Patents by Inventor L. Robert Zifferer
L. Robert Zifferer 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: 8434207Abstract: Methods of forming a lined tubular member are described herein. A method includes forming at least one corrugated portion in a conduit having at least one substantially tapered end to form a corrugated conduit, providing the corrugated conduit to a tubular member; and expanding the corrugated conduit while the corrugated conduit is inside the tubular member.Type: GrantFiled: April 18, 2011Date of Patent: May 7, 2013Assignee: Packless IndustriesInventors: L. Robert Zifferer, Edward A. Reed
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Publication number: 20110252624Abstract: Methods of forming a lined tubular member are described herein. A method includes forming at least one corrugated portion in a conduit having at least one substantially tapered end to form a corrugated conduit, providing the corrugated conduit to a tubular member; and expanding the corrugated conduit while the corrugated conduit is inside the tubular member.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 18, 2011Publication date: October 20, 2011Applicant: Packless IndustriesInventors: L. Robert Zifferer, Edward A. Reed
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Patent number: 7926160Abstract: A corrugated conduit and method of expanding to form a lined tubular member are described. In some embodiments, a corrugated conduit may be expandable. The corrugated conduit may be inserted into a tubular member and hydraulically or otherwise expanded against walls of the tubular member to strengthen and/or seal the tubular member when the corrugated conduit is expanded in the tubular member. In certain embodiments, the tubular member is a drill stem.Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 2005Date of Patent: April 19, 2011Assignee: Packless IndustriesInventors: L. Robert Zifferer, Edward A. Reed
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Publication number: 20100229996Abstract: A lined conduit formed by decorrugating a corrugated liner conduit inside a first conduit is described. A method and apparatus for forming the lined conduit are also described. The corrugated liner conduit may be positioned inside the first conduit. Each end portion of the corrugated liner conduit may be coupled to a hydraulic expander. Each hydraulic expander may include a hydraulic cylinder. Each hydraulic cylinder may include a piston rod with an opening along the length of the piston rod. The corrugated liner conduit may be evacuated through a valve assembly coupled to the passageway in one of the piston rods. The evacuated corrugated liner conduit may be pressurized with fluid from a fluid source coupled to the valve assembly. Pressurizing the corrugated liner conduit may expand corrugations in the corrugated liner conduit to form a decorrugated liner in the first conduit.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 17, 2010Publication date: September 16, 2010Inventors: L. Robert Zifferer, Edward A. Reed
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Patent number: 7694402Abstract: A lined conduit formed by decorrugating a corrugated liner conduit inside a first conduit is described. A method and apparatus for forming the lined conduit are also described. The corrugated liner conduit may be positioned inside the first conduit. Each end portion of the corrugated liner conduit may be coupled to a hydraulic expander. Each hydraulic expander may include a hydraulic cylinder. Each hydraulic cylinder may include a piston rod with an opening along the length of the piston rod. The corrugated liner conduit may be evacuated through a valve assembly coupled to the passageway in one of the piston rods. The evacuated corrugated liner conduit may be pressurized with fluid from a fluid source coupled to the valve assembly. Pressurizing the corrugated liner conduit may expand corrugations in the corrugated liner conduit to form a decorrugated liner in the first conduit.Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 2005Date of Patent: April 13, 2010Assignee: Packless Metal Hose, Inc.Inventors: L. Robert Zifferer, Edward A. Reed
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Patent number: 6968719Abstract: A machine may produce a tube having textured internal and external surfaces in a single operation. Inner and outer knurling tools may form the textured surfaces. The texturing of the internal and external surfaces may be helical patterns of ribs and grooves. The height of the ribs formed in the internal and external surfaces may be less than about 35 mils. The angles of the patterns relative to a longitudinal axis of the tube may be less than about 45°. The angle of the helical pattern allows textured tubes to be used as heat exchanger elements wherein flow is directed substantially coaxial to the longitudinal axes of the tubes. The helical pattern formed in the external surface may be oriented in a right hand or left hand helical orientation. Similarly, the helical pattern formed in the internal surface may be oriented in a right hand or left hand orientation.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2004Date of Patent: November 29, 2005Assignee: Packless Metal Hose, Inc.Inventor: L. Robert Zifferer
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Patent number: 6923035Abstract: A conduit modifier may be used to corrugate at least a portion of a conduit. The conduit modifier may include at least a first plurality of rollers arranged in a first pattern around a passageway. The first plurality of rollers may form ridges and grooves lengthwise along a conduit passing through the passageway. A second plurality of rollers arranged in a second pattern around the passageway may compress ridges formed by the first set of rollers. The ridges may be formed such that a distance from a central axis of the conduit to a highest portion of an outer surface of a ridge is substantially equal to a distance from the central axis of the conduit to an outer surface of the un-corrugated portion of the conduit. The corrugated portion of the modified conduit may be expandable.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2002Date of Patent: August 2, 2005Assignee: Packless Metal Hose, Inc.Inventors: L. Robert Zifferer, Edward A. Reed
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Publication number: 20040250587Abstract: A machine may produce a tube having textured internal and external surfaces in a single operation. Inner and outer knurling tools may form the textured surfaces. The texturing of the internal and external surfaces may be helical patterns of ribs and grooves. The height of the ribs formed in the internal and external surfaces may be less than about 35 mils. The angles of the patterns relative to a longitudinal axis of the tube may be less than about 45°. The angle of the helical pattern allows textured tubes to be used as heat exchanger elements wherein flow is directed substantially coaxial to the longitudinal axes of the tubes. The helical pattern formed in the external surface may be oriented in a right hand or left hand helical orientation. Similarly, the helical pattern formed in the internal surface may be oriented in a right hand or left hand orientation.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 12, 2004Publication date: December 16, 2004Applicant: Packless Metal Hose, Inc.Inventor: L. Robert Zifferer
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Publication number: 20040226334Abstract: A conduit modifier may be used to corrugate at least a portion of a conduit. The conduit modifier may include at least a first plurality of rollers arranged in a first pattern around a passageway. The first plurality of rollers may form ridges and grooves lengthwise along a conduit passing through the passageway. A second plurality of rollers arranged in a second pattern around the passageway may compress ridges formed by the first set of rollers. The ridges may be formed such that a distance from a central axis of the conduit to a highest portion of an outer surface of a ridge is substantially equal to a distance from the central axis of the conduit to an outer surface of the un-corrugated portion of the conduit. The corrugated portion of the modified conduit may be expandable.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 18, 2002Publication date: November 18, 2004Inventors: L. Robert Zifferer, Edward A. Reed
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Patent number: 6760972Abstract: A machine may produce a tube having textured internal and external surfaces in a single operation. Inner and outer knurling tools may form the textured surfaces. The texturing of the internal and external surfaces may be helical patterns of ribs and grooves. The height of the ribs formed in the internal and external surfaces may be less than about 35 mils. The angles of the patterns relative to a longitudinal axis of the tube may be less than about 45°. The angle of the helical pattern allows textured tubes to be used as heat exchanger elements wherein flow is directed substantially coaxial to the longitudinal axes of the tubes. The helical pattern formed in the external surface may be oriented in a right hand or left hand helical orientation. Similarly, the helical pattern formed in the internal surface may be oriented in a right hand or left hand orientation.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2001Date of Patent: July 13, 2004Assignee: Packless Metal Hose, Inc.Inventor: L. Robert Zifferer
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Patent number: 6488079Abstract: A corrugated heat exchanger element may have grooves and ribs on the interior and exterior surfaces of the tube. The corrugations on the tube may be linear corrugations or helical corrugations. The texturing of the interior and exterior surfaces of the tube, and the corrugations in the tube may provide a heat exchanger element that has a large surface area. The surface texturing and corrugations may also provide a heat exchanger element that promotes internal mixing of fluids that flow by and through the element. Increased internal mixing and increased surface area of an element may allow the heat exchanger element to have a high heat transfer coefficient. A heat exchanger element or heat exchanger elements may be assembled into a heat exchanger that has a high overall heat transfer coefficient. Ends of the heat exchanger element may be pointed to facilitate attachment of the element to a support structure.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2001Date of Patent: December 3, 2002Assignee: Packless Metal Hose, Inc.Inventor: L. Robert Zifferer
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Publication number: 20020121361Abstract: A corrugated heat exchanger element may have grooves and ribs on the interior and exterior surfaces of the tube. The corrugations on the tube may be linear corrugations or helical corrugations. The texturing of the interior and exterior surfaces of the tube, and the corrugations in the tube may provide a heat exchanger element that has a large surface area. The surface texturing and corrugations may also provide a heat exchanger element that promotes internal mixing of fluids that flow by and through the element. Increased internal mixing and increased surface area of an element may allow the heat exchanger element to have a high heat transfer coefficient. A heat exchanger element or heat exchanger elements may be assembled into a heat exchanger that has a high overall heat transfer coefficient. Ends of the heat exchanger element may be pointed to facilitate attachment of the element to a support structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 10, 2001Publication date: September 5, 2002Inventor: L. Robert Zifferer
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Publication number: 20020033035Abstract: A machine may produce a tube having textured internal and external surfaces in a single operation. Inner and outer knurling tools may form the textured surfaces. The texturing of the internal and external surfaces may be helical patterns of ribs and grooves. The height of the ribs formed in the internal and external surfaces may be less than about 35 mils. The angles of the patterns relative to a longitudinal axis of the tube may be less than about 45°. The angle of the helical pattern allows textured tubes to be used as heat exchanger elements wherein flow is directed substantially coaxial to the longitudinal axes of the tubes. The helical pattern formed in the external surface may be oriented in a right hand or left hand helical orientation. Similarly, the helical pattern formed in the internal surface may be oriented in a right hand or left hand orientation.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 10, 2001Publication date: March 21, 2002Inventor: L. Robert Zifferer
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Patent number: 5551504Abstract: Multi-passage heat exchange element which includes an elongated central first fluid passage for passage of a first fluid of a heat exchanger, a plurality of substantially helically convoluted second fluid passages for a second fluid of a heat exchanger, the second fluid passages substantially helically surrounding at least a portion of the elongated central passage, and a plurality of substantially helically convoluted first fluid passages for passage of the first fluid of a heat exchanger, the first fluid passages substantially surrounding at least a portion of the second fluid passages.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 1995Date of Patent: September 3, 1996Assignee: Packless Metal Hose, Inc.Inventor: L. Robert Zifferer
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Patent number: 5409057Abstract: Multi-passage heat exchange element which includes an elongated central first fluid passage for passage of a first fluid of a heat exchanger, a plurality of substantially helically convoluted second fluid passages for a second fluid of a heat exchanger, the second fluid passages substantially helically surrounding at least a portion of the elongated central passage, and a plurality of substantially helically convoluted first fluid passages for passage of the first fluid of a heat exchanger, the first fluid passages substantially surrounding at least a portion of the second fluid passages.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 1993Date of Patent: April 25, 1995Assignee: Packless Metal Hose, Inc.Inventor: L. Robert Zifferer