Patent ID: 7052020

Claim:
An annular hydrodynamic seal ( 103 ) for sealing between a first machine component ( 109 ) and a second machine component ( 118 ) having a relatively rotatable surface ( 115 ) and partitioning a lubricant chamber ( 122 ) of the first machine component ( 109 ) having a first fluid ( 121 ) from an environment having a second fluid ( 124 ), comprising: A. an annular seal body ( 104 ) having a first seal end ( 133 ); B. said annular seal body ( 104 ) defining an at least one resilient annular dynamic sealing lip ( 127 ) having an annular sloping dynamic sealing surface ( 140 ); C. a dynamic exclusionary intersection ( 139 ) with said annular sloping dynamic sealing surface ( 140 ) for facing and preventing intrusion of the second fluid ( 124 ); D. upon compression of said at least one resilient annular dynamic sealing lip ( 127 ) against the relatively rotatable surface ( 115 ) at least a portion of said annular sloping dynamic sealing surface ( 140 ) being deformed by and assuming the configuration of the relatively rotatable surface ( 115 ) and defining a dynamic sealing interface establishing an interfacial contact footprint having varying width (W) throughout the circumference thereof and having a first footprint edge ( 157 ) facing the lubricant chamber ( 122 ) and the first fluid ( 121 ) and a second footprint edge ( 160 ) facing the second fluid ( 124 ); E. an annular static sealing surface ( 131 ) defining a static sealing interface with the first machine component ( 109 ); F. at least one energizer feature ( 163 ) loading said annular sloping dynamic sealing surface ( 140 ) into compressed sealing relation with the relatively rotatable surface ( 115 ).