Patents by Inventor Stephen Sears
Stephen Sears 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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Patent number: 11085885Abstract: A system for inspecting an interior surface of a girth weld region of a pipeline includes a robot that includes a scanner mounted on a carriage for scanning the interior surface of the girth weld region to generate surface profile data. A profile analyzer receives the surface profile data and outputs an indication of whether the interior surface of the girth weld region is suitable for being coated. In some embodiments, an imaging system captures images of the girth weld region as it is being scanned. In a method of coating the girth weld regions of a pipeline, the images of a girth weld region found to be unsuitable for being coated based on the scanning data are used to certify whether the girth weld region is suitable for being coated.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 2018Date of Patent: August 10, 2021Assignee: Aegion Coating Services, LLCInventors: Renato Sanchez, Darrell Davis, Stephen Sears, Kirk Schmitz, Udaykiran Rokkam
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Publication number: 20190289908Abstract: The present disclosure provides a control body, an aerosol delivery device, and a method of operating an aerosol delivery device. In various implementations, the aerosol delivery device comprises a control body having a housing, an electrical energy source located within the housing, a heating member operatively connected to the electrical energy source, an aerosol source member that includes an inhalable substance medium, and an indexing mechanism coupled to the heating member. The indexing mechanism is configured to move the heating member relative to the aerosol source member so as to sequentially heat one of two or more segments of the aerosol source member.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 20, 2018Publication date: September 26, 2019Inventors: Steve Worm, William Bryan Carr, Timothy Thomas, Kathryn Wilberding, Paul Braxton, Stephen Sears, Rajesh Sur, Billy Conner, Andries Sebastian
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Publication number: 20180202944Abstract: A system for inspecting an interior surface of a girth weld region of a pipeline includes a robot that includes a scanner mounted on a carriage for scanning the interior surface of the girth weld region to generate surface profile data. A profile analyzer receives the surface profile data and outputs an indication of whether the interior surface of the girth weld region is suitable for being coated. In some embodiments, an imaging system captures images of the girth weld region as it is being scanned. In a method of coating the girth weld regions of a pipeline, the images of a girth weld region found to be unsuitable for being coated based on the scanning data are used to certify whether the girth weld region is suitable for being coated.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 19, 2018Publication date: July 19, 2018Applicant: Aegion Coating Services, LLCInventors: Renato Sanchez, Darrell Davis, Stephen Sears, Kirk Schmitz, Udaykiran Rokkam
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Publication number: 20130333438Abstract: A pipe bending machine has a stiff-back which is driven by a pivoting wedge. A linkage applies force from the actuator to the wedge in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the stiff-back. The stiff-back pivots on a first fulcrum and the wedge slides on a bed which pivots on a second fulcrum. The actuator drives the wedge between the stiff-back and the bed to rotate the stiff-back at the first fulcrum and bend the pipe seated in the stiff-back against the pipe bending face of a die. The conversion of the longitudinal force applied to the wedge into a transverse force applied to the stiff-back provides a significant mechanical advantage which varies directionally as the stiff-back rotates about its fulcrum to maintain a constant force on the stiff-back.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 19, 2013Publication date: December 19, 2013Applicant: CRC-Evans Pipeline International, Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey C. Scoville, Timothy R. Gwartney, Stephen Sears
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Publication number: 20130333434Abstract: A pipe bending machine has a stiff-back which is driven by a pivoting wedge. A linkage applies force from the actuator to the wedge in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the stiff-back. The stiff-back pivots on a first fulcrum and the wedge slides on a bed which pivots on a second fulcrum. The actuator drives the wedge between the stiff-back and the bed to rotate the stiff-back at the first fulcrum and bend the pipe seated in the stiff-back against the pipe bending face of a die. The conversion of the longitudinal force applied to the wedge into a transverse force applied to the stiff-back provides a significant mechanical advantage which varies directionally as the stiff-back rotates about its fulcrum to maintain a constant force on the stiff-back.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 19, 2013Publication date: December 19, 2013Applicant: CRC-Evans Pipeline International, Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey C. Scoville, Timothy R. Gwartney, Stephen Sears
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Patent number: 8511123Abstract: A pipe bending machine has a stiff-back which is driven by a pivoting wedge. A linkage applies force from the actuator to the wedge in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the stiff-back. The stiff-back pivots on a first fulcrum and the wedge slides on a bed which pivots on a second fulcrum. The actuator drives the wedge between the stiff-back and the bed to rotate the stiff-back at the first fulcrum and bend the pipe seated in the stiff-back against the pipe bending face of a die. The conversion of the longitudinal force applied to the wedge into a transverse force applied to the stiff-back provides a significant mechanical advantage which varies directionally as the stiff-back rotates about its fulcrum to maintain a constant force on the stiff-back.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 2010Date of Patent: August 20, 2013Assignee: CRC-Evans Pipeline International, Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey C. Scoville, Timothy R. Gwartney, Stephen Sears
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Publication number: 20110271734Abstract: A pipe bending machine has a stiff-back which is driven by a pivoting wedge. A linkage applies force from the actuator to the wedge in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the stiff-back. The stiff-back pivots on a first fulcrum and the wedge slides on a bed which pivots on a second fulcrum. The actuator drives the wedge between the stiff-back and the bed to rotate the stiff-back at the first fulcrum and bend the pipe seated in the stiff-back against the pipe bending face of a die. The conversion of the longitudinal force applied to the wedge into a transverse force applied to the stiff-back provides a significant mechanical advantage which varies directionally as the stiff-back rotates about its fulcrum to maintain a constant force on the stiff-back.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 10, 2010Publication date: November 10, 2011Inventors: Jeffrey C. Scoville, Timothy R. Gwartney, Stephen Sears
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Publication number: 20070215168Abstract: A smoking article, such as a cigarette, includes a carbonaceous heat source. A mouth end piece segment is located at the mouth end of the smoking article, and the mouth end piece segment allows the smoking article to be placed in the mouth of the smoker to be drawn upon. The smoking article further incorporates an aerosol-generating segment located between the heat generation segment and the mouth end piece segment. The aerosol-generating segment incorporates an aerosol-forming material (e.g., glycerin and flavors). The heat generation segment is in a heat exchange relationship with the aerosol-generating region such that heat generated by the burning fuel element acts to volatilize aerosol-forming material for aerosol formation. The carbonaceous heat source is in intimate contact with coarse, fine or ultrafine particles of materials such as cerium oxide, or mixtures of cerium oxide and palladium chloride.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 16, 2006Publication date: September 20, 2007Inventors: Chandra Banerjee, Stephen Sears, JoAnne Taylor
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Publication number: 20050274390Abstract: The present invention provides fuel elements comprising a carbonaceous material and a catalyst composition comprising ultrafine particles of a metal oxide and/or metal. The present invention additionally provides smoking articles demonstrating reduced amounts of carbon monoxide in the smoke-like aerosol produced by the smoking article. In a further aspect, the present invention provides methods and apparatus for the simultaneous resolution and quantification of a carbon monoxide content and a carbon dioxide content of a gaseous mixture.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 15, 2004Publication date: December 15, 2005Inventors: Chandra Banerjee, Stephen Sears, Sheila Cash, Henry Chung
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Publication number: 20050121044Abstract: The present invention provides catalyst compositions, articles of manufacture incorporating the catalyst compositions and methods for producing catalyst compositions. The catalyst compositions comprise a substrate and ultrafine particles. Disclosed articles of manufacture include filter apparatus, such as those utilized in gas masks or smoking articles. Also disclosed are smoking articles comprising the catalyst compositions of the present invention.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 9, 2003Publication date: June 9, 2005Inventors: Chandra Banerjee, Stephen Sears, Stephen Cole, Sheila Cash
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Patent number: 5306141Abstract: A hand-held and operated instrument suitable for removal of a molar or premolar tooth of an animal, in this particular application, a horse. The device includes the combination of a unique forcep design which articulates via a threaded communication with a drive unit contained within a housing, by which the operator, from outside the mouth, may cause with substantial increase in advantage, the forcep to move in a direction opposite that of the drive housing unit which will then act as a counter-bearing surface upon the teeth or other aspects of the mouth immediately adjacent to the tooth to be extracted. Thus removing or lifting the tooth grasped by the forceps vertically from its socket.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 1993Date of Patent: April 26, 1994Inventor: Stephen A. Sears