A bearing seal device has an air purge mechanism that includes a rotor connected to the shaft of a piece of rotating equipment and a stator connected to the housing for the rotating equipment. An air passage extends between an inlet and an outlet and is at least partially defined by circumferentially extending stator and/or rotor surfaces. Preferably, the stator incorporates an orifice, which permits the attachment of an air supply line. The air purge mechanism may include a self-compensating air supply regulator device, located adjacent a circumferential air distribution cavity and substantially adjacent to one or more atmospheric communication orifices. The bearing seal device provides sealing integrity when the shaft is both idle and operational.