Dual tip seals for a rotary engine

An apparatus for sealing in an internal combustion engine, said apparatus comprising:

• a housing having a lobe defining a cavity in said housing;
• a rotor within said cavity in said housing, said rotor having a pair of vanes with a rotor surface extending therebetween, said rotor surface defining a portion of a chamber in said housing, said rotor surface having a first distal end and an opposite distal end, said rotor having a first slot proximate said first distal end, said rotor having a second slot proximate said opposite distal end;
• a first seal having a first length along a first longitudinal axis, said first seal having a first captive portion, said first captive portion slidably engaging said first slot in a direction perpendicular to said first longitudinal axis, said first seal having a first contact surface, said first contact surface being parallel with said first longitudinal axis, said first contact surface having an arcuate profile in a plane normal to said first longitudinal axis, said first seal contiguous with said rotor surface;
• a first spring disposed between said first captive portion and a bottom of said first slot wherein said first spring biases said first seal away from said rotor;
• a first conduit between said rotor surface proximate said first distal end and said first slot whereby a pressure proximate said rotor surface is communicated to said bottom of said first slot;
• a second seal having a second length along a second longitudinal axis, said second seal having a second captive portion, said second captive portion slidably engaging said second slot in a direction perpendicular to said second longitudinal axis, said second seal having a second contact surface, said second contact surface being parallel with said second longitudinal axis, said second contact surface having an arcuate profile in a plane normal to said second longitudinal axis, said second seal contiguous with said rotor surface;
• a second spring disposed between said second captive portion and said second slot wherein said second spring biases said second seal away from said rotor;
• and
• a second conduit between said rotor surface proximate said second distal end and a bottom of said second slot whereby said pressure proximate said rotor surface is communicated to said bottom of said second slot;
• wherein said rotor surface progressively cycles through an intake cycle, a compression cycle, a combustion cycle, and an exhaust cycle with said first and second seals providing a pressure boundary at said first and opposite distal ends of said rotor surface, and wherein during said compression cycle and said combustion cycle said pressure in said chamber biases said first and second seals away from said rotor.