Patents by Inventor Thomas H. Stietz

Thomas H. Stietz 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).

  • Hydrodynamic bearing with adaptive displacement control
    Patent number: 8684606
    Abstract: A hydrodynamic bearing includes a housing defining a central axis, a pad slidable relative to the housing in a direction substantially parallel to the central axis, a cylinder defined in one of the housing and the pad, a lubricant port in fluid communication with the cylinder, and a piston at least partially positioned in the cylinder. The piston is movable within the cylinder between a retracted position and an extended position in response to a flow of lubricant through the lubricant port to vary an axial spacing between the pad and the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Orion Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas R. Byrne, Thomas H. Stietz
  • HYDRODYNAMIC BEARING WITH ADAPTIVE DISPLACEMENT CONTROL
    Publication number: 20120063711
    Abstract: A hydrodynamic bearing includes a housing defining a central axis, a pad slidable relative to the housing in a direction substantially parallel to the central axis, a cylinder defined in one of the housing and the pad, a lubricant port in fluid communication with the cylinder, and a piston at least partially positioned in the cylinder. The piston is movable within the cylinder between a retracted position and an extended position in response to a flow of lubricant through the lubricant port to vary an axial spacing between the pad and the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2010
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: ORION CORPORATION
    Inventors: Thomas R. Byrne, Thomas H. Stietz