CA2084381A1 - Flexible seating structure for rotary valves - Google Patents

Abstract

IMPROVED FLEXIBLE SEATING
STRUCTURE FOR ROTARY VALVES
ABSTRACT
A flexible seating apparatus is disclosed for use in rotary valves comprising a flexible seat ring attached to one of the valve body and valve closure member in a cantilevered fashion and maintained against the other of the valve body and valve closure member by pressurized fluid forces during closure. A resilient seal member is positioned between the flexible seating ring and that one of the valve body and valve closure member to which it is attached. Slotted fastener holes spaced radially along the flexible seat and corresponding fasteners permit automatic axial adjustment and proper positioning of the flexible seat ring upon assembly and initial closure of the valve's closure member. An alternate embodiment is disclosed in which the flexible seat ring is mounted to the other of the valve body and the valve closure member. The present flexible seating apparatus can be used with rotary ball valves and butterfly valves, for example, and further, is advantageously used to permit droptight metal-to-metal valve seating.

Description

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~ 2~$~38'i , Field of the Inver,tion ":, This invention relates to rotary valves, and more particularly to high performance sealing and seating apparatus for rotary valves.
, Background of the Invention :-.
There have been many attempts to achieve a .~., ~ liquid-tight, high-pressure seal arrangement for use in rotary :
valves. One such method is disclosed ir. U.S. Patent No.
3,4~7,781 t which ~eaches the use of an elastomeric seat ring for mating engayement against a seal member r ceived in an annular groove in -the valve body. That type seating structure is disadvantageous in that no metal-to-metal sealing can occur, such as is needed with fluids where corrosive or abrasive conditions are present.
one metal-seated ball valve uses precisi~n machined surfaces to ef~ect closure. That design can also cause unnecessary wear on the mating parts due to the flat mating ~eating surfaces. Because of the Elat sur~aces, any small particle in the flow stream such as sand may prevent proper contact o~ the mating surfaces, thereby creating an inherent potential for leakage. Also, such design of valve seat is excessively costly to manufacture.
Such disadvantages found in the prior art seating devices for rotary valves are overcome by the present invention whish utilizes a thin, flexible metal seat ring mounted along one or both cylindrical ends to the valve body, or alternatively '.~
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to the valve closure member, such as the ball in a rotary ball valve. The flexible metal seat ring is cantilevered on its vpposite cylindrical end to the valve body and held against the valve's closure member during closure by the forces exarted by pressurized fluid operating behind the cantilevered portion of the flexible seat ring. A resilient seal member, such as an ?:
: elastomeric O-ring, seals the non-cantilevered attachment portion o~ the flexible seat ring to the valve body or valve closure member to which it is attached. The seal member is held captive in a pre-formed channel in the valve body or valve closure member. Slotted fastener holes are formed in radially spaced locations in the flexible seat ring which, with associated threaded fasteners, permit automatic axial adjustment of the seat ring upon assembly and initial closure of the valve's closure member.
Importantly, during assembly of the pressure-assisted valve seating apparatus of the pre~ent invention, the ~asteners holding the flexible seat ring are not tightened until the closure member has been moved to it:s full closed position.
Advantageously, during assembly, the resilient and flexible nature o~ the partially-fastened flexible seating ring, particularly the cantilevered section thereo~, allows the ring to be radially-located, both concentrically and evenly, relative to the ball's seat surface. Such a flexible biasing action durin~ assembly allows the flexible seat ring to move radially in selected areas to accommodate variations in the associated I -` 2~8~3~
closure member. In effect, as the ball initially closes during - assembly, each portion of the flexible seat ring moves axially ., and radially of the valve closure member's seat to find the ideal seated position. Thereafter, the flexible seat ring's fasteners are tightened to permanently lock the ring in place.

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- The associated resilient seal member then operates as a seal between the non-cantilevered portion of the ring and the valve , body or valve closure member to which it is attached.

Advantageously, the cooperation of the spherical seat :...
surface on the valve's closure member with the continuous flexible seat ring permits a relative forgiveness therebetween, thereby assuring closure of the valve to its true seating posikion. A valve made in accordance with the present invention cannot bind due to valve deflections, since the seating ring is in flexible contact with the closure member. Thus, expensive high precision, high torque valve actuators are not required.
Rather, less costly standard actuat:ors can be used in rotary valves having the flexible sealing structure of the present invention.
The present design can also be produced with eccentric action to the rotating closure member wherein the closure member lifts off of the flexible seating ring as it rotates to the op~n position thereby reducing seat wear. This is easily acc~mplished by offsetting the closure member's axis of rotation a nominal amount, such as by 1/4 inch.
Besides use in rotary ball valves, the pressure=assisted seating and sealing apparatus of the present .~

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.,, : invention can be used with other types of rotary valves, such as , butterfly valves, for example.
f~. The means by which the foregoing features and advantages of the present invention are accomplished and the manner of their accomplishment will be r~adily understood from ;

. the following specification upon rQference to the accompanying ,-:
. drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a sidP elevation view o~ a ball valve having the improved sealing apparatus of the present invention, with . . .
certain parts broken away for better viewing;
, FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the flexible seating component of the present invention in the pre-assembly , condition;
FlG. 3 is similar to FIG. 2, but also including the . ball rotor seating surface component, and depicting the closed and assembled condition;
, FIG. ~ is a rear perspect.ive view o~ the flexible . seating ring and seal ring components of the present invention;
FIG. ~ depicts the slotted ~astener hole arrangement of the flexible seating ring of the present invention;
FIG. 6 is similar to FIG. 1, but depicts an alternate embodiment of the present invention in which the flexible seating ring has been mounted in another fashion;
,. FXG. 7 depicts the use of the flexible sealing . apparatus of the present invention in a butterfly valve , structure and , , ..

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-: FIG. 8 depicts the closed position, and in phantom the partially opened condition, for the operating components of the . butter~ly valve of FIG. 7.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Having reference to the drawings, wherein like .- reference numerals indicate corresponding elements, ther~ is : shown in FIG. 1 an illustration of a rotary ball valve generally . denoted by reference numeral 20. The ball valve 20 comprises a body 22 ~ormed of a right end piece 24, a center body piece 25 .
i and a left end piece 26 all fastened together by suitable : threaded fasteners 2~. Rotatably journalled by bearings 30 . mounted within the center body 25 is a closure ball member 32 havlng axially aligned shafts 34 A thrust bearing assembly 36 ;. is mounted at the bottom of the center body 25 (see FIG. 1) and . connected thereto by a stud 38 ~astened to the bottom of the . valve shaft 34. A generally "C"-~haped continuous hoop or ring ;~A ~eat member 40 is affixed to the outer seating area of the ball j rotor 32. As is well known, the seat member 40 presents a . spherical sealing and seating surface to the associated closure :, member, i.e., ball 32. To this po:int the foregoing is well known in the art and, for reference purposes, a description of .~ such a ball valve can be found in U.S. Patent No~ 3,447,781.
;~ The novel flexible seat ring structure of the present invention will now be described. An annular recess generally noted by reference numeral 42 is formed in the area of left body s 2 ~
, end plece 2~ ad~acent the C-shaped ring seat 400 The annular : recess 42 generally comprises a horizontally-aligned undercut 44 ": (see FIG. 2) and an angled undercut 46. A series of threaded ......... .
openings 48 (only one being shown in FIG. 2) ar~ formed at . radially spaced locations along the annular recess 42.

A flexible seat ring member, generally denoted by :,~ reference numeral 50 (see FIGS. 1-4), comprises a thin generally ., cylindrical segment 52 having a downwardly and outwardly i, extending flexible flange segment 54 integrally formed ,:
. therewith. The flange segment 54 has an annular recess or , . . .
:~ channel 56 ~ormed along the outer surface 58, and a :
corresponding contact surface 64 ~ormed on the opposite side thereof. Formed along the cylindrical ring segment 52, at ~ spaced locations corresponding to the threaded openings 48 ; formed on left body end piece 26, are a series o~ slotted holes 60 (best seen in FIGS. 2-4 and 5).
A resilient ring-shaped seal member 57 is located and ;:. maintained within an annular channel 59 formed on undercut : surface 44. In the assembled condition, the se~l member 57 bears against and seals the ring segment 52 and channel 59 of :. the undercut 44. To obtain the best sealing via seal member 57, i~ the channel 59 is so located along undercut surface 44 as to not intersect the slotted holes 60 in ring segment 52. Preferably, the resilient ring~shaped seal member 57 is an 0-ring member and . is formed of Nitrile rubber~ Alternatively, the seal member 5 can take other shapes as desired. Also, depending upon the ':
valve applications (extreme temperature or corrosive conditions, .

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for example) with which the present invention can be used, the seal member 57 can alternatively be made of Buna-N rubber, viton, or ethylene propylene. In any event, ~he seal member 57 will preferably b~ made of a material suitable for an operating temperature range of from below freezing to 300F.
Turning to a description of the assembly of the flexible seat ring member 50 $o the valvP body 22, FIGURE 2 shows that the axial length of the cylindrical ring segment 52 is such as to allow it to be seated tightly within the recess 42 formed in left body end piece 26. First, the resilient seal member 57 is seated within the annular channel 53 of undercut 44. Then, the cylindrical segment 52 of ring 50 is inserted so .
as to lie within the horizontal undercut 44 of end piece 261 ; while the angled flange segment 54 generally l:ies within, but':
does not directly engage, i.e., is flexibly cantilevered over, the angled undercut 46 on end piece 2 6 ~ A series of threaded ~asteners, such as flat-based fasteners 62 ~ with mating washers 63 1 are each inserted through the slotted openings 60 and received within the openings 48 in end piece 26. During this initial portion of the assembly of ring member 50, the ball 32 is first rotated to and maintained at its fully opened position such that there is no engagement of the ball's seat 40 against :
the flexible seat ring 50; the fasteners 62 are only partially tightened at this point (see FIG. 2)o Therea~ter, the ball 32 is rotated to its fully closed position (see FIGS. 1 and 3). In that closed condition, the ball's spherical seat 40 engages the upper raised arcuate-shaped contact surface 64 of angled flange 2 ~ 3 segment 54 on flexible seat ~ing member 50 (as best seen in FIG.
3).
During assembly of the flexible seat ring 50 to the valve body 26, the resilient, flexible and resilient nature of the seat ring 50 operates to uniformly bias the contact sur~ace 64, and hence seat ring 50, inwardly and rightwardly (see FIGS.
1 and 2) towards the ball 32. Thereafter, when the ball 32 has been rotated to its fully closed position and the C-shaped ring seat 40 has engaged the contact surface 64 of flexible seat ring 50, the cantilevered ring flange segment 54 is biased downwardly and to the l~eft (FIÇ. 3). In effect, this biasing action between flexible seat ring 50 and ball seat 40 acts to continually radially force the cantilevered ring flange segment 54 against the ball seat 40 such that the flexible seat ring 50 correctly finds, locally all along its circumference, the proper closed position relative to the ball seat 40 during valve assembly. Importantly, the flexibi.lity inherent in thin ring member 50 also causes that ring 50 to move, at some locations locally along its circumferential length, to the left (i.e., axially in FIG. 3~ relative to a respective fastener 62O Such axial movement of flexi~le ring 50 is permitted because of the slotted openings 60 relative to the shafts of the fasteners 62 (as best seen in FIG. 5).
Thereafter, when the fully closed ball 32 has effected a ~inal positional placement of the partially-tightened ~lexible seat ring 50 relative to the left end piece 26, the ~asteners 62 are ~ully tightened within the slotted openings 60~ This ~ ~ 8 ~
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tightening acts to positionally retain the flexible seat ring ., , member 50 which through such assembly has now found its ideal seating position relative to the ball seat 40.
It has been found that in one valve made in accordance with the present invention, the slotted hole 60 should be approximatly 1/2" long for a 12" diameter valve, for use with 3/16" diameter fasteners, while the slotted hole 60 should be 3/4" long for use in a 16" valve, for use with 3/8'l fasteners.
Thus, it will be seen that the slotted hole is preferably elongated as much as 1/4" over the size of the fastener 62, so as to accommodate a proper radial and axial movement of l:he seat ring 50 during assembly.
It will be understood that the recess 42 formed on body end piece 26 is created so as to allow the flexible seat ring 50, when it has been securely tighl:ened against body 26 by fasteners 62, to be generally out of the fluid îlow path (indicated by reference letter and arrow as "P" in FIG. 1).
Advantageously, the lack of anythi~lg protruding substantially into the flow path P prevents the ~mwanted disruption of fluid flow during any localized high velocity flow conditions, such as may occur during opening and closing of the valve ball 32. (As seen in FIG. 1, the fluid flow path P for valve 20 is normally from right to leît.) When flow is in both directions, another flexible seat ring structure of the present invention can be plac:ed in the right end piece 24 (see FIG. 1). However, it is important that some volume of pressurized fluid, during valve closure, is able to move into area 61 (see FIGS. 2 and 3) _g_ 2 ~ ~ d, ~
",~j -located bet~reen angled undercut surface 46 and outer surface 58 (along the entire length of cantilevered ring section 54), and particularly to move into the annular recess 56. This exertion of pressurized fluid force on ring section 54 causes the contact surface 64 to be further forced and maintained against seat member 40, thereby assisting the biasing action caused by cantilevered ring section 54.
The relative thickness of the flexible seat ring 50 will vary with the size of the valve 20; it must be su~ficiently thick enough to sustain handling during assembly and also to achieve the proper seating strength when in use, yet be thin enough to provide the above-described locale flexibility and resiliency during initial assembly and during sealing operation. It has been found that for a 12" valve, the thickness of flexible ring ~0 is preferably .05". A preferred range of thickness for ring 50 is between .03" and . osll .
To prevent unwanted galling between the ball seat sur~ace 40 and the contact surface 64 of flexible seat ring ~0, it is preferable to use different corrosion resistant mat~rials when forming th~se component parts. Preferably, the ball seat 40 is formed of stainless steel, such as Type 30~ or Type 3~6, for example, while the flexible seat ring 50 is made from a different type of stainless steel (such as Type 410 or Type 416 for example), or even of monel or inconelO Additionally, the ball seat surface 40 could be non-metallic, such as formed of a different material in a spray overlay (plasma or ceramic spray, for example) or weld overlay technique.
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During normal operation of the fl~xible seat ring 50, as the b~ll 32 closes to shut off valve 20, the pressurized ¦ fluid operating behind the flexible seat ring 50 tends to ~1 deflect it towards the ball seat ~0, i.eO, there is an inherent ;~ pressure-assisted seating force present. That is, once the 1 valve closure member has closed, hydrostatic pressure moves the -~ cantilevered ring section 54, in effect, further into the ball ¦ 40 creating a tighter seal in proportion 'to the service ¦ pressure. This increased seating force (caused by pressurized fluid forces) combines with 'the resilient flexing action of the cantilevered ring section 54 to effect a droptight metal-to-metal seal of ring 50 against seat 40. Advantageously, the flexible seating seal of the present inven'tion can provide a . .
droptight seal ~or severe service applications, e.g., 300 psig ; or greater.
Thus, it is seen that the flexible seat ring 50 advantageously operates both as a pressurized fluid-assisted seal during actual operation, as well as a resilient and flexible seal member to be forced against the ball seat 40, both .
~ during assembly and in actual operation.
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~'i A rotary valve made in accordance with the present ~e invention is more so-called forgiving in reaching its closed position because the valve will become closed within plus or minus one degree of the true closing position. This means that the ball 32 can be rotated one degree off of the true closing position yet no differenc~ or effect is seen to the watertight sealing of the ball seat 40 vis-a-vis the flexible sea't ring , j -1 1 -2~3~ '5 50. That is, the spherical seat 40 of ball 32 cooperates with the fluid-biased flexible seat ring 50 to give a relative I forgiveness, i.e., a positioning leeway, for the true sealing and seating position of those respective mating parts. This ;~ inherent positional leeway of the present invention is a ~ signi~icant advantage over the prior art valves where no such :
leeway was permissible. Typically, in a ball valve having a 12 inch diameter, such a positional leeway for the present invention has been found to be plus or minus one degree of rotation by the ball 32. This translates into a dimensional , range of positional leeway for the flexible seat ring 50 of approximately .100" between unseated and fully seated positions.
; It will be understood that wiping action of the mating valve seat surfacas (i.e., flexible seat ring 50 and ball seat 40) during cycling of the valve 20 acts to prevent buildup of harm~ul debris between those mating surfaces. This wiping .:~
action is enhanced by the arcuate shape of the flexible seat ring contact surface 64 relative to the seat 40 of mating ball 32. This curvature provides a line contact betwsen such mating surfaces which better removes particles and debris therefrom, which advantageous wiping action is not provided by the mating flat surfaces of the prior art. Those flat surfaces in the prior art, with planar contact, may capture particles and debris and thereby cause scoring and valve seat damage.
The use of the flexible seat ring 50 of~the present invention is not limited to simply uni-directional seal valves, i.e., valves having only one seating construction. It can be 3 (~ 1 , 1 ~
used for two-seated assemblies, such as in applications where the fluid flow pressure o~curs in bo~h directionsO
The use of the present invention is also not restricted to valves where the flexible seating ring is fastened to the valve body, such as depicted in the preferred embodiment described above. Instead, as shown in FIG. 6, the flexible seat ring member, generally designated by reference numeral 70 and preferably formed from a thin metal material, is fastened not to the end piece 72, but instead to the ball closure member 74.
Again, as with the flexible ring 50 of the preferred embodiment (FIGS. 1-6), the flexible seat ring 70 is integrally formed of two generally cylindrical sections, namely a cylindrical segment 76 and a cantilevered flanye segment 78, the latter having an annular recess 80 defining an area 81 (for pressurized fluid), and a corresponding arcuate-shaped contact surface 82.
Similarly, a series of fasteners 84 are fitted within radially-spaced, slotted holes 86; these are used to hold the ~lexible seat ring 70 against the alosure ball 74.
In operation, the flexible seat ring 70 is again biased by both its own resilient and flexible nature and by pressurized fluid operating behind cantilevered flange segment 78 in area 81 against a metal seat 88 retained on valve end piece 72. Other than this alternate way of mounting the flexible seat ring 70 to the movable closure ball 74, rather than to the stationary valve end piece 7~, this alternat~ embodiment of the present invention operates in the same fashion as does the above-described preferred embodimentO As seen in FIG. 6, pressurized fluid `I

`l 2~$~3 ! --flowing in the direction of flow path (designatecl by reference letters and arrow "FP"~ provides a pressure-assisted seating force to the cantilevered flange segment 78 of flexible seat ring 70, all in similar fashion and towards the same benefits as ~o the pressure-assisted seating force achieved by the preferred embodiment noted above.
While not necessary to the successful operation o~ the present invention, it can be enhanced by adding an eccentric action to the rotating closure member (i.e., ball 32) wherein that closure member lifts away from the flexible seat ring 50 as the closure m~mber is rotated to the open position. Although not shown, this can be easily accomplished by offsetting the closure member's axis of rotation (i.e., shaft 34) a nominal amount, such as by 1/4 inch, to produce such an eccentric action.
The present invention can also be used in other types of rotary valves, such as butterfly valves, for example.
Depicked in FIGS. 7 and 8 is a butlerfly valve, generally denoted by reference numeral 90, comprising a valve body 92, and a rotatable disk or plug member 94 pivoted for rotation relative to the body 92 on a plug shaft 9~ journalled within bearings 98 and a thrust bearing 100. As seen in FIGS. 7 and ~, a relatively thin f'lexible seat ring 102 is fastened by threaded fasteners 104 to the valve body 92. Ring 102 is also preferably made of metal. Similar to the flexible seat ring 50 of the preferred embodiment, the flexible seat ring 102 used ~or the butterfly valve 90 is formed of a cylindrical segment 104 and a :

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cantilevered flange section 106 which includes an annular recess 108 defining an area 109, and a corresponding contact surfa~e 110. A resilient seal ring member 111 is carried in an annular channel formed on body portion 92.
As with the preferred embodiment, the cylindrical segment 104 of seat ring 102 includes a series of slotted holes 112 which respectively carry threaded fasteners 114; thes2 are used to positionally locate and then retain the flexible seat ring 102 to the valve body 92 after the valve 90 is assembled in the same manner as noted above with regard to the preferred embodiment.
A preferably metal seat surface 114 is formed on the butterfly disk 94. When the disk 94 is in its closed position (see FIG. 7), the seat surface 114 engages the cantilevered f'lange segment 106 of flex ring 102 adjacent the recess 108:
this engagement, coupled with pressurized fluid forces in area 109 operating on recess 108, forcer, the arcuate-shaped contact surface 110 of flexible ring 102 against seat surface 114 to again create a droptight seal, sim:ilar to that described above with the preferred embodiment. Similarly, the flexible and resilient nature of cantilevered f:Lange segment 106 effects proper localized positioning of the flex ring 102 relative to the disk 94 and its seat surface 114 (via slotted holes 112 and associated threaded fasteners 84) during assembly of the butterfly valve 90.
Again, pressurized fluid traveling along the fluid flow path (designated by reference letters and arrow "FFP" in FIG. 7) :
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tends to create a pressure-assist!ed droptight seal of .: , cantilevered flange segment 106 of flexibl~ seat ring 102 against the seating surface 114 on butterfly disk 94. As shown in phantom in FIG. 8, rotation of the disk 94 into its fully closed position (shown in solid for disX 94 in FIG. 8) effects a droptight metal-to-metal seal of plug disk 94 against flex ring 102 on body 92.
Again, because of the dual biasing function of flexible seat ring 104 (i.e., a pressurized fluid-assisted sealing element and a flexible biasing element), the flex ring 104 continuously provides uniform localized engagement of contact surface 110 against the seat surface 114 without creating any valve binding. Thus, as shown in FIG. 8, the butterfly disk 94 can travel into flexible seating ring 102, i.e., into the valve's closed position, and then on through that fully closed position, if desired, such that overtravel o~ butterfly disk 94 will not create unwanted binding o~E butterfly valve 90.
Advantageously, the present invention permits the valve's closure member, i.e., ball or disk, to rotate 360 continuously, even though in most applications the closure member cycles, i.e., reciprocates, between its full open and ~ull closed positions. This feature of having the closure member able to rotate continuously 360 is due to the present inv~ntion's unique flexible seating ring, which prevents the closure member from binding up at the valve's full closure position.
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It can be seen that rotary valve~ incorporating the ;~ , ' flexible seat ring of the present invention provide tighter ,; ,~
shutoff and lower operating torques than conventional rigid seat valves. An economy of manufacture is obtained with this invention by using thin seat sections that can be rolled or spun from sheet material. The adjustable seating feature provides forgivPness in the present valve's assembly and its use. The design o~ the present invention allows valves to be economically ,:
constructed in a wide range of sizes from 4" to 60" in diameter.
From the foregoing, it is believed that those skilled in the art will readily appreciate the unique features and advantages of the present invention over previous types of rotary valves. Further, it is to be understood that while the . ., present invention has been described in relation to particular preferred and alternate embodiments as set forth in the accompanying drawings and as above described, the same i nevertheless are susceptible to change, variation and substitution of equivalents without departure from the spirit and scope of this invention. It i'3 therefore intended that the c' present invention be unrestricted by the foregoing description and drawings, except as may appear in the following appended ,. ~
claims.

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Claims (16)

1. A flexible high performance closure seal for a rotary valve having a valve body and a rotatable closure member for closing off a fluid passage through the valve body, comprising:
a sealing seat formed on one of the valve body and the rotatable closure member;
a flexible seat ring of relatively thin material mounted to the other of said valve body and said rotatable closure member, said flexible seat ring including two generally cylindrical sections, at least one of said sections being flexibly cantilevered adjacent said other of said valve body and said rotatable closure member and presenting a flexible seating surface to said sealing seat during closure of said closure member; and a plurality of adjustable mounting means for permitting initial loose mounting of said flexible seat ring to said other of said valve body and said closure member, said adjustable mounting means thereby permitting proper positioning movement of said flexible seat ring relative to said other of said valve body and said closure member during assembly of said rotary valve, and further permitting secure mounting of said flexible seat ring after said proper positioning has occurred;
whereby said flexible seat ring is operable to uniformly bias said sealing seat during assembly of said rotary valve, thereby permitting proper centered mating engagement of said flexible seat ring and assuring proper centered mating engagement of said flexible seat ring and said sealing seat during assembly of said rotary valve, and whereby pressurized fluid forces exerted against said flexibly cantilevered section of said flexible seat ring coupled with the flexible biasing forces provided by said flexible seat ring cause said flexibly cantilevered section to be continuously biased against said sealing seat during normal operational closure of said closure member.

2. The invention of Claim 1, wherein said flexible seating surface is an arcuate shaped surface.

3. The invention of Claim 1, wherein said plurality of adjustable mounting means comprise a plurality of slotted mounting openings formed on said flexible seat ring and a plurality of associated mounting members extending respectively therethrough, said slotted openings and said mounting members cooperating to adjustably mount said flexible seat ring to said other of said valve body and said closure member, whereby said slotted openings permit positioning movement of said flexible seat ring relative to said other of said valve body and said closure member during assembly of the rotary valve when said associated mounting members are in a partially tightened condition.

4. The invention of Claim 1, wherein said rotary valve is a ball valve.

5. The invention of Claim 4, wherein said flexible seat ring is mounted to said valve body.

6. The invention of Claim 1, wherein said rotary valve is a butterfly valve.

7. The invention of Claim 6, wherein said flexible seat ring is mounted to said valve body.

8. The invention of Claim 1, wherein said flexible seat ring is made of metal.

9. The invention of Claim 8, wherein said metallic flexible seat ring is formed of stainless steel.

10. The invention of Claim 8, wherein said metallic flexible seat ring is formed of monel.

11. The invention of Claim 1, wherein said associated mounting members comprise threaded fasteners.

12. A high performance seal for a rotary valve having a valve body with a fluid passage, and a rotatable closure member to close off the fluid passage, comprising in combination:
a valve seat formed on one of said valve body and said closure member; and a flexible seat ring of relatively thin material mounted to the other of said valve body and said closure member, said flexible seat ring being adjustably positionable through adjustable mounting means to said other of said valve body and closure member during assembly and initial closure of said rotary valve and thereafter firmly secured thereto by said adjustable mounting means, after said flexible seat ring has been properly positioned, said flexible seat ring having at least one cylindrical segment cantilevered adjacent said other of said valve body and said closure member to present a flexible seating surface to said valve seat;
whereby the flexibility of said one cantilevered segment allows said flexible seat ring to positionally achieve its proper seated position on said other of said valve body and said closure member relative to said valve seat during assembly and initial closure of said rotary valve, and further, the flexibility of said one cantilevered segment coupled with pressurized fluid forces operating against said one cantilevered segment cause said flexible seating surface of said flexible seat ring to be continuously biased against said valve seat during closure of said closure member, after said flexible seat ring has been properly positioned and firmly secured.

13. The method of providing a watertight seal for a rotary valve having a valve body, and a rotatable closure member for closing off a fluid passage through the valve body, comprising the steps of:
providing a sealing seat to one of the valve body and the rotatable closure member;
loosely mounting a flexible seating ring formed of a relatively thin material to the other of said valve body and said rotatable closure member with adjustable mounting members, such that said flexible seating ring presents a flexible seating surface to said sealing seat during valve closure, and whereby the flexibility of said flexible seating surface causes said flexible seating ring to be biased against said sealing seat when said closure member is initially closed, thereby permitting proper centered positioning of said flexible seating ring relative to said sealing seat during assembly of said rotary valve, as well as thereafter providing biasing of said flexible seating ring during normal valve closure;
closing said closure member during assembly of said rotary valve such that said flexible seating ring finds its proper sealing position with said sealing seat; and firmly securing said adjustable mounting members whereby said flexible seating ring is firmly secured in said proper centered sealing position.

14. The invention of Claim 13, and the step of forming said flexible seating ring of metal.

15. The method of Claim 13, and the step of providing an area along said flexible seating ring behind said flexible seating surface against which pressurized fluid forces can operate, whereby during normal valve closure said pressurized fluid forces assist in biasing said flexible seating ring against said sealing seat.

16. The method of fabricating a rotary valve having a high performance seal, comprising the steps of:
providing a valve body having a fluid flow passage;
providing a rotatable closure member within said valve body to control fluid flow through said passage;
providing a sealing seat on one of said valve body and said rotatable closure member;
providing an adjustably mounted flexible seating ring on the other of said valve body and said rotatable closure member, whereby initially during rotary valve assembly said flexible seating ring is loosely mounted thereto, and further, the flexibility of said flexible seating ring causes said flexible seating ring to be biased against said sealing seat;
closing said rotatable closure member during said initial rotary valve assembly to properly position said loosely mounted flexible seating ring relative to said sealing seat; and firmly securing said flexible seating ring once in its proper sealing position to the other of said valve body and said rotatable closure member, whereby said flexible seating ring presents a continuously biased flexible seating surface to said sealing seat during rotary valve closure after said flexible seating ring has been firmly secured.