Patent ID: 11867304
Assignee: FLOWSERVE PTE. LTD.
Field: Mechanical elements (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC F | IPC F

Claim 11:
12. A method of forming a seal in a ball valve, the method comprising:
positioning a metal annular valve seat between a ball valve member and a valve body of the ball valve, a first side of a body portion of the valve seat positioned adjacent to the ball valve member;
extending a flexible arm of the valve seat outward from a second side of the body portion of the valve seat, the body portion extending continuously in an axial direction between the first side and the second side, a majority of the flexible arm gradually extending axially outward from a second side of the body portion of the valve seat relative to a centerline of the valve seat from a base of the flexible arm at the body portion to a distal end of the flexible arm, the majority of the flexible arm having a uniform width and an aspect ratio between the length and the width of the flexible arm of at least 15:1 and less than 35:1, the body portion and the flexible arm being separated by a recess;
forcing the valve seat into sealing contact with the valve body and the ball valve member with the flexible arm of the valve seat;
overcoming a biasing force of the flexible arm of the valve seat with fluid pressure applied to the valve member to deform the flexible arm;
compressing the valve seat with the valve member.