Spring loaded resin seal

Claim 1

A seal for placement between first, second and third continuous groove walls of a continuous groove formed between first and second parts and bounding a space to be sealed, said seal providing sealing between a surface of the second groove wall formed by a wall of the second part, and a surface of the first groove wall formed on the first part, the third groove wall being formed on the first part and being substantially perpendicular to the first groove wall, such that the groove has a substantially triangular cross section, comprising: a continuous ring formed of a resin material having first and second outer ring walls conformable to the surfaces of the first and second groove walls, and having a third ring wall positioned generally parallel to the third groove wall, said third ring wall having a continuous slot extending into the ring defined by a pair of parallel surfaces which in turn are generally parallel to the surface of the second groove wall, which is oblique of both the first and third groove walls; and a continuous coil spring formed to fit within the slot, and having a portion of its surface engaged by the surface of the third wall, the mating parts being movable toward each other for effecting sealing, and the surface of the second groove wall creating a force on the ring which tends to cause the coil spring to expand in direction outwardly of the slot and against the third wall, the coil spring being compressed to sealingly force the first and second ring walls against the first and second groove walls respectively with a controlled force, the compression of the coil spring controlling the sealing force to limit undesired distortion of the groove walls.