Patents Examined by E Peavey
  • Patent number: 6682077
    Abstract: A disc turbine has a rotor assembly of spaced apart discs with at least one disc equipped with an annular labyrinth seal whose grooves interdigitate with a corresponding labyrinth seal mounted in the sidewall of the rotor housing. A pattern of aligned through holes in the rotor housing and the rotor housing seal assist in the axial and concentric alignment of the rotary assembly with respect to the stationary assembly, and the inspection of same, and provide access through at least one sensing port to working fluid proximal to the seal entrance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Inventor: Guy Louis Letourneau
  • Patent number: 6676133
    Abstract: The invention pertains to a cylinder head gasket (1) for sealing a region between the cylinder head and the cylinder block of a combustion engine, comprising at least one sealing plate (2) that features several adjacent combustion chamber passages (3, 4) and a corresponding combustion chamber bead (5) running around the combustion chamber passage (3), wherein there is a stopper (6) that acts as a displacement limiter for the combustion chamber bead, wherein the stopper is interrupted in the region (10) between two combustion chamber passages (3, 4) and extends essentially over the entire area of the sealing plate (2) where there are no openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Dana Corporation
    Inventors: Stefan Obermaier, Josef Ludwig, Gunther Unseld
  • Patent number: 6676130
    Abstract: Provision is made in a shaft sealing ring, comprising a rotary support body, at least one sealing lip mounted on the support body and extending at least partly in radial direction, and a sealing surface offered by the sealing lip and contacting a stationary countersurface, for the sealing lip to consist of a material which is permeable to the medium to be sealed off and permits penetration of the medium to be sealed off from a surface of the sealing lip facing the sealed space to the sealing surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Dichtungstechnik G. Bruss GmbH & Co.
    Inventor: Wolfgang Schmitt
  • Patent number: 6676132
    Abstract: The object of the present invention is to improve sealing performance of a seal under a specific environment. The seal is arranged in an annular space A in which a rotary shaft 1 and a housing 2 face each other, and partitions the annular space in axial direction into a vacuum space B and an atmospheric pressure space C. The seal is constituted such that a main lip 6 of the seal has an axial contact width W0 with which the main lip slides on and contacts with the rotary shaft 1 and which is set to be equal to or larger than an axial contact width W1 necessary to secure minimum sealing performance with respect to a sealed portion and equal to or smaller than an axial contact width W2 with which sliding resistance against the rotary shaft becomes a permissible upper limit, to thereby prevent the axial contact width W0 from influencing rotation characteristics with respect to the rotary member and to allow securing required sealing performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignees: Kojo Seiko Co., Ltd., Teijin Seiki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Takebayashi, Kazunori Hayashida, Kazutoshi Yamamoto, Yoshiki Fujii, Shinichi Ohbayashi, Yishihiro Yano
  • Patent number: 6672594
    Abstract: A coating used to seal together surfaces of components is disclosed. The coating reduces costs associated with using gaskets and fine machining of metal components, and has slip characteristics that allow sealed components to move without eroding the coating. The coating is particularly useful in high temperature environments such as the exhaust systems of motor vehicles. Methods of using coatings to seal components are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Dana Corporation
    Inventor: Richard J. Kozerski
  • Patent number: 6669203
    Abstract: A plurality of arcuate brush seal segments are disposed in radially inwardly opening grooves of a stationary component, enabling tips of the brush bristles to engage the surface of a rotating component. A leaf spring is welded at one end to each brush seal segment and has first and second circumferentially extending curved portions. The first curved portion extends lengthwise of the spring from the welded end to engage the base of the groove at a location intermediate the length of the spring. The second curved portion engages the radial outer face of the segment adjacent the tip of the spring. All of the segments are thus biased for movement radially inwardly toward the rotating component, enabling pressure forces during operation to maintain the brush seal segments properly located to ensure the seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Jason Paul Mortzheim
  • Patent number: 6669202
    Abstract: A brush seal assembly that in an exemplary embodiment includes an elongate brush core holder, at least three elongate brush core packs bundled together side-by-side in the brush core holder forming a single assembly. Each brush core pack includes a bristle holder and a plurality of bristles coupled to the bristle holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: General Electric Co.
    Inventors: Mahmut Faruk Aksit, Robert Russell Mayer, Wei Tong, Osman Saim Dinc
  • Patent number: 6666458
    Abstract: A ceramic composite valve seal for a rotary valve assembly for use in internal combustion engines having rotary intake valves and rotary exhaust valves which have a spherical peripheral surface, the valve seal being of two-piece construction surrounding the intake or exhaust port and having an upper surface designed to contact the peripheral surface of the rotary valve, the two-piece construction defining a channel whereby compressed gases exert additional pressure on the seal enhancing the sealing contact between the seal and the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Inventor: George J. Coates
  • Patent number: 6663110
    Abstract: A seal assembly seal assembly includes an outer member, an inner member, and a resilient member therebetwen. The resilient member is located between an inner diameter of the outer member and an outer diameter of the inner member. The resilient member includes substantially V-shaped or opposed parabolic members in cross-section which define a cavity therebetween. The cavity formed between the parabolic members is filled with the hydrophobic material to provide a barrier to undesirable moisture, lubricate the interface between the parabolic members and the outer diameter of the inner member, and further minimize ingestion of contaminants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignee: Meritor Heavy Vehicle Technology LLC
    Inventor: David K. Platner
  • Patent number: 6659468
    Abstract: A seal includes an annular seal body and an annular lip attached to the seal body and extending radially outwards from the seal body. The annular lip has a stem and a tip and is attached to the seal body in a manner allowing deflection of the lip relative to the seal body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Inventor: Rodric J. Phillips
  • Patent number: 6655695
    Abstract: A composite face seal having an annular seal rotor with a metal base portion and a radially extending flange. The flange having first and second axially facing surfaces. A first ceramic ring is mounted to the first surface of the flange by a first braze joint and a second ceramic ring is mounted to the second surface of the flange by a second braze joint. The composite face seal assembly further includes an annular stator having an axially facing surface that sealingly engages an axially facing surface of one of the ceramic rings. Each of the braze joints may comprise a molybdenum ring disposed between two braze rings or, for thicker seal assemblies, molybdenum and nickel rings disposed between braze rings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Steven E. Sund, Charles J. Gasdaska, James V. Guiheen, Lennox Bruce, M. Rifat Ullah, William L. Giesler
  • Patent number: 6648339
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for installing seals in an interference fit with a comating sealing surface by initially stretching the seal installed in a groove to reduce its cross-sectional thickness perpendicular to a comating sealing surface. The stretched seal is mated with a comating surface and then relaxed, permitting the seal to return to an unstretched position and to passively assume a preloaded position against the comating sealing surface. The seal may be repeatedly disengaged and reengaged by selectably restretching the seal and then selectably releasing it upon completion of repositioning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Inventor: Larry R. Russell
  • Patent number: 6637754
    Abstract: A wheel bearing includes a sealing device 5 positioned between inner and outer members 1 and 2. This sealing device 5 includes an elastic member 14, which eventually forms an encoder grid and is provided on a first annular sealing plate 11. A second annular sealing plate 12 is provided with sealing lips 16a to 16c. An engagement 18 between a cylindrical wall 11a of the first annular sealing plate 11 and the inner member 1 is provided with an elastic member 20 made of a material dissimilar to that for the elastic material 14. This elastic member 20 may be a rubber coated layer, resin paint layer, a thin film of adhesive material or a ring-shaped rubber member. Thereby, any possible ingress of water across an engagement surface of the annular sealing plate is prevented, accompanied by increase of the lifetime of the bearing, with no problem associated with separation and displacement of the annular sealing plates. The magnetic flux density can also be easily secured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Hisashi Ohtsuki, Takayuki Norimatsu, Eiji Funahashi, Koji Kametaka, Motoharu Niki, Katsumi Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 6631909
    Abstract: Flat gasket for sealing a sealing gap between sealing surfaces of machine components which are pressable against the flat gasket, the flat gasket having a gasket plate formed by several sheet metal layers and provided with at least one elastomeric sealing element in an area serving to seal a sealing gap area in which the component sealing surfaces lead to a locally varying sealing surface pressure at the flat gasket, the sealing element being arranged on a first one of the sheet metal layers and, in the mounted state of the flat gasket, extending through a cutout in a second sheet metal layer forming a first one of the main surfaces of the gasket plate; in order that the sealing element can already be applied by the gasket manufacturer, but, nevertheless, is protected against damage in the course of assembly of the machine components, the gasket is so designed that the sealing element is in the form of a sealing element formed from a material which is applied to the first sheet metal layer and is curable in s
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Elringklinger AG
    Inventor: Oliver Hegmann
  • Patent number: 6619667
    Abstract: A sealing structure for sealing a region of an article to be sealed, comprising a fixed form sealing material bonded to the region with an isocyanate group containing reactive polyurethane hot-melt adhesive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Assignee: NHK Spring Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiromasa Kawaguchi, Koichi Kusakawa
  • Patent number: 6619664
    Abstract: Multiple circumferential rows of textured features are formed between the outer peripheral edge and the inner peripheral edge of a seal. The multiple circumferential rows of textured features form a boundary for incoming dirt and wash away abrasive particles as well as act as lubricant wells. The multiple rows provide additional protection from leakage and wear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
    Inventor: Jerry A. Metz
  • Patent number: 6607197
    Abstract: A sealing device for sealing the gap between two relatively moving members is provided with a pivot point on its cross-sectional perimeter. As pressure against the seal increases, the seal rotates about the pivot point, resulting in an increased sealing surface area on the seal. Additionally, a recess is provided on the cross sectional perimeter, advantageously offering a more frictionless sealing relationship between the seal and the moving member. Further, a recess is provided on outer portion of the cross sectional perimeter on a surface of the seal that would contact an energizer ring, the recess eliminating a dynamic interface between the energizer ring and the seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2003
    Assignee: Polymer Sealing Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeff Baehl, Larry Castleman
  • Patent number: 6598883
    Abstract: A gasket assembly for interposition between a mating, mutually-opposed pair of curved surfaces. The gasket includes a flexible metal retainer, and at least one seal element which is supported on the retainer along at least a portion of the inner or outer perimeter thereof. In a stressed state, such as under compression between two curved interface surfaces, the retainer is made to conform to curvatures of the surfaces. However, upon being removed from compression, the retainer substantially recovers to its normal state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2003
    Inventors: Ray J. Hammi, Alan C. Bettencourt
  • Patent number: 6581938
    Abstract: A seal apparatus including an elongated body formed of a resilient expandable material defining an interior chamber and having a longitudinal axis. The elongated body is capable of being rolled up on itself by rolling one of the first and second ends of the elongated body in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis. At least one stem is attached to the elongated body and is in fluid communication with the interior chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Assignee: TDM Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy D. McKenrick
  • Patent number: 6581941
    Abstract: A gasket having centering features. The gasket comprises a centering portion for which three embodiments are described. The centering portion is switchable between a flush configuration, in which the gasket may be employed between the flange faces of two pipe flanges as typical, and a centering configuration, in which the gasket provides a means for centering the gasket in the pipe joint. In a first embodiment, a normally flush centering portion comprises a flap for centering the gasket, in a second embodiment, the centering portion comprises a collapsible protuberance for centering the gasket, in a third embodiment, the gasket comprises a non-collapsible protuberance for centering the gasket which is physically removable, and in a fourth embodiment the centering portion comprises an annular ring adapted for mating with an annular relief formed in a corresponding one of the flange faces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Inventor: Ronald L. Carr