Anti-friction sealing rings
AssigneeMainspring Energy, Inc.
InventorsNathaniel Oliver, Matthew Svrcek, Rucha Bedarkar
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Abstract
Systems and methods are provided for a sealing element arranged in a ring groove of a piston assembly to seal against the ring groove at a first interface and to seal against a bore of a cylinder, in which the piston assembly is arranged, at a second interface. A feature of the sealing element is arranged at the first interface for reducing friction between the sealing element and the ring groove. The second interface is without a liquid lubricant or oil during operation.
Claims12
A sealing ring assembly configured to seal against a bore of a cylinder, the sealing ring assembly comprising:
- a ring segment comprising a first surface configured to form a sealing interface with the bore;
- and
- a feature configured to receive fluid communicated from a first pressurized region, wherein the first pressurized region is in contact with a second surface of the ring segment during operation, wherein:
- the feature comprises a grid patterned array of channels arranged on a third surface of the ring segment, and
- the array of channels is configured to enable fluid to form a second pressurized region that is in contact with the third surface of the ring segment during operation.
A device comprising:
- a cylinder comprising a bore;
- a translator comprising a piston arranged to move along the bore without a liquid lubricant or oil, wherein the piston comprises a ring groove;
- a sealing element arranged in the ring groove to contact a surface of the ring groove at a first interface and to seal against the bore of the cylinder at a second interface;
- and
- a feature comprising a grid patterned array of channels arranged at the first interface that is configured to reduce friction between the sealing element and the surface of the ring groove.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.