Abstract: A reduced component wear valve is comprised of a valve body having a passage therethrough and a disc attached to a rotatable shafts. The disc is utilized with a seal forming a gap between the disc and the seal proximate to the rotational axis of the disc. When the disc is in the open position, the seal major axis is greater then the disc diameter and they do not touch. As the disc rotates to near closure, the disc perimeter engages the minor axis of the seal (which is smaller than the disc diameter), and the disc stretches the seal in the minor axis direction thus decreasing the major axis such that the gap is closed. The seal can be preformed in an elliptical shape or it can be formed into an elliptical shape by a retaining mechanism. The seal may be a single-piece or a multi-piece assembly press-fit into the valve body. Zero or light disc to seal contact during the majority of the valve disc rotation minimizes valve seal wear and rotational friction.

Abstract: Flexible seals for process control valves are disclosed. An example disclosed seal includes a substantially flexible ring-shaped carrier configured to be fixed within the butterfly valve and to surround a flow control aperture therein. The seal also includes a substantially rigid seal ring that has an outer circumferential surface fixed to the substantially flexible carrier and an inner circumferential surface configured to sealingly engage a control member that operatively interacts with the flow control aperture.

Abstract: A reduced component wear valve is comprised of a valve body having a passage therethrough and a disc attached to a rotatable shaft The disc is utilized with a seal forming a gap between the disc and the seal proximate to the rotational axis of the disc. When the disc is in the open position, the seal major axis is greater then the disc diameter and they do not touch. As the disc rotates to near closure, the disc perimeter engages the minor axis of the seal (which is smaller than the disc diameter), and the disc stretches the seal in the minor axis direction thus decreasing the major axis such that the gap is closed. The seal can be pre-formed in an elliptical shape or it can be formed into an elliptical shape by a retaining mechanism. The seal may be a single-piece or a multi-piece assembly press-fit into the valve body. Zero or light disc to seal contact during the majority of the valve disc rotation minimizes valve seal wear and rotational friction.

Abstract: An apparatus for sealing an operating member of a sliding or rotating assembly includes a seal formed by a composition of materials. A plurality of abrasive particles are incorporated into the composition and thus positioned within the seal. The abrasive particles are disposed to remove an amount of material adhering to the operating member, caused primarily by graphite adhesion. The composition forming the seal can be in the form of a laminate structure, and made of graphite, or graphite and polytetrafluoroethylene (“PTFE”). The plurality of abrasive particles can be selected to be suitable for removing material, while not substantially damaging a surface of the operating member.