Patents by Inventor Mark Brice

Mark Brice 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: 11916324
    Abstract: An electrical connector for connecting to an array of surface contacts includes a connector body and a plurality of cable terminators. The connector body defines an interior volume and includes an external surface defining a plurality of cable openings each configured to receive a respective multi-conductor cable therethrough and a plurality of passageways. The plurality of cable terminators are each configured to couple with a respective multi-conductor cable exiting the second section of a respective passageway. Each cable terminator includes a plurality of pins each configured to couple with a respective conductor of the multi-conductor cable and to extend to a respective contact surface. The contact surfaces of the plurality of cable terminators extend to a second plane. The first plane and the second plane are coplanar when the array is in the connection position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark C. Nowell, D. Brice Achkir, Joel R. Goergen, Giovanni Giobbio, Mary K. Laue
  • Patent number: 9217292
    Abstract: A percussion mole for inserting a ground-loop for a geothermal heat-pump apparatus. The ground-loop includes a first pipe and a second pipe. The mole comprises: a percussive drive mechanism; a first passage connectable to the first pipe, for receiving a driving fluid via the first pipe and delivering it to the drive mechanism, during insertion of the ground-loop; a second passage connectable to the second pipe, for exhausting the driving fluid from the drive mechanism via the second pipe, during insertion of the ground-loop; and a connection connecting the first passage with the second passage. The connection includes a non-return valve arranged to restrict flow of the driving fluid from the first passage to the second passage during insertion of the ground-loop but permit flow in the opposite direction, whereby after insertion, when the heat pump apparatus is in use, the ground-loop comprises the first and second pipes; the first and second passages; and the connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: Geo-Mole Limited
    Inventor: Mark Brice
  • Publication number: 20150060139
    Abstract: A percussion mole for inserting a ground-loop for a geothermal heat-pump apparatus. The ground-loop includes a first pipe and a second pipe. The mole comprises: a percussive drive mechanism; a first passage connectable to the first pipe, for receiving a driving fluid via the first pipe and delivering it to the drive mechanism, during insertion of the ground-loop; a second passage connectable to the second pipe, for exhausting the driving fluid from the drive mechanism via the second pipe, during insertion of the ground-loop; and a connection connecting the first passage with the second passage. The connection includes a non-return valve arranged to restrict flow of the driving fluid from the first passage to the second passage during insertion of the ground-loop but permit flow in the opposite direction, whereby after insertion, when the heat pump apparatus is in use, the ground-loop comprises the first and second pipes; the first and second passages; and the connection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2011
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventor: Mark Brice
  • Patent number: 8936113
    Abstract: An apparatus for inserting a ground-loop for a geothermal heat-pump system comprises: a percussion mole (4); a first fluid pipe (5), connected to the mole (4), for conveying a heat-exchange fluid from the heat-pump system into the ground; and a second fluid pipe (6), connected to the mole (4), for returning the heat-exchange fluid to the heat-pump system. One of the first and second fluid pipes (5, 6) comprises an intake pipe for delivering a driving fluid to the mole (4) during insertion of the ground-loop and the other fluid pipe comprises an exhaust pipe for the driving fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Geo-Mole Limited
    Inventors: Mark Brice, Les Brown
  • Publication number: 20120097448
    Abstract: An apparatus for inserting a ground-loop for a geothermal heat-pump system comprises: a percussion mole (4); a first fluid pipe (5), connected to the mole (4), for conveying a heat-exchange fluid from the heat-pump system into the ground; and a second fluid pipe (6), connected to the mole (4), for returning the heat-exchange fluid to the heat-pump system. One of the first and second fluid pipes (5, 6) comprises an intake pipe for delivering a driving fluid to the mole (4) during insertion of the ground-loop and the other fluid pipe comprises an exhaust pipe for the driving fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2010
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Applicant: GEO-MOLE LIMITED
    Inventors: Mark Brice, Les Brown