Patents by Inventor George R. McNulty

George R. McNulty 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: 5956077
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for remotely visually inspecting the interior of an elongated tank. The apparatus includes an articulated arm which extends into the tank through an access opening and is adapted to pivot at successive joints by operation of associated servomotors to enable it to follow a path along the axis of the tank. A TV camera is carried on the lead end of the arm and scans the interior of the tank through 360.degree. rotation about the tank axis. The arm carries the camera to the zones where the tank end walls are joined to the sidewall for viewing the zones from advantageous lines of view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1999
    Inventors: Iqbal Qureshi, George R. McNulty
  • Patent number: 5757419
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for remotely visually inspecting the interior of an elongated tank. The apparatus includes an articulated arm which extends into the tank through an access opening and is adapted to pivot at successive joints by operation of associated servomotors to enable it to follow a path along the axis of the tank. A TV camera is carried on the lead end of the arm and scans the interior of the tank through 360.degree. rotation about the tank axis. The arm carries the camera to the zones where the tank end walls are joined to the sidewall for viewing the zones from advantageous lines of view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Inventors: Iqbal Qureshi, George R. McNulty
  • Patent number: 5025670
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for internally inspecting a relatively small diameter live pipeline with a camera introduced into an elongated hole cut into the wall of the pipeline at a strategic location. A housing formed by a pair of opposed oblique nipples is secured to the pipe and a rotary cutter is operated successively through the nipples to produce the elongated hole. The camera is introduced successively through each of the nipples to scan both upstream and downstream of the location of the elongated hole. The oblique orientation of the nipples simplifies the elongated hole forming operation and reduces flexural stresses on a cable used to propel the camera through the pipeline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1991
    Inventors: George R. McNulty, Charles E. Luff