Patents Assigned to Cherne Industries, Inc.
  • Patent number: 4974168
    Abstract: An automatic, electronically operated data collection and display system for a pipeline video monitoring device, and a method for collecting and displaying information on a pipeline with a video image. A plurality of data inputs are connected to the monitoring device for receiving information on the operating parameters of the device. The data inputs include an operator input. A control unit is connected to the data inputs and has an interconnected central processor, input/output control system, and graphics generation and video overlay system. Data outputs are connected to the input/output control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 27, 1990
    Assignee: Cherne Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Gregory C. Marx
  • Patent number: 4817671
    Abstract: A high pressure mechanical plug device for sealing and locking into a high interior pressure pipeline. The mechanical plug device has a hollow cylindrical body structure with an end wall and a side wall structure having a plurality of apertures. A piston structure having an end wall and a frustoconical ram of a predetermined slope is provided for movement in the cylindrical body structure. An elastomeric sealing member is in communication with the end wall of the piston structure. A plurality of rigid securement members are provided for extension through the apertures of the cylindrical body structure and for slidingly engaging the frustoconical ram. A draw bolt extending axially from the frustoconical ram through the end wall of the cylindrical body is provided with a nut to move the piston structure into the cylindrical body to seal and lock the plug device in the pipeline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 4, 1989
    Assignee: Cherne Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Allen D. Mathison, Dale K. Nelson
  • Patent number: 4763660
    Abstract: The unitary flexible and disposable electrode belt and method is for receiving and transmitting electric current or voltage for use on the body of a patient. The belt has a unitary layered body structure that is releasably secured to the patient. The belt device body structure has a terminal end that is connectable for communication with medical therapeutic and diagnostic apparatus. The layered body structure further includes a plurality of flexible non-conductive and conductive layers, a conductive network having electrode contact areas at predetermined positions and conductive adhesive members to removably hold the device to a patient and to, thereby, transfer electrical signals between predetermined patient body locations and the medical therapeutic and diagnostic apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1988
    Assignee: Cherne Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark W. Kroll, Mark R. Pommrehn, Dan Hanson
  • Patent number: 4763511
    Abstract: A separable, lightweight and inflatable pipe joint sealing and testing apparatus for large diameter pipes having a multi-membered arched channel support structure having a circular configuration, and having three parallelly disposed channel members extending outward therefrom, and having outer channel members and a centrally disposed testing channel member. A unitary inner sleeve sealing member coextensive with the channel members is provided for covering the channel support structure. The pipe joint sealing and testing apparatus further has a pair of inflatable annular sealing ring members for placement in the outer channel members, a compressed air source means in communication with the pair of inflatable sealing rings, and a compressed fluid ingress and egress structure through the port of the centrally disposed channel member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1988
    Assignee: Cherne Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Allen D. Mathison, Dale K. Nelson
  • Patent number: 4695258
    Abstract: The connector assembly is for connecting the conductive network of a flexible printed circuit to the conductive network of a rigid printed circuit board. The connector assembly comprises an alignment body structure mountable on the printed circuit and for positioning the flexible printed circuit for electrical communication with the rigid printed circuit. The alignment structure has a central aperture in alignment with the printed circuit contacts and a horizontal insertion aperture for ingress and egress of the flexible printed circuit in the plane of the rigid printed circuit. The connector assembly further comprises an elastomeric conductor disposed within the alignment structure so that the elastomeric conductor is between the communicative portions of the flexible printed circuit and the rigid printed circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1987
    Assignee: Cherne Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel R. Hanson, Ludwig D. Nesheim
  • Patent number: 4691728
    Abstract: An automatic pipeline testing and sealing system and method to operate the functions of an inflatable packer device from a remote location. The automatically operated packer device has inflatable end elements, an exterior sleeve member and a chemical dispensing mechanism and is in operative communication with a cable assembly, a compressed air source, a pressurized test fluid source, a sealing chemical component source, and a catalyst component source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1987
    Assignee: Cherne Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Allen D. Mathison
  • Patent number: 4672976
    Abstract: A heart sound sensing device for placement on the body of a patient and for the detection of low frequency sound waves. The device is for use with medical diagnostic devices, and comprises a cylindrical housing structure for retaining the remaining elements of the device, a strap for holding the device to the body of the patient, a fluid ingress/egress aperture, an open end for receiving sound waves, and a hydrophone assembly centrally fixed within the housing structure for producing electrical signals in response to transmitted heart sound waves. The device of this invention is further provided with a flexible diaphragm which is vibratingly sensitive to sound waves generated by the patient's heart and being for placement in direct contact with the patient body surface to conform to the body contours. A bubble free fluid medium is provided to fill the remaining interior volume of the housing structure to transmit sound waves from the diaphragm to the hydrophone assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1987
    Assignee: Cherne Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark W. Kroll
  • Patent number: 4672977
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for deriving weak cardiac sounds by automatically cancelling lung sounds. The process is accomplished by providing a pair of acoustic sensors about the thorax of a patient, the first being disposed on the precordial region, adjacent to the sternum, and the second on the axillary region; obtaining sound signals from each sensor; amplifying the axillary signal by a predetermined factor; and subtracting the amplified signal from the precordial signal. An acoustic transmitter is placed on the axillary region opposite the axillary sensor. Sound waves of predetermined frequencies are emitted from the axillary transmitter to determine and compensate for phase shifts due to the electronic circuitry and the patient body. The apparatus of the present invention comprises a first acoustic sensor, a second acoustic sensor, an acoustic transmitter, a strap, transmitting cables, a processor, a cathode-ray tube, a printer, and headphones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1987
    Assignee: Cherne Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark W. Kroll
  • Patent number: 4614206
    Abstract: A multi-size expansible pneumatic plug device for sealing the interior of a pipeline section. The expansible plug device has interchangeable front and rear circular rigid support members for supporting the remaining elements of the device and each rigid support member has a generally flat end portion and a body portion having parallelly disposed circumferential ridges to form first and second grooved portions. The circumferential ridges have top surfaces of an equal predetermined inclined slope. At least one of the rigid support members additionally has an air inlet means. An exteriorly smooth and interiorly corded elastomeric sleeve member is provided for expansion to seal against the interior wall of a pipeline section. The sleeve member has interiorly disposed parallel circumferential rings of a predetermined spacing inward its ends. A pair of strapping clamp members hold the sleeve member rings matingly between the parallel ridges and in the grooved portions of each rigid support member during assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 30, 1986
    Assignee: Cherne Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Allen D. Mathison, Dale K. Nelson
  • Patent number: 4588110
    Abstract: The portable, light-weight pumping mechanism is for transferring and mixing two fluids from a portable fluid container having a top portion of predetermined dimensions and having an inlet port. The portable pumping mechanism is comprised of a base cover member having an aperture therethrough and having a downwardly extending circumferential lip adapted for securing the pumping mechanism to the top of the portable fluid container. A frame structure is mounted to the top of the base cover member and a pair of interconnected elongated pneumatic pumps are mounted to the frame structure. One of the pneumatic pumps is connectable to a compressed air source. A downwardly extending pickup conduit protrudes through the aperture in the base cover member to sealingly engage the inlet portion of the container and it is further in communication with one of the pumps for removing fluid from the portable fluid container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1985
    Date of Patent: May 13, 1986
    Assignee: Cherne Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Dale K. Nelson, Allen D. Mathison
  • Patent number: 4572228
    Abstract: The connector valve assembly is for insertion between a fluid inlet line assembly and an inflatable packer device having an externally disposed chemical dispensing assembly to pressure test and repair pipelines. The connector valve assembly is connectable to the fluid inlet line assembly which is comprised of a first chemical line, a second chemical line and a test media line and to the inflatable packer which has input connectors to receive the first and second chemical lines. The connector valve assembly has a first chemical conduit with an actuatable valve and connectors at opposite ends to transfer a first chemical component. A second chemical conduit with an actuatable valve and having connector means at opposite ends transfers a second chemical component. A valve actuating means is in communication with the second conduit at a location before its valve to simultaneously activate the valves of the first and second conduits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 1984
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1986
    Assignee: Cherne Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard E. Larson, Dale K. Nelson, Allen D. Mathison
  • Patent number: 4493344
    Abstract: The mechanically operable plug device is for use with the end of a pipe or conduit. The plug device is for removably sealing the conduit end so that the conduit can be tested for leaks. The mechanically operable plug device is comprised of two spacially parallel plate members, a narrow, elastomeric, and radially expandable O-ring member which is disposed between the plate members, and adjustable lateral force means which is operable on the parallel plate members. The radially expandable O-ring member has a circumferentially disposed surface for engaging the interior surface of a conduit to be sealed, and a generally V-shaped cross section having inclined surfaces of a predetermined slope. The plate members have interiorly facing tapered shoulders of generally the same predetermined slope to engage the inclined surfaces of the O-ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1983
    Date of Patent: January 15, 1985
    Assignee: Cherne Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Allen D. Mathison, Dale K. Nelson, Lloyd G. Cherne
  • Patent number: 4190619
    Abstract: An improved liquid aerating rotor assembly comprises a support frame having a rotor mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis. A plurality of floats support the rotor and support frame on the surface of a sewage pond or the like. A V-shaped deflecting plow or V-shaped front float is located upstream of the rotor. This configuration causes the upstream surface layer of liquid to pass around the rotor. This prevents any solid debris located in the surface layer of liquid from jamming the rotor and allows more complete aeration of sub-surface liquid. Alternatively, a scoop may replace the V-shaped deflecting members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1978
    Date of Patent: February 26, 1980
    Assignee: Cherne Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Lloyd G. Cherne
  • Patent number: 4177559
    Abstract: An internal pipe cutter comprises a rotatable mandrel having a cutting drum and a guide drum mounted thereon. The guide drum is longitudinally adjustable relative to the cutting drum and controls the depth at which the cutting drum is received inside the pipe. The cutting drum includes a slidably mounted cutter which is projected outwardly into engagement with the pipe by centrifugal force. The cutter comprises a slider block having a radially adjustable cutting blade. In addition, one surface of the cutting drum has an access slot which communicates with the slider block enclosed inside the drum. The access slot allows a tool to be inserted into the cutting drum as necessary to unjam the cutter without having to dismantle the cutting drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1978
    Date of Patent: December 11, 1979
    Assignee: Cherne Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles E. Anderson
  • Patent number: D300350
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 21, 1989
    Assignee: Cherne Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Allen D. Mathison