Us Patent Office News

The U.S. Patent Office has awarded three new patents to Calnetix Technologies, a developer of high-speed motor generators, magnetic bearings and control systems and energy recovery technologies. These new awards bring the company’s total patent count to 33. The three new patents include a bidirectional pumping and energy recovery system by Vice President of Business Development Herman Artinian and Director of Business Development and Special Programs Venkateshwaran Krishnan; a flywheel and battery-based power supply system by Business Unit Leader Frank DeLattre and Director of Customer Service Oliver Ulibas; and a common monitoring and/or control of a flywheel and battery-based power supply system by Ulibas and Director of Engineering Octavio Solis.

Patent trolls—those who seek to enforce patent rights, but do not actually manufacture or supply services based on the patents—are a problem in all industries, including the shipping industry. And as the pace of innovation in shipping continues to accelerate in areas such as environmental compliance, electronic navigation, vessel design, construction and operation, offshore construction and exploration, and cargo logistics management, claims by patent trolls are sure to rise. It is not just companies who design and sell products in the maritime sector who are at risk.

The U.S. Patent Office has  issued Patent s/n 9,056,655 to inventors Brandon Durar (JonRie Marine Winches) and Gregory Castleman (Castleman Maritime) for A Staple Torque Aligning Winch System for Escort Tugs. Naval architect Greg Castleman approached Durar in the winter of 2007 with the concept of a rotating fairlead for an escort winch which Durar presented the concept to rotate the winch and staple as a single unit. After JonRie completed conceptual engineering it was defined…

The U.S. Patent Office awarded Siemens Water Technologies a patent for a system and method to control biofouling of filters used as a first stage of treating ballast water in its SeaCURETM Ballast Water Management System. The patent, entitled “Method and System for Biofouling Control of Shipboard Components” (U.S. patent no. 8,591,740 B2), involves injection of biocide into ballast seawater before it reaches the large surface filter intakes to reduce the growth of marine organisms that can clog the filters.

The U.S. Patent Office has awarded Siemens Water Technologies a patent for a system and method to control biofouling of filters used as a first stage of treating ballast water in its SeaCURETM Ballast Water Management System. The patent, entitled “Method and System for Biofouling Control of Shipboard Components" (U.S. patent no. 8,591,740 B2), involves injection of biocide into ballast seawater before it reaches the large surface filter intakes to reduce the growth of marine organisms that can clog the filters.

The U.S. Patent Office has awarded Siemens Water Technologies a patent for a system and method to control biofouling of filters used as a first stage of treating ballast water in its SeaCURETM Ballast Water Management System. The patent, entitled “Method and System for Biofouling Control of Shipboard Components" (U.S. patent no. 8,591,740 B2), involves injection of biocide into ballast seawater before it reaches the large surface filter intakes to reduce the growth of marine organisms that can clog the filters.

Ellicott has received orders for four units of its new patented Mud Cat™ MC-2000 model auger dredge. Three will be going to Mexico where a local contractor will be desilting rivers in the State of Veracruz. The State of Veracruz specified the use of the MC-2000 for its high output and low turbidity with delivery slated for the first quarter of 2002. A U.S. contractor bought a fourth unit for cleaning fly ash ponds for a major utility, American Electric Power. The U.S. Patent Office has just awarded a patent to the MC-2000 for its innovative low turbidity excavation and pumping systems. In recent applications both the U.S. Environmental…

Ellicott International received orders for four units of its new patented Mud Cat MC-2000 model auger dredge. Three will be going to Mexico where a local contractor will be desilting rivers in the State of Veracruz. The State of Veracruz specified the use of the MC-2000 for its high output and low turbidity with delivery slated for the first quarter of 2002. A U.S. contractor bought a fourth unit for cleaning fly ash ponds for a major utility, American Electric Power. The U.S. Patent Office has just awarded a patent to the MC-2000 for its innovative low turbidity excavation and pumping systems. In recent applications both the U.S. Environmental…

ConAgra Inc., the second largest U.S. food manufacturer, has agreed to sell American Commercial Lines LLC (ACL) its large U.S. inland barge fleet and operations. Financial terms of the deal, which ConAgra said was part of ongoing series of strategic divestments, were not announced. ACL will acquire 930 owned and chartered barges, nine chartered towboats and one dry dock, the companies said in a joint statement. The deal includes Peavey Barge Lines, Brown Water Towing Inc. and Superior Barge Lines, Inc. The transaction is subject to regulatory approval but is expected to be completed in the next 30 days, the companies said. Greg Heckman, president and CEO, ConAgra Trade Group, said, "Our decision to sell the barge company is a strategic one.