Patents by Inventor Gerald Maurice Berard

Gerald Maurice Berard 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).

  • Publication number: 20240159159
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally an additive manufactured rotor for a seal assembly. The rotor surrounds a central axis and extends along the central axis from a first axial end to an opposite second axial end. The rotor is rotatable about an axis of rotation that is co-axial with the central axis. The rotor can include an outer ring and an inner ring that is connected to the outer ring by a radial web. The outer ring has a rotor face for providing a sealing surface at the first axial end. The outer ring can define a first annular cavity and the inner ring can define a second annular cavity that is radially separated from the first annular cavity. The radial web can define a fluid channel for providing fluid communication between the first annular cavity of the outer ring and the second annular cavity of the inner ring. The first and second annular cavities can be concentric with the axis of rotation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2023
    Publication date: May 16, 2024
    Inventor: Gerald Maurice Berard
  • Patent number: 11873903
    Abstract: A segment of a seal assembly for forming a hydrodynamic seal against a rotating member can include a main body extending between first and second sides and defining a radial internal surface for forming a hydrodynamic seal with the rotating member. The main body can include a main surface extending between the main body first and second sides, a fluid inlet portion recessed from the main surface, and a hydrodynamic pad region located adjacent the fluid inlet portion and extending in a circumferential direction. The hydrodynamic pad region can include a first section and a second section separated by a land portion, wherein the first and second sections are recessed from the main surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited
    Inventors: Gerald Maurice Berard, Edward Nicholas Ruggeri
  • Patent number: 11821322
    Abstract: An additive manufactured rotor for a seal assembly is provided. The rotor surrounds a central axis and extends along the central axis from a first axial end to an opposite second axial end. The rotor is rotatable about an axis of rotation that is co-axial with the central axis. The rotor can include an outer ring and an inner ring that is connected to the outer ring by a radial web. The outer ring has a rotor face for providing a sealing surface at the first axial end. The outer ring can define a first annular cavity and the inner ring can define a second annular cavity that is radially separated from the first annular cavity. The radial web can define a fluid channel for providing fluid communication between the first annular cavity of the outer ring and the second annular cavity of the inner ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: EATON INTELLIGENT POWER LIMITED
    Inventor: Gerald Maurice Berard
  • Publication number: 20220154590
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally an additive manufactured rotor for a seal assembly. The rotor surrounds a central axis and extends along the central axis from a first axial end to an opposite second axial end. The rotor is rotatable about an axis of rotation that is co-axial with the central axis. The rotor can include an outer ring and an inner ring that is connected to the outer ring by a radial web. The outer ring has a rotor face for providing a sealing surface at the first axial end. The outer ring can define a first annular cavity and the inner ring can define a second annular cavity that is radially separated from the first annular cavity. The radial web can define a fluid channel for providing fluid communication between the first annular cavity of the outer ring and the second annular cavity of the inner ring. The first and second annular cavities can be concentric with the axis of rotation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2021
    Publication date: May 19, 2022
    Inventor: Gerald Maurice Berard
  • Publication number: 20210190208
    Abstract: A segment of a seal assembly for forming a hydrodynamic seal against a rotating member can include a main body extending between first and second sides and defining a radial internal surface for forming a hydrodynamic seal with the rotating member. The main body can include a main surface extending between the main body first and second sides, a fluid inlet portion recessed from the main surface, and a hydrodynamic pad region located adjacent the fluid inlet portion and extending in a circumferential direction. The hydrodynamic pad region can include a first section and a second section separated by a land portion, wherein the first and second sections are recessed from the main surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Publication date: June 24, 2021
    Inventors: Gerald Maurice Berard, Edward Nicholas Ruggeri
  • Patent number: 9945235
    Abstract: A coning-resistant rotor and a seal assembly including a coning-resistant rotor are disclosed. An embodiment of the rotor includes a rotor base, a rotor head, and an axially-extending web interposed between the rotor base and rotor head, wherein the web includes axial and radial web regions defined by at least one circumferential groove provided in the web. In another embodiment, a rotor base includes a sealing surface and an inner diameter surface, and the inner diameter surface includes a channel with a taper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited
    Inventors: Gerald Maurice Berard, Edward N. Ruggeri
  • Patent number: 9062775
    Abstract: A hydrodynamic face seal has a rotating first ring and a stationary second ring. The rotating first ring has an inner face. The stationary second ring has an inner face adjacent to the inner face of the rotating first ring. The inner face of the rotating first ring includes a groove having a fluid inlet portion and a hydrodynamic force generating portion. The fluid inlet portion of the groove has a depth greater than the hydrodynamic force generating portion of the groove. The fluid inlet portion has a minimum depth configured to create a higher pressure than a surrounding pressure around the rotating first ring, while not generating a hydrodynamic or hydrostatic force in the fluid inlet portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: John Francis Short, Edward Nicholas Ruggeri, Gerald Maurice Berard
  • Publication number: 20140334933
    Abstract: A coning-resistant rotor and a seal assembly including a coning-resistant rotor are disclosed. An embodiment of the rotor includes a rotor base, a rotor head, and an axially-extending web interposed between the rotor base and rotor head, wherein the web includes axial and radial web regions defined by at least one circumferential groove provided in the web. In another embodiment, a rotor base includes a sealing surface and an inner diameter surface, and the inner diameter surface includes a channel with a taper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Inventors: Gerald Maurice Berard, Edward N. Ruggeri
  • Publication number: 20140117625
    Abstract: A hydrodynamic face seal has a rotating first ring and a stationary second ring. The rotating first ring has an inner face. The stationary second ring has an inner face adjacent to the inner face of the rotating first ring. The inner face of the rotating first ring includes a groove having a fluid inlet portion and a hydrodynamic force generating portion. The fluid inlet portion of the groove has a depth greater than the hydrodynamic force generating portion of the groove. The fluid inlet portion has a minimum depth configured to create a higher pressure than a surrounding pressure around the rotating first ring, while not generating a hydrodynamic or hydrostatic force in the fluid inlet portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2012
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Inventors: John Francis Short, Edward Nicholas Ruggeri, Gerald Maurice Berard