Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Maryam Bani-Jamali
  • Patent number: 6264128
    Abstract: A levelwind system for a coiled tubing reel (26) including an arcuate guide arm (48) extending over the upper surface of the reel (26). A universal joint (50) mounts the lower end of the arm (48) for pivotal movement both vertically and horizontally. A guide member (52) is supported on the free end of the guide arm (48) for guiding the coiled tubing T on and off reel (26). A lift cylinder (54) is effective to raise and lower guide arm (48). A balancing cylinder (60) is effective for moving guide arm ME (48) laterally. A hydraulic fluid circuit responsive to a position sensor (111) and a microprocessor (112) as shown in FIG. 12 is effective for controlling the movement of the coiled tubing guide arm (48).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2001
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Rod W. Shampine, L. Michael McKee, Joseph K. Flowers, Larry D. Welch, Terry L. McCafferty
  • Patent number: 6230805
    Abstract: A method of hydraulic fracturing is provided in which at least two separate fracturing fluid components are pumped downhole, one of said components being pumped downhole within coiled tubing. The fracturing fluid components responsible for increasing or decreasing the viscosity of the fracturing fluid are provided downhole separately from the polymer which is to be crosslinked, facilitating a delay in the onset of viscosity increase until the fluid has traveled a substantial distance downhole. Downhole pressures may be determined by measuring the pressure in coiled tubing while the fluid within the coiled tubing is in a non-dynamic condition. In some instances, the fluid can be used to plug or seal the formation from producing undesirable fluids, such as water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2001
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Claude J. Vercaemer, Terry G. Greene, Douglas J. Pferdehirt
  • Patent number: 6194356
    Abstract: A wellbore service fluid comprising viscoelastic surfactants in combination with cross-linkable, preferably hydrophobically modified, water soluble polymers is described, particularly applicable to water control operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy Gareth J. Jones, Gary J. Tustin
  • Patent number: 6192985
    Abstract: The present Invention relates to method to stimulate the production of hydrocarbons from a subterranean formation. In particular, the present Invention discloses and claims methods to enhance the removal of fracturing fluid from a fracture deliberately created in the formation, thereby increasing effective fracture length, and thereby increasing hydrocarbon production. The methods of the present Invention involve breaker schedules opposite conventional teaching—i.e., according to the Invention, the breakers are staged such that the fluid near the fracture tip breaks first creating a viscosity gradient which causes the fluid resident in the tip to move towards the wellbore where it is more easily removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Jerald J. Hinkel, Kevin W. England
  • Patent number: 6112454
    Abstract: The present invention comprises a base member, a guiding member positioned upon and supported by the base member and a capture chamber positioned upon and supported by the guiding member. The base member has a tubular vertical body, an open bottom, a top, a plurality of holes in the vertical body and a number of openings in the top. The guiding member is removably connected to the top of the base member. The guiding member comprises a lower ring, an upper ring with a top surface and an outer vertical surface, plastic member having a lower section that extends between the lower ring and the upper ring and an upper section that extends conically upwards from the upper ring and has an apex with an orifice, connecting means, a number of wings extending from the upper section of the plastic meshes and upon the upper ring and a number of apertures in the top surface of the upper ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2000
    Assignee: Plato Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: James C. Plato, J. Scott Plato, Stacy E. Plato, Thomas A. Plato
  • Patent number: 6019375
    Abstract: A layered target assembly is disclosed for improved shooting practice which provides for a first planar layer, a second planar layer, and a third planar layer. The first planar layer preferably consists of a paper material to provide a relatively rigid support for the second planar layer and the third planar layer. The second planar layer preferably consists of a reflective sheet of metallic foil. The third planar layer covers the second planar layer and is translucent such that light easily passes therethrough for reflection from the second planar layer. The third planar layer is highlighted by the reflected light so that a laser dot is visible on the layered target assembly of the present invention even during bright ambient light conditions. The first planar layer, second planar layer, and third planar layer each have respective planar surfaces that are approximately equal in size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2000
    Inventor: Joseph Arnold West, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5975592
    Abstract: A lock assembly comprising a housing, a control mechanism, one pin or two pins supported by the housing for shifting movement of the pin or of the two pins in a direction transverse to direction of movement of the control mechanism between a locked position and an unlocked position and a spring for each pin for enhancing the shifting movement of the corresponding pin toward the unlocked position and for automatically returning the corresponding pin toward the locked position upon release of the control mechanism. When the control mechanism is pushed manually, the pressure which is exerted upon pushing the control means compresses the spring around the pin or two pins which each shifts in a direction transverse to direction of movement of the control mechanism between the locked position and the unlocked position. Meanwhile, shifting of the pin or of the two pins permits the sliding of a cut-out section of the control mechanism until the pin or pins strike against the cut-out sections of the control mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Inventor: Joe Lin
  • Patent number: 5911253
    Abstract: The invention provides a container dispensing apparatus and a liquid dispensing apparatus. The container dispenser includes a housing, axial bores for receiving a column of containers and a central, axial bore, a vertical bar attached to and uprising from the housing, upright legs that are attached to the peripheral wall of the housing, a cover being positioned above the housing and having a number of downwardly extending rods and a downwardly extending, central pipe, a guide for the vertical bar attached to the cover, a pair of friction pads separating the guide for the vertical bar from the vertical bar while acting as a reenforceable break to allow lifting and lowering of the cover along the vertical bar, a handle engaged with the vertical bar, a fulcrum that is attached to the cover and that is engaged with and supports the handle. The liquid dispenser has a housing with a side wall and a bottom wall. The bottom wall is provided with a number of liquid dispensing openings that are selectively positioned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 15, 1999
    Inventor: James Elmer Webb
  • Patent number: 5906750
    Abstract: A chemical method is provided for the dewatering of biological sludge that has been digested by a thermophilic digestion process. Five versions of the chemical sludge dewatering method are presented. The primary component in the five versions is a polyquaternary amine, preferably of the di-allyl di-methyl ammonium chloride (DADMAC) variety and from the epichlorohydrin di-methyl amine (epi-DMA) variety. By the first sludge dewatering method, the polyquaternary amine is added directly, along with a polyacrylamide, to the biological sludge. By the second sludge dewatering method, the polyquaternary amine and an anionic polyacrylamide are added separately. By the third sludge dewatering method, a quaternized polyacrylamide, having the polyquaternary amine as part of its polymer chain, is produced by copolymerization of acrylamide with monomers of polyquaternary amine quaternization and is added individually to the sludge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1999
    Inventor: Richard Alan Haase
  • Patent number: 5904284
    Abstract: An explosively actuated fastener system comprises an open-ended outer tubular member; an open-ended tubular cap being attached to the back end of the outer tubular member having an inward circular protrusion at its back end; an open-ended barrel member connecting the muzzle to the outer tubular member; an open-ended inner tubular member with an outward circular protrusion and an inward circular protrusion being positioned at the front end; a reciprocable ejector comprising a retaining section and a firing rod that comprises a front section, a middle section and a back section; an ejector housing comprising a tube and a firing pin that extends forwardly from the tube; a forward spring being positioned within the inner tubular member; a balancing spring being positioned within the outer tubular member; a handle being attached to the back end of the inner tubular member; an open-ended sliding guide being positioned in front of the outward circular protrusion of the inner tubular member and within the outer tubul
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1999
    Inventor: Joe Lin
  • Patent number: 5890967
    Abstract: The present invention is a golf ball ejecting apparatus that comprises a sleeve and a main body featuring a solenoid system and surrounded by and attached by sealants to the sleeve. The main body comprises a solenoid-driven plunger, a guide tube, a power source, a housing for the power source, phototransistors, solenoid coil, tapered coil springs, insulating tape, a control circuit panel, a flag stick tube, a golf cup and an end plate. The end plate is positioned under the guide tube and serves as a bottom cover for the main body. The solenoid-driven plunger slides in the guide tube which is positioned under the flag stick tube. The golf cup is positioned above the flag stick tube. The insulating tape is wrapped around the solenoid coil which is wrapped around the flag stick tube. Tapered coil springs connect the power source to the solenoid coil. The control circuit panel is placed on the insulating tape and is connected to the phototransistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1999
    Inventor: William Wayne Allen
  • Patent number: 5888399
    Abstract: This invention provides a "one-size-fits-all" water-removing funnel insert having a filter and a supporting body, comprising a porous surface, that upholds the filter. When inserted into a base funnel, the water-removing finnel insert moves automatically to a position that provides maximal stability for the water-removing funnel insert. Hydrocarbon emulsions are poured into the base funnel and dehydrated by the water-removing funnel insert upon passing through the filter placed on the supporting body. The supporting body may be attached to a support tube, to an upwardly-extending bar or to both the support tube and the upwardly-extending bar. Another option in designing the supporting body is to use a support tube that is an extension of the upwardly-extending bar. For the dehydrated hydrocarbon stream to flow through the upwardly-extending bar into the support tube, openings are needed in a section of the upwardly-extending bar existing below the porous surface of the supporting body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1999
    Inventors: Dwight Dean Rutledge, Linda Marie Rutledge
  • Patent number: 5846435
    Abstract: A chemical method is provided for the dewatering of biological sludge that has been digested by a thermophilic digestion process. Four versions of the chemical method are presented. The primary component in the four versions is a polyquaternary amine, preferably of the di-allyl di-methyl ammonium chloride (DADMAC) variety and from the epichlorohydrin di-methyl amine (epi-DMA) variety. By the first method, the polyquaternary amine is added directly, along with a cationic polyacrylamide, to the biological sludge. By the second method, the polyquaternary amine and an anionic polyacrylamide are added separately. By the third method, a quaternized polyacrylamide, having the polyquaternary amine as part of its polymer chain, is produced by copolymerization of acrylamide with monomers of polyquaternary amine quaternization and is added individually to the sludge. By the fourth method, the quaternized polyacrylamide from method three is added in concert with a cationic polyacrylamide to the sludge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1998
    Inventor: Richard Alan Haase
  • Patent number: 5797452
    Abstract: This invention provides the structure and operation of a double-acting, deep-well fluid extraction pump assembly which includes a power piston housed on top of a pumping piston along with a power control system. The pumping piston has a dynamic, reciprocating, bi-directionally self-cleaning, suction filter and houses poppet-type, uni-directional, fluid flow control valves that control the inflow and outflow of extracted fluid through the pumping piston. Gland membranes and a number of double-acting, lineal, fluid motor pistons divide the power piston into pressure chambers and into fluid conduits, with the divisions conjointly providing a path for inflow of hydraulic power fluid and a path for outflow of extracted fluid. The power control system includes a four-way, directional, flow-control valve for controlling cycling frequency, a timer and a flow switch for controlling recovery periods, an unloading relief valve for controlling fluid pressure and a flow-control valve for controlling pumping speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1998
    Inventor: John Kaal Martin
  • Patent number: 5790019
    Abstract: This invention provides a new and improved emergency alarm system comprising a central control unit which is directly or indirectly connected to every other component of the emergency alarm system. The central control unit triggers and stops a visual alarm generator and an audio alarm generator, either simultaneously or separately, upon receiving signals from other components of the emergency alarm system. A portable control element and a signal-generating detection means are used for starting and stopping the central control unit, which in turn triggers a power supply means to cause a change, through the visual alarm generator, in color of a visible outdoor board and to commence, through the audio alarm generator, an alarm. A hidden sensing circuit can serve as the signal-generating detection means. The present invention also presents a method of application of said emergency alarm system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1998
    Inventor: Luke Edwin
  • Patent number: 5788852
    Abstract: This invention provides a method of operation of a suction system which provides simultaneous decontamination of the suction system and a process for preventing accumulation of contaminants in the suction system. Due to a vacuum created by a vacuum pump, waste mixtures are extracted and flow, via high-speed and low-speed vacuum lines, to a vacuum trap housing which contains a vacuum trap having a solid-collecting screen. Chemical agents, serving as water-soluble decontaminants and being preferably in the form of tablets, are placed in the vacuum trap housing on the solid-collecting screen and are placed adjacent to a number of other filters at positions selected to assure that each waste mixture comes into contact with and is treated by the chemical agents before leaving the suction system. Activation of the chemical agents by each waste mixture causes the decontamination of the waste mixture and the breakdown and decontamination of accumulations in the suction system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1998
    Inventor: Howard Michael Mescon
  • Patent number: 5780048
    Abstract: This invention provides a first aid bandage dressing system and its method of application. The bandage dressing system is stored in an air-tight or vacuum package, consists of a number of layers including an uppermost layer and a bottommost layer and comprises a wound binding layer comprising one or more cyanoacrylates, a flexible layer that is positioned under the wound binding layer, a peelable cover that is positioned over the wound binding layer, an adhesive bandage that is the bottommost layer, a peelable covering that is the uppermost layer and a peelable attachment that is positioned over the adhesive bandage and that attaches a section of the adhesive bandage to the flexible layer and that attaches another section of the adhesive bandage to the peelable covering. Upon removal of the bandage dressing system from the air-tight or vacuum package, the peelable covering of the adhesive bandage and the peelable cover of the wound binding layer are removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1998
    Inventor: Chung Chih Lee
  • Patent number: 5772492
    Abstract: A lady's undergarment is provided which has a front neck hole seam that is generally W-shaped and has a raised middle section which falls in between the user's breasts. The undergarment has a lower opening that is defined by a generally straight back hem and a bevel front hem which has a lowermost portion that is cut at an angle. The undergarment may include one strap or two straps or be strapless. A collar may be attached to the undergarment. The back hem of the lower opening of the undergarment may be sufficiently long to be passed between the legs of the user and extended upwards to be attached to the undergarment. The undergarment may include cushioning means at several different sections of the undergarment. Undergarments that are designed for women who are missing one or both breasts may have cushioning to line area where breast is missing. The undergarment may include a flap between the folds of the breasts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1998
    Assignee: Jane D. Hufstedler
    Inventor: Doris Diann Erwin
  • Patent number: D442891
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Terry L. McCafferty, Joseph K. Flowers
  • Patent number: D443560
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Terry L. McCafferty, Joseph K. Flowers, Matthew E. Wilson