Patents by Inventor Erik Mellier

Erik Mellier 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: 10494830
    Abstract: The invention has for object a method for manufacturing concrete construction blocks (6) for a wind-generator tower made up of at least two consecutive blocks secured to one another by a contact surface of each of the two blocks, the manufacturing method comprising the following steps: pouring concrete into a first cage of reinforcements (10-1) so as to obtain the first concrete construction block comprising a first contact surface (9), and pouring concrete into a second cage of reinforcements (10-2) so as to obtain the second concrete construction block, the second cage of reinforcements being provided in a form (21) arranged such that the first contact surface (9) of the first block (6-1) makes up a wall for delimiting (26) the pouring of the concrete such as to form a contact surface (9) of the second block (6-2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: SOLETANCHE FREYSSINET
    Inventors: Nicolas Fabry, Benoit Melen, Erik Mellier
  • Patent number: 10081921
    Abstract: A vibration damping device for suspension-bridge type cables includes first and second linear dampers supported by a generally V-shaped support member mounted to the bridge deck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: SOLETANCHE FREYSSINET
    Inventor: Erik Mellier
  • Patent number: 10006176
    Abstract: A method for building a bridge, said bridge comprising piers and at least one deck. The method including a cantilever step, wherein a girder is set in a cantilevered position relative to a bank or to a constructed zone of the bridge so that the girder comprises a first end overhanging the bank or the constructed zone, and a second end overhanging a construction zone of the bridge, and a construction step, wherein pier elements and deck elements are installed in said construction zone via a first and a second lifting devices mounted movable on the girder between the first and second ends. The first and second lifting devices cross one another along the girder during the cantilever step and/or during the construction step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: SOLETANCHE FREYSSINET
    Inventors: Patrick D. Bermingham, Erik Mellier, Stefano L. Gabaldo, Brice Le Treut
  • Publication number: 20180073207
    Abstract: Device for damping vibrations of a cable (8). The device comprises: a support (14), at least one first damper (16) to dampen the vibrations of the cable (8), the first damper (16) comprising a first element (32) and a second element (34), telescopically moveable, one over the other, the second element (34) being intended to be fixed to the cable (8), the first element (32) having a distal end and a proximal end in relation to the cable (8), and a fixing disposed on the support to fix the first damper (16) to the support (14), the fixing being fixed to the first damper (16) at a place along the first damper located away from the distal end of the first element (32) in the direction of the proximal end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2016
    Publication date: March 15, 2018
    Inventor: Erik MELLIER
  • Publication number: 20170314284
    Abstract: The invention has for object a method for manufacturing concrete construction blocks (6) for a wind-generator tower made up of at least two consecutive blocks secured to one another by a contact surface of each of the two blocks, the manufacturing method comprising the following steps: pouring concrete into a first cage of reinforcements (10-1) so as to obtain the first concrete construction block comprising a first contact surface (9), and pouring concrete into a second cage of reinforcements (10-2) so as to obtain the second concrete construction block, the second cage of reinforcements being provided in a form (21) arranged such that the first contact surface (9) of the first block (6-1) makes up a wall for delimiting (26) the pouring of the concrete such as to form a contact surface (9) of the second block (6-2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2014
    Publication date: November 2, 2017
    Inventors: Nicolas FABRY, Benoit MELEN, Erik MELLIER
  • Patent number: 9797382
    Abstract: A contribution is made to the assembly of a wind turbine intended to comprise, in a final assembly condition, a tower (2) surmounted by a nacelle (4) cooperating with a rotor (5) receiving a plurality of blades (3a-3c). To this end, a temporary association is made between at least some blades from said plurality of blades and the tower, so that said blades extend substantially in the longitudinal direction of the tower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Soletanche Freyssinet
    Inventors: Jean-Daniel Lebon, Charles-Emmanuel Ferrand De La Conte, Erik Mellier
  • Patent number: 9714489
    Abstract: A method of damping the vibrations of at least one pair of stay cables of a civil engineering structure, in which the stay cables of said pair are linked by a damper having a first stiffness in response to tensile stress and a second stiffness in response to compressive stress, the first stiffness being greater than the second stiffness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: SOLETANCHE FREYSSINET
    Inventors: Jérôme Stubler, Erik Mellier
  • Patent number: 9714495
    Abstract: The invention relates to a prestressed diaphragm wall in the ground (10) including a concrete panel (52), at least one anchor tube open at its upper end (38) and closed at its lower end (36) and, embedded at least partially in the concrete panel, at least one cable (60) extending inside the anchor tube (30), a lower portion of the cable (60) being fixed to said tube (30), and a cable anchoring system (90), configured to hold the cable in tension (60) and secure its upper portion (68) to the upper portion of the concrete panel (52). It also relates to a method for making a prestressed diaphragm wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: SOLETANCHE FREYSSINET
    Inventors: Erik Mellier, Thierry Jeanmaire, Memphis Loygue
  • Publication number: 20170175347
    Abstract: A method for building a bridge, said bridge (4) comprising piers (6) and at least one deck (8), the method comprising: a cantilever step, wherein a girder (16) is set in a cantilevered position relative to a bank or to a constructed zone (12) of the bridge so that the girder comprises a first end (24) overhanging the bank or the constructed zone, and a second end (26) overhanging a construction zone (14) of the bridge, a construction step, wherein pier elements and deck elements (10) are installed in said construction zone (14) via a first and a second lifting devices (18, 20) mounted movable on the girder (16) between the first and second ends (24, 26). The first and second lifting devices (18, 20) cross one another along the girder during the cantilever step and/or during the construction step. Associated bridge-building apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2014
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Inventors: Patrick D. BERMINGHAM, Erik MELLIER, Stefano L. GABALDO, Brice LE TREUT
  • Patent number: 9617697
    Abstract: A device (22) for damping vibrations in a cable (16) comprises an arm (25) oscillating about a pivot (26), a first damper (30) for damping the oscillations of the arm, a coupler (27) attached to the cable, a second, linear-travel damper (31) having an upper end connected to the coupler and a lower end connected to the arm, and a guide (28) for sliding the coupler with respect to the arm parallel to the travel of the second damper such that the movements of the cable that are transverse to the travel of the second damper are transmitted to the arm independently of the second damper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: SOLETANCHE FREYSSINET
    Inventors: Jérôme Stubler, Erik Mellier
  • Patent number: 9580876
    Abstract: The damping device comprises an interconnecting structure between cables of a group of at least three cables of the suspension system which extend substantially in one and the same suspension plane P. The interconnecting structure has, outside the plane P, at least one bearing point for an energy dissipating element arranged so as to develop a damping force in response to a movement of one of the cables of the group relative to the other cables of the group in a direction perpendicular to the suspension plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: SOLETANCHE FREYSSINET
    Inventors: Jerome Stubler, Erik Mellier
  • Publication number: 20160273174
    Abstract: The device (22) for damping vibrations in a cable (16) comprises an arm (25) oscillating about a pivot (26), a first damper (30) for damping the oscillations of the arm, a coupler (27) attached to the cable, a second, linear-travel damper (31) having an upper end connected to the coupler and a lower end connected to the arm, and a guide (28) for sliding the coupler with respect to the arm parallel to the travel of the second damper such that the movements of the cable that are transverse to the travel of the second damper are transmitted to the arm independently of the second damper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2014
    Publication date: September 22, 2016
    Inventors: Jérôme STUBLER, Erik MELLIER
  • Patent number: 9446541
    Abstract: The method is for protecting the end of a cable made of a plurality of parallel tendons (10) anchored using a block (15) having a front side, a rear side and channels (16) extending between the front and rear sides. Each tendon of the cable is held in a respective channel of the anchor block with a blocking member (19). The method comprises performing a first phase of injecting protective material (100) into at least some of the channels of the anchor block. A chamber (30) is formed on at least one side of the anchor block (15) so as to contain portions of the plurality of tendons. A second phase of injecting protective material (200) into the chamber (30) is then performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: SOLETANCHE FREYSSINET
    Inventors: Jerome Stubler, Aurelien Sylvestre, Stephane Joye, Erik Mellier
  • Patent number: 9284700
    Abstract: A seal for sealing a cable anchor device (4) to a structural element (1, 3), the cable anchor device (4) being arranged to anchor at least one cable (2) to the structural element (1,3) and having a front surface (15) facing an opening (6) of the structural element, through which front surface the at least one cable (2) extends towards the exterior of the structural element, characterized in that the seal comprises a sleeve (12) which extends from a perimeter of a surface of the structural element including the opening (6) of the structural element to a perimeter of a hermetic portion of the anchored cable (2) comprising at least the front surface (15) of the anchor device (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: SOLETANCHE FREYSSINET
    Inventors: Erik Mellier, Ivica Zivanovic
  • Publication number: 20160010302
    Abstract: The invention relates to a prestressed diaphragm wall in the ground (10) including a concrete panel (52), at least one anchor tube open at its upper end (38) and closed at its lower end (36) and, embedded at least partially in the concrete panel, at least one cable (60) extending inside the anchor tube (30), a lower portion of the cable (60) being fixed to said tube (30), and a cable anchoring system (90), configured to hold the cable in tension (60) and secure its upper portion (68) to the upper portion of the concrete panel (52). It also relates to a method for making a prestressed diaphragm wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2014
    Publication date: January 14, 2016
    Inventors: Erik MELLIER, Thierry JEANMAIRE, Memphis LOYGUE
  • Patent number: 9085832
    Abstract: A strand (3) comprising a group of twisted threads (8) and arranged so as to have, over a first part (1) of its length: a sheath (4) containing the group of twisted threads, and a flexible filling product (7) filling a peripheral interstice (6) located between the inner face of the sheath and the periphery of the group of twisted threads, and, over a second part (2) of its length, which is separate from the first part: a material (9) covering the periphery of the group of twisted threads, said material adhering to the twisted threads of the group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: SOLETANCHE FREYSSINET
    Inventors: Erik Mellier, Stéphane Joye
  • Patent number: 9038478
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for determining the fatigue capital of a cable supporting a civil engineering structure, the method including: a measuring step (S1, S2) during which the normal tensile stress in the cable and the bending stress in the cable are measured in a synchronized manner so as to obtain the compound stress in the cable; a counting step (S3) during which a count of the number of stress cycles, depending on the amplitude of the stress, is carried out from the measured compound stresses; and a step (S4) of assessing the fatigue capital of the cable during which the fatigue capital of the cable is determined by comparing the count, carried out in the counting step, with a pre-set Wohler curve for the cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Soletanche Freyssinet
    Inventors: Gilles Hovhanessian, Alexandre Chaperon, Erik Mellier
  • Publication number: 20150137462
    Abstract: A seal for sealing a cable anchor device (4) to a structural element (1, 3), the cable anchor device (4) being arranged to anchor at least one cable (2) to the structural element (1,3) and having a front surface (15) facing an opening (6) of the structural element, through which front surface the at least one cable (2) extends towards the exterior of the structural element, characterized in that the seal comprises a sleeve (12) which extends from a perimeter of a surface of the structural element including the opening (6) of the structural element to a perimeter of a hermetic portion of the anchored cable (2) comprising at least the front surface (15) of the anchor device (4).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2012
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Applicant: SOLETANCHE FREYSSINET
    Inventors: Erik Mellier, Ivica Zivanovic
  • Publication number: 20150113744
    Abstract: The damping device comprises an interconnecting structure between cables of a group of at least three cables of the suspension system which extend substantially in one and the same suspension plane P. The interconnecting structure has, outside the plane P, at least one bearing point for an energy dissipating element arranged so as to develop a damping force in response to a movement of one of the cables of the group relative to the other cables of the group in a direction perpendicular to the suspension plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2014
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Inventors: Jerome STUBLER, Erik MELLIER
  • Patent number: 8959692
    Abstract: The structural cable has several stretched tendons (4). It is diverted in a device comprising a body crossed by conduits (10). Each conduit has a wall to guide one of the tendons along a curved path. The wall of the conduit has a tendon support area (11) directed toward the interior of the curve of the path. This support area presents, in the center portion of the conduit and transverse to the curved path, a section in the shape of a circular arc whose radius is appreciably equal to half the external diameter of the tendon. The central portion of the conduit has a cross-section enlarged outside the support area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Soletanche Freyssinet
    Inventors: Erik Mellier, Stephane Joye