Shaft seal

Claim 1

MEANS PROVIDING A SEAL ALONG A CYLINDRICAL SURFACE COMPRISING: (A) MEANS FORMING A FLAT SURFACE NORMAL TO THE CYLINDRICAL SURFACE TO BE SEALED; (B) FIRST, SECOND AND THIRD SEALING BODIES ARRANGED SUBSTANTIALLY CONCENTRIC WITH THE CYLINDRICAL SURFACE, THE FIRST AND SECOND OF SAID BODIES HAVING SURFACES CONFORMING TO THE SHAPE AND SIZE OF SUCH SURFACE AND PLANAR SIDE SURFACES NORMAL TO THE CYLINDRICAL SURFACE, SAID THIRD BODY HAVING A SURFACE CONFORMING IN SHAPE AND SIZE TO A SURFACE OF THE FIRST BODY AND SAID THIRD BODY SUPERPOSED ON THE FIRST BODY AND A PLANAR SIDE SURFACE NORMAL TO THE CYLINDRICAL SURFACE, ONE SIDE SURFACE OF EACH OF THE SUPERPOSED BODIES BEING IN ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID FLAT SURFACE, SAID SECOND BODY BEING IN ENGAGEMENT WITH THE OPPOSITE SIDE SURFACES OF SAID FIRST AND THIRD BODIES, EACH OF SAID SEALING BODIES BEING FRACTURED AT A SINGLE LOCATION ONLY ALONG A SUBSTANTIALLY RADIAL LINE EXTENDING FROM THE INNER SURFACE TO THE PERIPHERY THEREOF PROVIDING INTIMATE INTERFITTING OF SEPARATED IRREGULAR ENDS PRODUCED BY THE FRACTURE; AND (C) RESILIENT MEANS URGING SAID SEALING BODIES TOWARD SAID CYLINDRICAL SURFACE AND SAID FLAT SURFACE.