| 20080309013 | Mechanical Seal With a Central Component - A mechanical seal assembly includes a rotary component having a rotary seal face, a stationary component having a stationary seal face and a central component arranged between the rotary component and the stationary component, which has a first seal face arranged adjacent the rotary seal face and a second seal face arranged adjacent the stationary seal face. The central component is configured so that, when seal face rotation of the rotary seal face or the stationary seal face, or both, occurs, the first seal face is configured to form a seal with the rotary seal face and the second seal face is configured to form a seal with the stationary seal face. The central component is arranged so that the first and second seal faces are aligned substantially parallel to the rotary and stationary seal faces, respectively. The central component is configured so that contact seals, or non-contact seals, form between the adjacent seal faces. | 12-18-2008 |