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 - 29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . 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 at least one of the base surface and the inward groove surface on a respective first and second member, each of the flexible flanges formed from a metal with a yield strength of 30,000 psi or less;   deforming each flexible flange beyond its elastic limit when the securing members secure the first member to the second member; and   providing a spacing between the flexible flange and seal body for fluid pressure energization of the flexible flange, the spacing projecting in a substantially radially outward direction from a radially inward surface of the seal body.   
     
     
         31 . A method as defined in  claim 30 , further comprising:
 providing an annular flange extending radially outward from the seal body for planar engagement with planar flange engaging faces on the first and second members.   
     
     
         32 . A method as defined in  claim 30 , 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.   
     
     
         33 . A method as defined in  claim 30 , 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 conform to the inner groove surface. 
     
     
         34 . A method as defined in  claim 30 , wherein the seal body and the pair of flexible flanges form a substantially C-shaped cross-sectional configuration. 
     
     
         35 . A method as defined in  claim 30 , wherein the seal body and the flexible flanges are formed from a unitary homogenous material. 
     
     
         36 . A seal ring sealing between first and second members each having a through bore, the seal ring and first and second members comprising:
 each first and second member having a radially outer circumferential groove surface inclined outwardly in a direction toward the seal ring, and a radially inner circumferential groove surface inclined inwardly in a direction toward the seal ring;   securing members arranged circumferentially about the first and second members to secure the first member to the second member; and   a seal ring including a metal seal body having a yield strength of 30,000 psi or less engaging each of the outer groove surfaces on the first and second members when the securing members secure the first member to the second member, the metal seal body being flexed inward when the securing members are moved to 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 at least one of the base surface and the inner groove surface on a respective first and second member, a spacing between the flexible flange and the seal body projecting in a substantially radially outward direction from a radially inward surface of the seal body to increase flexibility of the flange and providing for fluid pressure energization of the flexible flange, and the flexible flange flexed outwardly and being deformed beyond its elastic range when the securing members secure the first member to the second member.   
     
     
         37 . A seal ring and first and second members as defined in  claim 36 , wherein the seal body and the flexible flange are formed from a unitary homogenous material. 
     
     
         38 . A seal ring and first and second members as defined in  claim 36 , wherein the seal body has substantially line contact sealing engagement with the outer groove surface on a respective first and second member. 
     
     
         39 . A seal ring and first and second members as defined in  claim 36 , 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.   
     
     
         40 . A seal ring and first and second members as defined in  claim 36 , wherein the seal body and another flexible flange form a substantially C-shaped cross-sectional configuration. 
     
     
         41 . A seal ring and first and second members as defined in  claim 36 , wherein the 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. 
     
     
         42 . A seal ring and first and second members as defined in  claim 36 , 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. 
     
     
         43 . A seal ring and first and second members as defined in  claim 36 , further comprising:
 another flexible flange for substantially line contact sealing engagement with the other of the first and second members.   
     
     
         44 . A seal ring and first and second members as defined in  claim 36 , wherein a radially outer portion of the seal body is thicker than a thickness of either of the pair of metal flexible flanges.