A shaft seal
assembly is disclosed having a
stator including a main body and axial and radial projections therefrom. The rotor is radially extended and encompasses the axial and radial projections from said
stator. A passageway formed between the
radial projection of
stator and rotor results in an axial passageway having its opening facing rearwardly from the rotor and away from the source of impinging
coolant and / or contaminant. A concentric circumferential
receptor groove in the stator facing the housing allows
insertion of conductive means for transmission of electrostatic charge away from the shaft through the shaft seal
assembly to the housing and ground. The
receptor groove is opposite the axial passageway and provides for both a substantially lower contaminant environment and improved engagement with conductive means. The dimension of interface gap between the rotor and the
radial projection from the stator, which the access to the shaft of any impinging material is fixed at a predetermined value and does not vary with the relative movement between the rotor and the stator. The shaft seal
assembly provides improved rejection or warding off of contaminants from ingress into the labyrinths and ultimately restrains
attack of the bearing environment as well as substantial
elimination of bearing current and attendant bearing fluting or frosting.