Patents by Inventor Walter George Thompson
Walter George Thompson 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).
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Patent number: 10246949Abstract: A system for pushing and pulling rod strings through the ground or an underground pipe. The apparatus has a downhole tool attached to the distal end of the rod string. The push/pull machine has a stationary frame that is placed against the ground to provide a reaction surface. The stationary frame has an opening for the rod string to pass through. A rod gripping assembly is supported on the machine frame and moveable relative to the stationary frame. The push/pull machine has a powered rod section spinner to add or remove rod string sections from the rod string. An actuator powers movement of jaws into a spinner bowl to cause a powered gripping of the rod string section. With the rod string section gripped a motor is activated to rotate the rod string section to connect it to a rod string or disconnect it from the rod string.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2018Date of Patent: April 2, 2019Assignee: Earth Tool Company LLCInventors: Steven W. Wentworth, Robert F. Crane, Walter George Thompson
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Publication number: 20180223608Abstract: A system for pushing and pulling rod strings through the ground or an underground pipe. The apparatus has a downhole tool attached to the distal end of the rod string. The push/pull machine has a stationary frame that is placed against the ground to provide a reaction surface. The stationary frame has an opening for the rod string to pass through. A rod gripping assembly is supported on the machine frame and moveable relative to the stationary frame. The push/pull machine has a powered rod section spinner to add or remove rod string sections from the rod string. An actuator powers movement of jaws into a spinner bowl to cause a powered gripping of the rod string section. With the rod string section gripped a motor is activated to rotate the rod string section to connect it to a rod string or disconnect it from the rod string.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 8, 2018Publication date: August 9, 2018Inventors: Steven W. Wentworth, Robert F. Crane, Walter George Thompson
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Publication number: 20180073311Abstract: A system for pushing and pulling rod strings through the ground or an underground pipe. The apparatus has a downhole tool attached to the distal end of the rod string. The push/pull machine has a stationary frame that is placed against the ground to provide a reaction surface. The stationary frame has an opening for the rod string to pass through. A rod gripping assembly is supported on the machine frame and moveable relative to the stationary frame. The push/pull machine has a powered rod section spinner to add or remove rod string sections from the rod string. An actuator powers movement of jaws into a spinner bowl to cause a powered gripping of the rod string section. With the rod string section gripped a motor is activated to rotate the rod string section to connect it to a rod string or disconnect it from the rod string.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 13, 2014Publication date: March 15, 2018Inventors: Steven W. Wentworth, Robert F. Crane, Walter George Thompson
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Patent number: 9915109Abstract: A system for pushing and pulling rod strings through the ground or an underground pipe. The apparatus has a downhole tool attached to the distal end of the rod string. The push/pull machine has a stationary frame that is placed against the ground to provide a reaction surface. The stationary frame has an opening for the rod string to pass through. A rod gripping assembly is supported on the machine frame and moveable relative to the stationary frame. The push/pull machine has a powered rod section spinner to add or remove rod string sections from the rod string. An actuator powers movement of jaws into a spinner bowl to cause a powered gripping of the rod string section. With the rod string section gripped a motor is activated to rotate the rod string section to connect it to a rod string or disconnect it from the rod string.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2014Date of Patent: March 13, 2018Assignee: Earth Tool Company LLCInventors: Steven W. Wentworth, Robert F. Crane, Walter George Thompson
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Patent number: 9566653Abstract: A pipe expander assembly for replacing an existing pipe with a new pipe. The expander assembly has a slitter disposed about a wire rope and abutting an expander at a spherical joint. The expander comprises a cone to expand a slit pipe and is internally connected to the wire rope by jaws that expand and contract about the wire rope due to threading of a jam nut into the cone. A pipe puller is connected to the back of the expander at a clevis and is adapted for connection to a new pipe, either through a jaw system, an adaptor, or fusion to the pipe.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2014Date of Patent: February 14, 2017Assignee: Earth Tool Company LLCInventors: Mark D. Randa, Robert F. Crane, Walter George Thompson
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Patent number: 9512951Abstract: An apparatus for replacing an existing pipe. The apparatus comprises a slitter and expander which surround a wire rope. The wire rope is attached to the expander, and the expander abuts either the slitter or a separation tube disposed between the expander and slitter, such that the slitter and expander are pivotable relative to each other. The apparatus is placed in a pipe to be replaced and pulled. While being pulled, blades on the slitter slit the pipe, while a sloped surface of the expander moves the slit sections apart into surrounding soil. A replacement pipe may be pulled by a pipe putter attached to the expander. A beacon may also be disposed within the apparatus to emit a signal for locating the apparatus white underground.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2015Date of Patent: December 6, 2016Assignee: Earth Tool Company LLCInventors: Mark D. Randa, Robert F. Crane, Walter George Thompson
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Publication number: 20160319979Abstract: An apparatus for replacing an existing pipe. The apparatus comprises a slitting apparatus towed by a wire rope. The apparatus has an elongate body having opposed first and second ends and a hollow region extending end-to-end. A pair of wings is supported on the body. Each wing has a recessed inner surface having a sharpened edge and an outer surface. The outer surface does not have an edge as sharp as the sharpened edge of the recessed inner surface. The sharpened edge slits the existing pipe and the outer surface is positioned to engage any adjacent pipes without causing damage to the adjacent pipe as the apparatus is towed. through the ground.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 27, 2016Publication date: November 3, 2016Inventors: Robert F. Crane, Mark D. Randa, Walter George Thompson
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Publication number: 20150252632Abstract: A system for pushing and pulling rod strings through the ground or an underground pipe. The apparatus has a downhole tool attached to the distal end of the rod string. The push/pull machine has a stationary frame that is placed against the ground to provide a reaction surface. The stationary frame has an opening for the rod string to pass through. A rod gripping assembly is supported on the machine frame and moveable relative to the stationary frame. The push/pull machine has a powered rod section spinner to add or remove rod string sections from the rod string. An actuator powers movement of jaws into a spinner bowl to cause a powered gripping of the rod string section. With the rod string section gripped a motor is activated to rotate the rod string section to connect it to a rod string or disconnect it from the rod string.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 13, 2014Publication date: September 10, 2015Inventors: Steven W. Wentworth, Robert F. Crane, Walter George Thompson
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Publication number: 20150198279Abstract: An apparatus for replacing an existing pipe. The apparatus comprises a slitter and expander which surround a wire rope. The wire rope is attached to the expander, and the expander abuts either the slitter or a separation tube disposed between the expander and slitter, such that the slitter and expander are pivotable relative to each other. The apparatus is placed in a pipe to be replaced and pulled. While being pulled, blades on the slitter slit the pipe, while a sloped surface of the expander moves the slit sections apart into surrounding soil. A replacement pipe may be pulled by a pipe putter attached to the expander. A beacon may also be disposed within the apparatus to emit a signal for locating the apparatus white underground.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 25, 2015Publication date: July 16, 2015Inventors: Mark D. Randa, Robert F. Crane, Walter George Thompson
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Publication number: 20150098765Abstract: A pipe expander assembly for replacing an existing pipe with a new pipe. The expander assembly has a slitter disposed about a wire rope and abutting an expander at a spherical joint. The expander comprises a cone to expand a slit pipe and is internally connected to the wire rope by jaws that expand and contract about the wire rope due to threading of a jam nut into the cone. A pipe puller is connected to the back of the expander at a clevis and is adapted for connection to a new pipe, either through a jaw system, an adaptor, or fusion to the pipe.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 8, 2014Publication date: April 9, 2015Inventors: Mark D. Randa, Robert F. Crane, Walter George Thompson
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Publication number: 20130243530Abstract: The present invention relates to a pipe handling assembly for use with a rod pushing and pulling machine in pipe bursting and pipe replacement operations. The assembly uses a rod transport assembly to transport a rod from a vertical receiving position to a horizontal receiving position. A rod transfer assembly then axially advances the rod in a horizontal receiving position to the rod pushing and pulling machine where the rod can be incorporated into a drill string. The rod handling assembly also can be used for transporting rods out of an excavation pit after they have been broken off from a rod string by a rod pushing and pulling machine.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 26, 2012Publication date: September 19, 2013Applicant: Earth Tool Company LLCInventors: Brian John Bischel, Walter George Thompson
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Patent number: D816456Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 2017Date of Patent: May 1, 2018Assignee: Earth Tool Company LLCInventors: Robert F. Crane, Mark D. Randa, Walter George Thompson
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Patent number: D1018244Type: GrantFiled: February 7, 2022Date of Patent: March 19, 2024Assignee: The Charles Machine Works, Inc.Inventors: Walter George Thompson, Mark D. Randa