Patents Assigned to Utilx Corporation
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Publication number: 20030109160Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: January 13, 2003Publication date: June 12, 2003Applicant: UTILX CorporationInventors: Glen J. Bertini, William R. Stagi
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Patent number: 6543550Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 21, 2000Date of Patent: April 8, 2003Assignee: Utilx CorporationInventor: Nelson Hall
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Patent number: 6517366Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 6, 2001Date of Patent: February 11, 2003Assignee: Utilx CorporationInventors: Glen J. Bertini, William R. Stagi
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Patent number: 6489554Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 11, 2000Date of Patent: December 3, 2002Assignee: Utilx CorporationInventors: Glen J. Bertini, Kim Jenkins, Keith Lanan
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Publication number: 20020162674Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 12, 2002Publication date: November 7, 2002Applicant: UTILX CorporationInventors: Glen J. Bertini, Kim Jenkins, Keith Lanan, Glenn S. Jessen
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Patent number: 6474057Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 28, 2002Date of Patent: November 5, 2002Assignee: Utilx CorporationInventors: Glen J. Bertini, Glenn S. Jessen
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Publication number: 20020102876Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 6, 2001Publication date: August 1, 2002Applicant: UTILX CorporationInventors: Glen J. Bertini, William R. Stagi
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Publication number: 20020095929Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 28, 2002Publication date: July 25, 2002Applicant: UTILX CorporationInventors: Glen J. Bertini, Glenn S. Jessen
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Patent number: 6418704Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 29, 2001Date of Patent: July 16, 2002Assignee: Utilx CorporationInventors: Glen J. Bertini, Glenn S. Jessen
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Publication number: 20020050131Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 11, 2001Publication date: May 2, 2002Applicant: UTILX CorporationInventors: Glen J. Bertini, Gerald S. Solomon, Glenn S. Jessen
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Patent number: 6355879Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 13, 2000Date of Patent: March 12, 2002Assignee: Utilx CorporationInventors: Glen J. Bertini, Kim Jenkins, Keith Lanan, Glenn S. Jessen
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Patent number: 6350947Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 7, 1999Date of Patent: February 26, 2002Assignee: Utilx CorporationInventors: Glen J. Bertini, Kim Jenkins, Keith Lanan
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Publication number: 20020002815Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 29, 2001Publication date: January 10, 2002Applicant: UTILX CorporationInventors: Glen J. Bertini, Glenn S. Jessen
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Patent number: 6327841Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 16, 1999Date of Patent: December 11, 2001Assignee: Utilx CorporationInventors: Glen J. Bertini, Gerald S. Solomon, Glenn S. Jessen
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Patent number: 6162491Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 21, 1999Date of Patent: December 19, 2000Assignee: UTILX CorporationInventor: Glen J. Bertini
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Patent number: 5907128Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 13, 1997Date of Patent: May 25, 1999Assignee: Utilx CorporationInventors: Keith Lanan, Albert W. Chau, William R. Stagi
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Patent number: 5585726Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 26, 1995Date of Patent: December 17, 1996Assignee: UTILX CorporationInventor: Albert W. Chau