Patents by Inventor Brian M. Francis

Brian M. Francis has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7166177
    Abstract: Methods for forming double containment pipeline sections are provided where granular material is used to define the annuluses of such pipeline sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2007
    Assignee: Ameron International Corporation
    Inventors: Ralph S. Friedrich, Joie L. Folkers, Brian M. Francis
  • Publication number: 20040089405
    Abstract: Methods for forming double containment pipeline sections are provided where granular material is used to define the annuluses of such pipeline sections.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2003
    Publication date: May 13, 2004
    Inventors: Ralph S. Friedrich, Joie L. Folkers, Brian M. Francis
  • Patent number: 6026862
    Abstract: A double containment glass fiber pipe section is formed by a single winding operation. The pipe section may be a pipe or a pipe fitting. A section of primary pipe is wound and wrapped by a plastic tape. A permeable material layer is then wrapped around the wrapped primary section. One or more plastic tape layers are then wrapped over the permeable material layer followed by a winding of the secondary pipe section. The assembly is then cured forming a double containment pipe section having a permeable annulus having a radial thickness of about 1 mm. The permeable annulus is defined by the permeable material between the primary and the secondary sections. The permeable material allows for the flow of fluids within the annulus. A pair of wires may be helically wound within the annular space and can be used to detect leakage from the primary pipe section flowing within the annulus by monitoring changes in the capacitance or the resistance between the wires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2000
    Assignee: Ameron International Corporation
    Inventors: Ralph S. Friedrich, Joie L. Folkers, Brian M. Francis
  • Patent number: 5725920
    Abstract: Fiber-reinforced resin pipes and pipe fittings have a structural pipe wall formed from helically wound reinforcing fiber that is bonded together with a polymer resin. An intermediate layer is disposed around the structural pipe wall, and a fiber-reinforced layer is disposed around the intermediate layer. The intermediate layer is formed from material selected from the group consisting of impact attenuating and impact absorbing materials. The fiber-reinforced resin layer comprises layers of helically wound reinforcing fiber bonded together with a polymer resin. The materials selected to form the fiber-reinforced resin layer can be the same or different from that used to form the structural pipe wall. The pipe may comprise a single intermediate and fiber-reinforced layer disposed around the structural pipe wall, or may comprise an impact resistant jacket disposed around the structural pipe wall, wherein the jacket is made up of alternating intermediate and fiber-reinforced resin layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1998
    Assignee: Ameron International Corporation
    Inventors: Ralph S. Friedrich, Duane G. Hemphill, Joie L. Folkers, Brian M. Francis, Gordon G. Robertson