Patents Examined by Benjamin Fiorello
  • Rock bolter with alignment mechanism for swinging between drilling and bolting
    Patent number: 9567854
    Abstract: A rock drilling and bolting system includes a frame, a drill feed rail rotationally supported on the frame, the drill feed rail having a drill feed slidable on the drill feed rail and a bolter feed rail rotationally supported on the frame, the bolter feed rail having a bolter feed slidable on the bolter feed rail. The system further includes a rotary mechanism comprising a first pivot arm and a parallel second pivot arm that rotationally couples the bolter feed rail to the drill feed rail and an actuator mounted to the frame and the rotary mechanism for simultaneously rotating the drill feed rail and the bolter feed rail between a drilling position for drilling and a bolting position for bolting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: 1311854 Ontario Limited
    Inventor: Yves Nelson
  • Pipe slitter
    Patent number: 9566653
    Abstract: A pipe expander assembly for replacing an existing pipe with a new pipe. The expander assembly has a slitter disposed about a wire rope and abutting an expander at a spherical joint. The expander comprises a cone to expand a slit pipe and is internally connected to the wire rope by jaws that expand and contract about the wire rope due to threading of a jam nut into the cone. A pipe puller is connected to the back of the expander at a clevis and is adapted for connection to a new pipe, either through a jaw system, an adaptor, or fusion to the pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: Earth Tool Company LLC
    Inventors: Mark D. Randa, Robert F. Crane, Walter George Thompson
  • Corrugated stormwater chamber having sub-corrugations
    Patent number: 9556576
    Abstract: A chamber is disclosed. The chamber may include a base, a plurality of alternating crest corrugations and valley corrugations running transverse to a length of the chamber, wherein the crest corrugations decrease in width with elevation from the base, and the valley corrugations increase in width with elevation from the base, at least one crest sub-corrugation running along at least a portion of a crest corrugation, at least one valley sub-corrugation running along at least a portion of a valley corrugation an end crest corrugation positioned at a terminal end of the chamber, and an end crest sub-corrugation running along at least a portion of the end crest corrugation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: StormTech LLC
    Inventors: David J. Mailhot, Nimish Gandhi, Timothy J. McGrath
  • Modular device for the storage and handling of a plurality of flexible pipes
    Patent number: 9556971
    Abstract: A modular storage and holder device for a plurality of flexible lines having a circular turntable arranged on a plane such as the deck of a ship and having reversibly attached thereto a central cylinder around which at least a first line is wound in carousel mode with a plurality of coaxial layers of helically superposed touching turns, internal posts serving as a winding support for at least one second flexible line itself retained by a series of second intermediate posts around which it is possible to wind at least one third flexible line, itself retained by peripheral retaining posts at the periphery of the turntable, the second and third lines being wound in rotary basket type mode having superposed pluralities of layers of juxtaposed concentric touching turns resting on a common plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Saipem S.A.
    Inventors: François-Régis Pionetti, Xavier Rocher
  • Wave attenuation system and method
    Patent number: 9556573
    Abstract: A breakwater (wave attenuation system) includes two horizontal tubes as buoyant members connected to one another, their cross-sections representing vertices of a triangle, whose legs are interconnecting struts. A perforated, submerged, ballast tube forms the third vertex. Wave motion is perpendicular to the length of the float tubes tethered to an anchor at the sea floor. A lead float tube rises in response to an approaching wave, often cutting off the wave crest, while a trailing float tube rises less and later as the wave passes. Asynchronous rising and falling of the leading and trailing, floating, top tubes rocks the breakwater, redirecting and dissipating wave momentum, energy, and water volume by rotating the assembly, thrashing the water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Inventor: Christopher Fred Betcher
  • Rotary drive tip system for installation of piles or other foundation members into the ground
    Patent number: 9551127
    Abstract: For supporting a foundation of other structure, there is provided a system for driving a pile into the ground using a rotary power device. In one example, a system includes a first member with a first end connecting to a drill and a second end having a keyed protrusion; and a second member having a hollow pile adapted to receive the first member therein, one or more blades along a perimeter of a lower portion, and a keyed opening for receiving the keyed protrusion. In use, a drill is connected with the first member, and the first member is inserted into the second member, and the drill drives the first member into and through the ground. The drill and the first member are removed, leaving the second member positioned into the ground at its desired depth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Inventor: Bernard J. Gochis
  • Electrokinetic soil desalinization system and method
    Patent number: 9545651
    Abstract: A system for electrokinetic desalinization of soil may include at least one cathode including a hollow cathode tube perforated along its length to allow liquid water to pass through the cathode tube from an exterior thereof to an interior thereof, and a cathode conductor extending along an exterior surface of the cathode tube; at least one anode including a hollow anode tube perforated along its length to allow liquid water to pass through the anode tube from an exterior thereof to an interior thereof, and an anode conductor extending along an exterior surface of the anode tube; a make-up water line communicating with the interior of the anode tube; an anode discharge line communicating with the interior of the anode tube; and a cathode discharge line communicating with the interior of the cathode tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: TERRAN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Christopher John Athmer, Brent Elliot Huntsman
  • Vibrating arrangement for producing columns of filling material
    Patent number: 9546464
    Abstract: A vibrating arrangement includes at least one elongate silo tube for receiving filling material, the silo tube having a longitudinal direction, a lengthwise filling material outlet at one end of the silo tube and a casing. At least one vibrator is disposed on the silo tube. At least one outer closure is disposed on the casing of the silo tube. At least one filling material container is disposed so as to be movable along the longitudinal axis of the silo tube before the outer closures, in which the filling material container has at least one opening facing the casing of the silo tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Inventors: Alexander Degen, Wilhelm Degen
  • Methods and systems for tensioner connection
    Patent number: 9540890
    Abstract: Improved methods and systems for connecting a riser tensioner system to a riser are disclosed. A system for coupling a tensioner cylinder to a riser includes a top pin connection disposed at a first distal end of the tensioner cylinder. The top pin connection couples the tensioner cylinder to a platform. The tensioner cylinder includes an extension rod and a bottom pin connection is disposed at a second distal end of the tensioner cylinder on the extension rod. A tension ring is coupled to the riser. An adjustable linkage system is coupled to the tensioner cylinder and includes an attachment mechanism and a positioning mechanism. The adjustable linkage system is operable to couple the tensioner cylinder to the tension ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: Dril-Quip, Inc.
    Inventors: Neil B. Prasad, Steven M. Hafernik, Fife B. Ellis
  • Conduit displacement mitigation apparatus including springs, methods and systems for use with subsea conduits
    Patent number: 9541220
    Abstract: Disclosed are apparatus, systems and methods for reducing displacement of a subsea conduit such as offshore hydrocarbon production pipeline, also referred to as pipeline walking or buckling, thus reducing the need for expensive pipeline anchoring or other mitigation solutions. A movement resistor adapted to be installed on a subsea conduit is provided having an inner portion adapted to receive and securely attach to a subsea conduit and at least one resistor portion adapted to resist induced forces. The at least one resistor portion includes a spring element therein. At least one movement resistor can be installed along the length of a subsea conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Antonio Carlos Falcao Critsinelis, Sid Ahmed Mebarkia, Daniel Christopher Kefford, Daria Igorevna Bougai, Dane Ryne Drew
  • Inlet of underground reservoir having multiple-stage structure
    Patent number: 9534369
    Abstract: According to one aspect of the invention, an inlet of an underground reservoir having a multiple-stage structure includes: a flow portion, wherein water flowing in the flow portions; a drop portion transporting the water to a underground reservoir from the flow portion; and an inlet portion having a multiple-stage structure to generate a vortex in the water to be transported to the drop portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Korea Institute of Construction Technology
    Inventors: Dong Sop Rhee, Gil Je Cho, Du Han Lee, Seung Yong Hwang, Myoung Hwan Kim
  • Fairing bodies with multiple parts
    Patent number: 9534618
    Abstract: A fairing for suppressing a vortex induced vibration (VIV) of a tubular. The fairing including a tail member dimensioned to suppress a vortex induced vibration of a tubular. The fairing further including an encircling member dimensioned to encircle less than an entire circumference of a tubular, the encircling member being separable from the tail member. The fairing further including a connecting assembly dimensioned to attach the tail member to the encircling member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: VIV Solutions LLC
    Inventors: Donald Wayne Allen, Julie Ann Dehne, William Andrew West
  • Subsea system for mounting a cable to a pipeline
    Patent number: 9534706
    Abstract: A subsea system I provided for mounting a cable to a pipeline (1), having a holding means (2) for holding the cable, where the system further comprises a track (3) around at least parts of the circumference of the pipeline (1). The holding means (2) has a sledge element (4), and the track (3) and the sledge element are slidably connected such that the sledge element may move along said track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: NEXANS
    Inventor: Roger Larsson
  • Method for placing at least one duct/communication cable below a road surface in an area
    Patent number: 9537292
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for placing at least one duct/communication cable below a road surface in an area, said area comprising a first layer (L1 and a second layer (L2), said first layer (L1) being a road layer, such as asphalt or concrete, and said second layer (L2) being a bearing layer for said first layer (L1) and being located below said first layer (L1), said method comprising the steps of: cutting a micro trench in said area through said first layer (L1) into said second layer (L2); placing at least one duct/communication cable in said micro trench so that said at least one duct/communication cable is placed below said first layer (L1); and filling said micro trench so as to restore said road surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: DellCron AB
    Inventors: Conny Gustavsson, Hasse Hultman
  • Gabions
    Patent number: 9534350
    Abstract: A single box gabion is disclosed. The gabion comprises interconnected side walls. Each side wall comprises at least one substantially closed side wall element panel that prevents a gabion fill material from falling through the side wall without the aid of a gabion lining material. The single box gabion can be coupled together to form a modular gabion structure to protect military or civilian installations from weapons assault or from elemental forces, such as flood waters, lava flows, avalanches, soil instability, slope erosion and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: HESCO BASTION LIMITED
    Inventor: James Heselden
  • Curb drain block
    Patent number: 9528226
    Abstract: A rectangular channel is cut into a contoured concrete curb along a street to expose an end of ground drain pipe. Sealing fill material is applied to portions of cut surfaces of the rectangular channel. A curb drain modular insert that is placed into the rectangular channel has a molded body that is formed to have a rear surface, bottom surface and lateral surfaces that are generally planar. The lateral surfaces are generally parallel to each other. Each lateral surface, rear surface and bottom surface being generally perpendicular to each other for being placed into the rectangular channel cut into the contoured curb. The molded body has a contoured top surface that conforms to portions of the contoured curb that are adjacent to the rectangular channel. A horizontal bore is formed in the molded body from the rear surface through the top surface to conduct ground water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Inventor: Walter Campbell
  • Containment dike
    Patent number: 9528236
    Abstract: Flexible containment tubes form sections of a dike for fluid containment. For example, multiple vinyl-coated polyester tubes with a 19-inch diameter may be filled with water and stacked on top of each other to create a temporary diversion dike. Multiple sections of dike may be abutted together to form longer sections of dike. A vapor barrier or plastic membrane may wrap over dike sections and/or weaved through the flexible containment tubes as they are placed prior to filling. Configurations of the vapor barrier and associated anchoring mechanisms improve the utility of dike sections by reducing hydrostatic pressure of contained fluid on the dike, harnessing the weight of fluid columns, and mitigating seepage through the dike sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: P.V. Flood Control Corp.
    Inventor: Paul Vickers
  • Delivery tube for irrigation and fertilization system and method for manufacturing same
    Patent number: 9527267
    Abstract: The invention is directed generally to improvements in irrigation and fertilization assessment and delivery. More specifically, embodiments of the invention provide an improved fluid delivery tube, method to manufacture such tube, and systems that include such tube. The delivery tube is beneficial at least because it minimizes the life cycle cost of a responsive delivery tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: Responsive Drip Irrigation, LLC
    Inventors: Janice K Gould, David A Conklin
  • Subsurface irrigation
    Patent number: 9521813
    Abstract: A subsurface emitter includes a piston valve both preventing water from draining from the system, and blocking the entry of roots and soil into the emitter body. A nozzle is present at one or both ends of a vertical tube. A piston is held in a normally closed position by a spring in the absence of water pressure, covering ports in the nozzle. When sufficient water pressure in provided, the spring is compressed and the nozzle uncovers the port providing a subsurface spray of water. The spray of water is sufficient to clear mineral deposits which otherwise may accumulate and block the port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Inventor: Kenneth Owen Richardson
  • Method for making a soil remediation product
    Patent number: 9523535
    Abstract: A method for making a soil remediation product using dehydrated and decontaminated manure and a method for providing a time release of nutrients and water to turf and plants in the soil. Further, a method form making a soil remediation product using vulcanized rice hulls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Inventors: Jack Devin Christison, Frank Joseph Marx, Stephanie Marie Marx