Patents by Inventor Diane R. McNickle

Diane R. McNickle has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8616554
    Abstract: The present invention relates to circumferential seal ring segments positioned around a rotating shaft so as to prevent fluids from leaking from a lubricant sump during both low and high pressure conditions. The circumferential seal is comprised of a plurality of adjoining annular ring segments facing the rotating shaft. Each sealing ring segment includes a dead end circumferential groove on a shaft-side face of each sealing ring such that, when the segments are joined, the circumferential dead end groove of each segment extends arcuately in the direction of shaft rotation. At least one additional groove is contained on the shaft-side face of each sealing ring segment. The additional groove(s) directs and creates pressurized air within the dead end circumferential groove, either directly or indirectly maintaining a seal between the ring segments and the shaft. A bleed hole may also be provided to create a seal between each sealing segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Stein Seal Company
    Inventors: Thurai Manik Vasagar, Glenn M. Garrison, Alan D. McNickle, Diane R. McNickle
  • Publication number: 20130113162
    Abstract: The present invention relates to circumferential seal ring segments positioned around a rotating shaft so as to prevent fluids from leaking from a lubricant sump during both low and high pressure conditions. The circumferential seal is comprised of a plurality of adjoining annular ring segments facing the rotating shaft. Each sealing ring segment includes a dead end circumferential groove on a shaft-side face of each sealing ring such that, when the segments are joined, the circumferential dead end groove of each segment extends arcuately in the direction of shaft rotation. At least one additional groove is contained on the shaft-side face of each sealing ring segment. The additional groove(s) directs and creates pressurized air within the dead end circumferential groove, either directly or indirectly maintaining a seal between the ring segments and the shaft. A bleed hole may also be provided to create a seal between each sealing segment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2012
    Publication date: May 9, 2013
    Applicant: Stein Seal Company
    Inventors: Stein Seal Company, Diane R. McNickle
  • Patent number: 8408556
    Abstract: The present invention relates to circumferential seal ring segments positioned around a rotating shaft so as to prevent fluids from leaking from a lubricant sump during both low and high pressure conditions. The circumferential seal is comprised of a plurality of adjoining annular ring segments facing the rotating shaft. Each sealing ring segment includes a dead end circumferential groove on a shaft-side face of each sealing ring such that, when the segments are joined, the circumferential dead end groove of each segment extends arcuately in the direction of shaft rotation. Additional grooves are contained on the shaft-side face of each sealing ring segment. The additional grooves direct and create pressurized air within the dead end circumferential groove, either directly or indirectly maintaining a seal between the ring segments and the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Stein Seal Company
    Inventors: Thurai Manik Vasagar, Glenn M. Garrison, Diane R. McNickle
  • Patent number: 8408554
    Abstract: The present invention relates to circumferential seal ring segments positioned around a rotating shaft so as to prevent fluids from leaking from a lubricant sump during both low and high pressure conditions. The circumferential seal is comprised of a plurality of adjoining annular ring segments facing the rotating shaft. Each sealing ring segment includes a dead end circumferential groove on a shaft-side face of each sealing ring such that, when the segments are joined, the circumferential dead end groove of each segment extends arcuately in the direction of shaft rotation. At least one additional groove is contained on the shaft-side face of each sealing ring segment. Each additional groove may contain a pocket. The additional groove(s) directs and creates pressurized air within the dead end circumferential groove, either directly or indirectly maintaining a seal between the ring segments and the shaft. A bleed hole may also be provided to create a seal between each sealing segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Stein Seal Company
    Inventors: Thurai Manik Vasagar, Glenn M. Garrison, Diane R. McNickle
  • Patent number: 8356819
    Abstract: The present invention relates to circumferential seal ring segments positioned around a rotating shaft so as to prevent fluids from leaking from a lubricant sump during both low and high pressure conditions. The circumferential seal is comprised of a plurality of adjoining annular ring segments facing the rotating shaft. Each sealing ring segment includes a dead end circumferential groove on a shaft-side face of each sealing ring such that, when the segments are joined, the circumferential dead end groove of each segment extends arcuately in the direction of shaft rotation. At least one additional groove is contained on the shaft-side face of each sealing ring segment. Each additional groove is an axial bore groove extending perpendicularly to a longitudinal axis of the seal ring segment in fluid communication with the dead end circumferential groove so as to direct fluid flow generated from a rotating shaft into the dead end circumferential groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: Stein Seal Company
    Inventors: Thurai Manik Vasagar, Glenn M. Garrison, Diane R. McNickle
  • Patent number: 8342534
    Abstract: The present invention relates to circumferential seal ring segments positioned around a rotating shaft so as to prevent fluids from leaking from a lubricant sump during both low and high pressure conditions. The circumferential seal is comprised of a plurality of adjoining annular ring segments facing the rotating shaft. Each sealing ring segment includes a dead end circumferential groove on a shaft-side face of each sealing ring such that, when the segments are joined, the circumferential dead end groove of each segment extends arcuately in the direction of shaft rotation. At least one additional groove is contained on the shaft-side face of each sealing ring segment. The additional groove(s) directs and creates pressurized air within the dead end circumferential groove, either directly or indirectly maintaining a seal between the ring segments and the shaft. A bleed hole may also be provided to create a seal between each sealing segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Stein Seal Company
    Inventors: Thurai Manik Vasagar, Glenn M. Garrison, Alan D. McNickle, Diane R. McNickle, legal representative
  • Patent number: 8074995
    Abstract: The present invention relates to circumferential seal ring segments positioned around a rotating shaft so as to prevent fluids from leaking from a lubricant sump during both low and high pressure conditions. The circumferential seal is comprised of a plurality of adjoining annular ring segments facing the rotating shaft. Each sealing ring segment includes a dead end circumferential groove on a shaft-side face of each sealing ring such that, when the segments are joined, the circumferential dead end groove of each segment extends arcuately in the direction of shaft rotation. At least one additional groove is contained on the shaft-side face of each sealing ring segment. The additional groove(s) directs and creates pressurized air within the dead end circumferential groove, either directly or indirectly maintaining a seal between the ring segments and the shaft. A bleed hole may also be provided to create a seal between each sealing segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Stein Seal Company
    Inventors: Thurai Manik Vasagar, Alan D. McNickle, Diane R. McNickle, legal representative, Glenn M. Garrison
  • Publication number: 20110215535
    Abstract: The present invention relates to circumferential seal ring segments positioned around a rotating shaft so as to prevent fluids from leaking from a lubricant sump during both low and high pressure conditions. The circumferential seal is comprised of a plurality of adjoining annular ring segments facing the rotating shaft. Each sealing ring segment includes a dead end circumferential groove on a shaft-side face of each sealing ring such that, when the segments are joined, the circumferential dead end groove of each segment extends arcuately in the direction of shaft rotation. At least one additional groove is contained on the shaft-side face of each sealing ring segment. The additional groove(s) directs and creates pressurized air within the dead end circumferential groove, either directly or indirectly maintaining a seal between the ring segments and the shaft. A bleed hole may also be provided to create a seal between each sealing segment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2011
    Publication date: September 8, 2011
    Applicant: Stein Seal Company
    Inventors: Thurai Manik Vasagar, Alan D. McNickle, Diane R. McNickle, Glenn M. Garrison
  • Publication number: 20110210514
    Abstract: The present invention relates to circumferential seal ring segments positioned around a rotating shaft so as to prevent fluids from leaking from a lubricant sump during both low and high pressure conditions. The circumferential seal is comprised of a plurality of adjoining annular ring segments facing the rotating shaft. Each sealing ring segment includes a dead end circumferential groove on a shaft-side face of each sealing ring such that, when the segments are joined, the circumferential dead end groove of each segment extends arcuately in the direction of shaft rotation. At least one additional groove is contained on the shaft-side face of each sealing ring segment. Each additional groove is an axial bore groove extending perpendicularly to a longitudinal axis of the seal ring segment in fluid communication with the dead end circumferential groove so as to direct fluid flow generated from a rotating shaft into the dead end circumferential groove.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2011
    Publication date: September 1, 2011
    Applicant: Stein Seal Company
    Inventors: Thurai Manik Vasagar, Alan D. McNickle, Diane R. McNickle, Glenn M. Garrison
  • Publication number: 20110210518
    Abstract: The present invention relates to circumferential seal ring segments positioned around a rotating shaft so as to prevent fluids from leaking from a lubricant sump during both low and high pressure conditions. The circumferential seal is comprised of a plurality of adjoining annular ring segments facing the rotating shaft. Each sealing ring segment includes a dead end circumferential groove on a shaft-side face of each sealing ring such that, when the segments are joined, the circumferential dead end groove of each segment extends arcuately in the direction of shaft rotation. Additional grooves are contained on the shaft-side face of each sealing ring segment. The additional grooves direct and create pressurized air within the dead end circumferential groove, either directly or indirectly maintaining a seal between the ring segments and the shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2011
    Publication date: September 1, 2011
    Applicant: Stein Seal Company
    Inventors: Thurai Manik Vasagar, Glenn M. Garrison, Alan D. McNickle, Diane R. McNickle
  • Publication number: 20110115164
    Abstract: The present invention relates to circumferential seal ring segments positioned around a rotating shaft so as to prevent fluids from leaking from a lubricant sump during both low and high pressure conditions. The circumferential seal is comprised of a plurality of adjoining annular ring segments facing the rotating shaft. Each sealing ring segment includes a dead end circumferential groove on a shaft-side face of each sealing ring such that, when the segments are joined, the circumferential dead end groove of each segment extends arcuately in the direction of shaft rotation. At least one additional groove is contained on the shaft-side face of each sealing ring segment. The additional groove(s) directs and creates pressurized air within the dead end circumferential groove, either directly or indirectly maintaining a seal between the ring segments and the shaft. A bleed hole may also be provided to create a seal between each sealing segment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2011
    Publication date: May 19, 2011
    Applicant: STEIN SEAL COMPANY
    Inventors: Thurai Manik Vasagar, Alan D. McNickle, Glenn M. Garrison, Diane R. McNickle
  • Publication number: 20080284105
    Abstract: The present invention relates to circumferential seal ring segments positioned around a rotating shaft so as to prevent fluids from leaking from a lubricant sump during both low and high pressure conditions. The circumferential seal is comprised of a plurality of adjoining annular ring segments facing the rotating shaft. Each sealing ring segment includes a dead end circumferential groove on a shaft-side face of each sealing ring such that, when the segments are joined, the circumferential dead end groove of each segment extends arcuately in the direction of shaft rotation. At least one additional groove is contained on the shaft-side face of each sealing ring segment. The additional groove(s) directs and creates pressurized air within the dead end circumferential groove, either directly or indirectly maintaining a seal between the ring segments and the shaft. A bleed hole may also be provided to create a seal between each sealing segment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2008
    Publication date: November 20, 2008
    Inventors: Thurai Manik VASAGAR, Alan D. McNickle, Diane R. McNickle, Glenn M. Garrison
  • Publication number: 20080157479
    Abstract: An assembly for sealing a liquid region from a gas region across an annular surface of a rotating shaft in turbomachinery, having a plurality of annular sealing ring segments facing the rotating shaft, at least one sealing ring segment including a dead end annular groove formed in a radially inwardly facing bearing surface at a position closer to the liquid region than to the gas region when the segment is positioned proximate the shaft surface, the groove extending arcuately in the direction of shaft rotation, at least one diagonal groove formed in the segment bearing surface and extending from an edge of the segment proximate the gas region to a position of communication with the dead end annular groove that is downstream, from a mouth of the diagonal groove at the segment edge, with respect to rotary movement of the shaft along the segment bearing surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2007
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Inventors: Thurai Manik Vasagar, Alan D. McNickle, Glenn M. Garrison, Diane R. McNickle