Abstract: A fluid sealing system for a rotary mechanical device including a pillar lantern ring having a bottom and a top end cap with pillars or columns connecting the end caps is formed by additive manufacturing. The bottom annular end cap has an outside face and an opposed inside face defining a height therebetween and the upper annular end cap has an inside face and an opposed outside face defining a height therebetween with a plurality of integrally formed substantially cylindrical axial columns connecting the two opposed inside faces of the two end caps.

Abstract: A fluid sealing system for a rotary mechanical device including a pillar lantern ring having a bottom and a top end cap with pillars or columns connecting the end caps is formed by additive manufacturing. The bottom annular end cap has an outside face and an opposed inside face defining a height therebetween and the upper annular end cap has an inside face and an opposed outside face defining a height therebetween with a plurality of integrally formed substantially cylindrical axial columns connecting the two opposed inside faces of the two end caps.

Abstract: A fluid sealing system for a rotary mechanical device including a pillar lantern ring having a bottom and a top end cap with pillars or columns connecting the end caps is formed by additive manufacturing. The bottom annular end cap has an outside face and an opposed inside face defining a height therebetween and the upper annular end cap has an inside face and an opposed outside face defining a height therebetween with a plurality of integrally formed substantially cylindrical axial columns connecting the two opposed inside faces of the two end caps.

Abstract: A fluid sealing system for a rotary mechanical device includes a pillar lantern ring having two end caps with pillars or columns connecting the end caps. A bushing or bearing seal element is positioned at the bottom of the seal cavity and the pillar lantern ring is positioned adjacent the element at the flush port with compressible packing rings between the lantern ring and the gland follower. The pillars or columns are axial supports to prevent the ring from being crushed when the gland follower is tightened down. The pillars allow for a larger reservoir volume of flush in case of temporary flush loss compared to a conventional lantern ring with holes between the outer and inner groove surfaces of the lantern ring. The outer surface of the lantern ring is closely dimensioned to the inner bore of the stuffing box. In one embodiment the lantern ring is a suspended lantern ring with an inner diameter greater than the shaft to avoid any and all contact with the shaft in order to extend its working life.

Abstract: A fluid sealing system for a rotary mechanical device includes a pillar lantern ring having two end caps with pillars or columns connecting the end caps. A bushing or bearing seal element is positioned at the bottom of the seal cavity and the pillar lantern ring is positioned adjacent the element at the flush port with compressible packing rings between the lantern ring and the gland follower. The pillars or columns are axial supports to prevent the ring from being crushed when the gland follower is tightened down. The pillars allow for a larger reservoir volume of flush in case of temporary flush loss compared to a conventional lantern ring with holes between the outer and inner groove surfaces of the lantern ring. The outer surface of the lantern ring is closely dimensioned to the inner bore of the stuffing box. In one embodiment the lantern ring is a suspended lantern ring with an inner diameter greater than the shaft to avoid any and all contact with the shaft in order to extend its working life.

Abstract: A bump-activated trimmer head for a rotary trimmer of the type that utilizes wound trimmer line to cut vegetation, the trimmer having a rotary shaft defining a rotation axis, a housing attached to the rotary shaft, at least a pair of opposed eyelets through the housing for receiving the trimmer line, a spool encased within the housing and having a passageway for the trimmer line, the opposed ends of the passageway being alignable with the opposed eyelets of the housing. The trimmer head further includes an indexing knob external to the housing and operatively connected to the spool for turning the spool so as to wind the trimmer line onto the spool, and a separate bump knob rotating about the same rotation axis as the shaft, wherein the bump knob is operationally connected to the spool, but is rotationally independent of the shaft, the housing and the spool.

Abstract: A seal-bearing assembly to be inserted into the seal cavity of a mechanical device to provide a seal and a bearing surface to eliminate whip in a rotating, reciprocal, or rotating and reciprocal cylindrical member. The seal-bearing assembly is particularly well suited for use in a reciprocal pump or a piston-driven valve, or between the steam lance and fixed steam tube in a sootblower. The assembly includes at least a pair of outer substantially rigid cylindrical bearings having an inner bore to be positioned over the cylindrical member and at least one complimentary flexible textile packing ring substantially comprised of carbon disposed between the two outer bearing members. In assemblies including an additional bearing, the additional bearing is surrounded by at least one flexible packing on each side. The inner bore of the bearing members provides a bearing surface for eliminating whip of the moving elements in the device.

Abstract: A seal-bearing assembly to be inserted into the seal cavity of a mechanical device to provide a seal and a bearing surface to eliminate whip in a rotating, reciprocal, or rotating and reciprocal cylindrical member. The seal-bearing assembly is particularly well suited for use in a reciprocal pump or a piston-driven valve, or between the steam lance and fixed steam tube in a sootblower. The assembly includes at least a pair of outer substantially rigid cylindrical bearings having an inner bore to be positioned over the cylindrical member and at least one complimentary flexible textile packing ring substantially comprised of carbon disposed between the two outer bearing members. In assemblies including an additional bearing, the additional bearing is surrounded by at least one flexible packing on each side. The inner bore of the bearing members provides a bearing surface for eliminating whip of the moving elements in the device.

Abstract: A seal-bearing assembly to be inserted into the seal cavity of a mechanical device to provide a seal and a bearing surface to eliminate whip in a rotating and/or reciprocal cylindrical member. The seal-bearing assembly is particularly well suited for use in a reciprocal pump or a piston-driven valve, or between the steam lance and fixed steam tube in a sootblower. The assembly includes at least a pair of outer substantially rigid cylindrical bearings having an inner bore to be positioned over the cylindrical member and at least one complimentary flexible textile packing ring substantially comprised of carbon disposed between the two outer bearing members. In assemblies including an additional bearing, the additional bearing is surrounded by at least one flexible packing on each side. The inner bore of the bearing members provides a bearing surface for eliminating whip of the moving elements in the device.

Abstract: A locking collar to be inserted into a cylindrical cavity or lumen of a device for securing mechanical elements from moving axially within the cavity. The collar includes two semi-circular cylindrical segments hinged together with an opposed single slit to allow easy installation within the cavity and pushed into position against the installed elements without the need to disassemble a device. The collar is a substantially cylindrical rigid member with an outer diameter closely matching the inner bore diameter of the cavity and includes an opening at the slit to receive a securing screw member to urge the two segments apart to engage the inner bore surface of the cavity and fix the collar in place thereby locking the elements in place.

Abstract: A bump-activated trimmer head for a rotary trimmer of the type that utilizes wound trimmer line to cut vegetation is provided. The rotary trimmer has a shaft defining a rotation axis. The trimmer head includes a housing attached to the rotary shaft of the rotary trimmer and has at least a pair of opposed eyelets through which the trimmer line is discharged for cutting the vegetation. The trimmer head also includes a spool encased within the housing and having a passageway for the trimmer line, the passageway having opposed ends and extending from one side of the spool to an opposite side. The opposed ends of the passageway are alignable with the opposed eyelets of the housing. The trimmer head further includes an indexing knob external to the housing and operatively connected to the spool for turning the spool for the purpose of winding the trimmer line onto the spool.

Abstract: A seal-bearing assembly to be inserted into the seal cavity of a mechanical device to provide a seal and a bearing surface to eliminate whip in a rotating and/or reciprocal cylindrical member. The seal-bearing assembly is particularly well suited for use in a reciprocal pump or a piston-driven valve, or between the steam lance and fixed steam tube in a sootblower. The assembly includes at least a pair of outer substantially rigid cylindrical bearings having an inner bore to be positioned over the cylindrical member and at least one complimentary flexible textile packing ring substantially comprised of carbon disposed between the two outer bearing members. In assemblies including an additional bearing, the additional bearing is surrounded by at least one flexible packing on each side. The inner bore of the bearing members provides a bearing surface for eliminating whip of the moving elements in the device.

Abstract: A seal-bearing assembly to be inserted into the seal cavity of a mechanical device to provide a seal and a bearing surface to eliminate whip in a rotating and/or reciprocal cylindrical member. The seal-bearing assembly is particularly well suited for use in a reciprocal pump and between the steam lance and fixed steam tube in a sootblower. The assembly includes at least a pair of outer substantially rigid cylindrical bearings having an inner bore to be positioned over the cylindrical member and at least one complimentary flexible textile packing ring disposed between the two outer bearing members. In assemblies including an additional bearing, it is surrounded by at least one flexible packing on each side. The inner bore of the bearing members provide a bearing surface for eliminating whip of the moving elements in the device.

Abstract: A seal-bearing assembly to be inserted into the seal cavity of a mechanical device to provide a seal and a bearing surface to eliminate whip in a rotating and/or reciprocal cylindrical member. The seal-bearing assembly is particularly well suited for use in a reciprocal pump and between the steam lance and fixed steam tube in a sootblower. The assembly includes at least a pair of outer substantially rigid cylindrical bearings having an inner bore to be positioned over the cylindrical member and at least one complimentary flexible textile packing ring disposed between the two outer bearing members. In assemblies including an additional bearing, it is surrounded by at least one flexible packing on each side. The inner bore of the bearing members provide a bearing surface for eliminating whip of the moving elements in the device.

Abstract: A locking collar to be inserted into a cylindrical cavity or lumen of a device for securing mechanical elements from moving axially within the cavity. The collar includes two semi-circular cylindrical segments hinged together with an opposed single slit to allow easy installation within the cavity and pushed into position against the installed elements without the need to disassemble a device. The collar is a substantially cylindrical rigid member with an outer diameter closely matching the inner bore diameter of the cavity and includes an opening at the slit to receive a securing screw member to urge the two segments apart to engage the inner bore surface of the cavity and fix the collar in place thereby locking the elements in place.