Patents by Inventor James West Ruffin

James West Ruffin 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: 10899588
    Abstract: A pipe lifting apparatus and method related thereto are provided, wherein the pipe has a base with outriggers, a vertically extending beam having a pulley at its upper end and a cable attached to a winch and extending over the pulley. The pulley and winch are oriented so that the cable extends naturally in line with a vertex between two of the outriggers such that, when a pipe in a vertical sleeve is attached to the distal end and is lifted by the cable, the pipe passes adjacent to the vertex. The apparatus is configured to raise pipes from a vertical pipe sleeve used in floating roofs of above-ground storage tanks. The apparatus can be used to raise and lower pipes and to move them around the upper surface of the floating roof of the tanks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: Matrix Service Company
    Inventors: James West Ruffin, David Lee Redman, Michael Musick
  • Publication number: 20190337774
    Abstract: A pipe lifting apparatus and method related thereto are provided, wherein the pipe has a base with outriggers, a vertically extending beam having a pulley at its upper end and a cable attached to a winch and extending over the pulley. The pulley and winch are oriented so that the cable extends naturally in line with a vertex between two of the outriggers such that, when a pipe in a vertical sleeve is attached to the distal end and is lifted by the cable, the pipe passes adjacent to the vertex. The apparatus is configured to raise pipes from a vertical pipe sleeve used in floating roofs of above-ground storage tanks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2019
    Publication date: November 7, 2019
    Inventors: James West Ruffin, David Lee Redman, Michael Musick
  • Patent number: 10364132
    Abstract: A pipe lifting apparatus and method related thereto are provided, wherein the pipe has a base with outriggers, a vertically extending beam having a pulley at its upper end and a cable attached to a winch and extending over the pulley. The pulley and winch are oriented so that the cable extends naturally in line with a vertex between two of the outriggers such that, when a pipe in a vertical sleeve is attached to the distal end and is lifted by the cable, the pipe passes adjacent to the vertex. The apparatus is configured to raise pipes from a vertical pipe sleeve used in floating roofs of above-ground storage tanks. The apparatus can be used to raise and lower pipes and to move them around the upper surface of the floating roof of the tanks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: Matrix Service Company
    Inventors: James West Ruffin, David Lee Redman, Michael Musick
  • Publication number: 20180170718
    Abstract: A pipe lifting apparatus and method related thereto are provided, wherein the pipe has a base with outriggers, a vertically extending beam having a pulley at its upper end and a cable attached to a winch and extending over the pulley. The pulley and winch are oriented so that the cable extends naturally in line with a vertex between two of the outriggers such that, when a pipe in a vertical sleeve is attached to the distal end and is lifted by the cable, the pipe passes adjacent to the vertex. The apparatus is configured to raise pipes from a vertical pipe sleeve used in floating roofs of above-ground storage tanks. The apparatus can be used to raise and lower pipes and to move them around the upper surface of the floating roof of the tanks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2016
    Publication date: June 21, 2018
    Inventors: James West Ruffin, David Lee Redman, Michael Musick