Patents by Inventor D. Kent Lindahl

D. Kent Lindahl 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: 5746344
    Abstract: A tank connector assembly including a metal spud member having an internally threaded portion and a cylindrical wall portion. An insert member of polymer material having a cylindrical wall portion. The insert member is mounted inside the cylindrical wall portion of the spud member. A bonding member of polymer material fits the cylindrical wall portion of said bonding member positioned between the external surface of the cylindrical wall portion of the insert member and the internal surface of the cylindrical wall portion of the spud member. The cylindrical wall portion of said bonding member being securely bonded to both the insert member and the spud member. In a preferred embodiment, the polymer material of the bonding member is malcated olefin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Assignee: State Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Rodney R. Syler, Rolf E. Faber, D. Kent Lindahl
  • Patent number: 5697515
    Abstract: A tank connector construction comprised of an outer shell of metal material and an inner shell of polymer material mounted inside the outer shell. A metal connector member having a tubular wall and a welding projection at one end thereof is provided with the welding projection of said metal connector member welded to the outer shell of metal material. An insert member of polymer material is mounted in one end of the metal connector member with the insert member fused to the inner shell of the tank. A connector sleeve member is mounted inside the tubular wall of the metal connector member. A connector sleeve member has an internally threaded tubular wall portion and is made of a polymer material having "low creep" characteristics. In the preferred embodiment, the polymer material of the connector sleeve member is a polyamide material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1997
    Assignee: State Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Rodney R. Syler, Rolf E. Faber, D. Kent Lindahl
  • Patent number: 5655299
    Abstract: The method of fabricating a tank connector assembly comprising the steps of first providing a metal spud member having an internally threaded portion and a cylindrical wall portion. Producing a sub-assembly comprised of an insert member having an internal groove therein and made from a polymer material and an expandable band member positioned in the groove. The next step is to assembly the sub-assembly of the insert member and expandable band member with the spud member. The sub-assembly is positioned inside the cylindrical wall portion of the spud member. The next step is to apply an expansion force to the expandable band causing the band to deform slightly and thereby force the insert member into tight sealing contact with the depending wall portion of the spud member. The metal spud member is welded in an opening in the wall of a steel tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 12, 1997
    Assignee: State Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: D. Kent Lindahl
  • Patent number: 5568687
    Abstract: A method of making a tank includes the steps of forming a pair of top and bottom half members by deep drawing, welding at least one tank connector assembly in an opening in one of the half members and fastening the top and bottom half members together by welding to form an outer shell having an internal surface. The outer shell is changed with non-corrosive polymer material before or after the welding step. The tank is subjected to a rotational movement in the presence of heat to thus cause the polymer material to be uniformly distributed over the internal surface of the outer shell to thereby form an inner shell of non-corrosive material inside the outer shell wherein the inner shell provides a substantially leak-tight liner for the outer shell to thus prevent contact between the contents of the tank and the outer shell, said outer shell serving as a mold for the inner shell wherein the mold becomes a permanent part of the completed tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1996
    Assignee: State Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Rodeny R. Syler, Rolf E. Faber, D. Kent Lindahl
  • Patent number: 5509567
    Abstract: A tank connector assembly for mounting in the wall of a steel tank. A metal spud member having an internally threaded portion and a cylindrical wall portion is welded to the tank. A sub-assembly comprised of an insert member made from a polymer material and having an internal groove therein and an expandable band member positioned in the groove. The sub-assembly is positioned inside the cylindrical wall portion of the spud member. The expandable band is in the groove of the insert member is expanded to force the insert member into tight sealing contact with the spud member. A polymer material is introduced into the interior of the steel tank and the tank is then subjected to a rotational casting movement in the presence of heat to cause the polymer material in the tank to be uniformly distributed over the internal surface of the tank. The heat applied during the rotational casting step serves to cause the inner tank of polymer material to become bonded to the insert member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 23, 1996
    Assignee: State Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: D. Kent Lindahl
  • Patent number: 5431764
    Abstract: The method of fabricating a tank connector assembly comprising the steps of first providing a metal spud member having an internally threaded portion and a cylindrical wall portion. Mounting an insert member of polymer material inside the cylindrical wall portion of the spud member, the insert member having a cylindrical wall portion. Positioning a bonding member between the cylindrical wall of the spud and the cylindrical wall of the insert member. Applying heat to the spud insert member and bonding member to cause the material of the bonding member to become bonded to the spud wall and the insert wall. In a preferred embodiment, the polymer material of the bonding member is maleated olefin. The metal spud member is welded in an opening in the wall of a steel tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 11, 1995
    Assignee: State Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Rodney R. Syler, Rolf E. Faber, D. Kent Lindahl