Patent ID: 8205891

Claim:
A seal assembly for use between an inner shaft and an outer shaft rotatable about a common axis within a turbine engine comprising: (a) a pair of end rings, at least one said end ring having a flange disposed along and extending from one side of said end ring, said flange having an upper surface and a lower surface; and (b) a seal element comprised of a ring and a ring flange, said ring wider than said ring flange, said ring having an inner radial surface and an outer radial surface, said ring flange disposed along and extending from said outer radial surface, said seal element has at least one joint, said outer radial surface directly contacting said lower surface along at least one said flange, said seal element disposed between said end rings so that a portion of said ring flange extends beyond said flange, at least one said end ring completely separated from said seal element along an axis parallel to said inner shaft by at least one gap extending radially outward from said inner shaft.