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 disposed along and contacting said inner shaft whereby mutually contacting said end rings between two said seal units comprise a single ring-shaped structure , at least one said end ring having a flange disposed along and extending from one side of said end ring , each said flange having an upper surface and a lower surface ; a seal element 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 along at least one said flange , said seal element disposed between said end rings so that a portion of said ring flange extends beyond each said flange without contacting said outer shaft ; a spacer ring disposed between said end rings and contacts said inner shaft , said spacer ring mechanically secured to at least one said end ring ; and a gap disposed between said seal element and said spacer ring ; and (d) a locking ring contacting one said end ring 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 disposed along and contacting said inner shaft whereby mutually contacting said end rings between two said seal units comprise a single ring-shaped structure , at least one said end ring having a flange disposed along and extending from one side of said end ring , each said flange having an upper surface and a lower surface ; a seal element 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 along at least one said flange , said seal element disposed between said end rings so that a portion of said ring flange extends beyond each said flange without contacting said outer shaft ; a spacer ring disposed between said end rings and contacts said inner shaft , said spacer ring mechanically secured to at least one said end ring ; and a gap disposed between said seal element and said spacer ring ; and a pair of end rings disposed along and contacting said inner shaft whereby mutually contacting said end rings between two said seal units comprise a single ring-shaped structure , at least one said end ring having a flange disposed along and extending from one side of said end ring , each said flange having an upper surface and a lower surface ; a seal element 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 along at least one said flange , said seal element disposed between said end rings so that a portion of said ring flange extends beyond each said flange without contacting said outer shaft ; a spacer ring disposed between said end rings and contacts said inner shaft , said spacer ring mechanically secured to at least one said end ring ; and a gap disposed between said seal element and said spacer ring ; and (d) a locking ring contacting one said end ring to secure said at least two seal units to said inner shaft . <EOS>