Patents by Inventor Robert C. Frank

Robert C. Frank 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: 5363927
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for high pressure drilling are disclosed. The apparatus comprises an essentially solid drill head with horizontally extendable nozzle arms hingedly connected by shear pins thereto. Flow of high pressure fluid both extends the nozzle arms and flows through the nozzle arms, thereby fracturing and shearing material surrounding the drill head. Cessation of fluid flow returns the arms to the vertical position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1994
    Inventor: Robert C. Frank
  • Patent number: H10
    Abstract: A can-out hatch assembly may be positioned in sealed engagement about an aperture within a chamber and is adapted to engage a cover on a container positioned over the aperture to allow the transfer of a contaminant from the chamber to the container while maintaining the contaminant as well as internal portions of the chamber and container isolated from the surrounding environment. With the container's cover engaged by the can-out hatch assembly, the hatch assembly as well as the cover may be pivotally displaced from the aperture with the cover maintaining the exterior portion of the hatch assembly isolated from the contaminant. After the contaminant is transferred from the chamber to the container, the hatch assembly and cover are again positioned in sealed engagement about the aperture. The hatch assembly then positions the cover upon the open end of the container in a sealed manner allowing the container to be removed while maintaining the chamber sealed relative to the surrounding environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 1985
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1986
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventors: Robert C. Frank, Joseph C. Hoh
  • Patent number: H11
    Abstract: A can-out hatch assembly is adapted to engage in a sealed manner the upper end of a covered sealed container around an aperture in a sealed chamber and to remove the cover from the container permitting a contaminant to be transferred between the container and the chamber while isolating internal portions of the container and chamber from the surrounding environment. A swing bracket is coupled at a first end thereof to the inner, lower wall of the sealed container adjacent to the aperture therein. To a second end of the swing bracket is mounted a hatch cover which may be positioned in sealed engagement about the chamber's aperture by rotating the hatch cover in a first direction when the swing bracket is in the full down position. Rotation of the hatch cover in a second direction releases it from sealed engagement with the chamber's aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 1985
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1986
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventors: Paul J. Basnar, Robert C. Frank, Joseph C. Hoh
  • Patent number: H914
    Abstract: Apparatus is provided for supporting one or more contactor stages used to remove radioactive materials from aqueous solutions. The contactor stages include a housing having an internal rotor, a motor secured to the top of the housing for rotating the rotor, and a drain in the bottom of the housing. The support apparatus includes two or more vertical members each secured to a ground support that is horizontal and perpendicular to the frame member, and a horizontally disposed frame member. The frame member may be any suitable shape, but is preferably a rectangular tube having substantially flat, spaced top and bottom surfaces separated by substantially vertical side surfaces. The top and bottom surfaces each have an opening through which the contactor housing is secured so that the motor is above the frame and the drain is below the frame during use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 7, 1991
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventors: Ralph A. Leonard, Robert C. Frank