Patents by Inventor Thomas A. Ballard

Thomas A. Ballard 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: 8387334
    Abstract: An LNG system generally comprises a primary container, and a secondary container positioned around the primary container. The secondary container generally comprises a first end wall, a second end wall, and at least two side walls. At least one of the walls is fabricated from a plurality of prefabricated wall panels. Each of the wall panels is fabricated from a combination of concrete and steel. The wall panels are preferably prefabricated offsite, and then transported to the construction site where they are adjoined together in end-to-end fashion to form walls. A method for constructing a full containment LNG system is also provided. In one embodiment, walls and a roof for a secondary container are assembled, but leaving an end open. At least one primary tank is brought into the secondary container. A second end wall is then erected to form the enclosure for the secondary container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Kailash C. Gulati, Thomas A. Ballard, Alexander V. Krimotat
  • Publication number: 20110023404
    Abstract: An LNG system generally comprises a primary container, and a secondary container positioned around the primary container. The secondary container generally comprises a first end wall, a second end wall, and at least two side walls. At least one of the walls is fabricated from a plurality of prefabricated wall panels. Each of the wall panels is fabricated from a combination of concrete and steel. The wall panels are preferably prefabricated offsite, and then transported to the construction site where they are adjoined together in end-to-end fashion to form walls. A method for constructing a full containment LNG system is also provided. In one embodiment, walls and a roof for a secondary container are assembled, but leaving an end open. At least one primary tank is brought into the secondary container. A second end wall is then erected to form the enclosure for the secondary container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2010
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Inventors: Kailash C. Gulati, Thomas A. Ballard, Alexander V. Krimotat
  • Publication number: 20110023408
    Abstract: An LNG system generally comprises a primary container, and a secondary container positioned around the primary container. The secondary container generally comprises a first end wall, a second end wall, and at least two side walls. At least one of the walls is fabricated from a plurality of prefabricated wall panels. Each of the wall panels is fabricated from a combination of concrete and steel. The wall panels are preferably prefabricated offsite, and then transported to the construction site where they are adjoined together in end-to-end fashion to form walls. A method for constructing a full containment LNG system is also provided. In one embodiment, walls and a roof for a secondary container are assembled, but leaving an end open. At least one primary tank is brought into the secondary container. A second end wall is then erected to form the enclosure for the secondary container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2010
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Inventors: Kailash C. Gulati, Thomas A. Ballard, Alexander V. Krimotat
  • Patent number: 7837055
    Abstract: An LNG full containment system is provided. The LNG system generally comprises a primary container, and a secondary container positioned around the primary container. The secondary container generally comprises a first end wall, a second end wall, and at least two side walls. At least one of the walls is fabricated from a plurality of prefabricated wall panels. Each of the wall panels is fabricated from a combination of concrete and steel. The wall panels are preferably prefabricated offsite, and then transported to the construction site where they are adjoined together in end-to-end fashion to form walls. A method for constructing a full containment LNG system is also provided. In one embodiment, walls and a roof for a secondary container are assembled, but leaving an end open. At least one primary tank is brought into the secondary container. A second end wall is then erected to form the enclosure for the secondary container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Kailash C. Gulati, Thomas A. Ballard, Alexander V. Krimotat
  • Publication number: 20080016788
    Abstract: An LNG full containment system is provided. The LNG system generally comprises a primary container, and a secondary container positioned around the primary container. The secondary container generally comprises a first end wall, a second end wall, and at least two side walls. At least one of the walls is fabricated from a plurality of prefabricated wall panels. Each of the wall panels is fabricated from a combination of concrete and steel. The wall panels are preferably prefabricated offsite, and then transported to the construction site where they are adjoined together in end-to-end fashion to form walls. A method for constructing a full containment LNG system is also provided. In one embodiment, walls and a roof for a secondary container are assembled, but leaving an end open. At least one primary tank is brought into the secondary container. A second end wall is then erected to form the enclosure for the secondary container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2005
    Publication date: January 24, 2008
    Inventors: Kailash Gulati, Thomas Ballard, Alexander Krimotat
  • Publication number: 20050005150
    Abstract: A mechanism for ensuring the physical location of data processing devices as a security check is provided. With this mechanism, security data is transmitted to data processing devices via an electrical network and is used to perform a security check to determine if the data processing device may operate. The data processing devices may be limited such that they may only power-up, boot-up, or remain operational when they are coupled to the electrical network. Thus, they must be physically located such that they may gain access to the electrical network. In addition, a security check may be used to control which data processing devices may communicate data packets with one another over the data network. When a data packet is received by a data processing device, security data in the data packet is compared against a local history of security data received by the recipient of the data packet via the electrical network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2003
    Publication date: January 6, 2005
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas Ballard
  • Patent number: 5752899
    Abstract: The present invention is an aquatic exercise and therapeutic system comprising a plurality of aquatic exercise devices arranged about a central controller which permits adjustment of the water level and water temperature within each exercise device. Sensors which detect water level and temperature may be disposed in each exercise device to electrically communicate with the central controller. Individual controllers may also be provided on each exercise device so that the water level and temperature may be controlled by the user. The exercise devices are preferably arranged so that the longitudinal axis of each device extends radially outwardly from a center point where the water source, the central controller, and the means for heating the water are positioned. Each exercise device comprises a tank having an inner chamber. At the rearward end of the inner chamber, the wall is configured to form a seat suitable for positioning a user within the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1998
    Inventor: Thomas Ballard
  • Patent number: 4629203
    Abstract: A utility cart especially suited for snow removal and other yard work and comprising a generally rectangular body having side panels, a rear panel, and a bottom panel. A pair of wheels are provided at the rear of the body for rollably engaging a support surface and a rounded nose is provided at the front of the body. The rounded nose normally slidably engages the support surface but is rollably engagable with the support surface in response to a generally upward force applied to handle at the rear of the body to facilitate upward rolling pivotal movement of the cart about its nose to dump the contents of the cart out of the open front end of the body. The cart is particularly suited for snow removal but, because of the basic open box configuration of the body, has general application for year round yard work.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1984
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1986
    Inventor: Thomas Ballard
  • Patent number: 3972786
    Abstract: An improved thin film magnetic memory device is fabricated by selective mechanical enhancement of the coercive force and anisotropic characteristics of the thin film magnetic material. The enhancement is produced by polishing the substrate with a fine abrasive in a direction parallel to the desired easy axis of magnetization prior to magnetic film deposition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1974
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1976
    Assignee: Ampex Corporation
    Inventor: Nathan Thomas Ballard