Patents Examined by Enoch Peavey
  • Patent number: 6666460
    Abstract: A joint sealing key assembly includes a sealing key having a sealing face and one or more posts projecting in a direction away from the sealing face. The sealing key is disposed in a key slot of a first part with the post extending into an opening through the bottom of the key slot. The post includes a laterally opening elongated hole for receiving a lateral pin to retain the sealing key in the slot during assembly. Upon formation of the joint by bringing the seal faces of the first and second parts together, the sealing key is displaced against the bias of a leaf spring thereby retaining the sealing face of the sealing key in sealing engagement with the seal face of the second part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Stephen Anthony Diana
  • Patent number: 6659469
    Abstract: An elastomeric valve stem seal component is adapted for installation over a valve guide of an internal combustion engine. The seal component incorporates fabric reinforcement within an annular jacket body of the component. In one preferred form, the fabric is positioned intermediate two elastomeric layers of the seal body; i.e. between an inner layer and an outer layer. One preferred manufacturing method provides extrusion of a tube having a fabric reinforcement layer already provided between inner and outer layers. A cutting die incorporates a push ring adapted to move the component along a staged molding assembly process. A series of threaded core pins are utilized for conveyance of the component in the fabrication process, which includes extruding a rubber tube and cover over a series of threaded core pins, cutting a portion of the rubber tube to a predetermined length, and molding the predetermined length to produce the component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Dana Corporation
    Inventor: Mark A. Leimer
  • Patent number: 6648336
    Abstract: A seal system is provided for a bearing. The bearing includes a housing having two sides and a bearing element disposed within the housing. The bearing element is disposed to facilitate motion of a rotating shaft. The seal system includes a seal carrier which is adapted to be mounted on the bearing housing. The seal carrier has a groove in an inner periphery wherein a seal is disposed within the seal carrier groove. The seal has a soft flexible lip which contacts the rotating shaft. A groove is formed in an outer periphery of the seal for receiving a retaining device. The seal and the seal carrier are mountable on either side of the bearing even when the two sides experience dissimilar environments such as vacuum on one side and a liquid spray on the other. The seal and/or the seal carrier may be split for facilitating simpler in-field installation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Assignee: Reliance Electric Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Gregory J. Kostrzewsky, Michael A. Shea, Qimin Dong
  • Patent number: 6640389
    Abstract: An operating assembly for a casement window includes a folding crank handle and cover assembly that are located on the exterior surface of a trim piece on the sill of the window frame. The crank handle is attached to the drive shaft of the operator of the assembly in such a way that the handle may be folded down into a low-profile position in which the knob of the handle projects into a receiving pocket in the cover. An integral flap on the handle extending beyond the knob covers the pocket when the knob is received therein. Internal detent projections within the pocket yieldably retain the knob so as to provide for snap fit reception of the folded handle into its home position. Finger depressions in sidewalls of the cover on opposite sides of the pocket facilitate gripping of the edges of the handle for unfolding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: Pella Corporation
    Inventors: Marlo G. Van Klompenburg, David J. Vande Steeg, Robert S. Evers, Andrew W. Middleswart, Bruce A. Baier, Gregory J. Vetter
  • Patent number: 6637070
    Abstract: A grommet includes a larger-diameter tubular portion for being fixed to a through hole, a smaller-diameter tubular portion for passing a wire therethrough, a shield wall of a conical wall-shape interconnecting the larger-diameter tubular portion and the smaller-diameter tubular portion, and a noise-insulating wall joined to an outer peripheral surface of the smaller-diameter tubular portion and flaring into a conical wall-shape. When the smaller-diameter tubular portion is displaced in a direction toward the distal end thereof, an outer peripheral edge of the noise-insulating wall contacts with an inner peripheral surface of the larger-diameter tubular portion, and when this displacement is canceled, the outer peripheral edge is engaged with an engagement portion on the larger-diameter tubular portion, so that the noise-insulating wall is reversed to be formed into a conical wall-shape in reverse to the initial shape, thereby forming a closed space between the noise-insulating wall and the shield wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Katayama, Chikao Nishimoto
  • Patent number: 6585270
    Abstract: A seal is provided at the intersegments of hydrogen seal rings for preventing oil leakage through this potential gap between the seal ring segments. By minimizing leakage through the gaps between the open rings, hydrogen consumption in hydrogen-cooled generators due to leakage oil is reduced. In a preferred embodiment, the seal is provided by a brush seal secured to one of the seal ring segments and received in a slot defined in the other of the seal ring segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Wei Tong
  • Patent number: 6565098
    Abstract: Process for manufacturing a cylinder head gasket with a gasket plate which comprises several sheet metal layers and with a metallic spacer ring which surrounds a combustion chamber through-opening of the cylinder head gasket and is welded by a ring-shaped weld seam to one of the sheet metal layers; to improve the sealing ability of the cylinder head gasket around the combustion chamber through-opening and to shorten the welding time, the spacer ring is secured in a gas-tight manner by electric pulse welding to the sheet metal layer carrying it by a continuous, ring-shaped, uniform weld seam closed within itself by the spacer ring and the sheet metal layer being clamped between a first electrode resting against the spacer ring and a second electrode resting against the sheet metal layer and a current pulse being passed through a ring-shaped, sharp edge-like or bead-like contact projection of the one electrode pressed against one of the parts to be welded to one another, through the parts to be welded to one an
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Assignee: Elringklinger AG
    Inventor: Fritz Bleyh
  • Patent number: 6564427
    Abstract: A hinge construction for pivotably connecting a pair of members together, such as for connecting the access cover of a power inlet box used in connecting an auxiliary generator to the electrical system of a building. The construction includes a mounting member including a knuckle fixed to the power inlet box. An access member includes a pair of spaced apart, pivot lugs disposed one on each side of the knuckle for movement between a closed position in which the access cover engages the mounting member to prevent access to the power inlet box, and an open position for providing access to the power inlet box. A hinge pin passes through aligned apertures in the mounting member knuckle and the access cover lugs, and forms a rotational axis about which the access cover pivots. A torsion spring surrounds the hinge pin and has a first end retained in the mounting member knuckle and a second end disposed outside the access cover lugs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Assignee: Reliance Time Controls, Inc.
    Inventor: David D. Flegel
  • Patent number: 6550782
    Abstract: A cylinder head gasket adapted for being mounted on an internal combustion engine, and comprises an elastic metal sheet (1) having more than one combustion chamber opening and more than one passage hole, including a bead formed in the area surrounding the combustion chamber opening and a bead formed in the area surrounding the passage hole, wherein a sealing material is coated on the front or rear side, or both, of the elastic metal sheet (1). Specifically, the sealing material includes a thermally resistant sealing material (7, 17) and a water/oil resistant sealing material (8, 18), wherein the thermally resistant sealing material (7, 17) may be coated on the front or rear side, or both, of the bead (5) formed in the area surrounding the combustion chamber opening (2), and the water/oil resistant sealing material (8, 18) may be coated on the front or rear side, or both, of the bead (6) formed in the area surrounding the passage hole (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Uchiyama Manufacturing Corp.
    Inventors: Yoshimichi Okazaki, Takashi Nanba, Kenji Matsumoto, Yoshitaka Tanaka
  • Patent number: 6543783
    Abstract: A sealing ring having a sealing body with a dynamically stressed sealing lip made of an elastomeric material which at least partially surrounds a toroidal supporting body. The supporting body has a slope facing the sealing lip, and the sealing body has a dynamically stressed sealing bulge which is adjacent with an axial distance on the side of the sealing lip facing away from the space to be sealed. The sealing bulge is in contact with the face to be sealed under an initial elastic stress. The sealing bulge is arranged axially between two radial planes which axially delimit the slope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Assignee: Firma Carl Freudenberg
    Inventors: Edgar Freitag, Günter Bergmann
  • Patent number: 6533289
    Abstract: A improvement to a gasket that includes an elongated seamless tubular member formed from at least a plurality of interwoven glass fiber yarn ends and a plurality of spring clip fasteners spaced along the tubular member, each fastener including a base located within the tubular member and an engagement portion extending outwardly through the tubular member away from the base. The free ends of the tubular member are coupled together at a joint so that the elongated tubular member forms a closed loop. A second tubular member is positioned around the joint, concealing the joint. The second tubular member may include one or more fasteners each having a base located between the elongated tubular member and the second tubular member and an engagement portion extending outwardly through the second tubular member away from the elongated tubular member. The second tubular member may be composed of at least a second plurality of glass fiber yarns interwoven together or a corrugated metal tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignee: Davlyn Manufacturing Company, Inc.
    Inventors: James J. Bono, Jr., Thomas L. Weil
  • Patent number: 6527277
    Abstract: Flat gasket with a gasket plate formed by a sheet metal layer for sealing a sealing gap between sealing surfaces of machine components, the gasket plate being provided with an elastomeric sealing element in an area in which the component sealing surfaces lead to a locally varying sealing surface pressure; in order that the sealing element can already be applied by the gasket manufacturer and will not be subjected to the danger of damage during installation of the gasket, a sealing element formed from a material curable in situ is applied to a first main surface of the sheet metal layer, and the sheet metal layer is provided with a cutout for passage of the curable sealing element material therethrough so that the sealing element material passes through this cutout and comes to rest against the adjacent component sealing surface only after installation of the gasket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Assignee: Elring Klinger AG
    Inventor: Oliver Hegmann
  • Patent number: 6502830
    Abstract: A metallic gasket installed between confronting surfaces of engine components is improved in heat conduction between the components so as to reduce the adverse thermal influence to the engine. The metallic gasket used between the confronting surfaces of, for example a cylinder head and a cylinder block is composed of an annular raised portion defining inside a gas hole in alignment with an associated cylinder bore, and a surrounding metallic sheet connected to the annular raised portion. Both the annular raised portion and the surrounding metallic sheet are made of aluminum material to render the heat conduction between the components efficient. Thus the improved gasket can reduce the adverse thermal influence such as thermal deformation, thermal stress, and so on, whether the components are made of different materials or same materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Assignee: Nippon Gasket Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Minoru Teranishi, Kiyoshi Sugimoto, Kazuya Yoshijima
  • Patent number: 6494464
    Abstract: A sealable enclosure including a base and a cover attachable to the base, the base and cover have respective mating surfaces, wherein the base and cover form a chamber there between when the cover is attached to the base. A compliant gel sealant is disposed on the mating surface of one of the base and cover for environmentally sealing the chamber, with a visual indicator provided for determining that the chamber is sealed. In one preferred embodiment, the visual indicator comprises a non-opaque window formed in the cover, and a non-opaque tongue extending from the mating surface of the cover, the tongue aligned with the window such that a line of sight is provided through the respective window and tongue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2002
    Assignees: Tyco Electronics Corporation, Aqua-Seal International Limited
    Inventors: Daniel A. Chandler, David W. Curry
  • Patent number: 6478305
    Abstract: Gasket mounting surfaces 1e, 2e of a cylinder block 1 and a cylinder head 2 which confront each other across a plate gasket G which is interposed therebetween are formed into flat surfaces, and a gap C is formed between these surfaces 1e, 2e which is adapted to surround the plate gasket G at a distal end and a side edge thereof and has a depth corresponding to the thickness of the gasket G, whereby a part of a liquid packing P for sealing mating surfaces of the cylinder block 1, the cylinder head 2 and a chain case 17 is designed to be filled in this gap C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazuyuki Iwata
  • Patent number: 6471212
    Abstract: In a brush seal for sealing off the gap between a rotating and a stationary component, a plurality of radially inwardly running, elastically flexible brushes are held at one end in a basic body seated in a first of the components. They bear sealingly at the other end on the annular other component. The brushes bear, over their predominant longitudinal extent, on a guide plate. Both the basic body and the guide plate are seated in a groove of one of the components. The basic body and the guide plate are held in their mutual position by means of a wire mortised into the groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: Alstom
    Inventors: Olaf Dierker, Harald Römer, Heinrich Roth
  • Patent number: 6470708
    Abstract: An identification bracelet which is adjustable so as to allow the user to continue to use the bracelet even if his wrist size changes is provided. The present invention comprises a chain and a clasp. The clasp, which provides a panel for engraving a name or message, may be opened so that the chain may be adjusted to make the bracelet larger or smaller. The clasp provides a plurality of anchor locations so that numerous different sizes of bracelet may be made. The clasp is generally made in two sections which are rotatably connected so that they may pivot apart, to provide access to the anchor locations, and pivot together to lock the end of the chain within the clasp. The clasp may subsequently be pivoted open again to adjust the size of the chain or for removal of the bracelet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Inventor: Sharon Green
  • Patent number: 6460858
    Abstract: The compression ring 21 is mounted on the seal ring 20 at the end thereof. The compression ring 21 has the outer circumference projections 30 that are fixed in the groove 40 extending in the axial direction at the inner surface of the flange 22 . With this construction, the compression ring 21 can move in the axial direction and is stopped in the rotational direction. The compression ring 21 is pressed by the springs 23. Thus the compression ring 21 works as a stopper to stop the rotation of the seal ring 20 and as a spring receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: Tanken Seal Seiko Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Munenari Kitajima, Masayuki Toyoshima, Hiroshi Oka
  • Patent number: 6457726
    Abstract: The sealing arrangement for a flat flanged joint comprising a preferably metallic base body 1 has bearing surfaces 7, 7′ on each of its two sides for ring-shaped supports (11, 12) made of a soft material, the bearing surfaces (7, 7′) being flat over a large area and being situated essentially directly opposite to each other, at least one ring tooth (2, 3) being provided in the inner radial area of each bearing surface and preferably at least one ring tooth (5, 6) being also provided in the outer radial area of each bearing surface, said soft material supports each being fixed on the bearing surfaces (7, 7′), the ring teeth (2, 3, 4, 5, 6), when the arrangement is assembled, coming to rest on the flange surfaces (14, 15), and the soft material supports (11, 12) being at least inwardly limited by the ring teeth (2, 3), wherein the wall of the base body (1) has a low thickness of only 0.2 to 2.0 mm, preferably 0.3 to 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Inventor: Alfred Jung
  • Patent number: 6446978
    Abstract: A resilient seal has an annular curved region having a generally C-shaped cross section, and a pair of annular leg regions. Each leg region has a free end and extends generally radially inward towards the inside of the C-shaped cross section. The leg regions contact each other and each form a generally frustro-conical disk spring member extending inwardly from the curved region. The leg regions are adapted to contact each other and to provide a restoring force when the sealing ring is compressed. A first bend connects one of said leg regions to the curved region, and a second bend connects the other of the leg regions to the curved region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignee: Jetseal, Inc.
    Inventors: Horace P. Halling, Paul L. Porter