Patents by Inventor Aubrey Walker

Aubrey Walker 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).

  • System and method for thermal ablation of pigging devices
    Patent number: 10189026
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides for a novel pig design and method of retrieval based on thermal ablation. The pig comprises an external layer and an inner core, where the inner core further comprises at least one incendiary charge comprising at least one exothermic material. When ignited via an ignition source, the incendiary charge releases the exothermic material into one or more thermal dispersion channels. The exothermic material melts the interior of these thermal dispersion channels thereby distributing the exothermic material throughout the pig device causing its destruction via thermal ablation. The destroyed pig can then be easily retrieved from its location in a pipe, as detected via radio signals, without the need for costly excavation of large sections of the pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: SPT Group LLC
    Inventors: Mark S. Sankey, James F. Stewart, Andrew J. Pounds, Scott Stalnaker, John R. Walker, Aubrey Walker, James R. Collins
  • Method for Thermal Ablation of PIgging Devices
    Publication number: 20180056305
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides for a novel pig design and method of retrieval based on thermal ablation. The pig comprises an external layer and an inner core, where the inner core further comprises at least one incendiary charge comprising at least one exothermic material. When ignited via an ignition source, the incendiary charge releases the exothermic material into one or more thermal dispersion channels. The exothermic material melts the interior of these thermal dispersion channels thereby distributing the exothermic material throughout the pig device causing its destruction via thermal ablation. The destroyed pig can then be easily retrieved from its location in a pipe, as detected via radio signals, without the need for costly excavation of large sections of the pipe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2017
    Publication date: March 1, 2018
    Inventors: Mark S. Sankey, James F. Stewart, Andrew J. Pounds, William Scott Stalnaker, John R. Walker, Aubrey Walker, James R. Collins
  • System and Method for Thermal Ablation of Pigging Devices
    Publication number: 20160377217
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides for a novel pig design and method of retrieval based on thermal ablation. The pig comprises an external layer and an inner core, where the inner core further comprises at least one incendiary charge comprising at least one exothermic material. When ignited via an ignition source, the incendiary charge releases the exothermic material into one or more thermal dispersion channels. The exothermic material melts the interior of these thermal dispersion channels thereby distributing the exothermic material throughout the pig device causing its destruction via thermal ablation. The destroyed pig can then be easily retrieved from its location in a pipe, as detected via radio signals, without the need for costly excavation of large sections of the pipe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2016
    Publication date: December 29, 2016
    Inventors: Mark S. Sankey, James F. Stewart, Andrew J. Pounds, Scott Stalnaker, John R. Walker, Aubrey Walker, James R. Collins