Patents by Inventor Thad C. Pratt

Thad C. Pratt 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: 20230102143
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a female wedge mount is attached to a first surface vehicle. The female wedge mount has a concave contact surface including three or more female contact surface segments an at least two female wedge slots. A male wedge mount is attached to the second surface vehicle. The male wedge mount has a convex contact surface including three or more male contact surface segments and at least two male wedge slots that are aligned with the at least two female wedge slots, respectively, when the convex contact surface of the male wedge mount and the concave contact surface of the female wedge mount are in aligned contact with one another to form an adjacent connection between the first and second surface vehicles. A mechanism includes at least two pins that are movable along the at least two male and female wedge slots, respectively, between unlocked and locked positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2021
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Inventors: Matthew P Murray, Gary E Johnston, David A Nguyen, Christopher M Ables, Thad C Pratt
  • Patent number: 11067475
    Abstract: A method for determining an estimate of an overall bedload transport rate by using bedload transport rates for a plurality of subswaths involves, generally, performing a bathymetry survey in areas at multiple times, calculating an amount of erosion and deposition and their ratio, and calculating an erosion and a deposition transport rate using the provided equations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: UNITED STATES of AMERICA AS REPRESENTED BY THE SECRETARY OF THE ARMY
    Inventors: Tate O McAlpin, David Abraham, John Shelley, Thad C Pratt
  • Patent number: 10125464
    Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus which executes a photogrammetry method for calculating soil density. After a user excavates soil, measures the mass of the excavated soil and takes multiple images of the excavation site in combination with a calibration object, a data processor uses the various values obtained from the collected images to create a point cloud data object. The processor used this point cloud data object to create a visual representation of the hole. The processor rotates and scales the visual representation. The processor also uses the point cloud data object in volumetric calculations to determine the volume of the hole. Together with the soil mass, the volume allows calculation of soil density.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by The Secretary of The Army
    Inventors: Ernest S. Berney, IV, Thad C. Pratt, Naveen B. Ganesh
  • Publication number: 20170260711
    Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus which executes a photogrammetry method for calculating soil density. After a user excavates soil, measures the mass of the excavated soil and takes multiple images of the excavation site in combination with a calibration object, a data processor uses the various values obtained from the collected images to create a point cloud data object. The processor used this point cloud data object to create a visual representation of the hole. The processor rotates and scales the visual representation. The processor also uses the point cloud data object in volumetric calculations to determine the volume of the hole. Together with the soil mass, the volume allows calculation of soil density.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2016
    Publication date: September 14, 2017
    Inventors: Ernest S. Berney, IV, Thad C. Pratt, Naveen B. Ganesh
  • Publication number: 20170030800
    Abstract: A method for determining an estimate a an overall bedload transport rate by using bedload transport rates for a plurality of subswaths involves, generally, performing a bathymetry survey in areas at multiple times, calculating an amount of erosion and deposition and their ratio, and calculating an erosion and a deposition transport rate using the provided equations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2013
    Publication date: February 2, 2017
    Inventors: Tate O. McAlpin, David Abraham, John Shelley, Thad C. Pratt