Face seal device with additional mass for high rotational speeds

A face seal device for use with components rotating at a high rotational speed includes a non-rotating face seal ring (5) and a rotary face seal ring (11). The rotary face seal ring is mounted in a loose fit for common rotation with a rotating component and includes a sealing face (6) which, in operation, is essentially radially aligned for cooperation with an opposite sealing face (16) of the non-rotating face seal ring. A heavy-mass-contributing element (22) is arranged to rotate in common with the rotating component and engages a portion of the rotary face seal ring. The center of gravity of the heavy-mass-contributing element is axially spaced from that of the rotary face seal ring, whereby, in operation, a torque directed towards the non-rotating face seal ring is applied to the rotary face seal ring. This torque arises from the centrifugal forces that correspond to the mass-contributing element and the spacing between the centers of gravity.