High-pressure-fluid machine, a seal

Abstract

The seal, for use especially in non-lubricated, high-pressure, as compressors, in a one-piece, continuous sleeve which envelopes a reciprocable piston for sealing against the piston, or against the cylinder in which the piston translates. One end of the sleeve effects the sealing engagement, and the other end is spring-loaded to maintain the engagement. During operation of the compressor, or the like, it is the high-pressure gas which urges the seal into sealing engagement.

We claim: 
     
       1. In a high-pressure-fluid machine, a seal, comprising: a cylinder, having an inner, bore surface; and   a piston, having an .[.outer.]. .Iadd.outermost.Iaddend., cylindrical surface; wherein   said piston is reciprocably disposed in said cylinder; and   a seal .Iadd.wholly .Iaddend.interposed .Iadd.directly .Iaddend.between said .[.piston and said cylinder.]. .Iadd.surfaces.Iaddend., for sealing against one of said surfaces; wherein   said seal comprises a one-piece, continuous sleeve;   said seal has (a) a sealing surface at only one end thereof, and (b) a bearing surface at an end thereof which is opposite said one end; and   means confined within said cylinder, and engaged with said bearing surface end of said seal, for urging said one sealing end of said seal into sealing engagement with said one surface; wherein   said .Iadd.outermost surface of said .Iaddend.piston has a shoulder formed thereon;   said urging means comprises a compression spring in envelopment of said .Iadd.outermost surface of said .Iaddend.piston; and   said spring has an end thereof engaged with said shoulder.   
     
     
       2. The invention, according to claim 1, wherein: said shoulder, spring, and said seal, excepting said sealing end thereof, are spaced apart from said bore surface of said cylinder. .[.3. The invention, according to claim 1, wherein:   said cylinder has an annulus nested therein;   said urging means comprises a compression spring in envelopment of said piston; and   
     
     
       said spring has an end thereof engaged with said annulus..]. 4. In a high-pressure-fluid machine, a seal, comprising: a cylinder, having an inner, .Iadd.cylindrical, .Iaddend.bore surface; and   a piston, having an .[.outer.]. .Iadd.outermost.Iaddend., cylindrical surface; wherein   said piston is reciprocably disposed in said cylinder; and   a seal .Iadd.wholly .Iaddend.interposed .Iadd.directly .Iaddend.between said .[.piston and said cylinder.]. .Iadd.surfaces.Iaddend., for sealing against one of said surfaces; wherein   said seal comprises a one-piece, continuous sleeve;   said seal has (a) a sealing surface at only one end thereof, and (b) a bearing surface at an end thereof which is opposite said one end; and   means confined within said cylinder, and engaged with said bearing surface end of said seal, four urging said one sealing end of said seal into sealing engagement with said one surface; wherein   one of said .Iadd.cylindrical .Iaddend.surfaces has .[.means.]. .Iadd.a flute or groove .Iaddend.formed therein for accommodating a conduct of pressured fluid along said piston for impingement of such fluid with said   
     
     
        bearing-surface end of said seal. 5. The invention, according to claim 4, wherein: said urging means and said seal, excepting said sealing end thereof are   
     
     
        spaced apart from said bore surface of said cylinder. 6. The invention, according to claim 4, wherein: said fluid-accommodating means comprises a channel.]. .Iadd.one cylindrical surface has a plurality of flutes or grooves .Iaddend.formed .[.in said   
     
     
        one surface.]. .Iadd.therein. .Iaddend. 7. The invention, according to claim 6, wherein: said .[.outer.]. .Iadd.outermost .Iaddend.cylindrical surface of said   
     
     
        piston is said one .Iadd.cylindrical .Iaddend.surface. 8. The invention, according to claim 6, wherein: said inner, bore surface of said cylinder is said one .Iadd.cylindrical   
     
     
        .Iaddend.surface. 9. The invention, according to claim 4, further including: an annulus, in envelopment of said piston, for guiding said piston in   
     
     
        reciprocation. 10. The invention, according to claim 9, wherein: 
     
     
       said annulus is carried by said piston. 11. The invention according to claim 9, wherein: 
     
     
       said annulus is nested in said cylinder. .Iadd.12.  For use in a high-pressure machine having (a) a cylinder with an inner, longitudinal, bore surface, and (b) a piston, reciprocable within said cylinder, with an outermost, longitudinal, cylindrical surface and an annular shoulder formed thereon, means for fluid-sealing against one of said surface, comprising: a one-piece, continuous, elongate, sleeve-shaped seal for interpositioning thereof wholly and directly between said surfaces; wherein   said seal has a flared end which is (a) subject to having been improperly flared, and (b) susceptible to unflaring due to a loss of the flare memory thereof, said end comprising means for effecting a fluid-sealing engagement thereof with said one surface;   said seal further has a bearing surface at the end thereof which is opposite said flared end;   said opposite end comprises means responsive to pressure fluid addressed thereto for urging said flared end of said seal into the aforesaid fluid-sealing engagement thereof with said one surface; and   biasing means, for (a) interpositioning thereof between said opposite end of said seal and the shoulder on the piston of the machine, and (b) envelopment of said outermost surface of the piston, for applying force to said opposite end of said seal (a) to cause said flared end to assume a proper flare and (b) to maintain a fluid-sealing engagement of said flared end with said one surface, in an absence of a pressured fluid addressed to said apposite end of said seal. .Iaddend. .Iadd.13. Means for fluid-sealing, according to claim 12, wherein said biasing means comprise a compression spring. .Iaddend. .Iadd.14. For use in a high-pressure machine having (a) a cylinder with an inner, longitudinal, bore surface, and (b) an elongate piston, reciprocable within said cylinder, with (a) an outermost, longitudinal, cylindrical surface, (b) an annular shoulder formed thereon, and (c) a plurality of longitudinal grooves formed in the outermost cylindrical surface thereof, means for fluid-sealing against said bore surface, comprising:   a one-piece, continuous, elongate, sleeve-shaped seal for interpositioning thereof wholly and directly between said surfaces; wherein   said seal has a flared end which is (a) subject to having been improperly flared, and (b) susceptible to unflaring sue to a loss of the flare memory thereof, said end comprising means for effecting fluid-sealing engagement thereof with said bore surface;   said seal further has a bearing surface at the end thereof which is opposite said flared end;   said opposite end comprises means responsive to pressured fluid addressed thereto for urging said flared end of said seal into the aforesaid fluid-sealing engagement thereof with said bore surface; and   biasing means, for emplacement thereof (a) circumjacent the plurality of grooves in the piston cylindrical surface, and (b) interpositionally between the shoulder on the piston and the opposite end of said seal, for applying force to said opposite end of said seal, (a) to cause said flared end to assume a proper flare, and (b) to maintain a fluid-sealing engagement of said flared end with said bore surface, in an absence of a pressure fluid addressed to said opposite end of said seal. .Iaddend.   
     
     
        .Iadd.15.  Means for fluid-sealing, according to claim 14, wherein: said biasing means comprises a compression spring. .Iaddend. .Iadd.16. For use, in combination, in a high-pressure-fluid machine which has a cylinder with an inner, bore surface, piston means for reciprocable disposition thereof within said cylinder, and means mounted on said piston means for fluid-sealing against said bore surface, comprising:   an elongate piston having (a) an outermost, longitudinal, cylindrical surface, (b) an annular shoulder formed thereon, and (c) a plurality of longitudinal grooves formed in the outermost surface thereof, for accommodating a conduct of pressured fluid along said piston;   a one-piece, continuous, elongate, sleeve-shaped seal set about said piston for interpositioning thereof wholly and directly between said surfaces; wherein   said seal has a flared end which is (a) subject to having been improperly flared, and (b) susceptible to unflaring due to a loss of the flare memory thereof, said end comprising means for effecting a fluid-sealing engagement thereof with said bore surface;   said seal further has a bearing surface at the end thereof which is opposite said flared end;   said opposite end comprises means responsive to pressured fluid addressed thereto, via said plurality of grooves, for urging said flared end of said seal into the aforesaid fluid-sealing engagement thereof with said bore surface; and   biasing means, disposed about said piston, and interpositionally between said shoulder of said piston and said opposite end of said seal, operative in an absence of a pressured fluid addressed to said opposite end of said seal, (a) to cause said flared end of said seal to assume a proper flare, and (b) to maintain a fluid-sealing engagement of said flared end with   
     
     
        said bore surface. .Iaddend. .Iadd.17.  The combination, according to claim 16, wherein: said biasing means comprises a spring. .Iaddend.