Scraper, Cutter, Wiper Or Brush Patents (Class 15/104.16)
  • Publication number: 20020195122
    Abstract: A test carrier for testing bumped semiconductor components such dice, chip scale packages, BGA devices, and wafers is provided. The test carrier includes a base for retaining one or more components and contact members for making temporary electrical connections with contact balls on the components (e.g., solder balls). The test carrier also includes terminal contacts formed as hard metal balls, as hard metal balls coated with a non-oxidizing metal layer, or as glass, ceramic or plastic members coated with a conductive material. The contact members on the base protect the contact balls on the components from deformation during testing and handling. The terminal contacts on the test carrier are configured for multiple uses in a production environment without deformation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2002
    Publication date: December 26, 2002
    Inventor: David R. Hembree
  • Patent number: 6490748
    Abstract: A drill rod for clearing obstructing material from the interior of a tapping pipe used for evacuation of aluminium from a reduction cell of an aluminium smelter by drilling, wherein the drill rod is flexible, whereby it may drill obstructing material from said tapping pipe, through a bend in the tapping pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Assignee: Kemtech International Pty, Ltd.
    Inventor: Brendan Edmond O'Neill
  • Publication number: 20020157200
    Abstract: A pull through such as might be used for an endoscope where a thermoplastics monofilament substantially free of spool or coil memory has moulded thereon a desirable thermoplastic mass profile in a material of lower melting point than at least part of the filament, such melting point differential with preferably pre-heating of the filament ensuring an appropriate keying of the profile on the filament.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2002
    Publication date: October 31, 2002
    Inventor: Roderick Francis Galantai
  • Patent number: 6460215
    Abstract: A toilet cleaning apparatus for reducing the time required to clean a toilet bowl and providing improved results. The toilet cleaning apparatus includes a handle portion which is substantially elongate and includes a proximal end designed for grasping by a human hand and a distal end, and a brush member, which is coupled to said distal end of said handle portion and used for cleaning an interior surface of a toilet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Inventors: Suzette Dues, Tina Waye, De Haven Robinson
  • Publication number: 20020129456
    Abstract: A brush comprises a first body (2) and a second body (1) mounted on the first body (2). The first body (2) has a first set of holes (4) therein and the second body (1) has a second set of through holes (3) therein corresponding in number and spacing to the first set of through holes (4). The first body (2) is moveable relative to the second body (1) between a first position in which each hole (4) in the first set is aligned with a respective hole (3) in the second set to receive therethrough a bristle bundle (5), and a second position in which each pair of holes (3,4) is misaligned to clamp the bristle bundle (4).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2002
    Publication date: September 19, 2002
    Applicant: Ruff Pup Limited
    Inventor: Anthony Allen
  • Patent number: 6431125
    Abstract: A device for regulating and cleaning an air port (3) arranged in the wall (2) of a furnace, especially a soda house furnace, comprises a cleaning arrangement (1) and an arrangement (4) for regulating the air flow through the air port, in which an air casing (5) is arranged around the air port on the outer side of the furnace wall, in which a drum (12) is arranged inside the air casing and air-tightly connected to the wall of the air casing located opposite to the furnace wall. An opening defined by at least a cover member (14) of the regulating arrangement and at least one lateral wall of the drum is arranged with a restricted extension in the circumferential direction of the drum so as to achieve an air jet in towards and through the air port (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Assignee: LT-Produkter Skutskär AB
    Inventor: Tore Eriksson
  • Publication number: 20020104649
    Abstract: A casing scraper comprises a generally cylindrical body (1) adapted for connection at one end to a drill string, having a plurality of scraping or scouring elements (2) disposed around the outer surface thereof. A pipe (6) extends through the cylindrical body (1). One end of the pipe (6) is adapted for connection to a source of cleaning fluid and the other end is connected to a tail pipe (7). The tail pipe (7) has at least one opening (8) in it through which cleaning fluid may be circulated into the well casing. The casing scraper further comprises filtration means (4) located above the openings (8) in the tail pipe (7) and remotely operable means (9, 10) for selectively directing the flow of cleaning fluid from passing outside the filtration means (4) to passing through the filtration means (4).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2002
    Publication date: August 8, 2002
    Applicant: Ruff Pup Limited
    Inventor: Anthony Allen
  • Patent number: 6421871
    Abstract: A pipe cleaning apparatus which includes an elongated housing having first and second ends with a peripheral wall extending therebetween. Each of the ends includes an opening therein. An elongated drive member has first and second ends, with the first end being positioned in the housing. Attached to the second end of the drive member is a handle member. A leader member has first and second ends, with the second end being positioned in the housing and being releasably coupled to the first end of the drive member. Also included are a plurality of attachments releasably couplable to the first end of the leader member, and each attachment comprises a plate with a peripheral wall extending downwardly therefrom such that an opening is defined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Inventors: Danny L. Peach, Ray Peach
  • Patent number: 6408936
    Abstract: A heat exchanger assembly comprises a tubular casing (1) housing product conduit pipe (8) and a rod (14) extending through each pipe (8). The rod (14) being reciprocatingly moveable along the pipe (8) and having a scraping means (15) projecting from it such that upon reciprocation of the rod (14) within the pipe (8) the scraping means (15) will scrape product residues from the inner walls of the product conduit (8), allowing improved heat transfer to be achieved whilst the assembly continues to operate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: HRS Spiratube S.L.
    Inventor: Jesus Pagan Duran
  • Patent number: 6395098
    Abstract: A grinding shoe is designed to be a passive grinder that is advanced within the bore of a pipe being rotated in a typical pipe operation. Apparatus currently used to deliver reamer rocks on the end of a rotating lance can be modified to achieve considerable cost savings. Specifically, the apparatus utilizes a lance for advancing the shoe within the pipe without rotation. The shoe is affixed near the end of the lance in a selected attitude that determines the degree of grinding to be accomplished. A pair of shoe walls extending substantially paraxially with the rotating tube form a dual reaming head which engages the pipe interior across a cord over the bottom of the pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Inventor: Donald S. Holmes
  • Patent number: 6363566
    Abstract: A blockage clearing apparatus to clear blockages in both drain valves and in pipes. A cylindrical housing holds a piston connected to a cylindrical rod. The piston moves within the cylindrical housing in response to pressure placed on the piston either manually by an operator or by hydraulic or pneumatic power. As the piston moves in the cylindrical housing, the rod connected to the piston moves back and forth in response to the motion of the piston. The blockage clearing apparatus is mounted to a drain valve or to an opening in a pipe. When operated by pneumatic power, valves, manual or solenoid controlled, will control the flow of air in and out of ports in the cylindrical housing, creating a pressure differential within the housing to actuate the motion of the piston, hence, of the rod. The rod will extend from the housing through an open drain valve and into the pipe that is in fluid communication with the drain valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Inventor: Michael Collins
  • Patent number: 6343648
    Abstract: A down-hole tool for use in an oil or gas well is provided with detachable components that are held to a body or tool housing by longitudinal mechanical fasteners disposed in a generally radial orientation. The mechanical fasteners allow for the components to be quickly removed and refurbished or replaced, while also permitting radial movement or floating of the components during operation of the tool. A spring may be incorporated to bias the components in a radial outward direction during operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2002
    Assignee: Specialised Petroleum Services Limited
    Inventors: Mark Carmichael, Paul Howlett
  • Publication number: 20020000015
    Abstract: A spring shaft (1) for cleaning pipelines consists of a coil spring (2) with windings (3, 3a, 3b, 3c) of spring steel and with a rotation axis (RA) and a spiral winding axis (WA). In order to give the spring shaft (1) a particular cleaning function, the windings (3, 3a, 3b, 3c) have at least on their outside (4) a cross section departing from the circular shape, with at least one edge (K) acting on the pipeline. At the same time it is possible to provide the outside (4) with at least one longitudinal groove (8) following the windings (3c), or to configure the cross section of the windings (3a, 3b) as a square whose outside edge (4a) runs parallel to the rotation axis (RA) or whose surface diagonal (4b) runs radially to the rotation axis (RA). Lastly, it is possible to provide the outside (4) with a profile (5) in which projections and grooves alternate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2001
    Publication date: January 3, 2002
    Inventor: Helmut Rothenberger
  • Patent number: 6332930
    Abstract: A pipeline cleaning arrangement that includes a cleaning pig with guide units at each end. A tow cable, via a cone, pulls the pig assembly in a forward direction. The tow cable then pulls the cone in a rearward direction. The pig is configured with two cleaning portions that separate in the forward direction to avoid debris collection and abut in the rearwards direction to collect pipeline debris and carry this to the entry point for removal via a suction tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: Lattice Intellectual Property Ltd.
    Inventor: Michael Rose
  • Patent number: 6308362
    Abstract: A Milling device for pipe cleaning and sanitation technology, is disclosed having an air driven milling motor mounted at a front end to a clamping body, a control rod for external manual control of the milling motor in its moveable axes. The milling motor and be positioned in an indefinitely variable in a radial manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2001
    Inventor: Gerhard Winiger
  • Publication number: 20010022223
    Abstract: A cleaning tool (1) for cleaning casing within a wellbore is comprised of an upper (3) and lower (4) sleeve which are mounted via ball bearings (5) on a work string (2). The ball bearings enable the upper (3) and lower (4) sleeves to have no or negligible rotational movement notwithstanding rotation of the work string (2). The upper (3) and lower (4) sleeve limit the axial movement of the cleaning tool (1) along the work string (2). The cleaning tool (1) is further comprised of at least one lantern (6) which supports the plurality of cleaning member (7) which may be brushes or scraping blades.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2001
    Publication date: September 20, 2001
    Inventor: Paul David Howlett
  • Patent number: 6286172
    Abstract: A portable inflatable heating, ventilating and air conditioning duct apparatus includes a bladder made of resilient material for expansion and contraction. The bladder has a small opening for the movement of air in and out of the bladder. An elongate flexible hose is connected at one end with the small opening on the bladder. An air pump is positioned at the opposing end of the elongate flexible hose for supplying air under low positive pressure to the bladder for expansion of the bladder. A manually operated valve is positioned between the air pump and the bladder for preventing the escape of air from the bladder, unless same is desired. The apparatus further includes direction stabilizing apparatus for allowing the flexible hose to push the bladder through a segment of the HVAC duct in which the apparatus is positioned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Inventor: Thomas A. Castagnoli
  • Publication number: 20010016962
    Abstract: A brush for in situ cleaning of one or more passageways defined by a medical device. The brush includes a NiTiNOL shaft attached to a fill section by way of a proximal connector sleeve that is resistance welded to the fill section and the shaft. The fill section is preferably composed of braided wire and includes bristles, or fill, interweaved with the braided wire. The fill section in turn, is attached to an atraumatic tip by way of a distal connector sleeve which is resistance welded to the fill section and the atraumatic tip. The atraumatic tip includes a NiTiNOL core wire about which is disposed a gold-plated tungsten coil readily visible under a fluoroscope. The coil is bonded to the core wire. A bulb disposed on the coil helps effectuate cleaning of the passageway while also protecting the patient and the medical device from cleaning-related trauma.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2001
    Publication date: August 30, 2001
    Applicant: Neosci Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: P. Timothy Moore, Matthew S. Longson
  • Patent number: 6276017
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device 10 for scraping the inner walls of a pipeline. The device has (i) a flexible shaft 16 of elastomeric material, (ii) a plurality of groups of flexible radial scraping bars 14 which are spaced apart and offset angularly so that the bars are able to scrape substantially the entire inner surface of the pipeline, and (iii) a flexible covering 12 which coats the entire assembly formed by the said flexible shaft and by the bars, with the exception of the outer ends of the bars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Assignee: Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. - Petrobras
    Inventors: Antonio Carlos Ferreira Lino, Marcelino Guedes Ferreira Mosqueira Gomes, Fernando Borja Pereira
  • Patent number: 6263535
    Abstract: The present invention provides a scrubbing device retractably movable into a pipe to effectively separate caking from the pipe. The scrubber comprises a plurality of metal brush wheels or is provided with bristles. The scrubber is moved into the pipe by a flexible rod, and the rod can be retractably and automatically received in a chamber by a winding machine therein. Each of the brush wheels can be formed with a plurality of helical teeth located on the circumference thereof. The caking adhered on the inner wall of the pipe can be cleanly scrubbed away by the teeth, and then the removed caking and its ashes can be effectively expelled out of the pipe by the suction of a vacuum cleaner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2001
    Assignee: Winbond Electronics Corp.
    Inventor: Chung Chih Wang
  • Patent number: 6237184
    Abstract: A duster which is flexible in all directions has the ability to dust hard to reach and inaccessible surface areas. One application of the duster is to clean the sound board beneath the strings of a grand or baby grand piano. The core of the duster has an elongated rod which is made from a flexible material and is covered by a close fitting cleaning or dusting sleeve made from napped material, cloth or other well known cleaning or dusting fabric or material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Inventor: Arlene Lenaghan
  • Patent number: 6185778
    Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning a computer mouse having a cavity for housing a sphere and a plurality of internal components is disclosed. The apparatus includes a body having a first end and a second end, the body having a handle portion disposed proximate the first end and a cleaning portion disposed proximate the second end, the cleaning portion having a width dimension which is slightly larger than the diameter of the computer mouse sphere and having a surface which includes a number of resilient, deformable hooks. The cleaning portion is inserted into the cavity of the computer mouse and rotated, thereby causing the number of hooks to remove debris from the internal components of the computer mouse. The apparatus further includes a retaining ring removal device which facilitates the removal of a retaining ring of the computer mouse, the retaining ring removal device being disposed at the first end of the body, and an interior cavity which facilitates the storage of accessories within the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2001
    Inventor: Brian Ornstedt
  • Patent number: 6182677
    Abstract: A cleanout fitting for air conditioner evaporator drains facilitates the mechanical cleanout and hydraulic flushing of the entire drain line from an air conditioner evaporator unit, or air handler. The present fitting essentially comprises an asymmetric T configuration, with a shutoff valve in one side of the crossmember of the T and a removable cap in the opposite end of the crossmember. The fitting is normally configured with the cap in place to block drainage therefrom, and with the valve open to permit flow from the evaporator pan through that crossmember side and out the stem of the T to an appropriate drain system. When the line becomes blocked and causes water in the evaporator pan to back up, the plug is removed, allowing a mechanical cleanout tool (snake, etc.) to be passed straight through the crossmember of the T and its open valve, to the evaporator pan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2001
    Inventor: James Pignataro
  • Patent number: 6179928
    Abstract: An apparatus having a handle and a plurality of elongated loops connected to the handle provides a means for unclogging a toilet or sink drain of an impediment. In the preferred embodiment, the apparatus is long and slender in profile to fit within a toilet or sink drain. Furthermore, the apparatus is preferably made of a flexible and firm plastic, thereby providing the means for the apparatus to bend and mold when pushed through a toilet drain. Also in the preferred embodiment, the apparatus is disposable such that a user does not have to wash or store the apparatus after its use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Inventor: Robert H. Carlton