Patent ID: 8328202

Claim:
A seal assembly comprising: a rigid backing ring made of a first material having an axially extending flange; a seal ring positioned next to the rigid backing ring and in mechanical engagement with the rigid backing ring, said seal ring comprising an outside flange and an inside flange comprising a lip for dynamic contact with a moveable shaft, said inside flange being supported by the axially extending flange of the rigid backing ring; a retaining ring positioned next to the seal ring and in mechanical engagement with the seal ring; wherein a canted coil spring comprising a major axis and a minor axis is positioned in a holding bore, which is defined, at least in part, by the seal ring and the retaining ring; and wherein the canted coil spring overlaps and exerts a radial force along the minor axis on the axially extending flange of the rigid backing ring and the inside flange of the seal ring, both of which having sections located directly along a line defined by the minor axis.