Flange gasket

Abstract

A corrugated metal gasket for use between two flanges wherein the corrugated metal gasket is produced by a method comprising the steps of providing an annular gasket substrate and machining into that substrate a plurality of substantially uniform and generally concentric corrugations.

1 . A corrugated metal gasket product for use between two pipe flanges, said corrugated metal gasket product being produced by a process comprising the following steps:
 providing a material stock piece having an annular ring shape with a circular opening that defines a longitudinal axis, the material stock piece having an axial thickness that spans between a first face and a second face; and   machining said first face and said second face by a chip removal process for shaping each face with a plurality of substantially uniform and generally concentric corrugations by removing a portion of both of said first face and said second face and a portion of said material stock piece to form a sealing core that is positioned between said machined corrugations, said machined corrugations include a plurality of alternating peaks and troughs arranged such that said peaks of said first face are aligned with said troughs of the second face and said corrugations each have a curved shape, said sealing core extending in a radial direction from an inner diameter to an outer diameter of said material stock piece and said sealing core having an axial thickness in an uncompressed state spanning between the troughs of the first face and the troughs of the second face.   
     
     
         2 . The corrugated metal gasket of  claim 1  which further includes an outer guide ring positioned exteriorly on said sealing core. 
     
     
         3 . The corrugated metal gasket of  claim 2  wherein said outer guide ring is integrated with said sealing core as a unitary corrugated metal gasket. 
     
     
         4 . The corrugated metal gasket of  claim 3  wherein the pitch of said corrugations is selected from the group consisting of approximately 0.125 inches and approximately 0.250 inches. 
     
     
         5 . The corrugated metal gasket of  claim 4  wherein an uncoated thickness of said corrugations is selected from the group consisting of approximately 0.093 inches, approximately 0.125 inches and approximately 0.250 inches. 
     
     
         6 . The corrugated metal gasket of  claim 5  wherein said corrugations are coated with graphite. 
     
     
         7 . The corrugated metal gasket of  claim 6  wherein an outside diameter of said corrugated metal gasket is approximately 6.88 inches. 
     
     
         8 . The corrugated metal gasket of  claim 6  wherein an outside diameter of said corrugated metal gasket is approximately 6.12 inches. 
     
     
         9 . The corrugated metal gasket of  claim 8  wherein an inside diameter of said corrugated metal gasket is approximately 4.87 inches. 
     
     
         10 . The corrugated metal gasket of  claim 1  wherein the pitch of said corrugations is selected from the group consisting of approximately 0.125 inches and approximately 0.250 inches. 
     
     
         11 . The corrugated metal gasket of  claim 1  wherein an uncoated thickness of said corrugations is selected from the group consisting of approximately 0.093 inches, approximately 0.125 inches and approximately 0.250 inches. 
     
     
         12 . The corrugated metal gasket of  claim 1  wherein said corrugations are coated with graphite. 
     
     
         13 . The corrugated metal gasket of  claim 1  wherein an outside diameter of said corrugated metal gasket is approximately 6.88 inches. 
     
     
         14 . The corrugated metal gasket of  claim 1  wherein an outside diameter of said corrugated metal gasket is approximately 6.12 inches. 
     
     
         15 . The corrugated metal gasket of  claim 1  wherein an inside diameter of said corrugated metal gasket is approximately 4.87 inches. 
     
     
         16 . The corrugated metal gasket of  claim 2  wherein said outer guide ring is a separate component which is assembled into said sealing core. 
     
     
         17 . The corrugated metal gasket of  claim 16  wherein said sealing core is constructed and arranged with an annular groove. 
     
     
         18 . The corrugated metal gasket of  claim 17  wherein said outer guide ring is assembled into said annular groove. 
     
     
         19 . A corrugated metal gasket for use between two pipe flanges for sealing, said corrugated metal gasket comprising:
 an annular gasket substrate having a circular opening that defines a longitudinal axis, the gasket substrate having a first plurality of corrugations in a first face and a second plurality of corrugations in a second face, wherein said corrugations result from a machining step of material removal rather than material compression, the first plurality of machined corrugations and the second plurality of corrugations each include a plurality of alternating peaks and troughs arranged in a sinusoidal shape, wherein the peaks of the first plurality of machined corrugations are aligned with the troughs of the second plurality of machined corrugations, the gasket substrate having a sealing core with an axial thickness in an uncompressed state spanning between the troughs of the first plurality of machined corrugations and the troughs of the second plurality of machined corrugations , the sealing core extending radially from an inner diameter to an outer diameter of the gasket substrate.   
     
     
         20 . A corrugated metal gasket for use between two pipe flanges for sealing, said corrugated metal gasket comprising:
 an annular sealing substrate having a circular opening that defines a longitudinal axis, the sealing substrate having a first plurality of corrugations in a first face and a second plurality of corrugations in a second face, wherein said corrugations result from a machining step of material removal rather than material compression, said first plurality and said second plurality of corrugations have a plurality of alternating peaks and troughs arranged in a repeating sinusoidal shape wherein said peaks of said first plurality of machined corrugations are aligned with said troughs of said second plurality of machined corrugations, said sealing substrate having a sealing core with an axial thickness in an uncompressed state spanning between said troughs of said first plurality of machined corrugations and said troughs of said second plurality of machined corrugations, said sealing core extending radially from an inner annular edge to an outer annular edge of said sealing substrate.