Patents by Inventor Thomas B. Watson, III

Thomas B. Watson, III 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: 9458591
    Abstract: Disclosed are piling apparatus and methods for installing a reinforced concrete piling apparatus into the ground without the use of a pile driver or an auger. A helical screw anchor and coupling device are used to pull pipe sections into the ground. A preassembled reinforcing rod cage is placed into the pipe sections in the ground. Wet concrete is poured into the pipe sections to encase the reinforcing rod cage. The pipe sections are then removed. Removal of the pipe sections from the helical screw anchor is accomplished using the coupling device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: HELI-CRETE ECO-FRIENDLY PILING SYSTEMS, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas B. Watson, III, Kenneth L. Vanpolen
  • Patent number: 9376830
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for reinforcing an existing tower assembly having existing leg members. Exemplary apparatus comprises a plurality of interior adjustable-length leg members that are secured to the existing leg members closer to an axial centerline of the tower assembly that are lengthened after securement. A plurality of brace members interconnect the interior leg members. Lengthening of the interior adjustable-length leg members transfer a portion of the load to the interior adjustable-length leg members and shift the compression load toward the axial centerline of the tower assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Inventor: Thomas B. Watson, III
  • Patent number: 8613571
    Abstract: Disclosed are piling apparatus and methods for installing a reinforced concrete piling apparatus into the ground without the use of a pile driver or an auger. A helical screw anchor and coupling device are used to pull pipe sections into the ground. A preassembled reinforcing rod cage is placed into the pipe sections in the ground. Wet concrete is poured into the pipe sections to encase the reinforcing rod cage. The pipe sections are then removed. Removal of the pipe sections from the helical screw anchor is accomplished using the coupling device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: Heli-Crete “Eco-Friendly” Piling Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas B. Watson, III, Kenneth L. VanPolen
  • Patent number: 8240957
    Abstract: Piling, apparatus and methods for pouring a concrete piling in situ around pre-positioned reinforcing rods inside removable hollow pipe sections that have been screwed into the ground. A final coupler pipe section including a removable coupler device is releasably attached to a reducer section and helical screw anchor that are left in the ground. The pipe sections are connected end to end by helical flanges and are screwed into the ground using the helical screw anchor. Once the pipe sections are screwed into the ground to a desired depth, the coupler device is operated to release the coupler section from the reducer section and the coupler device is extracted from the pipe sections. Reinforcing rods are disposed inside the pipe sections and reducer section. Concrete is poured into the pipe sections and reducer section to encase the reinforcing rods. The pipe sections including the coupler section are then removed from the ground and reused.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Heli-Crete “Eco-Friendly” Piling Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas B. Watson, III, Kenneth L. VanPolen
  • Patent number: 7731454
    Abstract: Piling, apparatus and methods for pouring a concrete piling in situ around pre-positioned reinforcing rods inside removable hollow pipe sections that have been screwed into the ground. A final coupler pipe section including a removable coupler device is releasably attached to a reducer section and helical screw anchor that are left in the ground. The pipe sections are connected end to end by helical flanges and are screwed into the ground using the helical screw anchor. Once the pipe sections are screwed into the ground to a desired depth, the coupler device is operated to release the coupler section from the reducer section and the coupler device is extracted from the pipe sections. Reinforcing rods are disposed inside the pipe sections and reducer section. Concrete is poured into the pipe sections and reducer section to encase the reinforcing rods. The pipe sections including the coupler section are then removed from the ground and reused.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Heli-Crete “Eco-Friendly” Piling Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas B. Watson, III, Kenneth L. VanPolen
  • Patent number: 7609224
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods that reduce wind loads on polygonal monopoles, such as antenna towers and other telecommunication structures, exposed to winds. A multiplicity of connected segmented truncated conical shrouds are attached along at least a portion of the length of a polygonal monopole (telecommunication structure or antenna tower) that surround it. The presence of the multiplicity of segmented conical shrouds changes the profile of the monopole from multi-sided or faceted polygonal to conical. Based on the specifications of the TIA/EIA-222-F which is the governing code for telecommunication structures, the reduction of the wind load on a 12-sided polygonal monopole is on the order of about 42 percent, on a 16-sided polygonal monopole is on the order of about 18 percent, and on a 18-sided polygonal monopole is on the order of about 9 percent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Inventor: Thomas B. Watson, III
  • Patent number: 7460080
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods that reduce drag resulting from wind loads on antenna appetencies exposed to winds. An aerodynamically shaped outer housing made of a material that does not impede transmission or reception of radio frequency energy is assembled and attached to a support post of an communication tower appurtenance that is attached to a communication tower such that the housing does not physically contact the appurtenance. The aerodynamically shaped outer housing changes the surface geometry of the appurtenance from flat to round. Also, an aerodynamically shaped shroud may be assembled and attached to a flat-sided member that interconnects multiple appurtenances so that the surface geometry of the flat-sided member is changed from flat to round. Based upon the ANSI/TIA-222-G specification for such antenna appurtenances, a reduction in drag caused by wind loading is on the order of about 45 percent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Inventor: Thomas B. Watson, III
  • Patent number: 6944950
    Abstract: An apparatus for reinforcing at least one load-bearing section of a tower assembly which apparatus includes two leg members, at least one brace member for connection to both of the leg members, and at least one connecting plate for attachment to a respective flange plate of the section of the tower assembly and for attachment to an end of one of the leg members, which flange plate is attached to or integral with the section of the tower assembly. The apparatus components form a reinforcing panel which is attachable to the load-bearing section of the tower assembly, so that the two leg members bear at least a portion of the section load when the panel is attached. The apparatus may include adjustable length leg members which enable the length of the panel to be adjusted and at least a portion of the section load to be transferred to the legs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Inventors: Thomas B. Watson, III, Thomas B. Watson, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6935025
    Abstract: An apparatus for reinforcing one or more load-bearing sections of a tower assembly, which apparatus comprises two leg members, a plurality of brace members, sized and configured for connection to both of the leg members and at least one connecting plate sized and configured for attachment to a respective flange plate of the section of the tower assembly and for attachment to a leg member, which flange plate is attached to or integral with the section of the tower assembly. The leg members, plurality of brace members and at least one connecting plate are sized and configured for attachment to one another to form a panel or a plurality of panels so that the two leg members bear at least a portion of the section load when installed. Related methods of reinforcing load-bearing sections of a tower assembly are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Inventors: Thomas B. Watson, III, Thomas B. Watson, Jr.