Flexible cloth seal assembly

A seal assembly comprising:

• a) a flexible cloth seal including a thickness, a generally impervious shim assemblage, a cloth assemblage generally surrounding said shim assemblage, generally opposing first and second edges, and generally opposing first and second sides bounded by said first and second edges and separated by said thickness;
• b) a first tubular end portion having a generally longitudinally extending axis and generally opposing, generally smooth, and spaced-apart first and second surface portions defining a notch therebetween, wherein said notch has a narrower bottom, has a wider top which is also wider than said thickness of said flexible cloth seal proximate said top, and extends from said bottom outward from said axis, wherein said second surface portion is generally outside curved, wherein said first edge is disposed in said notch proximate said bottom, and wherein said first side proximate said first edge faces said first surface portion in a first direction whose projection onto the axis defines a first longitudinal direction;
• and
• c) a second tubular end portion disposed proximate, spaced apart from, and generally coaxially aligned with, said first tubular end portion, wherein said second tubular end portion has a generally smooth third surface portion surrounding at least a portion of said first tubular end portion and extending further away from said axis as one moves longitudinally in a second longitudinally direction opposite said first longitudinal direction, wherein said first side proximate said second edge contacts said third surface portion, wherein said first side has a first area which is exposed to a lower pressure region and said second side has a second area which is generally opposite said first area and which is exposed to a higher pressure region, and wherein said second edge points in a second direction whose projection onto the axis defines said second longitudinal direction which is aligned opposite said first longitudinal direction.