Patents Assigned to Utilx Corporation
  • Publication number: 20030109160
    Abstract: A cable connector, connector apparatus and method for introducing fluid to a cable. The cable connector, connector apparatus and method configured to form an electrically resistive barrier between components internal to the connector and the environment surrounding the connector after the introduction of the fluid. In one embodiment, a connector comprises a chamber adapted to affix a cable internal to the chamber, wherein the chamber is in fluidic communication with an injection port. The connector further comprises a valve operable to restrict fluid from entering the injection port from the chamber when a fluid source discontinues the introduction of fluid into the injection port. In another embodiment, a method of the present invention involves the application of an insulating material into an injection port of a connector following the application of a dielectric fluid, thereby forming an electrically resistive barrier between components internal to the connector and the external environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2003
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Applicant: UTILX Corporation
    Inventors: Glen J. Bertini, William R. Stagi
  • Patent number: 6543550
    Abstract: A guidance system for a drill tool (1) comprising a primary guidance package and a magnetic solenoid transmitter (9). The primary guidance package contains signal generator. The signal generator produces a signal indicative of the location of the drill tool 1. The magnetic solenoid transmitter both transmits the primary guidance data to a signal processor and emits an electromagnetic field. Using a locator (35), an operator can periodically determine the actual drill tool position by detecting the electromagnetic field. The actual position of the drill tool as determined by the electromagnetic field is used to correct for an integration error that is introduced into the drill tool position by the guidance technique used by the primary guidance package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Assignee: Utilx Corporation
    Inventor: Nelson Hall
  • Patent number: 6517366
    Abstract: A cable connector, connector apparatus and method for introducing fluid to a cable. The cable connector, connector apparatus and method configured to form an electrically resistive barrier between components internal to the connector and the environment surrounding the connector after the introduction of the fluid. In one embodiment, a connector comprises a chamber adapted to affix a cable internal to the chamber, wherein the chamber is in fluidic communication with an injection port. The connector further comprises a valve operable to restrict fluid from entering the injection port from the chamber when a fluid source discontinues the introduction of fluid into the injection port. In another embodiment, a method of the present invention involves the application of an insulating material into an injection port of a connector following the application of a dielectric fluid, thereby forming an electrically resistive barrier between components internal to the connector and the external environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Assignee: Utilx Corporation
    Inventors: Glen J. Bertini, William R. Stagi
  • Patent number: 6489554
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for connecting flow-through cables. Flow-through cables have a conduit or a plurality of conduits longitudinally placed inside the cable to allow fluid passage. Special terminators, joints, and methods for installing these devices are described herein. One method for connecting two flow-through cables involves: inserting a tubing material into the conduit of one flow-through cable, placing a crimp connector over the cable's conductive core and crimping the crimp connector. The tubing material is then placed into the conduit of the second flow-through cable, the cables are aligned, and then the crimp connector is fastened to the conductive core of the second flow-through cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2002
    Assignee: Utilx Corporation
    Inventors: Glen J. Bertini, Kim Jenkins, Keith Lanan
  • Publication number: 20020162674
    Abstract: A flow-through cable for transmitting information (20) is provided. The cable includes a jacket (22) having a length and an information conducting core (26) coaxially received within the jacket. A first insulation layer (24) surrounds the information conducting core and has a dielectric strength. The cable further includes a first conduit (28) disposed within the jacket. The first conduit is adapted to permit a compound to flow therethrough and is chemically permeable to permit at least a portion of the compound to diffuse through the first conduit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2002
    Publication date: November 7, 2002
    Applicant: UTILX Corporation
    Inventors: Glen J. Bertini, Kim Jenkins, Keith Lanan, Glenn S. Jessen
  • Patent number: 6474057
    Abstract: A wire rope (10) includes a plurality of strands (12). The strands are formed from individual wires or filaments (14). The strands are wound about a central axis. A conduit (16) also extends along said central axis. The conduit has walls that are foraminous and permit radial flow of a lubricant. The lubricating compound is injected into the channel (18) defined by the conduit. The lubricating material migrates through the orifices in the conduit wall and radially outwardly therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: Utilx Corporation
    Inventors: Glen J. Bertini, Glenn S. Jessen
  • Publication number: 20020102876
    Abstract: A cable connector, connector apparatus and method for introducing fluid to a cable. The cable connector, connector apparatus and method configured to form an electrically resistive barrier between components internal to the connector and the environment surrounding the connector after the introduction of the fluid. In one embodiment, a connector comprises a chamber adapted to affix a cable internal to the chamber, wherein the chamber is in fluidic communication with an injection port. The connector further comprises a valve operable to restrict fluid from entering the injection port from the chamber when a fluid source discontinues the introduction of fluid into the injection port. In another embodiment, a method of the present invention involves the application of an insulating material into an injection port of a connector following the application of a dielectric fluid, thereby forming an electrically resistive barrier between components internal to the connector and the external environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2001
    Publication date: August 1, 2002
    Applicant: UTILX Corporation
    Inventors: Glen J. Bertini, William R. Stagi
  • Publication number: 20020095929
    Abstract: A wire rope (10) includes a plurality of strands (12). The strands are formed from individual wires or filaments (14). The strands are wound about a central axis. A conduit (16) also extends along said central axis. The conduit has walls that are foraminous and permit radial flow of a lubricant. The lubricating compound is injected into the channel (18) defined by the conduit. The lubricating material migrates through the orifices in the conduit wall and radially outwardly therefrom.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2002
    Publication date: July 25, 2002
    Applicant: UTILX Corporation
    Inventors: Glen J. Bertini, Glenn S. Jessen
  • Patent number: 6418704
    Abstract: A wire rope (10) includes a plurality of strands (12). The strands are formed from individual wires or filaments (14). The strands are wound about a central axis. A conduit (16) also extends along said central axis. The conduit has walls that are foraminous and permit radial flow of a lubricant. The lubricating compound is injected into the channel (18) defined by the conduit. The lubricating material migrates through the orifices in the conduit wall and radially outwardly therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Assignee: Utilx Corporation
    Inventors: Glen J. Bertini, Glenn S. Jessen
  • Publication number: 20020050131
    Abstract: A wire rope 10 includes a plurality of strands 12. The strands are formed from individual wires or filaments 14. The strands are wound about a central axis. A conduit 16 also extends along said central axis. The conduit 16 has walls that are permeable to a lubricating compound. The lubricating compound is injected into the channel 18 defined by the conduit. The lubricating material migrates through the conduit wall and radially outwardly therefrom to provide lubrication to the individual strands and filaments comprising the wire rope.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2001
    Publication date: May 2, 2002
    Applicant: UTILX Corporation
    Inventors: Glen J. Bertini, Gerald S. Solomon, Glenn S. Jessen
  • Patent number: 6355879
    Abstract: A flow-through cable for transmitting information (20) is provided. The cable includes a jacket (22) having a length and an information conducting core (26) coaxially received within the jacket. A first insulation layer (24) surrounds the information conducting core and has a dielectric strength. The cable further includes a first conduit (28) disposed within the jacket. The first conduit is adapted to permit a compound to flow therethrough and is chemically permeable to permit at least a portion of the compound to diffuse through the first conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2002
    Assignee: Utilx Corporation
    Inventors: Glen J. Bertini, Kim Jenkins, Keith Lanan, Glenn S. Jessen
  • Patent number: 6350947
    Abstract: A flow-through cable for transmitting information (20) is provided. The cable includes a jacket (22) having a length and an information conducting core (26) coaxially received within the jacket. A first insulation layer (24) surrounds the information conducting core and has a dielectric strength. The cable further includes a first conduit (28) disposed within the jacket. The first conduit is adapted to permit a compound to flow therethrough and is chemically permeable to permit at least a portion of the compound to diffuse through the first conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2002
    Assignee: Utilx Corporation
    Inventors: Glen J. Bertini, Kim Jenkins, Keith Lanan
  • Publication number: 20020002815
    Abstract: A wire rope (10) includes a plurality of strands (12). The strands are formed from individual wires or filaments (14). The strands are wound about a central axis. A conduit (16) also extends along said central axis. The conduit has walls that are foraminous and permit radial flow of a lubricant. The lubricating compound is injected into the channel (18) defined by the conduit. The lubricating material migrates through the orifices in the conduit wall and radially outwardly therefrom.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2001
    Publication date: January 10, 2002
    Applicant: UTILX Corporation
    Inventors: Glen J. Bertini, Glenn S. Jessen
  • Patent number: 6327841
    Abstract: A wire rope 10 includes a plurality of strands 12. The strands are formed from individual wires or filaments 14. The strands are wound about a central axis. A conduit 16 also extends along said central axis. The conduit 16 has walls that are permeable to a lubricating compound. The lubricating compound is injected into the channel 18 defined by the conduit. The lubricating material migrates through the conduit wall and radially outwardly therefrom to provide lubrication to the individual strands and filaments comprising the wire rope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2001
    Assignee: Utilx Corporation
    Inventors: Glen J. Bertini, Gerald S. Solomon, Glenn S. Jessen
  • Patent number: 6162491
    Abstract: A method for enhancing the dielectric properties of an electrical cable having a central stranded conductor encased in a polymeric insulation. The cable defines an interstitial void space (v.sub.1) between the strands of the conductor. The volume (v.sub.2) of a dielectric enhancement fluid required to be absorbed by the cable to reach a predetermined level of dielectric enhancement is determined. The ratio of (v.sub.1 /v.sub.2) is computed. If the ratio of (v.sub.1 /v.sub.2) is greater than a maximum ratio of 1.4, then a quantity of the dielectric enhancement fluid is diluted with a sufficient quantity of a diluent to produce a mixture of diluent and dielectric enhancement fluid, such that when the volume (v.sub.1) of the mixture is supplied to the cable interior, the cable will have been supplied with a volume (v.sub.3) of the dielectric enhancement fluid within the mixture such that (v.sub.3 /v.sub.2) is less than 1.4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2000
    Assignee: UTILX Corporation
    Inventor: Glen J. Bertini
  • Patent number: 5907128
    Abstract: A device for repairing and electrically connecting at least two sections of electrical cable includes an elongate connector, for example a tube, having two open ends that are each adapted to receive an end of an electrical cable section. The cable connector has an interior wall longitudinally dividing the cable connector into two portions, each portion having a hollow interior for containing the end of one of the two electrical cable sections. The cable connector also has an orifice in each of the two portions communicating with the hollow interior of that portion. A closure device, such as a threaded plug, is mateable with each orifice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1999
    Assignee: Utilx Corporation
    Inventors: Keith Lanan, Albert W. Chau, William R. Stagi
  • Patent number: 5585726
    Abstract: A guidance system for a drill tool (60) comprising a primary navigation package (80) and a secondary navigation package (74). The primary navigation package contains a triaxial magnetometer and a triaxial accelerometer. The set of signals produced by the triaxial magnetometer and triaxial accelerometer are manipulated to determine the orientation of the drill tool and, by integration over the distance the drill tool has traveled, the approximate position of the drill tool during a directional drilling operation. The secondary navigation package contains a magnetic dipole antenna for emitting an electromagnetic dipole field. Using a locator (100), an operator can periodically determine the actual drill tool position by detecting the electromagnetic dipole field. The actual position of the drill tool as determined by the secondary navigation package is used to correct for an integration error that is introduced into the drill tool position by the navigation technique used by the primary navigation package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1996
    Assignee: UTILX Corporation
    Inventor: Albert W. Chau