Method and apparatus for sealing an ultrahigh-pressure fluid system

A sealing assembly for an ultrahigh-pressure fluid system, comprising:

• a seal having a bore through which a plunger may reciprocate;
• a bearing positioned adjacent the seal and having a bore through which the plunger may reciprocate;
• and
• a seal carrier circumferentially surrounding the bearing and being subjected to a compressive force at least when in operation, the compressive force being sufficiently high to circumferentially collapse the seal carrier in a radial direction against the bearing.

An ultrahigh-pressure pump, comprising:

• a plunger adapted to reciprocate through a bore of a cylinder;
• a check valve body coupled to a first end of the cylinder, the check valve body being provided with a plurality of valves that selectively allow fluid communication between the bore of the cylinder and a source of fluid and an outlet area, the plunger being operable to draw a volume of fluid into the bore of the cylinder on an intake stroke and to pressurize the volume of fluid on a pressure stroke;
• a seal positioned within the bore of the cylinder;
• and
• a seal carrier positioned adjacent the cylinder and the seal, a bearing surface being provided within a bore of the seal carrier through which the plunger may reciprocate, the bearing surface being forced against an outer surface of the plunger in a substantially uniform manner by a compressive force exerted against the seal carrier by the cylinder at least when in operation, the compressive force being sufficiently high to circumferentially collapse the seal carrier in a radial direction against the bearing.

A method for installing a sealing assembly in an ultrahigh-pressure fluid system, comprising;

• providing a seal carrier having a bore into which a bearing is press-fit;
• positioning a seal adjacent the seal carrier and bearing;
• providing a plunger through bores of the bearing and seal;
• and
• applying a compressive force on the seal carrier to collapse the bearing substantially uniformly around the circumference of the plunger.

A sealing assembly for an ultrahigh-pressure fluid system, comprising:

• a seal having a bore through which a plunger may reciprocate;
• a bearing positioned adjacent the seal and having a bore through which the plunger may reciprocate;
• a seal carrier circumferentially surrounding the bearing and being subjected to a compressive force at least when in operation;
• and
• an inner surface of the bore of the bearing being in substantially uniform circumferential contact with an outer surface of the plunger when the assembly is subjected to loading during assembly;
• wherein
• the compressive force on the seal carrier is sufficiently high to circumferentially collapse the seal carrier in a radial direction against the bearing.

A sealing assembly for an ultrahigh-pressure fluid system, comprising:

• a seal having a bore through which a plunger may reciprocate;
• a bearing positioned adjacent the seal and having a bore through which the plunger may reciprocate;
• a seal carrier circumferentially surrounding the bearing and being subjected to a compressive force at least when in operation;
• and
• an inner surface of the bore of the bearing being in substantially uniform circumferential contact with an outer surface of the plunger when the assembly is subjected to loading during assembly;
• wherein
• the seal carrier and the bearing are adjacent to the seal, such that the seal is supported across its entire width by a combination of the seal carrier and the bearing.