Deployable pressure energized sealing backup systems for improved long term reliability

Abstract

Provided is a sealing ring and a sealing system. The sealing ring, in one aspect, includes a sealing ring member having an inside diameter face, an outside diameter face, a primary seal side face, and a gland side face. The sealing ring according to this aspect further includes a secondary seal coupled to at least one of the inside diameter face, the outside diameter face, the primary seal side face or the gland side face.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sealing ring, comprising:
 a sealing ring member having an inside diameter face, an outside diameter face, a primary seal side face, and a gland side face; and   a secondary seal coupled to at least one of the inside diameter face, the outside diameter face, the primary seal side face or the gland side face.   
     
     
         2 . The sealing ring as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the secondary seal is coupled to the inside diameter face. 
     
     
         3 . The sealing ring as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the primary seal side face has a ramp member. 
     
     
         4 . The sealing ring as recited in  claim 3 , wherein the ramp member is a lobe member having a centerpoint, and further wherein the centerpoint of the lobe member is positioned more proximate the inside diameter face than the outside diameter face. 
     
     
         5 . The sealing ring as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the gland side face slopes inward toward the seal side face as it moves from the inside diameter face to the outside diameter face. 
     
     
         6 . The sealing ring as recited in  claim 5 , wherein the gland side face slopes inward from about 2 degrees to about 20 degrees from vertical. 
     
     
         7 . The sealing ring as recited in  claim 5 , wherein the gland side face slopes inward from about 6 degrees to about 14 degrees from vertical. 
     
     
         8 . The sealing ring as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the outside diameter face slopes upward as it moves from the gland side face to the seal side face. 
     
     
         9 . The sealing ring as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the outside diameter face slopes upward from about 2 degrees to about 20 degrees from horizontal. 
     
     
         10 . The sealing ring as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the inside diameter face slopes downward as it moves from the gland side face to the seal side face. 
     
     
         11 . The sealing ring as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the secondary seal is coupled to the inside diameter face.