Sealing ring assemblies configured for pressure locking

A sealing ring assembly capable of axial movement, the sealing ring assembly comprising:

• a first sealing element comprising a first mating surface;
• a second sealing element comprising a second mating surface;
• a high-pressure boundary extending across at least a portion of the first sealing element and across at least a portion of the second sealing element, wherein the first sealing element and the second sealing element are capable of sealing the high-pressure boundary from the low-pressure boundary in an axial direction;
• and
• a low-pressure boundary extending across at least a portion of the first sealing element and across at least a portion of the second sealing element;
• wherein at least one of the first mating surface or the second mating surface comprises a recess open to the low-pressure boundary and not open to the high-pressure boundary, such that the first mating surface is configured to be sealed against the second mating surface by a first force acting on the first sealing element and a second force acting on the second sealing element.

A sealing ring assembly capable of axial movement, the sealing ring assembly comprising:

• a first sealing element comprising a first mating surface;
• a second sealing element comprising a second mating surface;
• a high-pressure boundary extending across at least a portion of the first sealing element and across at least a portion of the second sealing element;
• a low-pressure boundary extending across at least a portion of the first sealing element and across at least a portion of the second sealing element;
• wherein at least one of the first mating surface or the second mating surface comprises a recess open to the low-pressure boundary and not open to the high-pressure boundary, and
• wherein at least one of the first or the second sealing elements comprises a radial pressure-balancing feature, configured to cause a radially inward force.