Patents by Inventor Lionel H. Wheeler

Lionel H. Wheeler 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: 4493203
    Abstract: An internal mandrel (10) is disclosed which is used for supporting the inner wall (30) of a pipe (12) during bending. The internal mandrel includes a urethane plug (31) which is compressed between the piston (60) of a hydraulic cylinder (56) and an end plate (36). This expands the urethane radially outward into contact with the inner wall (30) of the pipe to support the pipe during bending. Resilient steel strips (88) can be mounted on the exterior surface of the urethane plug (31) at the inside bend of the pipe to increase the effective wall thickness of the pipe at the inner bend to reduce the likelihood of deformation during bending. In a second embodiment, internal mandrel (200) includes an annular urethane plug (204) positioned between a resilient cylinder (202) and the inner wall of the pipe (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1983
    Date of Patent: January 15, 1985
    Assignee: Crutcher Resources Corporation
    Inventors: Lionel H. Wheeler, Robert G. Goekler, Daniel G. Luddeke
  • Patent number: 4446713
    Abstract: A pipe bending machine (10) is described which incorporates a bending die (14) which supports coated pipe during bending without damaging the coating. In one embodiment, the bending die (14) employs a conventional die (30) with a plurality of longitudinal rods (40, 42, 44) spaced from the inner surface of the die (30) and in pipe confronting relation. When the pipe is urged against the bending die in the machine, the rods precompress the material thereunder for transmitting the bending forces. The rods (40, 42, 44) are spaced a sufficient distance from each other in the transverse direction about the inner surface of the die to permit the material to flow outward therebetween to reduce the stresses in the coating. In a second embodiment, a plurality of transversely extending rings (62, 64 66) are positioned on the inner surface of a conventional die (30) which further act to support bending forces without damage to the coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1981
    Date of Patent: May 8, 1984
    Assignee: Crutcher Resources Corporation
    Inventors: Lionel H. Wheeler, Robert G. Goekler
  • Patent number: 4359820
    Abstract: An apparatus for cutting pipe and casing. An apparatus for cutting pipe and casing having a hinged frame and using the revolution of the device about the workpiece to simultaneously effect cutting of the workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1980
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1982
    Inventors: Lionel H. Wheeler, James P. Adair
  • Patent number: 4352285
    Abstract: A hydraulic wedge mandrel is disclosed for supporting top and bottom cylindrical segments of pipe during cold bending of the pipe. Bottom and top assemblies (14) and (16) are vertically movable to and away from each other for expanding and collapsing the mandrel. Bottom and top arcuate support segments (18) and (22) support the bottom and top assemblies (14) and (16) respectively. Bottom spring plate (20) is mounted to bottom arcuate support segments (18) opposite bottom assembly (14) and top spring plate (24) is mounted to top arcuate support segments (22) opposite top assembly (16). Secured to the top of bottom spring plate (20) and the bottom of top spring plate (24) are a plurality of wedges (28).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1979
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1982
    Assignee: Crutcher Resources Corporation
    Inventors: Forrest N. LaRue, Lionel H. Wheeler
  • Patent number: 4086803
    Abstract: A pipe bending mandrel having a housing assembly of a plurality of interconnected, axially aligned segmented housing subassemblies, each of which has an internal taper, a plurality of spherical members spaced along a tension member and adapted to coact with the internal housing tapers, a plurality of axially extending flexible strips connected to the housing segments, and an actuator connected to the spherical members and the housings to move the spherical members into the internal housing tapers to expand the housings into pipe supporting position within a pipe to be bent. Suitable wheels are provided for moving the mandrel into, through and out of the pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 1977
    Date of Patent: May 2, 1978
    Assignee: CRC-Crose International, Inc.
    Inventor: Lionel H. Wheeler