Patents Examined by Tara M. Pinnock
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Patent number: 9976273Abstract: A foundation system for the foundation of an offshore structure includes a monopile having an anchoring portion anchorable in a seabed and a connection portion disposed at the opposite end. A platform structure is connected directly to the connection portion of the monopile or indirectly via a transition piece. The platform structure is disposable above a water surface. The foundation system includes at least two stabilizing devices connected directly to the platform structure or indirectly to the platform structure via the transition piece. The stabilizing devices are attachable to the seabed such that tensile forces or compression forces are transmittable between the seabed and the platform structure. Securing points on the stabilizing devices, together with the connection portion of the monopile, define a plane having a horizontally extending component.Type: GrantFiled: October 12, 2015Date of Patent: May 22, 2018Assignee: Innogy SEInventor: Daniel Bartminn
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Patent number: 9903086Abstract: A friction reducing jacket is applied to a pile. The jacket comprises a sheet material and is formed in a shape that can conform to the exterior surface of the pile. The sheet material comprises a thermoplastic, e.g., polyolefin, and a slip agent, e.g., amide. A method of shielding a pile from downward force exerted by backfilled earthen materials during settlement includes the steps of providing a friction reducing jacket constructed of sheet material comprising a thermoplastic polymer and an amide slip agent; driving the pile into soil, leaving a portion of the pile above the soil exposed; wrapping the friction reducing jacket around the exterior surface of the exposed portion of the pile such that the interior surface of the jacket contacts the exposed exterior surface of the pile; and placing backfilled earthen materials around the jacketed section of the pile.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 2015Date of Patent: February 27, 2018Assignee: Foundation Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Frankie A. R. Queen
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Patent number: 9856622Abstract: A method is for supporting a retaining wall that includes a number of wall blocks positioned to retain material against a rear side of the plurality of wall blocks. The method includes attaching the rear side of at least one of the wall blocks to at least one ground-stabilizing base body supporting the wall blocks. Kits and systems are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2016Date of Patent: January 2, 2018Inventors: Robert Gordon McIntosh, Brent Lester Paul Loates, Calum James Buchan
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Patent number: 9850647Abstract: A molded plastic arch shape cross section stormwater chamber having a corrugated wall comprises separately molded half chambers which are connected by coupling features at a joint region at the top of the chamber, which coupling feature optionally includes at least one locking rod running lengthwise in proximity to the joint region. Preferably, the half chambers are made in the same mold and modified so they are mirror images of each other. The half chambers may be compactly stored and transported in nested condition. Near the point of use, the chambers may be assembled.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 2015Date of Patent: December 26, 2017Assignee: INFOLTRATOR WATER TECHNOLOGIES LLCInventors: Bryan A. Coppes, Paul R. Holbrook
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Patent number: 9835268Abstract: A marine pipeline installation system for laying an offshore pipeline and/or installing a subsea riser includes a pipeline launch tower, a pipeline guide provided at an elevated position for guiding said pipeline to the pipeline launch trajectory along said tower, one or more tensioners, an abandonment and recovery (A&R) system including at least one A&R cable and associated A&R winch and a sheave arrangement with one or more sheaves supported by the pipeline launch tower at an upper position thereof. An auxiliary trolley is provided which is adapted to support the weight of the launched pipeline and which is movable along a rail in the pipeline launch trajectory when the one or more tensioner frames are in the retracted non-operable position, from a position above the uppermost tensioner to a position below the lowermost tensioner, the rail being supported by the pipeline launch tower.Type: GrantFiled: January 7, 2016Date of Patent: December 5, 2017Assignee: ITREC B.V.Inventors: Joop Roodenburg, Terence Willem August Vehmeijer, Ronny Lambertus Waltherus Nouwens
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Patent number: 9816239Abstract: Assemblies and methods for securing an elongate apertured fence to the ground. The fence includes an upper section which is apertured and which extends upwards from the ground, and a lower section which may or may not be apertured and which is not buried in the ground. The lower section is contacted by a footing member which is secured to the ground and which stabilizes the fence along a desired line along the ground. In some embodiments, the lower fence section is parallel to the ground, and at least part of the footing member lies between the lower fence section and the ground.Type: GrantFiled: May 16, 2014Date of Patent: November 14, 2017Assignee: ERTEC ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS LLCInventor: Vincent P. Morris
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Patent number: 9815660Abstract: A drilling rig includes a base and a rotation unit for drilling a hole in a mine surface. The rotation unit is moveably coupled to the base. The drilling rig further includes a cable feed device for feeding a cable bolt into the hole created by the rotation unit. The cable feed device is moveably coupled to the base and includes a pair of wheels and a transmission. The cable bolt is received between the pair of wheels. The transmission is coupled between the rotation unit and at least one of the wheels to transmit power from the rotation unit to at least one of the wheels.Type: GrantFiled: May 6, 2014Date of Patent: November 14, 2017Assignee: Joy MM Delaware, Inc.Inventors: Will Eddowes, Brant Wright, Michael Georgiou
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Patent number: 9816240Abstract: The present invention relates to apparatuses, methods, and systems for removing sediment from waterway bottoms and pumping the sediment through pipelines. More particularly, the present invention relates to apparatuses, methods, and systems for sediment control and altering the average effective depth in a section of rivers, streams and channels for maintaining the navigability of waterways and coastal restoration. The apparatus preferably comprises a sediment harvesting platform preferably positioned above a water surface; a sediment suction inlet or sediment sink preferably positioned below the top level of source sediment or within a sand bar including a grating, a sediment pump, a venturi including an auger/propeller, and a water jet; a flow control valve; and a pipeline for pumping sediment. The apparatus may further comprise a sediment conveyor including sediment inlets and a remote controlled pulsing valve. The apparatus may further comprise sensor(s) and a programmable logic controller (PLC).Type: GrantFiled: September 2, 2015Date of Patent: November 14, 2017Inventor: John A. Tesvich
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Patent number: 9816246Abstract: A noise-attenuating pile comprising a pile driving shoe, an outer tube that engages the pile driving shoe, and an inner member that extends through the outer tube and engages the pile driving shoe, wherein the pile is configured to be installed in the ground with either an impact driver or a vibratory driver that engages only the inner member. The inner member is rigidly connected to the driving shoe, and the outer tube is elastically connected to the driving shoe, such that vibrations from the outer tube is substantially isolated from vibrations in the driving shoe.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2015Date of Patent: November 14, 2017Assignee: University of Washington Through its Center for CommercializationInventors: Per G. Reinhall, John Timothy Dardis, II
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Patent number: 9808873Abstract: A method is provided for removing an abandoned marine platform from a seabed. The platform extends below the seabed mud line. In order to remove the platform, a frame is provided having a perimeter that surrounds an open center. The frame is lowered over the platform wherein the platform occupies the open center portion. A movable cutter cable is fitted to the frame. At least a part of the cutter cable is positioned below the mud line. The cutter is moved relative to the frame to cut the platform below the mud line. Such movement can be a back and forth movement wherein the cutter cable moves in a first direction, stops and then moves in a second direction that is generally opposite the first direction. A lifting device can employ two vessels and two frames, each frame bridging from one vessel to the other. Winches on the vessel can be used to provide movement to the cutter cable. These same winches can take up cable slack as cutting moves from one platform member (e.g.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2015Date of Patent: November 7, 2017Inventor: Jon Khachaturian
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Patent number: 9797107Abstract: A hydroelectric power generating apparatus includes a check dam mounted on a hilltop portion of a hillside to accumulate water of a river reach, a power generating device mounted on a hill bottom portion of the hillside to be driven by a kinetic energy carried by the water for power generation, a diversion pipe extending from the check dam to the power generating device and having at least one diversion duct which extends along the river reach to make a pipeline that converts gravitational potential energy of the water into the kinetic energy, and a surge tank disposed to stand uprightly from the diversion duct for balancing pressure in the diversion duct.Type: GrantFiled: May 26, 2017Date of Patent: October 24, 2017Inventor: Kuo-Chang Huang
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Patent number: 9790655Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a system and a method for injecting a composition into soil. The composition is passed under pressure into a filler tube housed within an expandable element situated in a first hole. When the composition is pumped, therein the filler tube is raised and, the expandable element expands when the composition fills the expandable element, thereby solidifying the adjacent soil. Further, due to expansion, the structure above the ground is lifted. The rate of pumping the composition into the filler tube is determined by pressure of the composition, the type of soil, or by the chemical reaction detected by a first sensor and/or a second sensor present in a second or third hole. The material injected into the ground improves the soils beneath a structure, such as a house to create a resistance once the material permeates the soil and expands.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2016Date of Patent: October 17, 2017Assignee: Polymer Technologies Worldwide, Inc.Inventor: Yamil Dominguez
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Patent number: 9758943Abstract: A simulated stone or brick column or retaining wall is made up of rows of masonry blocks of generally trapezoidal configuration arranged in end-to-end relation to one another in each row, each block including a recessed portion being aligned with one another in each row and each block having textured wall surfaces simulating the appearance of brick or stone along one or more wall surfaces arranged in different configurations without the necessity of interlocking the blocks together.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2014Date of Patent: September 12, 2017Inventors: Edward J. Anderson, Geoffrey S. Parrington, Dion T. DeMeyer
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Patent number: 9751119Abstract: The disclosure describes a composition, process and apparatus for soil remediation on site using an encapsulating agent to separate contaminants from soil. The contaminated soil is saturated with the encapsulating agent, creating an immediate reaction causing the contaminants to dissociate from the soil in favor of association with the encapsulating agent. The encapsulating agent attracts and associates with the contaminants but do not dissolve them, resulting in a clearly-defined heterogeneous mixture with at least three phases, wherein said phases include contaminants at the top of the mixture, encapsulation agent at the middle and cleansed soil at the bottom of the mixture.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2014Date of Patent: September 5, 2017Inventors: Jose Rafael Hernandez, Antonio Ruben Camacho
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Patent number: 9739023Abstract: A rapid-deployment system for containing oil spills and similar water contaminations comprises a pre-manufactured sleeve having air-inflatable or gas-inflatable compartments and water inflatable compartments. In some embodiments uninflated sleeve is stored as a reel of sleeve material, and the deployment system, optionally mounted in a small boat, comprises a machine for inflating the air and water compartments at the site of a spill. In some embodiments, air and/or water compartments may be self-inflating.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2013Date of Patent: August 22, 2017Assignee: HARBO Technologies Ltd.Inventors: Arnon Shany, Boaz Ur, Haim Greenberg
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Patent number: 9732493Abstract: An apparatus and a method for attenuating water pressure pulses generated during sea piling when a percussion mechanism is used, including the stage of driving at least one pile into an earth by a percussion mechanism, while along at least a part of its axial extension, the pile is surrounded by water and at least partly by a tubular outer sleeve; and at least one gas-filled space is provided between the inner periphery of the outer sleeve and the outer periphery of the pile. The apparatus includes mechanisms for providing the gas-filled space.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 2014Date of Patent: August 15, 2017Assignee: ABB Research Ltd.Inventors: Claes-Goran Johansson, Petter Johansson, Thies Helbig
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Patent number: 9732612Abstract: A barrier forming apparatus for forming a barrier between an exposed tunnel face (107) and a tunnel boring machine (100), the barrier being formed by the application to the tunnel face of a barrier mixture comprising two highly reactive first and second components. The barrier forming apparatus (10) includes a first reservoir (11) for storing the first component, a second reservoir (12) for storing the second component, and a plurality of applicators (13, 14 and 15). The barrier forming apparatus (10) also includes a third reservoir (56) that is used to store a clearing fluid and a piston flow divider (58) having an inlet (59) and three chambers having respective outlets, (61, 62 and 63) that are in fluid communication with a respective applicator (13, 14 and 15). The applicators are maintained in a state of readiness by a regular supply of clearing fluid passing there through.Type: GrantFiled: September 4, 2014Date of Patent: August 15, 2017Inventor: Glen Roy Maynard
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Patent number: 9719309Abstract: A vortex induced vibration suppression system for use on a subsea riser system having either a stake or fairing component includes at least one fiber optic sensor mounted on the component. The fiber optic sensor associated with the riser includes at least one sensor for producing a sensor signal. The system may include a plurality of sensors and the plurality of signals produced thereby are combined at a multiplexer for generating a single, composite sensor signal. The signal may be monitored in real time or near real time for observing and monitoring the reaction of the subsea riser to conditions inducing vibration.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2012Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Inventor: David V. Brower
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Patent number: 9719484Abstract: An infrastructure arrangement for use in an underwater power generation installation includes a support structure adapted for engagement with a bed of a body of water, and an infrastructure module adapted to house infrastructure equipment for connection to power generating units of the installation. The infrastructure module is releasably engageable with the support structure.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2012Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: Tidal Generation LimitedInventor: Benjamin Palethorpe
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Patent number: 9708137Abstract: A method and an apparatus (1, 11, 21, 31) for moving one or more loads (5, 15, 25, 35a, 35b,45), in which method loads are moved along a channel (2, 12, 22, 32a, 32b, 49, 49?) on or in fluid, wherein the channel (2, 12, 22, 32a, 32b, 49, 49?) extending substantially horizontally in lengthwise direction has a cross-section, which cross-section defines an open section (13, 33a, 33b) and a closed section (14, 34a, 34b), wherein the fluid in the open section is directly in contact with surrounding air, and the fluid in the channel can flow from the open section to the closed section and vice versa through opening or openings located below the surface level of the fluid in the open section, and the load or loads (5, 15, 25, 35a, 35b, 45) are moved by floating them at least partially inside the closed section.Type: GrantFiled: November 14, 2012Date of Patent: July 18, 2017Assignee: WATERBOX OYInventor: Evgeny Lykov