Patents by Inventor Thomas M. Ronnkvist

Thomas M. Ronnkvist 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: 10590619
    Abstract: A helical pier and extension shaft, one end of which is formed with a thickened hexagonally shaped female end coupler using a hot forging process that swedges and compresses the walls of the female coupler into a thickened hexagonal configuration, with subsequent heat treatment to recover and enhance yield and tensile strength to the entire main body section and female end coupler of the helical pier and extension shafts. A corresponding hexagonally shaped male coupler may be milled and inertia friction welded to the opposite end of each extension shaft, or alternatively hot forged and internally upset as an integral homogeneous part of each extension shaft, thereby completing construction of the extension shaft with opposing corresponding male and female hexagonal couplers. The forgoing helical pier has particular benefits in applications requiring deep soil penetration and/or when using a grouted helical pier system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Inventor: Thomas M. Ronnkvist
  • Publication number: 20190301126
    Abstract: A helical pier and extension shaft, one end of which is formed with a thickened hexagonally shaped female end coupler using a hot forging process that swedges and compresses the walls of the female coupler into a thickened hexagonal configuration, with subsequent heat treatment to recover and enhance yield and tensile strength to the entire main body section and female end coupler of the helical pier and extension shafts. A corresponding hexagonally shaped male coupler may be milled and inertia friction welded to the opposite end of each extension shaft, or alternatively hot forged and internally upset as an integral homogeneous part of each extension shaft, thereby completing construction of the extension shaft with opposing corresponding male and female hexagonal couplers. The forgoing helical pier has particular benefits in applications requiring deep soil penetration and/or when using a grouted helical pier system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2019
    Publication date: October 3, 2019
    Inventor: Thomas M. Ronnkvist
  • Patent number: 8474779
    Abstract: A line post anchoring device for a roadway cable barrier system includes a lower helical anchor to which a detachable line post socket member is secured. The helical anchor and line post socket of each line post anchoring device have mating coupling sections that are preassembled and hydraulically screwed into the ground in a single operation. Each socket includes interior guide plates for properly guiding and positioning a line post therein, such that the cabling system can be effectively strung under tension at the same time the anchoring devices are installed in the ground. Damaged sockets are easily replaced with minimal disruption to the surrounding soil by backing the helical anchor out of the ground only so far as necessary to detach and replace the damaged socket, and then reinserting the helical anchor in the same location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Inventor: Thomas M. Ronnkvist
  • Publication number: 20130145712
    Abstract: A line post anchoring device for a roadway cable barrier system includes a lower helical anchor to which a detachable line post socket member is secured. The helical anchor and line post socket of each line post anchoring device have mating coupling sections that are preassembled and hydraulically screwed into the ground in a single operation. Each socket includes interior guide plates for properly guiding and positioning a line post therein, such that the cabling system can be effectively strung under tension at the same time the anchoring devices are installed in the ground. Damaged sockets are easily replaced with minimal disruption to the surrounding soil by backing the helical anchor out of the ground only so far as necessary to detach and replace the damaged socket, and then reinserting the helical anchor in the same location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2013
    Publication date: June 13, 2013
    Inventor: Thomas M. Ronnkvist
  • Patent number: 8398047
    Abstract: A line post anchoring device for a roadway cable barrier system includes a lower helical anchor to which a detachable line post socket member is secured. The helical anchor and line post socket of each line post anchoring device have mating coupling sections that are preassembled and hydraulically screwed into the ground in a single operation. Each socket includes interior guide plates for properly guiding and positioning a line post therein, such that the cabling system can be effectively strung under tension at the same time the anchoring devices are installed in the ground. Damaged sockets are easily replaced with minimal disruption to the surrounding soil by backing the helical anchor out of the ground only so far as necessary to detach and replace the damaged socket, and then reinserting the helical anchor in the same location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Inventor: Thomas M. Ronnkvist
  • Publication number: 20120001037
    Abstract: A line post anchoring device for a roadway cable barrier system includes a lower helical anchor to which a detachable line post socket member is secured. The helical anchor and line post socket of each line post anchoring device have mating coupling sections that are preassembled and hydraulically screwed into the ground in a single operation. Each socket includes interior guide plates for properly guiding and positioning a line post therein, such that the cabling system can be effectively strung under tension at the same time the anchoring devices are installed in the ground. Damaged sockets are easily replaced with minimal disruption to the surrounding soil by backing the helical anchor out of the ground only so far as necessary to detach and replace the damaged socket, and then reinserting the helical anchor in the same location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2011
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Inventor: Thomas M. Ronnkvist
  • Patent number: 8079781
    Abstract: A structural support device in the form of a push pier capable of use in high load-bearing capacity applications involving significant lateral load conditions, the push pier having a lead section with a ground penetrating friction collar, and one or more extension members that are machine fabricated with an integrally formed hardened alloy steel coupling section that is adapted to mate with the push pier lead section or another similarly constructed extension shaft. The hardened coupling section is formed of heat-treated and hardened alloy steel which is quenched and tempered to a yield and tensile strength substantially exceeding that of the main tubular shaft section to which it is connected, and inertia friction welded thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: World Transload & Logistics, LLC.
    Inventor: Thomas M. Ronnkvist
  • Publication number: 20090180838
    Abstract: A structural support device in the form of a push pier capable of use in high load-bearing capacity applications involving significant lateral load conditions, the push pier having a lead section with a ground penetrating friction collar, and one or more extension members that are machine fabricated with an integrally formed hardened alloy steel coupling section that is adapted to mate with the push pier lead section or another similarly constructed extension shaft. The hardened coupling section is formed of heat-treated and hardened alloy steel which is quenched and tempered to a yield and tensile strength substantially exceeding that of the main tubular shaft section to which it is connected, and inertia friction welded thereto.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2009
    Publication date: July 16, 2009
    Inventor: Thomas M. Ronnkvist