Patents by Inventor Todd A. Ferrante

Todd A. Ferrante 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: 6035786
    Abstract: A pipe crawler tractor may comprise a half tractor assembly having a first base drive wheel, a second base drive wheel, and a top drive wheel. The drive wheels are mounted in spaced-apart relation so that the top drive wheel is positioned between the first and second base drive wheels. The mounting arrangement is also such that the first and second base drive wheels contact the inside surface of the pipe at respective first and second positions and so that the top drive wheel contacts the inside surface of the pipe at a third position, the third position being substantially diametrically opposed to the first and second positions. A control system connected to the half tractor assembly controls the rotation of the first base wheel, the second base wheel, and the top drive wheel to move the half tractor assembly within the pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2000
    Assignee: Bechtel BWXT Idaho, LLC
    Inventors: Mark D. McKay, Matthew O. Anderson, Todd A. Ferrante, W. David Willis
  • Patent number: 5819863
    Abstract: A vehicle for carrying an object of interest across a supporting surface including a frame having opposite first and second ends; a first pair of wheels fixedly mounted on the first end of the frame; a second pair of wheels pivotally mounted on the second end of the frame; and a pair of motors borne by the frame, each motor disposed in driving relation relative to one of the pairs of wheels, the motors propelling the vehicle across the supporting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1998
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Idaho Technologies Company
    Inventors: W. Thor Zollinger, Todd A. Ferrante
  • Patent number: 5685383
    Abstract: A modular robot may comprise a main body having a structure defined by a plurality of stackable modules. The stackable modules may comprise a manifold, a valve module, and a control module. The manifold may comprise a top surface and a bottom surface having a plurality of fluid passages contained therein, at least one of the plurality of fluid passages terminating in a valve port located on the bottom surface of the manifold. The valve module is removably connected to the manifold and selectively fluidically connects the plurality of fluid passages contained in the manifold to a supply of pressurized fluid and to a vent. The control module is removably connected to the valve module and actuates the valve module to selectively control a flow of pressurized fluid through different ones of the plurality of fluid passages in the manifold. The manifold, valve module, and control module are mounted together in a sandwich-like manner and comprise a main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1997
    Assignee: Lockheed Idaho Technologies Company
    Inventor: Todd A. Ferrante