Patents Examined by John Kreck
  • High impact resistant degradation element
    Patent number: 9316061
    Abstract: In one aspect of the invention, a degradation element includes a substrate bonded to a sintered polycrystalline ceramic. The sintered polycrystalline ceramic has a tapering shape and a rounded apex. The rounded apex has a curvature with a 0.050 to 0.150 inch radius when viewed from a direction normal to a central axis of the degradation element that intersects the curvature. The rounded apex includes the characteristic of when the rounded apex is loaded against a rock formation, the rounded apex fails the rock formation forming a crushed barrier ahead of the rounded apex that shields the rounded apex from a virgin portion of the rock formation while still allowing the rounded apex to penetrate below a surface of the rock formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Inventors: David R. Hall, Marcus Skeem, Francis Leany
  • Saw and drill machine for paved slabs
    Patent number: 9315955
    Abstract: A machine for making cuts through and boring holes into a paved slab includes a pair of saw guide tracks with circular saws mounted thereon for linear movement in parallel spaced relationship. The tracks and saws are mounted on a laterally expandable support frame which is rotatably suspended from a main frame for adjusting the spacing between cuts. The saw guide tracks are suspended from the laterally expandable saw and track support frame by vertically telescoping legs operable to raise and lower the guide tracks and saws supported thereon relative to the paved slab. Drills are mounted on a drill support assembly that telescopes laterally and vertically and which is rotatable about a vertical axis to permit adjustment to the positioning of the drills for boring holes in the slab.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Inventor: Ronald A. Knapp
  • Method for initiating circulation for steam assisted gravity drainage
    Patent number: 9303500
    Abstract: A method for initiating steam assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) mobilization and recovery of hydrocarbons in a hydrocarbon-bearing formation includes initially forming a circulation path by connecting SAGD injection well and a circulation well. The circulation well can be a SAGD production well or a separate well completed adjacent a toe of the injection well. Initially, a thermal carrier such as steam or flue gases, is circulated, forming a thermal chamber about the injection well. One initial start-up is complete, the circulation path is decoupled for further propagating the thermal chamber and establishing steady-state SAGD operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: R.I.I. NORTH AMERICA INC
    Inventors: Fred Schneider, Greg Kuran, Lynn P. Tessier
  • Method for transporting an offshore wind turbine in a floating manner
    Patent number: 9297355
    Abstract: A method for transporting an offshore turbine, by which a frame construction is first mounted on the deck of a transportation and installation ship; a pre-made wind turbine foundation is then connected to the frame construction from beneath and temporarily fixed thereon by a steel wire tightened by a hoisting device provided on the ship; on the top of the pre-made turbine foundation a transition segment is connected; and finally, on the top of the transition segment, a wind turbine tower, a wind turbine head and blades are assembled in turn to form a finished wind turbine machine, which is now ready to be transported to an installation site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: TIANJIN UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Jijian Lian, Hongyan Ding, Puyang Zhang, Aidong Li
  • Tunnel excavation device
    Patent number: 9291054
    Abstract: The invention relates to a tunnel excavation device, which includes an excavation head, a main body on which the excavation head is rotatably mounted, a motor provided in the main body and rotates the excavation head, and a controller for controlling the motor, wherein the excavation head includes a perforating means formed by maintaining a predetermined interval from the center of a body part, which has a front surface formed in the shape of a circular plate, to the outer surface of the body part, an injection means for injecting water and liquid nitrogen into the hole formed by the perforating means, and a plurality of cutters provided on the surface of the main body for crushing the bedrock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: KOREA RAILROAD RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventor: Dong Hyeon Kim
  • Personal safety system
    Patent number: 9284840
    Abstract: A personal safety system in the form of a refuge chamber with at least one main room and a carbon dioxide absorber (10) provided for absorbing carbon dioxide out of the ambient air of the main room. The carbon dioxide absorber (10) has a body (14) and a basket (12) that can be inserted into the body (14) for receiving loose soda lime. With this, any static charges of previously used soda lime cartridges are avoided and dangers arising therefrom, in potentially explosive areas, are ruled out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Dräger Safety AG & Co. KGaA
    Inventor: Matthias Lühr
  • Ejector unit for a road milling machine or the like
    Patent number: 9284698
    Abstract: The invention relates to an ejector unit, in particular for a road milling machine, having an ejector that is replaceably mounted on a carrier. In one aspect the ejector is curved in a scoop-like fashion. In another aspect the ejector is reversible upon the carrier to allow the ejector to be reversed after one wear surface is worn, thus presenting a new second wear surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Wirtgen GmbH
    Inventors: Karsten Buhr, Stefan Abresch, Thomas Lehnert, Günter Hähn, Cyrus Barimani
  • Hydrogen storage method and system
    Patent number: 9278807
    Abstract: A method and system for storing and supplying hydrogen to a hydrogen pipeline in which a compressed hydrogen feed stream is introduced into a salt cavern for storage and a stored hydrogen stream is retrieved from the salt cavern and reintroduced into the hydrogen pipeline. A minimum quantity of stored hydrogen is maintained in the salt cavern to produce a stagnant layer having a carbon dioxide content along the cavern wall and the top of a residual brine layer located within the salt cavern. The compressed hydrogen feed stream is introduced into the salt cavern and the stored hydrogen stream is withdrawn without disturbing the stagnant layer to prevent carbon dioxide contamination from being drawn into the stored hydrogen stream being reintroduced into the hydrogen pipeline. This allows the stored hydrogen stream to be reintroduced into the hydrogen pipeline without carbon dioxide removal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: PRAXAIR TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventor: Raymond Francis Drnevich
  • Variable retaining wall system
    Patent number: 9273444
    Abstract: A variable retaining wall system may include a block having a top, a bottom, and a hollow core area. At least one set of setback knobs may attach to the block. The at least one set of setback knobs may include a primary set of setback knobs and a secondary set of setback knobs of a different angle than the primary set of setback knobs. The at least one set of setback knobs may be removable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Inventor: Nelson Kenneth Walling
  • Mining method for gassy and low permeability coal seams
    Patent number: 9273553
    Abstract: A method of degassing a coal seam by directionally drilling a borehole in a rock formation that is adjacent the coal seam, or between two different coal seams. The borehole is then pressurized to fracture the adjacent coal seam(s) to enhance the permeability thereof and allow fluids to flow from the coal seam to the borehole and be extracted from the coal seam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Inventor: Ian Gray
  • Hydrofission barrier
    Patent number: 9260831
    Abstract: A barrier system and a method for dissipating energy in a body of fluid provides one or more barrier units each having an outer wall that defines a hollow inner chamber. Each barrier unit has a lower aperture and an upper aperture so fluid can flow in and out of the hollow inner chamber. Upward movement of fluid within the inner chamber is deflected inwardly and energy of the fluid is dissipated. The buoyancy of the barrier unit is controlled by a control system. Multiple barrier units can be used together to dissipate energy within a body of water over a large area. The barrier units can be easily assembled and deployed into a body of water. Where the barrier system is used in an ocean or another large body of water, the barrier units may be deployed from a ship, and may be anchored to the seafloor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Inventor: Douglas Poscich
  • Method and apparatus for auxilary seafloor mining
    Patent number: 9260964
    Abstract: A seafloor auxiliary mining tool for use in a seafloor mining system. The seafloor auxiliary mining tool has a seafloor locomotion system enabling traversal of the seafloor. Umbilical connections receive power and control signals from a surface source. A boom mounted auxiliary cutting tool is configured to cut extremities of a seafloor deposit. Cuttings produced by the auxiliary cutting tool are sized by sizing means, to ensure such cuttings are no greater than a desired size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Nautilus Minerals Pacific Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Glen Robert Jones, Antony Eliot Inglis, Anthony Paul O'Sullivan, Michael Howitt, Glen Smith, Roland Gunter Berndt, Daal Hallam Jaffers, Nicholas William Ridley
  • Systems and methods for temperature control and heat extraction from waste landfills
    Patent number: 9255727
    Abstract: The field of the invention relates to systems and methods for exchanging heat from the degradation, decomposition, and chemical/biochemical transformation of municipal, industrial, and other types of waste. In one embodiment, a heat extraction system may include a closed-loop fluid circulation piping channeled throughout at least one heat extraction well oriented throughout a waste mass. The piping is fluidly coupled to a heat exchanger. A first circulation fluid is circulated through the closed-loop circulation piping into various depths of the waste mass to transfer thermal energy between said mass and said heat exchanger. In one embodiment, the transfer of thermal energy between the waste mass and the heat exchanger is used as alternative energy method and to control at least one of shear strength, compressibility, and hydraulic conductivity of the waste mass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Inventors: Nazli Yesiller, James L. Hanson
  • Flotable subsea platform (FSP)
    Patent number: 9254894
    Abstract: A subsea facility for hydrocarbon recovery in deep waters and methods of installation are provided. More specifically, the subsea facility equipment is on multiple modules equipped with a buoyancy system to allow the modules to sink to the sea floor. The modules can be attached and unattached to each other, thus allowing for a module to be raised to the surface for repairs without affecting the rest of the subsea facility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: ConocoPhillips Company
    Inventors: Zhihao George Gu, Chad A. Petrash, Ivica T. Grgas, Amal C. Phadke, Dominique P. Berta
  • Apparatus for reducing water evaporation and method therefor
    Patent number: 9249548
    Abstract: A floating cover for a waterway has a plurality of tubular structures. The plurality of tubular structures is attached widthwise together and extends over an approximate width of the waterway to cover the waterway to prevent water in the waterway from evaporating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Resource Conservation Development, LLC
    Inventors: Richard Mitzen, Thomas Johnston
  • Road milling machine, in particular small milling machine, for working road surfaces
    Patent number: 9249545
    Abstract: In a road milling machine, in particular small milling machine, for working road surfaces, with a machine frame, with a milling drum supported at the machine frame in a drum casing, with a milling drum drive comprising a drum gearbox mounted at the drum casing, where the drum gearbox comprises a gearbox housing with a connecting flange for mounting at the drum casing, as well as a reduction gearbox and an output shaft for driving the milling drum, it is provided for the following features to be achieved: that the gearbox housing comprises, on the underside between the reduction gearbox and the connecting flange, a cut-out dividing the gearbox housing and extending radially inwards in such a fashion that the reduction gearbox is arranged in a first housing part arranged outside of the drum casing, and the output shaft is arranged in a second housing part protruding into the drum casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Wirtgen GmbH
    Inventors: Dirk Franzmann, Christian Berning, Philip Verhaelen, Cyrus Barimani, Günter Hähn
  • Concrete sheet pile clamp assemblies and methods and pile driving systems for concrete sheet piles
    Patent number: 9249551
    Abstract: A clamp assembly for a pile driving system for driving a concrete sheet pile, the clamp assembly comprising a clamp body, a first clamp member supported relative to the clamp body, and a second clamp member supported for movement relative to the clamp body, and a bumper member. A clamp region is formed between the first and second clamp members. The bumper member is supported relative to the clamp body above the clamp region. The clamp body is configured such that the concrete sheet pile enters the clamp region from below. The second clamp member is displaced towards the first clamp member to engage the concrete sheet pile in the clamp region. The bumper member resiliently deforms to inhibit direct transmission of forces between the concrete sheet pile and the clamp body during driving of the concrete sheet pile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: American Piledriving Equipment, Inc.
    Inventor: David White
  • System and method for disposal of mutagen waste
    Patent number: 9242282
    Abstract: A method for using a mixture of an organic polymer combined with an inorganic polymer is provided. When the mixture is combined with a liquid material, such as a urine from a patient that is contaminated with a dangerous cytotoxic drug, a multi-step process occurs that sequester the dangers. The combined material forms a stable matrix in which the cytotoxic chemotherapy drug is destroyed. Due to the combination of polymers, the multi-step process will occur without any mechanical mixing or stirring, as the organic polymer facilitates dispersal of the inorganic polymer through-out the combined material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Pharma-Cycle, LLC
    Inventors: James T. Mullowney, Theresa L. O'Keefe
  • Method of providing a support column
    Patent number: 9243379
    Abstract: A primary earth penetrating mandrel formed of a hollow shell steel plate has an upper end and an open lower end joined by an upwardly and outwardly tapered wall. The mandrel is driven downwardly in the earth to simultaneously form a vertical cavity while compacting the sidewall of the cavity to provide structural integrity. The mandrel is then moved upwardly from the bottom of the cavity and aggregate is deposited in the bottom of the cavity following which the mandrel is lowered so that its lower end engages the deposited aggregate and densifies the aggregate by vertical vibratory action and static force with these steps being repeated until the pier top is near the surface of the earth. A second embodiment includes a conduit in the primary mandrel for injecting concrete or grout into aggregate previously deposited in the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Geopier Foundation Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Kord J. Wissmann, Alan L. Moxhay, Nathaniel S. Fox
  • Tool and method for initiating hydraulic fracturing
    Patent number: 9243495
    Abstract: A tool for use in initiating a hydraulic fracture in a bore hole comprises an elongate cylindrical bore hole packer structure (11) having an inner longitudinal passage (12), a mid-portion (13) provided with ports (14) extending outwardly from passage (12) to the exterior periphery of the packer structure (11) and expandable circumferential well portions (15A) surrounding the inner longitudinal passage (12) to each side of the mid-portion (13). In use of the tool the circumferential wall portions (15A) can be expanded by injection of hydraulic fracturing fluid into passage 12) and exit of the injected fluid through the ports (14) to produce a pressure difference between the inside of the packer structure and the outside of the packer structure as the fluid passes through the ports (14) such that the hydraulic fluid exiting the packer structure can initiate a fracture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: COMMONWEALTH SCIENTIFIC AND INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH ORGANISATION
    Inventors: Robert Graham Jeffrey, Anthony Charles Coleman