Patents by Inventor Douglas Bruce MacDonald

Douglas Bruce MacDonald 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: 20230327412
    Abstract: A hubless sheave system for supporting ropes, wires, and other suspended loads is described. The system can include an inner bearing race and an outer bearing race. The inner bearing race can be affixed to one or more support arms via a mounting bracket. The support arms can be detachably coupled to a support (e.g., a power pole, building, or other structure) to support the system and the suspended load. The outer race can be rotatably coupled to the inner race on a bearing surface, enabling the outer race to rotate freely about the inner race. The outer race can include a sheave groove sized and shaped to support a wire or rope during installation. The system can be used to string and temporarily support power or communications lines during installation, or “stringing,” and then removed when permanent supports are installed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2021
    Publication date: October 12, 2023
    Inventors: Harby Carter Hollis, John Jeremiah MORTON, Douglas Bruce MacDonald, Toni Corinne Tran
  • Publication number: 20230204091
    Abstract: An additive-coated sheave assembly having a wheel with a groove in an outer circumferential surface of the wheel. The additive-coated sheave assembly can have an axle configured to support the wheel and a frame configured to receive and support the axle. A coating can be affixed to the groove by an additive manufacturing process. A method of manufacturing a sheave by coating the groove with a coating by an additive manufacturing process is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2021
    Publication date: June 29, 2023
    Inventors: Harby Carter Hollis, Douglas Bruce MacDonald, John Jeremiah Morton
  • Publication number: 20230132039
    Abstract: A hybrid conductor puller-tensioner and control system are disclosed. The puller-tensioner includes a motor/generator mechanically coupled to a drum. The motor/generator is in electrical communication with a generator and a rechargeable power source. In a tensioning mode, the motor/generator can be used to charge the rechargeable power source. In a pulling mode, when the power demanded by the motor exceeds the capacity of the generator, the motor can be connected to both the generator and the rechargeable power source simultaneously to provide additional power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2021
    Publication date: April 27, 2023
    Inventors: Douglas Bruce MacDonald, Toni Corinne Tran, Carlos Albert Bellot, Timothy Michael Hanson, John Jeremiah Morton
  • Publication number: 20210044093
    Abstract: An intelligent electrical conductor installation system includes a puller sub-system, a tensioner sub-system, and a running GC board. The pull sub-system is configured to provide a pulling force to a pull rope connected on one end to the running board. The tensioner sub-system is configured to provide tension to the one or more conductors connected to the running board during installation of the conductors. The running board is connected to the pull rope on a first end, and configured to be connected to one or more conductors on a second end, wherein the running board includes one or more sensors configured to sense attributes of the conductor pull operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2019
    Publication date: February 11, 2021
    Inventors: Douglas Bruce MacDonald, Harby Carter Hollis, Ryan Arthur Berg, Matthew Caleb Faircloth
  • Patent number: 9960575
    Abstract: An electrical stringing block in accordance with some example embodiments includes a sheave formed of a pair of metal plates which are joined together. Each plate includes an angled section, a planar section extending from an outer edge of the angled section, and a curved section extending from an outer edge of the planar section. The plates are joined together at the planar sections. Each angled section is continuous.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: SHERMAN + REILLY, INC.
    Inventors: Michael Hanson Dunn, Douglas Bruce MacDonald
  • Publication number: 20170214227
    Abstract: An electrical stringing block in accordance with some example embodiments includes a sheave formed of a pair of metal plates which are joined together. Each plate includes an angled section, a planar section extending from an outer edge of the angled section, and a curved section extending from an outer edge of the planar section. The plates are joined together at the planar sections. Each angled section is continuous.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2016
    Publication date: July 27, 2017
    Inventors: Michael Hanson Dunn, Douglas Bruce MacDonald
  • Patent number: 6250029
    Abstract: A partition wall system providing for lay-in of cables, includes a plurality of interconnected panel sections. Each panel section has a base surface and a plurality of protrusions extending from the base surface and a plurality of covering skins. At least one of the covering skins is attached to each of the panel sections so that a passage is formed between the covering skin and the base surface of the panel section to allow the cables to travel through each panel section and between interconnected panel sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2001
    Assignee: Steelcase Development Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Eugene Jeffers, Karl Jahn Mead, Douglas Bruce MacDonald, Charles Anthony Seiber
  • Patent number: 6209273
    Abstract: A partition wall system providing for lay-in of cables, includes a plurality of interconnected panel sections. Each panel section has a base surface and a plurality of protrusions extending from the base surface and a plurality of covering skins. At least one of the covering skins is attached to each of the panel sections so that a passage is formed between the covering skin and the base surface of the panel section to allow the cables to travel through each panel section and between interconnected panel sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2001
    Assignee: Steelcase Development Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Eugene Jeffers, Karl Jahn Mead, Douglas Bruce MacDonald, Charles Anthony Seiber
  • Patent number: 6189270
    Abstract: A partition wall system provides for lay-in of cables. The system includes a plurality of interconnected panel sections and a plurality of covering skins. Each panel section has a base surface and a protrusion extending from the base surface. At least one of the covering skins is attached to each of the panel sections, forming a passage between the covering skin and the base surface of the panel section allowing the cables to travel between interconnected panel sections and through each panel section, in both horizontal and vertical directions. Interconnected panel sections may include first and second sheets of material, each sheet of material providing a base surface with a plurality of protrusions extending therefrom, wherein the first sheet of material is attached to the second sheet of material so that the base surface of the first sheet of material is substantially parallel to the base surface of the second sheet of material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Assignee: Steelcase Development Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Eugene Jeffers, Karl Jahn Mead, Douglas Bruce MacDonald, Charles Anthony Seiber
  • Patent number: 6158178
    Abstract: A partition wall system provides for lay-in of cables. The system includes a plurality of interconnected panel sections and a plurality of covering skins. Each panel section has a base surface and a protrusion extending from the base surface. At least one of the covering skins is attached to each of the panel sections, forming a passage between the covering skin and the base surface of the panel section allowing the cables to travel between interconnected panel sections and through each panel section, in both horizontal and vertical directions. Interconnected panel sections may include first and second sheets of material, each sheet of material providing a base surface with a plurality of protrusions extending therefrom, wherein the first sheet of material is attached to the second sheet of material so that the base surface of the first sheet of material is substantially parallel to the base surface of the second sheet of material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: Steelcase Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Eugene Jeffers, Karl Jahn Mead, Douglas Bruce MacDonald, Charles Anthony Seiber