Patent ID: 8181966

Claim:
A gas seal for aerospace engines and the like of the type having an engine housing with an engine drive shaft rotatably mounted therein, comprising: a stationary seal housing configured for rigid connection with the engine housing; a rotating seal plate configured for operable connection with the engine drive shaft, rotating therewith relative to said seal housing, and having a seal face; a carbon ring seal movably supported in said seal housing and including a seal face which mates with said seal face of said seal plate to create a gas seal between the engine housing and the engine drive shaft; a plurality of flexible spring pins having first ends thereof supported on said seal housing and second ends thereof slidingly connected with said carbon ring seal to permit said carbon ring seal to selectively shift axially in said seal housing toward and away from said seal plate; a plurality of compression springs supported on said flexible spring pins and biasing said seal face of said carbon ring seal axially into a sealing relationship with said seal face of said seal plate; a first twist lock member associated with said seal housing; a second twist lock member associated with said carbon ring seal and configured to mate with said first twist lock member associated with said seal housing to securely yet detachably retain said carbon ring seal in said seal housing; and wherein said second ends of said flexible spring pins are laterally flexible relative to said first ends of said flexible spring pins and can resiliently deflect in a generally circular fashion during mutual rotation of said seal housing and said carbon ring seal to facilitate engagement and disengagement of said first and second twist lock members.