Patents Assigned to Structural Services, Inc.
  • Patent number: 12629765
    Abstract: A shear stud feeder for a stud welding gun may include a support frame having a first slide rail and a second slide rail longitudinally spaced apart from the first slide rail to form a slot therebetween. The shear stud feeder may also include a magazine removably engaged with the support frame. The magazine may be adapted to support a plurality of shear studs by the head of each shear stud in a manner in which the body of each shear stud hangs below a bottom of the magazine and wherein the magazine is adapted to dispense the plurality of shear studs to the slot. The shear stud feeder may include a feed mechanism disposed adjacent to either the first slide rail or the second slide rail and a gate assembly adjacent to a front end of each of the first slide rail and the second slide rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2026
    Assignee: Structural Services, Inc.
    Inventors: James T. Benzing, Jacob Bruce Patterson, William R. Haller
  • Publication number: 20260027662
    Abstract: The invention provides a system for controlling the movement of a motorized cart on which a stud welder or grinder is mounted. The system comprises a speed control mechanism, distance control mechanism, and delay time control mechanism, each adjustable via potentiometer knobs. Directional control is managed by first and second three-way momentary switches and a three-way maintained switch for precise track movements. An LCD screen displays real-time settings, while an integrated power switch and wireless RF transmitter facilitate operation and communication with motor controllers. The custom software codebase ensures intuitive user adjustments. The method includes initializing the system, setting parameters, and controlling movement and operations via the interface. Additionally, an advanced ride cart system is described, featuring a lightweight composite body, touch-sensitive controls, safety features, and a high-capacity battery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2025
    Publication date: January 29, 2026
    Applicant: Structural Services, Inc.
    Inventors: James T. Benzing, David W. Eckhart, II, Sam Fowler, Nicholas D. Caiazzo, Henry Burd
  • Patent number: 12473177
    Abstract: The present disclosure presents systems and methods for assisting a crane operator. An imaging system automatically images each building material object contained within a shakeout field on a construction site and processes the images to determine each object's identifying indicium and its geometric properties. These values are compared with a construction site database to ensure that all necessary building materials are present. A positioning device tracks, in real time, the location of the imaging system, the location of structural members within the shakeout field, and/or other important features of the job site, such as obstacles that the crane operator will need to avoid while lifting a structural member from its initial location to its destination location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2025
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2025
    Assignee: Structural Services, Inc.
    Inventors: James T. Benzing, Willam R. Haller, Seth T. Slavin, Marta Kasica-Soltan
  • Patent number: 12344510
    Abstract: The present disclosure presents systems and methods for assisting a crane operator. An imaging system automatically images each building material object contained within a shakeout field on a construction site and processes the images to determine each object's identifying indicium and its geometric properties. These values are compared with a construction site database to ensure that all necessary building materials are present. A positioning device tracks, in real time, the location of the imaging system, the location of structural members within the shakeout field, and/or other important features of the job site, such as obstacles that the crane operator will need to avoid while lifting a structural member from its initial location to its destination location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2024
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2025
    Assignee: Structural Services, Inc.
    Inventors: James T. Benzing, William R. Haller, Seth T. Slavin, Marta Kasica-Soltan
  • Patent number: 12330919
    Abstract: The present disclosure presents systems and methods for assisting a crane operator. An imaging system automatically images each building material object contained within a shakeout field on a construction site and processes the images to determine each object's identifying indicium and its geometric properties. These values are compared with a construction site database to ensure that all necessary building materials are present. A positioning device tracks, in real time, the location of the imaging system, the location of structural members within the shakeout field, and/or other important features of the job site, such as obstacles that the crane operator will need to avoid while lifting a structural member from its initial location to its destination location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2024
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2025
    Assignee: Structural Services, Inc.
    Inventors: James T Benzing, William R Haller, Seth T Slavin, Marta Kasica-Soltan
  • Patent number: 12319545
    Abstract: The present disclosure presents systems and methods for assisting a crane operator. An imaging system automatically images each building material object contained within a shakeout field on a construction site and processes the images to determine each object's identifying indicium and its geometric properties. These values are compared with a construction site database to ensure that all necessary building materials are present. A positioning device tracks, in real time, the location of the imaging system, the location of structural members within the shakeout field, and/or other important features of the job site, such as obstacles that the crane operator will need to avoid while lifting a structural member from its initial location to its destination location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2024
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2025
    Assignee: Structural Services, Inc.
    Inventors: James T Benzing, William R Haller, Seth T Slavin, Marta Kasica-Soltan
  • Publication number: 20250100063
    Abstract: An apparatus for sorting and aligning one or more shear studs for loading a shear stud feeder may include a lift mechanism having a lower lift member configured to lift shear studs from a hopper and deposit them onto an intermediate landing. An upper lift member may be configured to receive the shear studs from the intermediate landing and deposit them onto an upper landing. An alignment channel may be arranged downstream of the lift mechanism and configured to receive the shear studs from the upper landing and orient them with an elongated open slot of a magazine of the shear stud feeder. The alignment channel may include a slot configured for the shear studs to pass through and into the elongated open slot of the magazine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2024
    Publication date: March 27, 2025
    Applicant: Structural Services, Inc.
    Inventors: James T. Benzing, William R. Haller, Nicholas D. Caiazzo, David W. Eckhart, II, Michael P. Kunz, Glenn O'Rourke
  • Patent number: 12258242
    Abstract: The present disclosure presents systems and methods for assisting a crane operator. An imaging system automatically images each building material object contained within a shakeout field on a construction site and processes the images to determine each object's identifying indicium and its geometric properties. These values are compared with a construction site database to ensure that all necessary building materials are present. A positioning device tracks, in real time, the location of the imaging system, the location of structural members within the shakeout field, and/or other important features of the job site, such as obstacles that the crane operator will need to avoid while lifting a structural member from its initial location to its destination location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignee: Structural Services, Inc.
    Inventors: James T. Benzing, William R Haller, Seth T. Slavin, Marta Kasica-Soltan
  • Patent number: 12195306
    Abstract: Based upon the identification of a structural member, a projective path and final attachment location for the structural member is presented to the crane operator. Further, the dimensions of each structural member are determined and compared against a construction site database. Structural members not conforming to the dimensions listed in the construction site database are identified and the crane operator alerted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: Structural Services, Inc.
    Inventors: James T. Benzing, William R Haller, Seth T. Slavin
  • Publication number: 20240391014
    Abstract: The present disclosure teaches systems and methods for robotic welding of studs onto the surface of I-beams. The systems and methods use machine vision to identify and locate welding sites on a surface of a beam or girder, moves and aligns studs to the welding sites, and welds studs to the surface at these sites.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2024
    Publication date: November 28, 2024
    Applicant: Structural Services, Inc.
    Inventors: James T. Benzing, William R. Haller, Jacob Bruce Patterson
  • Patent number: 12145823
    Abstract: Based upon the identification of a structural member, a projective path and final attachment location for the structural member is presented to the crane operator. Further, the dimensions of each structural member are determined and compared against a construction site database. Structural members not conforming to the dimensions listed in the construction site database are identified and the crane operator alerted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2024
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Assignee: Structural Services, Inc.
    Inventors: James T. Benzing, William R. Haller, Seth T. Slavin, Marta Kasica-Soltan
  • Patent number: 12139376
    Abstract: Based upon the identification of a structural member, a projective path and final attachment location for the structural member is presented to the crane operator. Further, the dimensions of each structural member are determined and compared against a construction site database. Structural members not conforming to the dimensions listed in the construction site database are identified and the crane operator alerted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Assignee: Structural Services, Inc.
    Inventors: James T. Benzing, William R. Haller, Seth T. Slavin, Marta Kasica-Soltan
  • Patent number: 12076826
    Abstract: The present disclosure teaches systems and methods for robotic welding of studs onto the surface of I-beams. These systems and methods will find industrial applicability in, for example, the steel erection industry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2024
    Assignee: Structural Services, Inc.
    Inventors: James T. Benzing, William R. Haller, Jacob B. Patterson
  • Patent number: 11939194
    Abstract: The present disclosure presents systems and methods for assisting a crane operator. An imaging system automatically images each building material object contained within a shakeout field on a construction site and processes the images to determine each object's identifying indicium and its geometric properties. These values are compared with a construction site database to ensure that all necessary building materials are present. A positioning device tracks, in real time, the location of the imaging system, the location of structural members within the shakeout field, and/or other important features of the job site, such as obstacles that the crane operator will need to avoid while lifting a structural member from its initial location to its destination location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Structural Services, Inc.
    Inventors: James T. Benzing, William R Haller, Seth T. Slavin, Marta Kasica-Soltan
  • Patent number: 11932518
    Abstract: The present disclosure presents systems and methods for assisting a crane operator. An imaging system automatically images each building material object contained within a shakeout field on a construction site and processes the images to determine each object's identifying indicium and its geometric properties. These values are compared with a construction site database to ensure that all necessary building materials are present. A positioning device tracks, in real time, the location of the imaging system, the location of structural members within the shakeout field, and/or other important features of the job site, such as obstacles that the crane operator will need to avoid while lifting a structural member from its initial location to its destination location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Structural Services, Inc.
    Inventors: James T. Benzing, William R. Haller, Seth T. Slavin, Marta Kasica-Soltan
  • Patent number: 11897734
    Abstract: The present disclosure presents systems and methods for assisting a crane operator. An imaging system automatically images each building material object contained within a shakeout field on a construction site and processes the images to determine each object's identifying indicium and its geometric properties. These values are compared with a construction site database to ensure that all necessary building materials are present. A positioning device tracks, in real time, the location of the imaging system, the location of structural members within the shakeout field, and/or other important features of the job site, such as obstacles that the crane operator will need to avoid while lifting a structural member from its initial location to its destination location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Structural Services, Inc.
    Inventors: James T. Benzing, William R. Haller, Seth T. Slavin, Marta Kasica-Soltan
  • Publication number: 20220324050
    Abstract: A shear stud feeder for a stud welding gun may include a support frame having a first slide rail and a second slide rail longitudinally spaced apart from the first slide rail to form a slot therebetween. The shear stud feeder may also include a magazine removably engaged with the support frame. The magazine may be adapted to support a plurality of shear studs by the head of each shear stud in a manner in which the body of each shear stud hangs below a bottom of the magazine and wherein the magazine is adapted to dispense the plurality of shear studs to the slot. The shear stud feeder may include a feed mechanism disposed adjacent to either the first slide rail or the second slide rail and a gate assembly adjacent to a front end of each of the first slide rail and the second slide rail.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2022
    Publication date: October 13, 2022
    Applicant: Structural Services, Inc.
    Inventors: James T. Benzing, Jacob Bruce Patterson, William R. Haller
  • Publication number: 20220152723
    Abstract: A system for automatically identifying one or more welding site locations on a surface of a target metal marked with a plurality of welding site candidates, includes an imager configured to acquire an image of the surface of the target metal, wherein the acquired image includes a plurality of pixels each having a corresponding intensity value; and a processing circuit configured to: compare each intensity value to an intensity threshold, identify a plurality of pixel clusters, wherein each pixel cluster is made up of contiguous pixels that have intensity values that are equal to or greater than the intensity threshold, for each pixel cluster, determine whether a total pixel area of the pixel cluster is less than a threshold pixel area, and remove any pixel cluster from consideration as a welding site location if the total pixel area of the pixel cluster is less than the threshold pixel area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2021
    Publication date: May 19, 2022
    Applicant: Structural Services, Inc.
    Inventors: James T. Benzing, William R. Haller
  • Publication number: 20210078094
    Abstract: The present disclosure teaches systems and methods for robotic welding of studs onto the surface of I-beams. These systems and methods will find industrial applicability in, for example, the steel erection industry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2020
    Publication date: March 18, 2021
    Applicant: Structural Services, Inc.
    Inventors: James T. Benzing, William R. Haller, Jacob B. Patterson
  • Patent number: 10252368
    Abstract: The present disclosure teaches systems and methods for robotic welding of studs onto the surface of I-beams. These systems and methods will find industrial applicability in, for example, the steel erection industry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: Structural Services, Inc.
    Inventors: James T. Benzing, William R. Haller, Jacob B. Patterson