Resilient seal for curved flapper valve
US5125457A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 11, 1991 |
| Grant date | Jun 30, 1992 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 11, 2011 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T137/7898
- WIPO fieldMechanical elements
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A subsurface safety valve has a resilient valve seat and an upwardly closing flapper plate whose sealing surfaces each have a match spherical radius of curvature. The sealing surface of the valve seat is a concave spherical segment of elastomer material and the sealing surface of the flapper plate is a convex spherical segment. The matching spherical surfaces are lapped together to provide a metal-to-metal seal along the interface between the nested convex and concave sealing surfaces. This permits angular displacement of the flapper plate relative to the valve seat without interrupting positive sealing engagement. The concave spherical seating surface of the resilient valve seat will tolerate a limited amount of misalignment of the flapper plate which may be caused by operation in low differential pressure, sandy well conditions.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.