Patent ID: 8016265

Claim:
A sleeve for sealing a valve having a recess and a flange, the sleeve comprising: a support ring disposed about a first axis; a ring-shaped support plate disposed about a second axis, the ring-shaped support plate defining at least one void along a central axis; and an annulus disposed about a third axis and having a one-piece wall continuously radially disposed about the third axis to define a passageway therethrough, the wall having a seat portion defining a first end face of the annulus and having a lip along the wall for supporting the annulus in the recess of the valve, the support ring being encased in the seat portion such that the first axis is coaxial with the third axis so as to radially support the seat portion, the seat portion defining a first radius relative to the third axis; and a flange portion defining a second end face of the annulus and a second radius relative to the third axis greater than the first radius to engage the flange of the valve, the ring-shaped support plate being encased in the flange portion such that the second axis is coaxial with the third axis so as to axially support the flange portion, the flange portion further defining at least one chamber disposed radially from the third axis, the at least one chamber having an opening disposed along the second end face, the flange portion being formed with the seat portion such that the annulus has homogenous material properties from the first end face to the second end face.