Patent ID: 6976548

Claim:
An annular seal for use in a rotary cone drill bit having a body, a leg extending from the body, and a cutting cone rotatably mounted on the leg, the annular seal comprising: an elastomeric seal body having a first sealing surface that is positioned against an adjacent sealing surface of the leg, and a second sealing surface that is positioned against an adjacent sealing surface of the cone, wherein one of the first and second sealing surfaces forms a dynamic rotary seal against its respective leg or cone sealing surfaces, the seal including a pair of external surfaces each extending along the seal body between the first and second sealing surfaces; and one or more relief ports disposed axially through the seal body and having openings through each of the seal body external surfaces; wherein the seal is disposed within a gland in the drill bit formed by opposed wall surfaces of the cone, and wherein the seal is positioned within the gland with its external surfaces adjacent a respective wall surface.