Valve or valve plate having an integrated gasket
Valves and valve plates are presented along with fabrication methods therefor, in which a seal is integrated with the valve or valve plate for sealing the valve or valve plate with a mating component without the use of a secondary sealing gasket.
1 . A valve or valve plate assembly, comprising:
a valve or valve plate structure; and
a seal integrated with the valve or valve plate structure to provide a seal between the valve or valve plate structure and a mating component in a compressor.
2 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the seal extends along substantially all of a surface of the valve or valve plate structure.
3 . The assembly of claim 2 , wherein the seal comprises a substantially uniform coating on at least a portion of the surface of the valve or valve plate structure.
4 . The assembly of claim 3 , wherein the seal further comprises a raised beaded seal formed on a portion of the surface of the valve or valve plate structure.
5 . The assembly of claim 4 , wherein the raised beaded seal comprises a polymer.
6 . The assembly of claim 5 , wherein the coating comprises a polymer.
7 . The assembly of claim 4 , wherein the coating comprises a polymer.
8 . The assembly of claim 3 , wherein the coating comprises a polymer.
9 . The assembly of claim 3 , wherein the coating comprises a fluoropolymer material.
10 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the seal comprises a raised beaded seal formed on a portion of a surface of the valve or valve plate structure.
11 . The assembly of claim 10 , wherein the raised beaded seal comprises a polymer.
12 . The assembly of claim 11 , wherein the seal further comprises a substantially uniform coating extending on at least a portion of the surface of the valve or valve plate structure.
13 . The assembly of claim 12 , wherein the coating extends along substantially all of the surface of the valve or valve plate structure.
14 . The assembly of claim 12 , wherein the coating comprises a polymer.
15 . The assembly of claim 12 , wherein the coating comprises a fluoropolymer material.
16 . The assembly of claim 10 , wherein the seal further comprises a substantially uniform coating extending on at least a portion of the surface of the valve or valve plate structure.
17 . The assembly of claim 16 , wherein the coating comprises a polymer.
18 . The assembly of claim 16 , wherein the coating comprises a fluoropolymer material.
19 . A method of fabricating a valve or valve plate assembly, the method comprising:
manufacturing a valve or valve plate structure; and
integrating a seal with the valve or valve plate structure to form a valve or valve plate assembly.
20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein integrating the seal with the valve or valve plate structure comprises coating at least a portion of the surface of the valve or valve plate structure with a seal material.
21 . The method of claim 20 , wherein the seal material comprises a polymer.
22 . The method of claim 20 , wherein the seal material comprises a fluoropolymer material.
23 . The method of claim 20 , wherein integrating the seal with the valve or valve plate structure further comprises forming a raised beaded seal on the surface of the valve or valve plate structure.
24 . The method of claim 19 , wherein integrating the seal with the valve or valve plate structure comprises forming a raised beaded seal formed on at least a portion of the surface of the valve or valve plate structure.
25 . The method of claim 24 , wherein the raised beaded seal comprises a polymer.
26 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the seal is integrated with the or valve plate structure after manufacturing the valve or valve plate structure
27 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the valve or valve plate structure is manufactured after integrating the seal with the valve or valve plate structure.
28 . A valve or valve plate assembly, comprising:
a valve or valve plate structure; and
a seal integrated with the valve or valve plate structure.