Seal formed out of a hard metal with a plating of soft metals

摘要

A sealing system including an elongated cylindrical member which has a first open end and a flat circular peripheral edge adjacent to the first open end and a circular member having has a flat surface which is disposed adjacent, but not contiguous, to the flat circular peripheral edge of the elongated cylindrical member. The sealing system also includes a coupling mechanism which mechanically couples the flat surface of the circular member to the first open end of the elongated cylindrical member. The improved seal is inserted between the flat surface of the circular member and the flat circular peripheral edge of the elongated cylindrical member to which the coupling mechanism applies a compressive force. The improved seal includes an annular member which has an outer surface and which is formed from a hard metallic material, which is relatively non-deformable by the compressive force, and which has a substantially circular cross-section. The annular member has a slot adjacent to its outer peripheral edge. The improved seal also has a plating of a soft metallic material which is mechanically coupled to the outer surface of the annular member. The plating of the soft metallic material is deformable by the compressive force so that the plating of the soft metallic material forms a seal between the flat surface of the circular member and the flat circular peripheral edge of the elongated cylindrical member.