Patents by Inventor Kevin Richard Crain

Kevin Richard Crain 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).

  • Seal assembly for a turbomachine
    Patent number: 11199103
    Abstract: A seal assembly for a turbomachine. The turbomachine includes a rotating shaft extending along a centerline and a fixed housing positioned exterior to the rotating shaft in a radial direction relative to the centerline. The seal assembly includes a sump housing at least partially defining a bearing compartment for holding a cooling lubricant. The seal assembly further includes a bearing supporting the rotating shaft. In addition, the seal assembly also includes a sump seal at least partially defining the bearing compartment. A pressurized housing of the seal assembly is positioned exterior to the sump housing and defines a pressurized compartment to at least partially enclose the sump housing. Further, a non-contacting carbon seal is positioned between the rotating shaft and the fixed housing to at least partially define the pressurized compartment to enclose the sump housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Scott Francis Wolfer, Kevin Richard Crain, Jonathan K. Remer, Robert Burton Brown, Nicholas Rowe Dinsmore
  • Seal Assembly for a Turbomachine
    Publication number: 20200080436
    Abstract: A seal assembly for a turbomachine. The turbomachine includes a rotating shaft extending along a centerline and a fixed housing positioned exterior to the rotating shaft in a radial direction relative to the centerline. The seal assembly includes a sump housing at least partially defining a bearing compartment for holding a cooling lubricant. The seal assembly further includes a bearing supporting the rotating shaft. In addition, the seal assembly also includes a sump seal at least partially defining the bearing compartment. A pressurized housing of the seal assembly is positioned exterior to the sump housing and defines a pressurized compartment to at least partially enclose the sump housing. Further, a non-contacting carbon seal is positioned between the rotating shaft and the fixed housing to at least partially define the pressurized compartment to enclose the sump housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2018
    Publication date: March 12, 2020
    Inventors: Scott Francis Wolfer, Kevin Richard Crain, Jonathan K. Remer, Robert Burton Brown, Nicholas Rowe Dinsmore