Seals for use with low to medium viscosity fluids and related methods, apparatuses and systems

A seal for use in an apparatus to prevent leakage of fluids from the apparatus, the seal comprising:

• an integral annular body defining a space therebetween with an axis within the space and having an outer surface and an inner surface, the annular body comprising:
• a center base forming a first end of the annular body;
• an inner arm extending outward from the center base at an angle such that the inner arm extends inward toward the axis within the space defined by the annular body;
• an outer arm extending outward from the center base at an angle such that the outer arm extends outward away from the axis within the space defined by the annular body;
• the inner arm and the outer arm having outer ends that form a second end of the annular body;
• and
• a cavity formed between the inner arm and the outer arm that extends to a trough formed by the center base, the cavity comprising a base cavity section and a neck cavity section with the neck cavity section forming an opening at the second end of the annular body between the outer ends of the inner arm and the outer arm, wherein the neck cavity section comprises a width as measured between the inner arm and the outer arm that is less than a width of the base cavity section as measured between the inner arm and the outer arm.

An apparatus for processing fluids, the apparatus comprising:

• a housing with a bore therethrough;
• a piston positionable within the bore in the housing, the piston being movable within the bore of the housing;
• and
• a seal positionable within the bore of the housing between the housing and the piston, the seal comprising:
• an integral annular body defining a space therebetween with an axis within the space and having an outer surface and an inner surface, the annular body comprising:
• a center base forming a first end of the annular body;
• an inner arm extending outward from the center base at an angle such that the inner arm extends inward toward the axis within the space defined by the annular body;
• an outer arm extending outward from the center base at an angle such that the outer arm extends outward away from the axis within the space defined by the annular body;
• a cavity formed between the inner arm and the outer arm that extends to a trough formed by the center base, the cavity comprising a base cavity section and a neck cavity section with the neck cavity section forming the opening at the second end of the annular body and the neck cavity section comprising a width as measured between the inner arm and the outer arm that is less than a width of the base cavity section as measured between the inner arm and the outer arm;
• and
• the inner arm and the outer arm having outer ends that form a second end of the annular body with the cavity having an opening at the second end, the outer end of the inner arm having a lead-in chamfer on the inner surface at the second end of the annular body and the outer end of the outer arm having a lead-in chamfer on the outer surface at the second end of the annular body.

An apparatus for processing fluids, the apparatus comprising:

• a housing with a bore therethrough;
• a piston positionable within the bore in the housing, the piston being movable within the bore of the housing;
• and
• a seal positionable within the bore of the housing between the housing and the piston, the seal comprising:
• an integral annular body defining a space therebetween with an axis within the space and having an outer surface and an inner surface, the annular body comprising:
• a center base forming a first end of the annular body;
• an inner arm extending outward from the center base at an angle such that the inner arm extends inward toward the axis within the space defined by the annular body;
• an outer arm extending outward from the center base at an angle such that the outer arm extends outward away from the axis within the space defined by the annular body;
• the inner arm and the outer arm having outer ends that form a second end of the annular body;
• and
• a cavity formed between the inner arm and the outer arm that extends to a trough formed by the center base, the cavity comprising a base cavity section and a neck cavity section with the neck cavity section forming an opening at the second end of the annular body between the outer ends of the inner arm and the outer arm, wherein the neck cavity section comprises a width as measured between the inner arm and the outer arm that is less than a width of the base cavity section as measured between the inner arm and the outer arm.