FACE SEAL ARRANGEMENT WITH REDUCED FORCE AND PRESSURE

A bearing is mounted to a static structure outwardly of the shaft, and supporting the shaft. A bearing compartment (222) is defined by face seal arrangements (200) on each of two axial sides of a bearing. Each face seal arrangement (200) includes a seal seat (228) rotating with the shaft and a non-rotating sealing ring (202). The seal housing (206) is exposed to high pressure air outward of the bearing compartment (222). A coil spring (210) biases the seal housing (206) towards the seal seat (228), such that the sealing face (212) is biased into contact with the seal seat (228) by a bias force including a net fluid force acting on the seal housing (206) and the coil spring (210). The sealing face (212) is defined by a contact portion (214) contacting the seal seat (228) and a feed portion (213) recessed from the seal seat (228). The feed portion (213) includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced feed slots (216) fluidly connected to at least one annular groove (218).