Patents Assigned to Inpro/Seal LLC
  • Patent number: 11543031
    Abstract: An illustrative embodiment of a shaft seal assembly generally includes a first stator, a second stator, and a throttle member. In one illustrative embodiment, the second stator may be formed with a main body and an access plate positioned radially interior with respect to a portion of the first stator. The first stator and second stator may engage one another about a semi-spherical interface comprised of a convex surface on the second stator and a concave surface on the first stator. The second stator may include an internal channel in which a throttle member may be positioned, wherein a radially interior surface of the throttle member may be positioned a shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Inpro/Seal LLC
    Inventors: Neil F. Hoehle, Chandhini Gowthaman
  • Patent number: 11002362
    Abstract: A shaft seal assembly may include a stator and a rotor. The rotor may be configured to rotate with a shaft, and the stator may be engaged with a housing. The stator and rotor may be configured with radial and/or axial recesses and/or radial and/or axial projections. These various features may be configured such that the stator and rotor cooperate to form a ring cavity. A cooperating ring may be positioned in the ring cavity, and the cooperating ring may be configured such that is circumferentially expandable so that the cooperating ring changes size and/or shape when it rotates as opposed to when it is not rotating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Inpro/Seal LLC
    Inventor: Neil F. Hoehle
  • Patent number: 10927961
    Abstract: A shaft seal assembly comprises a stator configured to engage a housing and a rotor positioned within the stator. The stator may include a main body, a stator inward radial projection extending radially inward from the stator main body, and a collection groove adjacent the stator inward radial projection. The rotor may include a rotor main body and a rotor axial projection extending from the rotor main body. The rotor axial projection may be positioned adjacent a distal end of the stator inward radial projection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Inpro/Seal LLC
    Inventors: Neil F. Hoehle, Chintan Shah
  • Patent number: 10364895
    Abstract: A shaft seal assembly comprises a stator configured to engage a housing and a rotor positioned within the stator. The stator may include a main body, a stator inward radial projection extending radially inward from the stator main body, and a collection groove adjacent the stator inward radial projection. The rotor may include a rotor main body and a rotor axial projection extending from the rotor main body. The rotor axial projection may be positioned adjacent a distal end of the stator inward radial projection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: Inpro/Seal LLC
    Inventors: Chintan Shah, Neil F. Hoehle
  • Patent number: 10270320
    Abstract: A shaft seal assembly is disclosed having a stator including a main body and axial and radial projections therefrom. The rotor may be radially extended to encompass the axial and radial projections from said stator. A passageway formed between the radial projection of stator and rotor results in an axial passageway having its opening facing rearwardly from the rotor and away from the source of impinging coolant and/or contaminant. A concentric circumferential receptor groove in the stator facing the housing allows insertion of a conductive insert for transmission of electrostatic charge away from the shaft through the shaft seal assembly to the housing and ground. The receptor groove is opposite the axial passageway and provides for both a substantially lower contaminant environment and improved engagement with the conductive insert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: Inpro/Seal LLC
    Inventors: David C. Orlowski, Thomas D. Coe
  • Patent number: 10203036
    Abstract: A shaft seal assembly may include a stator and a rotor. The rotor may be configured to rotate with a shaft, and the stator may be engaged with a housing. The stator and rotor may be configured with radial and/or axial recesses and/or radial and/or axial projections. These various features may be configured such that the stator and rotor cooperate to form a ring cavity. A cooperating ring may be positioned in the ring cavity, and the cooperating ring may be configured such that is circumferentially expandable so that the cooperating ring changes size and/or shape when it rotates as opposed to when it is not rotating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: Inpro/Seal LLC
    Inventor: Neil F. Hoehle
  • Patent number: 9831739
    Abstract: A bearing isolator and explosion-proof current diverting device may be configured to dissipate an electrical charge from a rotating piece of equipment to ground, such as from a motor shaft to a motor housing. One aspect of an explosion-proof current diverter ring may include a stator that may be mounted to the equipment housing and a rotor that may be mounted to a shaft. The rotor may rotate with the shaft. A conductive assembly may be positioned in a radial bore formed in the stator such that the conductive assembly contacts the rotor to conduct electricity from the shaft to the housing through the explosion-proof current diverting device. The explosion-proof current diverting device may be configured to define a flame path to achieve various explosion-proof certifications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Inpro/Seal LLC
    Inventors: Robert A. Tejano, Neil F. Hoehle
  • Patent number: 9634547
    Abstract: A shaft seal assembly is disclosed having a stator including a main body and axial and radial projections therefrom. The rotor may be radially extended to encompass the axial and radial projections from said stator. A passageway formed between the radial projection of stator and rotor results in an axial passageway having its opening facing rearwardly from the rotor and away from the source of impinging coolant and/or contaminant. A concentric circumferential receptor groove in the stator facing the housing allows insertion of a conductive insert for transmission of electrostatic charge away from the shaft through the shaft seal assembly to the housing and ground. The receptor groove is opposite the axial passageway and provides for both a substantially lower contaminant environment and improved engagement with the conductive insert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: Inpro/Seal LLC
    Inventors: David C. Orlowski, Thomas D. Coe
  • Patent number: 9614339
    Abstract: The current diverter rings and bearing isolators serve to dissipate an electrical charge from a rotating piece of equipment to ground, such as from a motor shaft to a motor housing. One embodiment of the current diverter is substantially arc shaped with a plurality of radial channels extending there through. A conductive assembly may be positioned in each radial channel such that a contact portion of the conductive assembly is positioned adjacent a shaft passing through the center of the current diverter ring. The arc-shaped body may be particularly useful during installation over certain existing shafts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: Inpro/Seal, LLC
    Inventors: Dwight A. Vicars, Robert A. Tejano, David C. Orlowski
  • Patent number: 9525327
    Abstract: The current diverter rings and bearing isolators serve to dissipate an electrical charge from a rotating piece of equipment to ground, such as from a motor shaft to a motor housing. One embodiment of the current diverter ring includes an inner body and an outer body configured to clamp at least one conductive segment between them. In the preferred embodiments of the current diverter ring, the conductive segments are positioned in radial channels. The outer body may be affixed to a shaft, a motor housing, a bearing isolator, or other structure. The bearing isolator may incorporate a retention chamber for holding conductive segments within the stator of the bearing isolator, or the bearing isolator may be fashioned with a receptor groove into which a current diverter ring may be mounted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: Inpro/Seal, LLC
    Inventors: David C. Orlowski, Neil F. Hoehle, Robert A. Tejano, Shawn Horton
  • Publication number: 20150345643
    Abstract: An illustrative embodiment of porous media shaft seal assembly may include a stator and a rotor. The rotor may be configured to rotate with a shaft, and the stator may be engaged with a housing. Porous media may be applied and/or engaged with a portion of the stator, and a seal fluid may be communicated to the porous media. A biasing member may be employed to urge a portion of the rotor toward a portion of the stator, and seal fluid exiting the porous media may counteract the force of the biasing member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Publication date: December 3, 2015
    Applicant: INPRO/SEAL LLC
    Inventor: Neil F. Hoehle
  • Patent number: 9071092
    Abstract: The current diverter rings (CDRs), captured CDRs, bearing isolators, and explosion-proof CDRs serve to dissipate an electrical charge from a rotating piece of equipment to ground, such as from a motor shaft to a motor housing. One embodiment of the explosion-proof CDR includes a stator that may be mounted to the equipment housing and a rotor that may be mounted to a shaft. The rotor may rotate with the shaft may be encompassed by stator and a cap, which cap may be secured directly to the stator or the housing. A conductive assembly may be positioned in a radial channel formed in the stator such that the conductive assembly contacts the shaft to conduct electricity from the shaft to the housing. Another embodiment of an explosion-proof CDR does not require a rotor. The explosion-proof CDR may be configured to define a flame path to achieve various explosion-proof certifications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: INPRO/SEAL, LLC
    Inventors: Neil F. Hoehle, Dwight A. Vicars, Robert A. Tejano, David C. Orlowski
  • Patent number: 9048603
    Abstract: The current diverter rings and bearing isolators serve to dissipate an electrical charge from a rotating piece of equipment to ground, such as from a motor shaft to a motor housing. One embodiment of the current diverter is substantially arc shaped with a plurality of radial channels extending there through. A conductive assembly may be positioned in each radial channel such that a contact portion of the conductive assembly is positioned adjacent a shaft passing through the center of the current diverter ring. The arc-shaped body may be particularly useful during installation over certain existing shafts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: INPRO/SEAL, LLC
    Inventors: Dwight A. Vicars, Robert A. Tejano, David C. Orlowski
  • Patent number: 9004491
    Abstract: An illustrative embodiment of a multi-shaft seal assembly generally includes a first seal, a second seal, and a collar. In the illustrative embodiment the collar may be integrally formed with a portion of the first seal, and may serve to axially space the second seal from the first seal. The second seal may be formed with a cutaway therein to ensure proper clearance between the second seal and one of the shafts. Other embodiments of the multi-shaft seal assembly use a collar formed with the equipment housing or second seal. Still other embodiments include additional seals for additional shafts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Inpro/Seal LLC
    Inventors: David C. Orlowski, Neil F. Hoehle, Robert A. Tejano, Morgan Pullias
  • Patent number: 8979093
    Abstract: A pressure balanced shaft seal assembly that allows a seal to dynamically respond to angular or radial misalignment of a shaft includes a fixed stator, a floating stator, and a labyrinth seal. In one embodiment, the floating stator and labyrinth seal are mounted within an annular groove formed in the fixed stator such that the floating stator and labyrinth seal may move a predetermined amount in the radial direction with respect to the fixed stator. A spherical interface between the labyrinth seal and floating stator may allow the labyrinth seal to pivot with respect to the floating stator during angular misalignment of a shaft around which the pressure balanced shaft seal assembly is mounted. A pressure balancing annular channel formed in the floating stator allows pressurized seal fluid to balance the axial pressure exerted on the floating stator by the process fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Inpro/Seal, LLC
    Inventors: David C. Orlowski, Neil F. Hoehle
  • Publication number: 20140232071
    Abstract: An illustrative embodiment of porous media shaft seal assembly may include a stator and a rotor. The rotor may be configured to rotate with a shaft, and the stator may be engaged with a housing. Porous media may be applied and/or engaged with a portion of the stator, and a seal fluid may be communicated to the porous media. A biasing member may be employed to urge a portion of the rotor toward a portion of the stator, and seal fluid exiting the porous media may counteract the force of the biasing member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: Inpro/Seal LLC
    Inventors: David C. Orlowski, Neil F. Hoehle, Robert A. Tejano, Morgan Pullias
  • Publication number: 20140191630
    Abstract: The current diverter rings and bearing isolators serve to dissipate an electrical charge from a rotating piece of equipment to ground, such as from a motor shaft to a motor housing. One embodiment of the current diverter ring includes an inner body and an outer body configured to clamp at least one conductive segment between them. In the preferred embodiments of the current diverter ring, the conductive segments are positioned in radial channels. The outer body may be affixed to a shaft, a motor housing, a bearing isolator, or other structure. The bearing isolator may incorporate a retention chamber for holding conductive segments within the stator of the bearing isolator, or the bearing isolator may be fashioned with a receptor groove into which a current diverter ring may be mounted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2013
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: Inpro/Seal LLC
    Inventors: David C. Orlowski, Neil F. Hoehle, Robert A. Tejano, Shawn Horton
  • Publication number: 20140132126
    Abstract: The current diverter rings and bearing isolators serve to dissipate an electrical charge from a rotating piece of equipment to ground, such as from a motor shaft to a motor housing. One embodiment of the current diverter is substantially arc shaped with a plurality of radial channels extending there through. A conductive assembly may be positioned in each radial channel such that a contact portion of the conductive assembly is positioned adjacent a shaft passing through the center of the current diverter ring. The arc-shaped body may be particularly useful during installation over certain existing shafts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2014
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicant: Inpro/Seal LLC
    Inventors: Dwight A. Vicars, Robert A. Tejano, David C. Orlowski
  • Patent number: 8604653
    Abstract: The current diverter rings and bearing isolators serve to dissipate an electrical charge from a rotating piece of equipment to ground, such as from a motor shaft to a motor housing. One embodiment of the current diverter ring includes an inner body and an outer body configured to clamp at least one conductive segment between them. In the preferred embodiments of the current diverter ring, the conductive segments are positioned in radial channels. The outer body may be affixed to a shaft, a motor housing, a bearing isolator, or other structure. The bearing isolator may incorporate a retention chamber for holding conductive segments within the stator of the bearing isolator, or the bearing isolator may be fashioned with a receptor groove into which a current diverter ring may be mounted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Inpro/Seal, LLC
    Inventors: David C. Orlowski, Neil F. Hoehle, Robert A. Tejano, Shawn Horton
  • Publication number: 20130099624
    Abstract: The current diverter rings and bearing isolators serve to dissipate an electrical charge from a rotating piece of equipment to ground, such as from a motor shaft to a motor housing. One embodiment of the current diverter is substantially arc shaped with a plurality of radial channels extending there through. A conductive assembly may be positioned in each radial channel such that a contact portion of the conductive assembly is positioned adjacent a shaft passing through the center of the current diverter ring. The arc-shaped body may be particularly useful during installation over certain existing shafts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2012
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Applicant: INPRO/SEAL LLC
    Inventor: Inpro/Seal LLC