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

Claim 16:
17. 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;
extending a flexible arm of the valve seat outward from a body portion of the valve seat;
forcing the valve seat into sealing contact with the valve body and the ball valve member with the flexible arm of the valve seat;
selecting a majority of the flexible arm to exhibit a tapered shape where a proximal section of the flexible arm has a greater width taken in an axial direction of the valve seat than a width of a terminal end of the flexible arm taken in the axial direction of the valve seat, the body portion and the flexible arm of the valve seat being separated by a recess, a majority of the flexible arm exhibiting an aspect ratio between the length and the width of the flexible arm of at least 15:1 and less than 35:1;
gradually extending the majority the flexible arm of the valve seat axially outward from a 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;
overcoming a biasing force of the flexible arm of the valve seat with to the valve member as fluid pressure is applied to the valve member; and
compressing the valve seat with the valve member.