Patent ID: 7735833

Claim:
An annular sealing apparatus comprising: a body defining a cylindrical opening designed to receive a rotating member; the cylindrical opening and the rotating member bounding a high pressure fluid region and a relatively lower pressure fluid region there between and inhibiting fluid leakage between the high fluid pressure region and lower fluid pressure region; a backplate having a manifold with protrusions in the manifold plane; a frontplate with a circumferentially and radially oriented recess directing flow; at least two finger seal laminates interposed between high and lower fluid pressure regions; the at least two finger seal laminates containing compliant finger seals; one of the at least two finger seal laminates defining a cavity; the at least two finger seal laminates forming a passageway between the high fluid pressure and low fluid pressure regions; the finger seals circumferentially extending finger elements wherein the finger elements each include a plurality of spaced integral fingers and wherein the fingers define gaps there between; the finger seals positioned such that the fingers of each laminate extend from a common torus, the torus containing holes to equalize pressure; the finger seals of adjoining finger seal laminates positioned such that the fingers of each laminate block any gaps of the adjacent laminate to reduce fluid leakage and allow for pressure equalization; the finger seals each containing at least one lift pad extending from the respective finger elements; the lift pads adapted to be arranged circumferentially and axially adjacent to the rotating member whereby each lift pad is operative to be self acting to create hydrodynamic lift when the rotating member reaches a sufficient rotating speed or the hydrostatic axial pressure differential reaches a sufficient level; and the lift pads of the circumferentially adjoining laminates being interlaced and upon lift engaging one another in an interlocking manner.