Patents by Inventor Richard E. Christenson

Richard E. Christenson 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: 11821487
    Abstract: The present invention provides a vibration mitigation device which includes a vertically extending housing and a reciprocating assembly coupled with and fully enclosed inside of the vertically extending housing. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the vibration mitigation device may utilize a tension spring as the biasing member while operating in a pneumatic process, an eddy current dampening process or a hybrid combination of the two dampening processes. For low amplitude, the eddy current dampening process may provide improved vibration mitigation results and for higher amplitudes, the pneumatic process may provide improved vibration mitigation results. Other exemplary embodiments include a vibration damping element that utilizes a compression spring as a biasing member for mitigating vibrations. Further exemplary embodiments provide a vibration damping element that utilizes a compression spring and a tension spring as biasing members for mitigating vibrations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Inventors: Carl J. Macchietto, Richard E. Christenson, Darren E. Ingram
  • Publication number: 20220042570
    Abstract: The present invention provides a vibration mitigation device which includes a vertically extending housing and a reciprocating assembly coupled with and fully enclosed inside of the vertically extending housing. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the vibration mitigation device may utilize a tension spring as the biasing member while operating in a pneumatic process, an eddy current dampening process or a hybrid combination of the two dampening processes. For low amplitude, the eddy current dampening process may provide improved vibration mitigation results and for higher amplitudes, the pneumatic process may provide improved vibration mitigation results. Other exemplary embodiments include a vibration damping element that utilizes a compression spring as a biasing member for mitigating vibrations. Further exemplary embodiments provide a vibration damping element that utilizes a compression spring and a tension spring as biasing members for mitigating vibrations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2021
    Publication date: February 10, 2022
    Applicant: Valmont Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Carl J. Macchietto, Richard E. Christenson, Darren E. Ingram
  • Patent number: 11181165
    Abstract: The present invention provides a vibration mitigation device which includes a vertically extending housing and a reciprocating assembly coupled with and fully enclosed inside of the vertically extending housing. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the vibration mitigation device may utilize a tension spring as the biasing member while operating in a pneumatic process, an eddy current dampening process or a hybrid combination of the two dampening processes. For low amplitude, the eddy current dampening process may provide improved vibration mitigation results and for higher amplitudes, the pneumatic process may provide improved vibration mitigation results. Other exemplary embodiments include a vibration damping element that utilizes a compression spring as a biasing member for mitigating vibrations. Further exemplary embodiments provide a vibration damping element that utilizes a compression spring and a tension spring as biasing members for mitigating vibrations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Valmont Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Carl J. Macchietto, Richard E. Christenson, Darren E. Ingram
  • Patent number: 10900532
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for energy absorption and vibrational dampening in a horizontal plane. According to a first preferred embodiment, the present invention discloses an apparatus for damping vibration of a pole which includes a housing with a horizontal floor having an inward curved surface for achieving vibration attenuation at a middle portion thereof to form an enclosed chamber. According to a further aspect of the first embodiment, at least one damping weight is preferably disposed in the inward curved surface and is preferably substantially spherical in shape. According to a further preferred embodiment, at least one dampening weight of the present may preferably include a hollow, inner cavity. According to further aspects of the present invention, the dampening weight preferably may further include a granular material located within the inner cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: Valmont Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Carl J. Macchietto, Richard E. Christenson
  • Publication number: 20190154099
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for energy absorption and vibrational dampening in a horizontal plane. According to a first preferred embodiment, the present invention discloses an apparatus for damping vibration of a pole which includes a housing with a horizontal floor having an inward curved surface for achieving vibration attenuation at a middle portion thereof to form an enclosed chamber. According to a further aspect of the first embodiment, at least one damping weight is preferably disposed in the inward curved surface and is preferably substantially spherical in shape. According to a further preferred embodiment, at least one dampening weight of the present may preferably include a hollow, inner cavity. According to further aspects of the present invention, the dampening weight preferably may further include a granular material located within the inner cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2018
    Publication date: May 23, 2019
    Applicant: Valmont Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Carl J. Macchietto, Richard E. Christenson
  • Publication number: 20180306269
    Abstract: The present invention provides a vibration mitigation device which includes a vertically extending housing and a reciprocating assembly coupled with and fully enclosed inside of the vertically extending housing. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the vibration mitigation device may utilize a tension spring as the biasing member while operating in a pneumatic process, an eddy current dampening process or a hybrid combination of the two dampening processes. For low amplitude, the eddy current dampening process may provide improved vibration mitigation results and for higher amplitudes, the pneumatic process may provide improved vibration mitigation results. Other exemplary embodiments include a vibration damping element that utilizes a compression spring as a biasing member for mitigating vibrations. Further exemplary embodiments provide a vibration damping element that utilizes a compression spring and a tension spring as biasing members for mitigating vibrations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2018
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Applicant: Valmont Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Carl J. Macchietto, Richard E. Christenson, Darren E. Ingram
  • Patent number: 10036446
    Abstract: The present invention provides a vibration mitigation device which includes a vertically extending housing and a reciprocating assembly coupled with and fully enclosed inside of the vertically extending housing. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the vibration mitigation device may utilize a tension spring as the biasing member while operating in a pneumatic process, an eddy current dampening process or a hybrid combination of the two dampening processes. For low amplitude, the eddy current dampening process may provide improved vibration mitigation results and for higher amplitudes, the pneumatic process may provide improved vibration mitigation results. Other exemplary embodiments include a vibration damping element that utilizes a compression spring as a biasing member for mitigating vibrations. Further exemplary embodiments provide a vibration damping element that utilizes a compression spring and a tension spring as biasing members for mitigating vibrations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: Valmont Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Carl J. Macchietto, Richard E. Christenson, Darren E. Ingram
  • Publication number: 20160356337
    Abstract: The present invention provides a vibration mitigation device which includes a vertically extending housing and a reciprocating assembly coupled with and fully enclosed inside of the vertically extending housing. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the vibration mitigation device may utilize a tension spring as the biasing member while operating in a pneumatic process, an eddy current dampening process or a hybrid combination of the two dampening processes. For low amplitude, the eddy current dampening process may provide improved vibration mitigation results and for higher amplitudes, the pneumatic process may provide improved vibration mitigation results. Other exemplary embodiments include a vibration damping element that utilizes a compression spring as a biasing member for mitigating vibrations. Further exemplary embodiments provide a vibration damping element that utilizes a compression spring and a tension spring as biasing members for mitigating vibrations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2016
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Inventors: Carl J. Macchietto, Richard E. Christenson, Darren E. Ingram
  • Patent number: 9470288
    Abstract: A vibration mitigation device configured to be fixedly coupled to a generally horizontally extending support member. The vibration mitigation device includes a generally vertically extending housing extending from the generally horizontally extending support member and a reciprocating assembly coupled with and fully enclosed inside of the generally vertically extending housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: VALMONT INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Carl J. Macchietto, Richard E. Christenson, Darren E. Ingram
  • Publication number: 20150075932
    Abstract: A vibration mitigation device configured to be fixedly coupled to a generally horizontally extending support member. The vibration mitigation device includes a generally vertically extending housing extending from the generally horizontally extending support member and a reciprocating assembly coupled with and fully enclosed inside of the generally vertically extending housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2014
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Inventors: Carl J. Macchietto, Richard E. Christenson, Darren E. Ingram