Pressure-energized sealing rings

摘要

A pressure-energized sealing ring having a bight portion, a first leg portion and a second leg portion for providing a fluid-tight seal between a pair of components. The first and second leg portions include a curved section having first and second sealing surfaces. The sealing surfaces are spaced from the free ends of the leg portion. The free ends of the leg portions are positioned between the bight portion and the sealing surfaces so that the ends of the seal are located in the area of low pressure. Accordingly, when sealing ring is a multi-ply seal, the free ends of the seal are positioned in the low pressure area so that the high pressure does not separate the seal. The curved sections of the leg portions and the curve of the bight portion securely couple the plies together without welding. Preferably, the plies are connected together and in intimate contact at their interfaces therebetween. In some embodiments, the leg portions include planar or crowned sections so that the sealing surfaces are faced farther from the bight portions to lower the contact force and stress level in the bight portion. In other embodiments, the bight portion has at least one convolution. Still in other embodiments, the sealing ring is arranged for an externally pressurized-type application.