| 20100148447 | BI-DIRECTIONAL WELLHEAD SEAL - A liquid and gas tight bi-directional metal frustro-conical seal is energized by compression between planar, annular faces causing its inner and outer diameters to sealingly engage opposing cylindrical surfaces of inner and outer metal pipes. The contact forces between the concentric sealing surfaces are high in order to locally deform the softer metal and eliminate leakage paths. The sealing ring is backed-up by a similar ring that is reduced in cross-sectional width, such that when compressed the ring does not engage the inner and outer cylindrical surfaces. The second ring is nested with and directly below the sealing ring, and equally axially compressed when the joint is assembled. When the pipe joints are disassembled, the second ring serves to restore the seal ring to its original, deeper frustro-conical shape, allowing the pipe joints to be easily separated for reuse of the piping in a different location. | 06-17-2010 |
