Patents by Inventor Donn A. Groninger

Donn A. Groninger 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: 6330790
    Abstract: A buffer seal arrangement is provided for improved buffer sealing of oil sump seals in gas turbine engines. The buffer seal arrangement includes a three section labyrinth seal. Disposed between the first and second section is a buffer air supply annulus for delivering pressurized air from the engine to said first and second sections of the seal. Oil drains are disposed between said second and third sections and adjacent the third section. The first section has four knife seals, and the second and third sections have three knife seals. Rig testing has shown that this buffer seal arrangement can prevent the leakage of oil into the gas path of the gas turbine engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2001
    Assignee: AlliedSignal, Inc.
    Inventors: Gulshan K. Arora, Donn A. Groninger, Francis Leech, Bobby J. Hobbs