Sealing cover element in a mechanical seal

A mechanical seal for mounting about a shaft, comprising

• a holder assembly having
• a main body having an inner surface and an opposed outer surface, wherein the main body has one or more fastener-receiving apertures formed therein and extending between the inner surface and the outer surface and being sized and configured for seating a fastener,
• first and second grooves formed in the outer surface, wherein the first groove is formed on one side of the fastener-receiving aperture and the second groove is formed on the other side of the fastener-receiving aperture,
• a rotary seal ring coupled to the holder assembly,
• a stationary seal ring disposed adjacent to the rotary seal ring, and
• a sealing cover element having a main body having a first leg portion, an opposed second leg portion, and an intermediate portion disposed between and coupled to the first and second leg portions,
• wherein the first leg portion of the sealing cover element is sized and configured for seating within the first groove, the second leg portion of the sealing cover element is sized and configured for seating within the second groove, and the intermediate portion of the sealing cover element covers the fastener-receiving aperture,
• wherein the intermediate portion of the sealing cover element has a top surface and an opposed bottom surface, and the first and second leg portions each have a top surface and an opposed bottom surface, wherein the top surface of the intermediate portion is radially spaced from the top surface of the first and second leg portions.