Patent attributes
A circumferential shaft seal segment has radial inner and outer faces and first and second axial faces, and at least one feed slot in the radial inner face extending from the first axial face toward the second axial face. At least one recess extends from the at least one feed slot and has first and second axially spaced side walls, a bottom between the side walls, a first end at the feed slot and a second end circumferentially spaced from the feed slot. The recess includes a first portion extending from the first end and a second portion extending from the second end, and a radial depth of the first portion is a first function of a distance from the feed slot and a radial depth of the second portion is a second, different, function of the distance from the feed slot.