High Pressure Seal Assembly

Abstract

The seal assembly includes a seal body and an energizer. The seal assembly is sized to reduce the likelihood of certain failure modes, such as back-jet of pressurized fluid getting behind the energizer during pressurization operations. The ratio of the lateral distance of the seal body to the axial length of the energizer is 0.400 to 1.7087. The ratio of the lateral distance to the inner radius of the seal body is 0.10 to 0.401. The ratio of the web thickness of the seal body to the inner radius is 0.068 to 0.0881. The ratio of the difference between the radial height of the energizer and the groove height of the seal body to the radial height of the energizer is 0.050 to 0.155. The ratio of the difference between the radial height and the groove height to the inner radius is 0.015 to 0.3486.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 182,670, filed April 30, 2021, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

[0002] Technical Field The present disclosure relates generally to seals for high pressure fluid pumps and reservoirs. [Background technology]

[0003] background Description of related technical field Currently available high pressure fluid pumps may include a plunger that reciprocates within a high pressure chamber to pressurize the fluid within the high pressure chamber, and may further include a check valve to allow fluid to enter and exit the high pressure chamber. The pumps typically include seals between the plunger and the inner wall of the chamber and between the check valve and the inner wall of the chamber to prevent the high pressure fluid from escaping the chamber. In such pumps, the seals must be able to function in a high pressure environment and withstand pressures in excess of 10,000 psi.

[0004] 1 and 2, high pressure pump 10 includes a pressure vessel 20 having opposed faces 23 and a bore 22 extending through pressure vessel 20 between faces 23. Two inserts 30 (shown as plunger 30a and check valve assembly 30b) extend into bore 22 from opposed ends. Plunger 30a reciprocates within pressure vessel 20 to pressurize fluid within pressure vessel 20. Plunger 30a may be driven by a hydraulically actuated piston 11 or may be driven by a mechanical actuator.

[0005] Check valve assembly 30b has a check valve 33 for allowing unpressurized fluid to enter pressure vessel 20 during the intake stroke of plunger 30a and for allowing pressurized fluid to exit pressure vessel 20 after the power stroke of plunger 30a. Both inserts 30 are held in place relative to pressure vessel 20 by a yoke 12 that includes end caps 13 secured by threaded rods 15 that bias end caps 13 toward pressure vessel 20.

[0006] Two seal assemblies 40 (shown as dynamic seal assembly 40a and static seal assembly 40b) may seal gap 21 between insert 30 and inner wall 25 of bore 22 to prevent fluid from leaking from pressure vessel 20. Dynamic seal 40a seals a portion of gap 21 between reciprocating plunger 30a and inner wall 25, and static seal 40b seals a portion of gap 21 between static check valve body 30b and inner wall 25. Sleeve 14 adjacent inner wall 25 between seal assemblies 40 reduces the volume of gap 21.

[0007] The dynamic seal assembly 40a may include an annular seal 41 and an O-ring 43, both positioned in the gap 21 between the plunger 30a and the inner wall 25 of the bore 22. The seal 41 may include a resilient material, such as ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene, that fills the gap 21 without being extruded out of the gap 21 when the pressure vessel 20 is pressurized. Thus, the seal 41 may be relatively stiff at low pressures. The O-ring 43 may be softer than the seal 41 at low pressures to seal the gap 21 when the pressure in the pressure vessel 20 is relatively low, such as at the beginning of the power stroke of the plunger 30a.

[0008] Dynamic seal assembly 40a may further include a removable seal seat 42 between seal 41 and end cap 13. Seal seat 42 may include a spacer portion 44 that engages seal 41 and spaces seal 41 from edge 24 between bore 22 and face 23 of pressure vessel 20. In one embodiment, the axial dimension of spacer portion 44 is approximately equal to the radial dimension of gap 21. In other embodiments, spacer portion 44 may have other dimensions.

[0009] The sealing sheet 42 may further include a support portion 45 connected to the spacer portion 44 to support the spacer portion 44 in place and prevent the seal 41 from moving out of the gap 21 when the pressure vessel 20 is pressurized. The sealing sheet 42 may be relatively rigid in the radial direction to resist deformation toward or away from the plunger 30a, or the sealing sheet 42 may be sufficiently flexible in the radial direction to allow the spacer portion 44 to flex toward the plunger 30a and provide an additional seal between the plunger 30a and the inner wall 25 as the sealing sheet 42 is axially compressed.

[0010] The dynamic seal assembly 40a may also include an anti-extrusion ring 46 disposed about the seal 41. In one embodiment, the anti-extrusion ring 46 has a generally triangular cross-sectional shape and includes an axial surface 35 and a radial surface 36. The anti-extrusion ring 46 is configured to expand radially relative to the inner surface 25 of the bore 22 when the pressure vessel 20 is pressurized. Thus, the radial surface 36 of the anti-extrusion ring may be sized to fill any radial gap that may develop between the expanding inner surface 25 of the bore 22 and the spacer portion 44, which does not tend to expand radially as the pressure vessel 20 is pressurized.

[0011] Fluid leaking past the seal assemblies can detrimentally affect the operation and life of the high pressure pump 10 components. Summary of the Invention [Means for solving the problem]

[0012] Quick Overview The present disclosure is directed to methods and apparatus for sealing components of a high pressure vessel assembly. In particular, a seal assembly is disclosed that addresses issues related to the amount of fluid (e.g., water) that passes through (or gets behind) the energizer of the seal assembly upon pressurization. During depressurization, the energizer (e.g., an O-ring) serves to seal this fluid and prevent it from returning to the chamber of the pressure vessel assembly as the pressure drops. This results in a pressure differential across the energizer, which can damage either the seal and / or the energizer when this pressure differential is released (e.g., the energizer is no longer able to hold the fluid against the increasing pressure differential). By reducing / limiting the amount of fluid that gets behind the energizer, less energy is available to damage the energizer and seal, and the life of the seal assembly is increased.

[0013] For seal assemblies that include both a primary seal and an energizer, the location of the energizer relative to the primary seal is one factor that affects the amount of fluid that can ultimately find its way behind the active O-ring. Thus, embodiments of the seal assemblies disclosed herein employ a constant (minimized) lateral static displacement between the energizer and the sealing area of ​​the primary seal (located "behind" the energizer). According to one embodiment, the seal body includes a groove that receives the energizer, with the groove located closer to the sealing area of ​​the primary seal than known seal assemblies.

[0014] According to one embodiment, the lateral distance between the furthest reach of the sealed fluid (at the UHP seal) and the energizer may be between 0.400 and 1.7087 times the axial length of the energizer.

[0015] Additionally, embodiments of the seal assembly disclosed herein reduce the likelihood that one or more failure modes will manifest. An embodiment of the seal assembly maintains a particular clearance between the primary seal inner diameter and the shaft being sealed while ensuring that stresses within the seal assembly are low enough to prevent shear failure. The "web" portion of the seal assembly may be flexible enough to allow stresses to be distributed within the primary seal while remaining rigid enough to ensure that the seal assembly forms an adequate seal with the shaft being sealed. Additionally, the energizer should be compressed sufficiently to allow for proper operation.

[0016] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings, identical reference numbers identify similar elements or acts. The sizes and relative positions of elements in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. For example, the shapes of the various elements and angles are not drawn to scale, and some of these elements are arbitrarily enlarged and positioned to improve the readability of the drawings. Furthermore, the particular shapes of the depicted elements are not intended to convey any information regarding the actual shape of the particular elements, but have been selected solely for ease of recognition in the drawings. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0017] [Figure 1] 1 is a partial cross-sectional elevation view of a known high pressure pump having a seal assembly. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of a portion of the high pressure pump and seal assembly shown in FIG. 1. [Diagram 3] FIG. 1 illustrates a front isometric view of a seal assembly according to one embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a rear isometric view of the seal assembly shown in FIG. 3. [Diagram 5] FIG. 4 is a top view of the seal assembly shown in FIG. 3. [Figure 6] FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the seal assembly shown in FIG. 3. [Figure 7]FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the seal assembly shown in FIG. 3 taken along line AA. [Figure 8] 13 is a cross-sectional view of a seal assembly according to another embodiment. [Figure 9] 13 is a cross-sectional view of a seal assembly according to another embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional elevation view of the seal assembly shown in FIG. 8 positioned within a portion of a high pressure pump. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0018] Detailed Description In the following description, certain specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of various disclosed embodiments. However, one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the embodiments may be practiced without one or more of these specific details or with other methods, components, materials, etc.

[0019] Unless the context requires otherwise, throughout this specification and the claims which follow, the word "comprise" and variations thereof (such as "comprises" and "including") are to be interpreted in their open and inclusive sense, i.e., "including but not limited to."

[0020] Throughout this specification, a reference to "one embodiment" or "an embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. Thus, the appearances of the phrases "in one embodiment" or "in an embodiment" in various places throughout this specification do not necessarily all refer to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments.

[0021] As used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" include plural referents unless the content clearly dictates otherwise. It should also be noted that the term "or" is generally used in its sense to include "and / or" unless the content clearly dictates otherwise.

[0022] As used herein, reference to two elements "facing" or "opposite" one another indicates that a straight line can be drawn from one of the elements to the other of the elements without contacting any intervening solid structures. The term "aligned" as used herein with respect to two elements along a direction means that a straight line passing through one of the elements and parallel to that direction also passes through the other of the two elements. The term "between" as used herein with respect to a first element that is between a second element and a third element with respect to a direction means that the first element is closer to the second element when measured along that direction than the third element is closer to the second element when measured along that direction. The term "between" includes, but does not require, that the first, second, and third elements are aligned along a direction.

[0023] The recitation of ranges of values ​​herein is merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, inclusive of the recited endpoints of the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated herein as if it were individually set forth herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context.

[0024] The headings and abstract of the disclosure provided herein are for convenience only and do not interpret the scope and meaning of the embodiments.

[0025] 3-9, the seal assembly 100 includes a seal body 102 and an energizer 104. As shown, the seal body 102 can be tubular, ring-shaped, or annular. According to one embodiment, the seal body 102 is radially symmetric about a central axis 106 of the seal body 102. The seal assembly 100 can include a bore 108 extending through the seal body 102 (e.g., parallel to the central axis 106). The seal body 102 can include a first end 110 and a second end 112 opposed to one another in a direction parallel to the central axis 106. As shown, the first end 110, the second end 112, or both, can be terminal ends of the seal body 102 such that no portion of the seal body 102 extends beyond the respective first and second ends 110, 112 in a direction parallel to the central axis 106. The first end 110 may form a first opening 114 of the bore 108, and the second end 112 may form a second opening 116 of the bore 108. The seal body 102 may include an inner surface 118 that faces the central axis 106 and extends between the first end 110 and the second end 112 and at least partially defines the bore 108.

[0026] Seal body 102 may include an outer surface 120, at least a portion of which is opposite inner surface 118 relative to a radial line 122 that extends perpendicularly from central axis 106. At least a portion of outer surface 120 forms an abutment surface 124 of seal assembly 100 that contacts and forms a seal with an inner surface of a pressure vessel in which seal assembly 100 is positioned.

[0027] The seal body 102 may include a groove 117 that supports the energizer 104. According to one embodiment, at least a portion of the groove 117 may be defined by at least one energizer abutment surface 126 of the seal body 102. The shape of the groove 117 may be selected based on the energizer 104 supported therein.

[0028] For example, as shown in FIG. 7, the at least one energizer abutment surface 126 is curved. The at least one energizer abutment surface 126 may have a constant radius of curvature. According to another embodiment, the at least one energizer abutment surface 126 may have portions with different or continuously varying radii of curvature. According to one embodiment, the radius of curvature of at least a portion of the at least one energizer abutment surface 126 corresponds to (e.g., matches) the radius of curvature of the outer surface 128 of the energizer 104 when the pressures on both sides of the energizer 104 are equal (i.e., when the energizer 104 is in an unenergized state and / or when the seal assembly 100 is not currently undergoing a pressurized operation). According to one embodiment, a portion of the circumference of the at least one energizer abutment surface 126 matches a portion of the circumference of the energizer 104. According to one embodiment, a portion of the perimeter of the at least one energizer abutment surface 126 corresponds to at least 15% of the perimeter of the energizer 104. According to one embodiment, a portion of the perimeter of the at least one energizer abutment surface 126 corresponds to at least 25% of the perimeter of the energizer 104.

[0029] 8, the at least one energizer abutment surface 126 may include a first shoulder 130 and a second shoulder 132 that are each non-parallel to the central axis 106. According to one embodiment, the first shoulder 130 and the second shoulder 132 inhibit movement of the energizer 104 relative to the seal body 102 along a direction parallel to the central axis 106. The at least one energizer abutment surface 126 may include a base surface 134 that extends between the first shoulder 130 and the second shoulder 132. The base surface 134 may include a portion that is parallel to the central axis 106.

[0030] 7 and 8, at least a portion of the first shoulder 130 may be perpendicular to the central axis 106. As shown in FIGURE 9, at least one energizer abutment surface 126 may include a V-shaped notch. According to one embodiment, the cross-sectional shapes of the groove 117 and the energizer 104 may be mismatched (e.g., the groove 117 may include a V-shaped notch and the energizer 104 may be circular).

[0031] The seal body 102 may be sized to minimize a lateral distance L, which, according to one embodiment, corresponds to the distance "behind" the energizer 104 (e.g., when the energizer 104 is supported by the seal body 102 and a pressure vessel in which the seal assembly 100 is mounted is subjected to a pressurized operation). As shown, when the energizer 104 is supported by the seal body 102, at least a portion of the at least one energizer abutment surface 126 may face (e.g., directly contact) the energizer 104. According to one embodiment, the lateral distance L is measured from the furthest reach of the sealed fluid (e.g., first end 110) to the energizer 104. According to one embodiment, the lateral distance L is measured from the furthest reach of the fluid to be sealed (e.g., the first end 110) to the intersection 135 of at least one energizer abutment surface 126 (e.g., the first shoulder 130) and the abutment surface 124.

[0032] According to one embodiment, the lateral distance L is between 0.400 and 1.7087 times the axial length W of the energizer 104. In other words, the seal assembly 100 may include a ratio of the lateral distance L to the axial length W (L / W) between 0.400 and 1.7087. As shown, the axial length W may be measured along a maximum cross-sectional dimension of the energizer 104 along a direction parallel to the central axis 106 when the energizer 104 is seated in the groove 117. For example, the axial length W of an energizer 104 with a circular cross-sectional shape (as shown in FIG. 9 ) is the diameter of the energizer 104.

[0033] According to one embodiment, the lateral distance L is 0.400 to 0.600 times the axial length W of the energizer 104. According to one embodiment, the lateral distance L is 0.600 to 1.000 times the axial length W of the energizer 104. According to one embodiment, the lateral distance L is 1.000 to 1.400 times the axial length W of the energizer 104. According to one embodiment, the lateral distance L is 1.400 to 1.7087 times the axial length W of the energizer 104. According to one embodiment, the lateral distance L is 0.400 to 1.000 times the axial length W of the energizer 104. According to one embodiment, the lateral distance L is 0.400 to 1.400 times the axial length W of the energizer 104.

[0034] According to one embodiment, the lateral distance L is measured from the furthest reach of the fluid to be sealed (e.g., first end 110) to the energizer 104. According to one embodiment, the lateral distance L is measured from the furthest reach of the fluid to be sealed (e.g., first end 110) to the intersection of at least one energizer abutment surface 126 (e.g., first shoulder 130) and the abutment surface 124.

[0035] According to one embodiment, the seal body 102 includes an inner radius R measured perpendicularly from the central axis 106 to the inner surface 118. In embodiments in which the cross-sectional shape of the bore 108 is a circle, the inner radius R is one-half the diameter of the circle. According to one embodiment, the lateral distance L is between 0.100 and 0.401 times the inner radius R. In other words, the seal assembly 100 may include a ratio of the lateral distance L to the inner radius R (L / R) between 0.100 and 0.401. According to one embodiment, the lateral distance L is between 0.100 and 0.200 times the inner radius R. According to one embodiment, the lateral distance L is between 0.200 and 0.401 times the inner radius R.

[0036] The portion of the seal body 102 that contains the groove 117 and supports the energizer 104 may be referred to as the web 136. According to one embodiment, the web 136 must be sufficiently stiff to ensure adequate bore lubrication, yet flexible enough not to be subjected to destructive shear forces. The desired stiffness of the web 136 that will extend the life of the seal assembly 100 may be achieved by dimensioning the thickness T of the web.

[0037] According to one embodiment, the web thickness T is measured from the inner surface 118 to the at least one energizer abutment surface 126 along a direction perpendicular to the central axis 106. As shown, the web thickness T may be the minimum distance between the inner surface 118 and the at least one energizer abutment surface 126 along a direction perpendicular to the central axis 106. For example, in an embodiment in which the at least one energizer abutment surface 126 includes a V-shaped notch (as shown in FIG. 9 ), the web thickness T may be measured from the inner surface 118 to the lowest point of the V-shaped notch along a direction perpendicular to the central axis 106.

[0038] According to one embodiment, the web thickness T of the seal body 102 is between 0.030 inches and 0.0385 inches. According to one embodiment, the web thickness T is between 0.068 and 0.0881 times the inner radius R. In other words, the seal assembly 100 can include a ratio of web thickness T to inner radius R (T / R) between 0.068 and 0.0881.

[0039] According to one embodiment, the seal body 102 can be sized to resist radial compression of the energizer 104 while ensuring adequate low pressure sealing of the energizer 104 and further maintain a nominal clearance between the inner surface 118 and a reciprocating plunger moving through the bore 108.

[0040] As shown, the seal body 102 can include a groove height H measured along a direction perpendicular to the central axis 106 from at least one energizer abutment surface 126 (e.g., a point on the at least one energizer abutment surface 126 closest to the central axis 106) to a plane P that is tangent to the abutment surface 124 and perpendicular to the direction perpendicular to the central axis 106.

[0041] According to one embodiment, the seal assembly 100 includes an energizer compression (e.g., radial energizer compression). The energizer compression may be a ratio of the difference between the radial height J of the energizer 104 and the groove height H to the radial height J ((JH) / J). The radial height J of the energizer 104 may be measured along a direction perpendicular to the central axis 106. The radial height J may be equal to the axial length W (e.g., when the cross-sectional shape of the energizer 104 is circular or another shape with equal height and length). According to one embodiment, the energizer compression ratio is between 0.050 and 0.155.

[0042] According to one embodiment, the energizer compression amount can be the ratio of the difference between the radial height J of the energizer 104 relative to the inner radius R and the groove height H ((JH) / R). According to one embodiment, the energizer compression ratio is between 0.015 and 0.3486.

[0043] 10, high pressure pump 150 (hereinafter "pump") includes a pressure vessel 152 having a bore 154 extending therethrough. A plunger 156 extends into bore 154 and reciprocates within pressure vessel 152 to pressurize a fluid within pressure vessel 152. Plunger 156 may be driven, for example, by a hydraulically actuated piston or a mechanical actuator.

[0044] The seal assembly 100 may seal a gap 158 between the plunger 156 and an inner wall 160 of the pressure vessel 152 that at least partially defines the bore 154 to prevent fluid from leaking from the pressure vessel 152. As shown, the seal assembly 100 may function as a dynamic seal between a movable member (e.g., the reciprocating plunger 156) and the inner wall 160. Additionally or alternatively, the seal assembly 100 (e.g., the second seal assembly 100) may function as a static seal that seals a portion of the gap 158 between a stationary member (e.g., a check valve body) and the inner wall 160. The pump 150 may include a sleeve (not shown) adjacent the inner wall 160 (e.g., between the first and second seal assemblies 100) that reduces the volume of the gap 158.

[0045] The seal body 102 may include a resilient material, such as ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene, that fills the gap 158 without being squeezed out of the gap 158 when the pressure vessel 152 is pressurized. Thus, the seal body 102 may be relatively stiff at low pressures. The energizer 104 may be more flexible than the seal body 102 at low pressures in order to seal the gap 158 when the pressure in the pressure vessel 152 is relatively low, such as at the beginning of the power stroke of the plunger 156.

[0046] The seal assembly 100 may further include a removable seal seat 162 that engages the seal body 102 and spaces the seal body 102 from a face 163 of the pressure vessel 152. The seal seat 162 may be relatively rigid in a radial direction to resist deformation toward or away from the plunger 156, or the seal seat 162 may be sufficiently flexible in a radial direction to allow at least a portion of the seal seat 162 to flex toward the plunger 156 and provide an additional seal between the plunger 156 and the inner wall 160 as the seal seat 162 is axially compressed.

[0047] As mentioned above, the seal assembly 100 may be sized to minimize the volume of fluid that gets behind the energizer 104 during pressurization operations. As shown in the illustrated embodiment, the volume "behind" the energizer 104 is represented by the gap 164. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the gaps / spacing between adjacent components have been exaggerated in the drawings to improve clarity of the illustrations and ease of identification of the components.

[0048] Fluid typically gets behind the energizer during the pressurization operation (e.g., during the power stroke of the plunger) and as a result, any fluid that gets behind the energizer is under high pressure. When the power stroke is completed, the pressure in the main volume of the pressure chamber (i.e., in front of the energizer) is reduced. As the pressure in the main volume is reduced, a pressure imbalance is created in front of and behind the energizer until the trapped fluid escapes (e.g., "squirts" over the energizer) and re-enters the main volume. This squirting can damage the energizer and adversely affect the life of the seal assembly.

[0049] The embodiments of the seal assembly 100 described herein limit the volume of fluid that can get behind the energizer 104 and enter the gap 164, thus limiting the potential damage that can be caused when such fluid re-enters the main volume of the pressure vessel 152.

[0050] In general, in the following claims, the terms used should not be construed to limit the claims to the specific implementations and embodiments disclosed in the specification and the claims, but rather to include all possible implementations and embodiments, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. Accordingly, the claims are not limited by this disclosure.

Claims

1. a seal body extending from a first end to a second end along a direction, the seal body including a groove defined at least in part by an energizer abutment surface, and further including a lateral distance that is a smallest dimension measured along the direction from the energizer abutment surface to the first end; an energizer seated in said groove such that said energizer faces said energizer abutment surface, said energizer including an axial length that is a maximum dimension of said energizer measured along said direction; wherein a ratio of the lateral distance to the axial length is greater than or equal to 0.400 and less than or equal to 1.7087.

2. The seal assembly of claim 1 including a bore extending through said seal body from said first end to said second end along a central axis of said seal body, said central axis being parallel to said direction.

3. The seal assembly of claim 2 , wherein the seal body is radially symmetric about the central axis.

4. 4. The seal assembly of claim 3, wherein a portion of the seal body includes a maximum dimension measured along a direction perpendicular to the central axis, and the portion is positioned between the groove and the first end relative to a direction parallel to the central axis.

5. The seal assembly of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein at least a portion of the energizer abutment surface is perpendicular to the direction, and the lateral distance is measured from the portion of the energizer abutment surface.

6. The seal assembly of any preceding claim, wherein the energizer abutment surface includes a curved portion having a radius of curvature that matches a radius of curvature of a portion of the circumference of the energizer.

7. The seal assembly of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the energizer is an O-ring having a circular cross-sectional shape.

8. The seal assembly of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the ratio of the lateral distance to the axial length is greater than or equal to 0.400 and less than or equal to 0.

600.

9. The seal assembly of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the ratio of the lateral distance to the axial length is greater than or equal to 0.600 and less than or equal to 1.

000.

10. The seal assembly of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the ratio of the lateral distance to the axial length is greater than or equal to 1.000 and less than or equal to 1.

400.

11. The seal assembly of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the ratio of the lateral distance to the axial length is greater than or equal to 1.400 and less than or equal to 1.7087.

12. The seal assembly of any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the seal body includes an inner radius measured perpendicularly from the central axis to an inner surface of the seal body that forms at least a portion of the bore.

13. The seal assembly of claim 12 , wherein a ratio of the lateral distance to the inner radius is greater than or equal to 0.10 and less than or equal to 0.

401.

14. The seal assembly of claim 13 , wherein the ratio of the lateral distance to the inner radius is greater than or equal to 0.10 and less than or equal to 0.

20.

15. The seal assembly of claim 13 , wherein the ratio of the lateral distance to the inner radius is greater than or equal to 0.20 and less than or equal to 0.

401.

16. 13. The seal assembly of claim 12, wherein the seal body includes a web thickness that is the smallest distance measured perpendicular to the central axis from the inner surface of the seal body to the energizer abutment surface, and a ratio of the web thickness to the inner radius is greater than or equal to 0.068 and less than or equal to 0.0881.

17. The seal assembly of claim 16 , wherein the web thickness is greater than or equal to 0.030 inches and less than or equal to 0.0385 inches.

18. the seal body includes an inner radius measured perpendicularly from the central axis to an inner surface of the seal body that defines at least a portion of the bore; the seal body includes a web thickness, which is the smallest distance measured perpendicular to the central axis from the inner surface of the seal body to the energizer abutment surface; and The seal assembly of any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein a ratio of the web thickness to the inside radius is greater than or equal to 0.068 and less than or equal to 0.0881.

19. The seal assembly of claim 18 , wherein the web thickness is greater than or equal to 0.030 inches and less than or equal to 0.0385 inches.

20. the seal body includes a groove height that is a maximum distance measured perpendicular to the central axis from the energizer abutment surface to a plane tangent to a point on an outermost portion of the seal body, the plane being perpendicular to the groove height; the energizer includes a radial height, which is a maximum cross-sectional dimension of the energizer measured perpendicular to the central axis; and The seal assembly according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein a ratio of the difference between the radial height and the groove height to the radial height is equal to or greater than 0.050 and equal to or less than 0.

155.

21. the seal body includes a groove height that is a maximum distance measured perpendicular to the central axis from the energizer abutment surface to a plane tangent to a point on an outermost portion of the seal body, the plane being perpendicular to the groove height; the energizer includes a radial height, which is a maximum cross-sectional dimension of the energizer measured perpendicular to the central axis; and The seal assembly of claim 12 , wherein a ratio of a difference between the radial height and the groove height relative to the inner radius is greater than or equal to 0.015 and less than or equal to 0.3486.

22. 1. A seal assembly including a seal body extending along a direction from a first end to a second end, the seal body comprising: a groove defined at least in part by the energizer abutment surface; a lateral distance, the smallest dimension measured from the energizer abutment surface to the first end along said direction; a bore extending through the seal body from the first end to the second end along a central axis of the seal body, the central axis being parallel to the direction; and an inside radius measured perpendicularly from the central axis to an inside surface of the seal body that defines at least a portion of the bore; wherein a ratio of the lateral distance to the inner radius is greater than or equal to 0.10 and is less than or equal to 0.

401.

23. The seal assembly of claim 22 further comprising an energizer seated in the groove such that the energizer faces the energizer abutment surface.

24. 24. The seal assembly of claim 22 or 23, wherein the ratio of the lateral distance to the inner radius is greater than or equal to 0.10 and less than or equal to 0.

20.

25. 24. The seal assembly of claim 22 or 23, wherein the ratio of the lateral distance to the inner radius is greater than or equal to 0.20 and less than or equal to 0.

401.

26. 1. A seal assembly including a seal body extending along a direction from a first end to a second end, the seal body comprising: a groove defined at least in part by the energizer abutment surface; a bore extending through the seal body from the first end to the second end along a central axis of the seal body, the central axis being parallel to the direction; and an inside radius measured perpendicularly from the central axis to an inside surface of the seal body forming at least a portion of the bore; a web thickness, which is the smallest distance measured perpendicular to the central axis from the inner surface of the seal body to the energizer abutment surface; wherein a ratio of the web thickness to the inside radius is greater than or equal to 0.068 and less than or equal to 0.0881.

27. 27. The seal assembly of claim 26, wherein the web thickness is greater than or equal to 0.030 inches and less than or equal to 0.0385 inches.

28. a seal body extending along a direction from a first end to a second end, the seal body including a groove defined at least in part by the energizer abutment surface; a bore extending through the seal body from the first end to the second end along a central axis of the seal body, the central axis being parallel to the direction; and an energizer seated within the groove such that the energizer faces the energizer abutment surface, the energizer including a radial height that is a maximum cross-sectional dimension of the energizer measured perpendicular to the central axis; 1. A seal assembly comprising: the seal body includes a groove height that is the maximum distance measured perpendicular to the central axis from the energizer abutment surface to a plane that is 1) tangent to a point on an outermost portion of the seal body relative to the central axis, and 2) perpendicular to the groove height; a ratio of the difference between said radial height and said groove height to said radial height is greater than or equal to 0.050 and less than or equal to 0.

155.

29. a seal body extending along a direction from a first end to a second end, the seal body including a groove defined at least in part by the energizer abutment surface; a bore extending through the seal body from the first end to the second end along a central axis of the seal body, the central axis being parallel to the direction; and an energizer seated within the groove such that the energizer faces the energizer abutment surface, the energizer including a radial height that is a maximum cross-sectional dimension of the energizer measured perpendicular to the central axis; 1. A seal assembly comprising: the seal body includes a groove height that is the maximum distance measured perpendicular to the central axis from the energizer abutment surface to a plane that is 1) tangent to a point on an outermost portion of the seal body relative to the central axis, and 2) perpendicular to the groove height; the seal body includes an inner radius measured perpendicularly from the central axis to an inner surface of the seal body that defines at least a portion of the bore; a ratio of the difference between said radial height and said groove height relative to said inner radius is greater than or equal to 0.015 and less than or equal to 0.3486.

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