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

Claim 0:
1. A method of forming a seal in a ball valve, the method comprising:
positioning a first metal annular valve seat between a ball valve member and a first end cap of a valve body of the ball valve;
positioning a second metal annular valve seat between the ball valve member and a second end cap of the valve body of the ball valve;
forcing the first metal valve seat into sealing contact with the first end cap and the ball valve member with a first metal flexible arm of the first metal valve seat, the first metal flexible arm gradually extending axially outward relative to a centerline of the first metal seat from a base of the first metal flexible arm at a body portion of the first metal valve seat to a distal end of the first metal flexible arm the base and the first metal flexible arm of the first metal valve seat being separated by a recess;
selecting the first metal flexible arm to have a uniform width and an aspect ratio between the length and the width of at least 11:1;
forcing the second metal valve seat into sealing contact with the second end cap and the ball valve member with a second metal flexible arm of the second metal valve seat, the second metal flexible arm gradually extending axially outward relative to a centerline of the second metal seat from a base of the second metal flexible arm at a body portion of the second metal valve seat to a distal end of the second metal flexible arm the base and the first metal flexible arm of the first metal valve seat being separated by a recess;
selecting the second metal flexible arm to have a uniform width and an aspect ratio between the length and the width of at least 11:1; and
abutting and sealing against the first end cap with a stop comprising a protrusion extending from an axially outer portion of the first metal valve seat.