Patents by Inventor Valerie Lisa Rhoades

Valerie Lisa Rhoades 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).

  • Publication number: 20160010356
    Abstract: In certain embodiments, a tower lifting system comprises a primary lifting system and a secondary lifting system. The primary lifting system includes a lift cap configured to support a tower section to be lifted, the lift cap having a first plurality of hoists, and a lift pole coupled to the lift cap, the lift pole having a lifting mechanism configured to lift the lift cap, the lift pole, and the tower section to be lifted from within a previously lifted tower section. The secondary lifting system comprises a second plurality of hoists configured to raise the tower section to be lifted to the lift cap from a tower foundation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2015
    Publication date: January 14, 2016
    Inventors: Jerald Edward Jones, Valerie Lisa Rhoades
  • Publication number: 20150330355
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards a power generation system having a wind power system comprising a wind tower and a pumped liquid energy storage system configured to store liquid in an interior volume of the wind tower, wherein the pumped liquid energy storage system is a closed-loop system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2014
    Publication date: November 19, 2015
    Applicant: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Jerald Edward Jones, Valerie Lisa Rhoades
  • Patent number: 9140029
    Abstract: In certain embodiments, a tower lifting system comprises a primary lifting system and a secondary lifting system. The primary lifting system includes a lift cap configured to support a tower section to be lifted, the lift cap having a first plurality of hoists, and a lift pole coupled to the lift cap, the lift pole having a lifting mechanism configured to lift the lift cap, the lift pole, and the tower section to be lifted from within a previously lifted tower section. The secondary lifting system comprises a second plurality of hoists configured to raise the tower section to be lifted to the lift cap from a tower foundation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Jerald Edward Jones, Valerie Lisa Rhoades
  • Publication number: 20150231680
    Abstract: In certain embodiments described herein, a heated line forming system includes a heating coil system configured to produce a heated line on a surface of a metal part. The heated line forming system also includes an air knife cooling system configured to maintain a dry area for the heated line, and to direct a coolant (e.g., cooling water, liquified gases such as liquid argon, solidified gases such as carbon dioxide snow, and so forth) around the heated line via a spray mechanism such that the coolant does not flow or splash into the heated line on the metal part. In certain embodiments, the heated line forming system includes multiple induction coils arranged along a line and spaced a short distance apart, but which, when operated simultaneously together, form a heated line on a surface of a metal part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2015
    Publication date: August 20, 2015
    Inventors: Jerald Edward Jones, Valerie Lisa Rhoades, Adam N. Cuneo
  • Publication number: 20150122801
    Abstract: In certain embodiments described herein, a heated line forming system includes a heating coil system configured to produce a heated line on a surface of a metal part. The heated line forming system also includes an air knife cooling system configured to maintain a dry area for the heated line, and to direct a coolant (e.g., cooling water, liquified gases such as liquid argon, solidified gases such as carbon dioxide snow, and so forth) around the heated line via a spray mechanism such that the coolant does not flow or splash into the heated line on the metal part. In certain embodiments, the heated line forming system includes multiple induction coils arranged along a line and spaced a short distance apart, but which, when operated simultaneously together, form a heated line on a surface of a metal part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2014
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventors: Jerald Edward Jones, Valerie Lisa Rhoades, Adam N. Cuneo
  • Publication number: 20110284527
    Abstract: An auxiliary welding heating system includes an induction heating coil disposed adjacent to a welding torch or plasma cutter. The auxiliary welding heating system further includes an induction power supply configured to generate an alternating current and a step-down transformer coupled to the induction power supply. The induction heating coil is coupled to the step-down transformer and is configured to receive the alternating current and induce eddy currents in a welding work piece to heat the welding work piece before an advancing welding arc or plasma cut to a homologous temperature of at least approximately 0.5.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2011
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicant: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Todd Earl Holverson, Jerald Edward Jones, Valerie Lisa Rhoades, Stephen King Madden