A sealing mechanism, comprises: a first member having a conical bore formed in coaxial relation with its own axis and a first face formed at the side thereof; a second member made of a metal and relatively rotatable with respect to the first member, the second member having a second face spaced from and opposing to the first face of the first member, and an annular groove recessed away from and opposing to the conical bore to have a bottom face and radially inner and outer faces connecting the bottom face and the second face; an annular floating seal assembly accommodated in the conical bore of the first member, the annular floating seal assembly including a metal seal ring having a lip portion extending radially outwardly and toward the annular groove, and a resilient annular ring disposed between the conical bore and the seal ring to urge the seal ring toward the annular groove; and a ring member made of a metal and provided in the annular groove to have a rear face in metal-to-metal contact with the bottom face of the annular groove and a fore face in sliding contact with the lip portion of the ring member to complete sealing between the first and second members during relative rotation of the first and second member.

A mechanical seal rotary joint of the end-face contact type which permits slurry fluids, such as polishing solution, to pass through a fluid passage without leaking out of the relatively rotating contact area therein. The rotary joint of the present invention comprises: a first joint body (1); a second joint body (2) connected rotatably to the first joint body (1); a prime seal unit (3) provided between the opposed end portions (11, 21) of the two joint bodies (1, 2); and a continuous line of prime fluid passage (6). The prime seal unit (3) is a mechanical seal comprising: a stationary seal ring (30) fixed on the end portion (21) of the second joint body (2) concentrically with the axis of rotation as its center; a movable seal ring (31) held on the end portion (11) of the first joint body (1) and concentric with and opposite to the stationary seal ring (30); a rotation stopper (32a) provided on the outer circumferential side of the movable seal ring (31) for preventing the relative rotation of the seal ring (31) while allowing the seal ring (31) to move in the axial direction; and springs (33a) to thrust and press the movable seal ring (31) against the stationary seal ring (30). Thus, the prime seal unit (3) is constructed so as to provide a seal between the inner circumferential region (3a) and the outer circumferential region (3b) of the two seal rings (30, 31). The prime fluid passage (6) is made up of the inner circumferential regions (3a) of the two seal ring (30, 31), a first primary passage section (60) passing through the first joint body (1) and leading into the inner circumferential region (3a) and a second prime fluid passage section (61) passing through the second joint body (2) and leading into the inner circumferential region (3a). A slurry fluid (106), such as a polishing solution, flows through the prime fluid passage (6) without leaking out of the relatively rotating section of the joint bodies (1, 2).

A track seal assembly adapted to seal a track joint includes a track link and a first ceramic seal member. The track seal assembly further includes a first spring member positioned between the track link and the first ceramic seal member. Additionally, the track seal assembly includes a bushing having an end face. The track seal assembly also includes a second ceramic seal member secured to the end face of the bushing, wherein the first ceramic seal member contacts the second ceramic seal member so as to form a seal interface.

A track seal assembly adapted to seal a track joint includes a track link and a first ceramic seal member. The track seal further includes a first elastomeric member positioned between the track link and the first ceramic seal member. The track seal further includes a bushing having an end face. The track seal also includes a second ceramic seal member secured to the end face of the bushing, wherein (1) the first ceramic seal member contacts the second ceramic seal member so as to form a seal interface, (2) the end face of the bushing has a counter bore defined therein, and (3) the second ceramic seal member is positioned within the counter bore of the bushing.

A face seal assembly including an annular mating ring housing having a proximal end surface with a channel therein, a mating ring insert disposed in the channel, the mating ring insert including a mating ring compressed within a first band to maintain the integrity of the mating ring. An annular sealing ring housing has a distal end surface with a channel therein, and a sealing ring insert is disposed in the channel, the sealing ring insert including a sealing ring compressed within a second band to maintain the integrity of the sealing ring. The mating ring faces the sealing ring to prevent fluid from escaping therebetween. A method of making such a face seal assembly is also disclosed as is a complete face seal assembly useful in the top drive unit of an offshore drilling unit.