US Patent 7338265 Scroll machine with single plate floating seal

A scroll machine utilizes a floating seal to isolate pressurized fluid to provide axial biasing. The floating seal is designed as a single piece plate with inner and outer annular seals. The inner and outer annular seals can be U-shaped, V-shaped or L-shaped and each configuration is oriented to provide pressure actuation of the seal. Additional embodiments add a discharge valve, a high temperature protection system or a high pressure protection system to the floating seal.