Patents by Inventor Glenn M. Garrison
Glenn M. Garrison 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).
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Patent number: 11739653Abstract: A circumferential seal assembly for use between a higher pressure side and a lower pressure side is presented. The seal assembly includes a primary sealing ring, a second sealing ring, a third sealing ring, and an insert. The primary sealing ring sealingly engages both a face sealing surface along a housing and a radial sealing surface along a rotatable element. The primary sealing ring, the second sealing ring, and the third sealing ring cooperate, in combination with the housing, the rotatable element, and/or the insert, both to define and to separate a first cavity at the higher pressure side and a second cavity at the lower pressure side. In some embodiments, the second sealing ring sealingly engages a face of the primary sealing ring. In other embodiments, the second sealing ring sealingly engages a circumferential surface of the primary sealing ring.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2022Date of Patent: August 29, 2023Assignee: Stein Seal CompanyInventor: Glenn M. Garrison
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Patent number: 11732753Abstract: A circumferential seal assembly suitable for forming a thin film between a rotatable runner and a sealing ring is presented. The assembly includes an annular seal housing, a rotatable runner, an annular seal ring, and a plurality of groove structures. Each groove structure includes a groove and an optional feed groove. The groove includes at least two adjoining steps defined by base walls arranged to decrease depthwise. Two adjoining base walls are disposed about a base shoulder. Each base shoulder locally redirects a longitudinal flow to form an outward radial flow in the direction of the annular seal ring. The base walls are bounded by and intersect a pair of side walls. A side wall includes side shoulders which narrows the groove widthwise and locally redirects the longitudinal flow to form a lateral flow in the direction of the other side wall. Outward and lateral flows separately or in combination enhance stiffness of a thin-film layer between the annular seal ring and the rotatable runner.Type: GrantFiled: November 3, 2022Date of Patent: August 22, 2023Assignee: Stein Seal CompanyInventor: Glenn M. Garrison
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Patent number: 11725588Abstract: An intershaft seal assembly for use between a rotatable outer structure and an inner structure within a turbine engine is presented. The assembly includes a primary sealing ring, a translatable carrier, a secondary sealing ring(s), a lower-pressure chamber, a higher-pressure chamber, a first channel(s), and a second channel(s). The primary ring is disposed within and extends from a circumferential groove about the carrier so as to sealingly engage the rotatable outer structure. The primary ring rotates within the groove and with the rotatable outer structure. Each secondary ring is interposed between the carrier and the inner structure. The carrier slidingly contacts the secondary ring(s). The lower-pressure chamber is generally defined by the carrier and the inner structure adjacent to a higher-pressure side. The higher-pressure chamber is generally defined by the carrier and the inner structure adjacent to a lower-pressure side.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2020Date of Patent: August 15, 2023Assignee: Stein Seal CompanyInventor: Glenn M. Garrison
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Publication number: 20230220872Abstract: A circumferential seal assembly suitable for forming a thin film between a rotatable runner and a sealing ring is presented. The assembly includes an annular seal housing, a rotatable runner, an annular seal ring, and a plurality of groove structures. Each groove structure includes a groove and an optional feed groove. The groove includes at least two adjoining steps defined by base walls arranged to decrease depthwise. Two adjoining base walls are disposed about a base shoulder. Each base shoulder locally redirects a longitudinal flow to form an outward radial flow in the direction of the annular seal ring. The base walls are bounded by and intersect a pair of side walls. A side wall includes side shoulders which narrows the groove widthwise and locally redirects the longitudinal flow to form a lateral flow in the direction of the other side wall. Outward and lateral flows separately or in combination enhance stiffness of a thin-film layer between the annular seal ring and the rotatable runner.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 3, 2022Publication date: July 13, 2023Inventor: Glenn M. Garrison
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Patent number: 11686346Abstract: A circumferential seal assembly suitable for forming a thin film between a rotatable runner and a sealing ring is presented. The assembly includes an annular seal housing, a rotatable runner, an annular seal ring, and a plurality of groove structures. Each groove structure includes a groove and an optional feed groove. The groove includes at least two adjoining steps defined by base walls arranged to decrease depthwise. Two adjoining base walls are disposed about a base shoulder. Each base shoulder locally redirects a longitudinal flow to form an outward radial flow in the direction of the annular seal ring. The base walls are bounded by and intersect a pair of side walls. A side wall includes side shoulders which narrows the groove widthwise and locally redirects the longitudinal flow to form a lateral flow in the direction of the other side wall. Outward and lateral flows separately or in combination enhance stiffness of a thin-film layer between the annular seal ring and the rotatable runner.Type: GrantFiled: April 4, 2022Date of Patent: June 27, 2023Assignee: Stein Seal CompanyInventor: Glenn M. Garrison
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Patent number: 11686206Abstract: A circumferential seal assembly for use between a higher pressure side and a lower pressure side is presented. The seal assembly includes a primary sealing ring, a second sealing ring, a third sealing ring, and an insert. The segmented primary sealing ring sealingly engages both a face sealing surface along a housing and a radial sealing surface along a rotatable element. The insert is disposed within and directly contacts the housing. The second sealing ring is adjacent to the primary sealing ring and sealingly engages both the primary sealing ring and the insert. The segmented third sealing ring contacts and sealingly engages the primary sealing ring opposite the housing. The insert, the second sealing ring, and the third sealing ring cooperate to form a first cavity adjacent to the second sealing ring and the third sealing ring. The primary sealing ring, the second sealing ring, the insert, and the housing cooperate to form a second cavity adjacent to the primary sealing ring.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2021Date of Patent: June 27, 2023Assignee: Stein Seal CompanyInventor: Glenn M. Garrison
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Publication number: 20220356905Abstract: A circumferential seal assembly suitable for forming a thin film between a rotatable runner and a sealing ring is presented. The assembly includes an annular seal housing, a rotatable runner, an annular seal ring, and a plurality of groove structures. Each groove structure includes a groove and an optional feed groove. The groove includes at least two adjoining steps defined by base walls arranged to decrease depthwise. Two adjoining base walls are disposed about a base shoulder. Each base shoulder locally redirects a longitudinal flow to form an outward radial flow in the direction of the annular seal ring. The base walls are bounded by and intersect a pair of side walls. A side wall includes side shoulders which narrows the groove widthwise and locally redirects the longitudinal flow to form a lateral flow in the direction of the other side wall. Outward and lateral flows separately or in combination enhance stiffness of a thin-film layer between the annular seal ring and the rotatable runner.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 4, 2022Publication date: November 10, 2022Inventor: Glenn M. Garrison
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Patent number: 11359669Abstract: A circumferential seal assembly capable of separating a gas into two separate flow paths before communication between a rotatable runner and a pair of seal rings is presented. The seal assembly includes an annular seal housing, a pair of annular seal rings, a rotatable runner, and a plurality of groove structures. The seal housing is interposed between a pair of compartments. The seal rings are separately disposed within the seal housing and separately disposed around the rotatable runner. The groove structures are disposed along an outer annular surface of the rotatable runner. A gas is communicable onto the groove structures. Each groove structure includes at least two hydrodynamic grooves that separate and communicate the gas onto the seal rings. Each groove includes steps whereby the depth of at least one adjoining step decreases in the direction opposite to rotation with or without the depth of another adjoining steps increasing in the direction opposite to rotation.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2020Date of Patent: June 14, 2022Assignee: Stein Seal CompanyInventor: Glenn M. Garrison
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Patent number: 11333197Abstract: A circumferential seal assembly suitable for forming a thin film between a rotatable runner and a sealing ring is presented. The assembly includes an annular seal housing, a rotatable runner, an annular seal ring, and a plurality of groove structures. Each groove structure includes a groove and an optional feed groove. The groove includes at least two adjoining steps defined by base walls arranged to decrease depthwise. Two adjoining base walls are disposed about a base shoulder. Each base shoulder locally redirects a longitudinal flow to form an outward radial flow in the direction of the annular seal ring. The base walls are bounded by and intersect a pair of side walls. A side wall includes at least one side shoulder which narrows the groove widthwise and locally redirects the longitudinal flow to form a lateral flow in the direction of the other side wall. Outward and lateral flows separately or in combination enhance stiffness of a thin-film layer between the annular seal ring and the rotatable runner.Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 2020Date of Patent: May 17, 2022Assignee: Stein Seal CompanyInventor: Glenn M. Garrison
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Publication number: 20220136400Abstract: A circumferential seal assembly for use between a higher pressure side and a lower pressure side is presented. The seal assembly includes a primary sealing ring, a second sealing ring, a third sealing ring, and an insert. The primary sealing ring sealingly engages both a face sealing surface along a housing and a radial sealing surface along a rotatable element. The primary sealing ring, the second sealing ring, and the third sealing ring cooperate, in combination with the housing, the rotatable element, and/or the insert, both to define and to separate a first cavity at the higher pressure side and a second cavity at the lower pressure side. In some embodiments, the second sealing ring sealingly engages a face of the primary sealing ring. In other embodiments, the second sealing ring sealingly engages a circumferential surface of the primary sealing ring.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 18, 2022Publication date: May 5, 2022Inventor: Glenn M. Garrison
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Publication number: 20220136447Abstract: An intershaft seal assembly for use between a rotatable outer structure and an inner structure within a turbine engine is presented. The assembly includes a primary sealing ring, a translatable carrier, a secondary sealing ring(s), a lower-pressure chamber, a higher-pressure chamber, a first channel(s), and a second channel(s). The primary ring is disposed within and extends from a circumferential groove about the carrier so as to sealingly engage the rotatable outer structure. The primary ring rotates within the groove and with the rotatable outer structure. Each secondary ring is interposed between the carrier and the inner structure. The carrier slidingly contacts the secondary ring(s). The lower-pressure chamber is generally defined by the carrier and the inner structure adjacent to a higher-pressure side. The higher-pressure chamber is generally defined by the carrier and the inner structure adjacent to a lower-pressure side.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 20, 2020Publication date: May 5, 2022Inventor: Glenn M. Garrison
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Publication number: 20220025777Abstract: A circumferential seal assembly for use between a higher pressure side and a lower pressure side is presented. The seal assembly includes a primary sealing ring, a second sealing ring, a third sealing ring, and an insert. The segmented primary sealing ring sealingly engages both a face sealing surface along a housing and a radial sealing surface along a rotatable element. The insert is disposed within and directly contacts the housing. The second sealing ring is adjacent to the primary sealing ring and sealingly engages both the primary sealing ring and the insert. The segmented third sealing ring contacts and sealingly engages the primary sealing ring opposite the housing. The insert, the second sealing ring, and the third sealing ring cooperate to form a first cavity adjacent to the second sealing ring and the third sealing ring. The primary sealing ring, the second sealing ring, the insert, and the housing cooperate to form a second cavity adjacent to the primary sealing ring.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 6, 2021Publication date: January 27, 2022Inventor: Glenn M. Garrison
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Patent number: 11168573Abstract: A circumferential seal assembly for use between a higher pressure side and a lower pressure side is presented. The seal assembly includes a primary sealing ring, a second sealing ring, a third sealing ring, and an insert. The segmented primary sealing ring sealingly engages both a face sealing surface along a housing and a radial sealing surface along a rotatable element. The insert is disposed within and directly contacts the housing. The second sealing ring is adjacent to the primary sealing ring and sealingly engages both the primary sealing ring and the insert. The segmented third sealing ring contacts and sealingly engages the primary sealing ring opposite the housing. The insert, the second sealing ring, and the third sealing ring cooperate to form a first cavity adjacent to the second sealing ring and the third sealing ring. The primary sealing ring, the second sealing ring, the insert, and the housing cooperate to form a second cavity adjacent to the primary sealing ring.Type: GrantFiled: May 3, 2017Date of Patent: November 9, 2021Assignee: Stein Seal CompanyInventor: Glenn M. Garrison
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Patent number: 10948014Abstract: An intershaft seal assembly for maintaining separation between a piston ring and a pair of mating rings is presented. The assembly includes a piston ring interposed between forward and aft mating rings and a plurality of hydrodynamic grooves disposed along a sealing face of each mating ring. Each hydrodynamic groove further includes at least two adjoining steps wherein each step is defined by a base wall arranged to decrease depthwise in the direction opposite to rotation of an inner shaft. Two adjoining base walls define a base shoulder which locally redirects potion of a longitudinal flow within the groove to form an outward flow in the direction of the piston ring. Base walls are bounded by and intersect a pair of side walls with at least one side shoulder thereon which narrows the groove widthwise and locally redirects portion of the longitudinal flow to form a lateral flow from one side wall toward another side wall.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 2018Date of Patent: March 16, 2021Assignee: Stein Seal CompanyInventor: Glenn M. Garrison
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Publication number: 20200224718Abstract: A circumferential seal assembly capable of separating a gas into two separate flow paths before communication between a rotatable runner and a pair of seal rings is presented. The seal assembly includes an annular seal housing, a pair of annular seal rings, a rotatable runner, and a plurality of groove structures. The seal housing is interposed between a pair of compartments. The seal rings are separately disposed within the seal housing and separately disposed around the rotatable runner. The groove structures are disposed along an outer annular surface of the rotatable runner. A gas is communicable onto the groove structures. Each groove structure includes at least two hydrodynamic grooves that separate and communicate the gas onto the seal rings. Each groove includes steps whereby the depth of at least one adjoining step decreases in the direction opposite to rotation with or without the depth of another adjoining steps increasing in the direction opposite to rotation.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 30, 2020Publication date: July 16, 2020Inventor: Glenn M. Garrison
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Patent number: 10711839Abstract: A circumferential seal assembly capable of dividing a gas into separate flow paths before communication between a rotatable runner and a pair of seal rings is presented. The assembly includes an annular seal housing, a rotatable runner, a pair of annular seal rings, and a plurality of groove structures. Each groove structure separates a source flow communicated into a feed groove so that a portion enters at least two grooves to form a longitudinal flow therein. Each groove includes at least two adjoining steps defined by base walls. The base walls are arranged along the groove to decrease depthwise opposite to rotation of the rotatable runner. Two adjoining base walls are disposed about a base shoulder. Each base shoulder locally redirects the longitudinal flow to form an outward radial flow in the direction of one annular seal ring. The base walls are bounded by and intersect a pair of side walls.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2018Date of Patent: July 14, 2020Assignee: Stein Seal CompanyInventor: Glenn M. Garrison
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Publication number: 20200158175Abstract: A circumferential seal assembly suitable for forming a thin film between a rotatable runner and a sealing ring is presented. The assembly includes an annular seal housing, a rotatable runner, an annular seal ring, and a plurality of groove structures. Each groove structure includes a groove and an optional feed groove. The groove includes at least two adjoining steps defined by base walls arranged to decrease depthwise. Two adjoining base walls are disposed about a base shoulder. Each base shoulder locally redirects a longitudinal flow to form an outward radial flow in the direction of the annular seal ring. The base walls are bounded by and intersect a pair of side walls. A side wall includes at least one side shoulder which narrows the groove widthwise and locally redirects the longitudinal flow to form a lateral flow in the direction of the other side wall. Outward and lateral flows separately or in combination enhance stiffness of a thin-film layer between the annular seal ring and the rotatable runner.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 21, 2020Publication date: May 21, 2020Inventor: Glenn M. Garrison
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Patent number: 10648507Abstract: A circumferential seal assembly capable of separating a gas into two separate flow paths before communication between a rotatable runner and a pair of seal rings is presented. The seal assembly includes an annular seal housing, a pair of annular seal rings, a rotatable runner, and a plurality of groove structures. The seal housing is interposed between a pair of compartments. The seal rings are separately disposed within the seal housing and separately disposed around the rotatable runner. The groove structures are disposed along an outer annular surface of the rotatable runner. A gas is communicable onto the groove structures. Each groove structure includes at least two hydrodynamic grooves that separate and communicate the gas onto the seal rings. Each groove includes steps whereby the depth of at least one adjoining step decreases in the direction opposite to rotation with or without the depth of another adjoining steps increasing in the direction opposite to rotation.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 2018Date of Patent: May 12, 2020Assignee: Stein Seal CompanyInventor: Glenn M. Garrison
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Publication number: 20200032668Abstract: A circumferential seal assembly for use between a higher pressure side and a lower pressure side is presented. The seal assembly includes a primary sealing ring, a second sealing ring, a third sealing ring, and an insert. The segmented primary sealing ring sealingly engages both a face sealing surface along a housing and a radial sealing surface along a rotatable element. The insert is disposed within and directly contacts the housing. The second sealing ring is adjacent to the primary sealing ring and sealingly engages both the primary sealing ring and the insert. The segmented third sealing ring contacts and sealingly engages the primary sealing ring opposite the housing. The insert, the second sealing ring, and the third sealing ring cooperate to form a first cavity adjacent to the second sealing ring and the third sealing ring. The primary sealing ring, the second sealing ring, the insert, and the housing cooperate to form a second cavity adjacent to the primary sealing ring.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 3, 2017Publication date: January 30, 2020Inventor: Glenn M. Garrison
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Publication number: 20190048931Abstract: An intershaft seal assembly for maintaining separation between a piston ring and a pair of mating rings is presented. The assembly includes a piston ring interposed between forward and aft mating rings and a plurality of hydrodynamic grooves disposed along a sealing face of each mating ring. Each hydrodynamic groove further includes at least two adjoining steps wherein each step is defined by a base wall arranged to decrease depthwise in the direction opposite to rotation of an inner shaft. Two adjoining base walls define a base shoulder which locally redirects potion of a longitudinal flow within the groove to form an outward flow in the direction of the piston ring. Base walls are bounded by and intersect a pair of side walls with at least one side shoulder thereon which narrows the groove widthwise and locally redirects portion of the longitudinal flow to form a lateral flow from one side wall toward another side wall.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 23, 2018Publication date: February 14, 2019Inventor: Glenn M. Garrison