Kaman has been granted a patent for seal assemblies, gaskets, and bearing assemblies that can be used as pre-packaged seal systems and pre-packaged seal and bearing systems. The patent describes different configurations and components that can be used to increase the number of sealing points. The seal system includes a housing cylinder, a seal assembly, a washer, and a shaft, with specific dimensions and engagement mechanisms outlined in the claim. GlobalData’s report on Kaman gives a 360-degree view of the company including its patenting strategy. Buy the report here.
Smarter leaders trust GlobalData
According to GlobalData’s company profile on Kaman, wing-lift enhancement mountings was a key innovation area identified from patents. Kaman's grant share as of September 2023 was 74%. Grant share is based on the ratio of number of grants to total number of patents.
The patent is granted for a seal system
A recently granted patent (Publication Number: US11746906B1) describes a seal system for use in a housing cylinder. The system includes a housing cylinder with a bore, a seal assembly located within the bore, and a washer in contact with the seal assembly and a retaining wall. The seal assembly consists of a seal element, a locking ring, and an energizer. The seal element has a spring cavity formed by an inside flange, an outside flange, and a center channel section with the energizer located inside. The locking ring is pressed against the bore and mechanically engaged to the outside flange of the seal element. The washer has an opening through which a shaft projects, and the opening and the inside diameter of the seal element are smaller than the outside diameter of the shaft, creating an interference fit.
The patent also describes additional features of the seal system. The washer contacts the retaining wall along its surface, including a curved portion at the opening. It also contacts the center channel section of the seal element near the outermost end of the section. The washer is spaced from the center section at a point near an excluder located on the center channel section, which has a smaller inside diameter than the shaft. The outside flange of the seal element is pressed against the bore of the housing cylinder. The system may also include an excluder at the end of the center channel section with a smaller inside diameter than the shaft, and grease may be disposed in the spring cavity.
In another embodiment, the seal system includes a retaining disc pressed against the bore of the housing cylinder and in contact with the washer to retain the seal assembly within the bore. The retaining disc may be a flange section of a locking ring, with the flange section mechanically engaged to the outside flange of the seal element. The system may also include service grease in the spring cavity. The seal element and the locking ring are mechanically engaged at the outside flange. The washer has a memory lip with a curved portion at the opening, pointing away from the retaining wall. The energizer is a canted coil spring that biases the inside flange away from the outside flange.
Overall, this patent describes a seal system with various components and features designed to provide effective sealing in a housing cylinder. The system's design allows for an interference fit between the shaft and the seal element, ensuring a secure seal. The inclusion of a washer and various contact points helps to further enhance the sealing capabilities of the system.
To know more about GlobalData’s detailed insights on Kaman, buy the report here.
Data Insights
From
The gold standard of business intelligence.
Blending expert knowledge with cutting-edge technology, GlobalData’s unrivalled proprietary data will enable you to decode what’s happening in your market. You can make better informed decisions and gain a future-proof advantage over your competitors.
GlobalData, the leading provider of industry intelligence, provided the underlying data, research, and analysis used to produce this article.
GlobalData Patent Analytics tracks bibliographic data, legal events data, point in time patent ownerships, and backward and forward citations from global patenting offices. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies across the world’s largest industries.
