Lock-step duo step split sealing ring

Claim 1

Means for connecting the ends of a split sealing ring, said means including overlapping, interlocking latch portions which portions are identical in cross section except that the overlapping portions and recesses thereof on one end are complementary to and interfit with the recesses and overlapping portions respectfully of the other end, the circumferential outer ends of said latch portions being axially extending fingers, the outer radial faces of which form a part of the circumferential outer face of the ring, said fingers each being circumferentially spaced from the adjacent body of the ring by a radially outwardly facing recess opening through the outer circumferential face of said ring; said recesses at said outer face having an axial depth less than that of the ring; the recess of one end having a radially inwardly and axially inclined surface intersecting the outer circumferential ring face adjacent to but spaced from one axial face of said ring and intersecting the opposite axial face of said ring adjacent to but spaced from the inner circumferential face of said ring, the recess of the other end of said ring having an inclined surface identical to that of said one end except it is so inclined that it intersects the outer circumferential face of the ring adjacent to but spaced from the other axial face of said ring and intersects said axial face of said ring adjacent to but spaced from the inner circumferential face of said ring, the inner faces of said fingers being inclined in directions opposite from each other, each being complementary to seat against the inclined surface of the recess formed in the opposite end of the ring which separate the finger of that end from the main body of the ring, the circumferential lengths of said recesses separating said fingers from the main body of said ring being greater than the circumferential length of said fingers whereby when said ring is compressed such that the ends of said fingers are seated against the opposite ends of said recess a circumferentially outwardly facing gap is formed in the outer radial face of said ring, a portion of each of said radially outwardly inclined faces adjacent the finger terminating adjacent to but not touching the midpoint between the ring's axial faces to eliminate axial interference between them, the radially outwardly facing inclined faces having a combined circumferential length less than that of the gap and the width between their ends being only that necessary to prevent the circumferentially facing ends of said inclined faces from making abutting contact.