Patents by Inventor Kenneth E. Hey
Kenneth E. Hey 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).
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Patent number: 9199705Abstract: A free-floating, compact, self-stabilizing, self-monitoring, remote-controlled, shallow-water, solar, high-speed, air displacement watercraft lift constructed of polyethylene tanks, and non-metallic structure. This device provides vertical lifting by inflating 4 or more air tanks at once using a blower for each tank, pushing water out an exit hole on the bottom of each tank. Each tank has an electric valve for filling and another for exhausting air. Pairs of tanks are pivotally connected along the centerline, and pairs of tanks are connected with a union tube inside the axles. A monitoring system fills the air tanks if air leaks. The width of the lift is adjusted by adjusting the center bunk height, or by adding a spacer.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2014Date of Patent: December 1, 2015Assignee: SUNSTREAM CORPORATIONInventor: Kenneth E. Hey
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Publication number: 20140251196Abstract: A free-floating, compact, self-stabilizing, self-monitoring, remote-controlled, shallow-water, solar, high-speed, air displacement watercraft lift constructed of polyethylene tanks, and non-metallic structure. This device provides vertical lifting by inflating 4 or more air tanks at once using a blower for each tank, pushing water out an exit hole on the bottom of each tank. Each tank has an electric valve for filling and another for exhausting air. Pairs of tanks are pivotally connected along the centerline, and pairs of tanks are connected with a union tube inside the axles. A monitoring system fills the air tanks if air leaks. The width of the lift is adjusted by adjusting the center bunk height, or by adding a spacer.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 10, 2014Publication date: September 11, 2014Inventor: Kenneth E. Hey
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Patent number: 8683912Abstract: A hydraulic cylinder contamination prevention system for preventing large and small contaminants from entering into a hydraulic cylinder, including a hydraulic cylinder rod cover for underwater use with at least one automatic valve for preventing water circulation between the outside environment and the enclosed environment of the cylinder rod cover when the cylinder is stationary, egress of water from the cylinder rod cover when the cylinder is retracted, and ingress of water into the cylinder rod cover when cylinder is extended, and an external and abrasive cylinder rod scrubber.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2012Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Assignee: Sunstream CorporationInventors: Kenneth E. Hey, William J. Setter
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Patent number: 8683934Abstract: A free-floating, compact, self-stabilizing, self-monitoring, remote-controlled, shallow-water, solar, high-speed, air displacement watercraft lift constructed of polyethylene tanks, and non-metallic structure. This device provides vertical lifting by inflating 4 or more air tanks at once using a blower for each tank, pushing water out an exit hole on the bottom of each tank. Each tank has an electric valve for filling and another for exhausting air. Pairs of tanks are pivotally connected along the centerline, and pairs of tanks are connected with a union tube inside the axles. A monitoring system fills the air tanks if air leaks. The width of the lift is adjusted by adjusting the center bunk height, or by adding a spacer.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2011Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Assignee: Sunstream CorporationInventor: Kenneth E. Hey
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Publication number: 20120312214Abstract: A free-floating, compact, self-stabilizing, self-monitoring, remote-controlled, shallow-water, solar, high-speed, air displacement watercraft lift constructed of polyethylene tanks, and non-metallic structure. This device provides vertical lifting by inflating 4 or more air tanks at once using a blower for each tank, pushing water out an exit hole on the bottom of each tank. Each tank has an electric valve for filling and another for exhausting air. Pairs of tanks are pivotally connected along the centerline, and pairs of tanks are connected with a union tube inside the axles. A monitoring system fills the air tanks if air leaks. The width of the lift is adjusted by adjusting the center bunk height, or by adding a spacer.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 8, 2011Publication date: December 13, 2012Inventor: Kenneth E. Hey
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Patent number: 8291810Abstract: A hydraulic cylinder contamination prevention system for preventing large and small contaminants from entering into a hydraulic cylinder, including a hydraulic cylinder rod cover for underwater use with at least one automatic valve for preventing water circulation between the outside environment and the enclosed environment of the cylinder rod cover when the cylinder is stationary, egress of water from the cylinder rod cover when the cylinder is retracted, and ingress of water into the cylinder rod cover when cylinder is extended, and an external and abrasive cylinder rod scrubber.Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 2009Date of Patent: October 23, 2012Assignee: Sunstream CorporationInventors: Kenneth E. Hey, William James Setter
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Patent number: 8069807Abstract: The floating drive-on docking system for a watercraft uses a main floatation portion where the watercraft rests when loaded and a pivoting entry portion for creating a low loading angle between the watercraft and the floating drive-on docking system, resulting in only a small amount of propulsion from the watercraft being required to load onto the docking system. The pivoting entry portion has entry features, either rollers or raised bumps, that remain above the waterline when not engaged by the watercraft to keep the loading surfaces free from marine growth that can harm the hull of a watercraft. Wide side guides on the pivoting entry portion assist in positioning the craft for loading onto the docking system.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2009Date of Patent: December 6, 2011Assignee: Sunstream CorporationInventors: Bryce Morgan Kloster, Kenneth E. Hey
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Publication number: 20090194014Abstract: The floating drive-on docking system for a watercraft uses a main floatation portion where the watercraft rests when loaded and a pivoting entry portion for creating a low loading angle between the watercraft and the floating drive-on docking system, resulting in only a small amount of propulsion from the watercraft being required to load onto the docking system. The pivoting entry portion has entry features, either rollers or raised bumps, that remain above the waterline when not engaged by the watercraft to keep the loading surfaces free from marine growth that can harm the hull of a watercraft. Wide side guides on the pivoting entry portion assist in positioning the craft for loading onto the docking system.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 26, 2009Publication date: August 6, 2009Inventors: Bryce Morgan Kloster, Kenneth E. Hey
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Publication number: 20090191000Abstract: An air-displacement boat lift control that allows a user to raise an air-displacement boat lift in a single motion and also lower an air-displacement boat lift in a separate single motion. The boat lift control controllably couples a ball valve with a throttle-like lever arm having a forward (raise), reverse (lower), and neutral position.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 26, 2009Publication date: July 30, 2009Inventors: Bryce Morgan Kloster, Kenneth E. Hey
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Publication number: 20090190994Abstract: A hydraulic cylinder contamination prevention system for preventing large and small contaminants from entering into a hydraulic cylinder, including a hydraulic cylinder rod cover for underwater use with at least one automatic valve for preventing water circulation between the outside environment and the enclosed environment of the cylinder rod cover when the cylinder is stationary, egress of water from the cylinder rod cover when the cylinder is retracted, and ingress of water into the cylinder rod cover when cylinder is extended, and an external and abrasive cylinder rod scrubber.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 21, 2009Publication date: July 30, 2009Inventors: Kenneth E. Hey, William James Setter
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Patent number: 7527014Abstract: A self-adjusting watercraft canopy/cover assembly having a protective cover and a floating watercraft lift. The lift includes a watercraft lifting support and a float attached to the watercraft lifting support for supporting the watercraft lifting support on a body of water. The float is movable to selectively lift and lower the watercraft lifting support relative to the body of water along a first path of movement. The lift further includes an assembly which causes the protective cover to move along a second path of movement different from the first path in response to movement of the float.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2004Date of Patent: May 5, 2009Assignee: Sunstream CorporationInventors: Kenneth E. Hey, Bryce M. Kloster
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Patent number: 7246970Abstract: A watercraft lift with translating bunks supported by a base frame and having rollers mounted to the base frame to initially raises the watercraft upward when driven onto the lift sufficiently to be positioned above the bunks when in their lowered position and thereby permit operation of the lift in water too shallow for use of the bunks by themselves. The rollers are positioned relative to the translating bunks such that when the bunks are in their lowered position and the lift is used in sufficiently shallow water, the watercraft driven onto the lift initially engages the rollers, which lift the watercraft upward above the height when floating in the water and above the height of the bunks. The translating bunks are then used to lift the watercraft off of the rollers and upward to a raised position above the water.Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 2005Date of Patent: July 24, 2007Assignee: Sunstream CorporationInventor: Kenneth E. Hey
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Patent number: 6976442Abstract: The invention generally relates to an apparatus and method that allows the lifting range of a four-bar, ground-based watercraft lift to be adjustable. More particularly, it relates to a ground-based watercraft that that allows for the lifting range of a watercraft support structure to be adjustable relative to the base of a watercraft lift while also maintaining the lift's shallow water functionality.Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 2005Date of Patent: December 20, 2005Assignee: Sunstream CorporationInventors: Kenneth E. Hey, Bryce Morgan Kloster
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Patent number: 6830410Abstract: The present invention is directed to an apparatus for supporting the hull of a watercraft using a flexible bunk beam and a convex cushion attached to the beam using locking elements. The beam has a longitudinal recess with a narrow upper neck portion and a larger lower anchor portion, and the cushion has an elongated cushion locking member lockably insertable into the recess. The cushion locking member has a narrow upper neck portion and a larger lower portion sized to snuggly fit within the recess. The cushion includes internal voids and walls. The beam includes sidewalls with bores forming bearing surfaces.Type: GrantFiled: December 31, 2002Date of Patent: December 14, 2004Assignee: Sunstream CorporationInventors: Edward D. Davidson, Kenneth E. Hey
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Publication number: 20040126185Abstract: The present invention is directed to an apparatus for supporting the hull of a watercraft using a flexible bunk beam and a convex cushion attached to the beam using locking elements. The beam has a longitudinal recess with a narrow upper neck portion and a larger lower anchor portion, and the cushion has an elongated cushion locking member lockably insertable into the recess. The cushion locking member has a narrow upper neck portion and a larger lower portion sized to snuggly fit within the recess. The cushion includes internal voids and walls. The beam includes sidewalls with bores forming bearing surfaces.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 31, 2002Publication date: July 1, 2004Applicant: Sunstream CorporationInventors: Edward D. Davidson, Kenneth E. Hey
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Patent number: 6131850Abstract: A brace for cyclic loads includes a tube having first and second ends and a tube wall and a tube axis. The tube wall defines a plurality of first bores radially arranged about the first and second ends of the tube. The first bores extend through the tube wall along first bore axes that are substantially aligned axially with the tube axis. A first end fitting is removably attached to the first end of the tube at an end of the first end fitting. The end of the first end fitting defines a plurality of second bores that have second bore axes. The plurality of second bores are substantially aligned axially and radially with the plurality of first bores. A second end fitting is removably attached to the second end of the tube at an end of the second end fitting. The end of the second end fitting defines a plurality of third bores having third bore axes. The plurality of third bores are substantially aligned axially and radially with the pluralities of first and second bores.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 1998Date of Patent: October 17, 2000Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Kenneth E. Hey, John H. Polk
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Patent number: 5908264Abstract: A watercraft lift having raised and lowered positions is provided. The lift includes a substantially rectangular base (10) with longitudinal side beams (34) and front, rear, and intermediate transverse beams (28), (30), (32) connected to the longitudinal beams. The intermediate transverse beam (32) is located between the front and rear transverse beams (28), (30) and at a height lower than the front and rear transverse beams. Forward booms (12) are pivotably connected to the base (10) at a location near the front transverse beam (28). Rear booms (14) are pivotably connected to the base at a location near the intermediate transverse beam (32). A watercraft support platform (24) is pivotally connected to the forward and rear booms (12), (14). The raising and lowering of the lift of the present invention is accomplished by an actuation assembly (26).Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 1997Date of Patent: June 1, 1999Inventor: Kenneth E. Hey
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Patent number: D484086Type: GrantFiled: December 31, 2002Date of Patent: December 23, 2003Assignee: Sunstream CorporationInventors: Edward D. Davidson, Kenneth E. Hey
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Patent number: D484450Type: GrantFiled: December 31, 2002Date of Patent: December 30, 2003Assignee: Sunstream CorporationInventors: Edward D. Davidson, Kenneth E. Hey
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Patent number: D487423Type: GrantFiled: December 31, 2002Date of Patent: March 9, 2004Assignee: Sunstream CorporationInventors: Edward D. Davidson, Kenneth E. Hey