Patent ID: 6910531

Claim:
A stripper assembly for sealing around a drill pipe, comprising: an annular elastomeric seal member having an inner passage for receiving drill pipe, an upper end, a lower end and a sidewall; a rigid outer support member that extends around and is bonded to an exterior portion of the sidewall of the seal member; an annular rigid lower support member bonded to the lower end of the seal member around the inner passage; the seal member adapted to be exposed to drilling fluid pressure, causing a lower portion of the sidewall to deform the seal member inwardly around a drill pipe; a cartridge housing having a cylindrical outer wall, the cartridge housing being open to admit drilling fluid; the seal member being mounted in the cartridge housing for rotating the cartridge housing in unison with the seal member when the drill pipe rotates; and the seal member having an annular upper recessed area located at a junction between the upper end and sidewall of the seal member above the lower support member, the upper recessed area being spaced inward from the cartridge housing to accommodate portions of the seal member during deformation.