US Patent 7837199 Shrouded face seal and components thereof

A face seal includes a seal seat and a seal element carried by a seal housing. The seal element cooperates with the seal seat to establish a seal. The housing includes a support for the seal element and a shroud for effecting a gradual transition between a normal condition and a deteriorated condition. The shroud may have a tip whose properties differ in lubricity, hardness or abradability relative to other portions of the seal housing.