 , wherein the first seal wing is between the first depression and the upper surface; and wherein the second seal wing is between the second depression and the lower surface. 
   
   
       7 . The gasket of  claim 1 , wherein the outer surface further comprises a stabilization ring between the upper surface and the lower surface and wherein the sealing surface comprises a first sealing surface between the stabilization ring and the upper surface and a second sealing surface between the stabilization ring and the lower surface. 
   
   
       8 . The gasket of  claim 7 , wherein the stabilization ring is centralized. 
   
   
       9 . The gasket of  claim 1 , comprised of metal. 
   
   
       10 . The gasket of  claim 9 , wherein the metal is selected from the group consisting of stainless steel, alloy steel, titanium, and nickel based alloy. 
   
   
       11 . The gasket of  claim 1 , wherein the inner surface has an inner diameter within the range of about 2″ to about 9.″ 
   
   
       12 . The gasket of  claim 1 , wherein the inner surface has an inner diameter of up to about 10.″ 
   
   
       13 . The gasket of  claim 1 , configured to seal tapered surfaces. 
   
   
       14 . The gasket of  claim 1 , configured to seal straight bored surfaces. 
   
   
       15 . The gasket of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more inserts. 
   
   
       16 . The gasket of  claim 15 , wherein the inserts are comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of plastic, elastomeric, and soft metal. 
   
   
       17 . A subsea assembly comprising:
 a valve body;   a bonnet body; and   a bonnet gasket sealing a connection between the valve body and the bonnet body,
 the bonnet gasket comprising 
 an upper surface; 
 an inner surface abutting the upper surface; 
 a lower surface abutting the inner surface, and generally opposite the upper surface; and 
 an outer surface abutting the upper surface and the lower surface, and generally opposite the inner surface, the outer surface comprising
 a sealing surface between the upper surface and the lower surface, 
 a first depression between the sealing surface and the upper surface, and 
 a second depression between the sealing surface and the lower surface.