A seal assembly disposed within a turbine engine comprising: (a) an inner shaft; (b) an outer shaft, said inner shaft and said outer shaft rotatable about a common axis; characterised by (c) at least two seal units disposed between said inner shaft and said outer shaft, each said seal unit including: a pair of end rings (13, 14, 36) disposed along and contacting said inner shaft whereby mutually contacting said end rings (13, 14, 36) between two said seal units comprise a single ring-shaped structure, at least one said end ring (13, 14, 36) having a flange (18, 21) disposed along and extending from one side of said end ring (13, 14), each said flange (18, 21) having an upper surface (45, 46) and a lower surface (29, 30); a seal element (12, 38) including a ring and a ring flange, said ring wider than said ring flange, said ring having an inner radial surface and an outer radial surface, said ring flange disposed along and extending from said outer radial surface, said outer radial surface contacting said lower surface (29, 30) along at least one said flange (18, 21), said seal element (12, 38) disposed between said end rings (13, 14, 36) so that a portion of said ring flange extends beyond each said flange (18, 21) without contacting said outer shaft; a spacer ring disposed between said end rings (13, 14, 36) and contacts said inner shaft, said spacer ring mechanically secured to at least one said end ring (13, 14, 36); and a gap (17, 22) disposed between said seal element (12, 38) and said spacer ring; and (d) a locking ring contacting one said end ring (13, 14, 36) to secure said at least two seal units to said inner shaft. (a) an inner shaft; (b) an outer shaft, said inner shaft and said outer shaft rotatable about a common axis; characterised by (c) at least two seal units disposed between said inner shaft and said outer shaft, each said seal unit including: a pair of end rings (13, 14, 36) disposed along and contacting said inner shaft whereby mutually contacting said end rings (13, 14, 36) between two said seal units comprise a single ring-shaped structure, at least one said end ring (13, 14, 36) having a flange (18, 21) disposed along and extending from one side of said end ring (13, 14), each said flange (18, 21) having an upper surface (45, 46) and a lower surface (29, 30); a seal element (12, 38) including a ring and a ring flange, said ring wider than said ring flange, said ring having an inner radial surface and an outer radial surface, said ring flange disposed along and extending from said outer radial surface, said outer radial surface contacting said lower surface (29, 30) along at least one said flange (18, 21), said seal element (12, 38) disposed between said end rings (13, 14, 36) so that a portion of said ring flange extends beyond each said flange (18, 21) without contacting said outer shaft; a spacer ring disposed between said end rings (13, 14, 36) and contacts said inner shaft, said spacer ring mechanically secured to at least one said end ring (13, 14, 36); and a gap (17, 22) disposed between said seal element (12, 38) and said spacer ring; and a pair of end rings (13, 14, 36) disposed along and contacting said inner shaft whereby mutually contacting said end rings (13, 14, 36) between two said seal units comprise a single ring-shaped structure, at least one said end ring (13, 14, 36) having a flange (18, 21) disposed along and extending from one side of said end ring (13, 14), each said flange (18, 21) having an upper surface (45, 46) and a lower surface (29, 30); a seal element (12, 38) including a ring and a ring flange, said ring wider than said ring flange, said ring having an inner radial surface and an outer radial surface, said ring flange disposed along and extending from said outer radial surface, said outer radial surface contacting said lower surface (29, 30) along at least one said flange (18, 21), said seal element (12, 38) disposed between said end rings (13, 14, 36) so that a portion of said ring flange extends beyond each said flange (18, 21) without contacting said outer shaft; a spacer ring disposed between said end rings (13, 14, 36) and contacts said inner shaft, said spacer ring mechanically secured to at least one said end ring (13, 14, 36); and a gap (17, 22) disposed between said seal element (12, 38) and said spacer ring; and (d) a locking ring contacting one said end ring (13, 14, 36) to secure said at least two seal units to said inner shaft.