Abstract: A sealing device for a high-vacuum closure, such as used in a high-vacuum valve, where the surfaces effecting the seal are formed of metal. In forming the seal, a sealing member extends between and into contact with a pair of laterally spaced sealing surfaces. The surfaces on the sealing member which contact the sealing surfaces are rounded and have a radius of curvature equal to half the dimension of the sealing member between the sealing surfaces when it first contacts the surfaces during the closing step. The sealing surfaces can be frustoconical or spherical. When the device is closed, sealing force presses the sealing member between the sealing surfaces so that a relative rolling action takes place. Only elastic deformation occurs when the seal is effected.

Abstract: A pneumatic drive for actuating switchable devices such as valves and the like includes a cylinder and a cylinder base, the cylinder having an annular slot which extends in a plane transverse to the axis of the cylinder between an interior cylinder space and the outside. A piston is movable within the cylinder space and is connected to one end of a piston rod, the other end of the rod being coupled to the device to be actuated. A supply line communicates pressurized gas to the cylinder space to move the piston away from the cylinder base, while a spring biases the piston in the direction toward the cylinder base. An annular groove is formed in at least one of two annular surfaces which bound the annular slot in the axial direction, and a sealing ring is seated in the groove for axial movement so that the ring projects into the annular slot in response to pressurized gas communicated through a branch line into the closed end region of the groove.

Abstract: In a high-vacuum closure, a metallic sealing ring is positioned between a first and a second sealing surface. The sealing surfaces are each formed of a metallic surface of revolution and are coaxially arranged. When the sealing surfaces are moved between the open and closed positions, the sealing ring rolls on the sealing surfaces. The sealing ring is shrunk on one of the sealing surfaces for securing it in place.

Abstract: A pipe valve assembly including a housing defining a flow aperture, a valve member for opening and closing the flow aperture, a spring biased valve seat ring for pressing the valve member to seal the aperture, a spring assembly urging the valve seat ring away from its sealing position and a fluid pressure chamber on one side of the spring assembly for receiving fluid pressure to actuate the valve seat ring into its sealing position. The spring assembly in formed with a smaller diameter annular spring member and a larger diameter annular spring member arranged coaxially relative to each other and relative to the valve seat ring with the valve seat ring being attached with an outer edge of the smaller diameter spring member and the inner edge of the larger diameter spring member. The spring assembly is supported in the housing at an inner edge of the smaller diameter spring member and at an outer edge of the larger diameter spring member.

Abstract: A metallic valve member having an annular, tapering sealing face makes practically line contact along a circle with a valve seat whose frustoconical inner portion is a sheet metal element having a rounded edge directed substantially at right angles toward the sealing face. An axial closing force applied to the valve member produces a much higher sealing force holding the edge of the seat engaged with the sealing face of the valve member.

Abstract: In a valve arrangement in which a metallic valve body has an edge portion elongated in a closed loop and can be moved into a position of sealing engagement over the entire length of the loop with a cooperating seating surface in a vacuum line, and the engaged edge portion is pressed against the seating surface with a pressure sufficient to form a vacuum tight seal, the invention provides a hollow valve body whose cavity is sealed by a first wall portion. A peripheral part of the wall portion envelops a central part and is joined to at least one other wall portion along the closed loop of the edge portion. The first wall portion slopes inward of the cavity from each longitudinal section of the loop toward the central part. When a gas under sufficient pressure moves the central part of the first wall portion outward of the cavity, the peripheral part and the joined edge portion expand, and the edge portion is pressed against the seating surface.

Abstract: A gate value having a sealing plate carried by a moveable element which through the coaction of a series of balls presses the sealing plate into a flow preventing position.