Abstract: Disclosed is a pressure compensator for a housing compartment that includes a housing wall that has an opening between an interior zone that is inside of the compartment and an exterior zone that is outside of the compartment. The housing wall also includes an annulus that defines one portion of the opening. A seal engages the annulus and is seated in the opening to seal the opening, the seal including a flexible diaphragm having a normally closed slit therethrough. The seal is configured so that the diaphragm is normally compressed in a first direction that urges the slit closed when the seal is engaged with the annulus. The diaphragm is arranged so that a pressure difference between the interior zone and exterior zone urges the diaphragm to flex in a direction for opening a slit thus creates a pathway between the interior zone and the exterior zone, thereby reducing the pressure difference.

Abstract: Disclosed is a pressure compensator for a housing compartment that includes a housing wall that has an opening between an interior zone that is inside of the compartment and an exterior zone that is outside of the compartment. The housing wall also includes an annulus that defines one portion of the opening. A seal engages the annulus and is seated in the opening to seal the opening, the seal including a flexible diaphragm having a normally closed slit therethrough. The seal is configured so that the diaphragm is normally compressed in a first direction that urges the slit closed when the seal is engaged with the annulus. The diaphragm is arranged so that a pressure difference between the interior zone and exterior zone urges the diaphragm to flex in a direction for opening a slit thus creates a pathway between the interior zone and the exterior zone, thereby reducing the pressure difference.