Systems, assemblies, apparatuses, and methods providing enhanced fluid seal for high-power pumps
Systems, assemblies, apparatuses, and methods herein may provide an enhanced fluid seal between two components. A seal may include an annular seal body having a groove face, a sealing face opposite the groove face, a first lateral face, and a second lateral face opposite the first lateral face. The groove face may have an at least partially convex groove edge, and the sealing face may have an at least partially concave sealing edge and a protrusion. The first and second lateral faces may be oblique with respect to one another, and the groove face, the sealing face, the first lateral face, and/or the second lateral face may cause the seal to deform in a groove of a first one of the two components when a second one of the two components presses against the sealing face, thereby to enhance the fluid seal between the two components.
1 . A seal to enhance a fluid seal between an outer surface of a first component having a substantially circular cross-section and an inner surface of a second component, the seal comprising:
an annular seal body having:
(a) a groove face positioned to face a groove of one of the first component or the second component;
(b) a sealing face opposite the groove face and positioned to face away from the groove face;
(c) a first lateral face extending between the groove face and the sealing face; and
(d) a second lateral face opposite the first lateral face and extending between the groove face and the sealing face;
the annular seal body also having a seal cross-section at least partially defined by the groove face, the sealing face, the first lateral face, and the second lateral face, the seal cross-section having:
(i) a groove edge at least partially defined by the groove face, the groove edge being at least partially convex and at least partially defining a groove edge radius;
(ii) a sealing edge at least partially defined by the sealing face, the sealing edge being at least partially concave and having a protrusion between the first lateral face and the second lateral face;
(iii) a first lateral edge at least partially defined by the first lateral face; and
(iv) a second lateral edge at least partially defined by the second lateral face, the first lateral edge and the second lateral edge being oblique with respect to one another,
the first lateral edge and the sealing edge defining a sealing edge intersection, the groove edge defining a groove edge apex, the protrusion defining a protrusion apex, the sealing edge intersection and a groove edge apex defining a first radial dimension less than the groove edge radius, and the groove edge apex and a protrusion apex defining a second radial dimension less than the first radial dimension, and one or more of the groove face, the sealing face, the first lateral face, or the second lateral face being positioned to cause the seal to deform in the groove of the one of the first component or the second component when the other of the first component or the second component presses against the protrusion in a direction toward the groove face, thereby to expand the annular seal body laterally outward from the first lateral face and the second lateral face, thereby to enhance the fluid seal between the first component and the second component when positioned in an annular groove of a high-power pump.
2 . The seal of claim 1 , wherein:
the seal cross-section at least partially defines a radial axis extending between the groove edge and the sealing edge and a circumferential axis extending between the first lateral edge and the second lateral edge, the radial axis and the circumferential axis being substantially perpendicular relative to one another, and
one or more of the first lateral edge or the second lateral edge extends obliquely with respect to the radial axis, such that the first lateral edge and the second lateral edge are closer to one another at the groove edge.
3 . The seal of claim 2 , wherein the seal cross-section has bilateral symmetry with respect to the radial axis.
4 . The seal of claim 1 , wherein the groove edge radius at least partially extends between the first lateral edge and the second lateral edge.
5 . The seal of claim 1 , wherein a ratio of the groove edge radius to the first radial dimension ranges from about 3:1 to about 1.1:1.
6 . The seal of claim 1 , wherein the seal cross-section defines one or more of (a) a first rounded transition between the groove edge and the first lateral edge or (b) and a second rounded transition between the groove edge and the second lateral edge.
7 . The seal of claim 1 , wherein the first lateral edge at least partially defines:
a groove end portion adjacent the groove edge, and
a sealing end portion adjacent the sealing edge, the groove end portion and the sealing end portion being non-colinear.
8 . The seal of claim 7 , wherein the seal cross-section at least partially defines a radial axis extending between the groove edge and the sealing edge and a circumferential axis extending between the first lateral edge and the second lateral edge, wherein the radial axis and the circumferential axis being substantially perpendicular relative to one another, and wherein
the groove end portion and the sealing end portion extend obliquely with respect to the radial axis.
9 . The seal of claim 7 , wherein:
the seal cross-section at least partially defines a radial axis extending between the groove edge and the sealing edge and a circumferential axis extending between the first lateral edge and the second lateral edge, the radial axis and the circumferential axis being substantially perpendicular relative to one another;
the groove end portion extends in a first direction defining a first angle with the radial axis; and
the sealing end portion extends in a second direction defining a second angle with the radial axis, the second angle being different than the first angle.
10 . The seal of claim 9 , wherein the first angle is less than the second angle.
11 . The seal of claim 10 , wherein the first angle ranges from about 1 degree to about 10 degrees, and the second angle ranges from about 5 degrees to about 25 degrees.
12 . The seal of claim 1 , wherein the second lateral edge at least partially defines:
a groove end portion adjacent the groove edge, and
a sealing end portion adjacent the sealing edge, and wherein
the groove end portion and the sealing end portion being non-colinear.
13 . The seal of claim 12 , wherein the seal cross-section at least partially defines a radial axis extending between the groove edge and the sealing edge and a circumferential axis extending between the first lateral edge and the second lateral edge, the radial axis and the circumferential axis are substantially perpendicular relative to one another, and wherein
the groove end portion and the sealing end portion extend obliquely with respect to the radial axis.
14 . The seal of claim 12 , wherein:
the seal cross-section at least partially defines a radial axis extending between the groove edge and the sealing edge and a circumferential axis extending between the first lateral edge and the second lateral edge, the radial axis and the circumferential axis being substantially perpendicular relative to one another,
the groove end portion extends in a first direction defining a first angle with the radial axis; and
the sealing end portion extends in a second direction defining a second angle with the radial axis, the second angle being different than the first angle.
15 . The seal of claim 14 , wherein the first angle is less than the second angle.
16 . The seal of claim 15 , wherein the first angle ranges from about 1 degree to about 10 degrees, and the second angle ranges from about 5 degrees to about 25 degrees.
17 . The seal of claim 1 , wherein:
the first lateral edge at least partially defines:
a first groove end portion adjacent the groove edge, and
a first sealing end portion adjacent the sealing edge, and
wherein the second lateral edge at least partially defines:
a second groove end portion adjacent the groove edge; and
a second sealing end portion adjacent the sealing edge; wherein
the first groove end portion and the first sealing end portion are non-colinear; and
the second groove end portion and the second sealing end portion are non-colinear.
18 . The seal of claim 1 , wherein the sealing edge at least partially defines:
a first lateral sealing edge portion adjacent the first lateral edge, and
a first intermediate sealing edge portion adjacent the protrusion, and wherein the first lateral sealing edge portion and the first intermediate sealing edge portion being non-colinear.
19 . The seal of claim 18 , wherein:
the seal cross-section at least partially defines a radial axis extending between the groove edge and the sealing edge and a circumferential axis extending between the first lateral edge and the second lateral edge, the radial axis and the circumferential axis being substantially perpendicular relative to one another, and
wherein the first lateral sealing edge portion is substantially parallel to the circumferential axis.
20 . The seal of claim 19 , wherein the first intermediate sealing edge portion defines an angle ranging from about 1 degree to about 20 degrees with respect to the circumferential axis.
21 . The seal of claim 1 , wherein the sealing edge and the protrusion face radially outward, and wherein the groove edge faces radially inward.
22 . The seal of claim 1 , wherein the sealing edge and the protrusion face radially inward, and the groove edge faces radially outward.
23 . A high-power pump comprising:
(a) a power end;
(b) a fluid end connected to the power end, the fluid end including a fluid end housing at least partially defining an access port;
(c) a cover received in the access port; and
(d) a seal positioned between the cover and the access port to provide a fluid seal between the cover and the fluid end housing, the seal comprising:
an annular seal body having:
(1) a groove face positioned to face an annular groove of one of the cover or the fluid end housing,
(2) a sealing face opposite the groove face,
(3) a first lateral face extending between the groove face and the sealing face, and
(4) a second lateral face opposite the first lateral face and extending between the groove face and the sealing face;
the annular seal body also having a seal cross-section at least partially defined by the groove face, the sealing face, the first lateral face, and the second lateral face, the seal cross-section having:
(i) a groove edge at least partially defined by the groove face, the groove edge being at least partially convex,
(ii) a sealing edge at least partially defined by the sealing face, the sealing edge being at least partially concave and having a protrusion between the first lateral face and the second lateral face,
(iii) a first lateral edge at least partially defined by the first lateral face; and
(iv) a second lateral edge at least partially defined by the second lateral face, the first lateral edge and the second lateral edge being oblique with respect to one another,
the first lateral edge and the sealing edge defining a sealing edge intersection, the groove edge defining a groove edge apex, the protrusion defining a protrusion apex, the sealing edge intersection and a groove edge apex defining a first radial dimension, and the groove edge apex and a protrusion apex defining a second radial dimension less than the first radial dimension, and one or more of the groove face, the sealing face, the first lateral face, or the second lateral face being positioned to cause the seal to deform in the groove of the one of the fluid end housing or the cover as the fluid end presses against the protrusion in a direction toward the groove face, thereby to expand the annular seal body laterally outward from the first lateral face and the second lateral face, thereby to enhance the fluid seal between the cover and the fluid end housing.
24 . The high-power pump of claim 23 , wherein the cover defines the annular groove, and the seal is positioned in the annular groove with the groove face of the seal facing the annular groove.
25 . The high-power pump of claim 23 , wherein the fluid end housing defines the annular groove, and the seal is positioned in the annular groove with the groove face of the seal facing the annular groove.
26 . A seal to enhance a fluid seal between an outer surface of a first component having a substantially circular cross-section and an inner surface of a second component, the seal comprising:
an annular seal body having:
(a) a groove face positioned to face a groove of one of the first component or the second component;
(b) a sealing face opposite the groove face and positioned to face away from the groove face;
(c) a first lateral face extending between the groove face and the sealing face; and
(d) a second lateral face opposite the first lateral face and extending between the groove face and the sealing face;
the annular seal body also having a seal cross-section at least partially defined by the groove face, the sealing face, the first lateral face, and the second lateral face, the seal cross-section having:
(i) a groove edge at least partially defined by the groove face, the groove edge being at least partially convex and at least partially defining a groove edge radius;
(ii) a sealing edge at least partially defined by the sealing face, the sealing edge being at least partially concave and having a protrusion between the first lateral face and the second lateral face,
(iii) a first lateral edge at least partially defined by the first lateral face;
(iv) a second lateral edge at least partially defined by the second lateral face, the first lateral edge and the second lateral edge being oblique with respect to one another, and
(v) one of more of (1) a first rounded transition between the groove edge and the first lateral edge or (2) and a second rounded transition between the groove edge and the second lateral edge,
the first lateral edge and the sealing edge defining a sealing edge intersection, the groove edge defining a groove edge apex, the protrusion defining a protrusion apex, the sealing edge intersection and a groove edge apex defining a first radial dimension less than the groove edge radius, and the groove edge apex and a protrusion apex defining a second radial dimension less than the first radial dimension, and one or more of the groove face, the sealing face, the first lateral face, or the second lateral face being positioned to cause the seal to deform in the groove of the one of the first component or the second component when the other of the first component or the second component presses against the protrusion in a direction toward the groove face, thereby to expand the annular seal body laterally outward from the first lateral face and the second lateral face, thereby to enhance the fluid seal between the first component and the second component when positioned in an annular groove of a high-power pump.
27 . The seal of claim 26 , wherein the seal cross-section at least partially defines a radial axis extending between the groove edge and the sealing edge, and the seal cross-section has bilateral symmetry with respect to the radial axis.
28 . The seal of claim 26 , wherein the groove edge radius at least partially extends between the first lateral edge and the second lateral edge.
29 . The seal of claim 26 , wherein a ratio of the groove edge radius to the first radial dimension ranges from about 3:1 to about 1.1:1.
30 . The seal of claim 26 , wherein one or more of (a) the first lateral edge is substantially straight between the first rounded transition and the sealing edge or (b) the second lateral edge is substantially straight between the second rounded transition and the sealing edge.