Ultra-high vacuum metallic seal

Abstract

A metallic seal design that reduces manufacturing costs by minimizing production steps and also lowers the sealing force by incorporating a thin-wall, high height/width ratio annular column. The seal has two horizontal ribs which constrain the thin-wall column from unstable buckling to thereby reduce or eliminate the tendency of the sealing dams to become inclined to sealing flange surfaces.

1 - 9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . A method of making a metallic seal having an annular column portion surrounding a central longitudinal axis with respective sealing dams on ends thereof for sealing axially facing surfaces, and at least two ribs extending radially from the annular column portion, the method comprising:
 forming a tubular seal blank having at least three equally axially spaced apart circumferential recesses of essentially the same shape forming therebetween respective radially extending ribs; and   severing the tubular seal blank along the axial midpoint of the recesses that have disposed therebetween at least two of the radially extending ribs, to thereby separate at least one metallic seal from the seal blank.   
     
     
         11 . A method as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein the recesses are U-shape, and the ribs extend perpendicular to the central axis. 
     
     
         12 . A method as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein the recesses are formed by a machining process. 
     
     
         13 . A method as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein the annular column portion extends axially beyond respective axially outermost ribs forming recesses that correspond in shape to one half of the annular recess. 
     
     
         14 . A method as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein the annular column portion has a height dimension along the central axis, and wherein the annular column portion has a radially inner surface and a radially outer surface, the column inner and outer surfaces defining a column width therebetween, the column width being substantially uniform along the height of the annular column portion. 
     
     
         15 . A method as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein the annular column portion has a radially inner surface and a radially outer surface, the column inner and outer surfaces defining a column width therebetween, and wherein the first and second rib portions have a thickness dimension in the axial direction that is about equal to or greater than the column width. 
     
     
         16 . A method as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein the respective sealing dams are axially aligned with the annular column portion. 
     
     
         17 . A seal as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein at least one of the sealing dams have a radial width between about 0.008 and 0.016 inches. 
     
     
         18 - 20 . (canceled)