Patents Represented by Attorney Raul V. Fonte
  • Patent number: 8070540
    Abstract: A method and a conversion kit are provided for assembling marine propulsion systems such as those comprised of a Mercruiser Alpha One® type sterndrive unit, an OMC Cobra® type inboard engine and a transom assembly, and attaching the propulsion systems to marine vessels. The method and the kit use commercially available parts and minimal special hardware. The technique involves a modified transom assembly comprised of an inner transom plate, a gimbal housing, a gimbal ring equipped with machined custom-made hinge pins, two trim cylinders with corresponding trim pins, and a bell housing with specially designed bellows and adaptor nipple. The invention is also applicable to the assembling of other marine propulsion systems that are comprised of equivalent combinations of similar sterndrive units attached to other similar inboard engines by means of transom assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Sterndrive Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Warren West, Michael Joseph Boehm
  • Patent number: 6977047
    Abstract: A method is provided for manufacturing pharmaceutical water by means of distillation and sanitizing the equipment used in said manufacturing. The method comprises the removal of suspended solids from chlorine-containing water by means of a multimedia filter, followed by a water-softening step and a dechlorination step. Ammonia is then removed from the dechlorinated water before subjecting the water to distillation in a mechanical vapor compression distillation unit. A portion of the generated low-pressure-steam is used to sanitize the manufacturing equipment at certain prescribed locations, and the distilled water, exhibiting United States Pharmacopoeia purified water quality, is withdrawn from the still and stored as pharmaceutical water product. No reverse osmosis operation is required. A system for carrying out the process is also provided. Sanitization is carried out while the system is in a standby mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Assignee: Mechanical Equipment Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Chet Ray Nunez
  • Patent number: 6672798
    Abstract: A system is provided for the storage and long-term conservation of commercially produced sulfur. An underground cavity is identified and selected from an earth formation such that its permeability and porosity allow sulfur to be retained within the cavity. A lined impervious borehole that penetrates the cavity from the surface of the earth through the formation and means for injecting the sulfur through the borehole are provided. Solution-mined, salt-enclosed cavities, located at less than about 3,000 feet of depth are preferred. The stored sulfur is withdrawn, when desired, through a pipe arrangement provided with means for injecting pressurized hot water, at 280°-320° F., through a first annular space, created within the same borehole, and pressurized air through a second annular space so as to cause the sulfur within the cavity to melt and rise to the surface of the earth through a centric space within the borehole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Crescent Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Roy Anthony Pickren
  • Patent number: 6582025
    Abstract: A method and a system are provided for the storage and long-term conservation of commercially produced sulfur. An underground cavity is identified and selected from an earth formation such that its permeability and porosity allow sulfur to be retained within the cavity. An impervious borehole that penetrates the cavity from the surface of the earth through the formation is provided, and the sulfur is then injected through the borehole. Solution-mined, salt-enclosed cavities, located at less than about 3,000 feet of depth are preferred. The stored sulfur is withdrawn, when desired, by injecting pressurized hot water, at 280°-320° F., through a first annular space, created within the same borehole, and pressurized air through a second annular space so as to cause the sulfur within the cavity to melt and rise to the surface of the earth through a centric space within the borehole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Assignee: Crescent Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Roy Anthony Pickren
  • Patent number: 6408663
    Abstract: The invention discloses a method and an apparatus for truing “pressed-together crankshafts” of the type found in multiple-cylinder-engines such as those used in personal watercrafts and snowmobiles. The truing of these crankshafts is effected by a truing tool comprised of a set of lockable V-block-type holding means, a hinging movable shelf so equipped as to cause one of the lockable V-block-type holding means to move the crankshaft alternatively into a measuring position and a truing position, a cam-operated lever, sliding position detection means and a top-mounted clamp, all of which are attached, directly or indirectly, to a rigid supporting base. The set of lockable V-block-type holding means is designed in accordance with the dimensions of the bearings and the journals of the crankshaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: Short Block Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Gregory Bernard Pickren
  • Patent number: 6363609
    Abstract: The invention discloses a method and an apparatus for aligning crankshaft sections such as center sections of so-called “pressed-together crankshafts” found in multiple-cylinder-engines of the type used in personal motorized watercrafts and snowmobiles. The alignment of these crankshaft sections is effected by a phasing tool comprised of two symmetrical machined steel cylinders which are mounted on a die shoe, facing each other in virtual image formation, and provided with specifically designed phasing and centering tools. The phasing tools are designed in accordance with the diameters of the peripheral pins of the journals of the crankshaft section and the stroke of the crankshaft. A centering tool is used to center the crankshaft section with respect to the machined steel cylinders, and a spacing tool, placed between the two webs of the crankshaft section, prevents the force of the hydraulic-actuatordriven upper plate of the die shoe from compressing the crankshaft section excessively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Assignee: Short Block Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Gregory Bernard Pickren
  • Patent number: 4384889
    Abstract: A method for the recovery of precious metals such as gold and silver from various ore types is disclosed which involves subjecting a slurry of the ore to a simultaneous leaching and cementation process with a reagent such as an alkaline cyanide solution providing for the leaching requirement and a reducing metal affording cementation. The reducing metal is selected from the group consisting of cadmium, copper, iron, lead, molybdenum, tin, zinc and alloys and mixtures comprising at least two of these metals. The simultaneous leaching and cementation occur under conditions controlled to afford at least partial dissolution of the precious metal values from the ore, whereby continuous transfer of these values from the ore onto the surface of the reducing metal is promoted. The resultant cementation product, i.e., the reducing metal with precious metal values cemented thereon, is separated from the ore slurry and subjected to a subsequent precious metal recovery step by conventional methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1981
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1983
    Assignee: Freeport Research & Development Company
    Inventors: Tadeusz K. Wiewiorowski, Phillip D. Mollere
  • Patent number: 4289532
    Abstract: The recovery of gold from refractory carbonaceous gold-containing ores by cyanidation techniques is improved by subjecting an oxidized slurry of this type of ores to simultaneous cyanidation and countercurrent granular activated carbon adsorption in two or more stages. The gold transfers to the carbon and may be separated from it by conventional methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 1980
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1981
    Assignee: Freeport Minerals Company
    Inventors: Raphael F. Matson, Bernard M. Fisher