Patents by Inventor Jeff P. Wells

Jeff P. Wells 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: 6068725
    Abstract: A method for installing and curing a cured in place lateral seal at the connection between a main pipeline and a lateral connection is provided. The method includes placing a resin impregnated lateral seal in the form of a top hat with a brim portion and short tubular portion onto a cylindrical flexible bladder cartridge having a tubular recess for receiving the tubular portion of the seal with the brim portion along the outer portion of the bladder, placing an assembly carrying the bladder to the location of the lateral and pressing the brim portion of the seal against the interior of the main pipeline and everting the tubular portion out of the tubular recess into a portion of the lateral to form the seal. Radiant energy, preferably, light is then applied to the resin to initiate the cure, the bladder is cooled and then deflated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: Insituform (Netherlands) B.V.
    Inventors: John Tweedie, Philip M. Smith, Jeff P. Wells, Kerry D. Severs, Kevin P. Murray
  • Patent number: 6029726
    Abstract: An apparatus for installing a cured in place lateral seal in an existing main pipeline wherein the lateral seal includes a brim portion bonded to a short tubular portion is provided. The apparatus includes a flexible bladder mounted on a cylindrical housing with the bladder having a recess with an inflatable arm which can be tucked within the housing for receiving the tubular portion of the seal with the brim portion along the outer portion of the bladder. The cartridge is removably mountable on a sled or robot device with positioning motors for positioning the seal at the opening of the lateral pipeline. The use of replaceable bladder cartridges allows an operator to load a second new seal on a cartridge a first seal on a bladder cartridge mounted on the sled is being cured in place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 29, 2000
    Assignee: Insituform (Netherlands) B.V.
    Inventors: John Tweedie, Philip M. Smith, Jeff P. Wells, Kerry D. Severs, Kevin P. Murray
  • Patent number: 5044405
    Abstract: To facilitate the repair of short sections of pipe by providing a lining in situ, a repair carrier containing the repair lining is moved into position adjacent the pipe length to be lined, the lining is forced out of the carrier into position in the pipe where it is fixed in position and the carrier is then removed from the pipe leaving the lining in place. A flexible tube forming a part of the carrier is used to initially position the lining in the carrier and then to force the lining out from the carrier and urge it against the interior of the pipe, preferably by eversion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1991
    Assignee: Insituform Licensees B.V.
    Inventors: F. Thomas Driver, Jeff P. Wells
  • Patent number: 5018545
    Abstract: A pipeline extending laterally from a main pipeline is cleaned from the main pipeline by utilizing a nozzle with rearwardly oriented exit orifices through which fluid is forced, the jet effect of the escape of the fluid from those orifices providing the impetus to force the nozzle through the lateral pipeline so as to penetrate and physically clear away obstructions, the escaping fluid flowing through and cleaning the lateral pipeline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 28, 1991
    Assignee: Insituform of North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeff P. Wells