Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
71 words
A fluid seal assembly, comprising: a pair of annular, load rings; and a seal ring subassembly interpositioned between said load rings; wherein said seal ring subassembly, and said load rings, have mutually-engaging surfaces which cooperate to restrain said seal ring subassembly against undue radial displacement; said seal ring subassembly comprises two pluralities of segments; and each segment of said pluralities thereof subtends an arc of approximately one hundred degrees of arc.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
71 words
A fluid seal assembly, comprising: a pair of annular, load rings; and a seal ring subassembly interpositioned between said load rings; wherein said seal ring subassembly, and said load rings, have mutually-engaging surfaces which cooperate to restrain said seal ring subassembly against undue radial displacement; said seal ring subassembly comprises two pluralities of segments; and each segment of said pluralities thereof subtends an arc of approximately one hundred degrees of arc.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
55 words
A fluid seal assembly, according to claim 1, wherein: said load rings have first, parallel surfaces, and second, non-parallel, beveled surfaces; said seal ring subassembly has external, non-parallel, beveled surfaces; and said second, beveled surfaces of said load rings, and said external, beveled surfaces of said seal ring subassembly, are slidably engaged with each other.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
44 words
A fluid seal assembly, according to claim 1, wherein: one of said pluralities of segments comprises an inner seal ring; the other of said pluralities of segments comprises an outer seal ring; and said inner and outer seal rings have radial gaps formed therein.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
A fluid seal assembly, according to claim 3 wherein: said radial gaps formed in said inner seal ring are shrouded by said outer seal ring; and said radial gaps formed in said outer seal ring are bridged across by said inner seal ring.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
A fluid seal assembly, according to claim 3 wherein: said outer seal ring has a land formed thereon; and said inner seal ring is slidably supported on said land.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
45 words
A fluid seal assembly, according to claim 5 wherein: said outer seal ring has a shoulder, formed thereon, which extends from said land in an attitude normal to said land; and said inner seal ring has an outermost, peripheral surface which seats against said shoulder.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
A fluid seal assembly, according to claim 1, wherein: said load rings have a given, common, inside diameter; and said seal ring subassembly has an inside diameter which differs from said given inside diameter of said load rings.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
A fluid seal assembly, according to claim 7, wherein: said given inside diameter of said load rings is greater than said inside diameter of said seal ring subassembly.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
A fluid seal assembly, according to claim 1 wherein: said load rings, of said pair thereof, are mirror images of each other.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
77 words
A fluid seal assembly, comprising: a pair of annular, load rings; and a seal ring subassembly interpositioned between said load rings; wherein said seal ring subassembly, and said load rings, have mutually-engaging surfaces which cooperate to restrain said seal ring subassembly against undue radial displacement; said load rings, of said pair thereof, are substantially mirror images of each other; and one of said load rings has a plurality of radially-disposed grooves formed in an outer surface thereof.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
77 words
A fluid seal assembly, comprising: a pair of annular, load rings; and a seal ring subassembly interpositioned between said load rings; wherein said seal ring subassembly, and said load rings, have mutually-engaging surfaces which cooperate to restrain said seal ring subassembly against undue radial displacement; said load rings, of said pair thereof, are substantially mirror images of each other; and one of said load rings has a plurality of radially-disposed grooves formed in an outer surface thereof.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
A fluid seal assembly, according to claim 2, further including: spring means bound about said seal ring subassembly urging said seal ring subassembly to contract.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
57 words
A fluid seal assembly, according to claim 3, wherein: one of said inner and outer seal rings has orientation means, engageable with the other of said inner and outer seal rings, for restraining said other seal ring in a predetermined location, relative to said one seal ring, and inhibiting said other seal ring from circumferential displacement therefrom.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
38 words
A fluid seal assembly, according to claim 12, wherein: said orientation means comprises locating pins fixed in said outer seal ring, and projecting therefrom; and said inner seal ring has recesses formed therein which nestably engage said pins.