Annular Sealing Device

Abstract

An annular seal comprising a metallic ring having a cross section. The cross section includes an axially extending body portion having a radial width and an axial height. A spaced apart pair of sealing arms extend axially from the body portion, wherein each sealing arm includes a radially opposed arcuate sealing surface. The arcuate sealing surface may be convex, for example. The spaced apart pair of sealing arms are spaced apart a radial distance greater than the radial width of the body portion. A sealing system comprises a plurality of interconnected metallic rings wherein the body portion engages the sealing arms of an adjacent metallic ring.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An annular seal, comprising:
 a metallic ring having a cross section including:
 an axially extending body portion having a radial width and an axial height; 
 a spaced apart pair of sealing arms extending axially from the body portion, wherein each sealing arm includes a radially opposed arcuate sealing surface; and 
 wherein the spaced apart pair of sealing arms are spaced apart a radial distance greater than the radial width of the body portion. 
   
     
     
         2 . The seal according to  claim 1 , wherein the arcuate sealing surfaces are convex. 
     
     
         3 . The seal according to  claim 1 , wherein the axial height of the body portion is greater than the radial width. 
     
     
         4 . The seal according to  claim 1 , wherein the spaced apart pair of sealing arms defines a first groove and further comprising a second groove formed between the spaced apart pair of sealing arms. 
     
     
         5 . The seal according to  claim 1 , wherein the spaced apart pair of sealing arms define an axial groove having sidewalls and a bottom, wherein the bottom has a concave shape. 
     
     
         6 . The seal according to  claim 1 , wherein the spaced apart pair of sealing arms define an axial groove having sidewalls and a bottom, wherein the bottom comprises two converging surfaces. 
     
     
         7 . The seal according to  claim 1 , wherein the spaced apart pair of sealing arms defines a groove having an axial groove depth and wherein the axial height of the body portion is greater than the axial groove depth. 
     
     
         8 . The seal according to  claim 7 , wherein the arcuate sealing surfaces are convex. 
     
     
         9 . The seal according to  claim 8 , wherein the axial height of the body portion is greater than the radial width. 
     
     
         10 . The seal according to  claim 9 , further comprising a second groove formed between the spaced apart pair of sealing arms. 
     
     
         11 . A sealing system, comprising:
 a plurality of interconnected metallic rings each having a cross section including:
 an axially extending body portion having a radial width and an axial height; 
 a spaced apart pair of sealing arms extending axially from the body portion, wherein each sealing arm includes a radially opposed arcuate sealing surface; and 
 wherein the spaced apart pair of sealing arms are spaced apart a radial distance greater than the radial width of the body portion. 
   
     
     
         12 . The sealing system according to  claim 11 , wherein the body portion engages the sealing arms of an adjacent metallic ring. 
     
     
         13 . The sealing system according to  claim 11 , wherein the arcuate sealing surfaces are convex. 
     
     
         14 . The sealing system according to  claim 11 , wherein the spaced apart pair of sealing arms defines a first groove and further comprising a second groove formed between the spaced apart pair of sealing arms. 
     
     
         15 . The sealing system according to  claim 14 , wherein the body portion engages the first groove of an adjacent metallic ring. 
     
     
         16 . The sealing system according to  claim 11 , wherein the spaced apart pair of sealing arms defines a groove having an axial groove depth and wherein the axial height of the body portion is greater than the axial groove depth. 
     
     
         17 . The sealing system according to  claim 16 , wherein the body portion engages the groove of an adjacent metallic ring. 
     
     
         18 . The sealing system according to  claim 17 , wherein the arcuate sealing surfaces are convex. 
     
     
         19 . The sealing system according to  claim 18 , further comprising a second groove formed between the spaced apart pair of sealing arms. 
     
     
         20 . A method of closing a gap between components, comprising:
 providing a first metallic ring having a cross section including:
 an axially extending body portion having a radial width and an axial height; 
 a spaced apart pair of sealing arms extending axially from the body portion, wherein each sealing arm includes a radially opposed convex sealing surface; and 
 wherein the spaced apart pair of sealing arms are spaced apart a radial distance greater than the radial width of the body portion; and 
   inserting the first metallic ring into the gap.   
     
     
         21 . The method of closing a gap between components according to  claim 20 , further comprising inserting a second metallic ring into the gap and engaging the body portion of the second metallic ring with the sealing arms of the first metallic ring. 
     
     
         22 . The method of closing a gap between components according to  claim 20 , further comprising inserting a second metallic ring into the gap and engaging the body portion of the first metallic ring with the sealing arms of the second metallic ring.