Patents Examined by Alison Pickard
  • Patent number: 8162326
    Abstract: The invention relates to a flat gasket, having at least one metallic layer in which at least one port is formed, the metallic layer or at least one of the metallic layers (1) being formed at least in regions in the form of an undulating and/or serrated profiling (2) around the port(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Dana Automotive Systems Group, LLC
    Inventors: Kurt Höhe, Armin Gutermann, Gunther Unseld, Georg Egloff
  • Patent number: 8162324
    Abstract: A method of assembling a turbomachine that includes a rotor and a stationary component is provided. The method includes coupling a housing to the stationary component using at least one biasing member, wherein the housing extending circumferentially about the rotor. The method also includes coupling at least one annular ring to the housing, and coupling a plurality of plate members to the housing such that the at least one annular ring extends from the housing towards the rotor and partially through the plurality of plate members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Hrishikesh Vishvas Deo, Norman Arnold Turnquist, Frederick George Baily, Bernard Arthur Couture, Jr., Sean Douglas Feeny, William Edward Adis, Shorya Awtar
  • Patent number: 8162323
    Abstract: A leaf seal arrangement is provided in which within a housing there are edge portions to inter associate with non parallel chamfer edges in leaf seal elements. In such circumstances, deflection of the leaf seal elements in an outward direction or inward direction relative to a rotating shaft creates variation in a control gap X, XX between the edges and the chamfer edge. Such increase or decrease in the control gap X, XX adjusts the aerodynamic radial force that is presented to the leaf seal elements whereby those elements can be more accurately maintained at a desired leaf position for optimizing leakage while achieving better wear resistance performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC
    Inventors: Richard Nicholson, Terence Valentine Jones
  • Patent number: 8162322
    Abstract: A seal assembly which operates efficiently at high altitudes and low surface speeds includes a first seal ring, a second seal ring, and hydropads. The first seal ring is of a generally annular shape and defining radial and circumferential directions. The second seal ring is positioned in facing relation to the first seal ring and rotatably mounted relative to the first seal ring about an axis of rotation. A plurality of hydropads formed on one of the first seal ring and second seal ring provides a lift force that varies about the circumference of the mating ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Rexnord Industries, LLC
    Inventor: Andrew L. Flaherty
  • Patent number: 8146922
    Abstract: A seal assembly is for a compressor including a casing having first and second chambers and a shaft extending through the casing between the two chambers. The seal assembly includes a main body disposed about the shaft and between the two chambers and having a central axis, an inner surface spaced radially outwardly from the shaft to form a seal chamber. Annular sealing members are connected with the main body and extend radially from the body inner surface toward the shaft, the sealing members preventing flow between the first and second chambers through the seal chamber. A separator is coupled with the shaft adjacent to the main body and has separation passages fluidly connecting one of the two chambers with the seal chamber, each passage extending radially with respect to the shaft axis so as to direct liquids and solids contacting the passage inner surface away from the seal chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Dresser-Rand Company
    Inventors: William C. Maier, David J. Peer
  • Patent number: 8146924
    Abstract: A low-compression force metal gasket includes a coating layer containing a polymer material on at least a sealing surface of the gasket, and the coating layer satisfies the following conditions (1) to (3): (1) the layer comprises a resin, a rubber or a mixture thereof having an oxygen gas permeability coefficient at 25° C. of 10×10?12 to 0.1×10?12 (m2/s); (2) when the layer is compression deformed, the storage elastic modulus (E?) at 200° C. is in the range of 1.0×107 to 1.0×102 Pa; and (3) the coating layer has a thickness of 1 to 40 ?m. The gasket provides a high seal at a low clamping force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignees: Tohoku University, Nippon Valqua Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tadahiro Ohmi, Yasuyuki Shirai, Yasushi Aburatani, Akira Muramatsu, Masayuki Noguchi, Kouji Sato, Satoshi Kumaki
  • Patent number: 8136818
    Abstract: A seal lip of an oil seal is in slidable contact with a peripheral surface of a shaft. A lubricating oil supply section for collecting adhered oil and dropping it on the shaft is provided at a forward end portion of an installation section. The lubricating oil supply section has projections formed on the inner peripheral surface of the installation section to collect oil on the surface thereof. The surface of each projection has a recess for temporarily accumulating oil. Guidance projections, or a slope for collecting the oil, and dams are formed on a forward end face of the installation section to block the oil flowing down along the circumferential direction on the forward end face and guides the oil toward each projection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Nok Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi Yamanaka, Takehiro Nakagawa, Masayuki Tanida, Hideharu Hyakutake, Hiroki Matsui, Hideyuki Furuyama, Go Kanzaki, Shinya Takeda, Kei Sasaki, Akira Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 8136816
    Abstract: A multiple layering means of a protective laminated multiple-layered split boot layer assembly, providing both very important qualities of easy installation and reliable boot sealing performance. Easy installation is easy to achieve but the reliable boot sealing performance of substantially high degree of reliable boot sealing performance is very much needed but has eluded many investors until now. Many different solutions and approaches are used, such as multiple layering, reinforcement with fastener such as glue sealant adhesive, reinforcement encircling rings, and appropriately positioning each split boot layer's cut (53) split line, in relationship to the cut (53) of preceding and adjacent split boot layer, with alternating slit (or seam) facing feature, for maximized sealing performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Inventor: Eddie York-Shin Lou
  • Patent number: 8123226
    Abstract: A seal assembly for sealing an annular space between an inner and an outer pipe in a double-walled subsea pipeline which seal assembly comprises an annular member (1) and moveable blocking means (2, 3) and: (a) under normal operating conditions is in a non-sealing position which allows the passage of a gas through said seal assembly; and (b) is actuatable from a non-sealing position to a sealing position in response to the entry of liquid into said annular space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignees: Technip France SA, Technip Offshore UK Limited
    Inventors: Michael Antoine Joseph Caroline Bell, Sylvain Denniel, David Brocklebank
  • Patent number: 8123228
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine augmentor has a centerbody within a gas flowpath from upstream to downstream. The augmentor has upstream and downstream shell sections, a downstream rim of the upstream shell section meeting an upstream rim of the downstream shell section shell section. A plurality of vanes are positioned in the gas flowpath outboard of the centerbody. An augmentor spray bar fuel conduit extends through the centerbody and a first of the vanes to deliver fuel to the centerbody. A seal is mounted to the spray bar and positioned in a recess extending from at least one of the downstream rim of the upstream shell section and upstream rim of the downstream shell section shell section. The seal has a first portion and a second portion engaging the first portion in a backlocked interfitting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Marc J. Muldoon, Tor W. Sherwood, Meggan H. Harris-Miller, Robert T. Brooks
  • Patent number: 8123227
    Abstract: A sliding member is characterized in that a sliding surface of the sliding member is coated with an amorphous hard carbon film, and a surface of the amorphous hard carbon film has a ten-point mean roughness of equal to or less than 0.7 micrometers and an initial wear height in a range of 0.07 to 0.14 micrometers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Riken
    Inventors: Minoru Kawanishi, Ryo Wakabayashi, Masaki Moronuki, Katsuhiro Tsuji, Takayuki Sato
  • Patent number: 8104769
    Abstract: A liquid and gas tight bi-directional metal frustro-conical seal is energized by compression between planar, annular faces causing its inner and outer diameters to sealingly engage opposing cylindrical surfaces of inner and outer metal pipes. The contact forces between the concentric sealing surfaces are high in order to locally deform the softer metal and eliminate leakage paths. The sealing ring is backed-up by a similar ring that is reduced in cross-sectional width, such that when compressed the ring does not engage the inner and outer cylindrical surfaces. The second ring is nested with and directly below the sealing ring, and equally axially compressed when the joint is assembled. When the pipe joints are disassembled, the second ring serves to restore the seal ring to its original, deeper frustro-conical shape, allowing the pipe joints to be easily separated for reuse of the piping in a different location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Seal Science & Technology, LLC
    Inventor: Horace P. Halling
  • Patent number: 8096560
    Abstract: A high pressure seal assembly configured for sealing contact with an opposing surface. The seal assembly comprises an annular seal body with a sealing surface on one side of the seal body. An end of the sealing surface includes a sealing face for sealing contact with the opposing surface. The sealing surface also includes at least one support point that contacts the opposing surface when the seal is placed in sealing contact. Strategically positioning the support point on the sealing surface selectively adjusts the sealing contact stress between the sealing face and the opposing surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Vetco Gray Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph W. Pallini, Jr., Rockford D. Lyle, Chii-Ren Lin
  • Patent number: 8087673
    Abstract: A sealing device comprises a stationary-side installation ring (11) fixed to an outer stationary-side member (201), a rotation-side installation ring (12) fixed to an inner rotation-side member (202), a stationary-side lip (13) provided on the stationary-side installation ring (11) to be slidably in contact with the rotation-side installation ring (12) by its tip, rotation-side lips (14, 15) formed on the rotation-side installation ring (12) to be slidably in contact with the stationary-side installation ring (11) by their tips, a pulsar ring (17) formed of a synthetic resin or rubber-like elastic material mixed with magnetic powder on the rotation-side installation ring (12) and multipolar magnetized, and a collar portion (17a) formed on an outer periphery of the pulsar ring (17) at the outer side than the rotation-side lips (14, 15) to closely face the stationary-side member (201) or the stationary-side installation ring (11), thereby an excellent sealing ability being given.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: NOK Corporation
    Inventor: Naoto Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 8087674
    Abstract: A firewall sealing assembly is provided for use between a firewall and a penetrating member. The assembly comprises a primary seal, a secondary seal, and a plurality of retaining rings. The primary seal is configured to provide a primary seal between the firewall and the penetrating member. The secondary seal is configured to provide a secondary seal between the firewall and the penetrating member. The secondary seal is positioned spaced apart from the primary seal to define a seal cavity there between.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: Mark R. Cummings
  • Patent number: 8083236
    Abstract: An improved staggered seal assembly uses a static element and a rotating element to create a seal. The static element surrounds the rotating element and has at least one fin. The rotating element has at least one long fin and a set of shorter fins. A third component has a staggered fin. The fins create a leakage flow path which throttles the leakage across the seal from a high pressure zone into a low pressure zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Darryl A. Colson, Craig M. Beers
  • Patent number: 8079599
    Abstract: A tank seal for use in cast concrete walls has a generally cylindrical main body portion with a stepped outside wall having first axially-extending portion, a second axially-extending portion having an outermost diameter less than an outermost diameter of the first axially-extending portion, and a radial ledge or step separating the first and second axially-extending portions. A wiper blade portion extends radially inwardly of the stepped outside wall, from an end of the second axially-extending portion opposite the radial ledge, terminating at a third end. A circular membrane or web extends across the third end, including at least one annular groove therein to facilitate removal of at least one circular portion of the web. The radial ledge collapses and the first axially-extending portion puckers in response to compressive force exerted on the tank seal in an axial direction, reducing the axial length of the tank seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Tug-Tite, Inc.
    Inventor: Theodore W. Meyers
  • Patent number: 8079600
    Abstract: A sealing structure in which sealing is made by a seal ring installed in a dovetail groove where only an inner surface on one side of the groove is an inclined surface. In the sealing structure, the seal ring is less likely to come out of the dovetail groove, resistance of insertion of the seal ring into the dovetail is small, and particles are less likely to occur in the structure. The seal ring is formed of a rubber-like elastic material and is installed in the dovetail groove where the first inner surface on one side of the groove is inclined falling to the inside of the groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: NOK Corporation
    Inventors: Daihachi Shojima, Hideto Nameki
  • Patent number: 8079601
    Abstract: A sealing member for sealing over a structural joint or compound expansion joint. The sealing member has an elastomeric portion to overlie the lines of the joint and an adhesive receiving region to the sides of the elastomeric portion. The adhesive receiving region is adapted to be adhered to material adjacent to the structural joint. The elastomeric portion extends along each line of the structural joint in use to allow relative movement along each joint to be absorbed by the elastomeric portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Inventor: Philip Anthony Scardigno
  • Patent number: 8079598
    Abstract: A check seal (53) for discharging working oil scraped off a piston rod (3) by an oil lip (52b) into an oil pool (A) of a hydraulic shock absorber to an oil reservoir (R) is disposed on the outside of the oil pool (A). The check seal (53) comprises an annular seat surface (4d) and an annular lip (53a) seated resiliently on the seat surface (4d). The annular seat surface (4d) comprises an annular main rib (11) and an annular inner rib (12), both of which project toward the annular lip (53a), such that an annular groove (21) is formed between the main rib (11) and the inner rib (12). By providing a pressure introducing passage (12a) to introduce a pressure inside the inner rib (12) to the annular groove (21), the check seal (53) exhibits a high working oil discharging performance and a high working oil sealing performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Kayaba Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoharu Murakami, Chikatoshi Abe