Seal assembly with a hard seal layer actuated through a silicone layer

Abstract

A seal assembly includes a body portion of an element to be sealed, a groove formed into the surface of the body portion, a seal member of a relatively hard material for sealing a gap formed between the surface of the body portion and another element to be sealed. The groove has a space defined proximate its bottom for receiving a pressure medium, a protrusion or protrusions extending into the groove between the pressure medium space and the seal member, and a silicone rubber layer, cast in situ between the space and the seal member and around the protrusion, for transferring pressure from the pressure medium to the seal member and for sealing the groove to prevent escaping pressure medium. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the assembly has substantially the same structure, but an inflatable tube extends into the pressure medium space, and the silicone layer is cast in situ at least partly around the tube. The protrusion need not be provided. A method for forming the seal assemblies includes casting the silicone rubber layer in situ.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.