Tandem magnetic seal with single magnet

An engine assembly comprising:

• an engine core including at least one internal combustion engine;
• a rotatable shaft operatively engaged with the engine core;
• a support structure mounted around the shaft, the support structure housing at least a section of the shaft;
• and
• a magnetic seal system disposed within the support structure and mounted around the rotatable shaft, the magnetic seal system including:
• two annular seal assemblies surrounding the shaft to rotate therewith and axially displaceable along the shaft, each annular seal assembly includes an annular member adjacent to an annular seal;
• and
• an annular magnet sealingly connected to the support structure and surrounding the shaft, the magnet being disposed between the two annular seals in a non-contacting relationship with the shaft, the magnet biasing the two annular members along the shaft towards the magnet, wherein adjacent contacting surfaces between each of the two annular seals and the magnet biasingly mate to form sealing interfaces.

A method of magnetically sealing a space surrounding a rotatable shaft mounted within a support structure, the method comprising the steps of:

• magnetically and concurrently biasing two annular members surrounding the shaft towards an annular magnet mounted between the two annular members;
• positioning an annular seal between each one of the two annular members and the magnet;
• and
• sealing adjacent contacting surfaces between each annular seal and the magnet, thereby forming sealing interfaces.