379 patents
Page 4 of 19
Utility
Combined drilling and stopping system
4 Jul 23
A machine includes a tool housing defining a housing cavity; a first tool coupled to a first linear drive mechanism, the first tool linearly repositionable along an axis by the first linear drive mechanism about and between a first retracted position and an extended position, the first tool positioned within the housing cavity in the first retracted position, the first tool positioned external to the housing cavity in the extended position; and a second tool coupled to a second linear drive mechanism, the second tool linearly repositionable along the axis by the second linear drive mechanism about and between a second retracted position and a sealing position, the second tool positioned within the housing cavity in the second retracted position, the second tool positioned external to the housing cavity in the sealing position.
Mohammad Unnus Qasim, Yixin Li, Ryan Fairchild Larson
Filed: 25 Mar 22
Utility
Hydrant cap leak detector with oriented sensor
4 Jul 23
A nozzle cap includes a cap body defining a cap axis, the cap body defining a circumferential wall extending circumferentially around the cap axis; and a vibration sensor including a shaft, the shaft defining a first end and a second end, the first end attached to the circumferential wall, the cap axis positioned closer to the second end than to the first end.
Daryl Lee Gibson, William Mark O'Brien, Bruce Robertson, Valentin Mirea Burtea, Kevin Adam Laven, Sebastien Perrier
Filed: 27 May 22
Utility
Method of using a bonnet and stuffing box assembly
27 Jun 23
Example aspects of a method of using a bonnet and stuffing box assembly and a method of manufacturing a bonnet and stuffing box assembly are disclosed.
Matthew Thomas Sutterfield, Ian Matthew Gilliam
Filed: 14 Apr 21
Utility
Bonded seat valve
27 Jun 23
A valve seat includes a first end; a second end positioned opposite from the first end; and a body extending from the first end to the second end, the body defining an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface defining a main bore extending through the body from the first end to the second end, the main bore defining a main bore axis, the body defining a shaft bore extending from the inner surface to the outer surface, the shaft bore defining a shaft bore axis positioned perpendicular to the main bore axis, the shaft bore defining an inner shaft opening and an outer shaft opening, the body defining a concave seat bearing surface extending around the inner shaft opening.
Xianhua Feng
Filed: 28 Jan 21
Utility
Hydrant nozzle cap spacer
23 May 23
A nozzle cap spacer for a hydrant nozzle cap includes a spacer body defining an outer edge and an inner edge, the inner edge defining an opening formed through a center of the spacer body; and a leak path notch formed in the spacer body, the leak path notch extending radially inward from the outer edge of the spacer body.
Daryl Lee Gibson, Bruce Robertson, Mohammad Hassan Sobhani
Filed: 5 Jan 22
Utility
Metal-coated seat retention groove and methods therefor
23 May 23
A method of manufacturing a valve with a corrosion-resistant barrier includes providing a valve body defining a first end, a second end, and a body bore extending from the first end to the second end, the valve body further defining a channel co-annular with the body bore, the channel comprising an outer edge defining a seat retention groove; and thermal spraying a corrosion-resistant barrier over the seat retention groove, the corrosion-resistant barrier defining a first edge and a second edge, the first edge oriented between the seat retention groove and the first end of the valve body, and the second edge oriented between the seat retention groove and the second end of the valve body.
Timothy Quinn Fallon
Filed: 30 Jun 22
Utility
Pipe Coupon Retainer
18 May 23
A tool can include a tool body defining a recess defining a recess depth measured in a radial direction from an outer diameter of the tool body; and a detent member coupled to the tool body, the detent member including a leg extending from the tool body and sized to be received within the recess of the tool body upon one of deformation and movement of the leg at least partly in a radially inward direction, the leg biased in a radially outward direction by one of a wall of the recess and a biasing element of the tool, the leg configured to catch upon a portion of a pipe coupon surrounding a drilled hole in the pipe coupon to facilitate movement of the pipe coupon with the tool.
David Latimore Hughes, JR.
Filed: 18 Nov 21
Utility
Nozzle cap assembly
16 May 23
A nozzle cap assembly includes a body with a first curved side wall, the body defining a top end and a bottom end positioned opposite from the top end; a nut, the top end of the body positioned between the nut and the bottom end of the body; a spacer comprising a hollow body, the hollow body defining a curved outer surface, the spacer positioned between the nut and the bottom end of the body; and an antenna assembly coupled to the curved outer surface.
Jorge Isaac Ortiz, David James Carlos Dunn, Yanlong Li, Jesse Alvin Faunce
Filed: 1 Jun 22
Utility
Break check valve for hydrant
9 May 23
A break check valve includes a valve body defining a mating surface and a valve inner cavity; a pivot pin positioned inside the valve inner cavity and secured to the valve body, an axis of the pivot pin offset in a radial direction with respect to a longitudinal axis of the valve body; and a valve member positioned within the valve inner cavity and configured to rotate about the pivot pin from an open position to a closed position of the valve, the valve member comprising a plate and an arm extending from the plate, the valve member configured to remain in the open position of the valve as long as a mating surface of a hydrant remains in contact with the mating surface of the valve body and configured to close when the mating surface of the hydrant is separated from the mating surface of the valve body.
Sean Michael Allen, Michael Louis Broggi, Paul S. Gifford, Timofey Sitnikov
Filed: 13 Sep 21
Utility
Method of Using a Mechanical Joint Restraint
4 May 23
A method of using a mechanical joint restraint includes inserting an end of a pipe length into a gland bore of a gland, a ring bore of a gripping ring, and a gasket bore of a gasket, the gland, the gripping ring, and the gasket together forming the mechanical joint restraint; inserting at least a portion of the gasket of the mechanical joint restraint into a socket of a piping element; inserting the end of the pipe length into the socket of the piping element; and drawing the gland towards a flange of the piping element to compress the gasket into sealing engagement with the piping element and the pipe length.
Aurelian Ioan Furcoiu, David Edward Woollums
Filed: 27 Dec 22
Utility
Watertight check valve
25 Apr 23
A check valve includes a valve body defining a valve bore extending from a first axial end to a second axial end, the valve body including an annular body and a cross member secured to and extending across the valve bore from the annular body on one side of the valve body to the annular body on an opposite side of the valve body, the valve bore at the cross member divided into more than one portion by the cross member; a position block extending from the cross member; a valve member positioned within the valve body and configured to rotate between an open position and a closed position; and a pivot pin extending from the valve member, engaged with the position block, and fixed with respect to the valve member; the valve member and the pivot pin configured to rotate together between the open position and the closed position.
Sean Michael Allen, Justin Blaine Childress, Christopher Joseph Duckett
Filed: 15 Nov 21
Utility
Enclosure for leak detector
18 Apr 23
A nozzle cap assembly includes a nozzle cap defining a bore, the bore defining internal threading configured to mount the nozzle cap on a nozzle of a fire hydrant; an enclosure attached to the nozzle cap; a vibration sensor positioned within the enclosure; a circuit board positioned within the enclosure, the circuit board connected in electrical communication with the vibration sensor, the circuit board configured to process an electrical current transmitted by the vibration sensor; and an antenna connected in electrical communication with the circuit board, the antenna configured to transmit a signal received from the circuit board.
Leo W. Fleury, Jr., Ganapathi Deva Varma Dintakurti, James O. Williams, Shabbir Yusuf
Filed: 26 Jun 19
Utility
Hydrant nozzle cap with antenna
11 Apr 23
Example aspects of a nozzle cap for a fire hydrant and a method of detecting a leak in a fluid system are disclosed.
Daryl Lee Gibson, William Mark O'Brien, Sebastien Perrier, Paul S. Gifford
Filed: 30 Apr 21
Utility
Revolver Bypass Valve
6 Apr 23
A bypass valve includes a base defining a base sealing surface, the base defining an upstream utility bore, a downstream utility bore, a meter inlet bore, and a meter outlet bore each extending into the base sealing surface; and a selector defining a selector sealing surface and a front surface, a primary passage and a secondary passage defined within the selector between the selector sealing surface and the front surface, the primary passage being isolated from the secondary passage, the selector defining at least one primary passage bore extending into the selector sealing surface and connected in fluid communication with the primary passage, the selector defining at least one secondary passage bore extending into the selector sealing surface and connected in fluid communication with the secondary passage.
Tomas Peleckas, Timothy Wayne Stern, Rock Allen Powell, JR.
Filed: 9 Dec 22
Utility
Infrastructure Monitoring Devices, Systems, and Methods
6 Apr 23
An infrastructure monitoring assembly includes a nozzle cap defining an internal cavity; an antenna positioned at least partially external to the internal cavity; and the antenna covered with a non-metallic material.
Gregory E. Hyland, Robert Paul Keefe, Marietta Edmunds Zakas, Clayton Robert Barker
Filed: 28 Nov 22
Utility
Insert Valve Cut Warning System
6 Apr 23
A cut warning system can include a valve sleeve defining a cavity, the valve sleeve defining a bottom sealing surface within the cavity; a pipeline extending through the cavity; a drilling machine including a shell cutter, the shell cutter defining a bottom edge, the drilling machine configured to axially advance the shell cutter from a pre-engagement position towards the bottom sealing surface, the pipeline positioned between the shell cutter and the bottom sealing surface in the pre-engagement position; and a signaling element positioned within the cavity, the signaling element configured to produce a signal when the shell cutter reaches a post-engagement position, the bottom edge being axially positioned between the pipeline and the bottom sealing surface.
Timothy J. Mitchell, Samantha Ellen Covington, David Latimore Hughes, JR.
Filed: 9 Dec 22
Utility
Antenna Cap and Method of Installing the Same
6 Apr 23
An antenna cap includes a housing defining an elongate continuous sidewall, the continuous sidewall defining a first end and a second end, an end wall extending from the first end, the end wall and continuous sidewall defining an interior cavity for receiving an antenna, an opening defined at the second end and configured for access to the interior cavity; and a fastener proximate the second end and configured for attaching the housing to the antenna node, the fastener formed with the continuous sidewall, wherein a length of the continuous sidewall between the first end and the fastener is greater than a length of the fastener, and wherein the continuous sidewall defines a consistent outer sidewall diameter from the first end to the fastener.
Jeremy Alan McCraven
Filed: 29 Nov 22
Utility
Self-contained hydrant monitoring system
4 Apr 23
A sensing device for a hydrant, the sensing device including a housing defining a portion of an operating stem of the hydrant; a sensor located entirely within the interior cavity of the hydrant body and configured to measure a property of a fluid of the fluid distribution system; and an antenna in communication with the sensor and positioned within the housing.
Timofey Sitnikov, Paul S. Gifford, Carlos Stephen Moreno, Diego Aguilera, Daryl Lee Gibson
Filed: 3 May 22
Utility
Fire hydrant
4 Apr 23
A bearing system includes a first bearing, the first bearing being annular in shape and defining a ring aperture, the first bearing including a first surface and a second surface, a second bearing being substantially the same in construction to the first bearing, a first surface of the second bearing contacting a second surface of the first bearing, wherein each of the bearings is constructed of nylon MDS.
Yanlong Li, Paul S. Gifford, Walter Pierce Wojick
Filed: 14 Apr 22
Utility
Revolver bypass valve
4 Apr 23
A bypass valve includes a base defining a base sealing surface, the base defining a upstream utility bore, a downstream utility bore, a meter inlet bore, and a meter outlet bore each extending into the base sealing surface; and a selector defining a selector sealing surface positioned in sealing engagement with the base sealing surface, the selector defining a primary passage and a secondary passage, the selector defining at least one primary passage bore extending into the selector sealing surface and connecting in fluid communication with the primary passage, the selector defining at least one secondary passage bore extending into the selector sealing surface and connecting in fluid communication with the secondary passage, the selector being rotatable relative to the base about and between a meter position and a bypass position, the selector connecting the upstream utility bore in fluid communication with the meter inlet bore in the meter position.
Tomas Peleckas, Timothy Wayne Stern
Filed: 14 Jan 21