Gasketless high pressure connection

A sealing system for a high pressure pump operable above 15,000 psi, the pump having a vessel defining a vessel bore and having an end portion, the pump further including a plunger that reciprocates along an axis in the vessel bore to increase the pressure of a fluid within the vessel bore, the sealing system comprising:

• a first engagement face formed as part of the vessel and defining an opening into the vessel bore, the first engagement face having a concave cross-section;
• a seal member at least partially received within the bore and defining a second engagement face, the second engagement face having a convex cross-section;
• and
• a retaining member coupled to the seal member and operable to produce a contact force that is normal to a contact tangent between the first engagement face and the second engagement face, wherein the contact tangent is at an angle of between 30 degrees and 60 degrees relative to the axis, and wherein increased contact force is configured to displace the vessel such that the contact tangent moves toward an angle that is normal to the axis.

A sealing system for a high pressure pump operable above 15,000 psi, the sealing system comprising:

• a vessel defining a vessel bore and having an end portion,
• a plunger that reciprocates along an axis in the vessel bore to increase the pressure of a fluid within the vessel bore;
• a first engagement face formed as part of the vessel and defining an opening into the vessel bore, the first engagement face having a concave cross-section;
• a seal member at least partially received within the bore and defining a second engagement face, the second engagement face having a convex cross-section, wherein the first engagement face and the second engagement face contact at an initial contact point and wherein a tangent of the first engagement face and the second engagement face at the initial contact point is between 30 degrees and 60 degrees relative to the axis;
• and
• a retaining member coupled to the seal member and operable to produce a sealing force that changes orientation as the seal member moves with respect to the vessel from an initial contact position to a sealing contact position, wherein the force is oriented in an initial direction in the initial contact position such that a first portion of the force is normal to the axis and acts to expand the vessel bore, and wherein the force is oriented in a sealing direction in the sealing contact position such that a second portion of the force is normal to the axis and acts to expand the vessel bore and is less than the first portion of the force.