Patents by Inventor John Graeme Walker

John Graeme Walker 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: 12074414
    Abstract: A vehicle for deploying a cable into a trench in the sea bed is disclosed. The vehicle comprises a body adapted to move relative to the trench in the sea bed, and a bellmouth for engaging the cable and mounted to the body, wherein the bellmouth is adapted to define an open channel in a direction facing the trench for engaging the cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2024
    Assignee: Soil Machine Dynamics Limited
    Inventors: John Graeme Walker, Roger Paul White
  • Publication number: 20230175231
    Abstract: A vehicle (6) apparatus for removing material from the seabed is disclosed. The vehicle comprises first thrusters (10) for moving the vehicle vertically and second thrusters (12) for moving the vehicle horizontally. A collector unit (16) removes material from the seabed, and a latching mechanism (42) is adapted to be connected to a riser to enable removed material to be transported to a vessel on the surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2021
    Publication date: June 8, 2023
    Applicant: Soil Machine Dynamics Limited
    Inventors: John Graeme WALKER, Roger WHITE, Charlotte ANDERSON
  • Patent number: 11613870
    Abstract: An apparatus for locating an elongate object in the seabed is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a body and a pair of jetting swords arranged on lateral sides of the elongate object to form a trench in the seabed. Chain cutters arranged on lateral sides of the elongate object cut respective parts of a trench in the seabed and are moveable relative to the body between a stowed position and a deployed position, independently of the jetting swords.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: Soil Machine Dynamics Limited
    Inventors: John Graeme Walker, Roger Paul White
  • Publication number: 20220352699
    Abstract: A vehicle (2) for deploying a cable (4) into a trench (8) in the seabed (10) is disclosed. The vehicle (2) comprises a body (12) adapted to move relative to the trench (8) in the sea bed (10), and a bellmouth (18) for engaging the cable (4) and mounted to the body, wherein the bellmouth (18) is adapted to define an open channel (20) in a direction facing the trench (8) for engaging the cable (4).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2020
    Publication date: November 3, 2022
    Inventors: John Graeme Walker, Roger Paul White
  • Publication number: 20210292995
    Abstract: A wheel cutter tractor for inserting a cable into a trench is disclosed. The tractor comprises a wheel cutter for cutting a trench, and tracks for moving the tractor relative to the trench. A cable support tray supports the cable in a first position displaced from the wheel cutter in a direction transverse to a direction of travel of the tractor, and in a second position above the wheel cutter. A cable grab and lifting device transfers the cable into the cable support tray.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2021
    Publication date: September 23, 2021
    Inventors: John Graeme Walker, Roger Paul White
  • Publication number: 20210172151
    Abstract: An apparatus for locating an elongate object in the seabed is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a body and a pair of jetting swords arranged on lateral sides of the elongate object to form a trench in the seabed. Chain cutters arranged on lateral sides of the elongate object cut respective parts of a trench in the seabed and are moveable relative to the body between a stowed position and a deployed position, independently of the jetting swords.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2020
    Publication date: June 10, 2021
    Inventors: John Graeme Walker, Roger Paul White
  • Patent number: 10711432
    Abstract: An apparatus for forming a trench in a sea floor and/or displacing material on the sea floor is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a body and front skids mounted to the body for engaging the sea floor and supporting the body. The front skids are adjustable between a first mode, in which the front skids engage the sea floor, and a second mode, in which the front skids engage the sea floor adjacent the trench and at the trench walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Soil Machine Dynamics Limited
    Inventors: Roger Paul White, John Graeme Walker, Simon Vivian Ranulf Bateson
  • Publication number: 20190032303
    Abstract: An apparatus for forming a trench in a sea floor and/or displacing material on the sea floor is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a body and front skids mounted to the body for engaging the sea floor and supporting the body. The front skids are adjustable between a first mode, in which the front skids engage the sea floor, and a second mode, in which the front skids engage the sea floor adjacent the trench and at the trench walls.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2017
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Inventors: Roger Paul White, John Graeme Walker, Simon Vivian Ranulf Bateson
  • Publication number: 20160251907
    Abstract: A driving apparatus for driving pipes into the sea bed is disclosed. The driving apparatus has support arms supporting a drill tower for driving pipes into the sea bed, and a body for supporting a plurality of pipes in cassettes. A pipe feeding mechanism feeds pipes to the drill tower and the apparatus is controlled from a vessel located at a sea surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2014
    Publication date: September 1, 2016
    Applicant: SOIL MACHINE DYNAMICS LIMITED
    Inventor: John Graeme Walker
  • Publication number: 20160215476
    Abstract: A deployment apparatus for deploying an object to a sea floor is disclosed. The deployment apparatus comprises a body and an attachment part mounted to the body for releasably attaching an object to the apparatus. Thrusters provide thrust to transport the apparatus having an object attached thereto, and inflatable tanks mounted to the body have adjustable buoyancy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2014
    Publication date: July 28, 2016
    Applicant: Soil Machine Dynamics Limited
    Inventor: John Graeme Walker
  • Patent number: 7195251
    Abstract: The item of footwear (10) is provided with a roller (50) to enable the item of footwear to roll over a surface when the rolling means is in a first active position. The item of footwear (10) has a slide yoke (34) for retracting the roller (50) to a second latent position, thereby disabling the roller and preventing the item of footwear from rolling over a surface (see FIG. 2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2007
    Assignee: Automation Conveyors Ltd.
    Inventor: John Graeme Walker
  • Patent number: 6966416
    Abstract: A conveyor system for loading pallets into and out of a vehicle includes an accumulating conveyor and airbag rail. The accumulating conveyor is constituted by a pair of chain rails for supporting and conveying pallets into and out of a vehicle. The airbag rail is positioned between the chain rails and adjacent to one of the chain rails. The airbag rail is constituted by a base beam, a lift beam and an airbag positioned between the two beams. The arrangement is such that, with the chain rails and the base beam fixed to the floor of a vehicle, the airbag can be inflated to raise the lift beam so as to lift an edge portion of a pallet supported by the two chain rails out of contact with one of the chain rails.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2005
    Assignee: Automation Conveyors, Ltd.
    Inventor: John Graeme Walker