Patents by Inventor Alain Boivin

Alain Boivin has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 10780664
    Abstract: A screw press for separating liquid from a solid-liquid mixture includes a casing having inlet and outlet sections, and a filter section there between. The filter section includes an axially extending stack of coplanar filtration plates defining a core passage for receiving a screw configured to convey the solid-liquid mixture from the inlet section to the outlet section while compressing and dewatering the solid-liquid mixture by forcing at least part of the liquid content of the mixture to be expelled out of the casing through inter-plate gaps defined between each pair of adjacent filtration plates. The filtration plates are fixed relative to one another and clamped in direct intimate face-to-face contact by a clamping assembly operable for applying a predetermined axially clamping pressure substantially uniformly about the core passage. The inter-plate gaps are controlled by the surface roughness of the plates and the clamping pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: Rio Tinto Alcan International Limited
    Inventors: Alain Boivin, Marie-Louise Bouchard, Guy Simard, Veronique Savard, Simon Gravel
  • Patent number: 10457008
    Abstract: A screw press includes a filter casing having inlet and outlet sections and a filter section therebetween. A screw is mounted in the casing for conveying a solid-liquid mixture from the inlet section to the outlet section while compressing the solid-liquid mixture and forcing at least part of a liquid content thereof to be expelled out of the filter casing. The casing and the screw are of modular construction. The filter section has at least first and second serially interconnectable filter sections, and the screw has at least first and second serially interconnectable screw sections respectively disposed in the first and second filter sections for joint rotation as a unitary component. The first and second screw sections have a continuous screw flight having a flight outside diameter. The first and second screw sections are detachably coupled to one another by a coupling provided at the outside diameter of the flight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Rio Tinto Alcan International Limited
    Inventors: Alain Boivin, Deane Labrum, Guy Simard, Pascal Vandal
  • Patent number: 10113645
    Abstract: A seal arrangement allowing in-line maintenance and replacement of packing, seals and bushings of a rotary shaft driving a tool extending inside a fluid holding tank. The rotary shaft and associated seals are mounted in an extractable cartridge removably insertable in sealing engagement within a housing projecting outwardly from the tank. A secondary seal comprises an isolation valve mounted to the housing outside of the tank for temporarily providing sealing during servicing of the seals in the extracted cartridge. A tertiary seal is provided for protecting the secondary seal from the tank contents when used in scaling environments. Removable parts of said seal arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: Rio Tinto Alcan International Limited
    Inventors: Deane Labrum, Dean Beltrame, Guy Peloquin, Alain Boivin
  • Publication number: 20170043548
    Abstract: A screw press for separating liquid from a solid-liquid mixture includes a casing having inlet and outlet sections, and a filter section there between. The filter section includes an axially extending stack of coplanar filtration plates defining a core passage for receiving a screw configured to convey the solid-liquid mixture from the inlet section to the outlet section while compressing and dewatering the solid-liquid mixture by forcing at least part of the liquid content of the mixture to be expelled out of the casing through inter-plate gaps defined between each pair of adjacent filtration plates. The filtration plates are fixed relative to one another and clamped in direct intimate face-to-face contact by a clamping assembly operable for applying a predetermined axially clamping pressure substantially uniformly about the core passage. The inter-plate gaps are controlled by the surface roughness of the plates and the clamping pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2015
    Publication date: February 16, 2017
    Inventors: Alain Boivin, Marie-Louise Bouchard, Guy Simard, Veronique Savard, Simon Gravel
  • Publication number: 20170036410
    Abstract: A screw press includes a filter casing having inlet and outlet sections and a filter section therebetween. A screw is mounted in the casing for conveying a solid-liquid mixture from the inlet section to the outlet section while compressing the solid-liquid mixture and forcing at least part of a liquid content thereof to be expelled out of the filter casing. The casing and the screw are of modular construction. The filter section has at least first and second serially interconnectable filter sections, and the screw has at least first and second serially interconnectable screw sections respectively disposed in the first and second filter sections for joint rotation as a unitary component. The first and second screw sections have a continuous screw flight having a flight outside diameter. The first and second screw sections are detachably coupled to one another by a coupling provided at the outside diameter of the flight.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2015
    Publication date: February 9, 2017
    Inventors: Alain BOIVIN, Deane LABRUM, Guy SIMARD, Pascal VANDAL
  • Publication number: 20170002927
    Abstract: A seal arrangement allowing in-line maintenance and replacement of packing, seals and bushings of a rotary shaft driving a tool extending inside a fluid holding tank. The rotary shaft and associated seals are mounted in an extractable cartridge removably insertable in sealing engagement within a housing projecting outwardly from the tank. A secondary seal comprises an isolation valve mounted to the housing outside of the tank for temporarily providing sealing during servicing of the seals in the extracted cartridge. A tertiary seal is provided for protecting the secondary seal from the tank contents when used in scaling environments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2014
    Publication date: January 5, 2017
    Inventors: Deane LABRUM, Dean BELTRAME, Guy PELOQUIN, Alain BOIVIN
  • Patent number: 9238184
    Abstract: An apparatus for refining a process liquor that includes solids, which apparatus includes a vessel having a base and a side wall that define an internal volume for containing the process liquor and for allowing gravity settling of the solids in the liquor, whereby to produce a refined liquor toward a top of the internal volume and a slurry toward a bottom of the internal volume, the apparatus further includes solids displacement elements disposed within the internal volume for directing settled solids and/or settling solids in the vicinity of the side wall or of the base toward a flow path of the slurry being extracted from the slurry outlet. A processing plant including the above refining apparatus and a method for refining a process liquor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: Rio Tinto Alcan International Limited
    Inventors: Guy Peloquin, Alain Larouche, Alain Boivin, Matthieu St-Laurent, Régis Girard, Guy Simard
  • Publication number: 20130206707
    Abstract: An apparatus for refining a process liquor that includes solids, which apparatus includes a vessel having a base and a side wall that define an internal volume for containing the process liquor and for allowing gravity settling of the solids in the liquor, whereby to produce a refined liquor toward a top of the internal volume and a slurry toward a bottom of the internal volume, the apparatus further includes solids displacement elements disposed within the internal volume for directing settled solids and/or settling solids in the vicinity of the side wall or of the base toward a flow path of the slurry being extracted from the slurry outlet. A processing plant including the above refining apparatus and a method for refining a process liquor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2011
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Applicant: RIO TINTO ALCAN INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
    Inventors: Guy Peloquin, Alain Larouche, Alain Boivin, Matthieu St-Laurent, Régis Girard, Guy Simard
  • Publication number: 20060060395
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a track assembly adapted to be retrofitted to an all-terrain vehicle having a driving output. The track assembly comprises an endless track belt extending over at least a pair of longitudinally spaced-apart inner wheels and a driving arrangement adapted to be drivingly connected to the driving output of the all-terrain vehicle for transmitting power to the endless track belt. The driving arrangement comprises at least one driving wheel mounted outside of a loop defined by the endless track belt and in driving engagement therewith. It also relates to a steering mechanism for an all-terrain vehicle having a pair of front track assemblies, each having at least one driving wheel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2005
    Publication date: March 23, 2006
    Inventors: Denis Boivin, Alain Boivin
  • Patent number: 6936178
    Abstract: The invention relates to a settler for decanting mineral slurries and a method thereof. The settler comprises a tank for holding and decanting a body of slurry to form a thickened slurry as a lower layer and a clarified liquid as an upper layer, the tank having a side wall, a bottom and a top, an outlet for the thickened slurry at the bottom of the tank, an outlet for the clarified liquid layer near the top of the tank, a slurry inlet means near the top of the tank for introducing fresh slurry into the tank, the slurry inlet means having a slurry opening through which fresh slurry joins the body of slurry in the tank, and a stirrer having a generally vertical axis around which the stirrer rotates or reciprocates. The slurry opening is displaced laterally relative to the generally vertical axis of the stirrer and the slurry inlet means is configured to allow the fresh slurry to enter the slurry body without accumulating solids from the fresh slurry at the slurry opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Assignee: Alcan International Limited
    Inventors: Guy Peloquin, Guy Simard, Alain Boivin, Renald Dufour, Rock Lemyre, Andrew Carruthers
  • Publication number: 20050133281
    Abstract: The present invention is concerned with track assemblies for an all-terrain vehicle, which make it maneuverable and effective upon a variety of unstable, uneven, stable and even surfaces, while designed to maintain tension upon the endless track belts to keep them in their due course and prevent accidental loosening while having a punctually localized surface contact with a ground surface, and at the same time reducing the damages inflicted on the terrain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2004
    Publication date: June 23, 2005
    Inventors: Denis Boivin, Alain Boivin
  • Patent number: 6874586
    Abstract: The present invention is concerned with track assemblies for an all-terrain vehicle, which make it maneuverable and effective upon a variety of unstable, uneven, stable and even surfaces, while designed to maintain tension upon the endless track belts to keep them in their due course and prevent accidental loosening while having a punctually localized surface contact with a ground surface, and at the same time reducing the damages inflicted on the terrain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2005
    Assignee: A & D Boivin Design Inc.
    Inventors: Denis Boivin, Alain Boivin
  • Publication number: 20030159859
    Abstract: The present invention is concerned with track assemblies for an all-terrain vehicle, which make it maneuverable and effective upon a variety of unstable, uneven, stable and even surfaces, while designed to maintain tension upon the endless track belts to keep them in their due course and prevent accidental loosening while having a punctually localized surface contact with a ground surface, and at the same time reducing the damages inflicted on the terrain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2002
    Publication date: August 28, 2003
    Inventors: Denis Boivin, Alain Boivin
  • Publication number: 20030159860
    Abstract: The present invention is concerned with track assemblies for an all-terrain vehicle, which make it maneuverable and effective upon a variety of unstable, uneven, stable and even surfaces, while designed to maintain tension upon the endless track belts to keep them in their due course and prevent accidental loosening while having a punctually localized surface contact with a ground surface, and at the same time reducing the damages inflicted on the terrain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2002
    Publication date: August 28, 2003
    Inventors: Denis Boivin, Alain Boivin
  • Publication number: 20030106860
    Abstract: The invention relates to a settler for decanting mineral slurries and a method hereof. The settler comprises a tank for holding and decanting a body of slurry to form a thickened slurry as a lower layer and a clarified liquid as an upper layer, the tank having a side wall, a bottom and a top, an outlet for the thickened slurry at the bottom of the tank, an outlet for the clarified liquid layer near the top of the tank, a slurry inlet means near the top of the tank for introducing fresh slurry into the tank, the slurry inlet means having a slurry opening through which fresh slurry joins the body of slurry in the tank, and a stirrer having a generally vertical axis around which the stirrer rotates or reciprocates. The slurry opening is displaced laterally relative to the generally vertical axis of the stirrer and the slurry inlet means is configured to allow the fresh slurry to enter the slurry body without accumulating solids from the fresh slurry at the slurry opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2002
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Inventors: Guy Peloquin, Guy Simard, Alain Boivin, Renald Dufour, Rock Lemyre, Andrew Carruthers
  • Patent number: 6505896
    Abstract: A track for a snow vehicle is described herein. The track is provided with a lug arrangement defined by two different rows of lugs that together define a generally smooth convex profile. The lugs of the first and second rows are staggered, thereby allowing an adequate traction even when the vehicle is severely tilted, without defining a ski-like outer profile that could cause the snow vehicle to slide sideways.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2003
    Inventors: Alain Boivin, Denis Boivin
  • Patent number: 6478098
    Abstract: An apparatus as an after-market, upgrade kit constructed and arranged to be installed onto an coupled snowmobile suspension system that, when installed, provides for quick and easily accessible coupling adjustment. Specifically, the upgrade kit of the present invention is configured to be installed onto the Polaris® line of snowmobiles. The upgrade kit includes a shaft having an axis of rotation, a pair of coupling blocks, and an indexer plate. The coupling blocks are adapted to be fixedly connected relative to the axis of rotation at each end of the shaft so that a torque in the shaft will be transmitted to the coupling blocks. The coupling blocks have a plurality of sides corresponding to a plurality of positions of the coupling blocks, each of the sides being located at a different distance from the axis of the shaft when the coupling blocks are connected to the shaft. The indexer plate is adapted to engage one of the coupling blocks at a selected positions of the coupling blocks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Assignee: Bombardier Inc.
    Inventors: Alain Boivin, Denis Boivin
  • Patent number: 6467561
    Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and an after-market, upgrade kit constructed and arranged to be installed onto an uncoupled snowmobile suspension system that, when installed, converts the suspension system into a coupled suspension system. Specifically, the upgrade kit of the present invention is configured to be installed onto the Arctic Cat® line of snowmobiles. The upgrade kit includes a pair mounting brackets that are mounted to corresponding slide rails of the suspension system, a pair of support rods that each fixedly attach to the corresponding mounting bracket, and a pair of couplers that are pivotally interconnected to the slide rails by being pivotally mounted to the support rods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Assignee: Bombardier Inc.
    Inventors: Denis Boivin, Alain Boivin
  • Publication number: 20020060102
    Abstract: The present invention provides a apparatus as an after-market, upgrade kit constructed and arranged to be installed onto an coupled snowmobile suspension system that, when installed, provides for quick and easily accessible coupling adjustment. Specifically, the upgrade kit of the present invention is configured to be installed onto the Polaris® line of snowmobiles. The upgrade kit includes a shaft having an axis of rotation, a pair of coupling blocks, and an indexer plate. The coupling blocks are adapted to be fixedly connected relative to the axis of rotation at each end of the shaft so that a torque in the shaft will be transmitted to the coupling blocks. The coupling blocks have a plurality of sides corresponding to a plurality of positions of the coupling blocks, each of the sides being located at a different distance from the axis of the shaft when the coupling blocks are connected to the shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2001
    Publication date: May 23, 2002
    Inventors: Alain Boivin, Denis Boivin
  • Patent number: 6234263
    Abstract: A single seater snowmobile type recreational vehicle and a steering assembly for such as vehicle is described herein. The recreational vehicle includes a longitudinal frame, a suspension mounted to a rear portion of the frame, an endless track rotatably mounted to the suspension, an engine mounted to the frame and associated to the endless track to selectively rotate the endless track about the suspension thereby allowing displacement of the vehicle. The recreational vehicle also includes a steering assembly provided with a handlebar portion mounted to the frame and pivoting about a first pivot axis, a fork portion mounted to the frame and pivoting about a second pivot axis, a direction bar having a proximate end linked to the handlebar portion and a distal end linked to the fork portion, the direction bar being offset from the first and second pivot axis. A rotation of the handlebar portion thereby causes a rotation of the fork portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2001
    Assignee: A & D Boivin Design
    Inventors: Alain Boivin, Denis Boivin