Patents by Inventor Gerald Rockower
Gerald Rockower 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).
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Patent number: 5624206Abstract: An apparatus and method for supporting pipe main repair tools in an excavation while repairs are being made requires only exposure of the top surface of a buried main and utilizes an anchoring system installed in or above the excavation and an elongate support member that spans the excavation in a generally horizontal position above the pipe main and supports an elongate tubular seal tube against the exposed surface of the pipe main. The elongate support member is secured and supported at opposite ends on the ground surface on opposed sides of the excavation by a pair of parallel laterally spaced shoring members firmly engaged on opposed sides of the excavation, or by a pair of parallel laterally spaced anchor plates firmly engaged on the ground surface on opposed sides of the excavation.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 1995Date of Patent: April 29, 1997Assignees: Brooklyn Union Gas Co.,, Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc.Inventors: John H. Cohen, Curtis E. Leitko, Gerard T. Pittard, Terry P. Clifton, Gerald Rockower
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Patent number: 5462077Abstract: An apparatus and method for shutting off fluid flow in a pipe main while repairs are being made requires only exposure of the top surface of a buried main and utilizes an anchor system installed in or above the excavation which supports an elongate tubular seal tube against the exposed surface of the main to extend radially therefrom. A jack mechanism compresses the lower end of the seal tube containing a seal member against the exterior surface of the main. A tubular cutting tool installed inside the seal tube is rotated by an air motor to cut a hole in the side wall of the main. A tubular sealant application tool installed inside the seal tube has a nozzle at its bottom end that sprays liquid sealant material onto the interior surface of the main and is then removed. A tubular bladder deployment tool installed inside the seal tube carries a pair of deflated bladders.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 1994Date of Patent: October 31, 1995Assignees: Brooklyn Union Gas Co., Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc.Inventors: John H. Cohen, Curtis E. Leitko, Gerard T. Pittard, Terry P. Clifton, Gerald Rockower
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Patent number: 5306101Abstract: A cutting/expanding tool includes a cylindrical support body having a guide side and a cutting side, a pair of guide rollers mounted in tandem along the longitudinal axis of the support body on the guide side, a cutting wheel mounted between the tandem guide rollers on the cutting side of the support body, and an expander connected rearwardly of the support body. A plurality of cutting wheels may also be provided, each of progressively increasing diameter. A scoring wheel may be mounted forwardly of the cutting wheels to prescore the surface to be cut, so as to facilitate the cutting action, and a deburrer may be mounted rearwardly of all the cutting wheels so as to smooth the cut edge. A method of using the cutting/expanding tool is also described, whereby after the tool has been propelled through a buried main to cut and to expand it, a replacement main is drawn back through the existing main. A conical, wedge or pie shaped expander may be used.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 1992Date of Patent: April 26, 1994Assignee: Brooklyn Union GasInventors: Gerald Rockower, Joseph J. Marazzo
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Patent number: 5171106Abstract: A cutting/expanding tool includes a cylindrical support body having a guide side and a cutting side, a pair of guide rollers mounted in tandem along the longitudinal axis of the support body on the guide side, a cutting wheel mounted between the tandem guide rollers on the cutting side of the support body, and an expander connected rearwardly of the support body. A plurality of cutting wheels may also be provided, each of progressively increasing diameter. A scoring wheel may be mounted forwardly of the cutting wheels to prescore the surface to be cut, so as to facilitate the cutting action, and a deburrer may be mounted rearwardly of all the cutting wheels so as to smooth the cut edge. A method of using the cutting/expanding tool is also described, whereby after the tool has been propelled through a buried main to cut and to expand it, a replacement main is drawn back through the existing main. A conical or wedge shaped expander may be used.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 1992Date of Patent: December 15, 1992Assignee: Brooklyn Union GasInventors: Gerald Rockower, Joseph J. Marazzo
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Patent number: 5098225Abstract: A cutting/expanding tool includes a cylindrical support body having a guide side and a cutting side, a pair of guide rollers mounted in tandem along the longitudinal axis of the support body on the guide side, a cutting wheel mounted between the tandem guide rollers on the cutting side of the support body, and an expander connected rearwardly of the support body. A plurality of cutting wheels may also be provided, each of progressively increasing diameter. A scoring wheel may be mounted forwardly of the cutting wheels to prescore the surface to be cut, so as to facilitate the cutting action, and a deburrer may be mounted rearwardly of all the cutting wheels so as to smooth the cut edge. A method of using the cutting/expanding tool is also described, whereby after the tool has been propelled through a buried main to cut and to expand it, a replacement main is drawn back through the existing main.Type: GrantFiled: December 31, 1990Date of Patent: March 24, 1992Assignee: Brooklyn Union GasInventors: Gerald Rockower, Joseph J. Marazzo
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Patent number: 4881567Abstract: A liquid removal system particularly adapted to remove water from a gas main. The system includes the combination of highly flexible, low-friction tube fitted with an internal stainless steel stiffener, this assembly having a weighted nose guide to ensure that the assembly remains at the bottom of the gas main. The assembly is inserted into the gas main through a tap hole using an insertion guide to ensure that the assembly is inserted at a proper angle into the gas main.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 1987Date of Patent: November 21, 1989Assignee: Brooklyn Union GasInventor: Gerald Rockower
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Patent number: 4869281Abstract: Process and apparatus for plugging or plugging and servering gas service lines may be deployed from a building without requiring access to either the utility service main or main tee connections. The processes are intended to be undertaken while gas is being supplied to the service. The apparatus also allows service lines to be relined under these conditions without requiring direct access to either the utility service main or main tee connections.Type: GrantFiled: November 25, 1987Date of Patent: September 26, 1989Assignee: Brooklyn Union Gas CompanyInventors: Gerald Rockower, Ronald P. Brigando