Fluid flow devices

Abstract

The fluid flow device includes a first metal component having a hardened engaging 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 such that the hardened surface engages and plastically deforms the second metal component to provide a seal.

1 . A fluid flow device, comprising: 
 a metal seal component;    first and second metal clamping components assembled on opposite sides of the seal component such that a load is applied by the first and second clamping components to the seal component; and    a hardened engaging portion included on at least one of the seal component, the first clamping component, and the second clamping component that engages and plastically deforms at least one of the seal component, the first clamping component, and the second clamping component to form a seal therebetween;    wherein fluid flowing through the device contacts the first and second metal clamping components and the metal seal component.    
     
     
         2 . The fluid flow device of  claim 1  wherein a first hardened engaging portion is included on the first clamping component and a second hardened engaging portion is included on the second clamping component.  
     
     
         3 . The fluid flow device of  claim 1  wherein a plurality of hardened engaging portions are included on the seal component.  
     
     
         4 . The fluid flow device of  claim 1  wherein the hardened engaging portion is made of stainless steel and is hardened using a diffusion based surface treatment.  
     
     
         5 . The fluid flow device of  claim 1  wherein the hardened engaging portion is hardened by low temperature carburization to produce a hardened surface without the formation of carbide precipitates.  
     
     
         6 . The fluid flow device of  claim 1  wherein the hardened engaging portion is included on the first clamping component and the seal component is made from non-annealed stainless steel  
     
     
         7 . The fluid flow device of  claim 1  wherein the seal component is made from 316 stainless steel.  
     
     
         8 . The fluid flow device of  claim 1  wherein the clamping components and the seal component are made from stainless steel.  
     
     
         9 . The fluid flow device of  claim 1  wherein the clamping components and the seal component are made from stainless steel and the hardened engaging portion is hardened by low temperature carburization to produce a hardened surface without the formation of carbide precipitates.  
     
     
         10 . The fluid flow device of  claim 1  wherein the seal is effective to contain light gasses at pressures greater than 1000 psi with a leak rate at or below 1 std. cc/hr.  
     
     
         11 . The fluid flow device of  claim 1  wherein the seal is effective to contain light gasses at pressures greater than 5000 psi with a leak rate at or below 1 std. cc/hr.  
     
     
         12 . A fluid flow device, comprising: 
 a metal seal component;    first and second metal clamping components assembled on opposite sides of the seal component such that a load is applied by the first and second clamping components to the seal component; and    a generally annular, hardened engaging portion included on at least one of the seal component, the first clamping component, and the second clamping component that engages and plastically deforms at least one of the seal component, the first clamping component, and the second clamping component to form a seal therebetween; wherein the seal component spans across the entire annulus formed by the hardened engaging portion.    
     
     
         13 . The fluid flow device of  claim 12  wherein a first hardened engaging portion is included on a first side of the seal component and a second hardened engaging portion is included on a second side of the seal component.  
     
     
         14 . The fluid flow device of  claim 12  wherein a first hardened engaging portion is included on the first clamping component and a second hardened engaging portion is included on the second clamping component.  
     
     
         15 . The fluid flow device of  claim 12  wherein the hardened engaging portion is made of stainless steel and is hardened using a diffusion based surface treatment.  
     
     
         16 . The fluid flow device of  claim 12  wherein the hardened engaging portion is hardened by low temperature carburization to produce a hardened surface without the formation of carbide precipitates.  
     
     
         17 . The fluid flow device of  claim 16  wherein the clamping components and the seal component are made from stainless steel.  
     
     
         18 . A fluid flow device, comprising: 
 a metal seal component;    first and second metal clamping components assembled on opposite sides of the seal component such that a load is applied by the first and second clamping components to the seal component; and    a hardened engaging portion included on at least one of the seal component, the first clamping component, and the second clamping component that engages and plastically deforms at least one of the seal component, the first clamping component, and the second clamping component to form a seal therebetween,    wherein the seal is formed without forming a seal with a separate tube.    
     
     
         19 . The fluid flow device of  claim 18  wherein a first hardened engaging portion is included on a first side of the seal component and a second hardened engaging portion is included on a second side of the seal component.  
     
     
         20 . The fluid flow device of  claim 18  wherein a first hardened engaging portion is included on the first clamping component and a second hardened engaging portion is included on the second clamping component.  
     
     
         21 . The fluid flow device of  claim 18  wherein the hardened engaging portion is made of stainless steel and is hardened using a diffusion based surface treatment.  
     
     
         22 . The fluid flow device of  claim 18  wherein the hardened engaging portion is hardened by low temperature carburization to produce a hardened surface without the formation of carbide precipitates.  
     
     
         23 . The fluid flow device of  claim 22  wherein the clamping components and the seal component are made from stainless steel.  
     
     
         24 . A fluid flow device, comprising: 
 a metal seal component having an axis;    first and second metal clamping components assembled on opposite sides of the seal component such that a load is applied by the first and second clamping components to the seal component in a generally axial direction; and    a hardened engaging portion included on at least one of the seal component, the first clamping component, and the second clamping component that engages and plastically deforms at least one of the seal component, the first clamping component, and the second clamping component to form a seal therebetween.    
     
     
         25 . The fluid flow device of  claim 24  wherein the metal seal component further comprises a first and a second opposite, planar side surfaces; the side surfaces being generally parallel with each other; wherein the first and second side surfaces engage the first and second metal claiming components, respectively, when assembled.  
     
     
         26 . The fluid flow device of  claim 24  wherein a first hardened engaging portion is included on a first side of the seal component and a second hardened engaging portion is included on a second side of the seal component.  
     
     
         27 . The fluid flow device of  claim 24  wherein a first hardened engaging portion is included on the first clamping component and a second hardened engaging portion is included on the second clamping component.  
     
     
         28 . The fluid flow device of  claim 24  wherein the hardened engaging portion is made of stainless steel and is hardened using a diffusion based surface treatment.  
     
     
         29 . The fluid flow device of  claim 24  wherein the hardened engaging portion is hardened by low temperature carburization to produce a hardened surface without the formation of carbide precipitates.  
     
     
         30 . The fluid flow device of  claim 29  wherein the clamping components and the seal component are made from stainless steel.  
     
     
         31 . A fluid coupling, comprising: 
 a generally annular, metal sealing gasket;    first and second metal coupling components; the metal coupling components assembled on opposite sides of the metal sealing gasket such that a load is applied by the metal coupling components to the metal sealing gasket; and    a generally annular, hardened sealing bead included on at least one of the metal sealing gasket, the first metal coupling component and second metal coupling component that indents into and plastically deforms at least one of the metal sealing gasket, the first metal coupling component and second metal coupling component to form a seal therebetween.    
     
     
         32 . The fluid coupling of  claim 31  wherein the hardened sealing bead is hardened using a low temperature carburization process to produce a hardened surface without formation of carbide precipitates.  
     
     
         33 . The fluid coupling of  claim 31  further comprising a second generally annular, hardened sealing bead; wherein the first and second metal coupling components have opposed radial end faces that include the hardened sealing beads extending axially therefrom toward each other; and wherein the hardened sealing beads indent into and plastically deform opposite face areas of the gasket to form seals.  
     
     
         34 . The fluid coupling of  claim 31  wherein the metal coupling components and the metal sealing gasket are made from stainless steel and the hardened sealing bead is hardened using a diffusion based surface treatment process.  
     
     
         35 . A bellows valve, comprising: 
 a metal valve body having inlet and outlet passages and a valve seat disposed between the inlet and outlet passages;    a valve stem received by the valve body; the valve stem adapted for selective sealing engagement with the valve seat;    a bellows having a first end and a second end, the first end being sealingly connected to the valve stem;    a metal closing member adapted to receive the valve stem therethrough, the metal closing member being sealingly connected to the second end of the bellows;    a bonnet member, wherein the bonnet member and the metal valve body are assembled on opposite sides of the metal closing member such that a load is applied by the valve body and the bonnet member to the closing member; and    a generally circumferentially continuous, hardened bead extending axially outward from one of the valve body and the closing member that indents into and plastically deforms a generally planar surface located on the other of the valve body and the closing member to form a seal therebetween.    
     
     
         36 . The bellows valve of  claim 35  wherein the hardened bead is hardened using a low temperature carburization process to produce a hardened surface without formation of carbide precipitates.  
     
     
         37 . The bellows valve of  claim 35  wherein the hardened bead is made from stainless steel and is hardened using a diffusion based surface treatment process.  
     
     
         38 . A 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 assembled on opposite sides of the metal diaphragm arrangement such that a load is applied by the bonnet member and the valve body to the metal diaphragm arrangement; and    a hardened engaging portion included on at least one of the metal diaphragm arrangement, the bonnet member, and the valve body near a respective outer periphery thereof; the hardened engaging portion engages and plastically deforms at least one of the metal diaphragm arrangement, the bonnet member, and the valve body to form a seal therebetween.    
     
     
         39 . The diaphragm valve of  claim 38  wherein the metal diaphragm comprises a plurality of diaphragms in a stacked arrangement.  
     
     
         40 . The diaphragm valve of  claim 38  wherein the hardened engaging portion comprises an annular edge of the bonnet that engages the diaphragm arrangement.  
     
     
         41 . The diaphragm valve of  claim 38  wherein the valve body and the bonnet member each includes a generally flat surface near a respective outer periphery thereof; at least one of the generally flat surfaces being adjacent an outer corner thereof; the diaphragm assembly being clamped between the generally flat portions; the diaphragm assembly having an outer peripheral portion adjacent the generally flat surfaces that bends over and seals at the corner, wherein the hardened engaging portion comprises the corner.  
     
     
         42 . The diaphragm valve of  claim 38  wherein the hardened engaging portion is hardened using a low temperature carburization process to produce a hardened surface without formation of carbide precipitates.  
     
     
         43 . The diaphragm valve of  claim 38  wherein the hardened engaging portion is made from stainless steel and is hardened using a diffusion based surface treatment process.