A shaft seal assembly for maintaining a seal during shaft misalignment comprising a first sealing means adjacent said shaft with a defined clearance between said shaft and said sealing means, said shaft moveable axially in relation to said first sealing means; a second sealing means, said first sealing means partially encompassed within second sealing means and in cooperative communication with said second sealing means; a third sealing means, said second sealing means partially encompassed within third sealing means and in cooperative communication with said third sealing means, said third sealing means attached to said housing or vessel and allowing said first sealing means and second sealing means to cooperatively respond to said forces produced by angular misalignment of said shaft during rotation of said shaft while maintaining defined clearance between said shaft and said sealing means.