Retainer gasket with pressure relief vents

A seal assembly comprising:

• a first and a second interface surface having a source of fluid therebetween, one said interface surface being disposable a spaced-apart distance from the other said interface surface along a longitudinal axis, and one or both said interface surface being displaceable in an axial direction along said longitudinal axis towards the other said interface surface;
• and
• a gasket interposable between said first and said second interface surface, said gasket comprising:
• a retainer having opposing first and second radial surfaces, each said first and second radial surfaces extending in a radial direction generally normal to said axial direction intermediate an inner perimeter and an outer perimeter which together define a closed geometry registrable between said first and said second interface surface, said retainer including a generally annular first mounting groove formed in said first radial surface intermediate said inner and outer perimeter and extending substantially continuously along said closed geometry, said first mounting groove defining a first void volume between said first interface surface and being formed as having an axial first inner sidewall adjacent said inner perimeter and an opposing axial first outer sidewall adjacent said outer perimeter disposed a spaced-apart radial distance from said first inner sidewall, and as having a radial first groove bottom wall extending intermediate said first inner and said first outer sidewall;
• and
• a generally annular first seal element received in said first mounting groove to extend therein substantially continuously along the entirety of said closed geometry, said first seal element configured in a free state to be compressible axially intermediate said first groove bottom wall and said first interface surface into an energized state effecting a fluid-tight sealing therewith, said first seal element occupying in said energized state a filled portion of said first void volume, the remainder of said first void volume being an unfilled portion,
• wherein said retainer further includes one or more first channels formed into said first radial surface to extend radially through a corresponding one of said first inner and said first outer sidewall to define an opening therein, and through the adjacent one of said inner and said outer perimeter, each of said first channels being coupled through a corresponding said opening in fluid communication with said unfilled portion of said first void volume, and defining with said first interface surface a vent relieving from said unfilled portion of said first void volume a first hydrostatic pressure developed therein from said source as said one or both said interface surface is displaced in said axial direction towards the other said interface surface.

A method of sealing an assembly including a first and a second interface surface having a source of fluid therebetween, one said interface surface being disposed a spaced-apart distance from the other said interface surface along a longitudinal axis, and one or both said interface surface being displaceable in an axial direction along said longitudinal axis towards the other said interface surface;

• and said method comprising the steps of:
• (a) providing a gasket interposed between said first and said second interface surface, said gasket comprising:
• a retainer having opposing first and second radial surfaces, each said first and second radial surfaces extending in a radial direction generally normal to said axial direction intermediate an inner perimeter and an outer perimeter which together define a closed geometry registrable between said first and said second interface surface, said retainer including a generally annular first mounting groove formed in said first radial surface intermediate said inner and outer perimeter and extending substantially continuously along said closed geometry, said first mounting groove defining a first void volume between said first interface surface and being formed as having an axial first inner sidewall adjacent said inner perimeter and an opposing axial first outer sidewall adjacent said outer perimeter disposed a spaced-apart radial distance from said first inner sidewall, and as having a radial first groove bottom wall extending intermediate said first inner and said first outer sidewall;
• and
• a generally annular first seal element received in said first mounting groove to extend therein substantially continuously along the entirety of said closed geometry, said first seal element configured in a free state to be compressible axially intermediate said first groove bottom wall and said first interface surface into an energized state effecting a fluid-tight sealing therewith, said first seal element occupying in said energized state a filled portion of said first void volume, the remainder of said first void volume being an unfilled portion,
• wherein said retainer further includes one or more first channels formed into said first radial surface to extend radially through a corresponding one of said first inner and said first outer sidewall to define an opening therein, and through the adjacent one of said inner and said outer perimeter, each of said first channels being coupled through a corresponding said opening in fluid communication with said unfilled portion of said first void volume, and defining with said first interface surface a vent relieving from said unfilled portion of said first void volume a first hydrostatic pressure developed therein from said source as said one or both said interface surface is displaced in said axial direction towards the other said interface surface,
• (b) displacing said one or both said interface surface in said axial direction;
• (c) compressing said first seal element axially intermediate said first groove bottom wall and said first interface surface into said energized state;
• and
• (d) venting through said first channels said first hydrostatic pressure developed in said unfilled portion of said first void volume.