Patents Examined by Robert I. Smith
  • Patent number: 4498679
    Abstract: The seal includes a substantially rigid annular base member and a generally C-shaped unitary body of elastomeric material having an inner section overlying and bonded to the outer surface of the base section, a pivot section extending outwardly from the outer surface of one end portion of the base section, and an outer section mounted by the pivot section for movement toward and away from the other end portion of the base section. During use of the seal its connector section and part of its outer section are under bending stress, and engaged portions of the outer and inner sections are both under compression stress. The outer section is biased outwardly toward the periphery of the bore of a grease-containing housing by the combined tendency of each of the foregoing body sections to return an unstressed condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1984
    Date of Patent: February 12, 1985
    Assignee: Lord Corporation
    Inventor: Paul J. Balczun
  • Patent number: 4498245
    Abstract: An adaptor (18) for clamping an optical scale (20) on a tooling button (12). The adaptor (18) has two elongated rectangular plates (24, 60) pivotally engaged, one above the other, by a pair of oppositely disposed dowels (74, 76). One of the plates (24) has an opening (30) to receive a tooling button (12) therein. The plate (24) has a flat surface (54) to receive a scale (20) and a peripheral surface of the opening is cutaway (38) to permit the scale on the surface (54) to abut the tooling button. The scale is clamped in the proper tooling position by means of the upper plate (60) when it is pivoted with respect to the lower plate by means of a thumb screw (86).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1983
    Date of Patent: February 12, 1985
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Robert B. Mayor
  • Patent number: 4498678
    Abstract: In a sterilizing oven filtered air is circulated by a circulator situated within the oven and driven by an electric motor through a shaft, said motor being situated outside the oven. Since the air within the sterilizing oven must have a very low content of particles compared to common atmospheric air, it must not be possible for air to penetrate from the outside through the extension of the shaft. The shaft is therefore received in two spring-loaded gaskets in a sealing chamber which is supplied with filtered air at a low overpressure through a connection to a pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1983
    Date of Patent: February 12, 1985
    Assignee: Ingeniorfirmaet Lytzen KS
    Inventor: Alex D. Vestergaard
  • Patent number: 4494760
    Abstract: A shaft seal that is slidably mounted in a housing with essentially equal balanced forces acting on each radial side. Fluid from the high pressure side of the shaft is communicated to equal areas on the two sides by ducts and constrained to the design areas by "O" rings. The seal moves radially in response to shaft displacements while maintaining a sealing relationship between packing material and the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1983
    Date of Patent: January 22, 1985
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: John D. Spargo
  • Patent number: 4494761
    Abstract: This invention relates to a lubricating oil seal device for a rotating shaft support bearing, which is arranged to prevent the emergence of said oil from a collection chamber disposed at one end of the bearing, by means of a stream of air created in an annular meatus provided in the passage which communicates with said chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1983
    Date of Patent: January 22, 1985
    Assignee: Alfa Romeo S.p.A.
    Inventors: Filippo Surace, Giampaolo Garcea
  • Patent number: 4494749
    Abstract: A caliper seal assembly is adapted to seal two relatively moving parts in a drilling tool or drill bit or other device where a sealing relationship must be maintained under relatively large relative position and tolerance changes between the two movable parts, under relatively rapid pressure variations and surges, and under relatively high temperature conditions. The caliper seal includes a pair of flexible flank members having contact pads formed thereon and between which sealing surfaces of a flange-like projection extend. The caliper seal is particularly advantageous for sealing bearing assemblies between a cutter wheel and the body of a rotary drill bit. A heat pipe assembly can be incorporated within the flange-like projection to remove excess heat generated by the frictional contact of the contact pads on the flange sealing surfaces. The flange projection can also be formed with an interior fluid conducting conduit to remove excess heat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1981
    Date of Patent: January 22, 1985
    Inventor: Robert F. Evans
  • Patent number: 4494762
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a metal bellows seal for use in high pressure, extreme temperature installations. The description shows not only a gasket made from a formed tube open on one side to leave a gap that exposes the gasket interior to high pressure process fluid, but also a fin protruding from the opposite side of the tube of a width that is equal to and in general alignment with the gap in the gasket. The gasket is seated within aligned grooves that are formed in opposing pipe flange faces. The fin, clamped between the opposing flanges stabilizes the gasket within the grooves and forms an aperture between the pipe ends that establishes fluid communication between the pipe and the interior of the tubular gasket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1980
    Date of Patent: January 22, 1985
    Assignee: Hickory Pond Corp.
    Inventor: Stanley W. Geipel
  • Patent number: 4492381
    Abstract: A sealing plug includes a plug and a housing the plug and the housing including co-operating means whereby they may be secured together, the plug including two circumferentially extending grooves within which O ring seals are located, and the housing including an aperture within which the plug is adapted to be located, the housing also including a spring loaded radially extending pin which projects into the aperture and which is adapted to project into either of the grooves within the plug if an O ring is omitted, thus preventing the plug being secured with the housing by the co-operating means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1984
    Date of Patent: January 8, 1985
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Limited
    Inventors: Gordon C. Cooper, Douglas Dawson
  • Patent number: 4492384
    Abstract: A sealing arrangement between a pair of aligned openings each of which is defined by a frame member and that includes a boot having a pair of opposed arm members adapted to be located in the openings with each arm member being sealingly maintained therein by a molding member which serves to press the associated arm member at localized points into sealing engagement with the associated frame member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1983
    Date of Patent: January 8, 1985
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Fredric A. Herschelman
  • Patent number: 4491330
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to a lip seal designed to seal a space between a rotatable shaft and a housing part around the shaft. The housing part is formed of relatively flat material and has a hole formed in it, through which the shaft extends. The seal includes a support band that is sized to have a tight interference fit on the shaft. Extending radially outwardly from the band are two opposed lips that form an annular groove therebetween. The seal is positioned with the housing part in the groove and the lips engaging opposite sides of the housing part. The two lips are constructed with a preload that causes them to sealingly engage the housing part when the housing part is positioned in the groove. The band rotates and makes a sealed connection with the shaft, and the two lips slide against the housing part and form seals therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 1983
    Date of Patent: January 1, 1985
    Assignee: Franklin Electric Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Peter R. Weihsmann
  • Patent number: 4489953
    Abstract: A fire-safe seal for use in a swivel joint in a pressurized fluid system subject to fire risk, the seal having both a metal anti-extrusion ring and an annular resilient non-metallic seal member to provide essentially zero fluid linkage at normal operating temperatures, and the anti-extrusion ring to provide an extremely low rate of leakage in the event high temperature should destroy the resilient seal member. A curved spring or other metal anti-cocking device biases the anti-extrusion ring tightly against the junction of a male and a female joint to ensure that the ring remains in position after the resilient seal member is destroyed to prevent leakage through the junction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1983
    Date of Patent: December 25, 1984
    Assignee: FMC Corporation
    Inventor: Robert L. Witt
  • Patent number: 4489951
    Abstract: A mechanical seal is disclosed wherein an intermediate floating ring is employed between a seat sleeve and a rotary ring. Each of the rotary ring, intermediate floating ring and the seat sleeve are pressed against each other so as to be relatively rotatable at their respective abutting interfaces, each of the rotary ring, intermediate ring and the seat sleeve being separated from each other with proper clearances between the opposing surfaces thereof at places which are outward of the sliding interfaces and each of the opposing surfaces is provided with an annular groove and a cascade of blades therein so that a fluid coupling is formed between the adjacent opposing surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1983
    Date of Patent: December 25, 1984
    Assignee: Ebara Corporation
    Inventors: Tadashi Kataoka, Hirokuni Hiyama
  • Patent number: 4489950
    Abstract: Pole-piece-magnet apparatus for use as single- or double-pole-piece ferrofluid seal apparatus and method of manufacture, which pole-piece-magnet apparatus comprises at least one washer-type metal-pole-piece element with one flat surface having a plurality of spaced-apart raised dimple elements thereon with outwardly extending anchoring surfaces; and a washer-like hard molded permanent magnet polymer ring element molded about and secured directly to the one flat surface of the pole-piece element by the anchoring surface on the raised dimples, the permanent magnet ring element having an inner diameter greater than the inner diameter of the pole-piece element and an outer diameter of about the same dimensions as the outer diameter of the pole-piece element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 1983
    Date of Patent: December 25, 1984
    Assignee: Ferrofluidics Corporation
    Inventor: Alvan F. Chorney
  • Patent number: 4488730
    Abstract: A ring gear mounted for rotation and driven by a pinion which dips into an oil bath is provided on each face with a sealing device. Each sealing device has a conical annulus tapering in a direction away from the ring gear and on which a ring is positioned in spaced relation with the gear. There thus is formed between the gear and each ring an annular oil collecting chamber which leads oil carried upwards by the ring gear back into the oil bath.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1983
    Date of Patent: December 18, 1984
    Assignee: Krupp Polysius AG
    Inventor: Heinz Grachtrup
  • Patent number: 4488729
    Abstract: The invention comprises a novel method for lubricating and cooling mechanical seals, particularly those seals used in a vertical drill box system. Specifically, the invention utilizes the driving force of the rotating gears in the gear box to convey fluid to an otherwise inaccessible upper seal face. Cooling and lubricating the seal in this manner insures that the various rubber portions of the seal are not degraded by excessive heat. The invention can be utilized in any application requiring sealing of gearing mechanisms from environments containing large amounts of dust or other debris. A preferred application is in mining equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1983
    Date of Patent: December 18, 1984
    Assignee: Step Design
    Inventors: Thomas A. Story, Edward P. Peglow
  • Patent number: 4486026
    Abstract: This invention relates to sealing and bearing means by use of ferrofluid, in which a magnet is utilized effectively in cooperation with grooves engraved on one surface thereof, the grooves having the function for generating the dynamic pressure of the ferrofluid. The ferrofluid is retained in a gap between a rotary shaft and a magnet of cylindrical or disc type enclosing the rotary shaft concentrically. The magnet performs excellent two functions of bearing and sealing respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1983
    Date of Patent: December 4, 1984
    Assignee: Nippon Seiko K.K.
    Inventors: Kyozaburo Furumura, Hiromi Sugi, Yasuo Murakami, Hiromitsu Asai
  • Patent number: 4486025
    Abstract: A stripper packer having a mounting collar to which a stripper rubber is releasably secured by compressive clamping means in a manner such that the compressively deformed stripper rubber is maintained in releasable fluid pressure-tight face sealing engagement with the mounting collar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1984
    Date of Patent: December 4, 1984
    Assignee: Washington Rotating Control Heads, Inc.
    Inventor: Vaughn R. Johnston
  • Patent number: 4484602
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting and sealing leaks in a sewer branch pipe including a packer member which travels along the main sewer pipe by remote control. When the packer is correctly located, the main pipe region surrounding the branch entrance is sealed off. The packer is rotated until a slot in the packer is orientated to the branch. An inflatable tube in the packer is then inflated, causing the tube to elongate and enter the branch. The remote end of the tube forms a seal against the inside of the branch so that the area of the branch near the junction with the main pipe is included in the sealed off area. Fluid can be pumped into the sealed off space to detect if a leak is present; in which case a sealant fluid is pumped into the space. Afterwards, the tube can be deflated and retracted and the traveller repositioned at the next branch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 1983
    Date of Patent: November 27, 1984
    Assignee: Cues, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth R. Guthrie
  • Patent number: 4484753
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a rotary shaft seal assembly and, more particularly, to an assembly including a continuous, annular, but axially variable seal for providing hydrodynamic lubrication between the seal and rotating shaft. The seal assembly uses differential pressures to maintain the seal compressed as it wears. The present system is particularly useful in drilling motors utilizing the movement of drilling fluid under pressure to operate the motor parts and thereby to drive a drill bit. The abrasive drilling fluid environment in a borehole is detrimental to the moving parts in such a system, and especially destructive to the bearings and seals. The present system utilizes a sealing member arranged in a continuous, annular, but axially variable path between the rotating shaft and housing of such a motor. Annular seal mounting members are positioned above and below the seal and have surfaces to matingly engage the seal member. The mounting elements are arranged to move relative to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1983
    Date of Patent: November 27, 1984
    Assignee: NL Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Manmohan S. Kalsi
  • Patent number: 4483457
    Abstract: A nozzle plug (22) for blocking a nozzle (46) in a nuclear steam generator (16) is improved by the addition of hinges (40a, 40b) which allow the nozzle plug (22) to be inserted into the steam generator (16) through an access port (52) of substantially smaller diameter than the nozzle (46). A recess (54) is provided in one of the semi-circular plates (28) allowing the plates to nest, further reducing the necessary size of the access port (46).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1983
    Date of Patent: November 20, 1984
    Assignee: Combustion Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Glen E. Schukei, Lee A. Tade, III