Patents Examined by Scott W. Cummings
  • Patent number: 5516121
    Abstract: A dry slip ring seal for incorporation in apparatus comprising a fixed element, such as a casing, and a revolving element, such as a shaft. At least one of these elements incorporates an internal conditioning circuit enabling the circulation of conditioning fluid which conditions one of a plurality of ring seals, as well as, at least partially, the other of the two elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1996
    Assignee: Framatome
    Inventors: Daniel Bolusset, Andre Charbonnier
  • Patent number: 5513856
    Abstract: A cavity in the housing, which confines the seal therewithin, has an annular wall surface which is modified to direct liquid from the cavity towards the impeller. In one embodiment, the wall surface has a helical land formed therein. In another embodiment, a helical-land forming insert is set within the cavity and in engagement with the wall surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 7, 1996
    Assignee: ITT Flygt AB
    Inventor: Johan Fondelius
  • Patent number: 5513855
    Abstract: A metal laminate gasket of the invention is formed of first and second metal plates laminating together. The first plate includes at least one first hole for receiving therein an engaging projection of an engine part, and a plurality of first engaging portions and first non-engaging portions alternately arranged to each other to define the first hole. The first engaging portions have first curved inner edges for forming a first imaginary hole with a diameter smaller than a diameter of the engaging projection. The second plate includes at least one second hole corresponding to and located above the first hole, and a plurality of second engaging portions and second non-engaging portions alternately arranged to each other to define the second hole. The second engaging portions have second curved inner edges for forming a second imaginary hole with a diameter smaller than the diameter of the engaging projection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 7, 1996
    Assignee: Ishikawa Gasket Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hisashi Yasui
  • Patent number: 5511796
    Abstract: A metal laminate gasket of the invention is installed in an internal combustion engine having at least one hole to be sealed. The gasket is formed of a plurality of metal plates to form a metal laminate gasket, an auxiliary sealing device formed around a first hole of the gasket for sealing therearound, and an annular shim situated between the metal plates and located outside the auxiliary sealing device. The auxiliary sealing device is compressible, while the shim is non-compressible. When the gasket is tightened, surface pressure greater than that on the auxiliary sealing device is formed on the shim to thereby securely seal around the first hole without causing deformation of the hole of the engine due to high surface pressure around the hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 30, 1996
    Assignee: Ishikawa Gasket Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tsunekazu Udagawa
  • Patent number: 5511795
    Abstract: A sealing medium seal for sealing the rotary drum of a drum-shaped furnace against the stationary charging device and the downstream, stationary discharge chamber, in order to prevent infiltrated air from being drawn into the process space and toxic flue gases from surging out. A double seal is provided including wearable individual sections of the sealing ring, which are equipped with a circumferential groove, with a hole, and with a sleeve for the sealing medium connection, and are arranged displaceably between two flanges as well as of a pneumatic, deformable, one-part sealing element, to which pressurized medium is admitted via a connection. The two sealing elements are guided in a chamber formed by two side flanges and a closing flange, as a result of which the sealing elements are completely sealed both in the radial direction and in the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 30, 1996
    Assignee: Man Gutehoffnungshutte Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Winfried Laubach, Thomas Gerlach
  • Patent number: 5511799
    Abstract: The present invention pertains to an apparatus useful in semiconductor processing. The apparatus can be used to provide a seal which enables a first portion of a semiconductor processing chamber to be operated at a first pressure while a second portion of the semiconductor processing chamber is operated at a second, different pressure. The sealing apparatus enable processing of a semiconductor substrate under a partial vacuum which renders conductive/convective heat transfer impractical, while at least a portion of the substrate support platform is under a pressure adequate to permit heat transfer using a conductive/convective heat transfer means. The sealing apparatus comprises a thin, metal-comprising layer, typically in the form of a strip or band, brazed to at least two different surfaces within said processing chamber, whereby the first and second portions of the semiconductor processing chamber are pressure isolated from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 30, 1996
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert E. Davenport, Avi Tepman
  • Patent number: 5509669
    Abstract: A gas-path leakage seal for generally sealing a gas-path leakage-gap between spaced-apart first and second members of a gas turbine (such as combustor casing segments). The seal includes a generally imperforate foil-layer assemblage which is generally impervious to gas and is located in the leakage-gap. The seal also includes a cloth-layer assemblage generally enclosingly contacting the foil-layer assemblage. In one seal, the first edge of the foil-layer assemblage is left exposed, and the foil-layer assemblage resiliently contacts the first member near the first edge to reduce leakage in the "plane" of the cloth-layer assemblage under conditions which include differential thermal growth of the two members. In another seal, such leakage is reduced by having a first weld-bead which permeates the cloth-layer assemblage, is attached to the metal-foil-layer assemblage near the first edge, and unattachedly contacts the first member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 23, 1996
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Christopher E. Wolfe, Osman S. Dinc, Bharat S. Bagepalli, Victor H. Correia, Mahmut F. Aksit
  • Patent number: 5507500
    Abstract: An apparatus for outwardly radially compressing a gasket into sealing engagement with a wall of an opening includes a continuous strip of resiliently flexible material having first and second ends and first and second members. The first and second members are made from a different material than the strip and are respectively attached to the first and second ends of the strip to thereby form a ring. The first and second members are configured to include locking structure that both fixes the ring in an expanded position adjacent to the gasket and secures against contraction of the ring by the gasket. The apparatus may be made from a plurality of continuous strips of resiliently flexible material and have structure for aligning and securing the first end of each one of the strips adjacent the second end of another of the strips to form a closed ring. The aligning and securing structure includes at least one set of the first and second members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 16, 1996
    Assignee: Press-Seal Gasket Corporation
    Inventors: James W. Skinner, Michael R. Miller, Fouad M. Deeb, William O. Skinner
  • Patent number: 5507499
    Abstract: The present invention pertains to an apparatus and method useful in semiconductor processing. The apparatus and method can be used to provide a seal which enables a first portion of a semiconductor processing chamber to be operated at a first pressure while a second portion of the semiconductor processing chamber is operated at a second, different pressure.The sealing apparatus and method enable processing of a semiconductor substrate under a partial vacuum which renders conductive/convective heat transfer impractical, while at least a portion of the substrate support platform is under a pressure adequate to permit heat transfer using a conductive/convective heat transfer means. The sealing apparatus comprises a thin, metal-comprising layer, typically in the form of a strip or band, brazed to at least two different surfaces within said processing chamber, whereby the first and second portions of the semiconductor processing chamber are pressure isolated from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 16, 1996
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert E. Davenport, Avi Tepman
  • Patent number: 5507503
    Abstract: A sealing element, formed of a substantially non-extrudable material, is configured with a taper at one edge or surface thereof. The element is set in a recess which obtains between interengaged components, with the tapered end exposed, externally. The tapered end is flat, and fairingly bridges across the recess to obviate any crevasses or notches, or voids in which product fluid can repose and create bacteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 16, 1996
    Assignee: ITT Corporation
    Inventor: Jose M. Robaina
  • Patent number: 5507504
    Abstract: A sealing device for a sealing space defined by sealing surfaces of two elements (2, 6), preferably pipes or well rings consisting of concrete, comprises a sealing element (28). The sealing element is adapted to seal a section of the sealing space extending transversely of the jointing direction of the two elements and has prior to the jointing of the elements a substantially C-shaped cross section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 16, 1996
    Assignee: Forsheda AB
    Inventors: Wieland Neumann, Helmut Mehl, Anders Strom, Joakim Andersson
  • Patent number: 5507502
    Abstract: A packing life extender ring assembly which includes a first annular ring and a second annular ring concentrically encircling the first ring, both rings having tapered surfaces matingly engaging one another. The first and second rings are both made of a composition containing 60% to 85% by weight virgin polytetrafluoruethylene, the remainder being calcium metasilicate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 16, 1996
    Assignee: Kalplas, Inc.
    Inventor: Edward W. Dennison, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5507505
    Abstract: A rod or piston seal with a seal body made of a polymeric material, which contacts the surface that is being sealed and is capable of relative displacement with a sealing surface. The sealing surface is interrupted in the movement direction by at least two grooves, extending in the peripheral direction, that have a spacing between them. The spacing consists of at least one land that extends in the axial direction between the mutually adjacent grooves, such that the ratio A between the width of the land and the width of the grooves in the movement direction is 1:2 to 200:1, the ratio B between the width and depth of the grooves is 10:1 to 1:5, and the depth of the grooves has a value of 1 to 200 .mu.m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 16, 1996
    Assignee: Firma Carl Freudenberg
    Inventors: Ernst-Moritz von-Arndt, Gunter Stein
  • Patent number: 5505465
    Abstract: An improved cartridge mounted mechanical seal for providing a seal between a housing and a rotatable shaft is provided, including at least one radial stud which extends from the inside of the rotary sleeve of the seal through the rotary sleeve and into the lock collar of the seal so as to transmit torque from the shaft to the rotating face of the seal. The radial stud is preferably removably insertable into said lock collar and is held axially in place by an elastomeric o-ring positioned in a groove in the stud.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 9, 1996
    Inventor: John Hornsby
  • Patent number: 5505464
    Abstract: A face sealing fitting includes two connectable tubular elements each having an annular end formation and a metal gasket including an outer annular section with a first axial dimension, an inner annular section concentric with the outer annular section and having a smaller axial dimension, and a tapered section having bevel faces between the inner and outer annular sections. Portions of the annular end formations which project axially the farthest beyond the tubular elements have a diameter substantially equal to the inner diameter of the inner annular gasket section and lie along the inner surface of the tubular elements to minimize dead volumes along the flowpath through the fitting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 9, 1996
    Assignee: General Components, Inc.
    Inventor: Raymond C. McGarvey
  • Patent number: 5503406
    Abstract: A valve having an assembly for live loading of the packings of the valve. The assembly includes a plurality of large belleville disk springs arranged such that the shaft or stem of the valve extends through the center of the belleville springs, with threaded studs arranged symmetrically with respect to the valve shaft also extending through the belleville springs. Utilizing the larger spring arrangement, a smaller number of springs are required, and favorable deflection characteristics are provided. Preferably, a compression ring is provided having a portion extending up through the belleville disk springs, with this portion including a visual indicator thereon which provides a visual indication that a desired load is achieved as the springs are loaded via hex nuts provided on the threaded studs of the valve assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 2, 1996
    Assignee: Neles-Jamesbury
    Inventors: Leonard T. Armstrong, Raymond P. Champagne, John M. Cory, Anthony P. Lennon
  • Patent number: 5503408
    Abstract: A seal assembly is mounted on a shaft in sealing relationship to provide a sealed chamber in a housing from which the shaft extends. The seal assembly includes a unitary annular seal body attached to an annular retainer. The seal body includes three radial sealing lips in engagement with the shaft. A primary lip is adjacent the sealed chamber and provides the primary fluid seal. A secondary lip is rearward of the primary lip and keeps the primary lip aligned with the shaft. A rearward lip excludes environmental contaminants from entering the sealed chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 2, 1996
    Assignee: John Crane Inc.
    Inventors: Curtis B. Hemann, Lucyna Heyduk, Joseph E. Forbes, John Crotser
  • Patent number: 5501470
    Abstract: In a non-contacting shaft sealing device of the type wherein a sealing end face of a case seal and a sealing end face of a rotary shaft seal rotate relative to each other in a non-contacting state while being separated by a film of fluid derived from the high pressure region being sealed, one sealing end face is provided with an even number of dynamic pressure generating groove groups arranged in the peripheral direction on the sealing end face. Each dynamic pressure generating groove group has plural approximately L-shaped linear dynamic pressure generating grooves each composed of a fluid lead-in part extending in the radial direction from the peripheral edge of the sealing end face so as to communicate with the high pressure region, and a dynamic pressure generating part extending in the peripheral direction from the end portion of the fluid lead-in part with the dynamic pressure generating grooves not crossing each other and being arranged in the radial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 26, 1996
    Assignee: Nippon Pillar Packing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshihiko Fuse, Eiji Okumachi
  • Patent number: 5501471
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a mechanical seal for a shaft, having a rotary seal ring and a stationary seal ring which slide on and come in contact with each other for sealing a fluid. A blade-like sealing end portion formed at one seal ring is resiliently pressed, through a coil spring or a flat leaf spring, to a flat sealing end surface formed at the other seal ring. The blade-like sealing end portion is symmetrical at the inner and outer peripheral surfaces thereof with respect to the edge surface thereof, and the angles formed by the inner and outer peripheral surfaces of the sealing end portion with respect to the edge surface thereof are set to 90.degree. or more, and preferably in the range from 105.degree. to 150.degree.. This facilitates the machining of the sealing end portion and prevents the sealing end portion from being broken, thus assuring a stable sealing performance for a long period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 26, 1996
    Assignee: Nippon Pillar Packing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kanji Ohba, Takeo Nakajima, Yuichi Tamura
  • Patent number: 5501469
    Abstract: A seal for use between a shaft rotatable about and extending along an axis and a housing through which the shaft passes axially has a rub ring fixed on the shaft outer surface and having an outer surface centered on the axis and a flexible seal ring having a pair of outer axially oppositely directed end faces lying in and defining a pair of axially spaced end planes and formed with an outer portion fixed in the housing, an inner lip engaging radially inward against the outer rub-ring surface, an intermediate portion extending radially inward from the outer portion, and a relatively thin and flexible annular web connecting the lip to the intermediate portion. An inner protector ring lying axially wholly between the planes and radially wholly within the seal ring is fixed in the seal ring and has a radially inwardly projecting inner flange juxtaposed with the rub ring and spaced radially outward from one of the outer surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 26, 1996
    Assignee: P.I.V. S.A.
    Inventors: Jean Ducugnon, Eugene Faure