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A seal assembly and a rotary machine in combination with the seal assembly are provided. The seal assembly includes a seal and a biasing device configured to produce a force for mechanically biasing the seal toward a first position relative to the rotatable portion. The seal is further responsive to

A seal assembly and a rotary machine in combination with the seal assembly are provided. The seal assembly includes a seal and a biasing device configured to produce a force for mechanically biasing the seal toward a first position relative to the rotatable portion. The seal is further responsive to pressurized fluid for creating a force opposed to the biasing force to cause movement of the seal toward a second position closer to the rotatable portion than the first position, thereby reducing flow leakage between the stationary portion and the rotatable portion. The pressurized fluid may be the working fluid produced by or used within the rotary machine.

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1. A seal assembly for a rotary machine having a stationary portion and a rotatable portion, the seal assembly comprising:a seal: biasing device configured to produce a force for mechanically biasing the seal toward a first position relative to the rotatable portion, the seal being further responsiv

1. A seal assembly for a rotary machine having a stationary portion and a rotatable portion, the seal assembly comprising:a seal: biasing device configured to produce a force for mechanically biasing the seal toward a first position relative to the rotatable portion, the seal being further responsive to a pressurized fluid for creating a force opposed to the biasing force to cause movement of the seal toward a second position closer to the rotatable portion than the first position; and a chamber for receiving the pressurized fluid, and in direct communication with said pressurized fluid wherein the chamber is defined in part by opposed surfaces of a seal housing and the stationary portion, wherein the chamber is further defined by a shim disposed in a slot in a lateral wall of the seal housing. 2. A seal assembly for a rotary machine having a stationary portion and a rotatable portion, the seal assembly comprising:a seal: a biasing device configured to produce a force for mechanically biasing the seal toward a first position relative to the rotatable portion, the seal being further responsive to a pressurized fluid for creating a force opposed to the biasing force to cause movement of the seal toward a second position closer to the rotatable portion than the first position; and a chamber for receiving the pressurized fluid, wherein the chamber is defined in part by opposed surfaces of a seal housing and the stationary portion, and wherein the chamber is further defined by a shim disposed in a slot in a lateral wall of the seal housing, the shim positioned to extend into respective opposed grooves in opposed surfaces of the stationary portion and th seal housing. 3. The seal assembly of claim 2 wherein the pressurized fluid is internally derived relative to the machine.4. The seal assembly of claim 2 wherein the pressurized fluid is externally derived relative to the machine.5. The seal assembly of claim 2 wherein the biasing device comprises a leaf spring.6. A seal assembly for a rotary machine having a stationary portion and a rotatable portion, the seal assembly comprising:a seal; a biasing device configured to produce a force for mechanically biasing the seal toward a first position relative to the rotatable portion, the seal being further responsive to a pressurized fluid for creating a force opposed to the biasing force to cause movement of the seal toward a second position closer to the rotatable portion than the first position; a chamber for receiving the pressurized fluid, wherein the chamber is defined in part by opposed surfaces of a seal housing and the stationary portion, wherein the chamber is further defined by a shim disposed in a slot in a lateral wall of the seal housing; and a sealing joint between the shim and the slot. 7. A rotary machine comprising:a stationary portion; a rotatable portion; and a seal assembly configured to variably seal the stationary portion relative to the rotatable portion, the seal assembly comprising: a seal; a biasing device configured to produce a force for mechanically biasing the seal toward a first position relative to the rotatable portion; and a chamber for receiving pressurized fluid and creating a force opposed to the biasing force to cause movement of the seal toward a second position closer to the rotatable portion than the first position, wherein the defined in part by opposed surfaces of a seal housing and the stationary portion, wherein the chamber is further defined by mutually opposite shims mountable through respective slots in a lateral wall of the seal housing. 8. A rotary machine comprising:a stationary portion; a rotatable portion; and a seal assembly configured to variably seal the stationary portion relative to the rotatable portion, the seal assembly comprising: a seal; a biasing device configured to produce a force for mechanically biasing the seal toward a first position relative to the rotatable portion; and a chamber for receiving pressurized fluid and creating a force opposed to the biasing force to cause movement of the seal toward a second position closer to the rotatable portion than the first position, wherein the chamber is defined in part by opposed surfaces of a seal housing and the stationary portion, wherein the chamber is further defined by mutually opposite shims mountable through respective slots in a lateral wall of the seal housing, wherein each shim is positioned between a respective groove in each of the mutually opposite surfaces of the stationary portion and the seal housing. 9. The rotary machine of claim 8 further comprising a respective sealing joint between a respective edge of the shims and a corresponding groove.10. The rotary machine of claim 8 wherein the pressurized fluid is internally derived relative to the machine.11. The rotary machine of claim 8 wherein the pressurized fluid is externally derived relative to the machine.12. A rotary machine comprising:a stationary portion; a rotatable portion; a seal connected to the stationary portion for restricting a flow of fluid between the stationary portion and the rotatable portion; a means for biasing the seal to a position retracted from the rotatable portion; and a means for using a pressurized fluid to oppose the means for biasing in order to move the seal to a position extended toward the rotatable portion, thereby reducing fluid leakage between the stationary portion and the rotatable portion, said means for using a pressurized fluid comprising mutually opposite shims mountable through respective slots in a lateral wall of the seal, and wherein each shim is positioned between a respective groove in each of mutually opposite surfaces of the stationary portion and the seal.