Patents Examined by John L. Beres
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Patent number: 6279916Abstract: The invention relates to a flat gasket, on the main sealing faces of which are arranged one or several narrow flat sealing ridges, in the region of which an increased surface pressure and deformability are generated, whereby improved micro-sealing is attained. The invention further concerns a method for producing stamping moulds, in particular for stamping said flat gaskets according to the invention.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 1998Date of Patent: August 28, 2001Inventor: Friedhelm Stecher
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Patent number: 6273428Abstract: A seal assembly which includes first and second annular screens, mounted facing each other coaxially; the first screen carries a seal member made of an elastomeric material which includes a main annular sealing lip, which extends axially from a root portion secured on a flange portion of the first screen, towards a flange portion of the second screen facing the flange portion of the first screen; the lip includes an enlarged portion radially offset with respect to the root portion and delimited by a circumferential rim and an annular sealing projection with a V-shaped section and its sealing edge oriented axially, the circumferential rim having a radial annular seat for a resilient circumferential retaining member, able to exert a predetermined radial stress on the lip, and the V-shaped projection being arranged alongside the seat for the resilient member, with the sealing edge towards the flange portion of the second screen, with which it cooperates slidably in an axial direction; the enlarged portion of theType: GrantFiled: August 13, 1999Date of Patent: August 14, 2001Assignee: RFT S.p.A.Inventor: Mauro Sassi
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Patent number: 6273430Abstract: An oil seal or fluid seal for providing a seal between a cylinder and a piston rod is provided. The oil seal has an annular seal lip which has on a conical inner circumferential surface thereof a plurality of annular projections which are arranged axially of the seal lip. One of the annular projections which is located more axially outside of the cylinder is larger in the height above the inner circumferential surface than one of the annular projections which is located more axially inside of the cylinder. By this, under a condition where the annular projections which are located more axially inside of the cylinder are subjected to a high pressure within the cylinder, the annular projections which are located more axially inside of the cylinder and the annular projections which are located more axially outside of the cylinder are nearly equal in the contact pressure against the piston rod, thus causing all of the annular projections to deform nearly equally.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 1998Date of Patent: August 14, 2001Assignee: Unisia Jecs CorporationInventors: Issei Kanari, Michiya Hiramoto
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Patent number: 6267383Abstract: A sealing-device having a body section and an anti-extrusion section is shown, the body section being disposed on top of the anti-extrusion section. The body section includes sealing surfaces for enclosures in which the sealing device is located. the anti-extrusion section prevents extrusion of the body section.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 1997Date of Patent: July 31, 2001Inventor: John D. Morvant
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Patent number: 6267381Abstract: A seal for effecting a seal between two components (2,4) to inhibit a flow of fluid, between the two components, in a sealing direction (22) from an upstream side (24) of the seal to a downstream side (26) of the seal. The downstream side (26) of the seal in use being at a lower pressure than the upstream side (26) of the seal. The seal comprising a carrier (12) adapted for mounting from one of the components (4), and a plurality of densely packed resilient strips (6) mounted on the carrier (12) to extend therefrom. Each strip (6) having a tip (20) which is adapted to wipe on the other component (2) to effect a seal thereagainst in the sealing direction (22) with the strips (6) arranged substantially parallel to the sealing direction (22). The seal being characterized in that there is provided a gap (30) between adjacent strips to allow the tip portions (20) of the strips (6) to move relative to each other and maintain in use a flexible seal.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 1999Date of Patent: July 31, 2001Assignee: Rolls-Royce plcInventor: Christopher Wright
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Patent number: 6264205Abstract: A rotary cartridge seal includes a cold flowable plastic ring having a body for sealably engaging a housing bore and a lip for sealably engaging a shaft rotating within the housing bore. A spring is provided and disposed between the body and the lip for biasing the lip against the shaft and a separable metal retainer is provided for fixing the plastic ring within the housing bore and around the shaft. The separable metal retainer includes a surface of revolution with a rear portion having a radius suitable for press fitting into the housing bore and a front portion of lesser radius ending the ring. An internal groove is provided in the body of the plastic ring for engaging the ring in order to latch the plastic ring and metal retainer together. A spring portion connecting the retainer rear portion and the ring is provided for controlling residual stress in a radial direction within the plastic ring and preventing shrinkage of the plastic ring toward the shaft.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 2000Date of Patent: July 24, 2001Assignee: Bal Seal Engineering Co., IncInventor: Peter J. Balsells
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Patent number: 6257591Abstract: A metal gasket comprising a least one gasket sheet, wherein a hardness lowering region having a locally lowered hardness is formed in the gasket sheet in at least either a portion to be set to have a large elongation or a portion to be lowered in a spring constant. Also disclosed is a metal gasket manufacturing process comprising: the step of forming an opening of a desired size in registration with a cylinder bore in an elastic metal sheet as a material for making a gasket sheet composing a metal gasket; the step of annealing a portion, as corresponding to the first hardness lowering region in the gasket sheet, of the elastic metal sheet; and the step of forming a folded portion by folding back the vicinity of the opening.Type: GrantFiled: December 16, 1997Date of Patent: July 10, 2001Assignee: Kokusan Parts Industry Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yoshitaka Abe, Hironobu Imanaka, Kazuhiko Ikeda, Takashi Suzuki
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Patent number: 6257586Abstract: A brush seal is comprised of arcuate seal segments having ends cut in a radial direction with bristles “canted” at an approximate 45° angle relative to radii of the segments, leaving triangular regions adjacent one end of each segment devoid of bristles at the segment interfaces. The brush seals are retrofit into conventional labyrinth seals with the backing plate for the bristles comprising a labyrinth tooth profile extending fully 360° about the seal, including those areas where bristles are not present. The sealing capacity is not substantially degraded, while affording significant sealing improvements over conventional labyrinth seals. Additionally, when retrofit into labyrinth seals with radial movement, the individual labyrinth seal segments are free to move radially independently of one another during transients.Type: GrantFiled: April 15, 1997Date of Patent: July 10, 2001Assignee: General Electric Co.Inventors: David Robert Skinner, Bharat S. Bagepalli, Robert Harold Cromer, Osman Saim Dinc, Norman Arnold Turnquist, Christopher Edward Wolfe
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Patent number: 6254102Abstract: A seal device for creating a seal between a rotatable shaft and a stationary member. The seal device includes a seal member having a generally annular body including a generally cylindrical inner wall forming a bore that extends through the body and a sealing surface adapted to rotatably and sealingly engage the stationary member. The body includes a generally annular flexible finger seal member having a base attached to the body and a generally circular peripheral tip that defines an aperture. The bore of the seal member and the aperture of the finger seal member are adapted to receive the shaft such that the tip of the finger seal member is in static sealing engagement with the shaft. A coupling member is adapted to attach the seal member to the shaft for conjoint rotation therewith and to resiliently bias the sealing surface of the seal member into rotating sealing engagement with the stationary member.Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 1999Date of Patent: July 3, 2001Assignee: McNish CorporationInventor: Jack L. Vicory, Sr.
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Patent number: 6250641Abstract: Circumferentially extending sealing segments (45) are disposed about a rotary component (16) and have seal face (34) carrying a plurality of labyrinth seal teeth (36) and a brush seal (37). The segments are movable between large and small clearance positions relative to the rotor at start-up and steady-state operating conditions, respectively. In one form, springs (31) bias the segments radially outwardly at start-up and steam pressure displaces the segments to the small clearance positions at steady-state operations. In a further embodiment, springs bias the segment for movement to the small clearance position, the extent of movement being determined by thermal expansion of centering rings mounting the segments to the stationary components.Type: GrantFiled: November 25, 1998Date of Patent: June 26, 2001Assignee: General Electric Co.Inventors: Osman Saim Dinc, Norman Arnold Turnquist, Robert Harold Cromer, George Ernest Reluzco, Christopher Edward Wolfe
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Patent number: 6250642Abstract: An improved mechanical seal of the type useful to form a seal between a stationary housing and a rotatable shaft having a shaft axis extending through an opening in the housing. The mechanical seal has stationary components and rotatable components. The stationary components comprise a stationary seal element having a stationary seal surface and the rotatable components comprise a rotatable seal element having a rotatable seal surface. The stationary and rotatable seal surfaces have substantially equal and oblique, preferably, acute, angles to the shaft axis. The seal surfaces oppose each other and are forced together to form a seal. The seal can be secured in place by improved connector clips.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 1996Date of Patent: June 26, 2001Inventor: Alfredo A. Ciotola
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Patent number: 6250646Abstract: A high pressure-high temperature gasket for high pressure-high temperature pipe is disclosed. The high pressure-high temperature gasket comprises a hollow annular member defining an interior tunnel. The interior tunnel is filled with a stuffing to enhance the axial resilience of the annular member such that the high pressure-high temperature gasket can seal the joint between two high pressure-high temperature pipes, and be reused so as to decrease the coat of using the gasket.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 1999Date of Patent: June 26, 2001Inventor: Chye-Tao Chang
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Patent number: 6241253Abstract: A soft gasket material having two opposed facial surfaces and an edge that is substantially perpendicular to those surfaces has a coating on the edge. The coating has a thickness length B which is a distance extending directly from the edge at its center point to the coat's outer surface. The coating further covers the edge from side to side and extends past at least one corner of the edge in a protruding length A which is an amount that is effective to form a barrier against the passage of fluids onto the face of the gasket. In coatings where the protruding length A is not supported by the gasket face, the ratio of protruding length A: thickness length B must be at least about 0.8, protruding length A must be a minimum of at least about 4 mils, and thickness length B must be a minimum of at least about 3 mils. In coatings where the protruding length A is supported by the gasket face (a distance C), the ratio of protruding length A: thickness length B can be at least about 0.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 1998Date of Patent: June 5, 2001Assignee: Interface Solutions, Inc.Inventors: Dennis M. Dempsey, Christopher L. Morris
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Patent number: 6234488Abstract: An apparatus (10) includes a bearing (24) linking first and second vehicle parts (12, 14) for movement relative to each other, and a boot seal (30) protecting the bearing (24). The boot seal (30) is a tube of heat shrinkable thermoplastic material. The tube (30) has a first end portion (34) shrunken against the first vehicle part (12), a second end portion (42) shrunken against the second vehicle part (14), and a flexible intermediate portion (44) which is deflectable between the opposite end portions (34, 40) upon movement of the vehicle parts (12, 14) relative to each other.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 1997Date of Patent: May 22, 2001Assignee: TRW Inc.Inventors: Jon W. Martin, Xinhua He
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Patent number: 6231047Abstract: A brush seal includes a retainer and a multiplicity of single bristles each bristle having a fixed end and a free sealing end, the fixed ends being individually attached in a continuous arrangement at the same angle to the retainer, the bristles having a uniform pack density throughout the extent of the bristles from the fixed to the sealing end.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 1998Date of Patent: May 15, 2001Assignees: EG&G Engineered Products, Pferd Milwaukee Brush Co., Inc.Inventors: Matthew D. Cunningham, Robert P. Menendez, James A. Henderson, Chih-Yuan Shia, William J. Casey, William W. Smith, Jr.
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Patent number: 6224062Abstract: A roller skate and skateboard bearing cover that seals a bearing assembly and axle from foreign matter having a thin circular body structure (1) which has a center hole (6) which allows the bearing axle therethrough in which fastens the bearing covers (8a,8b) in a stationary mode concentrically to the bearing, a angular section (5) which acts as a spring that allows continuous biased tension of the body (1) flange section (4) to the bearing outer race surface means for sealing the bearing assembly and axle and allowing the body (1) projecting edge (2) to remove all foreign matter from the sealing surface. The bearing cover is made of a strong flexible material so that it can facilitate flexing under all loads and operating modes without fracturing.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 1998Date of Patent: May 1, 2001Inventors: Paul Joseph DeCanio, Edward Anthony Vanella
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Patent number: 6220600Abstract: An annular wear sleeve for a shaft seal is fabricated of an elastically deformable metal material and includes an annular body portion and an end flange portion. The sleeve is slightly oversized relative to the shaft on which it is installed to provide a low force slip-fit installation on the shaft. Once installed, the end flange is elastically deformed, imparting a radially inward bending force on the body portion causing the inner surface of the wear sleeve to constrict about and engage the outer surface of the shaft, providing intimate metal-to-metal contact therebetween to dissipate heat from the seal member and to secure the wear sleeve against rotation on the shaft in service. Releasing the deformation force on the end flange enables the wear sleeve to recover its elastic deformation, causing the wear sleeve to release the constricting engagement with the shaft enabling it to be dismounted from the shaft with low force in the same manner as was required for installation.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 1999Date of Patent: April 24, 2001Assignee: Federal-Mogul World Wide, Inc.Inventors: Bhawani Sankar Tripathy, David Michael Toth, Brent Ryan Sedlar
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Patent number: 6217028Abstract: This invention relates to a seal apparatus for providing sealing engagement between a vessel and a rotatable shaft extending through a wall of the vessel. An insert retainer is connected with respect to the vessel and around and apart from the rotatable shaft. A shaft ring is connected to the rotatable shaft and rotatably positioned within the insert retainer. An insert is biased against the shaft ring and seated at least partially within the insert retainer. A retainer assembly is connected to the insert retainer and preferably biases the insert against the shaft ring. Seals, such as O-rings, may be placed around the circumference of the insert and/or around the interior of the shaft ring to further effectuate a seal between the vessel and the rotatable shaft.Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 1998Date of Patent: April 17, 2001Inventor: Rudeger H. Wilke
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Patent number: 6217030Abstract: A seal for acceptance in an annular gland in a piston comprises an annular primary sealing element, an annular secondary sealing element disposed radially inwardly of the primary sealing element, and a pair of axially spaced back up rings disposed in axially spaced relation on opposite sides of the primary sealing element and having radially inner portions, respectively, engaged with the primary sealing element so as to lock the backup rings in the gland of the piston.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 1999Date of Patent: April 17, 2001Inventor: Richard D. Zitting
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Patent number: 6213477Abstract: A metal laminate gasket for an internal combustion engine is formed of first, second and third metal plates laminated together. sealing devices are attached to the first metal plate, each having a curved portion for defining a cylinder bore, and a flange extending from the curved portion in a direction away from the cylinder bore. The second metal plate situated above the first metal plate has at least one notch between the cylinder bores, and the third metal plate situated above the second metal plate has an engaging portion between the cylinder bores. At least one holding portion is attached to the sealing device. The holding portion is located above the engaging portion to thereby allow the engaging portion to be located in the notch when the gasket is assembled. Thus, the engaging portion between the third holes is retained by the holding portion.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 1999Date of Patent: April 10, 2001Assignee: Ishikawa Gasket Co., Ltd.Inventor: Yoshio Miyaoh