Patents Examined by Sean D Andrish
  • Floating structure for supporting a marine wind turbine
    Patent number: 10900467
    Abstract: A floating structure for supporting a marine wind turbine comprising an emerged tower (21) defined by a tower wall (31), a submerged float (23) defined by a float wall (33) and a float lower end closing wall (34) and a transition element (22) placed in-between and defined by a transition wall (32), wherein the tower wall (31), the float wall (33) and the transition wall (32) have axisymmetric outer surfaces about a central axis (5) respectively defined by a tower generatrix, a float generatrix and a curved concave transition generatrix which is tangent to the tower generatrix, and wherein the axisymmetric outer surface of the float wall (33) has a float upper diameter (D2) equal to the axisymmetric outer surface of the transition wall (32) and bigger than the axisymmetric outer surface of the tower wall (31).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Inventors: Climent Molins Borrell, Alexis Campos Hortigüela
  • Anchor driving device
    Patent number: 10900189
    Abstract: An anchor driving device includes an anchor, a driving member with a slide stop, an anchor rod, a slide collar, and a load cell. The driving member is removably coupled to the anchor. The slide stop of the driving member is spaced apart from and disposed above the anchor. The anchor rod is permanently coupled to the anchor. The slide collar is disposed on the driving member and is selectively affixed to the driving member with a release mechanism. The load cell is permanently coupled to the slide collar and selectively coupled to the anchor rod. The load cell is configured to measure a load through the anchor rod during a setting operation of the anchor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: CASHMAN DREDGING AND MARINE CONTRACTING, CO., LLC
    Inventors: Tim Mannering, Corey Welch, Chris Sheedy
  • Lead service water pipe line removal apparatus and method
    Patent number: 10895332
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method of extracting buried lead water supply pipe with minimal excavation and which allows removal and containment of the lead pipe. The extraction apparatus includes a frame having an upwardly extending mast, a guide pulley mounted on the frame, and a pulling apparatus. A take-up spool is mounted on the mast between the guide pulley and pulling apparatus and positioned to allow a pipe pulling cable to be wrapped therearound into a non-linear path between the guide pulley and the pulling apparatus. Extracted pipe is pulled into the non-linear path until the pipe is fully extracted from the ground. Multiple spiral loops around the take-up spool by the pulling cable may be necessary to fully contain the extracted pipe. Following extraction, the pipe may be unspooled from the take-up spool, the pulling cable removed for re-use, and the pipe may then be sent for disposal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Inventor: Joseph Timothy Nippes
  • Extraction of ductile pipe
    Patent number: 10883628
    Abstract: A pipe extraction machine can be used to remove a buried pipe from the ground. The machine has a carriage with jaws that grip the buried pipe. While gripped, the carriage moves relative to a support structure to pull the pipe out of the ground. Jaws are actuated by rotating clamp plates and maintained in opposition by static horizontal grooves. The jaws remain opposed and aligned during rotation of the clamp plates. A pipe shear may remove the pipe one piece at a time. A pipe puller can be used at the back end of the pipe being removed to simultaneously install a new pipe along the same path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: The Charles Machine Works, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven W. Wentworth, Robert F. Crane, Mark D. Randa
  • Method of filling and sealing a microtrench and a sealed microtrench
    Patent number: 10883629
    Abstract: Provided is a microtrench fill comprising cement, a polymer, and a colorant. Also provided is a method of using the microtrench fill to fill a microtrench in a roadway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: CCIIP LLC
    Inventors: Angelo J. Pino, Jr., Daniel Urban
  • Microtrencher having a utility avoidance safety device and method of microtrenching
    Patent number: 10876654
    Abstract: Provided is a microtrencher having a utility avoidance system that detects objects buried under the roadway, identifies whether the buried object is a utility and determines whether the buried utility is in the path of the cutting wheel. If the buried utility is in the path of the cutting wheel, an alert is sent to the operator, the vehicle is stopped, and/or the cutting wheel is raised in relation to the roadway. Also provided is a method of using the microtrencher to cut a microtrench in a roadway and to avoid cutting a buried utility in the path of the cutting wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: CCIIP LLC
    Inventors: Angelo J. Pino, Jr., Daniel Urban
  • Auger grouted displacement pile
    Patent number: 10876267
    Abstract: A method and apparatus place an auger grouted displacement pile or helical pile in soil. The pile has an elongated shaft with at least one lateral compaction protrusion which establishes a regular circumference in the supporting medium. The pile also has a helical blade configured to move the pile into the supporting medium. The bottom of the shaft includes means for forming irregularities in the circumference after compaction by the lateral compaction protrusion. The bore is filled with grout while leaving the pile in the soil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Inventor: Benjamin G. Stroyer
  • Asymmetric coordinated support device for gob side entry based on combination of flexibility and rigidity
    Patent number: 10865641
    Abstract: An asymmetric coordinated support device for gob side entry is provided. The device includes an inner support board, an outer roadway side support assembly, an outer roof support assembly, and a flexible reinforcement layer, wherein the inner support board is supported to an innermost side closest to a rock layer to be supported in an extending direction of the roadway, and wherein a side of the inner support board remote from the rock layer is provided with the outer roadway side support assembly extending along the roadway direction and the outer roof support assembly located on a roof of the outer roadway side support assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Inventors: Shuaifeng Yin, Zhiheng Cheng
  • Geosynthetic reinforced wall panels comprising soil reinforcing members
    Patent number: 10865540
    Abstract: Geosynthetic reinforced wall panels including soil reinforcing members and retaining wall system formed therewith are disclosed. The geosynthetic reinforced wall panels include any type of wall panels, such as a precast concrete wall panels, that are supported by an arrangement of soil reinforcing members. Various configurations of soil reinforcing members may include end tabs and/or inner tabs that have strips arranged therebetween. Examples of soil reinforcing members include, but are not limited to narrow-width single-section reinforcing members, narrow-width multi-section reinforcing members, and wide-width reinforcing members. Further, a retaining wall system is provided that includes any arrangement of the one or more geosynthetic reinforced wall panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: Tensar International Corporation
    Inventors: Aaron D. Smith, Stephen D. Luptak, Jeremiah Riggio, Kord J. Wissmann
  • Hydrostatically compensated compressed gas energy storage system
    Patent number: 10859207
    Abstract: A compressed gas energy storage system may include an accumulator for containing a layer of compressed gas atop a layer of liquid. A gas conduit may have an upper end in communication with a gas compressor/expander subsystem and a lower end in communication with accumulator interior for conveying compressed gas into the compressed gas layer of the accumulator when in use. A shaft may have an interior for containing a quantity of a liquid and may be fluidly connectable to a liquid source/sink via a liquid supply conduit. A partition may cover may separate the accumulator interior from the shaft interior. An internal accumulator force may act on the inner surface of the partition and the liquid within the shaft may exert an external counter force on the outer surface of the partition, whereby a net force acting on the partition is less than the accumulator force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: Hydrostor Inc.
    Inventors: Cameron Lewis, Andrew McGillis, Davin Young, Curtis Vanwalleghem
  • Irrigation system and method having control heads outside of a matrix of irrigation zones
    Patent number: 10849286
    Abstract: An irrigation system is provided for irrigating a field divided into irrigation zones. The irrigation zones are arranged in columns extending alongside each other. The system has irrigation strips and a control head at an upstream end of each irrigation strip. Each irrigation strip provides irrigation substances to a column of zones. All control heads are located alongside a boundary of the field outside of the irrigation zones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: Netafim, Ltd.
    Inventors: Abraham Schweitzer, Esteban Socolsky
  • Pullhead device and method of use
    Patent number: 10851915
    Abstract: A pullhead includes a housing that has a first end and a second end. The housing is separable between a first body and a second body. The first and second bodies are pivotally coupled at a joint and the first and second bodies together define an interior pocket of the housing. The interior pocket has an interior pocket width. The pullhead head includes a pulling feature at the first end. The interior pocket includes an interior retainer flange that has an inner width and is disposed within the interior pocket. The inner width is less than the interior pocket width. The first body and second body are pivotable relative to each other around an axis at the joint that is transverse to a pulling direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Inventors: Clinton J. Baumgartner, Jason M. Gillard, Nick P. Skogen, Russell H. Hilsman, Travis J. Baumgartner, Jeremy R. Ellingson
  • Mesh handling device for mining or tunnelling equipment
    Patent number: 10851651
    Abstract: A mesh handler for a mining machine includes a generally U-shaped frame arranged for receiving and positioning at least one mesh against a roof portion of an underground tunnel. The frame includes at least one generally U-shaped rail and a guide mechanism arranged for guiding the mesh along the rail in a direction substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the mining machine. Moreover, a mining machine including the mesh handler is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: SANDVIK INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AB
    Inventors: Andreas Bischof, Thomas Galler, Martin Kupper
  • Multifunctional reel carrier-vac-spoil material handling container and method of trenching and laying cable or duct
    Patent number: 10851517
    Abstract: Provided is a multifunctional reel carrier, spoil material handling container device having a first trailer or first truck bed, a first container constructed to contain spoil on the first trailer or first truck bed, at least one spoil transporting device constructed to transfer spoil from a micro trencher and deposit the spoil in the first container and constructed to transfer spoil from the first container to a fill device, and at least one reel holder constructed to hold a reel of cable and/or innerduct/microduct present on the first truck or first trailer, or present on a second trailer or second truck. Also provided is a method of using the multifunctional reel carrier, spoil material handling container device to lay cable and/or innerduct/microduct underground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: CCIIP LLC
    Inventors: Angelo J. Pino, Jr., Daniel Urban
  • Tunnel wall element and a method of assembling tunnel walls comprising the tunnel wall elements
    Patent number: 10844716
    Abstract: The present invention disclose a tunnel wall element comprising a lightweight body element coated with a fire resistant coating providing increased mechanical integrity of the tunnel wall element. The present invention is also related to a method of building road and railway tunnels with the lightweight coated tunnel element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: FOAMROX AS
    Inventor: Rolf Jakobsen
  • Temporarily coupling between jacket and pile
    Patent number: 10837151
    Abstract: A coupling system for temporarily coupling a jacket with a foundation pile includes a first flange for mounting with the jacket, a second flange for contacting the foundation pile, and an inflatable spacing member arranged between the first flange and second flange. The inflatable spacing member contacts both the first flange and second flange for supporting the jacket through the spacing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: IHC Holland IE B.V.
    Inventors: Cornelis Beider, Cornelis Joannes Kerkvliet
  • Subterranean gas storage assembly
    Patent number: 10837601
    Abstract: Various embodiments are generally directed to a unit secured in a single subterranean bore. The unit can be configured to store compressed hydrocarbon gas in at least one of a plurality of separate vessels that are respectively attached via at least one retainer. An anchor feature may be employed to center the unit within the single subterranean bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Inventors: Ronald R. Mercer, Michael Douglas Mercer
  • Mine roof support, pre-installation assembly for same, and method of installation
    Patent number: 10822948
    Abstract: A mine roof support comprises two or more frusto-conical, tubular sections, the sections each flared outwardly from an upper end to a lower end thereof, a skirt portion of a section being received and secured within a neck portion of a section below in a frictional fit to define an interior volume of the mine roof support. A solid, compressible, load-bearing material is located within the volume. Methods of installing a mine roof support and a pre-installation assembly for a mine roof support are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: Burrell Mining Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Don C. Abel, Nicholas J. Tennant
  • Non-powered seawater pumping system for reducing seawater intrusion, and apparatus and method for optimal design of well in the same system
    Patent number: 10815648
    Abstract: Disclosed is a non-powered seawater pumping apparatus for reducing seawater intrusion in a land in which an aquifer with a seawater-fresh water boundary surface is formed, the apparatus including a pumping pipe having opposite open end portions, a first end portion of the opposite open end portions being positioned below a sea level and a second end portion being positioned below a seawater-fresh water boundary surface in the land, and a well disposed to surround a lateral surface of a land-buried portion of the pumping pipe, which is buried in the land, so as to space away the land-buried portion of the pipe from the land, wherein seawater is filled in the pumping pipe, and the well includes a screen having a plurality of through holes formed along a circumference of the well at a lower end portion of the well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: DONG-A UNIVERSITY RESEARCH FOUNDATION FOR INDUSTRY-ACADEMY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Namsik Park, Byunghee Nam
  • Systems and methods for managing debris in a well
    Patent number: 10808500
    Abstract: Various systems, methods, and devices are disclosed for handling contaminants in a wellbore or riser. A washpipe debris trap (WPDT) traps contaminants traveling up a wellbore from a downhole location, and the WPDT may serve as an indicator for a breached screen in a downhole location. A marine riser reversing tool (MRRT) may reverse the flow of fluid between a workstring conduit and an annulus between the workstring and the wellbore such that fluid rises to the wellhead with greater velocity. A bi-directional chamber trap (BDCT) may be utilized in a wellbore operation to remove contaminants from a fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: Spoked Solutions LLC
    Inventor: Bryce Elliott Randle