Patrick S Fitzgerald

US Patent:

8505923, Aug 13, 2013

Filed:

Mar 25, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/731421

Inventors:

Roger Ferryman - Moseley VA, US
Patrick Fitzgerald - Richmond VA, US

Assignee:

Sealeze, A Unit Of Jason, Inc. - Richmond VA

International Classification:

F01D 11/02

US Classification:

277355

Abstract:

A brush seal usable in high temperature sealing applications having brush bristles and a sealing membrane of stress and deflection accommodating construction capable of longitudinal extensibility. Sealing membrane has one portion slidably overlapped with another portion. In one embodiment, membrane is folded over itself providing slidable overlapping in one direction and is formed of overlapping membrane sheets providing slidable overlapping in another direction. In another embodiment, membrane has spaced apart deformation regions providing longitudinal extensibility in accommodating stress and/or deflection. Membrane can be made of metallic foil having a thickness no greater than brush bristle width or diameter and is embeddable in bristles of the brush seal.

US Patent:

20130167685, Jul 4, 2013

Filed:

Jun 7, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/823865

Inventors:

Roger Ferryman - Moseley VA, US
Patrick Fitzgerald - Richmond VA, US
David Chrisman - Sandston VA, US
Pavan Kumar Ravulaparthy - Glen Allen VA, US

International Classification:

F16J 15/16

US Classification:

74608

Abstract:

A brush seal cover assembly that includes a brush cover having a shroud that substantially encloses a brush mounted in a holder without removing the holder from the equipment to which it is mounted. The assembly includes a pair of brush cover halves integrally formed to provide an outer bristle guard capable of supporting the weight of a person and a pair of brush shields on opposite sides of the brush that prevent direct impingement of pressurized gas or liquid enabling maintenance and cleaning of the equipment to be performed while leaving the brush mounted in place without damaging the brush. The cover includes a pair of mounting plates configured for mounting of the cover by clamping or by compression between fasteners without having to remove the brush holder from the equipment or the brush from the holder.

US Patent:

20130175761, Jul 11, 2013

Filed:

Jun 6, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/823859

Inventors:

Roger Ferryman - Moseley VA, US
Patrick Fitzgerald - Richmond VA, US
David Chrisman - Sandston VA, US
Pavan Kumar Ravulaparthy - Glen Allen VA, US

Assignee:

Sealeze, A Unit Of Jason Incorporated - Richmond VA

International Classification:

F16J 15/16

US Classification:

277355

Abstract:

A quick change brush holder of a brush seal having a plurality of spaced apart deflectable brush retaining arrangements that include a tab that is bent into a brush receiving channel toward a brush engaging or retaining position to releasably retain a brush in the channel and that is bent away from the brush engaging or retaining position when it is desired to remove the brush or install a brush in the holder. Each tab has a brush abutment edge that abuts or stops a shoulder of a tape or spine of a brush in the channel preventing removal from the holder when disposed in a brush engaging or retaining position. The brush abutting edge extends generally parallel to the channel enabling a brush to be inserted transversely relative to a lengthwise extent of the holder tape or spine first into the holder.

US Patent:

20130277918, Oct 24, 2013

Filed:

Dec 13, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/993816

Inventors:

Patrick Fitzgerald - Richmond VA, US
David D. Stein - Brookfield WI, US

Assignee:

Sealeze, A Unit Of Jason Incorporated - Richmond VA

International Classification:

F16J 15/32

US Classification:

277355

Abstract:

A shaft seal assembly externally mounted to a high temperature device, such as a gas or steam turbine, having a plurality of rotary shaft sealing brush seals that includes at least one brush seal of wear-compensating construction that possesses a suitably high linear coefficient of expansion so it viscoelestically creeps over time compensating for brush seal wear. In one embodiment, a brush seal closest to the device is formed of an electrically conductive material that electrically grounds a rotary shaft of the device during shaft rotation and at least one other brush seal is formed of filaments of polymeric material, such as heat stabilized nylon, of wear compensating construction. In one preferred embodiment, the filaments of the inner brush seal are made of a self-lubricating metallic or bearing material and at least one other brush seal is formed of an intumescing material that can be of polymeric composition.