Patents Examined by Benjamin Fiorello
  • Patent number: 9939112
    Abstract: Apparatus for use with fluid-processing plant configured to generate and store pressurized fluid. Fluid-processing plant is spaced apart from body of water. Apparatus includes variable-buoyancy assembly positioned in body of water in such way that buoyancy force urges variable-buoyancy assembly to move toward surface of body of water. Apparatus also includes non-collapsible fluid-line assembly positionally anchored, at least in part, underground in such way that non-collapsible fluid-line assembly extends, at least in part, into body of water. Non-collapsible fluid-line assembly fluidly connects fluid-processing plant and variable-buoyancy assembly together in such way that non-collapsible fluid-line assembly conveys pressurized fluid between fluid-processing plant and variable-buoyancy assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: Hydrostar Inc.
    Inventors: Cameron Lewis, Curtis VanWalleghem, Kyle Ryan
  • Patent number: 9938679
    Abstract: A method of installing a dock includes providing first and second dock sections, each having a bottom transport member, and a dock support that supports the dock section when installed. The first dock section is installed adjacent to a shoreline. The dock lifting device of a dock cart is attached to the second dock section and the lifting device of the dock cart lifts the first end of the second dock section such that the second dock section is supported by the bottom transport member and the cart transport member. The cart moves the second dock section along the first dock section until the first end of the second dock section is adjacent to the second end of the first dock section. The lifting device then lowers the first end of the second dock section to be level with the second end of the first dock section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Inventor: Real Garant
  • Patent number: 9926682
    Abstract: To make it possible to raise a door body even if it is damaged by an impact of vehicle traffic or falling objects when it is in a lowered state, and to keep the door body in a raised state even if it is damaged by a water pressure of a tsunami or a high tide when it is in a raised state. A door body 2 of a floating flap gate 1 is disposed at an opening or at an access way. When water flows in, a forward end 2b of which swings upwards, in a direction in which the water flows in and within a plane in a height direction, around a base end 2a thereof which serves as a center of rotation, to block the opening or the access way. The door body 2 is formed from a hard polyurethane foam 4 in the form of a sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: HITACHI ZOSEN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroaki Arai, Hideyuki Niizato, Koji Kitamura, Jun Okada, Satoshi Ashida, Kyouichi Nakayasu, Yoshito Yamakawa
  • Patent number: 9885238
    Abstract: The water-insoluble filler in the form of bubbles is provided into the underground cavern. Then, the filler thus provided is allowed to adhere to a bottom surface and a lower wall surface of the underground cavern to permeate thereinto. Subsequently, the filler having permeated is cured. Here, the water-insoluble filler in the form of bubbles may be provided again into the underground cavern. Moreover, water is poured into the underground cavern to float up the filler. The filler having floated up is allowed to adhere to an upper wall surface and a ceiling surface of the underground cavern to permeate thereinto. Thereafter, the filler having permeated is cured. Here, when the filler is allowed to permeate an inner surface of the underground cavern, a pressure inside the underground cavern may be increased. Additionally, when the filler is cured, a temperature inside the underground cavern may be increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Inventor: Norikata Takuma
  • Patent number: 9856995
    Abstract: A tubular installation system includes a J-lay tower structure for lowering and raising a tubular or an accessory along a firing line; a tubulars supply system; an accessory supply system; and a loader system configured for transporting a tubular and an accessory between the horizontal tubular supply position and the firing line, wherein the loader system comprises: a loader device with a base and a boom which is pivotable with respect to the base between a lowered position for gripping a tubular and an accessory in the horizontal accessory supply position, and a raised position for delivering then to the firing line; a line-up tool, wherein the line-up tool is configured to exchange a tubular and an accessory with the loader device and transport a tubular between the loader device and the firing line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: ITREC B.V.
    Inventors: Joop Roodenburg, Ronny Lambertus Waltherus Nouwens, Terence Willem August Vehmeijer
  • Patent number: 9851041
    Abstract: Tubing everting apparatus, assemblies, and methods are disclosed herein. The tubing everting apparatus include a pressure chamber that defines an internal volume, a liner inlet port that is configured to receive a flexible tube liner into the internal volume, an inlet sealing structure that is configured to resist fluid flow therepast from the pressure chamber, and a liner outlet port that is configured to permit the flexible tube liner to extend from the internal volume. In some embodiments, the apparatus include a lubricator that is configured to apply a lubricant to the flexible tube liner. In some embodiments, the apparatus include a non-deflation valve that is configured to selectively transition between open and closed states. The assemblies include the apparatus and a cart that includes a lubricant reservoir. The methods include methods of operating the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Emagineered Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen T. Waring, Rossen Robert Huckfeldt
  • Patent number: 9850930
    Abstract: A shaft adapter configured to be removably-coupled to shafts of differing diameters. The shaft adapter may have a stepped cylinder cavity with multiple inner diameters. The shaft adapter may further have a spring-loaded adapter ring configured to translate along an inner wall of the stepped cylinder cavity, and may be configured to support an outer wall of a first shaft received into the shaft adapter, or may be configured to be urged into a compressed position when the shaft adapter receives a second shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Paratech, Incorporated
    Inventor: William O. Teach
  • Patent number: 9850633
    Abstract: A tsunami-wave structure is provided for installation in the bottom of the sea/ocean in the near-shore area which is exposed to the air at the time of a low tide that precedes the arrival of tsunami. Normally, the structure is immersed in water and when exposed to air before arrival of the tsunami wave assumes a tsunami-wave dampening position under the effect of its own gravity. This is achieved by making the structure in the form of a two-lever mechanism having two lever arms separated by a fulcrum point with a counterweight attached to the end of one the lever arms and a tsunami-wave breaker pivotally connected to the end of the other lever arm so that when the structure is exposed to the air the tsunami-wave breaker is turned down and allows the counterweight to outweigh the tsunami-wave breaker and to raise it to the operation position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Inventor: Sergey Sharapov
  • Patent number: 9845910
    Abstract: A pressure compensator for providing pressure compensation for a chamber of a subsea device is provided. The pressure compensator has an enclosure with at least an outer wall. A first compensation chamber is provided inside the enclosure. A flow connection from the first compensation chamber towards the chamber of the subsea device is further provided. As second compensation chamber is provided inside the enclosure. First and second separating walls are arranged inside the enclosure. A first bellows portion of the first separating wall and a second bellows portion of the second separating wall are deformable to provide pressure compensation between the chamber of the subsea device and a second inner volume around which the second separating wall extends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventor: Gregor Knoener
  • Patent number: 9840913
    Abstract: Techniques and mechanisms to form a reinforcement structure including dirt processed during drilling of a tunnel. In an embodiment, a device includes a drill head to drill an underground tunnel, where a housing of the device takes in dirt produced by such drilling. A mixer and other components of the device variously condition the dirt to produce a casing material that is subsequently provided to a compactor of the device. The compactor extrudes the casing material through a die. The extruded casing material is eliminated from the device to form a reinforcement structure at one or more sides of the tunnel. In another embodiment, a fiber optic cable is paid out from the device into the tunnel during the drilling, or is pulled into the tunnel by the device during the drilling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: X Development LLC
    Inventors: Gabriella Levine, Richard W. DeVaul, Eric H. C. Liu
  • Patent number: 9840822
    Abstract: An apparatus and system for drawing water from a water source into a flowing water body comprises a tubular member defined by a sidewall extending between an inlet and an outlet and a central passage therethrough and a drainage pipe having an internal passage therethrough. The drainage pipe passes through the sidewall of the tubular member and has an outlet located within the central passage. The drainage outlet is oriented in a direction towards the outlet of the tubular member and has an unobstructed continuous profile extending there through. The apparatus further comprises a frame adapted to support the tubular member within a body of flowing water at a height above a bottom of the body of flowing water below a top surface of the flowing water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Inventor: Kevin Jason Foster
  • Patent number: 9835270
    Abstract: A pipeline termination arrangement to be mounted to a pipeline end section to support a pipeline hub of the pipeline end section during and after a subsea connection of the pipeline hub to a spool piece hub fixed to a spool piece termination structure is provided. The pipeline termination arrangement includes a landing structure for supporting the spool piece termination structure; a connection porch fixed to the landing structure; and a support structure which is fixed to the pipeline end section and provided with a guide frame. The guide frame slidably supports the landing structure so as to allow the landing structure and the connection porch to slide along the guide frame from a first position, in which the connection porch is located in front of and at a distance from the pipeline hub, to a second position, in which the connection porch is in contact with the pipeline hub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Vetco Gray Scandinavia AS
    Inventors: Rolf Bastesen, Staale Svindland
  • Patent number: 9834907
    Abstract: A system and method for laying an underwater pipeline is provided. The present invention includes a plurality of pipe support rings connected together by tension cables. The tension cables are secured to a S or J laying ship by a winch. The plurality of pipe support rings form a pipe channel sized to guide the underwater pipeline. The present invention further includes a sea water pipe having a distal portion and a proximal end. The proximal end is fluidly connected with a pump on board the ship. The distal end includes a plurality of nozzles. The sea water pipe is disposed underneath the plurality of pipe support rings. The underwater pipeline is fed through the plurality of pipe support rings while the nozzles form a trench on a sea bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Inventor: Thomas S. Rooney
  • Patent number: 9835030
    Abstract: Rock bolt (1) comprising at least an elongated body (4), one end of which comprises at least a first external conical portion (16) extending through at least one hole (12) in at least a cylindrical expandable body (5), the hole (12) over a section of the bore hole in the axial direction comprises an internally conical part (15) intended to cooperate with the elongate member outer conical portion (16). Upon relative movement of the elongate body (4) and the expandable body (5) in one direction expands the expandable body in the radial direction. The relative axial movement between the elongated body (4) and the expandable body (5) is provided by at least one tensioning device (7). The rock bolt comprises at least one wedge device (2), which in use of the rock bolt, is connected to the expandable body (5) hole (12) and at least partially inserted between a first portion (17) and at least a second part (18). The rock bolt further comprises at least one connecting means (21).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Inventor: Ola Våhlström
  • Patent number: 9833819
    Abstract: A system for the storage of a radioactive waste product, wherein the radioactive waste product is located in a container and where one or more containers are stored in a bore hole drilled beneath a surface and having a bottom, wherein following placement of the one or more containers in the bore hole closer to the bottom, a fluid is added to the bore hole to a height above the upper most container, and wherein an upper cover is located above the upper most container and above the fluid to seal in the one or more containers and a non-permeable material is placed above the upper cover, a container storage area being formed within the bore hole beneath the upper cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Safe Nuclear Solutions, LLC
    Inventor: John Burget
  • Patent number: 9828077
    Abstract: An underwater base for handling plural underwater vehicles equipped with seismic sensors for recording seismic signals during a marine seismic survey. The underwater base including a storing part configured to store the plural underwater vehicles; an inlet part located above the storing part and configured to control access of the plural underwater vehicles to the storing part; a control part configured to acoustically guide the plural underwater vehicles to the inlet part; and a support part configured to support the control part, the storing part and the inlet part. The storing part is further configured to receive the plural underwater vehicles as the plural underwater vehicles fall from the inlet part into the storing part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: CGG SERVICES SAS
    Inventors: Antoine Lelaurin, Thierry Brizard
  • Patent number: 9829596
    Abstract: Embodiments of systems and methods for storing and handling a plurality of autonomous seismic nodes are presented. The node handling and storage system may be coupled to a node deployment system that deploys and/or retrieves nodes from water from the back deck of a marine vessel. One embodiment of the node handling and storage system includes a plurality of portable containers that may be assembled in a variety of configurations based on the vessel and survey requirements. The containers are coupled to an autonomous or semi-autonomous node conveyor and/or transport system that moves the nodes between and within the containers for node cleaning, downloading, charging, servicing, and storage. The conveyor system may include a plurality of different transport devices and/or systems, such as rotatable conveyors, lateral conveyors, lift mechanisms, and elevators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Seabed Geosolutions B.V.
    Inventors: Richard Edward Henman, Arne Henning Rokkan, Johan Fredrik Naes, Mariann Ervik, Leif Johan Larsen, Arve Jaatun, Ole-Fredrik Semb
  • Patent number: 9822906
    Abstract: A method is provided for installing a pipeline on the seabed from a marine pipelaying vessel, including initiation, pipelaying, and abandonment of the pipeline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: ITREC B.V.
    Inventors: Joop Roodenburg, Terence Willem August Vehmeijer
  • Patent number: 9822506
    Abstract: Described herein is a construction system for a subway station, wherein the construction of guide walls is accomplished using a guide wall steel formwork system, the construction of support beams is accomplished using a support beam steel formwork system, the construction of sidewalls is accomplished using a sidewall trolley, and the construction of floor slabs is accomplished using a floor slab trolley.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignees: Guangzhou Jishi Construction Group Co., Ltd., Guangzhou Xinqiao Construction Service Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Changyin Ding, Bingquan He, Dehui Ke, Muzhen Chen, Jin Mo, Pingyu Huang, Mingxi Jiang, Weicai Tang, Wenxian Li, Yuqi Li, Xiongwu Lei, Jiantao Qiu, Jianxin Qin, Wenlong Li, Shiliang Qiu, Dengjia He
  • Patent number: 9820164
    Abstract: A subterranean system including a tunnel network, a plurality of syntactic foam panels, and a wireless communications network is disclosed. The wireless communications network comprises a plurality of wireless transceivers positioned throughout the tunnel network. The wireless communication range defined by communicatively coupled transceivers is a function of signal strength attenuation in a wireless signal traveling between the communicatively coupled transceivers. The tunnel network comprises tunnel support structure that contributes to the signal strength attenuation and a plurality of support apertures formed in the tunnel support structure. The syntactic foam panels are secured to the tunnel support structure to cover at least some of the support apertures and the composition and configuration of the syntactic foam panels are such that the panels do not make a significant contribution to the signal strength attenuation between communicatively coupled transceivers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: CORNERSTONE RESEARCH GROUP, INC.
    Inventors: Bradley M. Doudican, Patrick J. Hood