US 5,799,953 A · Capped spring-energized seal

Abstract

The present invention involves a seal ring for sealing an annular space between two components. The seal ring includes an annular jacket, a spring, and a cap. The jacket includes an annular cavity defined by two annular lips. The spring is disposed within the annular cavity of the jacket. The cap is disposed over the annular lips, and encapsulates the annular cavity. The spring biases the lips against the cap to thereby seal the annular cavity. Either the cap or the jacket includes a pair of annular channels, and the other includes a pair of annular projections, so that the projections and channels interfit to thereby lock together the cap and jacket. The cap and jacket are made from a polymer material, although not necessarily the same polymer material. The spring may be cantilevered, helical ribbon coil, slanted coil, or silicone filled with one or more spring elements. The lips of the jacket may have flanges to trap the spring in the annular cavity. The cap may have a leading edge, multiple leading edges, or a chamfered design, with axial or radially inward or outward faceseals.

Claims22

Dependent claims

A seal ring for sealing an annular space between two components, said seal ring comprising:

an annular jacket including an annular cavity defined by first and second annular lips;
a spring disposed within said annular cavity;
and
a cap disposed over said first and second annular lips, said cap encapsulating said annular cavity and said spring positioned against said lips to seal and lock said lips against said cap to thereby seal said annular cavity to prevent penetration of contaminants into said annular cavity.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Capped spring-energized seal

Life of this patent

Capped spring-energized seal

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims22