Patent ID: 8276880

Claim:
A butterfly valve plate sealing assembly including a butterfly valve plate having a sealing ring groove formed about a periphery, the butterfly valve plate sealing assembly, comprising: a unitary sealing ring disposed at least partially within the sealing ring groove defined by a groove opening and a groove body, wherein the unitary sealing ring has a substantially L-shaped cross-section and is defined by a first portion and a second portion configured perpendicular to the first portion, the first portion of the unitary sealing ring extending through the groove opening and the second portion of the unitary sealing ring including a plurality of interruptions configured to optimize stiffness for a desired sealing ring tension; and a retention spacer, positioned adjacent the unitary sealing ring and disposed at least partially within the sealing ring groove with a portion thereof also extending through the groove opening, the retention spacer configured to limit expansion of the unitary sealing ring when under the influence of a pressurized fluid flow and dimensioned to provide for retention of the unitary sealing ring within the sealing ring groove.