Collar-engaging Patents (Class 294/90)
  • Patent number: 11912541
    Abstract: A rapid recovery grapple is described. The rapid recover grapple can be used to quick and easily be secured to a vehicle or other item that is submerged in a body of water. The grapple is attached to a winch or other rope or line that can be used to remove the vehicle from the water. For instance, the grapple may be configured to be secured to a wheel or tire of a vehicle. The grapple may have a body and at least one finger that is rotatable relative to the body. For instance, the at least one finger may be first and second fingers rotatable relative to the body. The grapple may be equipped with a biasing member, such as a cord, spring, or other elastic member that automatically biases the at least one finger to a give position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Search and Recovery Engineering LLC
    Inventor: Nicholas Duane Gebhardt
  • Patent number: 11912551
    Abstract: A forklift attachment is shown and described. The forklift attachment, has a mounting sleeve which includes a base, at least one sidewall, and an open end. The mounting sleeve fits and slides over a tine of a forklift. A plurality of braces is disposed along a top surface of the mounting sleeve defining a channel which extends parallel to, and forward from, the mounting sleeve. The channel includes a first end and a second end and an elongated rod is pivotally secured to the plurality of braces at the second end of the channel. The elongated rod extends parallel to, and forward from, the plurality of braces. A lock selectively secures the elongated rod in a position parallel to the tine of the forklift.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Inventor: Bradley Martin
  • Patent number: 11905768
    Abstract: A compensating rig elevator is provided to eliminate set-down weight from threaded connectors during make-up of a pipe stand and thereby provide an ability to reduce the risk of thread galling and cross-threading. The elevator may comprise one or more hoist assemblies with bail arms that deflect as the compensating rig elevator is suspended by the bail arms and a tubular is placed in the compensating rig elevator. The bail arms actuate a locking mechanism to secure the compensating rig elevator in a closed position around the tubular. The compensating rig elevator can also have compensating rams and a slip system to positively engage the tubular and bear the weight of multiple tubulars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Spoked Solutions, LLC
    Inventors: Shane Triche, Heath Triche
  • Patent number: 11866273
    Abstract: A magnetic pouch clamp assembly includes a first and second clamping arms and a magnet assembly. The first clamping arms have respective, opposed first and second clamping surfaces. The second clamp arm is slidably connected to the first clamping arm such that the first and second clamping arms are movable between open and closed positions, with the first and second clamping surfaces being engaged in the closed position. The magnet assembly includes a first magnet having a first polarity carried by the first clamping arm and a second magnet having a second polarity carried by the second clamping arm, the first and second polarities being oriented such that a closing attractive force therebetween holds the first and second clamping surfaces in the closed position. A third magnet can be used to hold the clamping surfaces in the open position or to enhance closing forces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: BARTELT PACKAGING LLC
    Inventor: Donald Scott Peebles
  • Patent number: 11845619
    Abstract: A clamp device for retaining a container in a container-handling apparatus, for example for retaining a drinks container at a neck portion or at a body portion, includes two clamp arms, which each have a retaining portion for retaining the container which is to be retained, and at least one prestressing element for prestressing the retaining portions towards one another, wherein for the purpose of adjusting the distance which is present between the retaining portions, the clamp arms are designed in a displaceable manner in relation to the prestressing of the at least one prestressing element. A container-handling apparatus having at least one clamp device is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventors: Marco Leidel, Christoph Brandl, Bruno Landler
  • Patent number: 11745985
    Abstract: A lifting apparatus includes: a plate having multiple arms extending outward from a center thereof, each arm for engaging a respective portion of a support ring of a fuel tank; and multiple clips, each rotatably mounted on a respective arm. The clips rotate from an unlatched position to a latched position to secure the plate to the support ring of the fuel tank. A swivel device is rotatably mounted on the plate. Each arm has a ledge lowered from an upper surface of the plate for contact engagement with the bottom side of the support ring. Each ledge is sunken or lowered from the upper surface of the plate by a respective shoulder, such that the ledges and shoulders register and stabilize engagement of the plate with the support ring. The clips snap into the latched and unlatched positions and are automatically maintained there until rotated intentionally by hand by a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Inventor: Michael S. Rose
  • Patent number: 11713150
    Abstract: A tube holder for a tube-filling machine has a cup-shaped housing, which has an upwardly opening tube mount, into which a tube can be inserted with an axial end area thereof. A clamping device, by which a clamping force can be applied to the tube, is arranged in the area of the tube wall of the tube mount. Provisions are made for the clamping device to have at least one inflatable clamping element with an inner chamber, into which a pressurized fluid can be filled through a feed line. The clamping element can be adjusted between a clamping position, in which a clamping force is applied to the tube, and a releasing position, in which no clamping force is preferably applied to the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: IWK Verpackungstechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Markus Speck, Andreas Siegele, Rudolf Hörter
  • Patent number: 11673260
    Abstract: A system and method for gripping a cylindrical object. The system including: a housing; a plurality of gripping arms in the housing, the gripping arms in pairs each on an opposite side of a centerline plane from another; and a driving wedge in the housing and configured such that movement of the driving wedge moves each pair of gripping arms towards or away from each other while remaining equidistant from the centerline plane. The method including: opening the plurality of gripping arms against a bias by sliding a wedge in a first direction to slide the plurality of gripping arms apart while maintaining an equal predetermined distance from a part alignment position; placing a cylindrical body between the plurality of gripping arms; and closing the plurality of gripping arms by sliding the wedge in an opposite direction to allow the biasing force to close the gripping arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: ATS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Roland Lindner, Ralph Rosenkranz
  • Patent number: 11655683
    Abstract: A device, system, and/or method for reducing friction required to rotate a tubular within an elevator during the process of running tubulars in an oil and gas well are provided. An elevator roller insert may be used in conjunction with an elevator, such as a single joint elevator. Such an insert may comprise upper and lower rollers which are positioned on upper and lower roller sets or a combination roller set containing multiple upper and/or lower rollers. The result is the provision of a plurality of rollers which bear the weight of a tubular yet still allow the tubular to rotate rather freely, facilitating the maintenance of proper thread integrity of the connections while making up a stand to a string of tubulars as well as preventing the loss of resources due to galled or crushed threads or a tubing segment or stand falling to the rig floor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Spoked Solutions, LLC
    Inventors: Shane Joseph Triche, Heath Lawrence Triche
  • Patent number: 11598162
    Abstract: A hydraulic rotary side-swing elevator includes an elevator body, a side swing mechanism and a rotating mechanism. Rotatable shafts are arranged on left and right sides of the elevator body. An inner hinge and an outer hinge are respectively provided on the two rotatable shafts. An inner hinge driving structure includes an inner hinge opening and closing cylinder and an opening and closing cylinder fixing seat. An outer hinge driving structure includes an outer hinge locking cylinder and a locking cylinder fixing seat. The opening and closing cylinder fixing seat and the locking cylinder fixing seat are arranged on a rear side wall of the elevator body. A cylinder barrel part of the inner hinge opening and closing cylinder is hinged on the opening and closing cylinder fixing seat, and a piston part of the inner hinge opening and closing cylinder is hinged to the inner hinge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: HUANGSHAN HUANENG PETROCHEMICAL MACHINERY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kang Wang, Yang Li, Zulin Liu, Kuan Tian, Yingxiang Dong, Xiaodong Zhang
  • Patent number: 11441378
    Abstract: An apparatus for cutting and/or milling of tubulars in a wellbore, especially using coiled tubing. An elongated main body has a longitudinal bore, with a piston slidably positioned in the bore. The piston is connected to one or more operating arms which are rotatably connected to the main body. The connection between the piston and the operating arms may be a pinned connection or a geared connection, both of which provide for a positive connection between the piston and the operating arms. Cutter bases are connected to the cutter arms, with a number of cutters mounted to the cutter bases. Fluid flow down the coiled tubing and through the main body bore pushes the piston downwardly, opening the operating arms and cutter bases and permitting the apparatus to be pulled up into the lower end of a tubular string for cutting and/or milling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: ABRADO, INC.
    Inventor: David J. Ruttley
  • Patent number: 11346218
    Abstract: Provided is a guiding type miniature pipe-jacking construction method, comprising the following steps: in an originating well, perforating an operation hole in an inner wall of the originating well with a trepanning apparatus; mounting a laser orientation instrument and a laser guided drill bit, driving a guide bar connected with the laser guided drill bit into the opened operation hole with a thrusting apparatus, and driving the guide bar into a soil mass with the thrusting apparatus; jacking a plurality of mud discharging pipes following the guide bar successively into the soil mass with the thrusting apparatus; jacking a plurality of mud discharging screw rods into the mud discharging pipes with the thrusting apparatus; jacking a pipe-jacking machine head following the mud discharging pipes into the soil mass with the thrusting apparatus, a cutter head on the pipe-jacking machine head rotating to drive the mud discharging screw rods to rotate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: GUANGZHOU MUNICIPAL ENGINEERING GROUP LTD.
    Inventors: Guanfeng An, Jingda Ouyang, Haibin Yu, Rong Zhang, Tianjun Liu, Tan Wang, Yuanwen Li, Zhaobao Hou, Deyi Xu
  • Patent number: 11327088
    Abstract: A reagent-bottle lid opening mechanism is disclosed, which has a needle for piercing a lid of a reagent bottle to be delivered to a reagent disk, has an aligning mechanism of automatically adjusting a position of the needle with respect to the lid such that a needle body of the needle can stick in the center of the lid, and accurately and repeatedly makes an incision in the center of the lid. As a result, an automatic analyzer is provided that is capable of unsealing the center of the lid of the reagent bottle with accuracy even if the central axis of the needle and the central axis of the lid are offset from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: Hitachi High-Tech Corporation
    Inventors: Masaki Hara, Takamichi Mori, Masato Ishizawa
  • Patent number: 10919736
    Abstract: A rod and casing handler according to embodiments of the present disclosure includes a boom mount that is configured to be coupled to a boom. A clamp mounting structure is coupled to the boom mount and has a central portion, a first arm, and a second arm, where each arm extends from the central portion. A first clamp is coupled to the first arm and includes a first set of actuatable tongs and a first removable saddle plate. A second clamp is coupled to the second arm, and it includes a second set of actuatable tongs and a second removable saddle plate. The first removable saddle plate has a first arcuate surface sized and shaped to correspond to a cylindrical body having a first diameter, and the second saddle plate has a second arcuate surface sized and shaped to correspond to a cylindrical body having a second diameter, the first and second arcuate surfaces are disposed to hold the first cylindrical body in coaxial alignment with the second cylindrical body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: TEI Rock Drills, Inc.
    Inventor: William N. Patterson
  • Patent number: 10822889
    Abstract: A load transfer system includes a load transfer bushing having a first and second arcuate segments configured to engage a load surface of a tubular or of a collar connected to the tubular, and an elevator configured to receive the load transfer bushing. Moving the elevator from its closed position to its open position while the elevator engages the load transfer bushing moves the first and second arcuate segments apart, permitting the elevator and the load transfer bushing to be received around the tubular. Moving the elevator from the opened position to the closed position with the load transfer bushing and elevator surrounding the tubular forms an axial engagement load surface for the load surface of the tubular or the collar. The load transfer bushing is disengageable from the elevator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: FRANK'S INTERNATIONAL, LLC
    Inventors: Jarret Daigle, Logan Smith, John Erick Stelly
  • Patent number: 10821584
    Abstract: A relay detachment jig includes a handle, a pair of holders that holds a relay, a hold releasing unit that connects the handle and the pair of holders and that is elastically deformable, a deformation restricting unit that restricts elastic deformation of the hold releasing unit, an engagement releasing unit that releases the engagement between the relay and a housing member, and a movement restricting unit that restricts a movement of the relay held in the relay detachment jig in a detaching direction. The handle is provided in a manner extending in the detaching direction from the hold releasing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yukihiro Kawamura, Hiroaki Yamada
  • Patent number: 10689923
    Abstract: A compensating rig elevator is provided to eliminate set-down weight from threaded connectors during make-up of a pipe stand and thereby provide an ability to reduce the risk of thread galling and cross-threading. The elevator may comprise one or more hoist assemblies with bail arms that deflect as the compensating rig elevator is suspended by the bail arms and a tubular is placed in the compensating rig elevator. The bail arms actuate a locking mechanism to secure the compensating rig elevator in a closed position around the tubular. The compensating rig elevator can also have compensating rams and a slip system to positively engage the tubular and bear the weight of multiple tubulars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: CAJUN SERVICES UNLIMITED, LLC
    Inventors: Shane Triche, Heath Triche
  • Patent number: 9956691
    Abstract: The automated gripping tool enables a user to move a food product from a first position to a second position while maintaining the integrity and appearance of the food product. The gripper tool makes use of flexible bands on a pair of gripping arms. The flexible bands are positioned to sandwich a food product between them with sufficient force to allow the food product to be repositioned and without damaging the integrity and appearance of the food product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: JLS Automation
    Inventors: Jon Pentzer, Craig Hafner
  • Patent number: 9732572
    Abstract: The laterally rotating height of a fill up and circulating tool that is mounted on one of the bails supporting an elevator is made shorter with integration of design components. A power cylinder features a hollow piston which integrates the mud line connected to the fill up tool. The hollow piston forms an integral part of the mud line. The mud line has an exterior slot with a longitudinal and a spiral component into which a pin extends that is supported by the cylinder. As the mud line descends the fill up tool moves initially axially followed by rotational movement to align with a sting for connection thereto. Raising the mud line reverses the movement pattern. The fill up tool is cantilevered from the mud line for its sole support. Height savings allows tool use with bails of varying lengths without interference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: DW RENTALS & SERVICE L.P.
    Inventor: Matthew J. Hickl
  • Patent number: 9732567
    Abstract: An interchangeable elevator bail link system and method for changing elevator bail length and load carrying configurations during rig operations, wherein an upper bail section is provided comprising a connection for a link tilt system of a top drive or traveling block, and further comprising a connector for connecting to a corresponding connector located on one or more lower bail sections of differing tonnage capacities and lengths, wherein the upper bail section connector and lower bail section connector comprise male and female profiles of corresponding size, shape and location, so that when the connector of the lower bail section is aligned in nonparallel relation to the connector of the upper bail section, which is attached to a link tilt system, movement of the top drive or traveling block in an upwards direction will cause the lower bail section to rotate to a position parallel with the upper bail section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: H&H DRILLING TOOLS, LLC
    Inventor: Michael W. Hayes
  • Patent number: 9518431
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for adapting an elevator for use with a tubular are provided. The apparatus includes one or more axial extensions configured to engage one or more slip bodies of the elevator. The one or more axial extensions include a radial contact surface configured to slide along the tubular and an axial engagement surface configured to bear on an upset of the tubular. The one or more axial extensions are flexible such that the radial contact surface is radially displaceable with respect to the tubular.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: FRANK'S INTERNATIONAL, LLC
    Inventors: Charles M. Webre, Scott Arceneaux
  • Patent number: 9303469
    Abstract: This dual opening elevator is a hydraulic actuated drill pipe handling tool for use with oilfield top drives. This tool eliminates the need for a typical complicated elevator rotation mechanism with troublesome concentric hydraulic seals. In operation, after opening the front, picking up a stand at the racking board and putting it in the string, the back may then be opened to allow moving the elevator off the drill pipe toward the front of the rig to prevent elevator wear while drilling and to allow drilling down close to the rig floor. Time is saved because no rotation is required, and down time is saved because there are no troublesome concentric seals which commonly leak.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Inventor: Larry G. Keast
  • Patent number: 9303470
    Abstract: This oilfield drilling rig uses a top drive with a hydraulic actuated drill pipe handling tool known as a dual opening elevator. This tool eliminates the need for a typical complicated elevator rotation mechanism with troublesome concentric hydraulic seals. In operation, after opening the front, picking up a stand at the racking board and putting it in the string, the back may then be opened to allow moving the elevator off the drill pipe toward the front of the rig to prevent elevator wear while drilling and to allow drilling down close to the rig floor. Time is saved because no rotation is required, and down time is saved because there are no troublesome concentric seals which commonly leak.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Inventor: Larry G. Keast
  • Patent number: 9206655
    Abstract: A self-balancing, shoulder type elevator is comprised of two opposing jaws pivotally connected to a hinge plate. The jaws are engaged for rotation at the hinge plate by corresponding sets of gear teeth. Hangers on said jaws attach the elevator to suspending bails. An offset alignment linkage pivotally attaches each jaw to the hinge plate and a rotatable spindles pivotally attached perpendicular to the jaws. The alignment linkage maintains the spindles angularly congruent in orientation with the bails when the opposing jaws are pivoted open and closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Inventor: David L. Sipos
  • Patent number: 9109409
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to apparatus and methods for a secondary safety device for use on elevators utilized to move casing, tubing, sucker rods, or other circular tools or members in the oil and gas industry. In one embodiment, a secondary latch lock mechanism for an elevator having a primary safety latch is provided. The secondary latch lock mechanism comprises a base portion that is fixed to a body of the elevator, and a handle movably fixed to the base portion and a first gear device by a biasing member, wherein the handle is movable to a first position proximate to the primary safety latch and a second position that is spaced away from the primary safety latch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: Forum US, Inc.
    Inventors: Lawrence E. Childress, II, Jeremy S. Granger
  • Patent number: 9022442
    Abstract: A gripper (42) for gripping an object (14), intended for a transfer device includes two jaws (64, 66). Each of the jaws includes: a recess (92), and a first clamping portion (94) and a second locking portion (96). The first clamping portion (94) of each jaw (64, 66) of the gripper (42) includes a supporting surface and, when the gripper (42) is closed around an object (14) occupying a predetermined reference position, the supporting surface is intended to engage with a portion of a bearing surface of a radial collar of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Sidel Participations
    Inventors: Nicolas Rousseau, Jocelyn Michel
  • Patent number: 9010820
    Abstract: A blowout preventer (BOP) lifting apparatus has a reinforced frame and a gate for securing a BOP stack. The frame has a central U-shaped recess for securing a collared portion of the BOP stack. The gate pivotally swings between a closed position on the frame and an open position for installation and removal of the lifting apparatus from the BOP stack. An actuator has a first end connected to a top surface of the frame and a second end connected to the gate for actuating the opening and closing of the gate to the frame. When the gate is in the closed position, three locking pins are inserted into three vertical pinning holes located on the frame, which are aligned with three pinning holes located on the gate. The apparatus may be lifted via cables or other lifting mechanisms attached via lifting eyelets located on each corner of the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: T&T Engineering Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Keith J. Orgeron
  • Patent number: 8979150
    Abstract: An elevator for raising and lowering a string in a wellbore includes left and right bodies hinged together that selectively open and close. The elevator can be a tubing elevator, and the string can be a tubing string, casing, or drill string. Semi-circular channels on an inner surface of each of the bodies face one another when the bodies are in the closed position and define a circular collar for engaging the string. A retainer on one of the bodies selectively pivots into latching engagement with a lug on the other body to hold the bodies in the closed position. A boss projects radially inward from an inner surface of the retainer and a retainer pin selectively is moveable adjacent the boss to lock the retainer in its latching engagement with the lug. The pin moves to adjacent the boss when the elevator contacts a collar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Gearench
    Inventor: Eric McKissack
  • Patent number: 8939218
    Abstract: An apparatus for installing and removing a rotary control device insert or an element thereof has a first clamp with a receptacle suitable for receiving a flange of the rotary control device insert therein, a second clamp having an interior suitable for extending around a pipe, and a plurality of lines extending between the first clamp and the second clamp. The first clamp is movable between an open position and a closed position. The second clamp is movable between an open position and a closed position. Each of the clamps includes a first jaw and a second jaw connected to the first jaw by a hinged connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: JTB Tools & Oilfield Services, LLC
    Inventors: Barry Marshall, Gary Marshall
  • Patent number: 8936096
    Abstract: A method for removing a rubber element of a rotary control device includes closing an upper pulling ring around the rubber element, closing a lower stabilizing ring around a drill pipe stump, suspending the lower ring by a chain from the upper ring, connecting a hoist to the upper pulling ring, said lifting the drill stem until the chain tightens and the drill stem is pulled up through the rubber element so as to leave the rubber element free. The hoist is connected to a chain sling affixed to the upper pulling ring. The rubber element can then be released from the upper pulling ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: JTB Tools & Oilfield Services, LLC
    Inventor: Barry Marshall
  • Patent number: 8905450
    Abstract: Equipment for the handling of vials which comprises: a base on which at least part of the vials being handled is located and transverse supporting member for the vials in which the transverse supporting member exerts a force in a substantially transverse plane to the necks of the vials, which comprise supplementary supporting member for the vials; these supplementary supporting member applying a second force in a plane that is substantially inclined with respect to the plane in which the transverse supporting member exerts the first force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Kiro Robotics, S.L.
    Inventors: Jean-Philippe Aguerre, Borja Lizari Illarramendi, Susana Soto Iglesias, Naiara Telleria Garay, Gorka Garcia Etxebarria
  • Patent number: 8894114
    Abstract: An apparatus for gripping and retaining PET bottles in a filling system includes a passive clamping system having pivotable gripping arms that pivot around corresponding pivot axles and that are acted upon by either a spring or permanent magnets. The first pivotable gripping arm has a first extension on an other side of the first pivot axle and the second pivotable gripping arm has a second extension on an other side of the second pivot axle. The extensions have receptacles for guiding a compression spring and for applying a bending force to the compression spring or to sub-segments thereof. These receptacles can be rod-shaped or rail-shaped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: KHS GmbH
    Inventor: Andreas Fahldieck
  • Patent number: 8881801
    Abstract: An apparatus for installing and removing a rotary control device insert or an element thereof has a first clamp with a receptacle suitable for receiving a flange of the rotary control device insert therein, a second clamp having an interior suitable for extending around a pipe, and a plurality of lines extending between the first clamp and the second clamp. The first clamp is movable between an open position and a closed position. The second clamp is movable between an open position and a closed position. Each of the clamps includes a first jaw and a second jaw connected to the first jaw by a hinged connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: JTB Tools & Oilfield Services, LLC
    Inventors: Barry Marshall, Gary Marshall
  • Publication number: 20140262330
    Abstract: A rod elevator including a first latching mechanism and a second latching mechanism connected to one another in a spaced apart relationship for connecting a pair of rods to one another in an axially aligned relationship. Each of the latching mechanisms has a rod receiving space axially aligned with a rod receiving space of the other latching mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventor: Neal O. Bisel
  • Patent number: 8833824
    Abstract: An apparatus comprises a bottle clamp having first and second clamp arms extending beyond respective first and second pivot axes. The clamp arms are held in a closed position. A rotatable locking element part is provided on an extension region of the first clamp arm, and a fixed locking element part is provided on an extension region of the second clamp arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: KHS GmbH
    Inventor: Andreas Fahldieck
  • Patent number: 8827336
    Abstract: A pile clamp assembly to clamp a pile that consists of the following main components; top pile clamp device, the bottom pile clamp device, a plurality clamp wedges and a plurality vertical hydraulic clamps which combines to make a flat clamp wedge contact with the surface of a deviated and twisted pile. This clamping mechanism reduces bending in the driven pile by enabling the next adjoining pile to conform as much as possible to the alignment of the existing driven pile and gradually corrects the pile's vertical alignment and twist as it penetrates the ground through interactions of the unique swiveling clamp wedges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Inventor: Chin Chai Ong
  • Patent number: 8764082
    Abstract: An arrangement for lifting a tower wall portion of a wind turbine is provided. The arrangement includes a bar, a first holding member and a second holding member. The bar is connectable to a coupling element of a lift. The first and second holding members have respective first and second engagement portions adapted for engaging the tower wall portion at a first position and a second position respectively, the first position being different from the second position. The first and second holding members are releasably lockable at the bar such that the first engagement portion and the second engagement portion are a first distance away from each other. The first and second holding members are also releasably lockable at the bar such that the first engagement portion and the second engagement portion are a second distance away from each other, the second distance being different from the first distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Mikkel Verner Krogh, Henning Poulsen
  • Patent number: 8752872
    Abstract: An end effector blade (201) is provided which has a region (203) defined thereon for receiving an article. The end effector blade is also equipped with a plurality of tabs (213) disposed about the periphery of said region. Each tab moves from a first position when no article is present in the region, to a second position when an article is disposed in the region, and each tab pressingly engages the article when it is in the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Fabworx Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard J. Kent
  • Publication number: 20140008927
    Abstract: A gripper (42) for gripping an object (14), intended for a transfer device includes two jaws (64, 66). Each of the jaws includes: a recess (92), and a first clamping portion (94) and a second locking portion (96). The first clamping portion (94) of each jaw (64, 66) of the gripper (42) includes a supporting surface and, when the gripper (42) is closed around an object (14) occupying a predetermined reference position, the supporting surface is intended to engage with a portion of a bearing surface of a radial collar of the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2012
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Applicant: SIDEL PARTICIPATIONS
    Inventors: Nicolas Rousseau, Jocelyn Michel
  • Patent number: 8608216
    Abstract: An elevator connector device designed with an opening for passage of a pipe having a socket, wherein a locking jaw complementary fitting in the elevator connector is arranged to come to abutment against the socket when the pipe is lifted, and wherein the elevator connector is provided with several connected, different locking jaws fitting different pipe dimensions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Seabed Rig AS
    Inventor: Ola Lunde
  • Publication number: 20130284448
    Abstract: Lifting devices for use with drilling risers, where the lifting devices have a plurality of segments, some of which are hinged to facilitate handling and provide multiple shear points between the hinged segments. One embodiment comprises a lifting device for a drilling riser, where the device includes a collar and a lifting lug. The collar has a cylindrical ring with one or more annular ribs connected to corresponding circular edges of the ring. The lifting lug is connected to the collar and the ribs. The collar has a plurality of segments, and at least a first one of the segments is pivotally connected to another one of the segments by a hinge. Each rib may taper smoothly from a smaller thickness at a top edge of the rib to a greater thickness at a base of the rib.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2013
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Applicant: Taper-Lok Corporation
    Inventors: Justin M. Fraczek, Erik M. Howard, Randy D. Arthion, I
  • Patent number: 8562050
    Abstract: Self-aligning and engaging concrete cylinder and mold lifting tool including a plurality of arms pivotally connected to a rod. The rod travels thru a tube and is connected to a handle. The plurality of arms are also pivotally connected to the tube. The plurality of arms are actuated in unison, synchronously, simultaneously, or otherwise to move together radially by lifting the handle up and down. Thus when the handle is drawn upward, the plurality of arms close around the circumference of the concrete cylinder mold. The circumference of the concrete cylinder mold can be any diameter ranging between the fully extension diametrical position of the plurality of arms and the fully retracted diametrical position of the plurality of arms. A demolded concrete cylinder gripper attachment can be removable attached to the lifting lugs to securely engage the demolded concrete cylinder for lifting and moving the demolded concrete cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Inventor: Douglas K. Basinger
  • Patent number: 8550517
    Abstract: A telescopic barrel lifting attachment device which includes a parallelepiped body, a plate member disposed perpendicularly thereto on each end of the body, a pair of slide bars disposed on each side of the body having a channel therebetween through which the body slides, a concave clamp assembly disposed on a bottom end of each plate member, and a cable having external ends attached to the plate members. As the cable is raised and alternately is lowered by a hoist, the cable pulls the clamp assemblies inwardly toward and alternately allows the clamp assemblies to move away from each other to secure and move and alternately release a barrel in a desired location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Inventor: Albert Richard Bates
  • Patent number: 8496280
    Abstract: A remotely operated joint elevator for use in handling a tubular is provided. The single joint elevator including a housing having an access opening configured to receive the tubular. The single joint elevator further including at least one closure member connected to the housing via a hinge pin. Additionally, the single joint elevator including a power assembly configured to rotate at least one closure member around the hinge pin to selectively open and close the access opening. In another aspect, a method of handling a tubular using a remotely operated joint elevator is provided. In yet a further aspect, a remotely operated joint elevator for use in handling a tubular.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Weatherford/Lamb, Inc.
    Inventor: Bernd-Georg Pietras
  • Publication number: 20130181465
    Abstract: After a scratch 160 or similar defect formed on the readout surface of an optical disc is nearly completely removed by grinding and polishing the readout surface with surface with a grinding/polishing agent or similar compound, the readout surface is coated with a coating agent 170 made of a transparent resin or similar material. In this process, a significant change in the thickness of the optical disc before and after the restoration can be prevented by controlling the grind/polishing and coating processes so that the decrease in the thickness due to the grinding/polishing is nearly equal to the increase in the thickness due to the application of the coating agent 170. Therefore, even a Blu-ray Disc or similar optical disc having only a small distance from the surface to the information record layer can be restored many times.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2012
    Publication date: July 18, 2013
    Applicant: ELM INC.
    Inventors: Takakazu MIYAHARA, Terumasa MIYAHARA, Kengo WADA
  • Patent number: 8465070
    Abstract: Container clamp grip for a container transport system having two grip arms that can be swiveled about one or about two axles between a grip position and a release position, the two grip arms being applied with springiness in the direction toward the grip or toward the release position by a force storing unit presenting at least one pair of mutually repelling permanent magnets. The container clamp grip is controlled by a control cam. In the container grip position, a first air gap is provided between the permanent magnets, and in an extreme closed position of the clamp grip, if there is no container, a second, smaller air gap is provided between the permanent magnets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Krones AG
    Inventors: Erwin Knieling, Walter Neumayer
  • Publication number: 20130133782
    Abstract: The medicament dispensing machine enables to use vials having various sizes and shapes without changing a part in the machine or without performing a special operation. The medicament dispensing machine contains a discharging unit that receives a vial filled with a medicament from a medicament filling means and discharges out of a vial discharging window. The discharging unit contains a vial gripping means having a pair of gripping arms that grip a vial, a body of gripping means having the vial gripping means, a moving means that moves the vial gripping means from the medicament filling means to the vial discharging window, and an orientation changing mechanism that changes the orientation of the body of gripping means. With a coordination of the movement of the body of gripping means toward the vial discharging window, the orientation changing mechanism makes the gripping arms orient to the vial discharging window.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Publication date: May 30, 2013
    Applicant: YUYAMA MFG. Co., LTD
    Inventor: YUYAMA MFG. Co., LTD
  • Patent number: 8424940
    Abstract: Clamp (1) for holding a container (2) by a neck (3) in a container handling machine (5), said clamp comprising a body (7) for mounting the clamp (1) on a rotary support (4), and a pair of resilient arms (11) protruding sidewise from the body (7) and each provided with a gripping jaw (12), wherein each resilient arm (11) comprises: an inner section (13) extending along the body (7) and connected thereto at a first back end junction (16); an intermediate section (14) extending substantially parallel to the inner section (13) and connected thereto at a front end junction (17); an outer section (15), provided, at a front end, with a gripping jaw (12), and extending substantially parallel to the intermediate section (14) and connected thereto at a second back end junction (18).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Sidel Participations
    Inventor: Eric Sarda
  • Patent number: 8356848
    Abstract: Clamp (1) for holding a container (2) by a neck (3) in a container handling machine, said clamp (1) comprising a pair of resilient arms (5) and a pair of neck grippers (7) provided at respective ends (6) of the arms (5), said arms (5) and said neck grippers (7) being configured to allow the container neck (3) to be laterally engaged between the neck grippers (7), each neck gripper (7) being pivotally mounted on the corresponding arm (5) about a rotation axis (8), and having at least two gripping jaws (9a, 9b) of different dimensions, configured to cooperate with container necks (3a, 3b) of different sizes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: Sidel Participations
    Inventor: Eric Sarda
  • Publication number: 20120326459
    Abstract: An oilfield elevator is disclosed and has first and second body halves pivotally-coupled at a hinge and moveable between an open position and a closed position to receive and move a tubular segment. Slips are slidably received within corresponding tapered slots in the elevator and are configured to translate vertically within the tapered slots and, at the same time, radially so as to be able to capture a wider range of tubular having varied outside diameters. Tension handles are pivotally-coupled to the first and second body halves and moveable between locked and unlocked positions. Locking the tension handles engages the slips via biasing members, and forces the slips into radial contact with the tubular segment. Unlocking the tension handles releases the biasing members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2012
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: FRANK'S CASING CREW AND RENTAL TOOL, INC.
    Inventors: Jeremy Richard Angelle, John Erick Stelly, Tyler J. Hollier