Pressure balanced hydraulic coupling with metal seals

A seal apparatus for use with a female member and a male member in an undersea hydraulic coupling comprising:

• (a) a multi-piece seal retainer engageable with the female member, the seal retainer having first and second ends, a cylindrical body with a bore extending therethrough, defining an inner circumferential surface and an outer circumferential surface;
• the outer circumferential surrface having a first pair of shoulders adjacent the first and second ends, the inner circumferential surface having a second pair of shoulders adjacent the first and second ends;
• (b) a plurality of C-shaped annular metal seals positionable on the second pair of shoulders at the inner circumferential surface of the seal retainer to form a fluid-tight seal between the seal retainer and male member;
• (c) at least one elastomeric seal positionable at the inner circumferential surface of the seal retainer;
• (d) a plurality of C-shaped annular metal seals positionable on the first pair of shoulders at the outer circumferential surface of the seal retainer to form a fluid-tight seal between the seal retainer and female member;
• (e) a radial port in the multi-piece seal retainer for fluid communication between the female member and male member.

A sealing device of ruse with an undersea hydraulic coupling having a male member and a female member, comprising:

• (a) a four-piece retainer having an inner circumference, an outer circumference, and a radial passage between the inner and outer circumferences for fluid communication between the male and female members, at least one piece of the retainer engageable with the female member;
• the outer circumference having a first pair of shoulders and the inner circumference having a second pair of shoulders;
• (b) at least one elastomeric seal with dovetail shape, the elastomeric seal interfitting with a complementary shoulder surface in at least one piece of the four-piece retainer to restrain radial movement of the elastomeric seal;
• (b) a first pair of pressure-energized metal seals positionable on the second pair of shoulders at the inner circumference of the four-piece retainer and sealable between the retainer and the male member;
• and
• (d) a second pair of pressure-energized metal seals positionable on the first pair of shoulders at the outer circumference of the four-piece retainer and sealable between the retainer and the female member.