Daniel R Nelson

US Patent:

20210156473, May 27, 2021

Filed:

Jan 6, 2021

Appl. No.:

17/142351

Inventors:

- Irving TX, US
Daniel A. Nelson - Temecula CA, US

Assignee:

Flowserve Management Company - Irving TX

International Classification:

F16J 15/16
F16J 15/34
F16J 15/54

Abstract:

An end face mechanical seal for a high pressure, compressible fluid includes metal or ceramic seal faces separated by a seal gap having at least one supersonic region that accelerates the fluid in the leakage direction, producing a shockwave that reduces fluid pressure to significantly reduce viscous heating and gap length. A choke width of the seal gap formed between the converging and diverging segments of the first supersonic region is between 50 and 200 micro-inches, and upper and lower boundaries thereof are flat, with combined slopes of less than 10 degrees. A total length of all of the supersonic regions is less than 0.1 inches. A non-supersonic region can further reduce fluid pressure by inducing viscous stresses. The seal can be configured axially or radially, and can be used as a pre-conditioner in combination with a conventional downstream mechanical fluid seal.

US Patent:

20200056702, Feb 20, 2020

Filed:

Dec 22, 2017

Appl. No.:

16/487322

Inventors:

- Irving TX, US
Daniel A. Nelson - Wildomar CA, US

Assignee:

Flowserve Management Company - Irving TX

International Classification:

F16J 15/34
F16J 15/48
F16J 15/16

Abstract:

A shockwave-inducing mechanical rotating shaft seal includes a seal face gap having at least one section of converging and then diverging gap width that supersonically accelerates compressible fluid escaping through the seal gap, thereby causing a shockwave that reduces the fluid pressure and provides a high pressure fluid seal with significantly reduced viscous heating and gap width. A plurality of the converging-diverging sections can be provided, having a combined width between 0.004 and 0.008 inches. The converging-diverging sections can be configured to accelerate the fluid to a Mach number less than 4. The gap can further include a section of flat, parallel seal faces that induce viscous stresses in the fluid, thereby further reducing the fluid pressure. The seal can be configured with axially directed seal faces or radially directed seal faces, and/or used as a pre-conditioner in combination with a conventional downstream mechanical fluid seal.

US Patent:

20190383398, Dec 19, 2019

Filed:

Jun 14, 2018

Appl. No.:

16/008214

Inventors:

- Irving TX, US
Daniel Nelson - Wildomar CA, US

International Classification:

F16J 15/36
F16J 15/28
F16J 15/16
F16J 15/34

Abstract:

A secondary seal of a mechanical seal comprises an annular sealing gasket and backing plate surrounding a cylindrical sealing surface, all of which can be made of the same metallic material. The gasket is C-shaped in cross section, and is axially pressed during operation into a C-shaped groove formed in the backing plate, the groove being shallower and larger in inner diameter than the gasket, so that the gasket, when pressed into the groove, deforms radially inward and seals against both the backing plate and the sealing surface. The contact area between the gasket and sealing surface increases with pressure. In embodiments, when the pressure is released, the gasket retracts from the sealing surface, allowing easy disassembly and allowing axial movement of the gasket and backing plate. Highly polished surfaces of the gasket and sealing surface can allow axial motion thereof during operation to maintain the seal face gap.

US Patent:

20190281879, Sep 19, 2019

Filed:

Mar 8, 2019

Appl. No.:

16/501231

Inventors:

Russ Mitchell - San Diego CA, US
Brandon Evers - San Diego CA, US
Brian Dunne - Poway CA, US
Daniel Nelson - El Cajon CA, US
Mason Mclnnis - Granite Bay CA, US
David Bullock - Pueblo CO, US

International Classification:

A23N 4/14
G01N 33/02
B25J 11/00
A23N 7/02
G06T 7/55
G06T 7/73
H04N 5/247
G06T 7/90

Abstract:

A method of automatically orienting symmetric and asymmetric produce items, such as apples for example, is provided. Individual items of produce are manipulated by a programmable manipulator within the view of one or more depth imaging cameras. Digital three dimensional characterizations of the surface of the produce items are generated by the depth imaging camera or cameras and are utilized by a computer connected to the depth imaging camera or cameras to locate the stem and blossom of each produce item. Asymmetric produce items, such as apples with dropped shoulders as well as symmetric produce items can be properly oriented and processed automatically.