JP2009505011A - Fluid flow device - Google Patents

Abstract

The fluid flow device includes a first metal component having a hardened engagement surface or portion and a second metal component that is softer than the hardened portion. The second metal component is assembled with the first component and the hardened surface thereby engages the second metal component and plastically deforms it to provide a seal. In one embodiment, the hardened engagement portion pushes into the metal component to which it is pressed and plastically deforms it to form a seal, while in another embodiment, the hardened engagement portion. The mating portion compresses the protrusion or corner of the metal component against which it is pressed and plastically deforms it.

Description

(Related application)
This application claims the benefit of US Provisional Patent Application No. 60 / 706,846 “FLUID FLOW DEVICES”, filed Aug. 9, 2005, the entire disclosure of which is hereby fully incorporated by reference. Being used,

(Background of the Invention)
Various known fluid flow devices include first and second metal components that are disposed on opposite sides of a third metal component and press the third metal component to form a seal. Examples of such known fluid flow devices are Patent Document 1 entitled “Fluid Coupling”, Patent Document 2 entitled “Fluid Fitting With Torque Arrangement”, Patent Document 3 v “Mr. Are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,057,028 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,077,017, which is entitled “Valve”, the entire contents of which are hereby fully incorporated by reference.
US Pat. No. 4,552,389 US Pat. No. 6,685,234 US Pat. No. 4,687,017 US Pat. No. 6,189,861 US Pat. No. 4,684,106

  The present disclosure is broadly directed to a fluid flow device having one or more metal components that are at least partially cured and form a seal with another portion of the device that is softer than the cured portion. . One example of such a fluid flow device includes first and second metal components assembled on opposite sides of a third metal component. A load is applied to the third metal component by the first and second metal components. A hardened engagement portion is included in at least one of the metal components. The hardened engagement portion engages the metal component against which it is pressed and plastically deforms it to form a seal. In one embodiment, the hardened engagement portion pushes into the metal component to which it is pressed and plastically deforms it to form a seal, while in another embodiment, the hardened engagement portion. The mating portion compresses the protrusion or corner of the metal component against which it is pressed and plastically deforms it. In another embodiment, the fluid flow device is a fluid coupling, a diaphragm valve, or a bellows valve.

  Another inventive aspect disclosed in this application relates to curing a portion of a fluid flow device and forming a seal with another portion of the device that is softer than the cured portion. In one embodiment, a diffusion-based surface treatment, such as low temperature carburizing, is used to produce a hardened surface without the formation of carbide precipitates. In this disclosure, producing a hardened surface “without the formation of carbide precipitate” means that the amount of carbide precipitate formed is too small, if any, to corrode resistance of the cured portion. It means that it can not be adversely affected.

  Further advantages and benefits will become apparent to those skilled in the art after considering the following description and appended claims in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

  The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention, which are described in the general description of the invention described above and the following detailed description. Together with helping to illustrate embodiments of the present invention.

(Detailed description)
The present application is broadly directed to fluid flow devices having a metal-to-metal seal. The fluid flow device includes a first metal component having a hardened engagement surface or portion and a second metal component that is softer than the hardened portion. The second metal component is assembled with the first component so that the hardened surface engages the second metal component and plastically deforms it to provide a metal-to-metal seal. .

  A fluid flow device in which at least a portion of one of the components forming a metal-to-metal seal is cured is compared to a fluid flow device that forms a metal-to-metal seal between two uncured metal components. It may have certain advantages. For example, curing one or both of the metal components may allow greater versatility of materials used in fluid flow devices. Furthermore, curing at least a portion of one of the components that form the metal-to-metal seal may result in a lower leakage rate. Furthermore, curing the surface by low temperature carburization or other curing processes increases the corrosion resistance of the surface, which is advantageous in certain applications.

  Although the exemplary embodiments described herein are presented in the context of fluid flow devices, such as bellows valves, diaphragm valves, and fluid couplings, those skilled in the art will recognize that the present invention is not limited to other methods. Easily understand that it can be configured. Fluid flow devices can take a wide variety of different forms. In this application, a fluid flow device refers to any device through which fluid flows. Examples of fluid flow devices include, but are not limited to valves, fittings, couplers, metering devices, and pumps. These examples and the disclosed exemplary embodiments are intended to illustrate the wide application of the invention and do not provide any limitation to the invention.

  While various inventive aspects, concepts and features of the present invention may be described and illustrated herein as being implemented in combination with exemplary embodiments, these various aspects, concepts and features may be It can be used individually or in various combinations and subcombinations thereof in many alternative embodiments. All such combinations and subcombinations are intended to be within the scope of the invention, unless expressly excluded herein. Further, various alternative embodiments relating to various aspects, concepts and features of the present invention, such as alternative materials, structures, configurations, methods, circuits, devices and components, software, hardware, control logic, formation, adaptation and Although functional alternatives and the like may be described herein, such descriptions are intended to be a complete or exhaustive list of alternative embodiments available, whether now known or later developed. Not. One of ordinary skill in the art can readily incorporate one or more inventive aspects, exterior surfaces, or features into additional embodiments, even if such embodiments are not explicitly disclosed herein. Used within the scope of the invention. Further, although some features, concepts or aspects of the invention may be described herein as preferred sequences or methods, such a description is not intended where such features are explicitly stated as such. Is not intended to suggest that it is required or necessary. Furthermore, illustrative or representative values and ranges may be included to aid in understanding the present disclosure, but such values and ranges should not be construed in a limiting sense, as such It is intended to be a critical value or range only if explicitly stated. Moreover, although various aspects, features, and concepts may be clearly identified herein as forming the invention or forming part of an invention, such identification is not intended to be exclusive, As such particular invention or as part thereof, there may be inventive aspects, concepts and features not fully identified herein, the invention being fully described herein, the invention being set forth in the appended claims. It has been. The description of an exemplary method or process is not limited to including all steps as necessary in all cases, and the order in which the steps are presented is required unless expressly stated otherwise. Should not be construed as being or necessary.

  In this disclosure, reference to carburizing stainless steel “without the formation of carbide deposits” is that the amount of carbide precipitate formed is too small, if any, to adversely affect the corrosion resistance of stainless steel. Means you can't give.

  In FIG. 1, an example of a fluid flow device 12 is schematically illustrated. The fluid flow device 12 includes a metal sealing component 14 and first and second metal clamping components 16, 18. The clamping components 16, 18 are assembled on both sides of the sealing component 14. The clamping components 16, 18 are pressed together as indicated by arrows 20, 22. The sealing component 14 is loaded by the first and second clamping components 16, 18. With reference to FIGS. 2-7, the upper hardened engagement portion 10 is included in the sealing component 14, the first clamping component 16, and / or the second clamping component 18. The hardened engagement portion 10 engages the metal sealing component 14 or metal clamping components 16, 18 and plastically deforms it to form a seal. 2-7, the hardened engagement portion 10 is illustrated as a portion that extends or protrudes from at least one of the sealing or clamping components and that bites into the component being pressed. However, the engaging portion may be a hardened portion or surface that engages an uncured extension or protrusion and compresses the extending or protruding portion and plastically deforms without biting into it. .

  The sealing component 14 and the clamping components 16, 18 can take a variety of different forms in the fluid flow device 12. Examples of sealing components include, but are not limited to, diaphragms used for diaphragm valves, bellows used for bellow valves, bellow supports used for bellow valves, and gaskets used for fittings. Examples of clamping components 16, 18 include, but are not limited to, valve bodies, such as diaphragm valve bodies and bellow valve bodies, and mounting gland members. The cured engagement portion can take a variety of different forms. In the exemplary embodiment, the hardened engagement portion 10 is an annular axially extending protrusion hardened by a diffusion-based surface treatment. The cured engagement portion can be formed by curing the entire component including the cured engagement portion, or can be formed by curing only a portion of the component that forms the cured engagement portion. . The hardened engagement portion is stiffer than the metal fluid flow device component with which it engages in the exemplary embodiment. For example, stainless steel hardened by a low temperature carburization process has achieved higher hardness values, eg, about 1400 Vickers, but can have a normal hardness of about 900-1100 Vickers. On the other hand, unannealed stainless steel can have a hardness of about 250-350 Vickers, and annealed stainless steel can have a hardness of about 125-175 Vickers. The actual hardness difference between the hardened engagement portion and the component is selectable by the user.

  The sealing component 14 and the clamping components 16, 18 can be made from a wide variety of different metals. Examples include iron, copper, nickel, titanium, magnesium, manganese, alloys of these metals, and any other metal or alloy known to be useful in making valves, valve components and other fluid flow devices. Including. In one embodiment, the particular component or components that define the hardened engagement portion 10 is not only necessary to increase surface hardness, but is preferably not required to increase corrosion resistance. Made from metals or metal alloys hardened by low temperature carburizing or other hardening processes.

  Stainless steel low temperature carburization (“LTC”) is disclosed in US Pat. No. 5,792,282, EPO0787817, Japanese Patent Application No. 09-14019 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 09-268364), US Pat. No. 6,165,597. And many publications, including US Pat. No. 6,547,888, the disclosures of which are hereby fully incorporated by reference. In this technique, a workpiece is contacted with a carbon-containing gas at high temperatures below 1000 ° F. (538 ° C.). As a result, a high concentration of elemental carbon diffuses into the surface of the workpiece without the formation of carbide precipitates. As a result, the surface hardness and corrosion resistance of the workpiece are significantly increased.

In low temperature carburization, atomic carbon enters the gap and diffuses into the surface of the workpiece. That is, carbon atoms move through the space between metal atoms. Since the processing temperature is low, these carbon atoms form a solid solution with the metal atoms on the surface of the workpiece. They do not react with these metal atoms to form other compounds. Therefore, low-temperature carburizing is different from normal carburizing performed at high temperatures. In normal carburization carried out at high temperatures, the carbon atoms react to separate from the carbide precipitates, ie the metal matrix in which they are contained, and are arranged in a separate discrete stage M ₂₃ C ₆ ( For example, a specific metal compound such as Cr ₂₃ C ₆ or chromium carbide), M ₅ C ₂ or the like is formed.

  Other processes are known for changing the surface properties of metal workpieces. That is, the hardness, corrosion resistance, and / or other surface properties of the metal workpiece can cause the atoms to diffuse into the gaps in the surface of the workpiece and form a new compound without forming new compounds at individual steps. Other processes are known that can be changed by forming a solid solution with the atom. To name a few, examples are based on iron nitriding, chromium and / or nickel based alloys, iron carbon-nitriding, chromium and / or nickel based alloys, and titanium based Includes nitriding of alloys. For convenience, all of these treatments are collectively referred to as “diffusion-based surface treatments”. All such diffusion-based surface treatments can be applied using the techniques of this disclosure.

  In the techniques of this disclosure, the hardened engagement portion 10 creates one or more components, or parts of components, from a metal or alloy that hardens or hardens the surface in response to a diffusion-based surface hardening process. Can be formed. The component, or part of the component, can then be exposed to this curing process. For example, if the hardened engagement portion 10 is formed in a fastening component by low temperature carburization, the entire fastening component 16 or only the portion to be hardened is made from a metal or alloy that exhibits a hardening response to this particular diffusion process. Can be.

  Metals and alloys that exhibit a hardening response to diffusion-based surface treatments are known. For example, materials exhibiting a hardening response to low-temperature carburizing include the above-mentioned US Pat. No. 5,792,282, US Pat. No. 6,093,303, US Pat. No. 6,547,888, EPO0787817 and Japanese Patent Application No. 09. -14019 (JP 09-268364 A), the disclosures of which are fully incorporated herein by reference. Examples are just a few names: steel containing 5-10 wt% Ni, preferably 10-40 wt% Ni; alloy containing 10-40 wt% Ni and 10-35 wt% Cr; AISI 316, Stainless steels such as AISI 300 and 400 series steels including 316L, 317, 317L and 304 stainless steels; alloy 600; alloy 625; alloy 825; alloy C-276; alloy C-22 and alloy 20Cb Not.

  Similarly, materials that exhibit a cure response to other diffusion-based surface treatments other than those described above are also known.

  FIGS. 2-7 illustrate examples of configurations of the sealing component 14, the clamping members 16, 18, and the cured engagement portion 10. In each example illustrated by FIGS. 2-7, the sealing component 14 is clamped between the clamping members 16, 18. In the example illustrated by FIG. 2, the hardened engagement portion 10 is included in the sealing component 14. The hardened engagement portion 10 engages one of the clamping components 16 and plastically deforms it to form a seal.

  In the example illustrated by FIG. 3, the cured engagement portion 10 is included in one of the clamping components 18. The hardened engagement portion 10 engages the sealing component 14 and plastically deforms it to form a seal.

  In the example illustrated by FIG. 4, the first hardened engagement portion 10 is formed on the first side 23 of the sealing component and the second hardened engagement portion 10 is the second of the sealing component. Is formed on the side 24. The hardened engagement portions 10 of the first and second sides 23, 24 of the sealing component engage the clamping components 16, 18 and plastically deform it to form a seal.

  In the example illustrated by FIG. 5, the first hardened engagement portion 10 is formed on the first fastening component 16 and the second hardened engagement portion 10 is on the second fastening component 18. It is formed. The hardened engagement portion 10 defined by the first and second clamping components engages the first and second sides 23, 24 of the sealing components 16, 18 to plastically deform it. Form a seal.

  In the example illustrated by FIG. 6, the first and second hardened engagement portions 10 are formed in the sealing component 14. The hardened engagement portion 10 defined by the sealing component engages one of the clamping components 16, 18 and plastically deforms it to form first and second seals.

  In the example illustrated by FIG. 7, the first and second hardened engagement portions 10 are formed on one of the clamping components 16, 18. The hardened engagement portion 10 defined by the clamping component engages the sealing component 14 and plastically deforms it to form first and second seals.

  In accordance with this disclosure, curing at least a portion of one of the components forming a metal-to-metal seal may have advantages when compared to a fluid flow device seal between two uncured metal components. I understood. For example, curing one or both of the metal components allows greater versatility in materials that can be used in fluid flow devices. For example, if the fluid flow device 12 includes an uncured clamping component made from stainless steel, the sealing component is made from a softer material, such as annealed stainless steel or nickel, and the clamping component and the sealing component Provides a difference in hardness between. In some cases, annealed stainless steel may be more difficult to handle than unannealed stainless steel, and nickel is more susceptible to corrosion in harsh environments than stainless steel. When the clamping components 16, 18 include a hardened engagement portion 10, the sealing component 14 can be made from a harder material, such as stainless steel, yet still have a sufficient hardness difference to form a good seal. Can have. For example, the clamping components 16, 18 can be made from stainless steel and processed to form one or more hardened engagement portions 10, and the sealing component can be made from stainless steel, eg, 316 stainless steel. The difference in hardness between the hardened engagement portion 10 and the stainless steel facilitates a seal between the hardened engagement portion 10 and the sealing component. According to another example, the clamping component can be made from stainless steel and the sealing component can include a hardened engagement portion or portions.

  The difference in hardness between the hardened engagement portion 10 and the stainless steel component is greater than the difference in hardness between the unannealed stainless steel and the annealed stainless steel or nickel. As a result, a seal with a lower leakage rate can be formed when a hardened engagement portion 10 is included. For example, a seal formed between a stainless steel surface and a hardened engagement portion 10 that has been hardened using a low temperature carburizing process is more than a seal formed between stainless steel and nickel. It can effectively seal light gas. This is because the difference in hardness is larger. Examples of light gases include hydrogen and helium. The seal formed between the stainless steel surface and the hardened engagement portion 10, hardened using a low temperature carburization process, is 1 cc / Holds light gas with a leakage rate lower than hr (std.).

  8-11 illustrate an example of a fluid flow device 12 that may include a hardened engagement portion. U.S. Pat. No. 3,521,910 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,685,234 (herein the "'234 patent") are a pair of grounds having ends that seal at opposite faces of the sealing member. A coupling assembly is disclosed. U.S. Pat. No. 3,521,910 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,685,234 are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. FIG. 8 illustrates the coupling 30 shown in FIG. 1 of the '234 patent modified to include a hardened engagement portion 10. The coupling 30 includes first and second glands 32, 34 or a coupling member, and a sealing member 36 or a gasket. The gland has sealing surfaces 38, 40 that are sealingly engaged with the end surfaces 42, 44 of the sealing member 36. Each sealing surface may preferably include a circumferential continuous bead 46 that extends axially outward to engage the sealing member 36. Each bead 46 is cured to form a cured engagement portion 10. A pair of coupling nuts 50 may be threadedly engaged or otherwise joined to promote a gland and sealingly engage the sealing member 36. Further details of coupling can be obtained by reference to the '234 patent. In one exemplary embodiment, the sealing member 36 and the glands 32, 34 are made from stainless steel and the bead 46 is hardened using a low temperature carburizing process. The bead 46 pushes into the washer and plastically deforms it to form a seal. In one embodiment, the cured bead 46 is provided to the sealing member 36 rather than the gland, and the gland is not cured. In another embodiment, the surface of the ground or sealing member that contacts the bead 46, or the contact portion thereof, is cured and the bead is not cured. Accordingly, the hardened surface compresses the bead 46 and plastically deforms it to form a seal.

  US Pat. No. 4,687,017 (herein the “'017 patent”) discloses a bellows valve. U.S. Pat. No. 4,687,017 is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. FIG. 9 illustrates the sealing arrangement of the bellows valve shown in FIG. 3 of the '017 patent modified to include a hardened engagement portion 10. Bellow valve 60 includes a closure member 66 having a valve body 62, a bonnet 64, and an attached bellows 68. The valve bonnet 64 extends outward from the valve body 62 and is held thereon by a holding member 67. In the exemplary embodiment, valve body 62, bonnet 64, closure member 66, and bellows 68 are constructed of stainless steel. In the exemplary embodiment, bellows 68 is pleated or folded to adjust for selective axial movement. The closure member 66 includes a large diameter flange 70 designed to overlap or close the valve chamber open end 72. More particularly, the large diameter flange is adapted to sealingly engage the valve body 62 near the valve chamber open end 72.

  Sealing engagement between the flange 70 and the valve body 52 at the open end 72 is provided through the use of a bead sealing arrangement. Preferably, a continuous round or arcuate ring bead 74 is provided on the lower surface of the large diameter flange 70. In the exemplary embodiment, closure member 66 is made from stainless steel and bead 74 is hardened by a process, such as cold carburizing, to form a hardened engagement portion 10. The bead 74 may be designed to mate with a generally planar shoulder 76 formed on the valve body 62, circumferentially surrounding the valve chamber open end 72. The hardened bead 74 pushes into the planar shoulder 76, plastically deforms it and provides a fluid tight seal around the open end of the valve chamber. Thereby, pressurized fluid, for example light gas, is trapped in the valve chamber and leakage from it is suppressed. As will be appreciated, the orientation of the bead seal can be reversed by placing an arcuate bead on the valve body and having a plane associated with the closure member. In another embodiment, the plane that contacts the bead may be cured, whether on the valve body or on the closure member, and the bead may not be cured. Thus, the surface compresses the bead and plastically deforms it to form a seal. Further details of the valve shown in FIG. 9 may be obtained by reference to the '017 patent.

  US Pat. No. 6,189,861 (herein the “'861 patent”) discloses a diaphragm valve. US Pat. No. 6,189,861 is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. FIG. 10 illustrates the sealing arrangement of the diaphragm valve shown in FIG. 5B of the '861 patent modified to include one or more cured engagement portions 10. Diaphragm 80 includes a valve body 82, a diaphragm array 84, and a bonnet 86. The diaphragm arrangement may include a single diaphragm or may include multiple diaphragms as illustrated by FIG. The valve body 82 includes a flange or collar 90 which is raised on the circumference.

  FIG. 10 illustrates the relationship between the flange or collar 90, the diaphragm array 84, and the lower clamping edge portion of the bonnet 86. Diaphragm 84 is shown located on an upper plane 90a of collar 90. Diaphragm 84 is provided with a convex center portion and a generally planar, radially extending peripheral edge portion 84a. The bonnet 86 may have a contoured lower peripheral surface that includes a flat 86a surrounded by a cylindrical wall 86b that terminates in a corner 86c. In one exemplary embodiment, the flats 86a, walls 86b, and / or bonnet corners 86c are hardened. As shown in FIG. 10, when the bonnet 86 is in clamping engagement, the flat 86a clamps the top surface of the diaphragm assembly 84 as shown. Corner 86c deflects the outer peripheral portion of diaphragm 84 downward and bends, creating a high sealing pressure on corner 92 of collar 90. In the exemplary embodiment, corner 92 may be cured to form a cured engagement portion 10. In another exemplary embodiment, valve body 82 and bonnet 86 are made from stainless steel and corner 92 is hardened using a low temperature carburizing process. In another embodiment, the diaphragm is cured, and the valve body 82 and bonnet 86 are not cured, so that the diaphragm plastically deforms the valve body and / or bonnet 86.

  The tightening order is as follows. When the bonnet is driven to the initial clamping engagement, the corner 86c deflects and bends the diaphragm outer peripheral portion 84a downward and over the corner 92 of the collar 90. The flat 86a then begins to tighten the upper surface of the diaphragm 84 against the upper plane 90a of the collar 90. In the exemplary embodiment, collar 90 is cured and substantially harder than diaphragm 84, which can be made of, for example, Elgiloy, 316 stainless steel, and Inc X 750. The corner 86c continues to act on the peripheral portion 84a of the diaphragm 84 and thus continues to bend and squeeze the diaphragm 84 around the corner 92. The force applied during this make-up process is sufficient to plastically deform or yield the diaphragm 84 against the cured corner 92, during which a primary Create a body seal. Further details of the valve shown in FIG. 10 may be obtained by reference to the '861 patent.

  U.S. Pat. No. 4,684,106 (herein the "'106 patent") discloses a diaphragm valve. U.S. Pat. No. 4,684,106 is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. FIG. 11 illustrates the sealing arrangement of the diaphragm valve shown in FIG. 2 of the '106 patent modified to include one or more cured engagement portions 10. Diaphragm valve 100 may include a metal valve body 102, a metal diaphragm 104, and a bonnet 106. FIG. 11 shows an enlarged peripheral edge portion of the body 102 and bonnet 106 with the diaphragm 104 clamped axially therebetween. The valve body 102 and the bonnet 106 may have spaced and opposed flat and parallel circumferential areas 116, 118 between which the inner or primary circumferential area of the diaphragm 104 is above the inner circumferential area. Can be tightened in the axial direction. Tightening the bonnet nut (not shown) moves the clamping surfaces 116, 118 toward each other and compresses the diaphragm 104 therebetween.

  Valve body 102 and bonnet 106 may also include secondary flat and parallel clamping surfaces 120, 122 that are axially and radially spaced from primary clamping surfaces 116, 118. The primary surfaces 116, 118 can be separated from the secondary surfaces 120, 122 by relatively sharp corners 124, 126, and the diaphragm 104 spans the relatively sharp corners 124, 126 in the axial direction. To be bent. In the exemplary embodiment, the corners 124, 126 are hardened to deform the softer metal diaphragm to form a seal. The axial spacing between the corners 124, 126 is smaller than the normal axial thickness of the diaphragm 104 and smaller than the axial spacing between the clamping surfaces 116, 118. As a result, the corners 124, 126 provide an excellent seal against both sides of the diaphragm 104. An outer circumferential flange 130 extends axially from the secondary clamping surface 120 on the body 102 to protect the inner or primary clamping surface 116 from cuts and other damage during valve processing and assembly. To do. The protrusion on the axis of the flange 130 can be substantially larger than the axial spacing between the primary and secondary surfaces 116, 120. Directly facing the protective flange 130, the bonnet member 106 may be provided with an enlarged recess 134 for receiving the end portion 136 of the diaphragm 104 in an open and untightened state. Secondary corners, generally shown as 142, 144, can be axially separated from one another by a distance that is substantially shorter than the axial spacing between the corners 124, 126, so that the outside of the diaphragm 104. End portion 136 is axially deformed to a greater extent than its axial deformation between corners 124 and 126. In the exemplary embodiment, corners 124, 126, 142, 144 are cured to form a cured engagement portion 10. The corners 124, 126, 142, 144 are harder than the diaphragm and plastically deform the diaphragm to provide a primary and secondary seal. In another embodiment, diaphragm 104 is cured and corners 124, 126, 142, 144 are not cured, so that the diaphragm plastically deforms the corners to form a seal.

  The invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments. Modifications and changes will occur to others upon reading and understanding this specification. The present invention is intended to embrace all such modifications and changes as long as they fall within the scope of the appended claims or their equivalents.

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a portion of a fluid flow device. FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of a sealed area of a fluid flow device. FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of a sealed area of a fluid flow device. FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of a sealed area of a fluid flow device. FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of a sealed area of a fluid flow device. FIG. 6 is a schematic illustration of a sealed area of a fluid flow device. FIG. 7 is a schematic illustration of a sealed area of a fluid flow device. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the fixture. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the sealing area of the bellows valve. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the sealing area of the diaphragm valve. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the sealing area of the diaphragm valve.

Claims (29)

A fluid coupling, the fluid coupling comprising:
A generally annular metal sealing gasket;
A first metal coupling component and a second metal coupling component, wherein the metal coupling components are on opposite sides of the metal sealing gasket such that a load is applied to the metal gasket by the metal coupling component. A first metal coupling component and a second metal coupling component assembled into
A generally annular hardened sealing bead included in at least one of the metal sealing gasket, the first metal coupling component, and the second metal coupling component, the metal sealing gasket A generally annular hardened sealing bead that intrudes into at least one of the first metal coupling component and the second metal coupling component and plastically deforms to form a seal therebetween. And fluid coupling.   The fluid coupling of claim 1, wherein fluid flowing through the fluid coupling contacts the first metal coupling component and the second metal coupling component and the metal sealing gasket.   The fluid coupling of claim 1, wherein the hardened sealing bead is included in the first metal coupling component, and the hardened sealing bead presses into the metal gasket to form the seal. .   The fluid coupling of claim 3, wherein the hardened sealed bead is hardened using a low temperature carburizing process to produce a hardened surface without the formation of carbide precipitates.   The fluid coupling of claim 1, wherein the hardened sealing bead is included in the metal sealing gasket, and the hardened sealing bead pushes into the first metal bonded component to form a seal. .   6. The fluid coupling of claim 5, wherein the hardened annular sealing bead is hardened using a low temperature carburizing process to produce a hardened surface without the formation of carbide precipitates.   And further comprising a second generally annular cured sealing bead, wherein the first metal coupling component and the second metal coupling component extend axially therefrom toward each other. 2. An opposed radial end face containing a sealing bead, wherein the hardened sealing bead indents and plastically deforms both areas of the gasket to form a seal. The fluid coupling described.   The fluid coupling of claim 1, wherein the metal sealing gasket is made from unannealed stainless steel.   The fluid coupling of claim 1, wherein the metal coupling component and the metal sealing gasket are made of stainless steel.   The fluid coupling of claim 1, wherein the metal coupling component and the metal sealing gasket are made from stainless steel, and the hardened sealing bead is cured using a diffusion-based surface treatment process. .   The fluid coupling of claim 10, wherein the diffusion-based surface treatment process is a low temperature carburizing process to produce a hardened surface without the formation of carbide precipitates.   2. The seal of claim 1, wherein the seal is effective for holding light gas at a pressure greater than 1000 psi with a leak rate of 1 cc / hr (std.) Or lower. Fluid coupling.   2. The seal of claim 1, wherein the seal is effective for holding light gas at a pressure greater than 5000 psi with a leak rate of 1 cc / hr (std.) Or lower. Fluid coupling. Bellows valve, the bellows valve
A metal valve body having an inlet passage and an outlet passage and a valve seat disposed between the inlet passage and the outlet passage;
A valve stem received by the valve body, wherein the valve stem is adapted for selective sealing engagement with the valve seat;
A bellows having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is sealingly connected to the valve stem;
A metal closure member adapted to receive a valve stem, wherein the valve stem passes through the metal closure member, and the metal closure member is sealingly attached to the second end of the bellows. A metal closure member connected;
A bonnet member, wherein the bonnet member and the metal valve body are assembled on opposite sides of the metal closure member such that a load is applied to the closure member by the valve body and the bonnet member; ,
A generally circumferentially continuous hardened bead extending axially outward from one of the valve body and the closure member, the generally flat surface located on the other of the valve body and the closure member A bellows valve comprising: a substantially circumferentially continuous hardened bead that enters a surface and is plastically deformed to form a seal between the valve body and the closure member.   The bellows valve of claim 14, wherein the hardened bead is located on the metal closure member and pushes into the valve body to form a seal.   The bellows valve of claim 14, wherein the hardened bead is located in the valve body and pushes into the metal closure member to form a seal.   The bellows valve of claim 14, wherein the hardened bead is hardened using a low temperature carburizing process to produce a hardened surface without the formation of carbide precipitates.   The bellows valve of claim 14, wherein the hardened bead is made from stainless steel and hardened using a diffusion-based surface treatment process.   The bellows valve of claim 14, wherein the bonnet, the valve body, the closure member, and the bellows are made of stainless steel.   15. The seal of claim 14, wherein the seal is effective for holding light gas at a pressure greater than 1000 psi, with a leak rate of 1 cc / hr (std.) Or lower. Bellows valve.   15. The seal of claim 14, wherein the seal is effective for holding a light gas at a pressure greater than 5000 psi with a leak rate of 1 cc / hr (std.) Or lower. Bellows valve. A diaphragm valve, the diaphragm valve comprising:
A valve body and a bonnet member;
A metal diaphragm arrangement including one or more diaphragms, wherein the bonnet member and the valve body are loaded by the bonnet member and the valve body with the metal diaphragm arrangement. Metal diaphragm arrangement assembled on both sides of
A hardened engagement portion included near an outer periphery of at least one of the metal diaphragm array, the bonnet member, and the valve body, wherein the hardened engagement portion is the metal diaphragm. A cured engagement portion engaging at least one of the array, the bonnet member, and the valve body and plastically deforming to form a seal therebetween.   23. The diaphragm valve of claim 22, wherein the metal diaphragm comprises a plurality of diaphragms in a stacked arrangement.   23. The diaphragm valve of claim 22, wherein the hardened engagement portion comprises an annular edge of the bonnet that engages the diaphragm array.   Each of the valve body and the bonnet member includes a generally flat surface near their respective outer perimeter, at least one of the generally flat surfaces being near their outer corners, The diaphragm assembly is clamped between the generally flat portions, the diaphragm assembly having an outer peripheral portion near the generally flat surface that bends over and seals at the corners. The diaphragm valve according to 22.   26. The diaphragm valve of claim 25, wherein the hardened engagement portion comprises the corner.   23. The diaphragm valve of claim 22, wherein the hardened engagement portion is hardened using a low temperature carburizing process to produce a hardened surface without the formation of a carbide precipitate.   23. The diaphragm valve of claim 22, wherein the bonnet, the valve body, and the diaphragm array are made from stainless steel.   23. The diaphragm valve of claim 22, wherein the hardened engagement portion is made from stainless steel and hardened using a diffusion based surface treatment process.

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