Patent ID: 7726660

Claim:
A non-contacting seal, comprising: an outer support member; at least one segment including: a.) an inner pad spaced from the outer support member, the inner pad having a wear resistant ceramic structure coupled to the inner pad at an inner diameter defined by the inner pad; b.) at least one lift-off geometry formed on an inner diameter of the wear resistant ceramic structure; c.) at least one finger spring supported at a first end by the inner pad and extending at an angle with respect to the inner pad and into contact with the outer support member; and a cover supported by the outer support member and the inner pad on an upstream, high pressure side of the seal, the cover being constructed and arranged to avert leakage through the space disposed between inner pad and the outer support member; wherein the at least one finger spring is constructed and arranged such the at least one finger spring is radially compliant to allow radial displacement of the at least one segment by an opening force generated by the lift-off geometry of the wear resistant ceramic structure; and wherein the cover is supported at approximately a mid-section of the axial width of the seal so that upstream system pressure acts on both the cover and on a top surface of the inner pad so as to balance the opening force acting under the inner pad during use.