New concept in high-pressure sealing: Analysis and experiment

We present several simple and reliable high-pressure fluid seals, both static and sliding, which have been tested up to 2 kbar. These Poulter-type seals are quite different in operation from the usual Amagat and Bridgman seals. Our analysis of the new sealing principle provides the basis for understanding the operation of Poulter seals as well as other previously poorly understood high-pressure seals. Poulter seals are shown to be in fact actuated by fluid pressure, like Bridgman’s unsupported area seals.