Patent attributes
A metal valve stem seal and sealing system includes a valve body, a metal valve stem housed within the valve body, a bonnet member housed within the valve body, and a U-shaped metal stem gasket positioned between the metal valve stem and the bonnet member. The gasket has a first lip member and a second lip member. The metal valve stem seal and sealing system also includes a metal wedge ring fitted between the first and second lip members and at least one metal energizing spring adjacent the wedge ring. The spring applies a sufficient force to the wedge ring to cause the wedge ring to apply a sufficient contact pressure to the first and second lip members to form a seal between the gasket and the metal valve stem and to form a seal between the gasket and the bonnet member.