Patents by Inventor Masayoshi Sonokawa

Masayoshi Sonokawa 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: 11946548
    Abstract: An apparatus has: a first member; a shaft rotatable relative to the first member about an axis; and a seal system. The seal system has: a seal carried by the first member and having a seal face; a seal housing; a seat carried by the shaft and having a seat face in sliding sealing engagement with the seal face; and a plurality of coil springs biasing the seal face against the seat face, each coil spring having a first end and a second end. The seal has a plurality of spring compartments. Each of the plurality of coil springs is partially within a respective associated compartment of the plurality of spring compartments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: RTX Corporation
    Inventors: Masayoshi Sonokawa, Jonathan F. Zimmitti, Nasr A. Shuaib, Sean P. McCutchan
  • Patent number: 11578803
    Abstract: An assembly includes a housing, a carrier, a spring element and a seal element. The housing includes a bore and an annular groove that extends axially along a centerline into the housing from the bore. The carrier projects axially along the centerline into the annular groove. The carrier is configured to translate axially along the centerline relative to the housing. The spring element is arranged within the annular groove. The spring element is configured to bias the carrier axially away from the housing along the centerline. The seal element is mounted to the carrier and arranged within the bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Masayoshi Sonokawa, Jonathan F. Zimmitti, Nasr A. Shuaib
  • Publication number: 20220403937
    Abstract: An apparatus has: a first member; a shaft rotatable relative to the first member about an axis; and a seal system. The seal system has: a seal carried by the first member and having a seal face; a seal housing; a seat carried by the shaft and having a seat face in sliding sealing engagement with the seal face; and a plurality of coil springs biasing the seal face against the seat face, each coil spring having a first end and a second end. The seal has a plurality of spring compartments. Each of the plurality of coil springs is partially within a respective associated compartment of the plurality of spring compartments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2022
    Publication date: December 22, 2022
    Applicant: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Masayoshi Sonokawa, Jonathan F. Zimmitti, Nasr A. Shuaib, Sean P. McCutchan
  • Patent number: 11371373
    Abstract: A seal housing may comprise an aft flange, an outer diameter (OD) ring and a stopper. The stopper may extend radially inward from a radially inner surface of OD ring. The stopper may be configured to interface with a monobloc carbon seal. The stopper may comprise a circumferential stopping portion and an axial stopping portion. There may be a plurality of the stopper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Masayoshi Sonokawa, Jonathan F. Zimmitti, Nasr A. Shuaib
  • Publication number: 20210140547
    Abstract: An assembly includes a housing, a carrier, a spring element and a seal element. The housing includes a bore and an annular groove that extends axially along a centerline into the housing from the bore. The carrier projects axially along the centerline into the annular groove. The carrier is configured to translate axially along the centerline relative to the housing. The spring element is arranged within the annular groove. The spring element is configured to bias the carrier axially away from the housing along the centerline. The seal element is mounted to the carrier and arranged within the bore.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2019
    Publication date: May 13, 2021
    Inventors: Masayoshi Sonokawa, Jonathan F. Zimmitti, Nasr A. Shuaib
  • Publication number: 20210123357
    Abstract: A seal housing may comprise an aft flange, an outer diameter (OD) ring and a stopper. The stopper may extend radially inward from a radially inner surface of OD ring. The stopper may be configured to interface with a monobloc carbon seal. The stopper may comprise a circumferential stopping portion and an axial stopping portion. There may be a plurality of the stopper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2019
    Publication date: April 29, 2021
    Applicant: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masayoshi Sonokawa, Jonathan F. Zimmitti, Nasr A. Shuaib
  • Patent number: 10655487
    Abstract: An annular stator seal support extends radially between a radial inner support side and a radial outer support side. A secondary seal includes a first radially extending secondary seal sidewall surface, a second radially extending secondary seal sidewall surface and a third radially extending secondary seal sidewall surface. An annular stator sleeve support includes a channel radially distal the radial inner support side, the channel includes a first radially extending channel sidewall and a second radially extending channel sidewall located axially forward of the first radially extending channel sidewall, and a third radially extending channel sidewall located axially behind the first radially extending channel sidewall. The first radially extending seal sidewall surface contacts the first radially extending channel sidewall, and the second radially extending channel sidewall is axially spaced from the second radially extending secondary seal sidewall surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Masayoshi Sonokawa, Rachel A. McGrath
  • Publication number: 20190249559
    Abstract: An annular stator seal support extends radially between a radial inner support side and a radial outer support side. A secondary seal includes a first radially extending secondary seal sidewall surface, a second radially extending secondary seal sidewall surface and a third radially extending secondary seal sidewall surface. An annular stator sleeve support includes a channel radially distal the radial inner support side, the channel includes a first radially extending channel sidewall and a second radially extending channel sidewall located axially forward of the first radially extending channel sidewall, and a third radially extending channel sidewall located axially behind the first radially extending channel sidewall. The first radially extending seal sidewall surface contacts the first radially extending channel sidewall, and the second radially extending channel sidewall is axially spaced from the second radially extending secondary seal sidewall surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2018
    Publication date: August 15, 2019
    Inventors: Masayoshi Sonokawa, Rachel A. McGrath
  • Patent number: 10167734
    Abstract: A seal support and duct assembly of a gas turbine engine includes a seal support housing disposed about a central axis, a duct housing attached to the seal support housing, the duct housing and the seal support housing defining the seal support and duct assembly, an outer annular cavity, an inlet that supplies the outer annular cavity with cooling buffer air, an inner annular cavity disposed radially inward of the outer annular cavity, a first plurality of outlets that provide the cooling buffer air from the outer annular cavity to the inner annular cavity, and a second plurality of outlets that provide the cooling buffer air from the inner annular cavity to an area surrounding a bearing compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masayoshi Sonokawa, Russell B. Witlicki, Christopher J. Larson, Robert C. Stutz, Eric Charles Mundell, Marc J. Muldoon
  • Patent number: 9683451
    Abstract: A seal assembly is provided that extends along an axial centerline. The seal assembly includes a seal support, a seal housing, a plurality of torque pins and a plurality of stopper collars. The seal housing includes a plurality of slots arranged circumferentially around the centerline. The slots extend axially through the seal housing, and one or more of the slots has a lateral slot width. The torque pins are connected to the seal support. Each of the torque pins respectively extends axially through a uniquely associated one of the slots to a distal pin end. Each of the stopper collars is uniquely associated with and connected to a respective one of the torque pins at the pin end. One or more of the stopper collars has a lateral collar width that is less than the slot width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Masayoshi Sonokawa, Russell B. Witlicki
  • Patent number: 9316119
    Abstract: An exemplary turbomachine secondary ring seal assembly includes a base portion that extends circumferentially about an axis and a protrusion extending from the base portion toward the axis. The protrusion has a sealing surface that contacts a support to limit movement of a fluid from a first axial side of the base portion to a second opposite axial side of the base portion. The sealing surface faces the axis. The sealing surface may also face in a radial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Masayoshi Sonokawa
  • Publication number: 20150337674
    Abstract: A seal assembly is provided that extends along an axial centerline. The seal assembly includes a seal support, a seal housing, a plurality of torque pins and a plurality of stopper collars. The seal housing includes a plurality of slots arranged circumferentially around the centerline. The slots extend axially through the seal housing, and one or more of the slots has a lateral slot width. The torque pins are connected to the seal support. Each of the torque pins respectively extends axially through a uniquely associated one of the slots to a distal pin end. Each of the stopper collars is uniquely associated with and connected to a respective one of the torque pins at the pin end. One or more of the stopper collars has a lateral collar width that is less than the slot width.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2013
    Publication date: November 26, 2015
    Inventors: Masayoshi Sonokawa, Russell B. Witlicki
  • Publication number: 20150240660
    Abstract: A seal support and duct assembly of a gas turbine engine includes a seal support housing disposed about a central axis, a duct housing attached to the seal support housing, the duct housing and the seal support housing defining the seal support and duct assembly, an outer annular cavity, an inlet that supplies the outer annular cavity with cooling buffer air, an inner annular cavity disposed radially inward of the outer annular cavity, a first plurality of outlets that provide the cooling buffer air from the outer annular cavity to the inner annular cavity, and a second plurality of outlets that provide the cooling buffer air from the inner annular cavity to an area surrounding a bearing compartment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: August 27, 2015
    Inventors: Masayoshi Sonokawa, Russell B. Witlicki, Christopher J. Larson, Robert C. Stutz, Eric Charles Mundell, Marc J. Muldoon
  • Publication number: 20130069313
    Abstract: An exemplary turbomachine secondary ring seal assembly includes a base portion that extends circumferentially about an axis and a protrusion extending from the base portion toward the axis. The protrusion has a sealing surface that contacts a support to limit movement of a fluid from a first axial side of the base portion to a second opposite axial side of the base portion. The sealing surface faces the axis. The sealing surface may also face in a radial direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2011
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Inventor: Masayoshi Sonokawa
  • Patent number: 7984911
    Abstract: A face seal for a gas turbine engine comprises a seal body that has a contact face to engage a rotating surface. The contact face is defined as an area extending radially between an inner diameter of the seal body and an outer diameter of the seal body at one seal end providing a radial width. The radial width is between greater than 0.15 inch (3.81 mm).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Louis J. Dobek, Masayoshi Sonokawa, Harold K. Shaffer, Mark Story
  • Publication number: 20090230628
    Abstract: A face seal for a gas turbine engine comprises a seal body that has a contact face to engage a rotating surface. The contact face is defined as an area extending radially between an inner diameter of the seal body and an outer diameter of the seal body at one seal end providing a radial width. The radial width is between greater than 0.15 inch (3.81 mm).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2009
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Inventors: Louis J. Dobek, Masayoshi Sonokawa, Harold K. Shaffer, Mark Story
  • Patent number: 5188572
    Abstract: In an internally meshing planetary gear structure with trochoidal tooth profile, the input shaft and the eccentric body are coupled so that radial displacement is possible and that the displacement between the eccentric body shaft and the input shaft is absorbed. In addition to this, positioning members or thrust bearings are used to suppress the axial movement or the inclination of the eccentric body or the external-toothed gears.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1993
    Assignee: Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsuyoshi Yamaguchi, Masatoshi Kondoh, Shigeo Hayashi, Masayoshi Sonokawa, Shoichi Matsuzawa, Atsushi Takahashi