Patents Examined by E Peavey
  • Patent number: 6422570
    Abstract: A lip type seal is provided with an outer ring part (31) which is tightly fitted to a seal installation part (12) of a housing (1); a seal main body (32) which is fixed to the outer ring part (31) and whose inner circumferential part extending in a bent state to the side of a sealed space (A) is sealably brought into slidable contact with an outer circumferential surface of a rotary shaft (2) inserted in the housing (1); a rear surface support plate (33) which is arranged on the rear side of the seal main body and whose outer circumferential part together with the seal main body (32) is fixed to the outer ring part (31); and a movable support plate (34) which is engaged movably in a radial direction between the seal main body (32) and the rear surface support plate (33) and whose inner diameter is clearance fitted to the outer circumferential surface of the rotary shaft (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Assignees: Eagle Industry Co., Ltd., Kabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Jidoshokki Seisakusho
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Ikeda, Takeshi Yamada, Takayuki Imai
  • Patent number: 6422575
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an expandable pre-formed plug that is suitable for sealing and/or structurally reinforcing a structure having surfaces defining a space therebetween. The plug is comprised of at least an expandable inner core having an outer surface and a transportable outer skin that preferably substantially encapsulates the core. In a preferred embodiment, the shape of the unexpanded plug is designed to mate with the surfaces that define a space therebetween upon expansion. The adhesive skin is generally dry to the touch at room temperature, however, upon initiation of expansion, the inner core expands and the surrounding skin is displaced in a coordinated manner. After some period of expansion, the outer skin preferably durably adheres or bonds to the walls of the surfaces defining a space therebetween and the outer surface of the core. A method for using such a plug is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Assignee: L&L Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Czaplicki, David D. Apfel
  • Patent number: 6419234
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an oil sealing ring, especially that used in piston of internal combustion engine or compressor. This oil sealing ring comprises a base ring (2) with a split. An elastic ring (3) is provided in the inner circumference surface of the base ring. A radially outward annular flange (18) is provided in the outer circumference surface of the base ring. An axially upward annular projecting part (19) is provided in the area beyond the outer circumference surface of the projecting part (19). The splits of said disc ring (1) and said base ring (2) are respectively staggered from each other. This oil sealing ring can effectively prevent the leakage of the oil and the gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Inventor: Xiuming Yu
  • Patent number: 6419237
    Abstract: Seal (20) is formed in two halves (22A, 22B) mated along a transverse centerplane (502). Each half faces outward from an associated side of centerplane (502) and includes centrally apertured (100) metal body (22A, 22B). Each body has an outwardly projecting hub (24A, 24B) having an outward-facing engagement surface (25A, 25B). A web (26A, 26B) extends radially outward from the hub (24A, 24B) to a perimeter and has interior and exterior surfaces. Bodies (22A, 22B) are secured to each other by an annular weld (40) to form a seal body. A longitudinal separation between the engagement surfaces (25A, 25B) is compressible via flexing of webs (26A, 26B) from relaxed separation to a range of compressed separations. In the compressed separation, the surfaces are sealingly engaged to respective ones of the first (44A, 44B) and second (45A, 45B) conduits. On each side of seal (20) there may be two polymeric sealing rings 44A, 44B) and an annular retainer (66A, 66B).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Assignee: The Advanced Products Company
    Inventor: Dominick G. More
  • Patent number: 6419233
    Abstract: An improved shaft seal assembly is disclosed having a stator including a main body and axial and radial projections therefrom. The rotor is radially extended and encompasses the axial and radial projections from said stator. The passageway formed between the radial projection of the stator and the 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. The dimension of interface gap between the rotor and the radial projection from the stator, which the access to the shaft of any impinging material, is fixed at a predetermined value and does not vary with the relative movement between the rotor and the stator. The novel seal assembly of this invention thus provides improved rejection or warding off of contaminates from ingress into the labyrinths and ultimately restrained from attacking the bearing environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Assignee: Isotech of Illinois, Inc.
    Inventor: David C. Orlowski
  • Patent number: 6412303
    Abstract: An article of jewelry includes a plurality of settings coupled to each other by slidable links and an elastic member threaded through the settings extending substantially parallel to the links in a “string”. The settings may include stones or any other decorative element. According to one embodiment, the ends of the string are coupled to each other without the use of a clasp. The elasticity of the elastic member keeps the settings close together with little or no space between them but allows the string to be stretched thereby separating the settings by the length of the links. According to the first embodiment, where no clasp is used, the string and the links are dimensioned such that when the string is stretched the article can be fit over a body part such as a wrist or ankle and remain in place when released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2002
    Inventor: Chung-Hoon Lee
  • Patent number: 6398225
    Abstract: An improved seal for a rotary valve for high temperature and high pressure fluids. A removable seal member adapted for disposition between a valve body and a valve member rotatably disposed in the valve body is provided. In one aspect of the invention, the seal member is adapted so that pressure exerted by the valve is sufficient to induce cold flow in the seal member. In another aspect of the invention, the seal member includes a pair of longitudinally disposed slots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: DCI International
    Inventors: Richard W. Hanson, John C. Schmoegner
  • Patent number: 6394461
    Abstract: A packing arrangement for a reciprocating pumps, particularly oil well pumps, in which a stuffing box housing contains a pressure chamber, packing seals mounted within the pressure chamber, a pump rod extending through the housing and the packing seals within said pressure chamber in a manner permitting reciprocation of the rod, utilizes pressure amplification feature by which tubing pressure is amplified in an appropriate ratio and applied to the packing seals to insure that they are correctly compressed at all times without producing a binding of the packing seals with the pump rod. Furthermore, the stuffing box is mounted to the well head in a manner which permits a floating self-alignment upon loosening of a few bolts. Additionally, a venturi connection is provided which flushes the underside of the packing area so as to keep it free and clear of debris buildup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Inventor: Tom Henderson
  • Patent number: 6390042
    Abstract: An improved releasable and reusable self-sealing plug for mechanically sealing a bore. A cylindrical body is formed on its outer surface to retain radial sealing means such as an O-ring. An oversize annular cap at the outer end of the body limits ingress of the plug into a bore, and a pair of opposed, flexible limbs terminating in flanges beyond the inner end of the body are compressed radially during insertion of the plug and spring out at completion of insertion to grip the inner entrance to the bore, thus holding the O-ring and plug in the bore. Insertion may be accomplished manually without the aid of tools. The plug cannot be driven out by pressure on the bore, but is easily removed by recompression of the limbs and flanges and withdrawal of the plug by, for example, needle-nose pliers. The plug may be formed inexpensively and easily by injection molding of a suitable plastic polymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew T Scott, Timothy M Nieves, Dominic Borraccia, Jason M Urckfitz, Daniel Richard Cuatt
  • Patent number: 6382635
    Abstract: An expandable baffle for sealing a cavity of an automobile is provided. The baffle includes a thermally expandable sealing material which has an expansion temperature similar to the temperatures achieved in specific stages of the automotive manufacturing processes (e.g., the paint bake stage). The inventive baffle further includes a support for the sealing material which maintains the material at the desired location within the cavity until thermal expansion. The support is formed of a material having a melting point higher than the thermal expansion temperature of the sealing material. In one embodiment, the support comprises a pair of solid, spaced-apart sidewalls that “bow” upon expansion of the sealing material. In an alternate embodiment, the sidewalls include a plurality of openings formed therein through which the sealing material flows during thermal expansion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignee: Sika Corporation
    Inventor: Gerald E. Fitzgerald
  • Patent number: 6378875
    Abstract: The invention relates to a sealing ring for sealing a piston rod of a piston compressor. The sealing ring comprises three segments, wherein the segments have portions extending in the circumferential direction of the sealing ring, which form an overlapping joint. The overlapping joint brings about an excellent sealing effect in the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2002
    Assignee: Maschinenfabrik Sulzer-Burckhardt AG
    Inventor: Norbert Feistel
  • Patent number: 6378874
    Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for sealing and electrically coupling an outer surface 170 of a shaft 175 to an inner surface 165 of a hub 160 disposed about the shaft. The invention is particularly useful for spindle motors 155 used in disc drives 100. In one embodiment, a seal 185 having a pair of annular pole pieces 270a, 270b, coupled to opposite poles of a magnet 265 is positioned between the shaft 175 and the hub 160. A nonmagnetic, electrically conductive ring 275 electrically couples the pole pieces 270a, 270b to one another and to the hub 160. In one version, the electrically conductive ring 275 includes an annular disk 300 with tabs 305 projecting from the exterior radius. The disk 300 abuts one pole piece 270b and the tabs 305 are folded over to electrically couple to the other 270a.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2002
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventor: Robin Francis Dorulla
  • Patent number: 6371488
    Abstract: A seal system for a motor pump unit includes a primary and a plurality of backup seals mounted in series within a seal housing. The primary seal is of a hydrostatic type and each of the backup seals is of a normally closed hydrodynamic type. Each of the primary and backup seals has a secondary seal between an axially movable seal ring thereof and the fixed seal housing, and at least one of these secondary seals is a spring-loaded, split piston ring seal. Two of the backup seals are of the Rayleigh type, where the Rayleigh pockets are formed in the seal runner, and the sealing dam is formed on the axially movable seal ring. An insert is provided in the runner of one of the backup seals, which insert is formed from a relatively harder material than the material forming the sealing dam. The other Rayleigh-type backup seal has pumping grooves extending downwardly and inwardly through the runner and toward the shaft to pump liquid into the Rayleigh pockets to ensure proper seal operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Inventors: George E. Szymborski, Richard A. Jones
  • Patent number: 6357757
    Abstract: A seal assembly having a case, an annular seal member and an annular guide member. The case is adapted to be mounted to a housing within a bore. The annular seal member is coupled to the case and extends radially inward therefrom. A seal lip is formed into the annular seal member and is adapted to provide a seal between the housing and a shaft. The annular guide member is coupled to one of the case and the seal member and extends radially inward therefrom. The annular guide includes an inner tip which extends radially inward beyond the seal lip when the seal assembly is in a free state disengaged from the shaft. The inner tip of the annular guide is adapted to protect the sealing integrity of the seal lip when the seal assembly and the shaft are assembled to one another. A method for installing a seal assembly with a guide member is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignee: American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: John Clinton Hibbler, David Marshall Morse, Rajendra G. Kumashi
  • Patent number: 6357261
    Abstract: An invisible connector assembly for a beaded strand of jewelry includes solid connector posts mounted in through-bores in the end beads of the strand. One post is provided with a threaded stud extending axially from the bead, and the other post is tapped within the bore of the bead to receive the threaded stud. The opposite end of each connection post is provided with a swiveling eye for connection to one end of the string mounting the remaining beads of the strand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Inventor: Howard Cheng
  • Patent number: 6357753
    Abstract: A mechanical seal M1 that can be installed in a simple procedure and thus simplifies maintenance. The positioning of the stationary seal unit 3 and rotary seal unit 4 is effected by setting spacers 5 fixed on the stopper ring 36. The stopper ring 36 is mounted on the sleeve 34 by engaging connection means 37 which include annular grooves 48 formed in the stopper ring 36, pin engaging holes 49 provided in the sleeve 34, headed pins 51 comprising a pin portion 52 to engage with the pin engaging hole 49 and a head portion 53 which engages with the groove 48 and is relatively movable in the annular groove 48 of the stopper ring in the circumferential direction of the ring 36, but is relatively unmovable in the axial direction, and head lead-in inlets that open the annular groove 48.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignee: Nippon Pillar Packing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Yamasaki, Shigeyuki Fujinaga
  • Patent number: 6357154
    Abstract: A label holder for general merchandising has a pair of resilient fingers which permit it to be clipped onto a lower flange of a shelf. The holder is bottom-loading and includes an opaque back portion of durable plastic and a transparent window portion, the two extruded portions uniting along an upper edge. The window portion is generally coextensive with the back portion and preferably extends past the lower edge thereof Two sets of rigid ribs overlap in the space between the back portion and the window portion and interact to clamp an upper edge of a label retaining it in place until removal or relocation is desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignee: Formtech Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: James E. Pfendler, Paul J. Butcher
  • Patent number: 6353969
    Abstract: An articulating strut capable of assuming an extended in-line and a folded configuration with rigid cylindrical tubing having proximate ends configured to fixably receive an offset hinged insert that provides for folding and unfolding of said strut. When fully unfolded the strut acts as a single rigid structural support member held in the locked position by a bi-directional slidable locking sleeve. The hinged insert has full faced load bearing surfaces which together with offset hinge pins tends to direct the strut members under compression to assume an over-center locked position. Such struts have particular application as bimini or dodger marine coverings that fold or become taut without tensioning straps or supporting tension in the covering material itself.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2002
    Inventor: John M. LeMole
  • Patent number: 6354600
    Abstract: The invention relates to a segment for a sealing arrangement, wherein a plurality of such segments can be attached to the circumference of a sealing ring for centering the sealing arrangement while the latter is installed between two flanges. Each segment comprises a curved centering flank, a further flank serving as a point of attack for a rotating mechanism, and a third flank for attachment of the segment to the sealing ring. The segment is provided as a one-pieced unit of a relatively small size. The segments can be mounted irrespective of the nominal pressure and the nominal diameter. This allows for an inexpensive manufacture of the sealing arrangement. Various embodiments of segments are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2002
    Inventor: Alfred Jung
  • Patent number: 6343794
    Abstract: A lubricant seal having no wearing surfaces is provided with a partition plate having a gutter portion and a slinger supported in a labyrinth cavity. This lubricant seal is particularly useful in larger seal applications where the wear of the rotating shafts exceeds the wear characteristics of available seal material. Migrating lubricants are captured in the gutter portion of the partition plate and are directed through the gutter portion around and below the shaft where the lubricant is returned through a drain to a sump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2002
    Inventor: Donald J. Brown