Patent ID: 8100403

Claim:
A seal assembly for providing a seal between an outer shaft and an inner shaft, the seal assembly comprising: an inner rotary shaft; an outer rotary shaft; and a seal subassembly disposed between the inner shaft and the outer shaft, the seal subassembly including: a split carbon ring radially split into a plurality of segments and having a plurality of splits between ends of adjacent segments, the segments including a circumferential inner radius and a sealing dam on the circumferential inner radius; a solid outer ring including a sealing face facing the split carbon ring and a plurality of hydrodynamic grooves provided on a radial face opposite of the sealing face; and a radial spring mechanism provided between a portion of the split carbon ring and a portion of the solid outer ring; wherein the spring mechanism is configured to engage a portion of an outer diameter of the split carbon ring and a portion of an inner diameter of the solid outer ring; and the spring mechanism is configured to urge the split carbon ring radially towards the inner shaft.