Patent ID: 7866040

Claim:
A method of manufacturing a pressure-energized, metallic seal, comprising: feeding a metal sheet material into a sheet metal forming machine; cutting a first annular edge of the pressure-energized, metallic seal in the metal sheet material that extends around a central axis; bending a portion of the metal sheet material after the cutting of the first annular edge to form a cross-sectional profile of the pressure-energized, metallic seal that includes a central annular portion extending around the central axis, the central annular portion having a first end and a second end, a first annular leg portion extending from the first end of the central portion to an annular first free end with the first annular edge, the first annular leg portion having a first annular convex sealing surface lying in a first sealing plane, and a second annular leg portion extending from the second end of the central portion, the second annular leg portion having a second annular convex sealing surface lying in a second sealing plane that is parallel to the first sealing plane; and cutting a second annular edge of the pressure-energized, metallic seal in the metal sheet material after the bending of the portion of the metal sheet material to form an annular second free end of the second leg portion having an annular flange extending substantially parallel to the first and second sealing planes and offset from the second sealing plane in an axial direction towards the first sealing plane, with the first and second annular convex sealing surfaces being axially spaced with respect to the central axis such that the first annular convex sealing surface is disposed directly above the second annular convex sealing surface with respect to the central axis.