Patents by Inventor Tom O'Connell

Tom O'Connell 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).

  • Hose connector template apparatus
    Patent number: 6805153
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for restricting access to ports that may be disposed in a bonnet to house valves on a railcar. More specifically, the present invention relates to a template that may be lowered over the bonnet of the railcar wherein the template has a plurality of differently sized holes to allow access to specially-sized nozzles. In addition, the valves may be eduction valves and/or vapor valves, and the apertures may allow a specific-sized nozzle to have access to the eduction valves, the vapor valves or both. The template may lower onto the bonnet via a frame that may be rotatably attached to a structure. Further, joints and bearings may be provided to allow the template to be movable so as to precisely fit over the bonnet of the railcar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2004
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Raymond Blaine Vermette, Tom O'Connell, Jim Ried
  • Method of using a hose connector template on a railcar
    Patent number: 6543116
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of using an apparatus for restricting access to ports that may be disposed in a bonnet that houses valves on a railcar. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method of using a template that may be lowered over the bonnet of the railcar wherein the template has a plurality of differently-sized holes to allow access to specially-sized nozzles. In addition, the valves may be eduction valves and/or vapor valves, and the apertures may allow a specific-sized nozzle to have access to the eduction valves, the vapor valves or both. The template may lower onto the bonnet via a frame that may be pivotally attached to a structure. Further, joints and bearings may be provided to allow the template to be movable so as to precisely fit over the bonnet of the railcar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Raymond Blaine Vermette, Tom O'Connell, Jim Ried
  • Hose connector template apparatus
    Publication number: 20030060733
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for restricting access to ports that may be disposed in a bonnet to house valves on a railcar. More specifically, the present invention relates to a template that may be lowered over the bonnet of the railcar wherein the template has a plurality of differently sized holes to allow access to specially-sized nozzles. In addition, the valves may be eduction valves and/or vapor valves, and the apertures may allow a specific-sized nozzle to have access to the eduction valves, the vapor valves or both. The template may lower onto the bonnet via a frame that may be rotatably attached to a structure. Further, joints and bearings may be provided to allow the template to be movable so as to precisely fit over the bonnet of the railcar.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2001
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Inventors: Raymond Blaine Vermette, Tom O'Connell, Jim Ried