Expandable metal-to-metal seal

Abstract

A seal includes a seal body having a bridge; at least one leg extending from the bridge; and at least one concentrated deformation area of the at least one leg, at least that area being at least one of polished and annealed after machining and method.

1 . A seal comprising:
 a seal body having:
 a bridge; 
 at least one leg extending from the bridge; and 
 at least one concentrated deformation area of the at least one leg, at least that area being at least one of polished and annealed after machining. 
   
   
   
       2 . A seal as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the at least one concentrated deformation area comprises a cold workable material. 
   
   
       3 . A seal as claimed in  claim 2  wherein the cold workable material. 
   
   
       4 . A seal as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the polish is with a grit of 320 or finer. 
   
   
       5 . A seal as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the seal is annealed before machining. 
   
   
       6 . A method for improving durability of a plastically deformed metal-to-metal seal comprising:
 identifying one or more portions of the seal that experience a threshold deformation in use; and   treating one or more of the identified portions with at least one of a polishing process and an annealing process after machining.   
   
   
       7 . The method as claimed in  claim 6  wherein the treating is both of the polishing process and the annealing process after machining. 
   
   
       8 . The method as claimed in  claim 6  wherein the polishing process comprises removing fine machining grooves. 
   
   
       9 . The method as claimed in  claim 6  wherein the polishing process includes polishing with a 320 or finer grit material. 
   
   
       10 . The method as claimed in  claim 6  wherein the annealing process after machining is at a temperature of about 1800 degrees for about one hour. 
   
   
       11 . A method for making a metal-to-metal seal comprising:
 annealing a blank material;   machining the blank material into a machined piece; and   at least one of polishing and annealing the machined piece.   
   
   
       12 . The method as claimed in  claim 11  wherein the polishing and annealing the machined piece are both performed.