Patents Examined by James F Hook
  • Patent number: 11555572
    Abstract: A liner tube is provided for repairing either a single pipe line or a main pipe line having a lateral pipe line connected thereto. The liner tube assembly includes a liner tube impregnated with a liquid material capable of curing and hardening. The liner tube includes a gasket or band of hydrophilic paste positioned about the juncture of the pipe lines. The gasket or bands form a tight seal between the liner tube and the pipe line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: LMK Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Larry W. Kiest, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11543149
    Abstract: Example air duct assemblies include a pliable air duct supported such that the duct is maintained in a generally expanded shape even when the duct is deflated. In some examples, a series of hangers suspend the duct from one or more cables, tracks or other type of overhead support. The hangers are spaced apart and distributed over the length of the duct, and each one contributes in pulling the duct taut in the duct's longitudinal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Rite-Hite Holding Corporation
    Inventors: Cary Pinkalla, Jeff Logic, Kevin J. Gebke, Nicholas L. Kaufmann
  • Patent number: 11506328
    Abstract: The invention relates to pipelines and equipment useful in nuclear power plants, heat power engineering, manufacturing engineering, petrochemistry, water supply, chemical and aerospace industries, and other fields. The invention relates to a pipe heat insulation casing consisted of metal elements and assembly method ensuring reliable electrical insulation of all elements. The connection of the metal elements is with lapping, the elements are with openings in the lapping area where the electrically-insulating spacers are set made of resilient, elastic-plastic, plastic, fully viscous or partially solidified material ensuring electrical insulation between the adjacent elements. The electrically-insulating spacers are applied to the lapping areas of the metal elements to fill the openings of the lapping areas thus arranging reliable pin connections between the spacer and adjacent casing elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignees: JOINT-STOCK COMPANY “ATOMENERGOPROEKT”, JOINT STOCK COMPANY “SCIENCE AND INNOVATIONS”
    Inventors: Boris Alekseevich Postnikov, Evgenij Borisovich Mishin, Zinaida Semenovna Kazachkova, Dmitrij Alekseevich Vorobev, Elena Aleksandrovna Nikitina
  • Patent number: 11499654
    Abstract: Flexible pipe body, a flexible pipe and a method of manufacturing pipe body are disclosed. The flexible pipe body comprises a tensile armour layer and a supporting layer radially outside, or radially inside, and in an abutting relationship with the tensile armour layer. The supporting layer comprises a helically wound constraining tape element and a helically wound electrically conductive tape element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Energy Technology UK Limited
    Inventors: Sui Wang, Andrew Roberts, Laurence Baldwin, Richard Clements
  • Patent number: 11493398
    Abstract: A drainpipe test plug for plugging a drainpipe via an opening formed therein includes a plug seal that includes a planar front surface which faces upward in the drainpipe whenever the drainpipe test plug is in a plugging position and a peripheral annular rim. The plug seal can include a plurality of holes or a continuous channel formed into the surface of the planar front surface, or a plurality of holes or a continuous channel formed into the surface of the peripheral annular rim, or both. The plug seal holes or channels impart a degree of flexibility to a peripheral area of the plug seal to facilitate the insertion and removal of the drainpipe test plug from the drainpipe. In addition, the holes or channel in the planar front surface provide additional sealing force against the interior of the drainpipe whenever the drainpipe test plug is in the plugging position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: GEORGE TASH & DEBRA B. TASH
    Inventors: George Tash, Trinidad Martinez
  • Patent number: 11493399
    Abstract: A sealing device is provided for use with a fitting. The fitting has circular port and a flow path with a longitudinal axis. A circular port encircles a portion of the flow path opposite the port with the sealing device inserted into the port. The sealing device has a circular top with two opposing surfaces depending therefrom but inclined so the surfaces are closer at the top. A continuous sidewall joins the periphery of the two surfaces. The opposing surfaces are inclined and spaced apart further at the top than at an end opposite the top. A cylindrical hole through the opposing surfaces encircles the flow path during use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: RELIANCE WORLDWIDE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Dennis L. Hart, Cristobal Gonzalez, Virgil E. O'Neil, Jeffrey A. Jaramillo, Larry D. Brown
  • Patent number: 11480272
    Abstract: One aspect of the invention provides a system including: a length of energy-dissipative tubing; a first sealing device coupled to a first end of the length of energy-dissipative tubing; and a second sealing device coupled to a second end of the length of energy-dissipative tubing. Exposure to one or more selected from the group consisting of: fault currents or lightning strikes at an exposure point along the length of energy-dissipative tubing will produce arcs at the exposure point and at least one of the first end and the second end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: Titeflex Corporation
    Inventor: Jordan Strunk
  • Patent number: 11473714
    Abstract: A strip member that can be made into a spiral pipe with an enlarged perimeter by being spirally wound. A first fitting portion (93) is disposed in one end portion of a cross-section orthogonal to an extending direction of a strip member (90) and a second fitting portion (94) is disposed in the other end portion of the cross-section. A spiral pipe (9) is made by spirally winding the strip member (90) and fitting the second fitting portion (94) with the first fitting portion (93) preceding by one turn. The strip member (90) has a cross-sectional configuration in which a reference width direction W9 connecting the first fitting portion (93) and the second fitting portion (94) on the cross-section is inclinable to an outer surface side toward the first fitting portion side when the strip member is wound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: SEKISUI CHEMICAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuuta Miyatake, Hiroshi Sugahara, Tatsurou Baba, Yoshirou Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 11471900
    Abstract: A heated whip hose includes a hose core configured to deliver a fluid, a heating element disposed around the hose core, a protective layer disposed around the heating element and hose core, an insulating layer disposed around the protective layer, and an abrasion protection layer disposed around insulating layer and forming an outer sheath.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Graco Minnesota Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph E. Tix, Nicholas P. Peterson, Nicholas K. Studt, Stephen P. Schneider
  • Patent number: 11466805
    Abstract: The invention discloses an intelligent plugging robot and method thereof for rerouting, maintaining and repairing long-distance pipelines. The intelligent plugging robot includes a through-flow governor, a flow-blocking mechanism and a telescopic mechanism, wherein the through-flow governor and the flow-blocking mechanism are symmetrically distributed on both sides of the device. The invention can realize remote, fast, safe and accurate plugging during maintaining and repairing the long-distance pipeline, wherein the telescopic mechanism cooperates with the flow-blocking mechanism to move autonomously in the pipe to achieve precise positioning, the through-flow governor can not only adjust the plugging robot but also ensure the cleaning of the pipe wall, make it stable contact with the signal transceiver, and realize the stable communication between the robot in the pipe and the remote monitoring machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Inventors: Yang Tang, Yuan Wang, Haoyu Xiong, Jinzhong Wang, Mingbo Wang, Wen Yang, Guangjie Yuan, Xiang Gao, Jie Wu, Shouhong Ji, Guorong Wang, Hao Hou, Meng Li, Li Gu
  • Patent number: 11466807
    Abstract: An insulation device for a low-temperature pipe according to the present disclosure includes: a pair of primary insulation materials surrounding a first radially outer surface and a second radially outer surface of the pipe; a pair of secondary insulation materials surrounding outer surfaces of the primary insulation materials; a pair of tertiary insulation materials surrounding outer surfaces of the secondary insulation materials; a pair of finishing covers surrounding outer surfaces of the tertiary insulation materials; an out-profile coupled to each of the finishing covers so as to surround each of widthwise opposite ends of the finishing cover; and an in-profile coupled to each of the finishing covers so as to surround each of lengthwise opposite ends of the finishing cover, wherein the pair of secondary insulation materials are configured such that each of opposed contact surfaces thereof is formed in a shape bent at least one time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: DONG IN ENGINEERING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Sang Ki Kim
  • Patent number: 11448364
    Abstract: The present invention provides lightweight high-pressure accumulators that avoids diaphragm failure observed in conventional diaphragm accumulators. Lightweight high-pressure composite overwrapped accumulators of the invention are made from a plurality of hollow casings that are mated to form an accumulator housing. The accumulator housing is overwrapped with a composite material to provide additional mechanical strength and structural integrity. More significantly, the accumulators of the invention includes a plurality of annular grooves and a plurality of bulb on the flexible diaphragm such that the plurality of bulbs on the flexible diaphragm are placed in the plurality of annular grooves that are formed between the first and the second hollow casing. In this manner, diaphragm failure is significantly reduced or even completely eliminated during repeated high pressure charge/discharge cycle of the accumulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: STEELHEAD COMPOSITES, INC.
    Inventors: Kaushik Mallick, Michael W. Stewart, Annalisa Padget-Shields, Jacob Schrader, John Cronin, Andrew Coors
  • Patent number: 11391407
    Abstract: A pipe rehabilitation system and/or robot can be used inside a pipe to measure characteristics of branch conduits, install plugs into branch conduits before the pipe is lined with a liner, remove portions of plugs and liners after lining to restore fluid communication between the pipe and branch conduits, and/or install fittings into the branch conduits to connect the liner to the branch conduits. A probe can measure characteristics of a branch conduit. A tool can install plugs and/or fittings into the branch conduits. A linkage can connect a tool to a robotic tractor so that the connected elements can navigate through a main pipe. A visualization system can aid in aligning a robot with a branch conduit. Height-adjustable braces can support robotic tools in a pipe. A plug can include integrated locating features and/or movable parts that enable expanding the plug to seal with the branch conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: INA Acquisition Corp.
    Inventors: Rick Baxter, Robert Kodadek, Hermann Herrlich, Steven McKeefrey, John Webster
  • Patent number: 11391400
    Abstract: This invention provides a threaded connection for pipes or tubes having excellent misalignment resistance and high torque on shoulder resistance, and also having excellent corrosion resistance properties, as well as a method for producing the threaded connection for pipes or tubes. The threaded connection for pipes or tubes includes a pin and a box. The pin and the box include contact surfaces having threaded portions and unthreaded metal contact portions. The threaded connection for pipes or tubes includes, on at least one of the contact surfaces of the pin and the box, surface roughness, a Zn—Ni alloy plating layer, a Cu—Sn—Zn alloy plating layer and a solid lubricant coating layer. These are deposited from the contact surface side in the order of: surface roughness, the Zn—Ni alloy plating layer, the Cu—Sn—Zn alloy plating layer and the solid lubricant coating layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignees: Nippon Steel Corporation, Vallourec Oil and Gas France
    Inventor: Kunio Goto
  • Patent number: 11384870
    Abstract: Helically reinforced, flexible tubing or hose is formed from continuously extruded thermoplastic material helically circumferentially wound at a wrapping station around an array of bearing-supported rods that are concurrently but individually turned and are adjustably canted relative to an imaginary center axis. The tubing or hose being formed has a continuous reinforcing rib helically wound therearound and continuously integrally connected thereto. The resulting tubing or hose may be transversely severed at intervals along its length to provide discrete lengths of hose that are annealed while axially compressed to relieve stress.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: GLOBALMED, INC.
    Inventors: Carl J Garrett, Donald K Hadley, Martin E Forrester
  • Patent number: 11384889
    Abstract: An eversion liner for lining a pipe includes an impermeable outer portion, inner and outer strength portions inside the impermeable outer portion, and a middle portion including at least one felt layer radially between the inner and outer strength portions. At least one of the inner and outer strength portions is formed from a unitary sheet of strength material that includes parallel chopped strands of fiber. The longitudinal edge margins of the sheet of strength material are positioned in overlapping engagement and joined together by joining structure. The parallel chopped fibers can be oriented transverse to the length of the liner. The joining structure can prevent reduction in a width of the overlapped edge margins as the liner expands during eversion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: INA Acquisition Corp.
    Inventors: Charles Free, Abu Abraham, Yevgeny Eugene Zaltsman
  • Patent number: 11378216
    Abstract: A cap for closing an open end of a duct tube has a cylindrical side wall having a length between a closed end and an open end of the side wall. An end wall extends across the closed end of the side wall. A conical section of the side wall extends outwardly from the open end of the side wall and has an interior surface configured to guide an end of a duct tube into a hollow interior volume of the side wall. A groove in an interior surface of the side wall is configured to receive a bead around an end of a duct tube inserted through the conical section and into the hollow interior of the side wall. A plurality of pull tabs extend outwardly from the conical section and are configured to be manually pulled, pulling the cap over the end of the duct tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Bryce A. Vandyke, Douglas D. Maben, Luis J. Sanchez, Timothy Chiu
  • Patent number: 11378217
    Abstract: A floatable pipe combination has a plastic pipe having a rear longitudinal end, on which a rear flange region is formed, and a front longitudinal end, on which a front flange region is formed, a closing cover arranged on the rear longitudinal end, and a closing cover arranged on the front longitudinal end. A pulling device is arranged on the closing cover. At least on the front longitudinal end, a flange protection with an outer protective covering is arranged. The outer protective covering is formed to radially project with respect to the outer diameter of the plastic pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: agru Kunststofftechnik Gesellschaft m.b.H.
    Inventors: Albert Lueghamer, Wolfgang Prangl
  • Patent number: 11377836
    Abstract: This invention relates to a disposable sewer hose liner that may be used to line the inside of a sewer hose for recreational vehicles, trailers, and mobile homes. The disposable sewer hose liner provides a more sanitary method of disposing sewage and waste water from an RV, trailer, or mobile home and reduces the odor emanating from a sewer hose, the amount of cleaning necessary, and the amount of bacteria or waste that a user comes in contact with when interacting with a sewer hose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Inventor: Jeffrey Bledsoe
  • Patent number: 11378206
    Abstract: A multilayer tube, particularly for chemical and food-related fluids, which includes, in succession from the inside outward a first layer constituted by a tubular sheath that is at least externally corrugated and which defines the duct for the fluid. The tube further includes at least one second layer, which has an inner layer, chosen from between a rubberized fabric and an elastomeric material with textile reinforcement, which is arranged on the first layer, and an outer covering which is arranged on the inner layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignees: TUBIGOMMA DEREGIBUS S.R.L., FLUORTUBING BV
    Inventors: Alexander J. A. Soeterbroek, Andrea Deregibus