Patent ID: 8162322

Claim:
A seal assembly comprising: a first seal ring of a generally annular shape and defining radial and circumferential directions; a second seal ring rotatably mounted about an axis of rotation and positioned in facing relation to said first seal ring to define an interface therebetween; a plurality of hydropads formed in one of said first seal ring and second seal ring, each of said hydropads having an inner edge and an outer edge spaced radially outwardly from said inner edge, said inner edges defining an inner circumference of said hydropads and said outer edges defining an outer circumference of said hydropads, and one of said inner circumference and said outer circumference being eccentric relative to said axis of rotation; and an entry point formed on a portion of one of an inner circumference and an outer circumference of one of said first seal ring and said second seal ring for introducing fluid between said first seal ring and said second seal ring, said entry point extending past at least two of said hydropads and less than all of said one of an inner circumference and an outer circumference of one of said first seal ring and said second seal ring.