Patent ID: 7377518

Claim:
A seal ring adapted to be disposed about a shaft to seal a fluid, said seal ring comprising: an annular body defining an annular seal face; said seal face adapted to be disposed in opposing relationship to another seal ring face to define a seal interface; wherein said seal ring seal face includes an inner diameter side and an outer diameter side and includes a surface defining a dam section that extends from one of said inner diameter sides and outer diameter sides to an intermediate circumferential edge and a surface that defines a recessed section that extends from the other of said one of said inner diameter sides and said outer diameter sides to said intermediate circumferential edge, wherein said surface defining said recessed section is axially displaced throughout its extent relative to said surface defining said dam section; and, a pumping mechanism defined by a main face pattern formed on said surface defining said recessed section, said main face pattern extending from said one of said inner diameter sides and outer diameter sides to said intermediate circumferential edge, said main face pattern having an axial depth relative to said surface defining said dam section greater than the axial depth of said surface defining said recessed section, such that the axial depth of said main face pattern is greater than the axial depth of said surface defining said recessed section throughout the extent of said main face pattern and said recessed section.