Ring seal compatible with multiple port types
An orientation agnostic ring seal includes an annular body defining an axial hole therethrough for fluid passage in an axial direction and having a radial plane that is perpendicular to the axial direction. Both axial sides of the ring seal include a deformable annular protrusion extending from the annular body in an axial direction to a first apex, which is configured to deform upon engagement with a first planar sealing surface, and a first seal ring engagement surface configured to engage a first annular rounded sealing ring. So configured, the ring seal can seal two different types of flow components regardless of its orientation.
1 . A ring seal comprising:
an annular body defining an axial hole therethrough for fluid passage in an axial direction, the annular body having a radial plane perpendicular to the axial direction;
a first sealing surface on a first axial end of the annular body, the first sealing surface including:
a first deformable annular protrusion extending from the annular body in the axial direction to a first apex, the first deformable annular protrusion configured to deform upon engagement with a first planar sealing surface, the first apex being positioned, from an inner diameter of the annular body defining the axial hole, 50%-70% of a distance from the inner diameter to an outer diameter of the annular body; and
a first seal ring engagement surface configured to engage a first annular rounded sealing ring, the first seal ring engagement surface extending inward from the first apex at a first angle in a range of about 10 degrees to about 35 degrees relative to the radial plane;
a second sealing surface on a second axial end of the annular body opposite the first axial end, the second sealing surface including:
a second deformable annular protrusion extending from the annular body in the axial direction to a second apex, the second deformable annular protrusion configured to deform upon engagement with a second planar sealing surface, the second apex being positioned, from the inner diameter of the annular body defining the axial hole, 50%-70% of the distance from the inner diameter to the outer diameter of the annular body; and
a second seal ring engagement surface configured to engage a second annular rounded sealing ring, the second seal ring engagement surface extending inward from the second apex at a second angle in a range of about 10 degrees to about 35 degrees relative to the radial plane;
wherein the first sealing surface includes an outer extension surface that extends radially outward from the first apex to the outer diameter of the annular body.
2 . The ring seal of claim 1 , wherein the second sealing surface is a mirror image of the first sealing surface reflected over the radial plane of the annular body perpendicular to the axial direction.
3 . The ring seal of claim 1 , wherein the first seal ring engagement surface has a radial length sized to receive the first annular rounded sealing ring thereagainst.
4 . The ring seal of claim 1 , wherein the first deformable annular protrusion is configured to deform to form a C-seal upon engagement with the first planar sealing surface.
5 . The ring seal of claim 1 , wherein the first seal ring engagement surface is configured to engage the first annular rounded sealing ring to form a W-seal.
6 . The ring seal of claim 1 , wherein the first seal ring engagement surface of the first sealing surface extends radially inward of the first apex of the first deformable annular protrusion a substantial portion of the distance from the first apex to the inner diameter.
7 . The ring seal of claim 1 , wherein the first seal ring engagement surface of the first sealing surface extends radially inward to a radial surface, the radial surface extending substantially parallel to the radial plane.
8 . The ring seal of claim 1 , wherein the first apex of the first deformable annular protrusion is positioned about 60% of the distance from the inner diameter to the outer diameter of the annular body.
9 . The ring seal of claim 1 , wherein the outer extension surface has a steeper slope to the first apex relative to the radial plane than the first seal ring engagement surface.
10 . The ring seal of claim 1 , wherein the first seal ring engagement surface is a frustoconical surface extending to the first apex.
11 . The ring seal of claim 10 , wherein the first seal engagement surface extends away from the second axial end as the first seal engagement surface extends radially outward.
12 . The ring seal of claim 1 , wherein the first seal engagement surface extends at an oblique angle that is less than 30 degrees relative to the radial plane.
13 . A ring seal for sealing opposing flow component sealing surfaces defining a fluid flow path, the ring seal comprising:
an annular seal body defining an axial hole for fluid passage in an axial direction; and
a first sealing surface and second sealing surface on opposing axial ends of the annular seal body;
the first sealing surface including a first annular extension extending from the annular seal body in a first axial direction to a first apex, the first apex being positioned, from an inner diameter of the annular body defining the axial hole, 50%-70% of a distance from the inner diameter to an outer diameter of the annular body, the first annular extension comprising a first extension surface and a second extension surface extending in opposite directions from the first apex back toward the annular sealing body, the first extension surface extending inward from the first apex at a first angle in a range of about 10 degrees to about 35 degrees relative to a radial plane perpendicular the axial direction, the second extension surface having a steeper slope to the first apex than the first extension surface such that the first extension surface is configured to deform into engagement with a planar surface to form a fluid tight seal, the first extension surface being configured to engage an annular rounded sealing ring to form a fluid tight seal.
14 . The ring seal of claim 13 , wherein the second sealing surface includes a second annular extension extending from the annular seal body in a second axial direction opposite the first axial direction to a second apex, the second apex being positioned, from the inner diameter of the annular body, 50%-70% of the distance from the inner diameter to the outer diameter of the annular body, wherein the second annular extension comprises a third extension surface and a fourth extension surface extending in opposite directions from the second apex back toward the annular sealing body, the third extension surface extending inward from the second apex at a second angle in a range of about 10 degrees to about 35 degrees relative to a radial plane perpendicular to the axial direction, the fourth extension surface of having a steeper slope to the second apex than the third extension surface, the second annular extension configured to deform upon engagement with a planar surface to form a fluid tight seal, the third extension surface being configured to engage an annular rounded sealing ring to form a fluid tight seal.
15 . The ring seal of claim 13 , wherein the second sealing surface is a mirror image of the first sealing surface, reflected over the radial plane.
16 . The ring seal of claim 13 , wherein the first sealing surface includes a radial surface extending from the axial hole to the first extension surface.
17 . The ring seal of claim 16 , wherein the radial surface includes a planar portion extending substantially perpendicular to the axial direction.
18 . The ring seal of claim 13 , wherein a length of the first extension surface in the radial direction is sized to receive the annular rounded sealing ring.
19 . The ring seal of claim 13 , wherein the first apex is positioned about 60% of the distance from the inner diameter to the outer diameter.
20 . The ring seal of claim 19 , wherein the second extension surface extends from the first apex to the outer surface.
21 . The ring seal of claim 13 , wherein the first extension surface has a slope of about 30 degrees relative to the radial plane.
22 . A metal seal comprising:
an annular body defining a fluid passageway therethrough in an axial direction;
a first sealing surface on an axial end of the annular body, the first sealing surface comprising an annular extension protruding from the annular body in an axial direction, the annular extension including a first extension surface and a second extension surface extending from the annular body at least in part in the axial direction to an apex, the apex being positioned, from an inner diameter of the annular body defining the fluid passageway, 50%-70% of a distance from the inner diameter to an outer diameter of the annular body, the first extension surface extending inward from the apex at a first angle in a range of about 55 degrees to about 80 degrees relative to the axial direction, the second extension surface having a steeper slope to the apex than the first extension surface such that the first sealing surface is capable of forming a fluid tight seal between the annular body and a generally flat surface when the sealing surface is forced against the generally flat surface, the annular extension being deformable to cause the first extension surface to engage the generally flat surface;
wherein the sealing surface is further capable of forming a fluid tight seal between the annular body and an annular sealing ring when the first sealing surface is forced against the annular sealing ring, the annular sealing ring engaging an annular portion of the sealing surface radially inward of the apex of the annular extension.
23 . A ring seal comprising:
an annular body defining an axial hole therethrough for fluid passage in an axial direction, the annular body having a radial plane perpendicular to the axial direction;
a first sealing surface on a first axial end of the annular body, the first sealing surface including:
a first deformable annular protrusion extending from the annular body in the axial direction to a first apex, the first deformable annular protrusion configured to deform upon engagement with a first planar sealing surface, the first apex being positioned, from an inner diameter of the annular body defining the axial hole, 50%-70% of a distance from the inner diameter to an outer diameter of the annular body; and
a first seal ring engagement surface configured to engage a first annular rounded sealing ring, the first seal ring engagement surface extending inward from the first apex at a first angle in a range of about 10 degrees to about 35 degrees relative to the radial plane;
a second sealing surface on a second axial end of the annular body opposite the first axial end, the second sealing surface including:
a second deformable annular protrusion extending from the annular body in the axial direction to a second apex, the second deformable annular protrusion configured to deform upon engagement with a second planar sealing surface, the second apex being positioned, from the inner diameter of the annular body defining the axial hole, 50%-70% of the distance from the inner diameter to the outer diameter of the annular body; and
a second seal ring engagement surface configured to engage a second annular rounded sealing ring, the second seal ring engagement surface extending inward from the second apex at a second angle in a range of about 10 degrees to about 35 degrees relative to the radial plane;
wherein the first deformable annular protrusion is formed of the first seal ring engagement surface and a protrusion surface extending in opposite directions from the first apex back toward the annular body, the protrusion surface having a steeper slope to the first apex relative to the radial plane than the first seal ring engagement surface such that the first ring seal engagement surface is configured to deform into engagement with a planar surface to form a fluid tight seal.