Seal assembly

Claim 2

An annular seal assembly for use in high pressure pumps and compressors or the like including a cylinder having an annular groove therein for receiving said seal assembly, the groove having first and second radial walls and a plunger reciprocating in the cylinder through said seal assembly, said seal assembly comprising: a tangent ring assembly having an outer periphery receivable in the groove, an inner periphery sealingly engaging the plunger and defining an inner diameter, an annular first face having a counterbore therein forming a seal surface and an annular second face arranged to sealingly engage one radial wall of the cylinder groove, said tangent ring assembly including a plurality of arcuate members having mating end surfaces defined by planes extending generally tangent to said inner diameter; and, a radial ring assembly having an inner periphery engaging the plunger, an outer periphery fitting into said counterbore, said counterbore has a depth that is less than the thickness of the radial ring assembly, and an annular face sealingly engaged with said seal surface, said radial ring assembly including a plurality of arcuate members having radially disposed end surfaces offset relative to the end surfaces of said tangent ring assembly.

Claim 3

The seal assembly of claim 1 wherein the end surfaces of the arcuate members forming said tangent ring are slidable relative to each other and are sealingly engageable.

Claim 4

The seal assembly of claim 2 wherein the end surfaces on adjacent arcuate members forming said radial ring assembly are located in spaced relationship.

Claim 5

The seal assembly of claim 1 and also including means holding said seal assembly in the annular configuration and resiliently biasing said seal assembly toward the plunger when located in the cylinder groove.

Claim 6

The seal assembly of claim 1 wherein each of the mating end surfaces on said tangent members includes: a tangent portion defined by a plane tangent to a circle having a diameter larger than said inner diameter and smaller than said outer periphery; and, a radial portion defined by a plane passing through the axis of said annular seal assembly and intersecting said tangent portion.

Claim 7

The seal assembly of claim 5 wherein: said tangent portions of adjacent arcuate members forming said tangent ring are in sliding and sealing engagement; and, said radial portions of adjacent arcuate members forming said tangent ring are in spaced relationship.

Claim 8

the seal assembly of claim 6 and also including annular spring means encircling said tangent ring assembly for biasing said tangent ring assembly in a direction to sealingly engage the plunger when said annular seal assembly is located in the cylinder.

Claim 9

The seal assembly of claim 7 and also including means engaging said tangent ring assembly and said radial ring assembly for retaining said ring assemblies against relative rotation whereby the end surfaces on said ring assemblies are held in offset relationship.

Claim 10

An arrangement of annular seals for use in high pressure pumps and compressors or the like that includes a cylinder having spaced annular grooves for receiving said seals, the grooves having first and second radial walls and a plunger reciprocating in the cylinder through said seals, said arrangement comprising: a first annular seal of unitary construction receivable in one groove and arranged to sealingly engage the plunger and one radial wall of the groove; and, a first annular seal assembly receivable in a second groove and including a tangent ring assembly having an outer periphery receivable in the second groove, an inner periphery sealingly engaging the plunger and defining an inner diameter, an annular first face having a counterbore therein forming a seal surface and an annular second face arranged to sealingly engage one radial wall of the second groove, said tangent ring assembly including a plurality of arcuate members having mating end surfaceS defined by planes extending generally tangent to said inner diameter, and a radial ring assembly having an inner periphery engaging the plunger, an outer periphery fitting into said counterbore, said counterbore has a depth that is less than the thickness of the radial ring assembly, and an annular face sealingly engaged with said seal surface, said radial ring assembly including a plurality of arcuate members having radially disposed end surfaces offset relative to the end surface of said tangent ring assembly.

Claim 11

An arrangement of annular seals for use in high pressure pumps and compressors or the like that includes a cylinder having spaced annular grooves for receiving said seals, the grooves having first and second radial walls and a plunger reciprocating in the cylinder through said seals, said arrangement comprising: a first annular seal of unitary construction receivable in one groove and arranged to sealingly engage the plunger and one radial wall of the groove; and, a first annular seal assembly receivable in a second groove and including a tangent ring assembly having an outer periphery receivable in the second groove, an inner periphery sealingly engaging the plunger and defining an inner diameter, an annular first face having a counterbore therein forming a seal surface and an annular second face arranged to sealingly engage one radial wall of the second groove, said tangent ring assembly including a plurality of arcuate members having mating end surfaceS defined by planes extending generally tangent to said inner diameter, and a radial ring assembly having an inner periphery engaging the plunger, an outer periphery fitting into said counterbore, said counterbore has a depth that is less than the thickness of the radial ring assembly, and an annular face sealingly engaged with said seal surface, said radial ring assembly including a plurality of arcuate members having radially disposed end surfaces offset relative to the end surface of said tangent ring assembly.

Claim 12

The arrangement of claim 9 and also including a second annular seal assembly arranged to be disposed in a third groove in the cylinder, said second annular seal assembly comprising: an annular member of unitary construction sealingly engaging the plunger; a composite ring including a plurality of arcuate segments located adjacent to and sealingly engageable with said annular member; and, resilient means biasing said composite ring toward the plunger.

Claim 13

The arrangement of claim 10 and also including a third annular seal assembly arranged to be disposed in a fourth groove in the cylinder, said third annular seal assembly comprising: a second composite ring including a plurality of arcuate segments having radial end portions; a third composite ring including a plurality of arcuate segments having generally tangentially disposed end portions and a surface sealingly engaging said second composite ring, said radial end portions being circumferentially displaced from said tangentially disposed end surfaces; and, resilient means encircling each of said second and third composite rings biasing said rings toward the plunger.

Claim 14

The arrangement of claim 11 wherein the compressor, pump or the like includes a power end and a fluid end and wherein: said first annular seal is located adjacent said fluid end; said second annular seal assembly is located between said first annular seal and the power end; said first annular seal assembly is located between said second annular seal assembly and the power end: said third annular seal assembly is located between said first annular seal assembly and the power end, whereby each seal and seal assembly is subjected to a portion of the differential pressure between the fluid end and power end.