Patents by Inventor Paul John Donaldson

Paul John Donaldson 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).

  • Publication number: 20240092036
    Abstract: A pipe fusion machine including a track mounted chassis supporting a horizontal turntable for unlimited, reversible rotation relative to the chassis. A boom pivotally attached at a rear end of, and extending forwardly of, the turntable enables manipulation of elevations and distances of the free end of the boom. The free end of the boom is adapted to permit pivotal mounting thereon of a pipe fusion tool such as an indexer configured to articulate and support a pipe-end facer and a pipe-end heater for respective independent orientation into and out of alignment with the ends of pipes to be fused. A carriage supports fixed and sliding jaws adapted to grip the ends of pipes to be fused for relative reciprocal movement during a pipe fusion process. Each of the jaws may include an upper half jaw and lower left and right quarter jaws.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2023
    Publication date: March 21, 2024
    Inventors: Arthur H. McElroy, II, Paul John Donaldson, Eric R. Abbott, Seth P. Ahrens, Douglas K. Brownell, Gregory A. Ruoff, Jared D. Sparks, Matthew A. Price
  • Publication number: 20230095782
    Abstract: One fusion machine can butt or socket fuse polyolefin pipes and fittings in straight alignment or at inwardly or outwardly mitered universal angles from 0° to 45° for butt fusion and from 0° to 10° for socket fusion. The machine is manually driven, hydraulically monitored and operated in all configurations from one side of the machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2022
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Inventors: Paul John Donaldson, Christopher C. Greggs
  • Patent number: 11458693
    Abstract: One fusion machine can butt or socket fuse polyolefin pipes and fittings in straight alignment or at inwardly or outwardly mitered universal angles from 0° to 45° for butt fusion and from 0° to 10° for socket fusion. The machine is manually driven, hydraulically monitored and operated in all configurations from one side of the machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: McElroy Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul John Donaldson
  • Publication number: 20220281179
    Abstract: Modular carriage for varying spacing between ends of polymer pipe during fusion. The modular carriage includes a fixed jaw; an inner movable jaw; an outer moveable jaw and a plurality of guide rods. The fixed jaw being adapted for tool free engagement with the terminal ends of the plurality of guide rods. A carriage cylinder is associated with at least two of the guide rods and mounted for reciprocal travel along the length of its associated guide rod. The movable jaws being adapted for tool free engagement with at least two carriage cylinders for reciprocal travel therewith. A combined hydraulic cylinder/guide rod includes a guide rod with an integral guide rod piston, a cylindrical tube, and a guide rod gland on each end of the cylinder tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2022
    Publication date: September 8, 2022
    Applicant: McElroy Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Arthur H. McElroy, II, Jason A. Lawrence, Seth P. Ahrens, Paul John Donaldson
  • Patent number: 11312088
    Abstract: Modular carriage for varying spacing between ends of polymer pipe during fusion. The modular carriage includes a fixed jaw; an inner movable jaw; an outer moveable jaw and a plurality of guide rods. The fixed jaw being adapted for tool free engagement with the terminal ends of the plurality of guide rods. A carriage cylinder is associated with at least two of the guide rods and mounted for reciprocal travel along the length of its associated guide rod. The movable jaws being adapted for tool free engagement with at least two carriage cylinders for reciprocal travel therewith. A combined hydraulic cylinder/guide rod includes a guide rod with an integral guide rod piston, a cylindrical tube, and a guide rod gland on each end of the cylinder tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: McElroy Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Arthur H. McElroy, II, Jason A. Lawrence, Seth P. Ahrens, Paul John Donaldson
  • Patent number: 11034039
    Abstract: A facer facing the ends of polyolefin pipes for butt fusion is modular in the sense that it employs three types of modules, a drive unit, two blade holders and a motor assembly, that are separable from one another and each independently light enough to be hand-lifted along walls and up to ceilings. The drive unit module is adjustable to accommodate different guide rail spacings. The blade holder modules are interchangeable to accommodate different diameters of pipe. The motor assembly module has multispeed capability to accommodate the total area of material to be faced. Each module can be exchanged or modified without use of tools to change the geometry of the assembled facer to accommodate different fusion machines and/or diameters of pipe within working spaces dictated by the diameter of the pipe and not by a fixed geometry of a facer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Inventors: Timothy M. Thoman, Arthur H. McElroy, II, Paul John Donaldson, Brian M. O'Connell
  • Publication number: 20200376777
    Abstract: One fusion machine can butt or socket fuse polyolefin pipes and fittings in straight alignment or at inwardly or outwardly mitered universal angles from 0° to 45° for butt fusion and from 0° to 10° for socket fusion. The machine is manually driven, hydraulically monitored and operated in all configurations from one side of the machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2020
    Publication date: December 3, 2020
    Inventors: Paul John Donaldson, Christopher C. Greggs
  • Publication number: 20200338773
    Abstract: A facer facing the ends of polyolefin pipes for butt fusion is modular in the sense that it employs three types of modules, a drive unit, two blade holders and a motor assembly, that are separable from one another and each independently light enough to be hand-lifted along walls and up to ceilings. The drive unit module is adjustable to accommodate different guide rail spacings. The blade holder modules are interchangeable to accommodate different diameters of pipe. The motor assembly module has multispeed capability to accommodate the total area of material to be faced. Each module can be exchanged or modified without use of tools to change the geometry of the assembled facer to accommodate different fusion machines and/or diameters of pipe within working spaces dictated by the diameter of the pipe and not by a fixed geometry of a facer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2020
    Publication date: October 29, 2020
    Inventors: Timothy M. Thoman, Arthur H. McElroy, II, Paul John Donaldson, Brian M. O'Connell
  • Patent number: 10751950
    Abstract: One fusion machine can butt or socket fuse polyolefin pipes and fittings in straight alignment or at inwardly or outwardly mitered universal angles from 0° to 45° for butt fusion and from 0° to 10° for socket fusion. The machine is manually driven, hydraulically monitored and operated in all configurations from one side of the machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: MCELROY MANUFACTURING, INC.
    Inventor: Paul John Donaldson
  • Patent number: 10682780
    Abstract: A facer facing the ends of polyolefin pipes for butt fusion is modular in the sense that it employs three types of modules, a drive unit, two blade holders and a motor assembly, that are separable from one another and each independently light enough to be hand-lifted along walls and up to ceilings. The drive unit module is adjustable to accommodate different guide rail spacings. The blade holder modules are interchangeable to accommodate different diameters of pipe. The motor assembly module has multispeed capability to accommodate the total area of material to be faced. Each module can be exchanged or modified without use of tools to change the geometry of the assembled facer to accommodate different fusion machines and/or diameters of pipe within working spaces dictated by the diameter of the pipe and not by a fixed geometry of a facer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: MCELROY MANUFACTURING, INC.
    Inventors: Timothy M. Thoman, Arthur H. McElroy, II, Jason A. Lawrence, Paul John Donaldson, Brian M. O'Connell, Seth P. Ahrens
  • Publication number: 20190210297
    Abstract: Modular carriage for varying spacing between ends of polymer pipe during fusion. The modular carriage includes a fixed jaw; an inner movable jaw; an outer moveable jaw and a plurality of guide rods. The fixed jaw being adapted for tool free engagement with the terminal ends of the plurality of guide rods. A carriage cylinder is associated with at least two of the guide rods and mounted for reciprocal travel along the length of its associated guide rod. The movable jaws being adapted for tool free engagement with at least two carriage cylinders for reciprocal travel therewith. A combined hydraulic cylinder/guide rod includes a guide rod with an integral guide rod piston, a cylindrical tube, and a guide rod gland on each end of the cylinder tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2018
    Publication date: July 11, 2019
    Applicant: McElroy Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Arthur H. McElroy, II, Jason A. Lawrence, Seth P. Ahrens, Paul John Donaldson
  • Publication number: 20190084170
    Abstract: A facer facing the ends of polyolefin pipes for butt fusion is modular in the sense that it employs three types of modules, a drive unit, two blade holders and a motor assembly, that are separable from one another and each independently light enough to be hand-lifted along walls and up to ceilings. The drive unit module is adjustable to accommodate different guide rail spacings. The blade holder modules are interchangeable to accommodate different diameters of pipe. The motor assembly module has multispeed capability to accommodate the total area of material to be faced. Each module can be exchanged or modified without use of tools to change the geometry of the assembled facer to accommodate different fusion machines and/or diameters of pipe within working spaces dictated by the diameter of the pipe and not by a fixed geometry of a facer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2017
    Publication date: March 21, 2019
    Applicant: McElroy Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy M. Thoman, Arthur H. McElroy, II, Jason A. Lawrence, Paul John Donaldson, Brian M. O'Connell, Seth P. Ahrens
  • Publication number: 20190084250
    Abstract: One fusion machine can butt or socket fuse polyolefin pipes and fittings in straight alignment or at inwardly or outwardly mitered universal angles from 0° to 45° for butt fusion and from 0° to 10° for socket fusion. The machine is manually driven, hydraulically monitored and operated in all configurations from one side of the machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2017
    Publication date: March 21, 2019
    Applicant: McElroy Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul John Donaldson, Christopher C. Greggs
  • Patent number: 10160101
    Abstract: A socket fusion jig includes a pipe saddle and coupling saddle spaced apart. Rotation of a handle causes the pipe saddle and coupling saddle to move laterally relative to one another so that the pipe held in the pipe saddle may be fused to the coupling held in the coupling saddle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: McElroy Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul John Donaldson, Greg Meadows
  • Patent number: 10093000
    Abstract: A socket fusion jig includes a pipe saddle and coupling saddle spaced apart. Rotation of a handle causes the pipe saddle and coupling saddle to move laterally relative to one another so that the pipe held in the pipe saddle may be fused to the coupling held in the coupling saddle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: McElroy Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul John Donaldson, Gregory C. Meadows
  • Publication number: 20170217085
    Abstract: A socket fusion jig includes a pipe saddle and coupling saddle spaced apart. Rotation of a handle causes the pipe saddle and coupling saddle to move laterally relative to one another so that the pipe held in the pipe saddle may be fused to the coupling held in the coupling saddle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2017
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Inventors: PAUL JOHN DONALDSON, Gregory C. Meadows
  • Publication number: 20150258663
    Abstract: A socket jig is provided. In one embodiment, the socket jig includes a pair of pipe clamp jaws and a pair of coupling clamp jaws. The pair of pipe clamp jaws can move towards and away from one another using a tightening mechanism that runs through one or more openings in each of the pipe clamp jaws. Similarly, the pair of coupling clamp jaws can move towards and away from another using a tightening mechanism that runs through one or more openings in each of the coupling clamp jaws. Finally, the pipe clamp jaws and the coupling clamp jaws can move towards each other by turning a handle which operates a gearbox that provides mechanical advantage to the operator as the pipe clamp jaws and coupling clamp jaws move towards or away from on another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2015
    Publication date: September 17, 2015
    Inventor: PAUL JOHN DONALDSON
  • Publication number: 20150074966
    Abstract: An electro-mechanical machine for fusing small diameter polyolefin pipe includes a carriage and controls. The carriage has fixed and travelling jaws that grip a pipeline and a pipe stick and electrically driven screws that bring the jaws into and out of close proximity for performance of fusion process tasks. The controls include an electrical closed loop circuit that controls operation of the screws to transfer the travelling jaws to a base axial distance from the fixed jaws and an electrical load cell feedback circuit that controls operation of the screws to reciprocate the travelling jaws in relation to the base axial distance in response to feedback from the load cells so as to maintain a predetermined force between the pipes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2013
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Applicant: McElroy Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: David W. Porter, Paul John Donaldson, Justin W. Eskridge, Kean C. Chin
  • Publication number: 20140033491
    Abstract: A socket fusion jig includes a pipe saddle and coupling saddle spaced apart. Rotation of a handle causes the pipe saddle and coupling saddle to move laterally relative to one another so that the pipe held in the pipe saddle may be fused to the coupling held in the coupling saddle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2013
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Applicant: McElroy Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul John Donaldson, Gregory C. Meadows