Patents by Inventor Mark Russell Henault
Mark Russell Henault 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: 8650694Abstract: A pipeline pig includes a venturi and a modulating valve located rearward of the inlet side of the venturi. When the valve is in the open position, a predetermined maximum bypass flow is allowed through the venturi. The closed position allows a predetermined minimum bypass flow. The valve may be a poppet-style valve or a frusto-conical shaped stopper. The stopper has sufficient mass and/or aerodynamic drag to overcome the spring force holding the valve in the open position. When the pig stalls, the valve closes and the stopper chokes bypass flow through the venturi. When the pig starts running again, the valve opens as inertia forces the stopper away from the inlet side of the venturi. Also, as friction of the pig increases due to changes in the internal diameter of the pipeline or accumulation of debris ahead of the pig, increased airflow across the valve creates drag sufficient to partially overcome the spring force, thus keeping the pig moving at a desirable rate of travel.Type: GrantFiled: July 3, 2008Date of Patent: February 18, 2014Assignee: TDW Delaware, IncInventors: Rick D. Pruett, Robert F. Strong, Eric N. Freeman, Charles Culver Gidden Cooper, Scott Douglas Nelson, Mark Russell Henault
-
Patent number: 8151483Abstract: A method for progressively dewatering a pipe or pipeline includes the use of a loose-fitting spherical- or quasi-spherical shaped pig body which rolls forward through the interior space of the pipe and temporarily captures and redistributes a portion of the volume of liquids available for capture and redistribution as the pig body rolls on past. Preferably, the portion captured is less than the volume available for capture. A part of the captured liquid may be redistributed to an upper quadrant of the pipe. Capture and redistribution are accomplished by way of a first bypass pathway and a second bypass pathway. One of the pathways may be a through-body pathway. The pig body may be a hollow pig body with a plurality of spaced-apart ports, a solid pig body with a plurality of paddle-like structures, or a cube-sphere type pig body with recessed external wall surfaces.Type: GrantFiled: July 6, 2010Date of Patent: April 10, 2012Assignee: TDW Delaware, Inc.Inventors: Charles Culver Gidden Cooper, Mark Russell Henault, Robert F. Strong, Eric N. Freeman
-
Publication number: 20120006420Abstract: A method for progressively dewatering a pipe or pipeline includes the use of a loose-fitting spherical- or quasi-spherical shaped pig body which rolls forward through the interior space of the pipe and temporarily captures and redistributes a portion of the volume of liquids available for capture and redistribution as the pig body rolls on past. Preferably, the portion captured is less than the volume available for capture. A part of the captured liquid may be redistributed to an upper quadrant of the pipe. Capture and redistribution are accomplished by way of a first bypass pathway and a second bypass pathway. One of the pathways may be a through-body pathway. The pig body may be a hollow pig body with a plurality of spaced-apart ports, a solid pig body with a plurality of paddle-like structures, or a cube-sphere type pig body with recessed external wall surfaces.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 6, 2010Publication date: January 12, 2012Inventors: Charles Culver Gidden Cooper, Mark Russell Henault, Robert F. Strong, Eric N. Freeman
-
Patent number: 8052801Abstract: A method and system for launching a pipeline pig includes the steps of compressing a modulating bypass valve of a pipeline pig and installing a locking means to temporally maintain the bypass valve in the compressed state. Once the pig has travelled a predetermined distance through the pipeline, the locking means is released and retrieved through the launch trap door. The locking means is preferably a launching pin having a clip attachment that receives the clips of a retractable lead. The lead is housed by a retraction device that is detachably secured to the launch trap door. The modulating valve has sufficient mass and aerodynamic drag to overcome the force of a gas spring. The valve moves between a retracted and compressed position substantially instantaneously upon the pipeline pig stalling and between the compressed and retracted position substantially instantaneously upon the pipeline pig accelerating.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 2009Date of Patent: November 8, 2011Assignee: TDW Delaware, Inc.Inventors: Eric N. Freeman, Robert F. Strong, Charles Culver Gidden Cooper, Scott Douglas Nelson, Mark Russell Henault
-
Publication number: 20100170535Abstract: A method and system for launching a pipeline pig includes the steps of compressing a modulating bypass valve of a pipeline pig and installing a locking means to temporally maintain the bypass valve in the compressed state. Once the pig has travelled a predetermined distance through the pipeline, the locking means is released and retrieved through the launch trap door. The locking means is preferably a launching pin having a clip attachment that receives the clips of a retractable lead. The lead is housed by a retraction device that is detachably secured to the launch trap door. The modulating valve has sufficient mass and aerodynamic drag to overcome the force of a gas spring. The valve moves between a retracted and compressed position substantially instantaneously upon the pipeline pig stalling and between the compressed and retracted position substantially instantaneously upon the pipeline pig accelerating.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 8, 2009Publication date: July 8, 2010Inventors: Eric N. Freeman, Robert F. Strong, Charles Culver Gidden Cooper, Scott Douglas Nelson, Mark Russell Henault
-
Publication number: 20100000037Abstract: A pipeline pig includes a venturi and a modulating valve located rearward of the inlet side of the venturi. When the valve is in the open position, a predetermined maximum bypass flow is allowed through the venturi. The closed position allows a predetermined minimum bypass flow. The valve may be a poppet-style valve or a frusto-conical shaped stopper. The stopper has sufficient mass and/or aerodynamic drag to overcome the spring force holding the valve in the open position. When the pig stalls, the valve closes and the stopper chokes bypass flow through the venturi. When the pig starts running again, the valve opens as inertia forces the stopper away from the inlet side of the venturi. Also, as friction of the pig increases due to changes in the internal diameter of the pipeline or accumulation of debris ahead of the pig, increased airflow across the valve creates drag sufficient to partially overcome the spring force, thus keeping the pig moving at a desirable rate of travel.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 3, 2008Publication date: January 7, 2010Inventors: Rick D. Pruett, Robert F. Strong, Eric N. Freeman, Charles Culver Gidden Cooper, Scott Douglas Nelson, Mark Russell Henault
-
Patent number: 6760994Abstract: A fishing rod case has a plurality of segments that can be removably connected together in an end-to-end manner to achieve a desired length. Each segment has a connector that enables end-to-end engagement between adjacent segments, and a tubular passageway in axial alignment with the tubular passageways of other segments to store a number of fishing rods. A plurality of elongated security bars can be removably attached in series to one another and to the segments. A fastener is used to secure the security bars to the segments and prevent disassembly of the segments while the fastener is in place.Type: GrantFiled: September 6, 2002Date of Patent: July 13, 2004Inventors: Mark Russell Henault, Paul W. R. Hields
-
Publication number: 20040045212Abstract: A fishing rod case has a plurality of segments that can be removably connected together in an end-to-end manner to achieve a desired length. Each segment has a connector that enables end-to-end engagement between adjacent segments, and a tubular passageway in axial alignment with the tubular passageways of other segments to store a number of fishing rods. A plurality of elongated security bars can be removably attached in series to one another and to the segments. A fastener is used to secure the security bars to the segments and prevent disassembly of the segments while the fastener is in place.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 6, 2002Publication date: March 11, 2004Inventors: Mark Russell Henault, Paul W.R. Hields
-
Patent number: 6113644Abstract: A computer based system and method orients an occupant representation, in electronic form, with respect to a three-dimensional electronic representation of a portion of the vehicle. At least one vehicle system is represented, also in electronic form, with respect to a common reference point, at least one human factors reach study is electronically performed to determine occupant reach with respect to the at least one vehicle system, and an outcome of that study is reported to a vehicle designer. The designer then has an option to vary, or alter, the vehicle, the occupant orientation, the location of the vehicle system, or any combination thereof, so that the design meets the reach criteria of the study. However, the designer may opt to retain the design despite non-compliance with the reach criteria.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 1997Date of Patent: September 5, 2000Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.Inventors: William Francis Weber, Daniel Cornelius Bach, Joseph J. Moon, Frederick Abraham Karam, Sean James Sevrence, Scott Ming-Hua Tang, Michael Joseph Walraven, Mark Russell Henault
-
Patent number: 6113643Abstract: A computer based system and method for designing an automotive vehicle based on occupant vision orients an occupant representation, in electronic form, with respect to a three-dimensional electronic representation of a portion of the vehicle. At least one vehicle system is represented, also in electronic form, with respect to a common reference point, at least one human factors vision study is electronically performed to determine occupant vision with at least one vehicle system, and an outcome of that study is reported to a vehicle designer. The designer then has an option to vary, or alter, the occupant orientation, the location of the vehicle system, or both, so that the design meets a predetermined vision criteria of the study. However, the designer may opt to retain the design despite non-compliance with the vision criteria.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 1997Date of Patent: September 5, 2000Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.Inventors: William Francis Weber, Daniel Cornelius Bach, Nicholas D. McGuire, Frederick Abraham Karam, Sean James Sevrence, Scott Ming-Hua Tang, Michael Joseph Walraven, Mark Russell Henault
-
Patent number: 6110216Abstract: A computer based system and method for designing an automotive vehicle orients an occupant representation, in electronic form, with respect to a three-dimensional electronic representation of a portion of the vehicle. At least one vehicle system is represented, also in electronic form, with respect to a common reference point, at least one human factors study is electronically performed to determine occupant interaction with at least one vehicle system, and an outcome of that study is reported to a vehicle designer. The designer then has an option to vary, or alter, the occupant orientation, the location of the vehicle system, or both, so that the design meets a predetermined criteria of the study. However, the designer may opt to retain the design despite non-compliance with the criteria.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 1997Date of Patent: August 29, 2000Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.Inventors: William Francis Weber, Daniel Cornelius Bach, Jr., Scott Ming-Hua Tang, Mark Russell Henault, Sean James Sevrence, Michael Joseph Walraven, Frederick Abraham Karam
-
Patent number: 6096087Abstract: A computer based system and method for designing an automotive vehicle orients an occupant representation, in electronic form, with respect to a three-dimensional electronic representation of a portion of the vehicle. At least one vehicle system is represented, also in electronic form, with respect to a common reference point, at least one human factors reflection study is electronically performed to determine occupant reflection reception with at least one vehicle system, and an outcome of that study is reported to a vehicle designer. The designer then has an option to vary, or alter, the occupant orientation, the location of the vehicle system, or both, so that the design meets a predetermined reflection criteria of the study. However, the designer may opt to retain the design despite non-compliance with the reflection criteria.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 1997Date of Patent: August 1, 2000Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.Inventors: William Francis Weber, Daniel Cornelius Bach, Jr., Nicholas D. McGuire, Frederick Abraham Karam, Sean James Sevrence, Scott Ming-Hua Tang, Michael Joseph Walraven, Mark Russell Henault
-
Patent number: 6096086Abstract: A computer based system and method for designing an automotive vehicle orients an occupant representation, in electronic form, with respect to a three-dimensional electronic representation of a portion of the vehicle. At least one vehicle system is represented, also in electronic form, with respect to a common reference point, at least one human factors occupant-to-vehicle interaction study is electronically performed to determine occupant interaction with at least one vehicle system, and an outcome of that study is reported to a vehicle designer. The designer then has an option to vary, or alter, the occupant orientation, the location of the vehicle system, or both, so that the design meets a predetermined interaction criteria of the study. However, the designer may opt to retain the design despite non-compliance with the interaction criteria.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 1997Date of Patent: August 1, 2000Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.Inventors: William Francis Weber, Daniel Cornelius Bach, Joseph J. Moon, Frederick Abraham Karam, Sean James Sevrence, Scott Ming-Hua Tang, Michael Joseph Walraven, Mark Russell Henault
-
Patent number: 6090148Abstract: A computer based system and method for designing an automotive vehicle orients an occupant representation, in electronic form, with respect to a three-dimensional electronic representation of a portion of the vehicle. At least one vehicle system is represented, also in electronic form, with respect to a common reference point, at least one human factors study is electronically performed to determine occupant interaction with at least one vehicle system, and an outcome of that study is reported to a vehicle designer. The designer then has an option to vary, or alter, the occupant orientation, the location of the vehicle system, or both, so that the design meets a predetermined criteria of the study. However, the designer may opt to retain the design despite non-compliance with the criteria.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 1997Date of Patent: July 18, 2000Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.Inventors: William Francis Weber, Daniel Cornelius Bach, Frederick Abraham Karam, Sean James Sevrence, Scott Ming-Hua Tang, Michael Joseph Walraven, Mark Russell Henault
-
Patent number: D458747Type: GrantFiled: September 7, 2001Date of Patent: June 18, 2002Inventors: Paul W. R. Hields, Mark Russell Henault