Patents Assigned to Keystone Tower Systems, Inc.
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Patent number: 10189064Abstract: A control system for forming a tapered structure includes a sensor providing feedback for a machine for forming a tapered structure including at least three rolls having at least one bend roll and at least two guide rolls. The guide rolls may include rollette banks having a plurality of rollettes. The machine may also include an adjustment mechanism to position at least one of the rolls, where a diameter of the tapered structure being formed is controlled by relative positions of the rolls. The machine may also include a joining element to join edges of a stock of material together as it is rolled through the rolls to form the tapered structure. The control system may also include a controller to receive feedback from the sensor and to send a control signal based on the feedback to the adjustment mechanism for positioning at least one of the rolls.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2014Date of Patent: January 29, 2019Assignee: Keystone Tower Systems, Inc.Inventors: Rosalind K. Takata, Eric D. Smith, Loren Daniel Bridgers, Daniel Ainge, Alexander H. Slocum
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Patent number: 10150150Abstract: Tube forming methods can be used for efficient transition in the production of tubes having varying thickness. Material used to form consecutive tubes may have the same thickness along a separation plane separating a first discrete section from a second discrete section of the material, and the first discrete section and the second discrete section may each have varying thickness in a feed direction of the material. With such a thickness profile, the first discrete section of the material may be formed into a first cylinder having varying thickness and separated from the second discrete portion as the second discrete section is formed into a second cylinder having varying thickness. In particular, the transition between the first cylinder and the second cylinder may be achieved without scrap and/or interruption, resulting in cost-savings and improvements in production throughput associated with forming tubes having varying thickness.Type: GrantFiled: January 12, 2018Date of Patent: December 11, 2018Assignee: Keystone Tower Systems, Inc.Inventor: Michel Caron
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Patent number: 10060149Abstract: A method for creating a tapered spiral welded conical structure where the overall shape of the cone is first graphically slit axially and unwrapped, and then a series of construction arcs and lines are created to form the edge lines of a strip that can then be wrapped (rolled) to form a tapered conical structure. The edges of the spirally wound strip can be welded together, and a very large conical structure can thus be achieved. Various construction options are presented from a constant width strip to strip made from straight segments. Equations are given for the formation of the strips to enable those skilled in the art of spiral welded tubing to practice the invention.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2016Date of Patent: August 28, 2018Assignee: Keystone Tower Systems, Inc.Inventors: Eric D. Smith, Alexander H. Slocum
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Patent number: 9475153Abstract: A method for creating a tapered spiral welded conical structure where the overall shape of the cone is first graphically slit axially and unwrapped, and then a series of construction arcs and lines are created to form the edge lines of a strip that can then be wrapped (rolled) to form a tapered conical structure. The edges of the spirally wound strip can be welded together, and a very large conical structure can thus be achieved. Various construction options are presented from a constant width strip to strip made from straight segments. Equations are given for the formation of the strips to enable those skilled in the art of spiral welded tubing to practice the invention.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 2014Date of Patent: October 25, 2016Assignee: Keystone Tower Systems, Inc.Inventors: Eric D. Smith, Alexander H. Slocum
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Patent number: 9302303Abstract: Feeding stock used to form a tapered structure into a curving device such that each point on the stock undergoes rotational motion about a peak location of the tapered structure; and the stock meets a predecessor portion of stock along one or more adjacent edges.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2012Date of Patent: April 5, 2016Assignee: Keystone Tower Systems, Inc.Inventors: Eric D. Smith, Rosalind K. Takata, Alexander H. Slocum, Samir A. Nayfeh
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Patent number: 9266157Abstract: Feeding stock used to form a tapered structure into a curving device such that each point on the stock undergoes rotational motion about a peak location of the tapered structure; and the stock meets a predecessor portion of stock along one or more adjacent edges.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2012Date of Patent: February 23, 2016Assignee: Keystone Tower Systems, Inc.Inventors: Eric D. Smith, Rosalind K. Takata, Alexander H. Slocum, Samir A. Nayfeh
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Publication number: 20150273550Abstract: A control system for forming a tapered structure includes a sensor providing feedback for a machine for forming a tapered structure including at least three rolls having at least one bend roll and at least two guide rolls. The guide rolls may include rollette banks having a plurality of rollettes. The machine may also include an adjustment mechanism to position at least one of the rolls, where a diameter of the tapered structure being formed is controlled by relative positions of the rolls. The machine may also include a joining element to join edges of a stock of material together as it is rolled through the rolls to form the tapered structure. The control system may also include a controller to receive feedback from the sensor and to send a control signal based on the feedback to the adjustment mechanism for positioning at least one of the rolls.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 28, 2014Publication date: October 1, 2015Applicant: Keystone Tower Systems, Inc.Inventors: Rosalind K. Takata, Eric D. Smith, Daniel Bridgers, Daniel Ainge, Alexander H. Slocum
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Publication number: 20140220371Abstract: A method for creating a tapered spiral welded conical structure where the overall shape of the cone is first graphically slit axially and unwrapped, and then a series of construction arcs and lines are created to form the edge lines of a strip that can then be wrapped (rolled) to form a tapered conical structure. The edges of the spirally wound strip can be welded together, and a very large conical structure can thus be achieved. Various construction options are presented from a constant width strip to strip made from straight segments. Equations are given for the formation of the strips to enable those skilled in the art of spiral welded tubing to practice the invention.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 8, 2014Publication date: August 7, 2014Applicant: Keystone Tower Systems, Inc.Inventors: Eric D. Smith, Alexander H. Slocum
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Patent number: 8720153Abstract: A method for creating a tapered spiral welded conical structure where the overall shape of the cone is first graphically slit axially and unwrapped, and then a series of construction arcs and lines are created to form the edge lines of a strip that can then be wrapped (rolled) to form a tapered conical structure. The edges of the spirally wound strip can be welded together, and a very large conical structure can thus be achieved. Various construction options are presented from a constant width strip to strip made from straight segments. Equations are given for the formation of the strips to enable those skilled in the art of spiral welded tubing to practice the invention.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2010Date of Patent: May 13, 2014Assignee: Keystone Tower Systems, Inc.Inventors: Eric Smith, Alexander Slocum