Patents Examined by Tara M. Pinnock
  • Tubular installation system and method
    Patent number: 8956079
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a tubular installation system (10) for J-laying tubulars comprising a J-lay tower structure (100), a tubulars supply system and a loader device (20) comprising tubular grippers (21a-c) and a boom (24) for transporting a tubular, an accessory supply system (200, 201, 202) and accessory handling means (29) for transporting an accessory between the essentially horizontal accessory supply position and the firing line. According to the invention, the accessory handling means (29) are distinct from the tubular grippers (21a-c) and are attached to the boom (24) of the loader device, at a different position than the tubular grippers, such that the loader device can be used as desired for transporting a tubular or an accessory between the respective supply position and the firing line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: ITREC B.V.
    Inventors: Joop Roodenburg, Terence Willem August Vehmeijer, Jurjen Rinnert Haitsma
  • Reverse osmosis irrigation
    Patent number: 8950976
    Abstract: A plant watering device is disclosed. The device has a preferentially water permeable membrane arranged to separate a supply of water from a root system of a plant. The membrane is arranged to allow water to permeate to water the roots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: The University of Sydney
    Inventors: Bruce Gregory Sutton, Gregory Lawrence Leslie
  • Support platform for an oil field pumping unit using helical piles
    Patent number: 8950980
    Abstract: A support platform for an oil field pumping unit includes a frame supporting the oil field pumping unit, vertical helical piles, and diagonal helical piles. The vertical helical piles are driven into the ground beneath the frame to support the frame and oil field pumping unit. Each diagonal helical pile has an upper end secured to the frame and a lower portion extending diagonally downward from the frame with a helical blade threaded into the ground to restrain horizontal forces exerted by the oil field pumping unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Inventor: Robert L. Jones
  • Apparatus and method for insertion of gaskets
    Patent number: 8944721
    Abstract: A gasket insertion apparatus and method for inserting a gasket between the adjoining faces of a flange assembly are provided. The gasket insertion apparatus includes a frame, a member and a wire. The frame has a first end, a second end and an inner gripping surface. The first and second ends have guides. The member has a first end portion attached to the frame and a second portion extending away from the frame. The wire is anchored to at least one of the frame and the member such that it movably adjusts within the guides and secures the gasket within the inner gripping surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Flange Skillets International, LLC
    Inventor: Keith D. Field
  • Fluid containment and management system
    Patent number: 8944720
    Abstract: A system for containing and managing fluids produced at a work site, such as an oil or gas drilling site, includes one or more fluid containments formed as a basin for collecting and retaining fluids, a berm forming a perimeter of the containments, a layer of sand placed over each basin, a fluid-impermeable membrane placed over the layer of sand, and drainage stone placed over the membrane, filling the basin. A geotextile fabric can be placed over the membrane to help protect the membrane from adverse affects of the drainage stone. A leak detection system can be coupled with the membrane to identify potential leaks in a containment system. One or more catch basins can extend through the basin and the drainage stone filling the basin, to receive fluids. A drainage system is placed in fluid communication with the catch basins to drain fluids from a containment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: D.A. Nolt, Inc.
    Inventor: David A. Nolt
  • Mobile pipe lining apparatus
    Patent number: 8939679
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a mobile pipe lining apparatus for installing strip lining material into a host pipe. The apparatus comprises a lining machine for receiving a feed of strip lining material and placing it in a host pipe to form a new pipe lining, a carriage attached to the lining machine such that the full weight of the lining machine is borne by the carriage, and adjusting means for adjusting a position of the lining machine relative to the carriage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kevin Andrews, Hiroshi Sugahara
  • Moveable element and power generation system for low head facilities
    Patent number: 8939677
    Abstract: A low head power generating system is disclosed including a wall pivotably attachable to a structure for moving between a generally upright position and a generally flat position. In the upright position, the structure or wall impounds water, and has a power generating cell connected to the wall, which rotates by movement of water there-through and is operably connectable to a generator for generating power. A support braces the wall in the upright position. The support is adjustable with a first end connected to the wall and a second end extended against a structure, and can be an inflatable bladder, a pressurized piston or other mechanism to move the wall. The cell can be mounted on the surface of the wall or integrated within the wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Hydro Green Energy, LLC
    Inventor: Wayne F. Krouse
  • Cover for a liquid reservoir
    Patent number: 8936412
    Abstract: A seismic-resistant fluid reservoir cover includes a plurality of panels and a network of flexible membranes coupled to adjacent panels. The flexible membranes are made of a potable water approved material, and the panels and the membranes create a fluid tight seal. Each panel in the reservoir cover is able to move along three directional axes independently of the adjacent panels while maintaining the fluid tight seal, at least in part because of the flexibility or the slack in the flexible membrane. A support member, such as a backer rod, may also be positioned in the spaces between the panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Versaflex, Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph Haydu
  • Tool for thin diaphragms
    Patent number: 8931978
    Abstract: A cutting/mixing tool for thin diaphragm walls is mounted at the end of at least one drilling rod (47) moved by a slidable assembly (42, 62) along a tower (41), carried by an operating drilling machine (40). The tool (45) has a body (10), which bears in its central part two digging/mixing wheels (20a, 20b) provided on the periphery with cutters (82) and set alongside one another at a minimum distance (d) and coaxial about an axis (x) substantially perpendicular to the direction of digging (z). The wheels (20a, 20b) project from slits (81) of the body (10), which contains at least partially means (1-4, 50-52) for transmission of motion to the wheels, the devices being positioned externally with respect to the wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Soilmec S.p.A.
    Inventors: Alessandro Ditillo, Marco Casadel, Ezio Biserna
  • Tsunami breakwater wall of multilayered steel pipe pile structure and its construction method
    Patent number: 8931976
    Abstract: A tsunami breakwater wall of a multilayered steel pipe pile structure 1, includes a multilayered steel pipe pile 2 where a bottom end thereof reaches a predetermined depth of a support layer 28 and is installed to a ground 26 such that an upper end thereof protrudes upward from a ground surface 26a, and a wall body 15 constructed integral with a part of the multilayered steel pipe pile 2 that protrudes upward from the ground surface 26a. The multilayered steel pipe pile 2 is made from a plurality of large diameter steel pipe piles 3-5 of different diameters, an upper end of an inner most side steel pipe pile 3 protrudes upward from the ground surface 26a, and the wall body 15 is constructed to a part of the steel pipe pile 3 protruding upward from the ground surface 26a.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: The Chugoku Electric Power Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Kazufumi Kawahara, Yuichi Shimizu, Kouji Tasaka
  • Tension cable bolt
    Patent number: 8926230
    Abstract: A low profile tensionable bolt cable system and method of installation. The tensionable bolt cable has a tension cylinder with a constant diameter throughout its length and a threaded exterior. A bearing plate is provided with an opening and a first mating member. The tension cylinder has a proximal and a distal end with the proximal end having an angled interior surface and a longitudinally extending second mating member. The first and second mating members mate when the tension cylinder is inserted into the bearing plate. Angled wedges are inserted into the angled interior surface. A cable is inserted into the tension cylinder and between the wedges to hold the cable with respect to the tension cylinder to prevent the cable from twisting. A nut is threaded onto the tension cylinder, to tension the cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Minova USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen C. Tadolini, Larry B. McKinney
  • Apparatus and method of supporting underground fluid and water storage and retention systems
    Patent number: 8926218
    Abstract: A structural support system creates and maintains useful void space for the storage or detention of fluids within an underground chamber. The support system includes one or more hollow members that are generally triangular in cross section, with open ends and a plurality of apertures that allow the hollow members to remain in fluid communication when bundled together. Stored or detained fluids flow around and through the support system as the fluid level rises or falls according to the volume of fluids introduced or withdrawn from the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Inventor: Edward W. Savage
  • Soil stabilization method and apparatus
    Patent number: 8911181
    Abstract: A method of inline mixing the exact amount of sodium silicate, catalyst and water to form a grout for injection into underground construction applications in order to eliminate waste of resources. The invention is comprised of a sodium silicate pump assembly and a water and catalyst pump assembly. A metering pump injects a catalyst into the water loop. The sodium silicate pump and the water and catalyst pump discharge lines are merged into one pipeline downstream. The single pipe is connected to a static inline mixer that ensures uniform mixing of all the components. The sodium silicate pump assembly and the water and catalyst pump assembly are hydraulically controlled. This allows an operator to vary the speed of the pump thereby controlling pump discharge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: FixDirt, LLC
    Inventor: Samuel S. Dosdourian
  • Dual-derrick ice-worthy jack-up drilling unit
    Patent number: 8911179
    Abstract: The invention relates to a jack-up rig. The inventive rig would work like a conventional jack-up rig while in open water with the hull jacked up out of the water. However, in the event of ice conditions, the hull is lowered into the water into an ice defensive configuration. The hull is specifically shaped with a lower portion that is an ice-bending surface to bend and break up ice that comes in contact with the hull while in the ice defensive configuration. Furthermore, the jack-up rig comprises at least two derricks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignees: ConocoPhillips Company, Keppel Offshore & Marine Technology
    Inventors: Peter G. Noble, Randall S. Shafer, Dominique P. Berta, Yew Yuen Chow, Tak On Cheung, Kok Seng Foo, Chin Kau Quah, Cynthia Wang
  • Stowing method for goaf of potash salt ore
    Patent number: 8911177
    Abstract: A method of stowing a goaf of potash salt ore comprising making wall slurry into barricades each have the same area as the sectional area of a tunnel and a thickness of 0.5 to 5 meters inside the underground tunnels in goaf of potash salt ore, with the interval between adjacent barricades being 5 to 100 meters, then stowing the interval between the barricades by using the filling slurry is described. The stowing method uses the wall slurry of high strength that is solidified with a gelling agent as the main bearing material, and uses the solidified filling slurry with a low strength as the main filling material, which has a good effect when compared with conventional filling materials. Moreover, the stowing method effectively utilizes the tail liquids, thereby reducing the addition of other additives, decreasing the cost, avoiding the discharge of liquid waste and relieving the environmental pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Sino-Agri Mining Investment Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Wang Quan
  • Method of manufacturing a mechanically lined pipe
    Patent number: 8905675
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a mechanically lined pipe (MLP) having an outer pipe and an inner liner comprising at least the steps of: (a) forming the outer pipe as a single length; (b) forming an inner liner former being wholly or substantially the same length as the outer pipe of step (a); (c) locating the inner liner former of step (b) within the outer pipe; and (d) expanding the inner liner former within the outer pipe to form the MLP.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Technip France
    Inventors: Daniel Bertaso, John Hamilton, Sylvain Denniel, Brett Howard, Tomasz Tkaczyk, Aurélien Pepin
  • Method for transporting minerals and fossil fuels from underwater sources
    Patent number: 8905678
    Abstract: The above invention pertains to the mining industry and can be applied for exploratory or industrial mining of oil, gas or gas hydrate from underwater sources and their transporting to or below the water surface. The purpose of the invention is to transport underwater mined oil, gas or gas hydrate to or below the water surface without using pipeline systems. The proposed transporting method utilizes submergable containers which gain positive buoyancy while being filled with the extracted materials. The proposed transporting method allows delivering mined materials continuously to the point of unloading, which can be located at or below the water surface. The proposed invention has an advantage of transporting simultaneously different types of extracted materials such as liquid, gaseous or solid to a water surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Inventors: Vladimer Loladze, George Loladze, Nino Loladze, Vakhtang Loladze
  • Method of forming subterranean barriers with molten wax
    Patent number: 8905679
    Abstract: A method of permeating and infusing a formation around the borehole with wax by heating a formation surrounding a borehole and pumping molten wax into the formation, wherein the molten wax flows into and fills voids the formation without disrupting the formation is described. Also, a method of permeating and infusing a formation around the borehole with wax by heating a formation surrounding a borehole, pumping molten wax into the borehole, heating and circulating the molten wax vertically within the borehole for an extended period using a heater and pump attached to a circulation pipe extended to the bottom of a zone of the borehole to be heated, and recovering molten wax from the borehole by displacing it back to the surface with another material of different density is described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Inventor: Ernest E. Carter, Jr.
  • Buoyant containment and/or filtration
    Patent number: 8899874
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed here include a containment system which may include a segmented buoyant rim. Certain embodiments also include an inflatable rim with at least one inflation/deflation valve in the rim segments and ballast in the rim segments. Additionally, certain embodiments include material connected to the rim segments, to enclose a void created in the rim and to hang below the buoyant rim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Inventor: Michael Zlotkin
  • Multi-purpose pumped storage facility
    Patent number: 8899873
    Abstract: A pumped storage facility combined with at least a seating area constructed on a bank of an upper reservoir facing a lower reservoir. The lower reservoir includes a track around the shore thereof so that spectators in the seating area can view the track. A performance area is constructed adjacent the track along the lower reservoir, and can be built over the water on piers if needed. Thus, racing events can take place on the track and be viewed by spectators in the seating area. A parking lot drains water into the lower reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Windmarket, LLC
    Inventor: George J. Igel, V