High pressure seals

Claim 2

A seal for preventing passage of fluid between a pair of mechanical members having relatively sliding surfaces including: a flexible sealing element having a diaphragm portion of arcuate cross section concavely disposed toward the fluid being retained and a face portion and a suspension seat, and a deflectable strut element, the diaphragm portion being suspended from the strut element at the suspension seat, the diaphragm and face portions of the sealing element being disposed oppositely with respect to the suspension seat.

Claim 3

A seal as set forth in claim 1, in which the diaphragm portion is suspended tangentially with respect to the strut element.

Claim 4

A sealing device for preventing the passage of fluid between a pair of mechanical members having relatively sliding surfaces comprising: a shell assembly adaptable to mounting in one oF the mechanical members, a flexible sealing element having a diaphragm portion of arcuate cross section concavely disposed toward the fluid being retained and a fastening rim at one boundary of the diaphragm portion engageable by the shell assembly and a face portion beyond the opposite boundary of the diaphragm portion bearing slideably on the surface of the other of the mechanical members, and a deflectable strut element supported by the shell assembly and suspending the diaphragm portion of the sealing element near the junction of the diaphragm and face portions of the sealing element against the applied pressure of the fluid to be retained.

Claim 5

A sealing device for preventing the passage of fluid between a pair of mechanical members having relatively sliding surfaces comprising: a shell assembly adaptable to mounting in one oF the mechanical members, a flexible sealing element having a diaphragm portion of arcuate cross section concavely disposed toward the fluid being retained and a fastening rim at one boundary of the diaphragm portion engageable by the shell assembly and a face portion beyond the opposite boundary of the diaphragm portion bearing slideably on the surface of the other of the mechanical members, and a deflectable strut element supported by the shell assembly and suspending the diaphragm portion of the sealing element near the junction of the diaphragm and face portions of the sealing element against the applied pressure of the fluid to be retained.

Claim 6

A sealing device as set forth in claim 3, in which the strut element suspends the diaphragm portion of the sealing element in a tangential relationship.

Claim 7

A sealing means cooperant with a pair of mechanical members having relatively sliding surfaces and with a fluid in the gap between the members for preventing the passage of the fluid under conditions of high fluid pressure, high sliding speed, and relatively large normal displacements of the sliding surfaces caused by vibration or mechanical imperfections, and including in combination, a sealing element including a flexible diaphragm portion of arcuate cross section concavely disposed toward the fluid being retained and a sealing face portion and a suspension point portion, and, a deflectable strut element suspending the diaphragm portion of the sealing element, the sealing face portion of the sealing element extending beyond the suspension point portion and being urged against one of the sliding surfaces by the applied fluid pressure.

Claim 8

A sealing means cooperant with a pair of mechanical members having relatively sliding surfaces and with a fluid in the gap between the members for preventing the passage of the fluid under conditions of high fluid pressure, high sliding speed, and relatively large normal displacements of the sliding surfaces caused by vibration or mechanical imperfections, and including in combination, a sealing element including a flexible diaphragm portion of arcuate cross section concavely disposed toward the fluid being retained and a sealing face portion and a suspension point portion, and, a deflectable strut element suspending the diaphragm portion of the sealing element, the sealing face portion of the sealing element extending beyond the suspension point portion and being urged against one of the sliding surfaces by the applied fluid pressure.

Claim 9

A sealing means as set forth in claim 5, in which the strut element acts tangentially with respect to the diaphragm portion of the sealing element.