Patents by Inventor Dennis McClintock

Dennis McClintock 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).

  • Publication number: 20230324204
    Abstract: Embodiments of a portable verification system can move from one commercial building or residential home gas flow meter location to another and temporarily connect to the building's or home's natural gas piping. The portable verification system may be connected to the gas flow meter by a flexible hose having a lap joint flange at one end. Adaptor fittings can be used to provide additional versatility. When in an intended use, natural gas flows into the reference meter and then into the gas flow meter connected to the commercial building or residential home. Downtime is limited to the time required to complete a circuit between the gas flow meter and the portable verification system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2022
    Publication date: October 12, 2023
    Inventor: Dennis McClintock
  • Patent number: 11692863
    Abstract: Embodiments of a portable verification system can move from one in-field gas flow meter location to another and temporarily connect downstream of a main pipeline's meter run or station. A control valve of the portable verification system allows volume measurement at different flow velocities to be verified. In some embodiments, the portable verification system is connected to the meter run and the main pipeline by an adjustable pipeline section. This section can extend horizontally and vertically, as well as swivel to provide versatility when connecting in the field. Adaptor fittings having one flange sized for and fitted to the inlet and outlet ends of the portable verification system and another flange sized for the meter run or main pipeline connection provide additional versatility. Downtime is limited to the time required to complete a circuit between the meter run, portable verification system, and main pipeline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Big Elk Energy Systems, LLC
    Inventor: Dennis McClintock
  • Publication number: 20220341770
    Abstract: Embodiments of a portable verification system can move from one commercial building or residential home gas flow meter location to another and temporarily connect to the building's or home's natural gas piping. The portable verification system may be connected to the gas flow meter by a flexible hose having a lap joint flange at one end. Adaptor fittings can be used to provide additional versatility. When in an intended use, natural gas flows into the reference meter and then into the gas flow meter connected to the commercial building or residential home. Downtime is limited to the time required to complete a circuit between the gas flow meter and the portable verification system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2022
    Publication date: October 27, 2022
    Inventor: Dennis McClintock
  • Publication number: 20220243853
    Abstract: An in-line ultrasonic attenuator (10) of this disclosure includes a longitudinally extending pipe (20) having a first and second end (21, 31), and a constant inside diameter extending an entire distance between the first and second ends. Instead of plates, the attenuator includes at least one helical baffle (23 or 33), or a first and a second helical baffle (23, 33) arranged in series with one another, coaxial to the longitudinal center line of the longitudinally extending pipe. The first helical baffle has a first twist rotation and the second helical baffle has a second twist rotation opposite that of the first twist, each twist rotation being at least 180°. The pipe ID can be the same as that connected to the ultrasonic gas flow meter. No elbows are required at the front or back end of a measurement skid of which the attenuator is a part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2022
    Publication date: August 4, 2022
    Inventor: Dennis McClintock
  • Patent number: 11326928
    Abstract: Embodiments of a portable verification system (5) can move from one in-field gas flow meter location to another and temporarily connect downstream of a main pipeline's meter run or station. A control valve (19) of the portable verification system (5) allows volume measurement at different flow velocities to be verified. In some embodiments, the portable verification system (5) is connected to the meter run (13) and the main pipeline by a corresponding slip or linearly adjustable pipeline section (30/70). This section (30/70) can extend horizontally and vertically, as well as swivel to provide versatility when connecting in the field. Adaptor fittings may be used to connect the system (5) to the meter run (13) and main pipeline or a quick connect/disconnect (105) may be used. Downtime is limited to the time required to complete a circuit between the meter run, portable verification system (5), and main pipeline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: Big Elk Energy Systems, LLC
    Inventor: Dennis McClintock
  • Publication number: 20220113181
    Abstract: Embodiments of a portable verification system can move from one in-field gas flow meter location to another and temporarily connect downstream of a main pipeline's meter run or station. A control valve of the portable verification system allows volume measurement at different flow velocities to be verified. In some embodiments, the portable verification system is connected to the meter run and the main pipeline by an adjustable pipeline section. This section can extend horizontally and vertically, as well as swivel to provide versatility when connecting in the field. Adaptor fittings having one flange sized for and fitted to the inlet and outlet ends of the portable verification system and another flange sized for the meter run or main pipeline connection provide additional versatility. Downtime is limited to the time required to complete a circuit between the meter run, portable verification system, and main pipeline.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2021
    Publication date: April 14, 2022
    Inventor: Dennis McClintock
  • Patent number: 11125594
    Abstract: An end treatment for use with an ultrasonic gas flow meter includes an attenuation section having a pipe extending in a longitudinal direction and containing alternating sets of laterally spaced and vertically oriented first and second solid wall plates located between an inlet end and an outlet end of the pipe. One plate includes a first end connected to an inside wall of the pipe and another plate includes a second end that extends past a longitudinal centerline of the pipe to define a gap between the end of the plate and a respective opposing inside wall of the pipe. As the gas traverses the plates by flowing through the gaps, the ultrasonic waves are prevented from reflecting back to the flow meter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: Big Elk Energy Systems, LLC
    Inventor: Dennis McClintock
  • Patent number: 11112295
    Abstract: Embodiments of a portable verification system can move from one in-field gas flow meter location to another and temporarily connect downstream of a main pipeline's meter run or station. A control valve of the portable verification system allows volume measurement at different flow velocities to be verified. In some embodiments, the portable verification system is connected to the meter run and the main pipeline by an adjustable pipeline section. This section can extend horizontally and vertically, as well as swivel to provide versatility when connecting in the field. Adaptor fittings having one flange sized for and fitted to the inlet and outlet ends of the portable verification system and another flange sized for the meter run or main pipeline connection provide additional versatility. Downtime is limited to the time required to complete a circuit between the meter run, portable verification system, and main pipeline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: Big Elk Energy Systems, LLC
    Inventor: Dennis McClintock
  • Publication number: 20200249059
    Abstract: An end treatment for use with an ultrasonic gas flow meter includes an attenuation section having a pipe extending in a longitudinal direction and containing alternating sets of laterally spaced and vertically oriented first and second solid wall plates located between an inlet end and an outlet end of the pipe. One plate includes a first end connected to an inside wall of the pipe and another plate includes a second end that extends past a longitudinal centerline of the pipe to define a gap between the end of the plate and a respective opposing inside wall of the pipe. As the gas traverses the plates by flowing through the gaps, the ultrasonic waves are prevented from reflecting back to the flow meter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2019
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Inventor: Dennis McClintock
  • Patent number: 10655990
    Abstract: An end treatment for use with an ultrasonic gas flow meter includes an attenuation section having a pipe extending in a longitudinal direction and containing alternating sets of laterally spaced and vertically oriented first and second solid wall plates located between an inlet end and an outlet end of the pipe. One plate includes a first end connected to an inside wall of the pipe and another plate includes a second end that extends past a longitudinal centerline of the pipe to define a gap between the end of the plate and a respective opposing inside wall of the pipe. As the gas traverses the plates by flowing through the gaps, the ultrasonic waves are prevented from reflecting back to the flow meter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: Big Elk Energy Systems, LLC
    Inventor: Dennis McClintock
  • Publication number: 20200072654
    Abstract: Embodiments of a portable verification system (5) can move from one in-field gas flow meter location to another and temporarily connect downstream of a main pipeline's meter run or station. A control valve (19) of the portable verification system (5) allows volume measurement at different flow velocities to be verified. In some embodiments, the portable verification system (5) is connected to the meter run (13) and the main pipeline by a corresponding slip or linearly adjustable pipeline section (30/70). This section (30/70) can extend horizontally and vertically, as well as swivel to provide versatility when connecting in the field. Adaptor fittings may be used to connect the system (5) to the meter run (13) and main pipeline or a quick connect/disconnect (105) may be used. Downtime is limited to the time required to complete a circuit between the meter run, portable verification system (5), and main pipeline.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2017
    Publication date: March 5, 2020
    Inventor: Dennis McClintock
  • Patent number: 10365138
    Abstract: An end treatment for use with an ultrasonic gas flow meter includes an attenuation section having a pipe extending in a longitudinal direction and containing a set of alternating, spaced, and vertically oriented first and second plates located between an inlet end and an outlet end of the pipe. Each plate includes a first end connected to an inside wall of the pipe and a second end extending past a longitudinal centerline of the pipe to define a gap between the end of the plate and a respective opposing inside wall of the pipe. As the gas traverses the plates by flowing through the gaps, the ultrasonic waves are prevented from reflecting back to the flow meter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: Big Elk Energy Systems, LLC
    Inventor: Dennis McClintock
  • Publication number: 20190195676
    Abstract: Embodiments of a portable verification system can move from one in-field gas flow meter location to another and temporarily connect downstream of a main pipeline's meter run or station. A control valve of the portable verification system allows volume measurement at different flow velocities to be verified. In some embodiments, the portable verification system is connected to the meter run and the main pipeline by an adjustable pipeline section. This section can extend horizontally and vertically, as well as swivel to provide versatility when connecting in the field. Adaptor fittings having one flange sized for and fitted to the inlet and outlet ends of the portable verification system and another flange sized for the meter run or main pipeline connection provide additional versatility. Downtime is limited to the time required to complete a circuit between the meter run, portable verification system, and main pipeline.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2019
    Publication date: June 27, 2019
    Inventor: Dennis McClintock
  • Patent number: 10222252
    Abstract: Embodiments of a portable verification system can move from one in-field gas flow meter location to another and temporarily connect downstream of a main pipeline's meter run or station. A control valve of the portable verification system allows volume measurement at different flow velocities to be verified. In some embodiments, the portable verification system is connected to the meter run and the main pipeline by a corresponding slip or linearly adjustable pipeline section. This section can extend horizontally and vertically, as well as swivel to provide versatility when connecting in the field. Adaptor fittings having one flange sized for and fitted to the inlet and outlet ends of the portable verification system and another flange sized for the meter run or main pipeline connection provide additional versatility. Downtime is limited to the time required to complete a circuit between the meter run, portable verification system, and main pipeline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: Big Elk Energy Systems, LLC
    Inventor: Dennis McClintock
  • Publication number: 20180045553
    Abstract: Embodiments of a portable verification system can move from one in-field gas flow meter location to another and temporarily connect downstream of a main pipeline's meter run or station. A control valve of the portable verification system allows volume measurement at different flow velocities to be verified. In some embodiments, the portable verification system is connected to the meter run and the main pipeline by a corresponding slip or linearly adjustable pipeline section. This section can extend horizontally and vertically, as well as swivel to provide versatility when connecting in the field. Adaptor fittings having one flange sized for and fitted to the inlet and outlet ends of the portable verification system and another flange sized for the meter run or main pipeline connection provide additional versatility. Downtime is limited to the time required to complete a circuit between the meter run, portable verification system, and main pipeline.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2017
    Publication date: February 15, 2018
    Inventor: Dennis McClintock
  • Patent number: 9714726
    Abstract: A skid-mounted pipe stand includes a circular-shaped top plate that has least one pair of arcuate-shaped through-slots arranged to each receive a leg of a U-bolt, a threaded stud connected to a bottom side of the top plate, and a vertical support having at its upper end a nut welded to the upper end and sized to receive the threaded stud. A rotation of the top plate moves the top plate between a first vertical position and a second different vertical position. Once the U-bolt is tightened about the component being supported by the stand, vertical movement of the stand is prevented. Any lateral movement is limited to the clearance between the threads of the threaded stud and the nut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: Big Elk Energy Systems, LLC
    Inventors: John Laidley, Dennis McClintock, Doug Whisenhunt