JP3028418B2 - Metal seal member with pressure deformation prevention ring - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Industrial Application Field) The present invention exerts a sealing effect particularly when inserted into an O-ring groove formed in a sealing surface of a high-pressure pipe or a high-pressure container or sandwiched between flanges. The present invention relates to a metal sealing member.

(Prior Art) An O-ring is inserted into an O-ring groove formed on a sealing surface between flanges, and is held in the O-ring groove with a fixed crush when the flange is tightened. Therefore, extremely strict dimensional accuracy and surface roughness of the O-ring groove are required. On the other hand, since the gasket generally has a structure in which the gasket is directly tightened and compressed between the flanges, it is well known that the processing accuracy of the flange surface may be relatively gentle.

Known hollow gaskets having a circular cross section, an oval cross section, and an elliptical cross section are known as metal hollow gaskets. Japanese Patent Publication No. 57-41628, "Elastic Metal Gasket" discloses the attached FIG. 9 and FIG. A metal gasket as shown in FIG. 10 is proposed. In the gasket 80 shown in FIG. 9, a metal coil spring 81 having a circular cross section is covered with metal shells 82 and 83 having a C-shaped cross section, and a metal reinforcing strip 84 is disposed in the coil spring 81. . In the present specification, the term “metal coil spring having a circular cross section” refers to a metal coil spring whose cross section perpendicular to the center line of the wound spring appears to be circular rather than circular. Note that The reinforcing strip 84 serves to prevent the gasket from being deformed beyond a certain limit when the gasket is tightened. The reinforcing strip 84 is arranged so as to contact the inner circumferential surface of the metal coil spring 81 in the circumferential direction.
Note that 80 does not prevent radial expansion and contraction.

The gasket 85 shown in FIG. 10 has an outer metal sheath 83 extending in parallel, and reinforcing strips 86 are arranged therebetween. It functions to prevent the gasket from being deformed. In this figure, note that the reinforcing strip 86 is separated from the metal coil spring 81 and does not prevent the metal gasket 85 from expanding and contracting in the radial direction.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Sho 60-227091 "Tight coupling device" proposes a metal gasket as shown in FIG. No.
A gasket 90 shown in FIG. 11 is tightened between a pair of flanges 91 and 92 each having a groove of a trapezoidal cross section to exhibit a sealing effect.
Outer skins 94 and 95 having a shaped cross section are arranged, and a solid locking ring 96 is inserted into the coil spring 93. The locking ring 96 is described as a member that serves to limit collapse of the joint or to reinforce the joint. This is because, especially in the case of a groove having an elliptical cross section, if the mating surface of the groove is shifted in the lateral direction, the elliptical gasket will be inclined in its axial direction and will hit against the surface of the groove, This is considered to prevent a gap from being generated and the sealing effect from being lost.

Since the metal O-ring having the core having a circular cross section is generally housed in the O-ring groove, the metal O-ring is not tightened beyond a certain limit, and has a function as shown in FIGS. 9 to 11. Pieces are generally not provided. However, the O-ring deforms under the pressure of the fluid in the groove, and when pressed against the wall surface of the groove, the dimensional accuracy and surface roughness of the wall surface of the groove deviate from predetermined tolerances. In this case, the O-ring itself is damaged and damaged, and the sealing effect is lost. Therefore, the processing of the O-ring groove requires strict dimensional accuracy and surface roughness, which has complicated the processing step and the inspection step, lowered the product yield, and increased the cost.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) An object of the present invention is to prevent a metal sealing member such as a metal O-ring or a gasket having a core having a circular cross section from being deformed beyond a certain limit when subjected to fluid pressure. It is an object of the present invention to provide a structure of a metal seal member that can be used.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a metal seal member that can make the dimensional accuracy and surface roughness of an O-ring groove gentler than before, and that can be used between sealing surfaces without an O-ring groove. To provide.

The present invention relates to a metal seal member having a hollow, circular cross-section and an annular, elastic metal core. The object described above is such that in the first aspect, an endless metal ring is inserted into the metal core, and at least one of the inner surface and the outer surface of the metal ring contacts the inner surface of the metal core. The metal ring is adapted to abut the metal ring to prevent radial deformation of the metal core.

Based on such a configuration, the metal seal member of the present invention uses the type in which the inner surface of the metal ring is in contact with the inner surface of the metal core in an application example in which fluid pressure acts from the inside to the outside, Even if pressure acts, deformation of the sealing member is prevented by the metal ring. Therefore, even if there is no O-ring groove or the processing accuracy and surface roughness of the O-ring groove are not so strict, breakage of the seal member can be prevented. In an application example in which the fluid pressure acts from the outside to the inside, a similar effect can be obtained by using a type in which the outer surface of the metal ring contacts the inner surface of the metal core.

The invention, in its second aspect, has a structure in which the metal ring has a solid, circular cross section. That is,
Since the metal ring has a circular cross section, the metal ring comes into smooth contact with the circular shape of the metal core, so that the compatibility between the metal ring and the life of the metal seal member can be extended.

In the third aspect of the present invention, the outer periphery of the metal core is surrounded by an inner metal outer skin having a C-shaped cross section and an outer metal outer skin having a C-shaped cross section, respectively, and the outer periphery of the metal core is radially outer or An endless metal ring having a rectangular cross section is concentrically disposed inside in contact with the inside, and the metal ring is held in contact by being sandwiched from both sides by the outer metal skin, and the metal core is deformed in the radial direction. Is prevented by the contact of the metal ring.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the fourth aspect, the outer periphery of the metal core is surrounded by an inner metal shell having a C-shaped cross section and an outer metal shell having a C-shaped cross section, and the outer circumference of the outer metal shell is formed in a radial direction. An endless metal ring is arranged concentrically on the outside or inside in a contact state, and this metal ring is fitted and held by the outer metal skin by an uneven cross section, and the metal core deforms in the radial direction with the metal skin. The metal ring abuts and blocks.

According to these structures, since the metal ring can be arranged outside the metal core, there is an advantage that manufacturing is easy and cost is reduced.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description in which reference is made to the embodiments of the accompanying drawings FIGS.

(Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a metal seal member according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
A metal core 11 comprising a metal coil spring having a hollow, circular cross-section and being annular and elastic,
C-shaped metal skins 12, 13 surrounding a part of the outer circumference
And the endless metal ring 14 inserted inside the metal core 11
It is composed of The inner metal shell 12 is made of an elastic non-ductile metal, such as mild steel or stainless steel, and the outer metal shell 13 is made of a ductile metal, such as aluminum, copper,
It is desirable to be made of nickel, titanium or the like. The metal ring 14 is preferably made of stainless steel or spring steel,
The inner surface of the inner side of the metal core 11 is arranged so that the inner surface of the solid circular cross section is in contact with the inner surface. This is done by winding the metal spring 14 before winding the coil spring 11 and joining the ends.
May be connected by welding.

The metal seal member 10 is used in an application example in which a fluid pressure acts from inside the O-ring groove 18 in a state where the metal seal member 10 is inserted into the O-ring groove 18. In this case, a pressure acts on the metal seal member 10 to exert a force to deform the metal seal member 10 outward in the radial direction.However, since the internal metal ring 14 resists the force to cause the deformation, The sealing member 10 is held in the O-ring groove 18 without being deformed, and a stable sealing effect is obtained. Along with this, the dimensions and surface roughness of the O-ring groove 18 do not need to be as strict as in the prior art, and the tolerance in processing accuracy increases, thereby improving productivity.

FIG. 2 shows a metal sealing member according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
Reference numeral 20 denotes a metal core 21 composed of a metal coil spring having a hollow circular cross section and an annular elasticity, and surrounds a part of the outer periphery thereof, similarly to the metal seal member of the first embodiment. It is composed of metal outer skins 22 and 23 having a C-shaped cross section and an endless metal ring 24 inserted into the metal core 21. The metal ring 24 is arranged so that the outer diameter side surface of the solid circular cross section is in contact with the inner surface of the metal core 11. This metal seal member 20 is used in an application example in which fluid pressure acts from the outside when inserted into the O-ring groove 28.

FIG. 3 shows a modification of the metal ring inserted inside the metal core. A metal ring 31 shown in A has a square cross section, a metal ring 32 shown in B has one side of the square curved with the same curvature as the inner diameter of the metal core to make surface contact, and a metal ring 33 shown in C. Represents a curve which is curved with a curvature larger than B so that it hits at two upper and lower portions, and a metal ring 34 shown in D has an I-beam cross section to minimize the amount of deformation with respect to weight. As shown in these figures, the metal ring may have both the inner surface and the outer surface contacting the inner surface of the metal core.

FIG. 4 shows an embodiment in which the metal ring is arranged concentrically outside the metal core and radially outwardly in contact. The metal sealing member 40 has a metal core 41 made of a metal coil spring having a hollow circular cross section and an annular elasticity.
And a metal outer shell 42, 4 having a C-shaped cross section surrounding a part of the outer periphery thereof.
3 and an endless metal ring 4 arranged outside the metal core 41
It consists of four. The metal ring 44 is concentrically arranged such that the inner surface of the solid square cross section is in contact with the outer surface of the metal core 41, and the outer skin 43 is sandwiched between parallel extended portions 45.

The metal seal member 40 is used in an application example in which fluid pressure acts from the inside of the metal seal member 40 in a state of being inserted into the O-ring groove 48.

FIG. 5 shows an embodiment in which the metal ring is arranged concentrically outside the metal core and radially inward. The metal sealing member 50 has a metal core 51 made of a metal coil spring having a hollow, circular cross section and an annular elasticity.
And a metal skin 52,5 having a C-shaped cross section surrounding a part of the outer periphery thereof.
3 and an endless metal ring 5 arranged outside the metal core 51
It consists of four. The metal ring 54 is arranged concentrically so that the outer diameter side surface of the solid square cross section is in contact with the outer surface of the metal core 51, and the outer skin 53 is sandwiched by a portion 55 extended in parallel.

This metal seal member 50 is used in an application example in which fluid pressure acts from the outside in a state of being inserted and clamped between flat seal surfaces 57 and 58 having no O-ring groove.
As a result, deformation in the radial direction is prevented, so that high airtightness can be obtained without an O-ring groove, and a sufficient life can be achieved.

FIG. 6 shows a modified example of the metal shell and the metal ring. The metal shells 62 and 63 having a C-shaped cross section surround substantially the entire circumference of the metal core 61, and extend along the outer circumference of the outer metal shell 63. The cross-sectional shape of the metal ring 64 is concave so that the inner diameter of the metal ring 64 is in contact. In this case, the metal ring and the metal outer skin are fitted and connected.

FIG. 7 shows a modification similar to that of FIG.
A metal shell 67, 68 of a cross section surrounds substantially the entire circumference of the metal core 66, and a metal ring 69 extends along the inner circumference of the outer metal shell 67.
The cross-sectional shape of the metal ring 69 is concave so that the outer diameters of the metal ring 69 are in contact with each other. Also in this case, the metal ring and the metal outer skin are fitted and connected.

FIG. 8 shows a metal sealing member 70 according to still another embodiment of the present invention, wherein two concentrically-arranged metal coil springs having a hollow circular cross section and an annular elasticity are used. Metal cores 71 and 72, metal inner skins 73 and 74 having a C-shaped cross section surrounding a part of each outer circumference, a metal outer skin 75 having an oval cross section surrounding the entire outer circumference, and an outer metal core 71.
And an endless metal ring 76 inserted inside. The metal ring 76 is arranged so that the outer diameter side surface of the solid circular cross section is in contact with the inner surface of the metal core 71.
This metal seal member 70 is used in an application example in which fluid pressure acts from the outside when inserted into the O-ring groove 78.

A metal ring having the same cross-sectional structure as that of FIG. 8 is inserted into the inner metal core 72, and the inner surface of the solid circular cross section is arranged so as to be in contact with the inner surface of the metal core 72. It is clear that some embodiments can be considered as well, and such a metal sealing member is used in an application in which fluid pressure acts from inside the O-ring groove while being inserted into the O-ring groove.

(Effects of the Invention) As described in detail above, according to the present invention, even if a fluid pressure acts on the metal seal member to deform the metal seal member in the radially outward or inward direction, the metal ring is not deformed. The metal seal member is held without deformation even without the O-ring groove because it resists the force that causes this deformation. Even when the metal seal member is held in the O-ring groove, a stable sealing effect can be obtained even if the dimensions and surface roughness of the O-ring groove are not as strict as in the past. As a result, there is a remarkable technical effect, such as an increase in the tolerance of processing accuracy and an improvement in productivity.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a metal seal member according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a metal seal member according to another embodiment, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a metal seal member according to another embodiment, FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a metal seal member according to another embodiment, and FIG. FIG. 7 is a one-side cross-sectional view showing another modification of the metal ring, FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a metal seal member according to still another embodiment, and FIG. 9 is a conventional metal gasket. FIG. 10 is a one-side cross-sectional view showing another conventional metal gasket, and FIG. 11 is a one-side cross-sectional view showing a conventional elliptical metal gasket. 10,20,40,50… Metal seal member 11,21,41,51… Metal core 12,22,42,52… Metal skin 13,23,43,53… Metal skin 14,24,44 , 54 …… Metal ring 18,28,48 …… O-ring groove 57,58 …… Seal surface

Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-50-21162 (JP, A) JP-A-59-157166 (JP, U) JP-A-52-148865 (JP, U)

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A metal seal member having a hollow, circular cross section and an annular, elastic metal core, wherein an endless metal ring is inserted into the metal core, and an inner diameter side of the metal ring. At least one of a surface and an outer diameter side surface is disposed so as to be in contact with the inner surface of the metal core, and the metal ring abuts and prevents the metal core from deforming in the radial direction. Characteristic metal seal member. 2. The metal sealing member according to claim 1, wherein said metal ring has a solid circular cross section. 3. A metal seal member having a hollow, circular cross-section and an annular, elastic metal core, wherein the outer periphery of the metal core is formed by forming an inner metal shell having a C-shaped cross section and an outer metal shell having a C-shaped cross section. A metal outer shell surrounding the metal core in a contact state, and an endless metal ring having a rectangular cross section radially outward or inward outside the metal core is arranged concentrically in a contact state, and the metal ring is provided on the outer metal outer shell. A metal seal member which is held in contact with the metal ring so as to be sandwiched from both sides by the metal ring and prevents the metal core from deforming in the radial direction by abutting the metal ring. 4. A metal seal member having a hollow, circular cross-section and an annular, elastic metal core, wherein an outer periphery of said metal core is formed as an inner metal shell having a C-shaped cross section and an outer metal shell having a C-shaped cross section. A metal shell surrounds each in a contact state, and an endless metal ring is arranged concentrically in a contact state in a radially outer or inner side outside the outer metal shell, and the metal ring is in contact with the outer metal shell. A metal seal member fitted and held by an uneven cross section, wherein a metal shell and a metal ring abut against each other to prevent the metal core from deforming in the radial direction.