Abstract: A seal assembly (10) includes a seal ring shell (12) and an insert (14). The seal ring shell includes an inside diameter surface, and may also include a seal ring shell tapered portion that extends radially inwardly from the inside diameter surface. The insert includes an upper surface, and may also include an insert tapered portion. With embodiments, a portion of the upper surface of the insert contacts or operatively engages the inside diameter surface of the seal ring shell, and a portion of the insert tapered portion engages the seal ring shell tapered portion such that the seal ring shell tapered portion may impede movement of the insert in a direction substantially along the inside diameter surface (e.g., in an axial direction).

Abstract: A radial seal and radial seal assembly (10) are disclosed. An embodiment of seal assembly may include an inner rotating shaft (20) with inner rotating shaft fluid feed holes (22); a primary segmented seal (30); a secondary segmented seal (40); a tertiary seal (50) that may axially seal the primary and secondary segmented seals; and an outer housing (60) including a plurality of outer housing fluid feed holes (62). In embodiments, the assembly is configured so that, as the inner rotating shaft rotates, the inner rotating shaft fluid feed holes periodically come into fluid communication alignment with outer housing fluid feed holes.

Abstract: A seal assembly (10) includes a seal ring shell (12) and an insert (14). The seal ring shell includes an inside diameter surface, and may also include a seal ring shell tapered portion that extends radially inwardly from the inside diameter surface. The insert includes an upper surface, and may also include an insert tapered portion. With embodiments, a portion of the upper surface of the insert contacts or operatively engages the inside diameter surface of the seal ring shell, and a portion of the insert tapered portion engages the seal ring shell tapered portion such that the seal ring shell tapered portion may impede movement of the insert in a direction substantially along the inside diameter surface (e.g., in an axial direction).

Abstract: A radial seal and radial seal assembly (10) are disclosed. An embodiment of seal assembly may include an inner rotating shaft (20) with inner rotating shaft fluid feed holes (22); a primary segmented seal (30); a secondary segmented seal (40); a tertiary seal (50) that may axially seal the primary and secondary segmented seals; and an outer housing (60) including a plurality of outer housing fluid feed holes (62). In embodiments, the assembly is configured so that, as the inner rotating shaft rotates, the inner rotating shaft fluid feed holes periodically come into fluid communication alignment with outer housing fluid feed holes.

Abstract: A segment of a seal assembly for sealing against a rotating member is disclosed. The segment includes a radial external surface, a radial internal surface for sealing against said rotating member, a face groove, and a secondary sealing surface. In embodiments, the segment may include a radial feed groove, and the face groove has an axial depth from the surface of the secondary sealing surface that is greater than the axial depth of the radial feed groove. Additionally, in embodiments, the face groove may include a relief groove, the face groove has a radial length at the axial position of the secondary sealing surface, the relief groove is axially offset from the secondary sealing surface, and the relief groove includes a portion with a radial length greater than the radial length of the face groove at the axial position of the secondary sealing surface.

Abstract: A welded bellows seal assembly is provided. In an embodiment, a welded bellows seal assembly includes a seal ring including a seal ring shell, an outer housing; and a bellows extending from a portion of the seal ring shell to a portion of the outer housing. The seal ring shell may include a bellows segment that extends longitudinally over the bellows. Moreover, in embodiments, the bellows may be connected to the seal ring at a lower inner diameter portion of the seal ring shell. Embodiments of the seal assembly may permit the tuning of the seal assembly to improve resistance physical effects, such as twisting, under anticipated operational conditions.

Abstract: A segment of a seal assembly for sealing against a rotating member is disclosed. The segment includes a radial external surface, a radial internal surface for sealing against said rotating member, a face groove, and a secondary sealing surface. In embodiments, the segment may include a radial feed groove, and the face groove has an axial depth from the surface of the secondary sealing surface that is greater than the axial depth of the radial feed groove. Additionally, in embodiments, the face groove may include a relief groove, the face groove has a radial length at the axial position of the secondary sealing surface, the relief groove is axially offset from the secondary sealing surface, and the relief groove includes a portion with a radial length greater than the radial length of the face groove at the axial position of the secondary sealing surface.

Abstract: A welded bellows seal assembly is provided. In an embodiment, a welded bellows seal assembly includes a seal ring including a seal ring shell, an outer housing; and a bellows extending from a portion of the seal ring shell to a portion of the outer housing. The seal ring shell may include a bellows segment that extends longitudinally over the bellows. Moreover, in embodiments, the bellows may be connected to the seal ring at a lower inner diameter portion of the seal ring shell. Embodiments of the seal assembly may permit the tuning of the seal assembly to improve resistance physical effects, such as twisting, under anticipated operational conditions.

Abstract: A segment of a seal assembly for sealing a higher pressure area against a rotating member is disclosed. The segment may include a radial external surface, a radial internal surface for sealing against a rotating member, a feed cavity, a ramp portion in communication with the feed cavity, a segment trough in communication with the ramp portion, one or more hydrodynamically-configured pads including an entrance; and a sealing dam disposed between the lift pad and the radial internal surface. The ramp portion may be configured to pick up air flow with an increase in velocity from the rotating member, and the trough or a flow-control portion may be configured to prevent fluid from flowing around or circumventing the pad entrance to, at least in part, provide a dynamic feed.

Abstract: A segment of a seal assembly for sealing a higher pressure area against a rotating member is disclosed. In an embodiment the segment comprises a radial external surface, a radial internal surface for sealing against a rotating member, a feed cavity, a ramp portion in communication with the feed cavity, a segment trough in communication with the ramp portion, one or more hydrodynamically-configured pads including an entrance; and a sealing dam disposed between the lift pad and the radial internal surface. In an embodiment of the segment, the ramp portion is configured to pick up air flow with an increase in velocity from said rotating member, and the trough or a flow-control portion is configured to prevent fluid from flowing around or circumventing the pad entrance to, at least in part, provide a dynamic feed.

Abstract: A face seal assembly including an annular mating ring housing having a proximal end surface with a channel therein, a mating ring insert disposed in the channel, the mating ring insert including a mating ring compressed within a first band to maintain the integrity of the mating ring. An annular sealing ring housing has a distal end surface with a channel therein, and a sealing ring insert is disposed in the channel, the sealing ring insert including a sealing ring compressed within a second band to maintain the integrity of the sealing ring. The mating ring faces the sealing ring to prevent fluid from escaping therebetween. A method of making such a face seal assembly is also disclosed as is a complete face seal assembly useful in the top drive unit of an offshore drilling unit.

Abstract: A face seal assembly including an annular mating ring housing having a proximal end surface with a channel therein, a mating ring insert disposed in the channel, the mating ring insert including a mating ring compressed within a first band to maintain the integrity of the mating ring. An annular sealing ring housing has a distal end surface with a channel therein, and a sealing ring insert is disposed in the channel, the sealing ring insert including a sealing ring compressed within a second band to maintain the integrity of the sealing ring. The mating ring faces the sealing ring to prevent fluid from escaping therebetween. A method of making such a face seal assembly is also disclosed as is a complete face seal assembly useful in the top drive unit of an offshore drilling unit.