Patents by Inventor Robert M. Rice
Robert M. Rice 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).
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Publication number: 20180195406Abstract: A system for on-wing engine washing and water reclamation is provided. The system has at least one spray device for introducing a cleaning liquid containing at least water into the engine while the engine is being operated, and an effluent trough for collecting the cleaning liquid from an exit end or underneath side of the engine. In a preferred embodiment, a source of the cleaning liquid and the effluent trough are located on a mobile unit. Further, a treatment system for treating the collected cleaning liquid is also located on a mobile unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 7, 2018Publication date: July 12, 2018Inventors: Robert M. Rice, Robert J. Tierney
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Patent number: 9932895Abstract: An engine wash manifold assembly for delivering wash liquid to an engine with a radial air passage includes a feeder body, an inlet on the feeder body to receive wash fluid, a first nozzle in fluid communication with the feeder body and configured to direct wash fluid into the radial passage, and a securing device configured to support the feeder body relative to a mounting location.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2014Date of Patent: April 3, 2018Assignee: EcoServices, LLCInventors: Robert M. Rice, Wayne J. Zadrick, Sebastian Nordlund, Kurt D. Dorshimer
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Publication number: 20170362956Abstract: A system for on-wing engine washing and water reclamation is provided. The system has at least one spray device for introducing a cleaning liquid containing at least water into the engine while the engine is being operated, and an effluent trough for collecting the cleaning liquid from an exit end or underneath side of the engine. In a preferred embodiment, a source of the cleaning liquid and the effluent trough are located on a mobile unit. Further, a treatment system for treating the collected cleaning liquid is also located on a mobile unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2017Publication date: December 21, 2017Inventors: Robert M. Rice, Robert J. Tierney
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Patent number: 9821352Abstract: An engine wash system with a collector includes a collection pan with a base angled toward a centerline and first and second panels rotatably connecting to first and second sides of the collection pan; a plurality of wheels connecting to the base; a first support connecting on a lower end to the collection pan and extending vertically upward from the collection pan; a first funnel connecting to the first support; and a first hose connecting the first funnel to the collection pan.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2012Date of Patent: November 21, 2017Assignee: EcoServices, LLCInventors: Robert M. Rice, Kurt Dorshimer, Sebastian Nordlund, Wayne Zadrick
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Patent number: 9790808Abstract: A system for on-wing engine washing and water reclamation is provided. The system has at least one spray device for introducing a cleaning liquid containing at least water into the engine while the engine is being operated, and an effluent trough for collecting the cleaning liquid from an exit end or underneath side of the engine. In a preferred embodiment, a source of the cleaning liquid and the effluent trough are located on a mobile unit. Further, a treatment system for treating the collected cleaning liquid is also located on a mobile unit.Type: GrantFiled: April 4, 2005Date of Patent: October 17, 2017Assignee: EcoServices, LLCInventors: Robert M. Rice, Robert J. Tierney
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Patent number: 9757773Abstract: A collector for collecting wash liquid from an engine washing operation include a frame; a height adjustable and expandable droplet separator package connected to the frame, the droplet separator package to receive a flow of wash liquid entrained in an airstream emanating from an engine; a height adjustable and extendable chute with side walls and a scissor lift, the chute connected to the droplet separator package and extending at least partially under an engine to collect liquid exiting the engine; a collector tank connected to the frame to collect liquid from the droplet separator package and the chute; and a drainage pipe connecting at least one of the chute and the droplet separator to the collector tank.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2014Date of Patent: September 12, 2017Assignee: EcoServices, LLCInventors: Sebastian Nordlund, Robert M. Rice, Niklas Linderholm
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Patent number: 9631511Abstract: An engine wash system includes a manifold for delivering wash liquid to an engine. The manifold includes an internal engine contour segment shaped to correspond with at least a portion of the engine case at the inlet; a wash delivery segment connected to the internal engine contour segment which follows the engine case curvature in an axial direction and hooks around an outside of the engine case at the inlet; an inlet on the wash delivery segment to receive wash fluid; a nozzle on the wash delivery portion directed to spray into the compressor inlet of the engine; and a guide extending from the pipe and shaped to align the manifold with respect to the engine so that the nozzle sprays into the engine aft of the inlet particle separator.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2012Date of Patent: April 25, 2017Assignee: EcoServices, LLCInventors: Robert M. Rice, Kurt Dorshimer, Sebastian Nordlund, Wayne Zadrick
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Patent number: 9500098Abstract: An engine wash manifold delivers wash liquid to an engine that includes an inlet, a fan, a case with an exhaust duct and a core inlet splitter. The manifold includes a wash delivery segment comprising a pipe shaped to follow at least in part engine case curvature with a first end to interface with the core inlet splitter and a second end with an inlet to receive wash fluid. The manifold further includes a retention system to secure the wash delivery segment to the engine and one or more nozzles on the first end of the wash delivery segment to spray wash fluid. The wash fluid may be atomized. The manifold further may include nozzles that deliver atomized wash liquid to the aft side of fan blades and may be used in conjunction with an inlet mounted manifold.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2013Date of Patent: November 22, 2016Assignee: EcoServices, LLCInventors: Kurt Dorshimer, William J. Welch, Robert M. Rice, Sebastian Nordlund, Wayne Zadrick
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Publication number: 20160030983Abstract: A collector for collecting wash liquid from an engine washing operation include a frame; a height adjustable and expandable droplet separator package connected to the frame, the droplet separator package to receive a flow of wash liquid entrained in an airstream emanating from an engine; a height adjustable and extendable chute with side walls and a scissor lift, the chute connected to the droplet separator package and extending at least partially under an engine to collect liquid exiting the engine; a collector tank connected to the frame to collect liquid from the droplet separator package and the chute; and a drainage pipe connecting at least one of the chute and the droplet separator to the collector tank.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2014Publication date: February 4, 2016Inventors: Sebastian Nordlund, Robert M. Rice, Niklas Linderholm
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Patent number: 9212565Abstract: A retention system includes a structure clamp to connect the retention system to another structure; and a manifold clamp connected to the structure clamp, the manifold clamp including a trough to receive a pipe, a plurality of tube clamps with split cylinders extending through the trough, a collar to clamp around the pipe, and a spring to bias the trough from the collar.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2013Date of Patent: December 15, 2015Assignee: EcoServices, LLCInventors: Kurt Dorshimer, William J. Welch, Robert M. Rice, Sebastian Nordlund, Wayne Zadrick
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Patent number: 9138782Abstract: A collector for collecting wash liquid from an engine washing operation including an inlet duct to receive wash liquid from the wash operation; a plurality of droplet separators to retain the wash liquid within the collector while allowing air to flow out of the collector; a base to receive the wash liquid; an outlet connected to the base to discharge wash liquid from the collector; and a plurality of wheels connected to the base for moving the collector.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2012Date of Patent: September 22, 2015Assignee: EcoServices, LLCInventors: Kurt Dorshimer, Robert M. Rice, Sebastian Nordlund, Wayne Zadrick
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Patent number: 9034111Abstract: An engine wash system includes a manifold to secure to a nose cone of an engine; a feeder pipe connecting to the manifold to deliver wash liquid to the manifold; a plurality of nozzles connected to the manifold to direct the wash liquid into the engine; a hook connected to the manifold to connect to a slot on the nose cone; and a guide connected to the feeder to align the manifold relative to the engine.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2012Date of Patent: May 19, 2015Assignee: EcoServices, LLCInventors: Kurt D. Dorshimer, Robert M. Rice, Sebastian Nordlund, Wayne Zadrick
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Patent number: 9023155Abstract: An engine wash system for delivering wash liquid to an engine with a lift fan and a main engine, the lift fan including a plurality of inlet guide vanes and a nose cone, and the main engine connected to the lift fan by a shaft, the engine wash system includes a lift fan manifold to deliver wash liquid to the lift fan; and a main engine manifold to deliver wash liquid to the main engine, wherein the lift fan manifold and the main engine manifold can deliver the wash liquid simultaneously.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2012Date of Patent: May 5, 2015Assignee: EcoServices, LLCInventors: Kurt Dorshimer, Robert M. Rice, Sebastian Nordlund, Wayne Zadrick
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Publication number: 20150101641Abstract: An engine wash manifold assembly for delivering wash liquid to an engine with a radial air passage includes a feeder body, an inlet on the feeder body to receive wash fluid, a first nozzle in fluid communication with the feeder body and configured to direct wash fluid into the radial passage, and a securing device configured to support the feeder body relative to a mounting location.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 10, 2014Publication date: April 16, 2015Inventors: Robert M. Rice, Wayne J. Zadrick, Sebastian Nordlund, Kurt D. Dorshimer
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Publication number: 20140260308Abstract: A retention system includes a structure clamp to connect the retention system to another structure; and a manifold clamp connected to the structure clamp, the manifold clamp including a trough to receive a pipe, a plurality of tube clamps with split cylinders extending through the trough, a collar to clamp around the pipe, and a spring to bias the trough from the collar.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 13, 2013Publication date: September 18, 2014Applicant: ECOSERVICES, LLCInventors: Kurt Dorshimer, William J. Welch, Robert M. Rice, Sebastian Nordlund, Wayne Zadrick
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Publication number: 20140260307Abstract: An engine wash manifold delivers wash liquid to an engine that includes an inlet, a fan, a case with an exhaust duct and a core inlet splitter. The manifold includes a wash delivery segment comprising a pipe shaped to follow at least in part engine case curvature with a first end to interface with the core inlet splitter and a second end with an inlet to receive wash fluid. The manifold further includes a retention system to secure the wash delivery segment to the engine and one or more nozzles on the first end of the wash delivery segment to spray wash fluid. The wash fluid may be atomized. The manifold further may include nozzles that deliver atomized wash liquid to the aft side of fan blades and may be used in conjunction with an inlet mounted manifold.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 13, 2013Publication date: September 18, 2014Applicant: ECOSERVICES, LLCInventors: Kurt Dorshimer, William J. Welch, Robert M. Rice, Sebastian Nordlund, Wayne Zadrick
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Publication number: 20140216501Abstract: A system for on-wing engine washing and water reclamation includes a fluid applicator configured to introduce a cleaning liquid containing at least water into an engine while the engine is being operated, a trough positioned adjacent to the engine, and a collection conduit operatively positioned between an exit end of the engine and the trough to collect an air/liquid effluent mixture leaving the exit end of the engine and deliver at least a portion of the air/liquid effluent mixture to the trough. The collection conduit has an outlet that deposits collected liquid effluent into the trough, and further includes a series of diversion plates positioned within the collection conduit to separate liquid droplets from the air/liquid effluent mixture.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 14, 2014Publication date: August 7, 2014Applicant: EcoServices, LLCInventors: Robert M. Rice, Robert J. Tierney
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Patent number: 8747566Abstract: A method for collecting effluent from an engine comprising: providing a portable trailer having a plurality of sides in a retracted and non-operational configuration forming an internal compartment and at least one droplet separator panel; and moving at least two of said sides from said retracted and non-operational configuration to an open position and an operational configuration wherein said two sides create a path for channeling an effluent/air mixture containing engine wash water from said engine to said at least one droplet separator panel; and separating said engine wash water from said air with said at least one droplet separator panel.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 2012Date of Patent: June 10, 2014Assignee: EcoServices, LLCInventors: Robert M. Rice, David G. Diamos, William J. Welch
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Publication number: 20140034091Abstract: An engine wash system includes a manifold to secure to a nose cone of an engine; a feeder pipe connecting to the manifold to deliver wash liquid to the manifold; a plurality of nozzles connected to the manifold to direct the wash liquid into the engine; a hook connected to the manifold to connect to a slot on the nose cone; and a guide connected to the feeder to align the manifold relative to the engine.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 31, 2012Publication date: February 6, 2014Applicant: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATIONInventors: Kurt Dorshimer, Robert M. Rice, Sebastian Nordlund, Wayne Zadrick
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Publication number: 20140034092Abstract: An engine wash system for delivering wash liquid to an engine with a lift fan and a main engine, the lift fan including a plurality of inlet guide vanes and a nose cone, and the main engine connected to the lift fan by a shaft, the engine wash system includes a lift fan manifold to deliver wash liquid to the lift fan; and a main engine manifold to deliver wash liquid to the main engine, wherein the lift fan manifold and the main engine manifold can deliver the wash liquid simultaneously.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 31, 2012Publication date: February 6, 2014Applicant: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATIONInventors: Kurt Dorshimer, Robert M. Rice, Sebastian Nordlund, Wayne Zadrick