Patents by Inventor Leonidas C. Leite

Leonidas C. Leite 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).

  • Publication number: 20230358272
    Abstract: Bearing assemblies and methods of using bearings are provided in the present disclosure. In one embodiment, a bearing ring is provided having a plurality of carrier components removably coupled therewith. Each carrier component may carry one or more bearing elements. Upon wearing of the bearing elements beyond a desired amount, the carrier components may be removed from the bearing ring and installed in a different bearing ring to place the mearing elements at their original bearing surface radius. In another embodiment, individual bearing elements may be radially adjustable relative to the bearing ring to define and redefine the radius of a radial bearing surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2023
    Publication date: November 9, 2023
    Inventors: Jair J. Gonzalez, Leonidas C. Leite
  • Publication number: 20230265884
    Abstract: Bearing assemblies and methods of manufacturing bearing assemblies are provided in the present disclosure. In one embodiment, a bearing assembly includes a base member and at least one bearing element coupled to the base member. The bearing element may be coupled with the base member by at least two different coupling techniques, including two of: a mechanical fastener, a clamped structure, a geometrical fit, welding, and brazing. In one embodiment, a first technique may include use of a mechanical fastener and a second technique may include welding or brazing. In another embodiment, a first technique may include use of a clamping mechanism or structure and a second technique may include welding or brazing. In another embodiment, a first technique may include use of a geometrical fit and a second technique may include welding or brazing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2021
    Publication date: August 24, 2023
    Inventors: Jair J. Gonzalez, Leonidas C. Leite
  • Patent number: 11703083
    Abstract: Bearing assemblies and methods of using bearings are provided in the present disclosure. In one embodiment, a bearing ring is provided having a plurality of carrier components removably coupled therewith. Each carrier component may carry one or more bearing elements. Upon wearing of the bearing elements beyond a desired amount, the carrier components may be removed from the bearing ring and installed in a different bearing ring to place the mearing elements at their original bearing surface radius. In another embodiment, individual bearing elements may be radially adjustable relative to the bearing ring to define and redefine the radius of a radial bearing surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: US Synthetic Corporation
    Inventors: Jair J. Gonzalez, Leonidas C. Leite
  • Publication number: 20220325750
    Abstract: Bearing assemblies and methods of using bearings are provided in the present disclosure. In one embodiment, a bearing ring is provided having a plurality of carrier components removably coupled therewith. Each carrier component may carry one or more bearing elements. Upon wearing of the bearing elements beyond a desired amount, the carrier components may be removed from the bearing ring and installed in a different bearing ring to place the mearing elements at their original bearing surface radius. In another embodiment, individual bearing elements may be radially adjustable relative to the bearing ring to define and redefine the radius of a radial bearing surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2022
    Publication date: October 13, 2022
    Inventors: Jair J. Gonzalez, Leonidas C. Leite
  • Patent number: 11378122
    Abstract: Bearing assemblies and methods of using bearings are provided in the present disclosure. In one embodiment, a bearing ring is provided having a plurality of carrier components removably coupled therewith. Each carrier component may carry one or more bearing elements. Upon wearing of the bearing elements beyond a desired amount, the carrier components may be removed from the bearing ring and installed in a different bearing ring to place the mearing elements at their original bearing surface radius. In another embodiment, individual bearing elements may be radially adjustable relative to the bearing ring to define and redefine the radius of a radial bearing surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: US Synthetic Corporation
    Inventors: Jair J. Gonzalez, Leonidas C. Leite
  • Publication number: 20210222734
    Abstract: Bearing assemblies and methods of using bearings are provided in the present disclosure. In one embodiment, a bearing ring is provided having a plurality of carrier components removably coupled therewith. Each carrier component may carry one or more bearing elements. Upon wearing of the bearing elements beyond a desired amount, the carrier components may be removed from the bearing ring and installed in a different bearing ring to place the mearing elements at their original bearing surface radius. In another embodiment, individual bearing elements may be radially adjustable relative to the bearing ring to define and redefine the radius of a radial bearing surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2021
    Publication date: July 22, 2021
    Inventors: Jair J. Gonzalez, Leonidas C. Leite
  • Publication number: 20190170186
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to bearing apparatuses including a bearing assembly having a continuous superhard bearing element including a continuous superhard bearing surface and a tilting pad bearing assembly. The disclosed bearing apparatuses may be employed in pumps, turbines or other mechanical systems. In an embodiment, the bearing apparatus includes a first and second bearing assembly. The first bearing assembly includes a first support ring and a plurality of tilting pads. Each tilting pad is tilted and/or tiltably secured relative to the first support ring. The second bearing assembly includes a continuous superhard bearing element. The continuous superhard bearing element includes a continuous superhard bearing surface facing the plurality of tilting pads and exhibits a maximum lateral width greater than about 2 inches.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2019
    Publication date: June 6, 2019
    Inventors: Jair J. Gonzalez, Leonidas C. Leite, Sriram Venkatesan
  • Patent number: 10240631
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein relate to bearing apparatuses including a bearing assembly having a continuous superhard bearing element including a continuous superhard bearing surface and a tilting pad bearing assembly. The disclosed bearing apparatuses may be employed in pumps, turbines or other mechanical systems. In an embodiment, the bearing apparatus includes a first and second bearing assembly. The first bearing assembly includes a first support ring and a plurality of tilting pads. Each tilting pad is tilted and/or tiltably secured relative to the first support ring. The second bearing assembly includes a continuous superhard bearing element. The continuous superhard bearing element includes a continuous superhard bearing surface facing the plurality of tilting pads and exhibits a maximum lateral width greater than about 2 inches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignees: US SYNTHETIC CORPORATION, WAUKESHA BEARINGS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jair J. Gonzalez, Leonidas C. Leite, Sriram Venkatesan
  • Patent number: 9790992
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein are directed to bearing assemblies that include integrated lubrication, bearing apparatuses including such bearing assemblies, and related methods. For example, a lubricated bearing assembly may include a lubricant that may lubricate the bearing surface thereof during operation of the lubricated bearing assembly and/or bearing apparatus including the lubricated bearing assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignees: WAUKESHA BEARINGS CORPORATION, US SYNTHETIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Brent A. Lingwall, Richard Raymond Shultz, Leonidas C. Leite
  • Publication number: 20170261031
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein relate to bearing apparatuses including a bearing assembly having a continuous superhard bearing element including a continuous superhard bearing surface and a tilting pad bearing assembly. The disclosed bearing apparatuses may be employed in pumps, turbines or other mechanical systems. In an embodiment, the bearing apparatus includes a first and second bearing assembly. The first bearing assembly includes a first support ring and a plurality of tilting pads. Each tilting pad is tilted and/or tiltably secured relative to the first support ring. The second bearing assembly includes a continuous superhard bearing element. The continuous superhard bearing element includes a continuous superhard bearing surface facing the plurality of tilting pads and exhibits a maximum lateral width greater than about 2 inches.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2015
    Publication date: September 14, 2017
    Inventors: Jair J. Gonzalez, Leonidas C. Leite, Sriram Venkatesan
  • Patent number: 9644676
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein are directed to bearing assemblies that include integrated lubrication, bearing apparatuses including such bearing assemblies, and related methods. For example, a lubricated bearing assembly may include a lubricant that may lubricate the bearing surface thereof during operation of the lubricated bearing assembly and/or bearing apparatus including the lubricated bearing assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignees: US SYNTHETIC CORPORATION, WAUKESHA BEARINGS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Brent A. Lingwall, Richard Raymond Shultz, Leonidas C. Leite
  • Patent number: 9309923
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein are directed to bearing assemblies that include integrated lubrication, bearing apparatuses including such bearing assemblies, and related methods. For example, a lubricated bearing assembly may include a lubricant that may lubricate the bearing surface thereof during operation of the lubricated bearing assembly and/or bearing apparatus including the lubricated bearing assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignees: US SYNTHETIC CORPORATION, WAUKESHA BEARINGS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Brent A. Lingwall, Richard Raymond Shultz, Leonidas C. Leite