Patent ID: 6969071

Claim:
A face seal assembly implemented in a drilling unit between a rotating drive pipe and a stationary drive pipe, the face seal assembly comprising: an annular mating ring housing having a proximal end surface with a channel therein; a mating ring insert disposed in the channel, the mating ring insert including a mating ring compressed within a first band to maintain the integrity of the mating ring; an annular sealing ring housing having a distal end surface with a channel therein; a sealing ring insert disposed in the channel, the sealing ring insert including a sealing ring compressed within a second band to maintain the integrity of the sealing ring, the mating ring facing the sealing ring to prevent fluid from escaping therebetween; a first annular gland assembly with a proximal end for receiving the distal end of the mating ring housing and a distal end including a seat for receiving the stationary drive pipe therein; and a second annular gland assembly with a proximal end including a seat for receiving the rotating drive pipe therein and a distal end surrounding a sleeve coupled to the proximal end of the sealing ring housing.