Patents by Inventor Christopher Tones

Christopher Tones has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11365810
    Abstract: A bearing isolator capable of operating under flooded conditions is disclosed. The bearing isolator can include a stator, a rotor, a unitizing element and a sealing element, the stator and rotor form a cavity in which the unitizing element is disposed, and features of the unitizing element with features of the stator and rotor to ensure the stator and rotor stay together while still maintaining a gap between the two components to avoid metal on metal contact. The sealing element resides against a surface of the stator and includes a radially-inward extending lip seal that rides against a running surface of the rotor for improved sealing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: Garlock Sealing Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Tones, Christopher Fink
  • Patent number: 10753478
    Abstract: A bearing isolator having a simple design and made from low-cost materials but which performs comparably to other higher-cost bearing isolators is described. The bearing isolator generally includes a rotor having a snap fit feature protruding from a radially-oriented flange and a stator having a snap fit feature recess for receiving the snap fit feature to thereby join together the stator and rotor without need for, e.g., a separate unitizing element. Furthermore, the rotor and/or stator can be made from lost cost material, such as a nylon/moly material. In some embodiments, the stator further includes a lip seal biased against the radially-oriented flange of the rotor, which, when combined with the labyrinth passage formed at least in part by the snap fit feature and snap fit feature recess, helps to prevent egress and ingress of lubricant and/or contaminates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: Garlock Sealing Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Tones, Christopher Fink
  • Patent number: 10704692
    Abstract: A bearing isolator capable of operating under flooded conditions is disclosed. The bearing isolator can include a stator, a rotor, a unitizing element and a sealing element, the stator and rotor form a cavity in which the unitizing element is disposed, and features of the unitizing element with features of the stator and rotor to ensure the stator and rotor stay together while still maintaining a gap between the two components to avoid metal on metal contact. The sealing element resides against a surface of the stator and includes a radially-inward extending lip seal that rides against a running surface of the rotor for improved sealing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: Garlock Sealing Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Tones, Christopher Fink
  • Patent number: 9987577
    Abstract: A kammprofile gasket is provided. The kammprofile gasket forms a flow aperture into which an object, such as a strainer or orifice plate, may be machined into the gasket to provide additional functionality. The gasket has a core material with a sealing material overlaying a portion of the core material such that a seal is formed between opposing flanged surfaces. The core material may be machined such that a base plate for an orifice or a plurality of support beams extend into the flow aperture. The plurality of support beams may provide support for a filter or strainer coupled upstream to the core material. The base plate may provide an inclined surface, such as a cone, to an orifice where the cone functions to direct excess flow away from the orifice to self flush.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Garlock Sealing Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Chad Yoder, Matthew Tones, Christopher Tones
  • Publication number: 20180128380
    Abstract: A bearing isolator having a simple design and made from low-cost materials but which performs comparably to other higher-cost bearing isolators is described. The bearing isolator generally includes a rotor having a snap fit feature protruding from a radially-oriented flange and a stator having a snap fit feature recess for receiving the snap fit feature to thereby join together the stator and rotor without need for, e.g., a separate unitizing element. Furthermore, the rotor and/or stator can be made from lost cost material, such as a nylon/moly material. In some embodiments, the stator further includes a lip seal biased against the radially-oriented flange of the rotor, which, when combined with the labyrinth passage formed at least in part by the snap fit feature and snap fit feature recess, helps to prevent egress and ingress of lubricant and/or contaminates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2017
    Publication date: May 10, 2018
    Inventors: Christopher Tones, Christopher Fink
  • Patent number: 7900933
    Abstract: A seal is disclosed for use on the tapered section of a roll neck in a rolling mill. The seal comprises a flexible circular seal body having a central axis and at least one radially outwardly extending flange joined by a hinge to an angularly extending lip. The hinge has a reduced thickness as compared to the thicknesses of the flange and the lip, and the lip has converging first and second sides leading to an enlarged rim. The rim has first and second peripheral faces that converge to an outer edge contained in a reference plane parallel to the central axis of the seal body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Siemens Industry, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Tones, Peter N. Osgood
  • Patent number: 7604239
    Abstract: An assembly for sealing a rotating shaft and a bearing housing which has a stator, a rotor, and a unitizing element. The stator has at least two portions and an annular engagement flange extending in an axial direction having a groove on a radial side thereof. The rotor has at least two portions and an annular engagement flange extending in an axial direction having a groove on the radial side thereof. The annular unitizing element has at least two portions, a stator engaging member that engages the stator groove, a rotor engaging member that engages the rotor groove, and a rear member having a side edge that engages the stator. A radially outer surface of the unitizing element has two areas of differing diameter, one corresponding to the rotor engaging member and the other corresponding to the rear member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: Garlock Scaling Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Elizabeth Chitren, Christopher Tones
  • Publication number: 20090102136
    Abstract: A seal is disclosed for use on the tapered section of a roll neck in a rolling mill. The seal comprises a flexible circular seal body having a central axis and at least one radially outwardly extending flange joined by a hinge to an angularly extending lip. The hinge has a reduced thickness as compared to the thicknesses of the flange and the lip, and the lip has converging first and second sides leading to an enlarged rim. The rim has first and second peripheral faces that converge to an outer edge contained in a reference plane parallel to the central axis of the seal body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2008
    Publication date: April 23, 2009
    Inventors: Christopher Tones, Peter N. Osgood
  • Patent number: 7467796
    Abstract: A seal is disclosed for use on the tapered section of a roll neck in a rolling mill. The seal comprises a flexible circular seal body having a central axis and at least one radially outwardly extending flange joined by a hinge to an angularly extending lip. The hinge has a reduced thickness as compared to the thicknesses of the flange and the lip, and the lip has converging first and second sides leading to an enlarged rim. The rim has first and second peripheral faces that converge to an outer edge contained in a reference plane parallel to the central axis of the seal body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2008
    Assignee: Morgan Construction, Company
    Inventors: Christopher Tones, Peter N. Osgood
  • Patent number: 7427070
    Abstract: An annular unitizing element has a rotor engaging member, a stator engaging member, and a rear member. The radially outer surface of the unitizing element has two areas of differing diameter, one corresponding to the rotor engaging member and the other corresponding to the rear member. The stator engaging member extends radially inward from the radially inner side of the annular unitizing element. A sealing assembly for sealing a rotating shaft and a bearing housing has a rotor having an annular engagement flange extending in an axial direction comprising a groove on a radial side thereof, a stator having an annular engagement flange extending in an axial direction comprising a groove on a radial side thereof, and an annular unitizing element having a stator engaging member, a rotor engaging member, and a rear member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2008
    Assignee: Garlock Sealing Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Elizabeth Chitren, Christopher Tones
  • Publication number: 20080001362
    Abstract: An assembly for sealing a rotating shaft and a bearing housing which has a stator, a rotor, and a unitizing element. The stator has at least two portions and an annular engagement flange extending in an axial direction having a groove on a radial side thereof. The rotor has at least two portions and an annular engagement flange extending in an axial direction having a groove on the radial side thereof. The annular unitizing element has at least two portions, a stator engaging member that engages the stator groove, a rotor engaging member that engages the rotor groove, and a rear member having a side edge that engages the stator. A radially outer surface of the unitizing element has two areas of differing diameter, one corresponding to the rotor engaging member and the other corresponding to the rear member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2007
    Publication date: January 3, 2008
    Inventors: Elizabeth Chitren, Christopher Tones
  • Publication number: 20070145690
    Abstract: An annular unitizing element has a rotor engaging member, a stator engaging member, and a rear member. The radially outer surface of the unitizing element has two areas of differing diameter, one corresponding to the rotor engaging member and the other corresponding to the rear member. The stator engaging member extends radially inward from the radially inner side of the annular unitizing element. A sealing assembly for sealing a rotating shaft and a bearing housing has a rotor having an annular engagement flange extending in an axial direction comprising a groove on a radial side thereof, a stator having an annular engagement flange extending in an axial direction comprising a groove on a radial side thereof, and an annular unitizing element having a stator engaging member, a rotor engaging member, and a rear member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2007
    Publication date: June 28, 2007
    Inventors: Elizabeth Chitren, Christopher Tones
  • Patent number: 7201377
    Abstract: An annular unitizing element comprising a rotor engaging member, a stator engaging member, and a rear member. The radially outer surface of the unitizing element comprises two areas of differing diameter, one corresponding to the rotor engaging member and the other corresponding to the rear member. The stator engaging member extends radially inward from the radially inner side of the annular unitizing element. A sealing assembly for sealing a rotating shaft and a bearing housing comprising a rotor comprising, an annular engagement flange extending in an axial direction comprising a groove on a radial side thereof, a stator comprising, an annular engagement flange extending in an axial direction comprising a groove on a radial side thereof, and an annular unitizing element comprising, a stator engaging member, a rotor engaging member, and a rear member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Garlock Sealing Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Elizabeth Chitren, Christopher Tones
  • Publication number: 20060087084
    Abstract: An annular unitizing element comprising a rotor engaging member, a stator engaging member, and a rear member. The radially outer surface of the unitizing element comprises two areas of differing diameter, one corresponding to the rotor engaging member and the other corresponding to the rear member. The stator engaging member extends radially inward from the radially inner side of the annular unitizing element. A sealing assembly for sealing a rotating shaft and a bearing housing comprising a rotor comprising, an annular engagement flange extending in an axial direction comprising a groove on a radial side thereof, a stator comprising, an annular engagement flange extending in an axial direction comprising a groove on a radial side thereof, and an annular unitizing element comprising, a stator engaging member, a rotor engaging member, and a rear member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2005
    Publication date: April 27, 2006
    Inventors: Elizabeth Chitren, Christopher Tones
  • Publication number: 20060033291
    Abstract: A seal is disclosed for use on the tapered section of a roll neck in a rolling mill. The seal comprises a flexible circular seal body having a central axis and at least one radially outwardly extending flange joined by a hinge to an angularly extending lip. The hinge has a reduced thickness as compared to the thicknesses of the flange and the lip, and the lip has converging first and second sides leading to an enlarged rim. The rim has first and second peripheral faces that converge to an outer edge contained in a reference plane parallel to the central axis of the seal body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2005
    Publication date: February 16, 2006
    Inventors: Christopher Tones, Peter Osgood
  • Publication number: 20040070150
    Abstract: An annular unitizing element comprising a rotor engaging member, a stator engaging member, and a rear member. The radially outer surface of the unitizing element comprises two areas of differing diameter, one corresponding to the rotor engaging member and the other corresponding to the rear member. The stator engaging member extends radially inward from the radially inner side of the annular unitizing element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2003
    Publication date: April 15, 2004
    Inventors: Elizabeth Chitren, Christopher Tones