Abstract: A sealing assembly includes a first machine component having a seal groove defined by radially oriented jacket support and energizer positioning walls and an energizer compressing wall that faces axially toward a second machine component. A seal located within the seal groove has an energizer element and a telescoping jacket. The jacket has a first leg portion having a jacket sealing surface facing toward the second machine component and an energizer contacting wall facing toward the energizer element. The energizer element is compressed between the energizer contacting and energizer compressing walls and loads the jacket sealing surface against the second machine component. A jacket second leg portion extends generally axially and has an energizer supporting wall facing toward the energizer element and a supported wall facing radially and adjoining the jacket support wall. The second leg portion is interposed between the energizer element and the jacket support wall.

Abstract: A sealing assembly includes a first machine component having a seal groove defined by radially oriented jacket support and energizer positioning walls and an energizer compressing wall that faces axially toward a second machine component. A seal located within the seal groove has an energizer element and a telescoping jacket. The jacket has a first leg portion having a jacket sealing surface facing toward the second machine component and an energizer contacting wall facing toward the energizer element. The energizer element is compressed between the energizer contacting and energizer compressing walls and loads the jacket sealing surface against the second machine component. A jacket second leg portion extends generally axially and has an energizer supporting wall facing toward the energizer element and a supported wall facing radially and adjoining the jacket support wall. The second leg portion is interposed between the energizer element and the jacket support wall.

Abstract: The invention is a sealing assembly for equipment with movable shafts—such as coaxial and side port swivels, hydraulic swivels, and rotary control devices—that prevents the loss of a high pressure fluid through the clearance existing between a housing and the shaft. The invention is disclosed in the context of a coaxial swivel that conducts high pressure fluid from a stationary first conduit to a rotating second conduit that has dynamic runout, and may be misaligned relative to the first conduit.

Abstract: The invention is a sealing assembly for equipment with movable shafts—such as coaxial and side port swivels, hydraulic swivels, and rotary control devices—that prevents the loss of a high pressure fluid through the clearance existing between a housing and the shaft. The invention is disclosed in the context of a coaxial swivel that conducts high pressure fluid from a stationary first conduit to a rotating second conduit that has dynamic runout, and may be misaligned relative to the first conduit.

Abstract: A seal backup ring assembly is provided that eliminates fluid differential pressure acting radially on the backup ring, preventing collapse of the backup ring against a shaft. The backup ring is assembled so that the initial clearance (extrusion gap) between the backup ring and relatively rotating member is not affected by the differential pressure acting across the assembly. This allows for an initially small extrusion gap to be present throughout the differential pressure range.

Abstract: A dynamic sealing mechanism for a machine assembly that includes a seal housing of generally cylindrical form having opposed ends, the seal housing axially positioned between a pressure housing and a retaining member and laterally translatable relative to the pressure housing. The dynamic sealing mechanism includes a shaft located at least partially within the seal housing, the shaft having a sealing surface of generally cylindrical form, relatively movable with respect to the seal housing, and having at least one radial bearing positioned radially by the shaft and locating the radial position of the seal housing. At least three fluid pressure-generated forces act axially on the seal housing to produce a net fluid pressure-generated axial force that is negligible.

Abstract: A hydrodynamically lubricated sealing element for applications where the pressure of a contained fluid can be significantly greater than the pressure of the seal lubricant. The sealing element retains the pressure of the contained fluid and provides hydrodynamic lubricant pumping activity at the dynamic sealing interface to enhance service life. The invention is particularly suitable for oilfield drilling swivel washpipe assemblies, downhole drilling tools, and rotary mining equipment, and for applications such as artificial lift pump stuffing box assemblies and centrifugal pumps where a rotating shaft penetrates a pressurized reservoir that is filled with abrasive-laden liquids, mixtures, or slurries.

Abstract: The present invention is a generally circular rotary seal that establishes sealing between relatively rotatable machine components for lubricant retention and environmental exclusion, and incorporates seal geometry that interacts with the lubricant during relative rotation to distribute a lubricant film within the dynamic sealing interface. The features of a variable inlet size, a variable dynamic lip flank slope, and a reduction in the magnitude and circumferentially oriented portion of the lubricant side interfacial contact pressure zone at the narrowest part of the lip, individually or in combination thereof, serve to maximize interfacial lubrication in severe operating conditions, and also serve to minimize lubricant shear area, seal torque, seal volume, and wear, while ensuring retrofitability into the seal grooves of existing equipment.

Abstract: A seal backup ring is provided with undulating surfaces which create circumferential convergence with a relatively rotatable surface. The backup ring is configured so that differential pressure acting across a rotary seal forces portions of the backup ring against the relatively rotatable surface, closing, or substantially closing, the extrusion gap that the rotary seal is exposed to. In response to relative rotation between the backup ring and the mating relatively rotatable surface, the circumferential convergence promotes hydrodynamic lubrication within the dynamic interface that exists between the backup ring and the relatively rotatable surface. The modulus of elasticity of the backup ring is greater than the modulus of elasticity of the rotary seal.

Abstract: The present invention is a generally circular rotary seal that establishes sealing between relatively rotatable machine components for lubricant retention and environmental exclusion, and incorporates seal geometry that interacts with the lubricant during relative rotation to distribute a lubricant film within the dynamic sealing interface. A preferably curved elevated contact pressure zone serves to maximize interfacial lubrication in critical areas during severe operating conditions by utilizing lubricant that would otherwise escape at the trailing edge of the hydrodynamic waves. The zones are produced by geometry that serves to minimize lubricant shear area, seal torque, seal volume, and wear, while ensuring retrofitability into the seal grooves of existing equipment.

Abstract: A seal backup ring assembly is provided that eliminates fluid differential pressure acting radially on the backup ring, preventing collapse of the backup ring against a shaft. The backup ring is assembled so that the initial clearance (extrusion gap) between the backup ring and relatively rotating member is not affected by the differential pressure acting across the assembly. This allows for an initially small extrusion gap to be present throughout the differential pressure range.

Abstract: The present invention is a generally circular rotary seal that establishes sealing between relatively rotatable machine components for lubricant retention and environmental exclusion, and incorporates seal geometry that interacts with the lubricant during relative rotation to distribute a lubricant film within the dynamic sealing interface. The features of a variable inlet size, a variable dynamic lip flank slope, and a reduction in the magnitude and circumferentially oriented portion of the lubricant side interfacial contact pressure zone at the narrowest part of the lip, individually or in combination thereof, serve to maximize interfacial lubrication in severe operating conditions, and also serve to minimize lubricant shear area, seal torque, seal volume, and wear, while ensuring retrofitability into the seal grooves of existing equipment.

Abstract: The present invention is a generally circular rotary seal that establishes sealing between relatively rotatable machine components for lubricant retention and environmental exclusion, and incorporates seal geometry that interacts with the lubricant during relative rotation to distribute a lubricant film within the dynamic sealing interface. The features of a variable inlet size, a variable dynamic lip flank slope, and a reduction in the magnitude and circumferentially oriented portion of the lubricant side interfacial contact pressure zone at the narrowest part of the lip, individually or in combination thereof, serve to maximize interfacial lubrication in severe operating conditions, and also serve to minimize lubricant shear area, seal torque, seal volume, and wear, while ensuring retrofitability into the seal grooves of existing equipment.

Abstract: A seal backup ring is provided with undulating surfaces which create circumferential convergence with a relatively rotatable surface. The backup ring is configured so that differential pressure acting across a rotary seal forces portions of the backup ring against the relatively rotatable surface, closing, or substantially closing, the extrusion gap that the rotary seal is exposed to. In response to relative rotation between the backup ring and the mating relatively rotatable surface, the circumferential convergence promotes hydrodynamic lubrication within the dynamic interface that exists between the backup ring and the relatively rotatable surface. The modulus of elasticity of the backup ring is greater than the modulus of elasticity of the rotary seal.

Abstract: A hydrodynamically lubricated sealing element for applications where the pressure of a contained fluid can be significantly greater than the pressure of the seal lubricant. The sealing element retains the pressure of the contained fluid and provides hydrodynamic lubricant pumping activity at the dynamic sealing interface to enhance service life. The invention is particularly suitable for oilfield drilling swivel washpipe assemblies, downhole drilling tools, and rotary mining equipment, and for applications such as artificial lift pump stuffing box assemblies and centrifugal pumps where a rotating shaft penetrates a pressurized reservoir that is filled with abrasive-laden liquids, mixtures, or slurries.

Abstract: A dynamic sealing mechanism for a machine assembly that includes a seal housing of generally cylindrical form having opposed ends, the seal housing axially positioned between a pressure housing and a retaining member and laterally translatable relative to the pressure housing. The dynamic sealing mechanism includes a shaft located at least partially within the seal housing, the shaft having a sealing surface of generally cylindrical form, relatively movable with respect to the seal housing, and having at least one radial bearing positioned radially by the shaft and locating the radial position of the seal housing. At least three fluid pressure-generated forces act axially on the seal housing to produce a net fluid pressure-generated axial force that is negligible.

Abstract: The present invention is a generally circular rotary seal that establishes sealing between relatively rotatable machine components for lubricant retention and environmental exclusion, and incorporates seal geometry that interacts with the lubricant during relative rotation to distribute a lubricant film within the dynamic sealing interface. A preferably curved elevated contact pressure zone serves to maximize interfacial lubrication in critical areas during severe operating conditions by utilizing lubricant that would otherwise escape at the trailing edge of the hydrodynamic waves. The zones are produced by geometry that serves to minimize lubricant shear area, seal torque, seal volume, and wear, while ensuring retrofitability into the seal grooves of existing equipment.

Abstract: A hydrodynamic sealing assembly including a first machine component defining a seal groove and a second machine component having a rotatable surface that is rotatable relative to the first machine component. A hydrodynamic seal including a seal body of generally ring-shaped configuration having a circumference and the seal body includes a sealing lip having a sealing surface contacting the relatively rotatable surface to establish a sealing interface between the sealing lip and the relatively rotatable surface. The sealing lip includes an exclusion edge of abrupt substantially circular form that is substantially aligned with a direction of relative rotation between the sealing lip and the relatively rotatable surface in a compressed, installed condition of the seal and wherein the exclusion edge is non-circular and slightly wavy in an uncompressed, uninstalled condition of the hydrodynamic seal.

Abstract: The present invention is a generally circular rotary seal that establishes sealing between relatively rotatable machine components for lubricant retention and environmental exclusion, and incorporates seal geometry that interacts with the lubricant during relative rotation to distribute a lubricant film within the dynamic sealing interface. The features of a variable inlet size, a variable dynamic lip flank slope, and a reduction in the magnitude and circumferentially oriented portion of the lubricant side interfacial contact pressure zone at the narrowest part of the lip, individually or in combination thereof, serve to maximize interfacial lubrication in severe operating conditions, and also serve to minimize lubricant shear area, seal torque, seal volume, and wear, while ensuring retrofitability into the seal grooves of existing equipment.