US3266077A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Sphere launcher
Assignee: Frank Wheatley Corp
•
Filing: 1965-05-24
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Granted: 1966-08-16
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Expires: 1985-05-24
Abstract
No abstract record available.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert E Elliott
- 👤 Jerry W Riggs
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 05:00
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16L; F16L55/00; F16L55/26; F16L55/46; F16L2101/00; F16L2101/40; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/4891
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 2
Claim 1
Independent Claim
252 words
A DEVICE FOR LAUNCHING SPHERES INTO A PIPELINE COMPRISING: A BODY HAVING A PASSAGEWAY OF A DIAMETER TO PERMIT FREE PASSAGE OF SPHERES THREETHROUGH, THE BODY HAVING A CLOSED LOWER RECESS INTERMEDIATE ITS LENGTH, ONE END OF THE BODY ADAPTED TO RECEIVE A SPHERE STORAGE BARREL AND THE OTHER TO CONNECT TO A PIPELINE; A HORIZONTAL SHAFT ROTATABLY SUPPORTED IN THE BODY RECESS BELOW AND SUBSTANTIALLY IN A PLANE PERPENDICULAR THE PASSAGEWAY, ONE END OF THE SHAFT EXTENDING SEALABLY EXTERNALLY OF THE BODY; A CRADLE MEMBER AFFIXED TO AND PIVOTED BY SAID SHAFT WITHIN SAID BODY, THE CRADLE MEMBER HAVING OPPOSITELY EXTENDING ARM PORTIONS DEFINING, IN A VERTICAL PLANE OF THE BODY PASSAGEWAY AXIS, AN ABTUSE V, THE FIRST LEG OF THE CRADLE EXTENDING TOWARD THE END OF THE BODY ADAPTED TO RECEIVE THE STORAGE BARREL AND THE SECOND LEG OF THE CRADLE EXTENDING TOWARD THE END OF THE BODY ADAPTED FOR CONNECTION TO A PIPELINE, THE CRADLE PIVOTED BY SAID SHAFT BETWEEN A FIRST AND SECOND EXTREME POSITIION, IN THE FIRST POSITION THE FIRST LEG OF THE CRADLE LIES SUBSTANTIALLY WITHIN THE SAID LOWER RECESS PERMITTING A SPHERE TO ROLL ONTO THE CRADLE AND THE SECOND LEG EXTENDING UPWARDLY INTO THE PASSAGEWAY, AND IN THE SECOND EXTREME POSITION THE SECOND LEG LIES SUBSTANTIALLY WITHIN SAID LOWER RECESS PERMITTING A SPHERE RESTING ON THE CRADLE TO ROLL OFF AND OUT OF THE BODY, THE FIRST LEG EXTENDING UPWARDLY IN THE PASSAGEWAY; AND HANDLE MEANS AFFIXED TO THE SHAFT EXTERNALLY OF THE BODY.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
252 words
A DEVICE FOR LAUNCHING SPHERES INTO A PIPELINE COMPRISING: A BODY HAVING A PASSAGEWAY OF A DIAMETER TO PERMIT FREE PASSAGE OF SPHERES THREETHROUGH, THE BODY HAVING A CLOSED LOWER RECESS INTERMEDIATE ITS LENGTH, ONE END OF THE BODY ADAPTED TO RECEIVE A SPHERE STORAGE BARREL AND THE OTHER TO CONNECT TO A PIPELINE; A HORIZONTAL SHAFT ROTATABLY SUPPORTED IN THE BODY RECESS BELOW AND SUBSTANTIALLY IN A PLANE PERPENDICULAR THE PASSAGEWAY, ONE END OF THE SHAFT EXTENDING SEALABLY EXTERNALLY OF THE BODY; A CRADLE MEMBER AFFIXED TO AND PIVOTED BY SAID SHAFT WITHIN SAID BODY, THE CRADLE MEMBER HAVING OPPOSITELY EXTENDING ARM PORTIONS DEFINING, IN A VERTICAL PLANE OF THE BODY PASSAGEWAY AXIS, AN ABTUSE V, THE FIRST LEG OF THE CRADLE EXTENDING TOWARD THE END OF THE BODY ADAPTED TO RECEIVE THE STORAGE BARREL AND THE SECOND LEG OF THE CRADLE EXTENDING TOWARD THE END OF THE BODY ADAPTED FOR CONNECTION TO A PIPELINE, THE CRADLE PIVOTED BY SAID SHAFT BETWEEN A FIRST AND SECOND EXTREME POSITIION, IN THE FIRST POSITION THE FIRST LEG OF THE CRADLE LIES SUBSTANTIALLY WITHIN THE SAID LOWER RECESS PERMITTING A SPHERE TO ROLL ONTO THE CRADLE AND THE SECOND LEG EXTENDING UPWARDLY INTO THE PASSAGEWAY, AND IN THE SECOND EXTREME POSITION THE SECOND LEG LIES SUBSTANTIALLY WITHIN SAID LOWER RECESS PERMITTING A SPHERE RESTING ON THE CRADLE TO ROLL OFF AND OUT OF THE BODY, THE FIRST LEG EXTENDING UPWARDLY IN THE PASSAGEWAY; AND HANDLE MEANS AFFIXED TO THE SHAFT EXTERNALLY OF THE BODY.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1969-08-15 | 1970-02-14 | 1970-08-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1973-08-15 | 1974-02-14 | 1974-08-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1977-08-15 | 1978-02-14 | 1978-08-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |