Patents Examined by Scott Cummings
  • Patent number: 5000464
    Abstract: A gasket of the invention is installed in an internal combustion engine with at least one fluid hole. The gasket comprises a main body adapted to be installed in the engine and having at least one first hole communicating with the fluid hole of the engine, and a fluid hole regulation device installed in the first hole of the main body. The fluid hole regulation device includes a second hole, and at least one plate arranged so that a size of the second hole changes according to a temperature of the engine. The size of the second hole enlarges only when the water temperature exceeds a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 19, 1991
    Assignee: Ishikawa Gasket Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hisashi Yasui
  • Patent number: 5000580
    Abstract: An improved apparatus and means for measuring temperatures inside enclosures or conduits containing hot gases laden with entrained solids using a pyrometer. The improvement involves an optical access port consisting of a high strength sight tube, a safety valve, a double sight glass, various purge connections and provisions for optical alignment. A dynamic purge system keeps the optical sight path clear during normal operation, and clears the path if it begins to become occluded during operational upsets within the enclosure or conduit. The improved optical access port is mounted on the exterior wall of the vessel or conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 19, 1991
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas F. Leininger, Richard D. Cary, Gus Zachariou
  • Patent number: 4998739
    Abstract: An arrangement is disclosed for the sealing-off of spaces acted upon by media of a different pressure, for turbomachines, in which a sealing ring is arranged in a cylindrical housing while forming a radial sealing gap as a primary seal, and having a secondary leakage flow passage between a wall section of the housing and the sealing ring which communicates with the space having a lower pressure, the sealing ring being centered by means of spring elements which are anchored at the housing on one side and are arranged essentially in parallel with respect to the machine axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 12, 1991
    Assignee: Mtu Motoren- und Turbinen-Union Muenchen GmbH
    Inventor: Wolfgang Weiler
  • Patent number: 4997191
    Abstract: A device having a rotary shaft extending through a housing, with the device including a shaft seal for affecting a substantially fluid tight seal between the shaft and the housing, wherein the shaft seal includes: a rotating seal member secured to and rotatable with the shaft, a stationary seal member for affecting sealing contact with the rotating seal member, and wherein the rotating seal member is adjustably mounted on the shaft. The invention provides a single mechanism for both transversely positioning the rotating seal member with respect to the shaft, and moving the rotating seal member to a predetermined axial position along the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 5, 1991
    Assignee: Gits Bros. Mfg. Co.
    Inventor: Dale J. Warner
  • Patent number: 4997192
    Abstract: A mechanical seal is, at a sliding surface and at its vicinty, formed of a pore-dispersed cemented carbide, so that the lubricating characteristics can be improved and the strength maintained by strictly stipulating the magnitude, shape, and volumetric ratio of the pores, such that pores are contained in an amount of 0.5 to 20 volume %, formed in at least one shape selected from the group of a substantialy spherical shape and a substantially cylindrical shape, the pores in the substantially spherical shape having an average diameter of 3 to 20 .mu.m, the pores in the substantially cylindrical shape having an average diameter of 3 to 20 .mu.m and an average length in the range from the average diameter up to 300 .mu.m, and that the pores are prevented from linking to each other to give a length greater than 2 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 5, 1991
    Assignees: Tanken Seiko Kabushiki Kaisha, Nihon Tungsten Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yataro Nagai, Mitsuyoshi Matsushita, Osamu Ishibashi, Kiyoshi Terasaki, Kei Tokumoto
  • Patent number: 4995620
    Abstract: A self-compensating seal for a rotating shaft includes a seal ring (13) having a plurality of trapezoidal and/or triangular shaped seal sections (15). A ring housing (22) is affixed to a shaft (12) and engages the inside trailing edge (20) of the seal ring (13). Means (30, 31) are provided to prohibit circumferential rotational movement of the seal ring (13) within the ring housing (22). The ring housing (22) and the seal ring (13) rotate with the shaft (12). The centrifugal forces generated by the rotation causes the seal sections (15) to move outward from the ring housing (22) and toward a wear plate (24). Engagement of the outside leading edge (21) of the seal ring (13) and the wear plate (24) perfects the seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 26, 1991
    Assignee: Westmont Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Zawaski, Don B. Van Possen
  • Patent number: 4995623
    Abstract: A sealing device for use in contact with a reciprocating member such as a piston rod of an automotive shock absorber has a plurality of seal lips with tips which make resilient sliding contact with the surface of the reciprocating member. Chambers are formed between the tips of adjacent seal lips. The seal lip closest to an internal fluid to be sealed is designed to facilitate flow of the fluid into the chamber between this seal lip and the adjacent seal lip, across the region of contact between this seal lip and the reciprocating member. The design may include notches or grooves formed in the seal lip closest to the seal lip or specific design of tapered surfaces of this seal lip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 26, 1991
    Assignee: NOK Corporation
    Inventors: Noriyuki Wada, Satoshi Yamanaka
  • Patent number: 4995622
    Abstract: A magnetic fluid seal device, with two or more pole pieces disposed around a magnetic rotating element on both sides of a permanent magnet, each pole piece being formed by alternately joining and first and second magnetic disks differing in inside diameter is related. Tiny gaps are formed between the inner circumference of the magnetic disks having the smaller inside diameter in each pole piece and the outer circumference of the magnetic rotating element, and a magnetic fluid is magnetically captured in these tiny gaps. The magnetic flux density in these gaps is set larger than the saturated magnetization of the magnetic fluid captured in these gaps and the thickness of the first magnetic disks is set somewhare between 0.02 and 0.0 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 26, 1991
    Assignee: Nippon Pillar Packing Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toshihiko Fuse
  • Patent number: 4991235
    Abstract: The novelty hat of the present invention includes a hat shell formed in the shape of a three-dimensional object, such as an automobile, a boat, or a motorcycle. Within the hat shell is a hatband which is detachably connected by interlocking hooks and eyes mounted on the hatband and on the interior walls of the hat shell. The headband is adjustable in size so as to accommodate various head sizes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 12, 1991
    Inventor: Greg S. Warner
  • Patent number: 4989882
    Abstract: A shaft seal has a rotary seal and a stationary seal with predetermined axial and radial dimensions. The two seals are positioned, with respect to a shaft, so as to fix the axial and radial dimensions with respect to one another by way of a plastic strip which is positioned about the sleeve of the rotary with its edges engaging the rotary and the stationary seals and extends to the exterior thereof. A tab is provided at the end of the plastic strip and the strip is pulled from the seal after axial and radial fixation of the seal components and upon rotation of the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 5, 1991
    Inventors: Dale J. Warner, Dale J. Warner
  • Patent number: 4989886
    Abstract: A braided filamentary sealing element is provided for use between components in a gas turbine engine or other machine where a clearance space is provided between the components. The sealing element is adapted to be carried on one component. The sealing element includes an integral three dimensionally braided filamentary sealing surface to effect a fluid sealing action between the components. The sealing element may also include a plurality of three dimensionally braided flexible filaments having a free length sufficient to engage the other of the components to effect a fluid sealing action between the components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 5, 1991
    Assignee: Textron Inc.
    Inventor: Raymond J. Rulis
  • Patent number: 4989884
    Abstract: A protective accordion configured tubular boot has one end fixedly secured to and sealed about the cylinder of a shock absorber and the boot extends upwardly about a plunger protruding from the cylinder. The other end of the boot includes an inwardly extending radial flange having a plurality of circular concentric ridges disposed on opposed sides. An outwardly radially extending channel fixedly secured proximate the end of the plunger receives the radial flange to form a floating vented seal at the other end of the boot to prevent particulate matter and liquids from entering the boot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 5, 1991
    Inventor: Clarence R. Goodman
  • Patent number: 4986552
    Abstract: A sealing assembly is adapted to be disposed between a stationary part and a rotary shaft in the stationary part so as to provide a seal in the gap between the stationary part and the rotary shaft. The sealing assembly has a slinger capable of rotating as a unit with the rotary shaft, and a rubber seal having a lip which makes a sliding contact with the slinger. The portion of the slinger contacted by the lip of the rubber seal is provided with apertures which allow a lubricating oil to flow into the region of the sliding contact between the lip of the seal rubber and the portion of the slinger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 22, 1991
    Assignees: NOK Corporation, Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kaoru Anzue, Jun Isomoto, Nobuo Takei
  • Patent number: 4984811
    Abstract: A pressure control system for stern tube seals includes at least two resilient radial lip-type seal rings held so as to surround a propeller shaft linear. The closest seal ring lip to the propeller is arranged to face outboard and the other adjacent seal rings' lips are arranged to face suitable directions so as to form annular chambers. The aft annular chamber located most closely to the propeller serves as a chamber having a fixed differencial pressure higher than the seawater pressure. The closest seal ring to the propeller is lifted, thereby allowing air to be bled into seawater and preventing the ingress thereof. A regulator unit which is capable of instantly ascertaining changes in the hull's draft is provided in an air-supplying mechanism communicating with the aft annular chamber, so as to maintain the air pressure therein higher than the seawater pressure by a constant differential pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 15, 1991
    Assignee: Dover Japan, Inc.
    Inventors: Tsuneo Kuwabara, Jingo Miyazaki
  • Patent number: 4981304
    Abstract: An auxiliary flexible vacuum seal for preparing a reactor coolant pump for vacuum degasification of the reactor coolant system employs a flexible boot member having a pair of longitudinally-displaced opposite open end portions and a pair of side-by-side longitudinally-extending side portions in the form of flanges defining a split in the boot member along a side thereof and extending between the open end portions for allowing flexing of the boot member between open and closed side configurations to permit its installation and removal on and from the pump. The seal also employs clamping brackets and fasteners for releasably and sealably clamping together the flanges of the boot member at the split to retain the boot member in its closed configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 1, 1991
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: Charles D. Bice, Clifford H. Campen
  • Patent number: 4980516
    Abstract: An electromagnetic-shielding gasket of this invention is composed of an elastic body. The elastic body contains a filler of whisker-shaped carbon fiber with a micro diameter. The carbon fiber is developed from ultrafine particles of a high-melting metal and/or the compound of the high-melting metal through a vapor-phase system. The carbon fiber developed in the vapor phase is uniformly dispersed in the elastic body. Consequently, the electromagnetic-shielding gasket has a uniform low electric resistivity and an elasticity. By fitting the electromagnetic-shielding gasket onto gaps in the housing of electronic components, the housing is kept watertight and airtight, and electromagnetic waves are prevented from passing through the gaps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 25, 1990
    Assignee: Kitagawa Industries Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Asaharu Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 4979755
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for preventing swirl in a stem turbine having an annular-shaped stationary portion through which extends in regions of differential pressure a rotatable shaft include flow dams situated perpendicularly with respect to a plurality of spaced-apart annular teeth which extend radially inward from the stationary portion toward the shaft to within close proximity thereof, each adjacent pair of teeth forming a cavity there between. By damming the cavities, a circumferential stem flow is substantially minimized, thereby preventing the conditions necessary for the inducement of swirl.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 25, 1990
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventor: Albert F. Lebreton
  • Patent number: 4979758
    Abstract: A steel laminate gasket of the invention is installed in an engine having at least one fluid hole to be closed. The gasket comprises a first plate, and at least one second plate situated adjacent to the first plate. The first plate is provided with at least one closing area corresponding to the fluid hole to be closed, and a stepped portion formed around the closing area so that the closing area projects outwardly from the first plate. The second plate is located at a side where the closing area projects. The second plate includes sealing device around the fluid hole. The sealing device is located outside the stepped portion when the first and second plates are assembled together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 25, 1990
    Assignee: Ishikawa Gasket Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshio Miyaoh
  • Patent number: 4976444
    Abstract: This invention relates to a seal and seal assembly, comprising an annular sealing element including a first side in alignment with a radial axis and a second side opposite the first side, and an inner axial surface in alignment with an axial axis and an outer axial surface opposite the inner axial surface; and the first side including a plurality of inclined teeth having grooves therebetween, each tooth tapering from wide to narrow in a direction opposite the second side, at least one of the teeth extending away from the axial axis and one extending toward the axial axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 11, 1990
    Assignee: Amoco Corporation
    Inventor: Robert L. Richards
  • Patent number: 4972986
    Abstract: A seal assembly between a rotatable hollow outer shaft and a rotatable inner shaft for sealing a high pressure fluid reservoir from a low pressure fluid reservoir. Axially spaced radially extending first and second runners are attached to the inner shaft. An annular seal ring surrounds and is radially spaced from the inner shaft and disposed between the runners. Fluid flow from the high pressure reservoir to the low pressure reservoir in a path defined by spaces formed between the seal ring and the shafts and runners, and axially through passages in the seal ring. The hydrostatic forces imposed on the seal ring tend to maintain it in its proper position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 27, 1990
    Assignee: EG&G Sealol, Inc.
    Inventor: Abraham Lipschitz