Shaped spring element for a non-contact seal device

A non-contact seal assembly, comprising:

• a plurality of seal shoes arranged about an axis in an annular array;
• a seal base circumscribing the annular array of the seal shoes;
• and
• a plurality of spring elements, a first of the spring elements radially between a first of the seal shoes and the seal base, and the first of the spring elements including
• a first mount connected to the first of the seal shoes;
• a second mount connected to the seal base;
• and
• a spring beam extending a length longitudinally along a centerline from the first mount to the second mount, and the spring beam including first and second surfaces;
• wherein the first surface is disposed a first distance from the centerline, and the second surface is disposed a second distance from the centerline and opposite the first surface;
• wherein the first distance and the second distance change as the spring beam extends longitudinally along the centerline to provide at least a portion of the spring beam with a tapered geometry;
• and
• wherein the first surface and/or the second surface is convex at least along a part of the portion of the spring beam.

A non-contact seal assembly, comprising:

• a plurality of seal shoes arranged about an axis in an annular array;
• a seal base circumscribing the annular array of the seal shoes;
• and
• a plurality of spring elements, a first of the spring elements radially between a first of the seal shoes and the seal base, and the first of the spring elements including
• a first mount connected to the first of the seal shoes;
• a second mount connected to the seal base;
• and
• a spring beam having a length and a centerline, the length of the spring beam extending longitudinally along the centerline from the first mount to the second mount, and the spring beam including opposing first and second surfaces;
• wherein, in a first portion of the spring beam, the first surface and the second surface substantially symmetrically converge towards the centerline as the first portion of the spring beam extends longitudinally along the centerline;
• and
• wherein the first portion of the spring beam has a longitudinal length that is equal to or greater than about fifteen percent of the length of the spring beam.