Fluid seal

Claim 2

A fluid seal for sealing between two members having contiguous surfaces, one of which has an annular groove juxtaposed to the other surface, said seal comprising: a first continuous annular sealing ring positioned in the groove and having a substantially U-shaped cross sectional configuration including a body portion positioned to abut the low pressure side of the groove and a pair of substantially parallel leg portions positioned repectively adjacent the base of the groove and the other surface with no initial interference; and a second coaxial continuous annular sealing ring having first and second body portions made of resilient flowable material positioned in said groove, said first body portion being positioned in engaging relationship between said first ring''s leg portions, said second body portion having a greater radial width in the free state than the radial width of the first annular ring, said second body portion including projections extending in their free state sufficiently beyond said first ring''s leg portions such that when installed said projections bear respectively against the other surface and the base of the groove and are exposed to the high pressure side of the groove, said legs normally being out of contact with the surfaces, said legs being constructed to spread progressively into full engagement with said surfaces upon said resilient flowable material of said second ring being forced by fluid pressure between said legs.

Claim 3

The fluid seal of claim 1 wherein said first seal ring is fabricated from a relatively stiff material.

Claim 4

The fluid seal of claim 2 whereiN said second body portion defines a pair of convexly curved corner lobe projections connected by a concavely shaped intermediate portion.

Claim 5

The fluid seal of claim 3 wherein said first sealing ring''s body portion is radially extending and said leg portions are radially spaced and axially extending.

Claim 6

The sealing device of claim 1 wherein said projecting portions define a pair of convexly curved corner lobes connected by a concavely shaped intermediate portion.

Claim 7

The sealing device of claim 5 wherein said first ring is fabricated from a relatively hard, stiff material and said second ring is fabricated from a relatively resilient flowable material.

Claim 8

A fluid seal for sealing between two members having contiguous surfaces, one of which has an annular groove juxtaposed to the other surface, said seal comprising: a first continuous annular sealing ring adapted to be positioned in the groove and having a substantially U-shaped cross sectional configuration including a body portion adapted to be positioned to abut the low pressure side of the groove and a pair of substantially parallel leg portions spaced to be positioned respectively adjacent the base of the groove and the other surface with little or no initial interference; and a second coaxial continuous annular sealing ring having first and second body portions made of resilient flowable material adapted to be positioned in said groove, said first body portion being positioned in engaging relationship between said first ring''s leg portions, said second body portion including projections extending in their free state sufficiently beyond said first ring''s leg portions such that when installed said projections bear respectively against the other surface and the base of the groove, said rings being positioned so that the pressure urges the second ring toward the first whereby to cause both rings to deform towards surfaces to be sealed, said first seal ring being fabricated from a relatively stiff material, said second body portion defining a pair of convexly curved corner lobe projections connected by a concavely shaped intermediate portion, said first sealing ring''s body portion being axially extended and said leg portions being axially spaced and radially extending.

Claim 9

A fluid seal for sealing between two members having contiguous surfaces, one of which has an annular groove juxtaposed to the other surface, said seal comprising: a first continuous annular sealing ring adapted to be positioned in the groove and having a substantially U-shaped cross sectional configuration including a body portion adapted to be positioned to abut the low pressure side of the groove and a pair of substantially parallel leg portions spaced to be positioned respectively adjacent the base of the groove and the other surface with little or no initial interference; and a second coaxial continuous annular sealing ring having first and second body portions made of resilient flowable material adapted to be positioned in said groove, said first body portion being positioned in engaging relationship between said first ring''s leg portions, said second body portion including projections extending in their free state sufficiently beyond said first ring''s leg portions such that when installed said projections bear respectively against the other surface and the base of the groove, said rings being positioned so that the pressure urges the second ring toward the first whereby to cause both rings to deform towards surfaces to be sealed, said first seal ring being fabricated from a relatively stiff material, said second body portion defining a pair of convexly curved corner lobe projections connected by a concavely shaped intermediate portion, said first sealing ring''s body portion being axially extended and said leg portions being axially spaced and radially extending.

Claim 10

A fluid seal for sealing between two members having contiguous surfaces, one of which has an annular groove juxtaposed to the other surface, said seal comprising: a first continuous annular sealing ring adapted to be positioned in the groove and having a substantially U-shaped cross sectional configuration including a body portion adapted to be positioned to abut the low pressure side of the groove and a pair of substantially parallel leg portions spaced to be positioned respectively adjacent the base of the groove and the other surface with little or no initial interference; and a second coaxial continuous annular sealing ring having first and second body portions made of resilient flowable material adapted to be positioned in said groove, said first body portion being positioned in engaging relationship between said first ring''s leg portions, said second body portion including projections extending in their free state sufficiently beyond said first ring''s leg portions such that when installed said projections bear respectively against the other surface and the base of the groove, said rings being positioned so that the pressure urges the second ring toward the first whereby to cause both rings to deform towards surfaces to be sealed, said second body portion defining a pair of convexly curved corner lobe projections connected by a concavely shaped intermediate portion, each leg portion having an annular circumferential groove formed in the inner surface thereof, and said second ring''s first body portion having a pair of annular circumferential ears adapted to fit within the leg grooves to aid in the retention of the second ring by the first ring.

Claim 11

A fluid seal for sealing between two members having contiguous surfaces, one of which has an annular groove juxtaposed to the other surface, said seal comprising: a first continuous annular sealing ring adapted to be positioned in the groove and having a substantially U-shaped cross sectional configuration including a body portion adapted to be positioned to abut the low pressure side of the groove and a pair of substantially parallel leg portions spaced to be positioned respectively adjacent the base of the groove and the other surface with little or no initial interference; and a second coaxial continuous annular sealing ring having first and second body portions made of resilient flowable material adapted to be positioned in said groove, said first body portion being positioned in engaging relationship between said first ring''s leg portions, said second body portion including projections extending in their free state sufficiently beyond said first ring''s leg portions such that when installed said projections bear respectively against the other surface and the base of the groove, said rings being positioned so that the pressure urges the second ring toward the first whereby to cause both rings to deform towards surfaces to be sealed, said second body portion defining a pair of convexly curved corner lobe projections connected by a concavely shaped intermediate portion, each leg portion having an annular circumferential groove formed in the inner surface thereof, and said second ring''s first body portion having a pair of annular circumferential ears adapted to fit within the leg grooves to aid in the retention of the second ring by the first ring.

Claim 12

A sealing device for use between two members, one of said members having an annular groove formed at the surface thereof adjacent the other member, said seal comprising: a first annular sealing ring, said sealing ring being substantially U-shaped in cross section and having a radially extending body portion and a pair of radially spaced axially extending leg portions, said first ring being adapted to fit loosely within said annular groove; and a second annular sealing ring, said second ring having a first body portion adapted to engage and fit between the radially spaced legs of said first ring and a second body portion including a pair of projecting portions, said second body portion having a greater radial width in the free state than the radial width of the first annular ring, said projecting portions bearing in sealing relationship respectively against the bottom of the groove and the surface of the adjacent member when installed, said rings being positioned for pressure to urge the second ring toward the first and said extending leg portions being responsive to increasingly pressure to spread for sealingly engaging the bottom of the groove and said surface of the adjacent member, said projecting portions defining a pair of convexly curved corner lobes connected by a concavely shaped intermediate portion, said first ring being fabricated from a relatively hard, stiff material and said second ring being fabricated from a relatively resilient flowable material, each leg portion having an annular circumferential groove formed in the inner surface thereof and said second ring''s first body portion having a pair of annular circumferential ears adapted to aid in the retention of the second ring by the first ring.

Claim 13

A sealing device for use between two members, one of said members having an annular groove formed at the surface thereof adjacent the other member, said seal comprising: a first annular sealing ring, said sealing ring being substantially U-shaped in cross section and having a radially extending body portion and a pair of radially spaced axially extending leg portions, said first ring being adapted to fit loosely within said annular groove; and a second annular sealing ring, said second ring having a first body portion adapted to engage and fit between the radially spaced legs of said first ring and a second body portion including a pair of projecting portions, said second body portion having a greater radial width in the free state than the radial width of the first annular ring, said projecting portions bearing in sealing relationship respectively against the bottom of the groove and the surface of the adjacent member when installed, said rings being positioned for pressure to urge the second ring toward the first and said extending leg portions being responsive to increasingly pressure to spread for sealingly engaging the bottom of the groove and said surface of the adjacent member, said projecting portions defining a pair of convexly curved corner lobes connected by a concavely shaped intermediate portion, said first ring being fabricated from a relatively hard, stiff material and said second ring being fabricated from a relatively resilient flowable material, each leg portion having an annular circumferential groove formed in the inner surface thereof and said second ring''s first body portion having a pair of annular circumferential ears adapted to aid in the retention of the second ring by the first ring.