Patents Examined by Sunil Singh
  • Perimeter pile anchor foundation
    Patent number: 9739027
    Abstract: A perimeter pile anchor foundation is built by forming a plurality of individual perimeter pile anchors in a large generally circular pattern to form a perimeter wall. The individual pile anchors are contiguous, each pile overlapping the adjacent piles on either side. The overlapping pile anchors form an arch such that compression and friction between the pile anchors resist soil caving and sloughing pressure when soil inside the perimeter wall is excavated, enabling the perimeter pile foundation to be effectively constructed in weak saturated soils and/or cohesionless sands that will not allow conventional concrete foundation excavations. A concrete foundation ring is formed inside the pile perimeter wall to support a tall and/or heavy tower or other structure subject to high upset forces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Inventor: Henderson
  • Mining method
    Patent number: 9739146
    Abstract: The present invention provides a mining method. The method includes: dividing a mining region into a plurality of federated mining regions; performing an open-pit mining operation in each of the federated mining regions and forming a pit in each of the federated mining regions; performing an underground mining operation on a slope of the pit and forming a plurality of excavated tunnels; and backfilling a pit of a previous federated mining region with a spoil of a subsequent federated mining region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Inventor: Xia Zhao
  • Situ treatment system and method for dewatering and stabilization of waste material deposits in waste impoundments
    Patent number: 9732492
    Abstract: A system and method for in situ dewatering and stabilizing waste material deposits previously created from sluicing into a waste impoundment. The method includes access for installation of wells and grading for surface drainage and storm water control. If free water is present, primary dewatering siphons or decants the free water in the pond. The system includes vertical dewatering well installation that requires drilling, well completion materials for filtering leachate, and well pump installation for removing leachate from the well. Collection piping collects leachate from the wells and transfers the leachate to a discharge solution. The dewatering operation collects and removes leachate from the pond ash deposit and impoundment, reuses or treats the leachate at a discharge solution, remediates contaminants and/or hydraulic head in the impoundment, and consolidates and stabilizes the dewatered solids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: BlackRock Engineers, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary Ahlberg, William Lupi, Nicholas Parks
  • Roller cutter arrangement and cutting wheel equipped with said roller cutter arrangement
    Patent number: 9732613
    Abstract: A roller cutter arrangement for a cutting wheel of a tunnel boring machine, including an interchangeable cup, a bearing block which is supported in the interchangeable cup in such a way that it is displaceable along a displacement axis, and a cutting roller unit having at least one cutting roller, which is rotatably supported in the bearing block and which acts along a working axis. The working axis is angled with respect to the displacement axis, so that cutting rollers of the cutting roller units may be situated in close proximity to one another, in particular in the central area of the cutting wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: HERRENKNECHT AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Ruben Duhme, Thomas Edelmann, Zheng Gang Wang
  • Variable-draft barge, and system and method of transferring loads from the barge to a supporting structure in a body of water
    Patent number: 9725864
    Abstract: A variable-draft barge configured to transfer loads in a body of water, and having a water line which is a function of the draft; the barge having: a hull; an underbody; at least one first chamber located in the hull and floodable selectively to alter the draft of the barge; at least one flood valve located below the water line to flood the first chamber; and a control device configured to selectively open the flood valve to flood the first chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: SAIPEM S.p.A.
    Inventors: Kimon Ardavanis, Andrea Oldani, Roberto Faldini
  • Offshore support structure
    Patent number: 9725868
    Abstract: A support structure for an offshore device is provided, including a vertical guide sleeve and three elongated guide sleeves positioned around the vertical guide sleeve, and various braces connecting the elongated sleeves and the vertical guide sleeve. The support structure also includes a transition joint including a cylindrical portion for connection to an offshore device, such as a support tower of a wind turbine assembly, and a conical portion connected to the vertical guide sleeve. To provide resistance to thrust, bending, and torsional fatigue, at least one set of braces is formed in an oval, racetrack, obround, or stadium configuration, and one or more horizontal stiffeners are positioned in the transition joint to maximize the strength of the support structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: KEYSTONE ENGINEERING INC.
    Inventor: Rudolph A. Hall
  • Secondary containment
    Patent number: 9718613
    Abstract: This patent pertains to secondary containment systems. One implementation includes a support assembly that includes an elongate post member and a stabilization plate. In one instance, a stabilization plate is mounted on the elongate post member to reduce movement of the elongate post member when the stabilization plate is embedded in the ground. Another implementation includes a panel splice assembly including reinforcing members that secure overlapping, corrugated panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Allied Steel
    Inventor: Patrick Southworth
  • Boat entry assistance system
    Patent number: 9708038
    Abstract: A boat entry assistance system for use with small, manual or paddle or oar powered watercraft (such as canoes and kayaks) is provided with guide rails on either side of a boat positioning unit, such as a boat lift, which can be utilized by a boater to propel his watercraft into the unit. The system includes a specially designed bench system which assists disabled persons with entering and exiting such small watercraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: E-Z-DOCK, INC.
    Inventors: Dustin Imel, David J. Sturtevant
  • Cutting tool assembly including retainer sleeve with retention member
    Patent number: 9702251
    Abstract: A cutting tool assembly includes a holder having a front face that defines a longitudinal bore extending at least partially through the holder, a cutting tool having a head portion, a shank portion and a collar portion therebetween all extending along a longitudinal axis of the cutting tool, a retainer sleeve substantially surrounding the shank portion and configured for being removably received in the longitudinal bore of the holder and an outwardly biasing retention member connected to the retainer sleeve and configured for cooperating with the longitudinal bore of the holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: KENNAMETAL INC.
    Inventor: Randall Walter Ojanen
  • Compact profile water catchment and soil treatment system
    Patent number: 9694399
    Abstract: A compact profile water catchment and soil treatment system includes a drainage hub, a water transfer pipe, and a particle filter system. Compact drainage fixtures of the drainage hub are able to drain surface and ground water from the surrounding environment so that the drained water can be transferred into an outfall through the water transfer pipe. The water transfer pipe can also interconnect additional drainage hubs in order to accommodate for a larger drainage area. The particle filter system is laid atop the drainage hub and the water transfer pipe, where the particle filter system functions as the initial filtration system in addition to the secondary filtration system of the compact drainage fixtures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Inventor: Christofer Jay Kachman
  • Guide system and method for guiding a pipeline from a laying vessel onto the bed of a body of water
    Patent number: 9695959
    Abstract: A guide system configured to guide a pipeline from a laying vessel onto the bed of a body of water has a float unit; a trolley, which is housed inside the frame, is selectively connectable to a pipeline spanning a given or designated path between the laying vessel and the bed of the body of water, and is configured to roll along the pipeline, parallel to the given or designated path; and at least one motor connected to the trolley) to selectively adjust the distance between the float unit and the laying vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: SAIPEM S.P.A.
    Inventors: Mauro Mottini, Flavio Piccio
  • Controlled verified remediation of excavated spoil
    Patent number: 9694400
    Abstract: A system and method for controlled verified remediation of excavated contaminated spoil using a sorbent in a verified process of testing and analysis of spoil before and after remediation and of adjusting amounts of sorbent and supplemental water mixed with contaminated spoil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Wildfire Construction LLC
    Inventors: Keith Kautzman, Bruce Goines
  • Method for optimizing a cutting process in road milling machines, as well as milling machine for machining road coverings
    Patent number: 9689120
    Abstract: In a method for optimizing a cutting process in milling machines which are used to machine road coverings, which comprise a milling device fitted with milling tools which is sprayed with liquid in order to cool the milling tools, in addition to a drive motor, the following steps are provided: detection of the at least one parameter which is representative of the instantaneous power output of the milling device and controlling the amount of cooling liquid supplied according to the at least one parameter which is representative of the instantaneous power output of the milling device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Wirtgen GmbH
    Inventors: Olaf Gaertner, Dieter Simons
  • Retaining wall
    Patent number: 9677244
    Abstract: Void former assembly for casting facing elements for reinforced earth. Anchoring recesses are cast into its rear face so that earth-reinforcing strips can be looped through. The anchoring recesses are each formed as a loop channel having a convex inner surface and a concave outer surface, at least one of which has a radius of curvature which increases from the deepest part of the recess towards the rear face. A removable void former assembly and method for casting such facing elements are also described. Because of the varying radius of curvature of the surfaces of the channel, and the rotational and translational withdrawal path of the void formers, the channel can be cast deeper, and with openings which are closer together, than has hitherto been possible using removable void formers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: VSL INTERNATIONAL AG
    Inventors: Surya Kusuma, Andreas Schwarz
  • Method and apparatus for elevating a marine platform
    Patent number: 9670637
    Abstract: A method of elevating the deck area of a marine platform (e.g., oil and gas well drilling or production platform) utilizes a specially configured sleeve support to support the platform legs so that they can be cut. Once cut, rams or jacks elevate the platform above the cuts. The sleeve support is then connected (e.g., welded) to the platform leg and becomes part of the structural support for the platform. In one embodiment, two sleeves are employed. In another embodiment, the jacks or rams elevate in two stages including a first stage wherein one sleeve elevates and the other sleeve does not elevate and a second stage wherein both sleeves elevate together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Inventors: Jon Khachaturian, E. John Greeves
  • Improvements relating to abandonment and recovery of pipelines
    Patent number: 9664307
    Abstract: A method of abandoning a pipeline during subsea pipelaying from a pipelay vessel includes suspending the pipe string from a tendon element of an abandonment string and engaging further tendon elements to an upper end of the abandonment string while lowering the pipe string to a handover depth. At the handover depth, tension is applied via a wire to the top of the pipe string at an acute angle to the launch axis. This deflects the pipe string from the launch axis into axial alignment with the wire to transfer the weight load of the pipe string to the wire, whereupon the abandonment string can be decoupled from the pipe string. Recovery of the pipeline from the seabed can be effected by a reverse process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Subsea 7 Limited
    Inventor: John Duncan Cruickshank
  • Leach field form and method of use
    Patent number: 9656892
    Abstract: A leach field form comprising: a container with an open bottom and an open top, and four exterior walls of a first height, and at least one interior wall; at least one geonet volume with an open bottom and an open top located in the container; at least one granular volume with an open bottom and an open top located in the container; and where any of the at least one geonet volumes is separated from any adjacent granular volume by an interior wall. A method of making a leach field using a leach field form comprising: digging a trench; placing a leach field form in the trench; backfilling the trench, allowing backfill to fill any granular volumes in the form; inserting geonet into geonet volume located in the form; and removing the form from the trench.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Inventor: David A. Potts
  • Automotive construction machine, as well as lifting column for a construction machine
    Patent number: 9656530
    Abstract: Disclosed is an automotive road construction machine, particularly a recycler or a cold stripping machine, comprising an engine frame that is supported by a chassis, a working roller which is stationarily or pivotally mounted on the engine frame and is used for machining a ground surface or road surface. The chassis is provided with wheels or tracked running gears which are connected to the engine frame via lifting column and are vertically adjustable relative to the engine frame. Each individually vertically adjustable lifting column is equipped with a device for measuring the actual vertical state of the lifting column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: Wirtgen GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Busley, Gunter Tewes
  • Earth retaining system such as a sheet pile wall with integral soil anchors
    Patent number: 9657454
    Abstract: A soil retaining system combining flat sheet pile walls in an open cell configuration includes integral soil anchors providing an improved earth retaining system. Another aspect of the invention is a method of designing and installing a soil retaining system with an open sheet pile cell structure having integral soil anchors. The method includes, inter alia, calculating soil forces by taking into account material strength of sheet pile, soil friction against the sheet pile in combination with the strength of the integral soil anchor, selecting sheet pile size and length based on soil forces calculation; and installation of sheet pile to form a soil retaining system. The integral soil anchors serve to provide higher load resistance to the improved earth retaining system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: PND ENGINEERS, INC.
    Inventor: William Dennis Nottingham
  • Particle size selective remediation system and method for heavy metals-contaminated soil by dry-disintegration and separation
    Patent number: 9649674
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method of remediating heavy metal-contaminated soil using dry disintegration in a particle size-selective manner. The system for remediating contaminated soil comprises: a pretreatment unit for pretreating the contaminated soil to control the water content and the size of the soil; a disintegration unit for disintegrating the pretreated soil into individual particles; a particle separation unit for separating the disintegrated particles a standard particle size; a heavy metal removal unit for peeling off the surface of the separated soil particles larger than the standard particle size using a surface friction force and an impact force to remove heavy metals in dry condition; and a separation and collection unit for separating and collecting the peeled-off surface from the soil particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: Hyundai Engineering & Construction Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun Gyo Jung, Wan Hyup Kang, Hee Hun Chae, Kang Suk Kim