Resilient seal

1. An annular axial seal comprising:

a central section comprising a first linear section which has a first end and a second end, a first side in a first plane and an opposite second side in a second plane, said second plane being substantially parallel to said first plane, wherein the first linear section does not have any inflection points formed therein, said central section having a frustro-conical shape;

a first portion contiguous with the first end of the first linear section and curving with respect to the first linear section in accordance with a first predetermined radius such that the first portion breaks the first plane, the first portion extending to a first end;

a second portion contiguous with the second end of the first linear section, the second portion comprising:

an arcuate portion that is contiguous with the second end of the first linear section and which curls in accordance with a second predetermined radius such that the arcuate portion breaks the first plane;

a second linear section contiguous with the arcuate portion such that the arcuate portion is between the first linear section and the second linear section, the second linear section having a predetermined length, a first side in a first plane and an opposite second side in a second plane that is substantially parallel to the first plane of the second linear section, wherein the first plane of the second linear section is located across from the first plane of the first linear section;

a curved end portion contiguous with the second linear section such that the second linear section is between the arcuate portion and the curved end portion, the curved end portion extending to a second end, the curved end portion curling inward in accordance with a third predetermined radius such that (i) the curved end portion breaks the plane of the first side of the second linear section, (ii) the second end is located directly across from the first side of said first linear section by a predetermined distance, and (iii) the first and second ends do not directly face each other, wherein the predetermined length of the second linear section and the second predetermined radius of the arcuate portion determine the predetermined distance which separates the second end from the first side of the first linear section; and

wherein the height from the arcuate portion to the first end of the first portion is greater than the height from the arcuate portion to the second end of the curved end portion.

2. The annular axial seal according to claim 1 wherein the annular axial seal is metallic.

3. The annular axial seal according to claim 2 wherein the annular axial seal is fabricated from a ductile, corrosion-resistant, high-strength metal.

4. An annular axial seal comprising:

a linear, central body portion comprising a first end and a second end, a first side in a first plane and an opposite second side in a second plane, said second plane being substantially parallel to said first plane, said linear, central body portion having a frustro-conical shape;

a first portion contiguous with the first end of the linear, central body portion and curving with respect to the linear, central body portion in accordance with a first predetermined radius such that the first portion breaks the first plane, the first portion extending to a first end;

a second portion contiguous with the second end of the linear, central body portion, the second portion comprising:

an arcuate portion that is contiguous with the second end of the linear, central body portion and which curls in accordance with a second predetermined radius, such that the arcuate portion breaks the first plane; a linear section contiguous with the arcuate portion such that the arcuate portion is between the linear, central body portion section and the linear section, the linear section having a predetermined length, a first side in a first plane and an opposite second side in a second plane that is substantially parallel to the first plane of the linear section, wherein the first plane of the linear section is located across from the first plane of the linear, central body portion;

a curved end portion contiguous with the linear section such that the linear section is between the arcuate portion and the curved end portion, the curved end portion extending to a second end, the curved end portion curling inward in accordance with a third predetermined radius such that (i) the curved end portion breaks the plane of the first side of the linear section, (ii) the second end is located directly across from the first side of the linear, central body portion by a predetermined distance and (iii) the first and second ends do not directly face each other, wherein the predetermined length of the linear section and the second predetermined radius of the arcuate portion determine the predetermined distance separating the second end from the first side of the linear, central body portion; and

wherein the height from the arcuate portion to the first end of the first portion is greater than the height from the arcuate portion to the second end of the curved end portion.

5. An annular axial seal comprising:

a linear, central body portion comprising a first end and a second end, a first side in a first plane and an opposite second side in a second plane, said second plane being substantially parallel to said first plane, said linear, central body portion having a frustro-conical shape;

a first portion contiguous with the first end of the linear, central body portion and curving with respect to the linear, central body portion in accordance with a first predetermined radius such that the first portion breaks the first plane, the first portion terminating in a first, free annular edge;

a second portion contiguous with the second end of the linear, central body portion, the second portion comprising:

an arcuate portion that is contiguous with the second end of the linear, central body portion and which curls in accordance with a second predetermined radius, such that the arcuate portion breaks the first plane;

a linear section contiguous with the arcuate portion such that the arcuate portion is between the linear, central body portion section and the linear section, the linear section having a predetermined length, a first side in a first plane and an opposite second side in a second plane that is substantially parallel to the first plane of the linear section, wherein the first plane of the linear section is located across from the first plane of the linear, central body portion;

a curved end portion contiguous with the linear section such that the linear section is between the arcuate portion and the curved end portion, the curved end portion terminating in a second, free annular edge, the curved end portion curling inward in accordance with a third predetermined radius such that (i) the curved end portion breaks the plane of the first side of the linear section, (ii) the second, free annular edge is located directly across from the first side of the linear, central body portion by a predetermined distance and (iii) the first and second free annular edges do not directly face each other, wherein the predetermined length of the linear section and the second predetermined radius of the arcuate portion determine the predetermined distance separating the second, free annular edge from the first side of the linear, central body portion; and

wherein the height from the arcuate portion to the first, free annular edge of the first portion is greater than the height from the arcuate portion to the second, free annular edge of the curved end portion.