Patents by Inventor Mikhail German

Mikhail German 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: 9506591
    Abstract: A self-restrained pipe joint system and method of assembly to connect two lengths of pipe in a mechanical joint, which maximizes the advantages of both restrained push-on joints as well as mechanical joints, as are known commonly in the art. The invention has application to long-run pipe lengths as well as to appurtenances, including fittings and connections. The gasket contains locking members that act to restrain separation upon the instance of any force tending to separate the connected pipe lengths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Mueller International, LLC
    Inventors: Mikhail German, Jr., Leo W. Fleury, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9441771
    Abstract: A device for coupling a male piping member to a female piping member includes a compressible sealing gasket and a gripping ring surrounding the male piping member, the gripping ring including at least one gripping member and at least one overlapping surface. An intermediate ring surrounding the male piping member at least partially overlaps an overlapping surface of the gripping ring and communicates with the compressible sealing gasket. A locking ring surrounding the male piping member communicates with the gripping ring, wherein through a tightening connection between the locking ring and the female piping member, the locking ring communicates with the gripping ring forcing the intermediate ring into the compressible sealing gasket to form a seal between the male piping member and the female piping member and subsequently to force the gripping ring to grip the male piping member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: Mueller International, LLC
    Inventors: Mikhail German, Leo W. Fleury, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20140360004
    Abstract: A self-restrained pipe joint system and method of assembly to connect two lengths of pipe in a mechanical joint, which maximizes the advantages of both restrained push-on joints as well as mechanical joints, as are known commonly in the art. The invention has application to long-run pipe lengths as well as to appurtenances, including fittings and connections.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2014
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Inventors: Mikhail German, JR., Leo W. Fleury, JR.
  • Patent number: 8857861
    Abstract: A mechanical pipe joint system for joining a male piping member and a female piping member, the female piping member having a bell portion to receive a portion of the male piping member, includes a retaining flange and a restraining gasket, the restraining gasket including a sealing portion, a flange portion, and a restraining portion, the restraining portion including a plurality of circumferentially-spaced restraining segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Mueller International, LLC
    Inventors: Mikhail German, Leo Fleury
  • Patent number: 8739834
    Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods of use of a plug assembly are disclosed herein. The plug assembly includes an expandable plug for use with a pipe having an annular wall defining an outer wall surface and an inner wall surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Mueller International, LLC
    Inventors: Mikhail German, Leo Fleury
  • Publication number: 20120097283
    Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods of use of a plug assembly are disclosed herein. The plug assembly includes an expandable plug for use with a pipe having an annular wall defining an outer wall surface and an inner wall surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2011
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Applicant: Mueller International, LLC
    Inventors: Mikhail German, Leo Fleury
  • Patent number: 8104517
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention provide apparatuses and methods for stopping the flow of media within a pipeline. The pipeline generally includes one or more pipes connected end-to-end, where each of the pipes has a longitudinal axis with an annular wall. The annular wall has an outer wall surface and an inner wall surface, where the inner wall surface defines an inner pipe diameter. In various embodiments, a hole is formed in the pipeline substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the annular wall and extending through the opposing pipe wall. A resilient plug is positioned within the pipeline such that it extends between the holes and is selectively expanded in a radial direction to create a seal with the inner surface of the pipe and holes to prevent flow of the media within the pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Mueller International, Inc.
    Inventors: Mikhail German, Leo Fleury
  • Publication number: 20110210543
    Abstract: Disclosed is a device for coupling a male piping member to a female piping member including a compressible sealing gasket and a gripping ring surrounding the male piping member, the gripping ring including at least one gripping member and at least one overlapping surface; an intermediate ring surrounding the male piping member, the intermediate ring at least partially overlapping the overlapping surface of the gripping ring, the intermediate ring communicating with the compressible sealing gasket; and a locking ring surrounding the male piping member and communicating with the gripping ring, wherein through a tightening connection between the locking ring and the female piping member, the locking ring communicates with the gripping ring forcing the intermediate ring into the compressible sealing gasket to form a seal between the male piping member and the female piping member and subsequently to force the gripping ring to grip the male piping member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2011
    Publication date: September 1, 2011
    Applicant: Mueller International, LLC
    Inventors: Mikhail German, Leo W. Fleury, JR.
  • Publication number: 20110084484
    Abstract: A self-restrained pipe joint system and method of assembly to connect two lengths of pipe in a mechanical joint, which maximizes the advantages of both restrained push-on joints as well as mechanical joints, as are known commonly in the art. The invention has application to long-run pipe lengths as well as to appurtenances, including fittings and connections. The gasket contains locking members that act to restrain separation upon the instance of any force tending to separate the connected pipe lengths.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2010
    Publication date: April 14, 2011
    Inventors: Mikhail German, Leo Fleury
  • Patent number: 7901162
    Abstract: Pipe tapping apparatuses, devices, methods, and systems are provided for hot-tapping a pipe or fluid conduit containing a pressurized fluid. According to an embodiment, a pipe-tapping device can comprise a machine lower portion, a machine feed portion, and a machine drive portion. The machine lower portion can be disposed proximate to a pipe and can include a threaded insert situated distal to the pipe. The machine feed portion can include a first thread set and a second thread set. The first thread set can correspond to the threaded insert so that the machine feed portion is adapted to move axially relative to the machine lower portion. The machine drive portion can include a threaded interior. The threaded interior can correspond to the second thread set so that the machine drive portion is adapted to move axially relative to the machine feed portion. Other various embodiments are also claimed and described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Mueller International, Inc.
    Inventor: Mikhail German
  • Publication number: 20100307604
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention provide apparatuses and methods for stopping the flow of media within a pipeline. The pipeline generally includes one or more pipes connected end-to-end, where each of the pipes has a longitudinal axis with an annular wall. The annular wall has an outer wall surface and an inner wall surface, where the inner wall surface defines an inner pipe diameter. In various embodiments, a hole is formed in the pipeline substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the annular wall and extending through the opposing pipe wall. A resilient plug is positioned within the pipeline such that it extends between the holes and is selectively expanded in a radial direction to create a seal with the inner surface of the pipe and holes to prevent flow of the media within the pipe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2010
    Publication date: December 9, 2010
    Inventors: Mikhail German, Leo Fleury
  • Patent number: 7748411
    Abstract: The present invention is a plug system having a plug for insertion into a pipeline, wherein the plug system is insertable via a fitting attached to the pipeline. A pre-drilled aperture of the pipeline positioned normal to the cylindrically-shaped pipeline may interfere with a pig traveling through the pipeline. In one embodiment, the plug includes two coaxial cylindrical portions. A first cylindrical portion has a diameter greater than the aperture diameter, while the second cylindrical portion has a diameter less than the aperture diameter. Additionally the plug defines a hole that is oriented perpendicular to an axis of the cylindrical portions, wherein the diameter of the hole is approximately the size of inside diameter of the pipe. The plug has a retaining member to stabilize the plug system. When the plug is installed in the pipe it permit a pig to flow freely, thereby eliminating pigging hazards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: Mueller International, Inc.
    Inventors: Mikhail German, Leo W. Fleury
  • Patent number: 7686031
    Abstract: A fire hydrant system relating to protection of a water supply from contamination. The fire hydrant system includes a barrel adapted to communicate at least indirectly with a water supply; a nozzle extending from the barrel; a hydrant valve adapted to controllably regulate communication between the barrel and the water supply; a valve actuator adapted to allow actuation of the hydrant valve; a nozzle cap adapted to at least close off the nozzle opening; and a hydrant shoe in communication with the water supply, the hydrant shoe comprising a backflow prevention assembly, wherein water can flow from the water supply through the hydrant shoe into the barrel at an open position of the backflow prevention assembly disc, and wherein media cannot enter the water supply via the barrel when the backflow prevention assembly disc is in a closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Mueller International, Inc.
    Inventors: Mikhail German, Leo W. Fleury, Ken Clark
  • Publication number: 20090183783
    Abstract: A fire hydrant system relating to protection of a water supply from contamination. The fire hydrant system includes a barrel adapted to communicate at least indirectly with a water supply; a nozzle extending from the barrel; a hydrant valve adapted to controllably regulate communication between the barrel and the water supply; a valve actuator adapted to allow actuation of the hydrant valve; a nozzle cap adapted to at least close off the nozzle opening; and a hydrant shoe in communication with the water supply, the hydrant shoe comprising a backflow prevention assembly, wherein water can flow from the water supply through the hydrant shoe into the barrel at an open position of the backflow prevention assembly disc, and wherein media cannot enter the water supply via the barrel when the backflow prevention assembly disc is in a closed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2009
    Publication date: July 23, 2009
    Applicant: MUELLER INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Mikhail German, Leo W. Fleury, Ken Clark
  • Patent number: 7520294
    Abstract: A fire hydrant system relating to protection of a water supply from contamination. The fire hydrant system includes a barrel adapted to communicate at least indirectly with a water supply; a nozzle extending from the barrel; a hydrant valve adapted to controllably regulate communication between the barrel and the water supply; a valve actuator adapted to allow actuation of the hydrant valve; a nozzle cap adapted to at least close off the nozzle opening; and a hydrant shoe in communication with the water supply, the hydrant shoe comprising a backflow prevention assembly, wherein water can flow from the water supply through the hydrant shoe into the barrel at an open position of the backflow prevention assembly disc, and wherein media cannot enter the water supply via the barrel when the backflow prevention assembly disc is in a closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: Mueller International, Inc.
    Inventors: Mikhail German, Leo W. Fleury, Ken Clark
  • Publication number: 20070295406
    Abstract: A fire hydrant system relating to protection of a water supply from contamination. The fire hydrant system includes a barrel adapted to communicate at least indirectly with a water supply; a nozzle extending from the barrel; a hydrant valve adapted to controllably regulate communication between the barrel and the water supply; a valve actuator adapted to allow actuation of the hydrant valve; a nozzle cap adapted to at least close off the nozzle opening; and a hydrant shoe in communication with the water supply, the hydrant shoe comprising a backflow prevention assembly, wherein water can flow from the water supply through the hydrant shoe into the barrel at an open position of the backflow prevention assembly disc, and wherein media cannot enter the water supply via the barrel when the backflow prevention assembly disc is in a closed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2007
    Publication date: December 27, 2007
    Applicant: Mueller International, Inc.
    Inventors: Mikhail GERMAN, Leo W. Fleury, Ken Clark
  • Publication number: 20070095398
    Abstract: Pipe tapping apparatuses, devices, methods, and systems are provided for hot-tapping a pipe or fluid conduit containing a pressurized fluid. According to an embodiment, a pipe-tapping device can comprise a machine lower portion, a machine feed portion, and a machine drive portion. The machine lower portion can be disposed proximate to a pipe and can include a threaded insert situated distal to the pipe. The machine feed portion can include a first thread set and a second thread set. The first thread set can correspond to the threaded insert so that the machine feed portion is adapted to move axially relative to the machine lower portion. The machine drive portion can include a threaded interior. The threaded interior can correspond to the second thread set so that the machine drive portion is adapted to move axially relative to the machine feed portion. Other various embodiments are also claimed and described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2006
    Publication date: May 3, 2007
    Applicant: MUELLER INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventor: Mikhail German
  • Patent number: D591831
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: Mueller International, Inc.
    Inventors: Mikhail German, Leo W. Fleury, Ken Clark
  • Patent number: D607541
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: Mueller International, Inc.
    Inventors: Mikhail German, Leo W. Fleury, Ken Clark
  • Patent number: D631134
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Mueller International, Inc.
    Inventors: Mikhail German, Christopher Joseph Duckett