Patents by Inventor KEVIN P. HEFFERN

KEVIN P. HEFFERN 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).

  • Replaceable ductile fuse
    Patent number: 9157251
    Abstract: A fuse and a method of using the fuse to removably couple a structure to an anchor preferably partially embedded in concrete. The fuse is configured to be removably coupled to the anchor so that the fuse is positioned in a load path between the anchor and the structure. The fuse is configured to deform in a ductile manner when the structure exerts a force on the fuse that causes a stress in the fuse which exceeds an elastic limit of the fuse. The fuse may be decoupled from the anchor without altering the concrete, the anchor, and the structure. If the structure exerts a force on the fuse that causes the fuse to deform in a ductile manner, the fuse may be decoupled from the anchor and replaced with another fuse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: BURNS & MCDONNELL ENGINEERING COMPANY, INC.
    Inventors: Nathan G. Newman, Kevin P. Heffern
  • REPLACEABLE DUCTILE FUSE
    Publication number: 20150128506
    Abstract: A fuse and a method of using the fuse to removably couple a structure to an anchor preferably partially embedded in concrete. The fuse is configured to be removably coupled to the anchor so that the fuse is positioned in a load path between the anchor and the structure. The fuse is configured to deform in a ductile manner when the structure exerts a force on the fuse that causes a stress in the fuse which exceeds an elastic limit of the fuse. The fuse may be decoupled from the anchor without altering the concrete, the anchor, and the structure. If the structure exerts a force on the fuse that causes the fuse to deform in a ductile manner, the fuse may be decoupled from the anchor and replaced with another fuse.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2014
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Applicant: BURNS & MCDONNELL ENGINEERING COMPANY, INC.
    Inventors: NATHAN G. NEWMAN, KEVIN P. HEFFERN