Patent ID: 7562859

Claim:
A gate valve for controlling fluid flow, comprising: a valve body forming a cylindrical flowbore extending through the body and a gate cavity intersecting the flowbore to provide opposed openings into the flowbore, the valve body forming a seat pocket in each of the opposed openings, each seat pocket having a radial base and a side wall; an optional metal carrier ring mounted in sealing relationship to the valve body in each seat pocket; a gate slidably movable across the flowbore within the valve body between an open and closed position, and having a planar face on each side; a floating annular seat element mounted in each seat pocket for limited axial movement therein on opposite sides of the gate, each seat element forming opposing seal surfaces, including a first seal surface for sealing against the radial base of the seat pocket or against the carrier ring if present, and a second seal surface for sealing against the planar face of the gate, the annular seat element maintaining sealing engagement between the gate and the seat pocket, or the carrier ring if present, as the gate is moved between its open and closed positions; and a non-metallic bridging seal formed as a face seal between the first seal surface of each annular seat element and, either the radial base of the seat pocket, or the carrier ring if present, said bridging seal being adapted to bridge any gap formed at the first seal surface of the annular seat element such that sealing engagement is maintained across said gap at all times as the gate is moved between the open and closed positions, while still permitting the limited axial movement of the annular seat element.