A radial pressure adjustable gland sealing system is disclosed herein. The system includes at least one inflatable bladder operable to surround a rotating shaft or sleeve of a rotating shaft, and at least one inflating tube. One end of each inflating tube is in fluid communication with the internal envelope of one of the at least one inflatable annular bladder. An opposite end of each inflating tube is connected, or extends, to a location outside of a static housing in which the rotating shaft is housed, such that the level of inflation of each inflatable bladder can be adjusted by way of its respective inflating tube, and thereby adjust the level of radial pressure exerted on the rotating shaft or sleeve for a rotating shaft.

A sealing device in which diameter expansion of an inserted first back-up ring is suppressed. The sealing device includes a seal ring mounted in a rectangular mounting groove, the first back-up ring, and a second back-up ring. The first back-up ring has an end surface contacting an opposing-sealing-fluid-side side surface of the mounting groove. The second back-up ring has an end surface contacting the seal ring. A contact surface in an inner peripheral end of second back-up ring is perpendicular to the axis to contact an opposing-sealing-fluid-side side surface of the mounting groove. The inner diameter of the first back-up ring is set to be larger than the outer diameter of the contact surface portion of the second back-up ring, and the outer diameter of the first back-up ring is set to be smaller than the inner diameter of a housing.

A sealing device in which diameter expansion of an inserted first back-up ring is suppressed. The sealing device includes a seal ring mounted in a rectangular mounting groove, the first back-up ring, and a second back-up ring. The first back-up ring has an end surface contacting an opposing-sealing-fluid-side side surface of the mounting groove. The second back-up ring has an end surface contacting the seal ring. A contact surface in an inner peripheral end of second back-up ring is perpendicular to the axis to contact an opposing-sealing-fluid-side side surface of the mounting groove. The inner diameter of the first back-up ring is set to be larger than the outer diameter of the contact surface portion of the second back-up ring, and the outer diameter of the first back-up ring is set to be smaller than the inner diameter of a housing.

A seal assembly configured to seal against a surface of a seal depressor is disclosed. The seal assembly includes a body member configured to elastically expand from an original state into an expanded state. The body member exerts a sealing pressure against the surface of the seal depressor when in the expanded state. The seal assembly also includes one or more actuation members constructed from a shape memory material having a high energy state and a low energy state. The one or more actuation members are configured to urge the body member of the seal assembly from the original state into the expanded state when the shape memory material transitions from the low energy state to the high energy state.

A seal assembly configured to seal against a surface of a seal depressor includes a body member configured to elastically deform in at least a first direction of motion from an original state into a compressed state in response to experiencing a load. The body member exerts a sealing pressure against the surface of the seal depressor when in the compressed state. The seal assembly also includes one or more shape memory stiffening members constructed from a shape memory material having a high energy state and a low energy state. The one or more shape memory stiffening members are oriented perpendicular to the first direction of motion of the seal assembly and configured to stiffen the body member of the seal assembly when the shape memory material is in the high energy state.

An inflatable seal includes an annular body made of elastic material. The inflatable seal includes a chamber disposed in the annular body. The inflatable seal includes a fixing end and a movable end opposite to the fixing end in a cross section. The inflatable seal further includes first and second sides interconnected between the fixing end and the movable end and opposite to each other. The fixing end includes an annular lining disposed in the annular body. The sealing ability of the inflatable seal is improved in the axial direction and the radial direction.

An inflatable seal includes an annular body made of elastic material. The inflatable seal includes a chamber disposed in the annular body. The inflatable seal includes a fixing end and a movable end opposite to the fixing end in a cross section. The inflatable seal further includes first and second sides interconnected between the fixing end and the movable end and opposite to each other. The fixing end includes an annular lining disposed in the annular body. The sealing ability of the inflatable seal is improved in the axial direction and the radial direction.

A vacuum gripper sealing element allows a vacuum gripper to suitably conform to irregular surface topology without compromising vacuum conditions. The sealing element utilizes a compressible sealing element which at least partially encapsulates an elastic sealing element. Upon being pressed against an object surface, the compressible sealing element will conform within and around macroscopic peaks, valleys and other irregular physical features. While conforming to macro-scale features, the compressible sealing element applies pressure isotropically upon the encapsulated elastic sealing element, which elastically conforms to micro-scale features while pressed thereagainst. The elastic sealing element has a fluid-filled interior that is surrounded by an elastic outer layer. While under pressure against an irregular surface topology, the fluid-filled interior displaces so as to redistribute internal forces, conforming the elastic outer layer to the micro-scale features of the object surface.

An application method of applying a liquid agent includes determining any one of positions of the liquid agent at a halfway part between a first end portion and a second end portion in a state in which an application is completed as each of an application start position and an application end position. The method includes applying the liquid agent from the application start position to the first end portion. The method includes turning back from the first end portion and applying the liquid agent to the second end portion, including superimposing, in a height direction, the liquid agent on previously applied liquid agent. The method includes turning back from the second end portion and applying the liquid agent to the application end position, including superimposing, in the height direction, the liquid agent on previously applied liquid agent.

Provided is a sealing ring and a sealing system. The sealing ring, in one aspect, includes a sealing ring member having an inside diameter face, an outside diameter face, a primary seal side face, and a gland side face. The sealing ring according to this aspect further includes a secondary seal coupled to at least one of the inside diameter face, the outside diameter face, the primary seal side face or the gland side face.