ALEXANDRIA, Va., Aug. 12 -- United States Patent no. 12,384,661, issued on Aug. 12, was assigned to Vacuworx Global LLC (Tulsa, Okla.).
"Belt drive for use with a vacuum material handler" was invented by Keith A. Sparks II (Tulsa, Okla.).
According to the abstract* released by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "A system and method for moving objects such as drill, pipe with vacuum power. A vacuum beam (14) is mounted on a boom. A vacuum pad (12) is pivotally attached to the vacuum beam (14). A power device (18) is operatively connected to a vacuum pump (16) with a drive belt (32) for creating vacuum pressure. Vacuum pressure from the vacuum pad (12) is used to grasp and release the object, e.g., the drill pipe."
The patent was filed on...