Patents by Inventor Ronald L. Grace

Ronald L. Grace 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: 8955850
    Abstract: An abeyance seal includes a polymer actuation ring, which defines a flexible sealing lip normally spaced from the shaft. When subjected to leakage, this element collapses against the shaft and forms an initial sealing. Secondarily, a metal sealing/anti-extrusion ring provides a second seal during leakage. The polymer ring provides the initial sealing function during leakage at low differential pressure, and once the polymer ring seals to the shaft, increased sealed pressure loads the polymer ring against the metal sealing/anti-extrusion ring causing it to deform so that the metal ring comes into contact with the shaft to form a second seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Flowserve Management Company
    Inventors: James D. Saucerman, Lionel A. Young, Ronald L. Grace, John Davis, David Zegres
  • Publication number: 20140027984
    Abstract: An abeyance seal includes a polymer actuation ring, which defines a flexible sealing lip normally spaced from the shaft. When subjected to leakage, this element collapses against the shaft and forms an initial sealing. Secondarily, a metal sealing/anti-extrusion ring provides a second seal during leakage. The polymer ring provides the initial sealing function during leakage at low differential pressure, and once the polymer ring seals to the shaft, increased sealed pressure loads the polymer ring against the metal sealing/anti-extrusion ring causing it to deform so that the metal ring comes into contact with the shaft to form a second seal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2013
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: FLOWSERVE MANAGEMENT COMPANY
    Inventors: James D. Saucerman, Lionel A. Young, Ronald L. Grace, John Davis, David Zegres
  • Patent number: 8240672
    Abstract: A mechanical seal typically includes gaskets as secondary seals therein. An improved gasket is provided which has a U cup design wherein the gasket is formed with a first spring-energized groove which opens radially and has a deflectable sealing wall which is deflectable axially, and includes a second spring-energized groove which is canted at an angle relative to the axial and radial directions wherein the groove defines a sealing leg which is deflectable at an angle relative to the axial and radial directions. A support ring supports the canted sealing leg along the major extent thereof wherein an end portion of the canted sealing leg is disposed for sealing contact with an axially-extending component surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Flowserve Management Company
    Inventors: Ronald L. Grace, Lionel A. Young
  • Publication number: 20110272892
    Abstract: A mechanical seal typically includes gaskets as secondary seals therein. An improved gasket is provided which has a U cup design wherein the gasket is formed with a first spring-energized groove which opens radially and has a deflectable sealing wall which is deflectable axially, and includes a second spring-energized groove which is canted at an angle relative to the axial and radial directions wherein the groove defines a sealing leg which is deflectable at an angle relative to the axial and radial directions. A support ring supports the canted sealing leg along the major extent thereof wherein an end portion of the canted sealing leg is disposed for sealing contact with an axially-extending component surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2010
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Inventors: Ronald L. Grace, Lionel A. Young
  • Patent number: 7021632
    Abstract: A secondary seal gasket is formed of a graphite material for higher temperature applications. The gasket is formed by multiple wraps of a graphite ribbon and then is shaped in a mold to provide a U-shaped cross-sectional configuration having a self-energizing spring disposed therein. The gasket is formed from an L-shaped ribbon wrap having additional ribbon overwraps thereon to define a gasket ring which is then molded in a die press to form the U-shape. The L-shaped ribbon wrap thereby extends axially and then radially outwardly to define an end wall of the gasket to impede migration of fluid between the axial ribbon wraps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: Flowserve Management Company
    Inventor: Ronald L. Grace
  • Patent number: 6102106
    Abstract: A heat exchanger for heat exchange between a working fluid and a coolant having an inner casing, an outer casing, and an annular space formed therebetween. A tube bundle including at least one tube formed into a helical coil is located within the annular space. End plates are removably secured and sealed to the ends of the outer casing. Bulkhead fittings are mounted in openings of the end plates to seal the tube ends which pass through the end plates. The bulkhead fittings are sized to permit the end plates to be moved off of the bulkhead fittings in a direction away from the helical coil. The tube bundle may also include a separating plate extending longitudinally between the coils of two tubes within the tube bundle creating two separate passages through which coolant may flow. External tubes may be connected at the tube ends, outside of the outer casing and the end plates, such that the working fluid flows in a parallel single-pass flow or a series double-pass flow through the annular space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2000
    Assignee: Flowserve Management Company
    Inventors: Frank E. Manning, Ronald L. Grace
  • Patent number: 6076597
    Abstract: A heat exchanger for heat exchange between a working fluid and a coolant having an inner casing, an outer casing, and an annular space formed therebetween. A tube bundle including at least one tube formed into a helical coil is located within the annular space. End plates are removably secured and sealed to the ends of the outer casing. Bulkhead fittings are mounted in openings of the end plates to seal the tube ends which pass through the end plates. The bulkhead fittings are sized to permit the end plates to be moved off of the bulkhead fittings in a direction away from the helical coil. The tube bundle may also include a separating plate extending longitudinally between the coils of two tubes within the tube bundle creating two separate passages through which coolant may flow. External tubes may be connected at the tube ends, outside of the outer casing and the end plates, such that the working fluid flows in a parallel single-pass flow or a series double-pass flow through the annular space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2000
    Assignee: Flowserve Management Company
    Inventors: Frank E. Manning, Ronald L. Grace