Patent ID: 7159906

Claim:
An apparatus for creating a seal, comprising: a seal having a first inner seal face and a second inner seal face, wherein the first inner seal face makes a first seal angle with the longitudinal axis of the seal, wherein the first seal angle is between about 15° and about 45°, wherein the second inner seal face makes a second seal angle with the longitudinal axis of the seal, wherein the second seal angle is between about 15° and about 45°; a first flange having a first groove in a first flange surface for receiving a first side edge of the seal, wherein the first flange is made of a first metal; a second flange having a second groove in a second flange surface for receiving a second side edge of the seal, wherein the second flange is made of a second metal; a means for holding the first flange and second flange together with the seal positioned between the first flange and the second flange, wherein the first inner seal face makes contact with a first sharp edge formed by a first inner groove face of the first groove and the first flange surface of the first flange such that a seal is created between the first sharp edge and the first inner seal face, wherein the first inner groove face makes a first groove angle with the longitudinal axis of the flange, wherein the first seal angle is greater than the first groove angle, wherein the second inner seal face makes contact with a second sharp edge formed by a second inner groove face of the second groove and the second flange surface of the second flange such that a seal is created between the second sharp edge and the second inner seal face, wherein the second inner groove face makes a second groove angle with the longitudinal axis of the flange, wherein the second seal angle is greater than the second groove angle.