Seal for wellheads

Claim 1

An annular seal assembly adapted for use in wellheads to seal between a well conduit and the wellhead, including: a resilient seal ring adapted to be placed between the outer surface of the well conduit and the inner surface of the wellhead for sealing deformation therebetween to block passage of well fluids; a follower ring disposed adjacent said resilient seal ring for controlling deformation of said seal ring to effect the desired seal in response to the application of a longitudinal oriented force to said follower; means operably connected with said packing follower for urging in a longitudinal oriented direction on said packing follower to deform said seal ring, said means for urging including a pair of cooperating actuating rings having means for converting relative rotational movement therebetween to longitudinal expansion of said actuating rings for providing the longitudinal oriented force; and said actuating rings forming a gapped opening with one of said rings forming a first side of said gapped opening and the other of said actuating rings forming a second side of said gapped opening to produce relative rotational movement between said actuating rings by expanding said gapped opening.