Patent ID: 7828301

Claim:
An apparatus comprising: an annular seal; a backup ring to provide support to the annular seal; a gland formed in a first planar mating surface positioned opposite a second planar mating surface, the gland accommodating the backup ring and the annular seal, the gland comprising a first contact surface forming an acute angle relative to a normal of the first planar mating surface, and the backup ring comprising a second contact surface also forming an acute angle relative to the normal of the first planar mating surface, wherein the second contact surface is substantially parallel to the first contact surface; wherein the backup ring and annular gland are sized such that pushing the backup ring into the annular gland increases radial interference between the first and second contact surfaces, wherein the radial interference combined with the angled orientation of the first and second contact surfaces generates a force urging the backup ring toward the second planar mating surface independent of any force exerted on the backup ring by the annular seal, thereby causing the backup ring to substantially fill any clearance gap between the first and second planar mating surfaces; and a retention mechanism to prevent the backup ring from completely exiting the gland.