Patent ID: 7726661

Claim:
A shaft seal assembly comprising: a. a fixed stator, wherein said fixed stator is secured within a housing, and wherein said fixed stator is formed with an annular groove along a portion of the radial-interior surface thereof; b. a shaft sealing member, wherein said shaft sealing member fits within said annular groove of said fixed stator, and wherein said shaft sealing member comprises: i. a floating stator, wherein the radial-exterior surface of said floating stator is separated from said annular groove radial-interior surface in the radial dimension by a predetermined amount to create a first clearance between said floating stator and said fixed stator, wherein the radial-interior surface of said floating stator is substantially concave in shape, and wherein said floating stator having an annular recess and said fixed stator having a surface corresponding to said annular recess to form a pressure balancing annular channel therein; and, ii. a labyrinth seal, wherein said labyrinth seal has a radial-exterior surface with a substantially convex shape that corresponds to the radial-interior surface of said floating stator so as to create a spherical interface therebetween, wherein said labyrinth seal has a radial-interior surface with a plurality of labyrinth pattern annular grooves, and wherein said labyrinth seal radial-interior surface is positioned adjacent a rotatable shaft.