Patent ID: 8556557

Claim:
An annular generally C-shaped seal for use in cooperation with a hydraulic nut comprising an outer body and an inner body slidingly received into said outer body and defining therewith an annular pressure area, said hydraulic nut having at least one annular groove defined between said inner and outer bodies and located adjacent to said pressure area, said at least one groove being configured to receive said seal, said seal being made of a resilient and metallic material and having a cross-section comprising: a. a central wall portion having a substantially curved outer surface; b. a first lateral wall portion extending from said central wall portion and having a substantially curved outer surface; c. a second lateral wall portion extending from said central wall portion and opposite said first lateral wall portion, said second lateral portion having a substantially curved outer surface; wherein the central wall portion, the first lateral wall portion and the second lateral wall portion define an internal space in fluid communication with the opening and opening in a direction substantially parallel to a center axis of the seal; wherein when said seal is inserted into said at least one groove, said substantially curved outer surface of said central wall portion is substantially in contact against a substantially planar surface of one of said inner and outer bodies, said substantially curved outer surface of said first lateral wall portion is resiliently biased into direct tangential contact against one of said inner and outer bodies such as to define a first sealing contact point located intermediate said central wall portion and an extremity of said first lateral wall portion, and said substantially curved outer surface of said second lateral wall portion is resiliently biased into direct tangential contact against the other one of said inner and outer bodies such as to define a second sealing contact point intermediate said central wall portion and an extremity of said second lateral wall portion, said first and second sealing contact points being substantially radially aligned; and wherein the opening communicates with the annular pressure area so that, in response to pressure in the internal space acting on the first and second lateral wall portions, the first and second lateral wall portions are resiliently urged outwardly to maintain constant tangential contact with the inner and outer bodies to accommodate variations in a radial gap between said inner and outer bodies caused by a radial deflection of said outer body.