Patents by Inventor William J. Solomon
William J. Solomon 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).
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Publication number: 20240116737Abstract: A vacuum lifter of this disclosure includes a spreader bar having a lifting lug at a top end and pad hanger locations at a bottom end; a pair of legs rotatably connected at a corresponding end of the spreader bar, each leg including a foot at a lower end of the leg; each leg having a first locking position in which the foot is below the spreader bar and a second locking position in which the foot is above the spreader bar; and a pair of vacuum pads adapted for connection to a vacuum source and to the pad hanger locations of the spreader bar. The spreader bar may be extendable. The vacuum source may be mounted on the spreader bar. The vacuum lifter is useful for lifting objects out of confined spaces below grade.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 10, 2023Publication date: April 11, 2024Inventors: William J. Solomon, Mason Owen
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Publication number: 20240076167Abstract: A portable vacuum lifter system having a power source, drive motor, vacuum pump and reservoir contained in a readily carriable case. The system also has a vacuum pad in fluid communication with the vacuum pump via a vacuum line and a solenoid operated valve. The system is removably mountable on a small host vehicle for use in confined areas.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 23, 2020Publication date: March 7, 2024Inventor: William J. Solomon
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Patent number: 11852161Abstract: A turbomachine includes an annular casing and a fan disposed inside the annular casing and mounted for rotation about an axial centerline. The fan includes fan blades that extend radially outwardly toward the annular casing. The fan has an average chord fan width according to a first performance factor. The fan has a quantity of fan blades according to a second performance factor.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2023Date of Patent: December 26, 2023Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Jixian Yao, Trevor H. Wood, Kishore Ramakrishnan, William J. Solomon, Giridhar Jothiprasad, Aaron J. King
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Publication number: 20230322412Abstract: A flow conditioning structure is disposed about a central axis of an unducted thrust producing apparatus. The unducted thrust producing apparatus has a propeller that generates thrust in a working fluid by rotating about the central axis. The propeller is comprised of blades each with a free end. Each blade also has a leading edge where the working fluid enters during forward thrust operation. The flow conditioning structure comprises a structure forming a passage and the structure forming the passage controls a speed and a direction of the working fluid drawn into the unducted thrust producing apparatus so as to approximate operational speeds and operational directions of the working fluid entering the unducted thrust producing apparatus during operations of a vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2023Publication date: October 12, 2023Inventors: Daniel L. Tweedt, Andrew Breeze-Stringfellow, Syed Arif Khalid, William J. Solomon, Alexander Hills
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Patent number: 11767197Abstract: Embodiments of a vacuum material handler or lifting device and system of this disclosure provide a modular design that allows a power pack to be mounted directly to the pad or remotely mounted on host equipment to minimize lift weight. The pad, which includes an integral, pad reservoir, may be arranged, to accept a rotator or a tilting mechanism for position when used on mobile equipment. The power pack is independent of the pad and can be transferred to multiple pads, thereby permitting a single power pack to service the different pads. The control mechanism may reside on the pad to further facilitate modularity. Safety checks used for remote operation may be used to minimize the risk of danger in the event of remote vacuum hose or vacuum failure.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2020Date of Patent: September 26, 2023Assignee: Vacuworx Global, LLCInventors: William J. Solomon, Luis Guevara, Keith A. Sparks, II
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Patent number: 11661851Abstract: A turbomachine includes an annular casing and a fan disposed inside the annular casing and mounted for rotation about an axial centerline. The fan includes fan blades that extend radially outwardly toward the annular casing. The fan has an average chord fan width according to a first performance factor. The fan has a quantity of fan blades according to a second performance factor.Type: GrantFiled: November 14, 2022Date of Patent: May 30, 2023Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Jixian Yao, Trevor H. Wood, Kishore Ramakrishnan, William J. Solomon, Giridhar Jothiprasad
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Patent number: 11629032Abstract: A material lifter comprising a vacuum pump, a frame containing the vacuum pump, an arm located on each of two opposing sides of the frame, each arm including an upper end pivotally connected to the frame, a cylinder located on each of the two opposing sides of the frame including an end connected to the frame and an end connected to a respective arm, a vacuum pad located on each of the two opposing sides of the frame and removably connected to a respective arm, the vacuum pads being moveable along the arm to a first location and a first orientation and a second different location and a second different orientation, wherein as the cylinders extend and retract the arms pivot toward and away from one another between a first position and a second different position and the vacuum pads remain in a same orientation during the pivot.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2022Date of Patent: April 18, 2023Assignees: Vacuworx Global, LLC, Bakker Special Grabs B.V.Inventors: William J. Solomon, Justin Hendricks, Federico Gusella, Rob Slikker
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Patent number: 11519506Abstract: A seal for a vacuum lifter and method of manufacture wherein the seal has a continuous unbroken outer fluid resistant skin of elastomer which forms a boundary around a homogeneous cellular structure with no interior seams or joints.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 2021Date of Patent: December 6, 2022Assignee: Vacuworx Global, LLCInventors: Robert Denton, James Ray Podesta, William J. Solomon
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Publication number: 20220380181Abstract: Embodiments of a vacuum material handler or lifting device and system of this disclosure provide a modular design that allows a power pack to be mounted directly to the pad or remotely mounted on host equipment to minimize lift weight. The pad, which includes an integral, pad reservoir, may be arranged, to accept a rotator or a tilting mechanism for position when used on mobile equipment. The power pack is independent of the pad and can be transferred to multiple pads, thereby permitting a single power pack to service the different pads. The control mechanism may reside on the pad to further facilitate modularity. Safety checks used for remote operation may be used to minimize the risk of danger in the event of remote vacuum hose or vacuum failure.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 20, 2020Publication date: December 1, 2022Inventors: William J. Solomon, Luis Guevara, Keith A. Sparks, II
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Publication number: 20220242700Abstract: A material lifter comprising a vacuum pump, a frame containing the vacuum pump, an arm located on each of two opposing sides of the frame, each arm including an upper end pivotally connected to the frame, a cylinder located on each of the two opposing sides of the frame including an end connected to the frame and an end connected to a respective arm, a vacuum pad located on each of the two opposing sides of the frame and removably connected to a respective arm, the vacuum pads being moveable along the arm to a first location and a first orientation and a second different location and a second different orientation, wherein as the cylinders extend and retract the arms pivot toward and away from one another between a first position and a second different position and the vacuum pads remain in a same orientation during the pivot.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 14, 2022Publication date: August 4, 2022Inventors: William J. Solomon, Justin Hendricks, Federico Gusella, Rob Slikker
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Publication number: 20220073317Abstract: A seal for a vacuum lifter and method of manufacture wherein the seal has a continuous unbroken outer fluid resistant skin of elastomer which forms a boundary around a homogeneous cellular structure with no interior seams or joints.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 2, 2021Publication date: March 10, 2022Inventors: Robert Denton, James Ray Podesta, William J. Solomon
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Patent number: 11247873Abstract: A material lifter comprising a vacuum pump, a frame containing the vacuum pump, an arm located on each of two opposing sides of the frame, each arm including—an upper end—pivotally connected to the frame, a cylinder located on each of the two opposing sides of the frame including an end connected to the frame and an end connected to a respective arm, a vacuum pad located on each of the two opposing sides of the frame—and removably connected to a respective arm, the vacuum pads being moveable along the arm to a first location and a first orientation and a second different location and a second different orientation, wherein as the cylinders extend and retract the arms pivot toward and away from one another between a first position and a second different position and the vacuum pads remain in a same orientation during the pivot.Type: GrantFiled: September 5, 2019Date of Patent: February 15, 2022Assignees: Vacuworx Global, LLC, Bakker Special Grabs B.V.Inventors: William J. Solomon, Justin Hendricks, Federico Gusella, Rob Slikker
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Patent number: 11078051Abstract: A seal for a vacuum lifter and method of manufacture wherein the seal has a continuous unbroken outer fluid resistant skin of elastomer which forms a boundary around a homogeneous cellular structure with no interior seams or joints.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 2019Date of Patent: August 3, 2021Assignee: Vacuworx Global, LLCInventors: Robert Denton, James Ray Podesta, William J. Solomon
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Publication number: 20210179392Abstract: A material lifter [10] comprising a vacuum pump [70], a frame [20] containing the vacuum pump, an arm [30] located on each of two opposing sides [21] of the frame, each arm including an upper [31] and a lower end [39], the upper end pivotally connected to the frame, a cylinder [100] located on each of the two opposing sides of the frame, each actuator including an upper end [101] connected to the frame and a lower end [109] connected to a respective arm, a vacuum pad [40] located on each of the two opposing sides of the frame, each vacuum pad in fluid communication with the vacuum pump and removably connected to a respective arm, the vacuum pads being moveable along the arm to a first location and a first orientation and a second different location and a second different orientation wherein as the cylinders extend and retract the arms pivot toward and away from one another between a first clock position and a second different clock position and the vacuum pads remain in a same orientation during the pivot.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 5, 2019Publication date: June 17, 2021Inventors: William J. Solomon, Justin Hendricks, Federico Gusella, Rob Slikker
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Patent number: 10731427Abstract: A system and method for moving directional drill pipe with vacuum power. The system is used with a vacuum beam mounted on a boom. It has a vacuum pad that is pivotally attached at one end by a hinge to the vacuum beam. The other end of the vacuum pad is attached to the vacuum beam via an actuatable cylinder. Operation of the cylinder causes the vacuum pad to rotate about the hinge and change the angle of the vacuum pad relative to the vacuum beam. Lateral movement of the vacuum pad relative to the vacuum beam is provided by one or more pinned connections located adjacent to the hinge. Vacuum pressure from the vacuum pad is used to grasp and release drill pipe.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2019Date of Patent: August 4, 2020Assignee: Vacuworx Global, LLCInventors: William J. Solomon, Justin Hendricks
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Publication number: 20200216292Abstract: A truck-mounted vacuum material handler and quick disconnect for use on a truck with a with a boom for handling plate steel. The handler includes a coupler [32] that has a boom connector [44], a removable carrier [36, 38] with a carrier connector [60], and a base [34] located between the boom connector and the removable carrier. A locking mechanism [66] located in the base is arranged to move between an unlocked position and a locked position relative to the carrier connector. In the unlocked position the carrier connector is removable from the base. In the locked position the carrier connector is secured in the opening and opposing face surfaces [48, 50, 62] of the base and removable carrier are mated to one another. The removable carrier may include a rotator-receiving recess [42] or a rigging hardware eyelet [40] arranged opposite the carrier connector.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 13, 2020Publication date: July 9, 2020Inventors: William J. Solomon, James K. Hays
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Patent number: 10612532Abstract: An improved vacuum material handler having an onboard drive engine powering a vacuum pump and a hydraulic pump. The vacuum material handler also having a frame with integrated forklift lugs.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2017Date of Patent: April 7, 2020Assignee: Vaculift, Inc.Inventors: William J. Solomon, Darrell Hocutt
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Publication number: 20190360592Abstract: A seal for a vacuum lifter and method of manufacture wherein the seal has a continuous unbroken outer fluid resistant skin of elastomer which forms a boundary around a homogeneous cellular structure with no interior seams or joints.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 12, 2019Publication date: November 28, 2019Inventors: Robert Denton, James Ray Podesta, William J. Solomon
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Publication number: 20190322493Abstract: A traffic barrier lifter mountable on a boom and having a gearbox with a first and a second rotating axis; a pair of opposing arms directly mounted to the first and second rotating axis and a rotator capable of rotating the lifter relative to the boom, wherein the gearbox is capable of moving the pair of opposing arms from an open position to a closed position such that the arms can clamp onto a traffic barrier. The rotator being capable of rotating the arms and traffic barrier relative to the boom.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 1, 2019Publication date: October 24, 2019Inventors: William J. Solomon, Justin Hendricks
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Publication number: 20190277097Abstract: A system and method for moving directional drill pipe with vacuum power. The system is used with a vacuum beam mounted on a boom. It has a vacuum pad that is pivotally attached at one end by a hinge to the vacuum beam. The other end of the vacuum pad is attached to the vacuum beam via an actuatable cylinder. Operation of the cylinder causes the vacuum pad to rotate about the hinge and change the angle of the vacuum pad relative to the vacuum beam. Lateral movement of the vacuum pad relative to the vacuum beam is provided by one or more pinned connections located adjacent to the hinge. Vacuum pressure from the vacuum pad is used to grasp and release drill pipe.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 11, 2019Publication date: September 12, 2019Inventors: William J. Solomon, Justin Hendricks