Patents by Inventor Michael D. Downes

Michael D. Downes 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: 20230107265
    Abstract: A seal including: an annular jacket including a body including a first lip and a second lip defining an annular recess; a circumferential spring disposed within the annular recess adjacent to one of the first lip and the second lip; and a floating circumferential insert, where a radial biasing force on the first lip is decoupled from a radial biasing force on the second lip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2022
    Publication date: April 6, 2023
    Inventors: Michael D. DOWNES, Colby STARK
  • Publication number: 20220025973
    Abstract: Systems and methods include providing a seal for an assembly. The seal includes a jacket having a base, an inner sealing leg, and an outer sealing leg, and further includes a spring disposed within the jacket between and in contact with the inner sealing leg and the outer sealing leg. The spring includes an annular support ring disposed within the spring. The support ring biases an outer diameter (OD) of the spring towards the outer sealing leg of the jacket to maintain contact pressure between the inner sealing leg of the jacket and the shaft of the assembly. The support ring controls thermal shrinkage of the spring and the outer sealing leg to maintain a seal between a housing and a shaft of the assembly when the assembly is operated at cryogenic temperatures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2021
    Publication date: January 27, 2022
    Inventors: Herman M. DUBOIS, Michael D. DOWNES, Colby STARK
  • Publication number: 20110163507
    Abstract: A shaft seal assembly for use with a reciprocating or rotating shaft includes a shaft seal, a lubricant-storing ring, and a retainer. The retainer and ring can be formed as a subassembly and then combined with a shaft seal. The seal includes an annular body portion, a first sealing lip portion, and a first pocket portion. The first sealing lip portion has a substantially uniform axial dimension and is adapted to sealingly engage a shaft. The first pocket portion includes a plurality of pockets, each having an opening toward the first sealing lip portion. The plurality of pockets are each adapted to collect a working fluid when the shaft axially displaces in a first direction and to dispense the working fluid when the shaft axially displaces in a second direction. The assembly provides a lubricated shaft and seal that improves the effective life of the shaft seal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2011
    Publication date: July 7, 2011
    Applicant: FREUDENBERG-NOK GENERAL PARTNERSHIP
    Inventors: Michael D. Downes, Robert P. LaPlante
  • Patent number: 7931125
    Abstract: A shaft seal assembly for use with a reciprocating or rotating shaft includes a shaft seal, a lubricant-storing ring, and a retainer. The retainer and ring can be formed as a subassembly and then combined with a shaft seal. The seal includes an annular body portion, a first sealing lip portion, and a first pocket portion. The first sealing lip portion has a substantially uniform axial dimension and is adapted to sealingly engage a shaft. The first pocket portion includes a plurality of pockets, each having an opening toward the first sealing lip portion. The plurality of pockets are each adapted to collect a working fluid when the shaft axially displaces in a first direction and to dispense the working fluid when the shaft axially displaces in a second direction. The assembly provides a lubricated shaft and seal that improves the effective life of the shaft seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Freudenberg-NOK General Partnership
    Inventors: Michael D. Downes, Robert P. LaPlante
  • Publication number: 20090108538
    Abstract: A rotary seal is provided. The rotary seal includes an annular seal element having a sealing surface. The seal element further includes a surface opposite of the sealing surface including a first coupling portion. The rotary seal also includes an annular energizer including a second coupling portion complementary to the first coupling portion. The first and second coupling portions engage so as to inhibit relative rotation between the seal element and the energizer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2007
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Applicant: Freudenberg-NOK General Partnership
    Inventors: Michael D. Downes, Jason Brooks Fairbanks
  • Patent number: 6997285
    Abstract: A shaft seal assembly for use with a reciprocating or rotating shaft includes a shaft seal, a lubricant-storing ring, and a retainer. The retainer and ring can be formed as a subassembly and then combined with a shaft seal. The assembly provides a lubricated shaft and seal that improves the effective life of the shaft seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: Freudenberg-NOK General Partnership
    Inventors: Michael D. Downes, Robert P. LaPlante
  • Publication number: 20030019692
    Abstract: A shaft seal assembly for use with a reciprocating or rotating shaft includes a shaft seal, a lubricant-storing ring, and a retainer. The retainer and ring can be formed as a subassembly and then combined with a shaft seal. The assembly provides a lubricated shaft and seal that improves the effective life of the shaft seal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2002
    Publication date: January 30, 2003
    Inventors: Michael D. Downes, Robert P. LaPlante