Patents Represented by Attorney Wendell Coffee
  • Patent number: 6773554
    Abstract: Contaminated glycol is refined by vacuum distillation. Specifically the evaporator is heated to a temperature below the degradation temperature of the glycol. The vacuum is used to bring the flashpoint down sufficiently so that glycol evaporates or flashes at that temperature. The glycol is condensed and filtered through activated granular carbon. The principal use of refining the glycol is to refine the triethylene glycol used in natural gas dehydration plants. For such purposes the equipment is mounted upon a trailer to be taken to the plant for cleaning glycol. In such instance, in addition to refining the glycol, a cleaning agent (which contains a degreaser) is added to the refined glycol. The glycol is refined while the natural gas dehydration plant is in normal operation and therefore it is not necessary to stop the natural gas dehydration plant for refining the glycol used therein. In addition, by the addition of the cleaning agent, the dehydrating plant equipment may be cleansed of hazardous waste.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Inventor: John W. Moore, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6601892
    Abstract: A machine for lifting and moving heavy slabs includes two channels connected only by a cable. The channels are placed against opposite edges of a slab. Each channel has a lower flange which is beveled so that the flange will scoop under the edge of the slab when moved toward the opposing channel. The channels are moved by attaching the cable to one channel and pulling the cable upward from the sheave on the other channel. Further lifting of the cable lifts the channels and the slab for moving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Inventor: Tom Scarborough
  • Patent number: 6579335
    Abstract: Oil which has been heated by use in a gas compressor is cooled by transferring the heat from the oil to gas upstream from the compressor. Specifically, the hot oil and gas leaving the compressor are separated by feeding the oil-gas mixture along a tangent of a cylindrical chamber. The oil drops through holes in the bottom of the chamber into a upper reservoir. The oil flows from the upper reservoir into a tube which extends through a heat exchange having cold natural gas outside the tube. The oil flows from the tube into a lower reservoir and from there into the compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2003
    Inventor: Walter Duane Ollinger
  • Patent number: 6557819
    Abstract: A water system uses a pressure reservoir of an extremely small size. A valve device is placed between a water pump and the pressure reservoir. The valve device has a constant outlet pressure to limit the flow from the pump at high pressures. The pump is turned on and off by a pressure on/off switch. The valve device maintains the pressure to the reservoir at or below the off switch pressure except for a trickle flow. The trickle flow fills the reservoir when there is little or no water usage from the reservoir. The trickle flow is achieved by preventing the surfaces to seal by a projection or notch the valve surfaces of the valve device. Each time the valve opens any debris is washed from the valve surfaces thereby keeping them free of debris.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Inventor: Cary M. Austin
  • Patent number: 6521023
    Abstract: Oil which has been heated by use in a gas compressor is cooled by transferring the heat from the oil to gas upstream from the compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Inventor: Walter Duane Ollinger
  • Patent number: 6516894
    Abstract: A process for and a machine which builds levees in gumbo with moldboards which have knives welded to a blade which makes strips and then lumps of a sheet of gumbo. The machine is attached to a tractor by a three point hitch. The moldboards are adjusted by plates and discs which are connected by bolts in various holes in the plates and discs. A push board is attached to the rear of the machine for repairing damaged levees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Assignee: Miller-Newton Joint Venture
    Inventors: James N. Newton, Arthur E. Miller, John Taylor
  • Patent number: 6499237
    Abstract: A snow blower augers snow scrapped from a path to a fan. The fan is co-axial with the auger at one end of an auger housing. A fan shaft extends through an auger tube. The fan shaft is supported on one end by a fan housing bearing attached to the housing and at the other end by a bearing in the auger tube. The auger is supported at one end by a drive housing bearing attached to the housing and at the other end by a bearing on the fan shaft. This arrangement makes it possible to have an open passage for the snow to move from the auger to the fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2002
    Inventor: John Johnson
  • Patent number: 6447428
    Abstract: A passive exercise device to exercise a person's legs that can be easily moved and efficiently stored in a corner of a room.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignee: Motorcizer Corporation
    Inventor: James Morris McKillip
  • Patent number: 6419292
    Abstract: A method of and structure for quickly changing beds upon a truck frame by pivoting tracks to the rear of the truck frame. The front of empty tracks are raised. A bed with the front propped up is pulled upon the tilted rails. The front is secured from moving upward. Skirts on the rails prevent side ways movement by the bed which is pinned to the rails at the rear. To remove the bed, the front of the rails are raised to permit the bed to slid down onto props at front.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Inventors: Bill G. Calcote, Michael P. Calcote
  • Patent number: 6381934
    Abstract: An agricultural implement attached to a farm tractor by a three point hitch is used to cut the top of mature cotton stalks, or shred harvested crops or mow turn rows. Knives are mounted on the bottom of vertical shafts which are rotated by belt driven pulleys. The pulleys are driven from a right angle gear box which is driven from the power take off of the tractor. The knives are staggered along either side of a beam traverse to the direction of travel, so that the knives cannot strike other knives as they mow over-lapping swaths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Inventor: Martin Perry Heard
  • Patent number: 6374668
    Abstract: A gas analyzer for an oil drilling rig normally flows gas captured from a mud pit source through parallel paths from the gas source to a total gas analyzer. One of the paths is a loop path. Periodically the loop path is switched from the source to the total gas analyzer and connected to a path from an air supply to a chromatograph. After a short time during which the gas from the loop path is transferred to the chromatograph then the loop path is switched back to the original parallel path. This arrangement permits a small instrument to perform both the functions of total gas analyzer and chromatograph.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2002
    Inventor: Dean John Richards
  • Patent number: 6367714
    Abstract: A herbicide applicator is in the form of an extended tube with a bell on the bottom to restrict the spray of herbicides. The tube includes a pump at the bottom which is connected to a nozzle within the bell. The pump is operated by a rod extending to the top of the tube. The rod is spring biased in a down position. The pump is operated by lifting the rod at the top and releasing the rod. The spring in the pump forces a measured amount of herbicide upon the release.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Inventor: Jerry Smoot
  • Patent number: 6328071
    Abstract: A water system uses a pressure tank of an extremely small size. Said pressure tank is of extremely small diameter and can be a variety of lengths. This pressure tank has an opening at one end for fluid inlet and an opening on the opposite end for fluid outlet. This pressure tank is placed inside the well casing or inside the fluid reservoir to protect it from freezing and vandals as well as hidden from landscaping efforts. The pressure tank utilizes a flexible diaphragm to separate the air chamber from the fluid chamber. Said diaphragm to be open at both ends and tube shaped to allow installation in a small diameter housing to be used inside small diameter well casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2001
    Inventor: Cary Austin
  • Patent number: 6318667
    Abstract: A winged bomb is launched from a launch aircraft and glides to a target. During the glide the winged bomb follows a calculated guide path stored in a on board computer, with correction generated by the computer using data from an altimeter and global positioning receiver. Near the termination of the glide a television camera is activated and transmits signals to a remote location from which final correction are manually generated and transmitted by radio to the bomb. The bomb is designed with low radar cross section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Inventor: Raymond C. Morton
  • Patent number: 6276658
    Abstract: A water system uses a pressure reservoir of an extremely small size. A valve device is placed between a water pump and the pressure reservoir. The valve device has a constant outlet pressure to limit the flow from the pump at high pressures. The pump is turned on and off by a pressure on/off switch. The valve device maintains the pressure to the reservoir at or below the on switch pressure except for a trickle flow. The trickle flow fills the reservoir when there is little or no water usage from the reservoir. The trickle flow is achieved by a notch in the valve surfaces of the valve device or by a projection preventing the surfaces to seal. Each time the valve opens any debris in the notch is washed from the notch thereby keeping the notch free of debris. Back flow of the trickle is prevented with a roll seal valve by restricting the trickle to a flow path and incorporating a check valve in the flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Inventor: Cary M. Austin
  • Patent number: 6275046
    Abstract: The method and structure of a moisture measuring device that creates an electric field and then determines a moisture content of a specimen based on the effect the moisture of the specimen has on the electric field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Assignee: Lubbock Electric Co.
    Inventors: Steve Moffett, Paul Mohr
  • Patent number: 6258372
    Abstract: Nasopharyngeal congestion, irritation, and inflammation and associated upper respiratory infections such a otitis media, sinusitis are adjunctivly treated and prevented by nasal application of xylitol/xylose in a saline solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Inventor: Alonzo H. Jones
  • Patent number: 6238416
    Abstract: A heart defect in the form of an hole is corrected by placing a patch over the hole. The patch is first attached to an uninflated balloon which is placed distally of the hole. The balloon is inflated with fluid and the patch is positioned upon the hole. After endothelialization the balloon is deflated and removed through a small hole in the patch. The small hole in the patch is closed by a purse string. During endothelialization the balloon is held in place by a disk or second balloon on the proximate side of the defect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Inventor: Eleftherios B. Sideris
  • Patent number: 6190288
    Abstract: A collar of lambswool in a silk sleeve is wrapped around the neck to promote sweating and therefore a reduction of the size of the neck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Inventor: Earlene Fisher
  • Patent number: D441249
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Inventor: Jerry J. Kitten