Patent ID: 7594663

Claim:
A seal apparatus comprising: a body comprising a first portion and a second portion wherein the first portion includes a recess and a second opening, the second opening acting as a second port positioned adjacent and parallel to a first opening; a first annular rotating seal member positioned within the recess, the first annular rotating seal member having a non-sealing face, and a sealing face, which defines a plurality of concentrically spaced annular sealing surface having an annular space there between, the first annular rotating seal member further defining an axial opening, a second annular rotating seal member having a non-sealing ace, and a sealing face, which defines at least one annular sealing surface, the second annular rotating member further defining an axial opening, wherein the first annular rotating seal member and the second annular rotating seal member configured to rotate relative to each other are axially aligned, the annular sealing surfaces of the first annular rotating seal member and the second annular rotating seal member are placed in contact to form a plurality of concentric spaced apart annular seals, a preloaded spring providing contact force to the first and second annular rotating seal members, and at least one of the non-sealing faces of the first annular rotating seal member and the second annular rotating seal member define a channel in gaseous communication with said annular space and with the second opening of the first portion of the body, the channel forming an annular chamber with the other one of the non-sealing faces of the first annular rotating seal member and the second rotating seal member, the chamber being pressurizable by a supply of gas serving as a barrier to reduce or prevent the migration of fluids or particulate matter across a leak one of the plurality concentric spaced apart annular seals.