Shaft seal

In seal assembly for sealing between first and second members, said seal assembly including an organic plastic sealing ring and an elastomeric load ring, said sealing ring having a cylindrical sealing surface in sealing contact with said first member, a pair of axially spaced flanges extending radially toward the second member, an annular groove defined by said flanges and opening toward said second member, a pair of end faces on the flanges, and a pair of outer edges on cylindrical sealing surface adjacent the end faces, said annular groove having a flat bottom surface concentric with said sealing surface, said load ring being seated in said groove and compressed radially between said second member and said sealing ring, wherein the improvement comprises;

• said flanges being movable between a first position at which the flanges are at their normal position prior to compression of the load ring and a second position at which a greater unit loading is provided at the outer edges than at the mid portion of the sealing surface, said end faces being free from contact with adjacent structure at both positions of the flanges.