Other

Geltech Solutions, Inc.

Safe Parking Limited

Air Tractors, Inc.

Victor Dale Trotter

James Bowmer Story

Frederic M Newman

Jonathan V Huseman

Kasia L Robnett

Peter J Cordani

Joseph Coleman McDowell, Jr

Michael Corbett Story

Edward G Kleiman

Michael C Story

Matthew E Struzziero

Marc A Gerth

Charles Jefferson Fritts

Juan Carlos Acevedo

Reagan G Bullock

Len Keith Averyt

Christopher Corbett Story

A dump gate system for a fluid hopper in a firefighting aircraft. A gate sealably engages a gate opening in the hopper at a closed position. The gate is hingedly connected about the gate opening, and a drive shaft is supported within the hopper. A crank arm is fixed to the drive shaft and is further coupled to the gate by a connecting link. The crank arm and the connecting link define an over-center geometry while the gate is at the closed position, such that weight of the fluid on the gate induces torque on the drive shaft in a gate-closing direction. An electric motor is selectively coupled to rotate the drive shaft in a gate-opening direction to thereby enable control of the fluid flow from the hopper according to an angular position of the drive shaft.

Aerial firefighting dump gate system

Some example systems and methods for retrofitting bulk product dispersal mechanism of aircrafts (e.g., aerial crop dusters, air tankers, airplanes and helicopters) involve replacing one link of the dispersal mechanism's linkage assembly with a powered linear actuator. The linkage assembly connects a manually operated lever in the cockpit to a movable gate at an outlet of a bulk container of the aircraft. The bulk container carries a bulk product, such as dry fertilizer or fire extinguishing liquid. In some examples, the pilot can operate the lever to control the release and aerial dispersion of the bulk material. With the powered linear actuator, however, the lever can be latched at a stationary position, while the powered linear actuator extends or retracts to respectively open or close the gate. In an emergency, a brake on the linear actuator allows the pilot to seamlessly switch from a power mode to a manual mode.

Aerial dispersal mechanisms, aircrafts and retrofit methods

A gatebox system for delivering fire retardant fluid from a firefighting aircraft. A first and second gate opening are formed through a lower portion of a gatebox. The gates are hingedly connected along edges of the openings. One or two drive shafts in the gatebox are rotatable in gates-closing and gates-opening directions. Crank arms are fixed to the drive shafts and coupled to the gates by connecting links, which define an over-center geometry while the gates are at a closed position, such that weight of the fluid on the first gate induces torque on the drive shaft in the gates-closing direction. Rotation of the drive shafts in the gates-opening direction enables control of the fluid flow from the hopper according to an angular position of the drive shaft.

A gatebox system for delivering fire retardant fluid from a firefighting aircraft. A first and second gate opening are formed through a lower portion of a gatebox. The gates are hingedly connected along edges of the openings. A drive shaft in the gatebox is rotatable in gates-closing and gates-opening directions. Crank arms are fixed to the drive shaft and coupled to the gates by connecting links, which define an over-center geometry while the gates are at a closed position, such that weight of the fluid on the first gate induces torque on the drive shaft in the gates-closing direction. Rotation of the drive shaft in the gates-opening direction enables control of the fluid flow from the hopper according to an angular position of the drive shaft.

The instant invention relates to an apparatus and method for enhancing the fire extinguishing properties of water for use with fire fighting aircraft. The apparatus and method includes the steps of, and equipment for, transferring media into a holding tank in aircraft; filling a reservoir hopper with water in the aircraft; calculating the amount of media to be added to the reservoir; drawing the calculated amount of media into the reservoir to form an enhanced fire fighting admixture while the aircraft is in flight, wherein the admixture is offloaded by a controlled discharge for use in fighting forest fires.

Amphibious aircraft fire fighting enhancement

Example workover vehicles for removing and installing sucker rods and tubing of completed wells include a mast having a distinctive spatial relationship with various equipment of the vehicle. The mast has a series of vertical corner posts or weight bearing derrick legs that define the mast's horizontal footprint. In some examples, a tubing storage rack is situated mostly within the footprint while a rod storage rack is mostly beyond the footprint. A robot traveling vertically along the mast transfers rods and tubing between the well and the appropriate storage rack. In some examples, the rod storage rack pivots between an extended operative position and a retracted transport position. In some examples, a robotic jib transfers rods or tubing to and from a lay-down storage area. Some example robot jibs are movable to a fully deployed position for normal operation and a stored position within the mast's footprint for vehicle transport.

Dual rack mast for a well servicing vehicle

An example robotic method for disassembling and removing a well string (e.g., a string of sucker rods or tubing within a wellbore) involves a computer controlled track and trolley system. Movement of multiple trolleys, carriages, shuttles, articulated arms and other hardware is orchestrated in a manner that minimizes cycle time and thus reduces the overall time for removing the entire well string. In some examples, upper and lower robots travel along and share a first set of tracks while an upper trolley mechanism and a main trolley travel along and share a second set of tracks. In some examples, the two sets of tracks are mounted vertically to a mast, wherein the mast is part of a workover vehicle.

Robotic disassembly method at a well site

The present invention as disclosed herein is an improved vehicle parking structure and method for using the same. The vehicle parking structure provides for the automated storage and retrieval of vehicles in response to user inputs. In one aspect, the vehicle parking structure comprises one or more transfer rooms in which a vehicle operator may deposit and later retrieve a vehicle, a plurality of parking spaces of either fixed or variable dimensions, and one or more vehicle transporters used to move vehicles from the one or more transfer rooms to the plurality of parking spaces. The one or more vehicle transporters are in turn each preferably comprised of one or more vertical stabilizers, one or more tractors, one or more lifts, a lifting platform, and a dolly. The vehicle transporters move the lifting platform and dolly so that the dolly may be positioned to access a vehicle located in a transfer room or parking space.

Automatic parking structure

A control system for transferring fluid between a fluid supply and a process. The control system includes a transfer controller, which outputs a transfer signal that corresponds to a time varying fluid transfer rate, and plural valves that are plumbed in parallel for connection between the fluid supply and the process. Each valve has a corresponding input to receive an actuation signal that enables a closed state or an open state. The system also includes plural means for limiting the rate of fluid flow corresponding to the plural valves, and a valve drive that is coupled to the corresponding inputs of the plural valves, which operates to generate a sequences of valve actuation signals that result in a combined fluid flow rate through the plural valves selected to track the time varying fluid transfer rate defined by a modulated transfer signal within a margin of error. A transfer sensor is engaged to output a feedback signal that is related to the actual time varying transfer of fluid with the process, and a feedback modulator is coupled to modulate the transfer signal with the feedback signal to produce the modulated transfer signal.

Growing community of inventors

Fort Worth, TX, United States of America

Victor Dale Trotter