James K Richter

US Patent:

6357702, Mar 19, 2002

Filed:

Apr 19, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/293778

Inventors:

James R. Richter - Lincolnshire IL

Assignee:

Metraflex Company - Chicago IL

International Classification:

F16L 316

US Classification:

248 55, 248 742

Abstract:

A pipe guide apparatus and system. The pipe guide includes a first member being secured to the pipe and having at least one element extending parallel to an axis of the pipe and a second member being secured to a fixed structural component and having at least one element extending parallel to the pipe axis. In addition, a layered member is provided wherein the elements of the first and second members and the layered member are configured and engaged in a mating relationship to permit axial movement of the first member relative to the second member, yet to prevent non-axial pipe movement due to external forces. In this mating relationship, the layered member further acts to absorb shock or vibration due to pipe movement, thereby greatly reducing noise being transferred to the surrounding environment. A plurality of pipe guides, alone or in combination with an expansion joint member, may be employed within the pipe guide system.

US Patent:

6634647, Oct 21, 2003

Filed:

Jul 10, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/902294

Inventors:

James R. Richter - Lincolnshire IL

Assignee:

Metraflex Company - Chicago IL

International Classification:

F16L 2102

US Classification:

277314, 277616, 289216, 289346, 289328

Abstract:

A annular seal assembly having a friction-reducing layer, such as wire mesh, on the inner surface that is in contact with a pipe, whereby the friction-reducing layer decreases the coefficient of friction between the pipe and the seal assembly is decreased so that the seal is not dislodged from the wall when the pipe is pushed through the seal assembly.

US Patent:

6641143, Nov 4, 2003

Filed:

Jan 18, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/051395

Inventors:

James R. Richter - Lincolnshire IL
Zbigniew K Bochenek - Burbank IL
Jonathan Malakoff - Naperville IL

Assignee:

The Metraflex Company - Chicago IL

International Classification:

F16L 2105

US Classification:

277603, 277606, 277627

Abstract:

A multi-link seal assembly having material that swells when exposed to fire is provided. The multi-link seal assembly includes a plurality of seal blocks. Each seal block is made of a material that swells when exposed to fire, wherein the material consists of 2. 4 weight percent expandable graphite, 6. 6 weight percent brominated diphenyl oxide, 2. 0 weight percent antimony trioxide, 16. 8 weight percent carbon black, and remaining material to bring the total weight percent to 100 weight percent. Further, each seal block expands when the temperature reaches 300 degrees Celsius and forms a hard, crust-like barrier when exposed to fire. Each of the seal blocks are arcuate in shape such that when joined together to form a seal belt and unjoined ends of the seal belt are configured to be joined together to form a continuous ring. The continuous ring is configured to be disposed about a pipe.

US Patent:

6727928, Apr 27, 2004

Filed:

Jan 28, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/493053

Inventors:

James R. Richter - Lincolnshire IL

Assignee:

Metraflex Company - Chicago IL

International Classification:

G06F 1730

US Classification:

345854, 345244

Abstract:

A method of displaying a product which has features with differently configured permutations is provided, which is especially useful when using a computer program to display the product, such as on a web site of a global computer network. The method provides for different permutations to be selected of the various features and a composite image is generated and displayed of the selected permutations. In this manner, images of the individual permutations must be stored rather than images of all of the different possible combinations of permutations. Such a method considerably reduces the storage requirements for displaying all of the various combinations.

US Patent:

7347223, Mar 25, 2008

Filed:

Jul 21, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/624033

Inventors:

James R. Richter - Lincolnshire IL, US

Assignee:

The Metraflex Company - Chicago IL

International Classification:

F15D 1/04

US Classification:

138 37, 138 39, 138118, 222547, 222564

Abstract:

A fluid flow stabilizer for use in a flow of fluid in a conduit between a source of turbulence and a fluid control device. The stabilizer comprises a fluid conduit section having a first end with a mounting arrangement for mounting the first end to the fluid conduit and a second end with a mounting arrangement for mounting the second end to the fluid conduit, the fluid conduit section having a fluid passage therethrough to allow fluid to flow from the first end to the second end, and a flow straightening device positioned in the fluid conduit section. The fluid conduit section may be constructed to absorb at least one of shock, vibration and alignment in the conduit.

US Patent:

7730907, Jun 8, 2010

Filed:

Mar 8, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/715757

Inventors:

James R. Richter - Lincolnshire IL, US

Assignee:

The Metraflex Company - Chicago IL

International Classification:

F15D 1/04

US Classification:

138 37, 138 39, 138118, 222547, 222564

Abstract:

A device for use in a pipeline including a fluid conduit section constructed of a flexible material. The fluid conduit section has a first end, which includes a first mounting arrangement, and a second end, which includes a second mounting arrangement. The fluid conduit section also has a length defined between the first and second ends, an internal diameter, and a fluid passage therethrough to allow fluid to flow from the first to the second end. The device also includes a plurality of longitudinally extending vanes positioned within the fluid conduit section, wherein radially inner edges of the vanes are in direct contact with the radially inner edges of adjacent vanes, and radially outer edges of the vanes contact one of the first and second ends, but are separated from the internal diameter of a remainder of the fluid conduit section, such that a space is defined therebetween.

US Patent:

20050087934, Apr 28, 2005

Filed:

Oct 24, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/693437

Inventors:

James Richter - Lincolnshire IL, US

International Classification:

F16L021/05

US Classification:

277603000

Abstract:

A seal unit is provided for forming a seal between a pipe extending axially through a cylindrical hole, where said pipe is positioned eccentrically in said hole. The seal unit comprises a plurality of resilient compressible elastomer seal blocks, each block having a fixed height, a thickness and a width. The blocks are connectible to each other to form a ring, with a thickness of each block being arranged in a radial direction relative to the ring. A thickness of the blocks varies from block to block, with a smallest thickness block being arranged diametrically across from a largest thickness block in the ring. Intermediate blocks between the smallest thickness block and the largest thickness block have progressively increasing thicknesses leading from the smallest thickness block to the largest thickness block in each circumferential direction. The blocks can be compressed in an axial direction to cause them to expand in radial and circumferential directions, effecting a seal between the pipe and the hole.

US Patent:

20090224533, Sep 10, 2009

Filed:

Mar 10, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/045317

Inventors:

James R. Richter - Lincolnshire IL, US

International Classification:

F16L 3/08

US Classification:

285 61

Abstract:

A support system for a flexible pipe loop installed in a pipe run extending along a pipe run axis. The loop includes at least a pair of pipe run elbows, a pair of flexible tube members, and at least one loop elbow having first and second open ends, and an inner bend. Each pipe run elbow connects the pipe run to one end of a respective tube member. The loop elbow's inner bend is disposed towards the pipe run. The loop elbow has a centerline which is displaced away from the pipe run axis. The support system comprises a hanger rod having a first end operatively configured to attach to the loop elbow at a point which is closer to the pipe run axis than the centerline of the loop elbow at the centerline's furthest distance from the pipe run axis.