Patent ID: 7708285

Claim:
A holder for a seal element in a mechanical seal assembly, comprising: a substantially cylindrical-shaped unitary sleeve having a front section, a middle section and a rear section, wherein the front section is configured to mount a rotary seal element, the front section comprising an annular ring having a substantially annular groove forming a front face thereof with an L-shaped cross-section for receiving an annular ring of a seal element, the front section further comprising a radially extending wall; the rear section comprising an annular ring including a recess formed on an outer surface for receiving a clamp for securing the holder to a shaft and an annular ridge on an inner surface for contacting a shaft extending through the holder; and the middle section connecting the front section and the rear section and comprising a curved wall having substantially the shape of a radially outer half of a torus extending in a radially outward direction from a first inner diameter wherein the curved wall intersects the front section to a outer diameter and to second inner diameter where the curved wall intersects the rear section, wherein the curved wall curves in a radial direction and an axial direction to translate system pressure to an axial force and a radial force on a rotary seal element mounted in the holder, wherein the first inner diameter is larger than the second inner diameter and the front section has an outer diameter that is larger than the outer diameter of the middle section, wherein the radially extending wall defines a curved, concave outer surface of the holder at an intersection of the radially extending wall with the middle section of the seal holder, a curvature of the curved, concave outer surface being between about 1.5 mm relative to a ninety-degree angle and 3.5 mm relative to a ninety-degree angle.