Seal assembly for an epitrochoidal rotary engine

A rotary machine comprising:

• a side housing;
• a rotor having an axial surface;
• and
• a seal assembly for sealing a gap between the axial surface of the rotor and the side housing, the seal assembly comprising:
• a face seal having:
• an outer member having (i) a first surface, being an axial contact surface in contact with the side housing, (ii) a second surface, being an outer radial surface exposed to pressure of fluid being sealed, (iii) a third surface, opposite the first surface, disposed axially inward from the first surface and also exposed to pressure of the fluid being sealed, and (iv) a fourth surface, being an inner radial contact surface, opposite to the second surface and disposed radially inward from the second surface, the fourth surface being in contact with the rotor;
• wherein the first surface, the second surface, and the third surface are shaped so that the pressure of the fluid causes a net force by which the first surface is axially loaded against the side housing and the fourth surface of the outer member is radially loaded against the rotor, and
• wherein the face seal further includes a second member coupled to the outer member, the second member spanning a radial distance inwardly from the outer member, and extending radially inward further than a most radially inward aspect of the fourth surface.