DIANE MENDE MCNICKLE
Nursing in Telford, PA

2011011, May 19, 2011

Jan 20, 2011

13/010305

Thurai Manik Vasagar - Hatfield PA, US
Alan D. McNickle - Telford PA, US
Glenn M. Garrison - Perkiomenville PA, US
Diane R. McNickle - Telford PA, US

STEIN SEAL COMPANY - Kulpsville PA

F16J 15/34

277306, 277400

The present invention relates to circumferential seal ring segments positioned around a rotating shaft so as to prevent fluids from leaking from a lubricant sump during both low and high pressure conditions. The circumferential seal is comprised of a plurality of adjoining annular ring segments facing the rotating shaft. Each sealing ring segment includes a dead end circumferential groove on a shaft-side face of each sealing ring such that, when the segments are joined, the circumferential dead end groove of each segment extends arcuately in the direction of shaft rotation. At least one additional groove is contained on the shaft-side face of each sealing ring segment. The additional groove(s) directs and creates pressurized air within the dead end circumferential groove, either directly or indirectly maintaining a seal between the ring segments and the shaft. A bleed hole may also be provided to create a seal between each sealing segment.

2011021, Sep 1, 2011

May 11, 2011

13/105032

Thurai Manik Vasagar - Hatfield PA, US
Alan D. McNickle - Telford PA, US
Diane R. McNickle - Telford PA, US
Glenn M. Garrison - Perkiomenville PA, US

Stein Seal Company - Kulpsville PA

F16J 15/34

277306, 277358

The present invention relates to circumferential seal ring segments positioned around a rotating shaft so as to prevent fluids from leaking from a lubricant sump during both low and high pressure conditions. The circumferential seal is comprised of a plurality of adjoining annular ring segments facing the rotating shaft. Each sealing ring segment includes a dead end circumferential groove on a shaft-side face of each sealing ring such that, when the segments are joined, the circumferential dead end groove of each segment extends arcuately in the direction of shaft rotation. At least one additional groove is contained on the shaft-side face of each sealing ring segment. Each additional groove is an axial bore groove extending perpendicularly to a longitudinal axis of the seal ring segment in fluid communication with the dead end circumferential groove so as to direct fluid flow generated from a rotating shaft into the dead end circumferential groove. The additional groove(s) directs and creates pressurized air within the dead end circumferential groove, either directly or indirectly maintaining a seal between the ring segments and the shaft. A bleed hole may also be provided to create a seal between each sealing segment.

8408554, Apr 2, 2013

May 10, 2011

13/104096

Thurai Manik Vasagar - Hatfield PA, US
Glenn M. Garrison - Perkiomenville PA, US
Diane R. McNickle - Telford PA, US

Stein Seal Company - Kulpsville PA

F16J 15/40, F16J 15/447

277301, 277416

The present invention relates to circumferential seal ring segments positioned around a rotating shaft so as to prevent fluids from leaking from a lubricant sump during both low and high pressure conditions. The circumferential seal is comprised of a plurality of adjoining annular ring segments facing the rotating shaft. Each sealing ring segment includes a dead end circumferential groove on a shaft-side face of each sealing ring such that, when the segments are joined, the circumferential dead end groove of each segment extends arcuately in the direction of shaft rotation. At least one additional groove is contained on the shaft-side face of each sealing ring segment. Each additional groove may contain a pocket. The additional groove(s) directs and creates pressurized air within the dead end circumferential groove, either directly or indirectly maintaining a seal between the ring segments and the shaft. A bleed hole may also be provided to create a seal between each sealing segment.

8408556, Apr 2, 2013

May 12, 2011

13/106130

Thurai Manik Vasagar - Hatfield PA, US
Glenn M. Garrison - Perkiomenville PA, US
Diane R. McNickle - Telford PA, US

Stein Seal Company - Kulpsville PA

F16J 15/34, F16J 15/447

277399, 277416

The present invention relates to circumferential seal ring segments positioned around a rotating shaft so as to prevent fluids from leaking from a lubricant sump during both low and high pressure conditions. The circumferential seal is comprised of a plurality of adjoining annular ring segments facing the rotating shaft. Each sealing ring segment includes a dead end circumferential groove on a shaft-side face of each sealing ring such that, when the segments are joined, the circumferential dead end groove of each segment extends arcuately in the direction of shaft rotation. Additional grooves are contained on the shaft-side face of each sealing ring segment. The additional grooves direct and create pressurized air within the dead end circumferential groove, either directly or indirectly maintaining a seal between the ring segments and the shaft. The additional grooves are comprised of a first and a second axial bore groove extending perpendicularly to a longitudinal axis of the seal ring segment in fluid communication with the dead end circumferential groove so as to direct fluid flow generated from a rotating shaft into the dead end circumferential groove wherein the first axial bore groove is spaced at one end of the seal segment and the second axial bore groove is approximately centered on the seal segment. A bleed hole may also be provided to create a seal between each sealing segment.

8616554, Dec 31, 2013

Dec 12, 2012

13/712253

Glenn M. Garrison - Perkiomenville PA, US
Alan D. McNickle - Telford PA, US
Diane R. McNickle - Telford PA, US

Stein Seal Company - Kulpsville PA

F16J 15/44, F16J 9/20

277305, 277422, 277579

The present invention relates to circumferential seal ring segments positioned around a rotating shaft so as to prevent fluids from leaking from a lubricant sump during both low and high pressure conditions. The circumferential seal is comprised of a plurality of adjoining annular ring segments facing the rotating shaft. Each sealing ring segment includes a dead end circumferential groove on a shaft-side face of each sealing ring such that, when the segments are joined, the circumferential dead end groove of each segment extends arcuately in the direction of shaft rotation. At least one additional groove is contained on the shaft-side face of each sealing ring segment. The additional groove(s) directs and creates pressurized air within the dead end circumferential groove, either directly or indirectly maintaining a seal between the ring segments and the shaft. A bleed hole may also be provided to create a seal between each sealing segment.

2008015, Jul 3, 2008

Jun 21, 2007

11/821578

Thurai Manik Vasagar - Hatfield PA, US
Alan D. McNickle - Sellersville PA, US
Glenn M. Garrison - Perkiomenville PA, US
Diane R. McNickle - Telford PA, US

F16J 15/34

277400

An assembly for sealing a liquid region from a gas region across an annular surface of a rotating shaft in turbomachinery, having a plurality of annular sealing ring segments facing the rotating shaft, at least one sealing ring segment including a dead end annular groove formed in a radially inwardly facing bearing surface at a position closer to the liquid region than to the gas region when the segment is positioned proximate the shaft surface, the groove extending arcuately in the direction of shaft rotation, at least one diagonal groove formed in the segment bearing surface and extending from an edge of the segment proximate the gas region to a position of communication with the dead end annular groove that is downstream, from a mouth of the diagonal groove at the segment edge, with respect to rotary movement of the shaft along the segment bearing surface.

2008028, Nov 20, 2008

Feb 22, 2008

12/035740

Thurai Manik VASAGAR - Hatfield PA, US
Alan D. McNickle - Sellersville PA, US
Diane R. McNickle - Telford PA, US
Glenn M. Garrison - Perkiomenville PA, US

F16J 15/34

277306, 277399, 277400

The present invention relates to circumferential seal ring segments positioned around a rotating shaft so as to prevent fluids from leaking from a lubricant sump during both low and high pressure conditions. The circumferential seal is comprised of a plurality of adjoining annular ring segments facing the rotating shaft. Each sealing ring segment includes a dead end circumferential groove on a shaft-side face of each sealing ring such that, when the segments are joined, the circumferential dead end groove of each segment extends arcuately in the direction of shaft rotation. At least one additional groove is contained on the shaft-side face of each sealing ring segment. The additional groove(s) directs and creates pressurized air within the dead end circumferential groove, either directly or indirectly maintaining a seal between the ring segments and the shaft. A bleed hole may also be provided to create a seal between each sealing segment.

2010021, Aug 26, 2010

Feb 27, 2009

12/394283

Glenn M. Garrison - Perkiomenville PA, US
Alan D. McNickle - Telford PA, US
Diane McNickle - Telford PA, US

F16J 15/16, F16J 15/34, F16J 15/44, F02F 11/00

277405, 277358

An improved air-riding seal system for turbine engines is presented. The seal system includes a movable primary seal assembly, a stationary secondary seal assembly, and at least one structure to increase the stiffness of a thin film between the primary seal and a rotating component. The primary seal assembly includes an annular seal ring and an arcuate support arm. The annular seal ring has a cross section that is substantially L-shaped and a surface with a step face and a circumferential dam. The arcuate support arm has a tooth at one end adjacent to an outermost circumferential surface along the seal runner, which could include an optional notch. The tooth and outermost circumferential surface are separated by a gap. The secondary seal ring is disposed between and contacts the primary seal assembly and housing structure so as to form a bore seal and a face seal therewith. A plurality of hydrodynamic pockets disposed along the circumferential dam and/or a plurality of radial dams disposed along the surface in an outward radial arrangement from the circumferential dam are provided to improve the stiffness of the thin film. Features of the invention allow for higher operating speeds.

2012005, Mar 8, 2012

Oct 31, 2011

13/285193

Glenn M. Garrison - Perkiomenville PA, US
Alan D. McNickle - Telford PA, US
Diane McNickle - Telford PA, US

STEIN SEAL COMPANY - Kulpsville PA

F16J 15/16

277348

An improved air-riding seal system for turbine engines is presented. The seal system includes a movable primary seal assembly, a stationary secondary seal assembly, and at least one structure to increase the stiffness of a thin film between the primary seal and a rotating component. The primary seal assembly includes an annular seal ring and an arcuate support arm. The annular seal ring has a cross section that is substantially L-shaped and a surface with a step face and a circumferential dam. The arcuate support arm has a tooth at one end adjacent to an outermost circumferential surface along the seal runner, which could include an optional notch. The tooth and outermost circumferential surface are separated by a gap. A plurality of radial dams disposed along the surface in an outward radial arrangement from the circumferential darn is provided to improve the stiffness of the thin film.