Patents by Inventor Douglas E. Wright

Douglas E. Wright 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: 20220062925
    Abstract: A rotary nozzle having a rotating shaft operating within a cylindrical housing is balanced by allowing passage of a small amount of pressurized fluid to be bled to an area between the outside of the opposite end of the shaft and the inside of the housing where the fluid force acts axially in an opposing direction upon the shaft to balance the axial inlet force exerted by the pressurized fluid. The balance of axial forces is self-regulating by controlling escape of the fluid through a tapered or frusto-conical region between the shaft and housing. A plurality of centrifugal weight segments around the inlet end of the shaft are thrust outwardly against the cylindrical housing to retard rotational speed while pressurized fluid around the centrifugal weight segments provides a fluid bearing between the weights and the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2021
    Publication date: March 3, 2022
    Inventors: Douglas E. Wright, Daniel Szabo
  • Patent number: 9919333
    Abstract: A high pressure nozzle manipulator includes a wheeled chassis, a pair of parallel manipulator elevator rails supported by an elevator rail rotator fastened to the chassis, a horizontal extensible arm rail disposed between and carried by the manipulator elevator rails, a rotary actuator fastened to a distal end of the horizontal extensible arm rail, and a linear actuator fastened between the first rotary actuator and a hinged nozzle support bracket. This bracket holds a high pressure cleaning nozzle. The linear actuator is configured to rotate the nozzle and the bracket through an arc. The elevator rail rotator is configured to rotate the elevator rails through an arc of about 180 degrees about a horizontal axis. The rotary wrist actuator is configured to rotate the hinged nozzle support bracket about a horizontal axis through the extensible arm rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: STONEAGE, INC.
    Inventor: Douglas E. Wright
  • Publication number: 20170157636
    Abstract: A high pressure nozzle manipulator includes a wheeled chassis, a pair of parallel manipulator elevator rails supported by an elevator rail rotator fastened to the chassis, a horizontal extensible arm rail disposed between and carried by the manipulator elevator rails, a rotary actuator fastened to a distal end of the horizontal extensible arm rail, and a linear actuator fastened between the first rotary actuator and a hinged nozzle support bracket. This bracket holds a high pressure cleaning nozzle. The linear actuator is configured to rotate the nozzle and the bracket through an arc. The elevator rail rotator is configured to rotate the elevator rails through an arc of about 180 degrees about a horizontal axis. The rotary wrist actuator is configured to rotate the hinged nozzle support bracket about a horizontal axis through the extensible arm rail.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2017
    Publication date: June 8, 2017
    Inventor: Douglas E. WRIGHT
  • Patent number: 9610603
    Abstract: A high pressure nozzle manipulator includes a wheeled chassis, a pair of parallel manipulator elevator rails supported by an elevator rail rotator fastened to the chassis, a horizontal extensible arm rail disposed between and carried by the manipulator elevator rails, a rotary actuator fastened to a distal end of the horizontal extensible arm rail, and a linear actuator fastened between the first rotary actuator and a hinged nozzle support bracket. This bracket holds a high pressure cleaning nozzle. The linear actuator is configured to rotate the nozzle and the bracket through an arc. The elevator rail rotator is configured to rotate the elevator rails through an arc of about 180 degrees about a horizontal axis. The rotary wrist actuator is configured to rotate the hinged nozzle support bracket about a horizontal axis through the extensible arm rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: Stoneage, Inc.
    Inventor: Douglas E. Wright
  • Publication number: 20160243564
    Abstract: A rotary nozzle apparatus is disclosed which includes a cup shaped outer housing having a central axis, a wall portion and a bottom portion. A tubular inner housing is centered on the central axis within the outer housing engaging the wall portion of the outer housing. A distal end of an elongated tubular nozzle body carries a nozzle head extending through a passage out of the inner housing to an opening through the bottom portion of the outer housing. The nozzle body is configured to rotate around a conical inner wall portion of the inner housing in response to rotational fluid flow into the inner housing. The angle of the nozzle body with respect to the central axis, and hence fluid spray angle may be adjusted from a wide spray angle to an axial stream by changing spacing between the bottom portion of the outer housing and the inner housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2016
    Publication date: August 25, 2016
    Inventors: Colton Andersen, Douglas E. Wright
  • Publication number: 20160199870
    Abstract: A high pressure nozzle manipulator includes a wheeled chassis, a pair of parallel manipulator elevator rails supported by an elevator rail rotator fastened to the chassis, a horizontal extensible arm rail disposed between and carried by the manipulator elevator rails, a rotary actuator fastened to a distal end of the horizontal extensible arm rail, and a linear actuator fastened between the first rotary actuator and a hinged nozzle support bracket. This bracket holds a high pressure cleaning nozzle. The linear actuator is configured to rotate the nozzle and the bracket through an arc. The elevator rail rotator is configured to rotate the elevator rails through an arc of about 180 degrees about a horizontal axis. The rotary wrist actuator is configured to rotate the hinged nozzle support bracket about a horizontal axis through the extensible arm rail.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2016
    Publication date: July 14, 2016
    Inventor: Douglas E. WRIGHT
  • Patent number: 9067220
    Abstract: A fluid bearing nozzle assembly is disclosed that has a hollow cylindrical body, an inlet nut fastened to the cylindrical body, and a hollow tubular shaft member coaxially carried within the housing body and captured between the inlet nut and the body. The inlet nut has a stem portion extending into a central bore through the shaft member forming an inlet bearing area rotatably carrying the shaft member thereon. The shaft member has a spray head fastened thereto for rotation of the head with the shaft member. An inner wall of the housing body and an outer portion of the shaft have complementary shapes forming a regulating passage therebetween. The shaft has helical grooves that spiral around the shaft to one or both ends to impart rotation to the shaft and spray head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: STONEAGE, INC.
    Inventor: Douglas E. Wright
  • Patent number: 8668155
    Abstract: A high pressure rotary nozzle having a rotating shaft operating within a fixed housing wherein the of axial force which acts upon the shaft due to the fluid pressure at the shaft inlet is balanced by allowing passage of a small amount of the pressurized fluid to be bled to an area or chamber between the outside of the opposite end of the shaft and the inside of the housing where the fluid pressure can act axially in an opposing direction upon the shaft to balance the axial inlet force. The balance of axial forces is self-regulating by controlling escape of the fluid through a tapered or frusto-conical region between the shaft and housing. This further provides a fluid bearing between the two surfaces and allows use of interchangeable rotating jet heads having jet orifices which can be oriented in virtually any desirable configuration including axially forward of the nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Stoneage, Inc.
    Inventor: Douglas E. Wright
  • Publication number: 20140008459
    Abstract: A fluid bearing nozzle assembly is disclosed that has a hollow cylindrical body, an inlet nut fastened to the cylindrical body, and a hollow tubular shaft member coaxially carried within the housing body and captured between the inlet nut and the body. The inlet nut has a stem portion extending into a central bore through the shaft member forming an inlet bearing area rotatably carrying the shaft member thereon. The shaft member has a spray head fastened thereto for rotation of the head with the shaft member. An inner wall of the housing body and an outer portion of the shaft have complementary shapes forming a regulating passage therebetween. The shaft has helical grooves that spiral around the shaft to one or both ends to impart rotation to the shaft and spray head.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2013
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Applicant: STONEAGE, INC.
    Inventor: Douglas E. Wright
  • Patent number: 8573599
    Abstract: A unitary cartridge seal assembly for a high pressure liquid sealing connection between two relatively rotatable liquid passage members of a rotary nozzle or a swivel and a tool having such an assembly. The assembly comprises a thimble shaped or cylindrical housing having a flanged retainer fitting within an axial orifice to hold the components together while allowing sufficient axial movement to insure complete sealing of the respective elements. The assembly provides “drop-in” replacement of wearable parts of the rotary face seal of a high pressure water jet blasting tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Stoneage, Inc.
    Inventor: Douglas E. Wright
  • Patent number: 8544768
    Abstract: A fluid bearing nozzle assembly is disclosed that has a hollow cylindrical body, an inlet nut fastened to the cylindrical body, and a hollow tubular shaft member coaxially carried within the housing body and captured between the inlet nut and the body. The inlet nut has a stem portion extending into a central bore through the shaft member forming an inlet bearing area rotatably carrying the shaft member thereon. The shaft member has a spray head fastened thereto for rotation of the head with the shaft member. An inner wall of the housing body and an outer portion of the shaft have complementary shapes forming a regulating passage therebetween. The shaft has helical grooves that spiral around the shaft to one or both ends to impart rotation to the shaft and spray head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Stoneage, Inc.
    Inventor: Douglas E. Wright
  • Patent number: 8434696
    Abstract: A high pressure rotary nozzle having a rotating shaft operating within a fixed housing wherein the of axial force which acts upon the shaft due to the fluid pressure at the shaft inlet is balanced by allowing passage of a small amount of the pressurized fluid to be bled to an area or chamber between the outside of the opposite end of the shaft and the inside of the housing where the fluid pressure can act axially in an opposing direction upon the shaft to balance the axial inlet force. The balance of axial forces is self-regulating by controlling escape of the fluid through a tapered or frusto-conical region between the shaft and housing. This further provides a fluid bearing between the two surfaces and allows use of interchangeable rotating jet heads having jet orifices which can be oriented in virtually any desirable configuration including axially forward of the nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Stoneage, Inc.
    Inventor: Douglas E. Wright
  • Publication number: 20120255588
    Abstract: A high pressure rotary nozzle having a rotating shaft operating within a fixed housing wherein the of axial force which acts upon the shaft due to the fluid pressure at the shaft inlet is balanced by allowing passage of a small amount of the pressurized fluid to be bled to an area or chamber between the outside of the opposite end of the shaft and the inside of the housing where the fluid pressure can act axially in an opposing direction upon the shaft to balance the axial inlet force. The balance of axial forces is self-regulating by controlling escape of the fluid through a tapered or frusto-conical region between the shaft and housing. This further provides a fluid bearing between the two surfaces and allows use of interchangeable rotating jet heads having jet orifices which can be oriented in virtually any desirable configuration including axially forward of the nozzle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2012
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Applicant: StoneAge, Inc.
    Inventor: Douglas E. Wright
  • Patent number: 8220724
    Abstract: A high pressure rotary nozzle having a rotating shaft operating within a fixed housing wherein the of axial force which acts upon the shaft due to the fluid pressure at the shaft inlet is balanced by allowing passage of a small amount of the pressurized fluid to be bled to an area or chamber between the outside of the opposite end of the shaft and the inside of the housing where the fluid pressure can act axially in an opposing direction upon the shaft to balance the axial inlet force. The balance of axial forces is self-regulating by controlling escape of the fluid through a tapered or frusto-conical region between the shaft and housing. This further provides a fluid bearing between the two surfaces and allows use of interchangeable rotating jet heads having jet orifices which can be oriented in virtually any desirable configuration including axially forward of the nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Stoneage, Inc.
    Inventor: Douglas E. Wright
  • Publication number: 20110297761
    Abstract: A high pressure rotary nozzle having a rotating shaft operating within a fixed housing wherein the of axial force which acts upon the shaft due to the fluid pressure at the shaft inlet is balanced by allowing passage of a small amount of the pressurized fluid to be bled to an area or chamber between the outside of the opposite end of the shaft and the inside of the housing where the fluid pressure can act axially in an opposing direction upon the shaft to balance the axial inlet force. The balance of axial forces is self-regulating by controlling escape of the fluid through a tapered or frusto-conical region between the shaft and housing. This further provides a fluid bearing between the two surfaces and allows use of interchangeable rotating jet heads having jet orifices which can be oriented in virtually any desirable configuration including axially forward of the nozzle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2011
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Applicant: StoneAge, Inc.
    Inventor: Douglas E. Wright
  • Patent number: 8016210
    Abstract: A high pressure rotary nozzle having a rotating shaft operating within a fixed housing wherein the of axial force which acts upon the shaft due to the fluid pressure at the shaft inlet is balanced by allowing passage of a small amount of the pressurized fluid to be bled to an area or chamber between the outside of the opposite end of the shaft and the inside of the housing where the fluid pressure can act axially in an opposing direction upon the shaft to balance the axial inlet force. The balance of axial forces is self-regulating by controlling escape of the fluid through a tapered or frusto-conical region between the shaft and housing. This further provides a fluid bearing between the two surfaces and allows use of interchangeable rotating jet heads having jet orifices which can be oriented in virtually any desirable configuration including axially forward of the nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Balanced Body, Inc.
    Inventor: Douglas E. Wright
  • Patent number: 8006920
    Abstract: A high pressure rotary nozzle having a rotating shaft operating within a fixed housing wherein the of axial force which acts upon the shaft due to the liquid pressure at the shaft inlet is balanced by allowing passage of a small amount of the pressurized liquid to be bled to an area or chamber between the outside of the opposite end of the shaft and the inside of the housing where the liquid pressure can act axially in an opposing direction upon the shaft to balance the axial inlet force. The balance of axial forces is self-regulating by controlling escape of the liquid through a tapered or frusto-conical region between the shaft and housing. This further provides a liquid bearing between the two surfaces and allows use of interchangeable rotating jet heads having jet orifices which can be oriented in virtually any desirable configuration including axially forward of the nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Stoneage, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas E. Wright, John E. Wolgamott
  • Patent number: D650887
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Stoneage, Inc.
    Inventor: Douglas E. Wright
  • Patent number: D724695
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Stoneage, Inc.
    Inventor: Douglas E. Wright
  • Patent number: D900961
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: STONEAGE, INC.
    Inventor: Douglas E. Wright