Sealing assembly

Claim 2

An assembly comprising: inner and outer relatively movable members, at least one of the members having first and second radial walls and a circumferential wall defining a groove; a slipper ring having an axial segment and a radial segment with the radial segment projecting radially of the axial segment, said radial segment having an end face, said slipper ring being positionable in the groove to surround the inner member with the end face generally facing the first radial wall and the fluid under pressure, said slipper ring being movable generally axially away from the first radial wall; a resilient deformable seal ring positionable in the groove and surrounding a region of the axial segment; an anti-extrusion ring positionable in the groove with the resilient deformable seal ring being generally axially intermediate the radial segment and the anti-extrusion ring, said slipper ring and said anti-extrusion ring being less readily deformable than said resilient deformable seal ring, said anti-extrusion ring being supportable by the second radial wall; said slipper ring being movable axially toward said ring member to axially squeeze said resilient deformable seal ring between said radial segment and said anti-extrusion ring; and the effective area of said end face being greater than the effective area of said seal ring generally confronting the fluid under pressure.

Claim 3

An assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said slipper ring is generally L-shaped and constructed of a plastic material.

Claim 4

An assembly as defineD in claim 1 wherein said slipper ring and said anti-extrusion ring cooperate to substantially completely enclose said resilient deformable seal ring.

Claim 5

An assembly adapted for exposure to fluid under pressure comprising: a slipper ring having an axial segment and a radial segment projecting radially of the axial segment, said radial segment having a face adapted to confront the fluid under pressure; a resilient deformable seal ring surrounding at least a region of the axial segment; an anti-extrusion ring, at least a segment of said anti-extrusion ring surrounding at least a portion of said axial segment, said seal ring being axially intermediate said segment of said anti-extrusion ring and said radial segment, said seal ring being more readily deformable than either said slipper ring or said anti-extrusion ring, the effective area of the seal ring generally confronting the fluid under pressure being less than the effective area of said face whereby the fluid under pressure tightly squeezes the seal ring between the radial segment and the anti-extrusion ring; and said anti-extrusion ring having an inclined face engaging the resilient deformable ring on the low pressure side of the resilient deformable ring.

Claim 6

An assembly adapted for exposure to fluid under pressure comprising: a slipper ring having an axial segment and a radial segment projecting radially of the axial segment, said radial segment having a face adapted to confront the fluid under pressure; a resilient deformable seal ring surrounding at least a region of the axial segment; an anti-extrusion ring, at least a segment of said anti-extrusion ring surrounding at least a portion of said axial segment, said seal ring being axially intermediate said segment of said anti-extrusion ring and said radial segment, said seal ring being more readily deformable than either said slipper ring or said anti-extrusion ring, the effective area of the seal ring generally confronting the fluid under pressure being less than the effective area of said face whereby the fluid under pressure tightly squeezes the seal ring between the radial segment and the anti-extrusion ring; and said anti-extrusion ring having an inclined face engaging the resilient deformable ring on the low pressure side of the resilient deformable ring.

Claim 7

An assembly as defined in claim 4 wherein said anti-extrusion ring includes cam means responsive to the squeezing of the seal ring for applying a radial force to said portion of said axial segment.

Claim 8

An assembly positionable in structure which has first and second radial walls and a circumferential wall defining a circumscribing groove, said assembly comprising: a slipper ring having an axial segment and a radial segment with the radial segment projecting radially of the axial segment, said radial segment having an end face, said slipper ring being positionable in the groove so as to extend circumferentially of the groove with the end face generally facing the first radial wall and fluid under pressure, said slipper ring being movable generally axially away from the first radial wall; a resilient deformable seal ring positionable in the groove and surrounding a region of the axial segment; a ring member positionable in the groove with the resilient deformable seal ring being generally axially intermediate the radial segment and the ring member, said slipper ring and said ring member being less readily deformable than said resilient deformable seal ring, said ring member being axially supportable by the second radial wall; said slipper ring being movable toward said ring member by the fluid under pressure with said resilient deformable seal ring resiliently resisting at least some of said movement of the slipper ring whereby the resilient deformable seal ring is axially squeezed between said radial segment and said ring member; and the effective area of said end face being greater than the effective area of said seal ring generally confronting the fluid under pressure whereby the axial squeezing force on the resilient deformable seal ring is increased.

Claim 9

An assembly positionable in structure which has first and second radial walls and a circumferential wall defining a circumscribing groove, said assembly comprising: a slipper ring having an axial segment and a radial segment with the radial segment projecting radially of the axial segment, said radial segment having an end face, said slipper ring being positionable in the groove so as to extend circumferentially of the groove with the end face generally facing the first radial wall and fluid under pressure, said slipper ring being movable generally axially away from the first radial wall; a resilient deformable seal ring positionable in the groove and surrounding a region of the axial segment; a ring member positionable in the groove with the resilient deformable seal ring being generally axially intermediate the radial segment and the ring member, said slipper ring and said ring member being less readily deformable than said resilient deformable seal ring, said ring member being axially supportable by the second radial wall; said slipper ring being movable toward said ring member by the fluid under pressure with said resilient deformable seal ring resiliently resisting at least some of said movement of the slipper ring whereby the resilient deformable seal ring is axially squeezed between said radial segment and said ring member; and the effective area of said end face being greater than the effective area of said seal ring generally confronting the fluid under pressure whereby the axial squeezing force on the resilient deformable seal ring is increased.

Claim 10

An assembly as defined in claim 6 wherein the axial squeezing of the resilient deformable seal ring loads said ring member and said ring member includes cam means responsive to said load for applying a radial force to said axial segment.

Claim 11

An assembly as defined in claim 6 wherein said axial segment has a circumferential surface which is generally cylindrical.

Claim 12

An assembly as defined in claim 6 wherein said ring member does not substantially impede said movement of the slipper ring.

Claim 13

An assembly as defined in claim 6 wherein said ring member and said slipper ring have generally cylindrical surfaces which slide relative to each other during said movement of said slipper ring.

Claim 14

An assembly positionable in structure which has first and second radial walls and a circumferential wall defining a circumscribing groove, said assembly comprising: a slipper ring having an axial segment and a radial segment with the radial segment projectIng radially of the axial segment, said radial segment having an end face, said slipper ring being positionable in the groove so as to extend circumferentially of the groove with the end face generally facing the first radial wall and fluid under pressure, said slipper ring being movable generally axially away from the first radial wall; a resilient deformable seal ring positionable in the groove and surrounding a region of the axial segment; an anti-extrusion ring positionable in the groove with the resilient deformable seal ring being generally axially intermediate the radial segment and the anti-extrusion ring, said slipper ring and said anti-extrusion ring being less readily deformable than said resilient deformable seal ring, said anti-extrusion ring being axially supportable by the second radial wall; said slipper ring being movable toward said ring member by the fluid under pressure with said resilient deformable seal ring resiliently resisting at least some of said movement of the slipper ring whereby a force is transmitted through the deformable seal ring to said anti-extrusion ring; and said anti-extrusion ring including cam means responsive to said force for applying a radial force to said axial segment.

Claim 15

An assembly positionable in structure which has first and second radial walls and a circumferential wall defining a circumscribing groove, said assembly comprising: a slipper ring having an axial segment and a radial segment with the radial segment projectIng radially of the axial segment, said radial segment having an end face, said slipper ring being positionable in the groove so as to extend circumferentially of the groove with the end face generally facing the first radial wall and fluid under pressure, said slipper ring being movable generally axially away from the first radial wall; a resilient deformable seal ring positionable in the groove and surrounding a region of the axial segment; an anti-extrusion ring positionable in the groove with the resilient deformable seal ring being generally axially intermediate the radial segment and the anti-extrusion ring, said slipper ring and said anti-extrusion ring being less readily deformable than said resilient deformable seal ring, said anti-extrusion ring being axially supportable by the second radial wall; said slipper ring being movable toward said ring member by the fluid under pressure with said resilient deformable seal ring resiliently resisting at least some of said movement of the slipper ring whereby a force is transmitted through the deformable seal ring to said anti-extrusion ring; and said anti-extrusion ring including cam means responsive to said force for applying a radial force to said axial segment.