Patents Represented by Attorney Gable & Gotwals
  • Patent number: 7008464
    Abstract: A system for removing moisture from a wet gas stream including a vessel having a contact area containing deliquescing salts that produces brine as water is absorbed, the brine flowing to a collection area in the bottom of the vessel. A venturi positioned in a wet gas inlet stream produces an area of reduced pressure that is applied to a brine flow path connected to the brine collection area. In this way, the brine is recirculated into intimate contact with the wet gas inlet stream causing the brine to be diluted with water extracted from the wet gas stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2006
    Assignee: National Tank Company
    Inventor: Jack A. Deetz
  • Patent number: 7001448
    Abstract: A system for separating an entrained liquid component from a gas stream employing at least one vortex tube having a liquid outlet end and a wet gas inlet tangential to its sidewall and arranged so that wet gas rotates within the vortex tube to cause the liquid components to be forced against the interior wall surface by centrifugal action. An orifice plate closes the vortex tube first end and has a concentric gas outlet opening therein. A vortex finder tube extends concentrically within the vortex tube providing an annular area between itself and the vortex tube internal wall. A gas deflector is positioned within the annular area and has a downwardly spiraled surface that diverts wet gas downwardly away from the wet gas inlet. In one embodiment, an outlet tube is affixed to the orifice plate central opening and is configured to divert outlet gas downwardly. In another embodiment, an energy absorbing housing surrounds the vortex tube liquid outlet end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Assignee: National Tank Company
    Inventor: Hugh M. West
  • Patent number: 6955604
    Abstract: A method of and system of providing a realistic audiovisual representation at a remote location of a game occurring at a base location in which the base location and remote location are linked by a communications channel, including the steps of preparing a library of prerecorded video clips depicting events typically encountered in conducting a game, storing the library of the remote location, transmitting information as to the progress of a game from the base location to the remote location over the communication channel at the base location using the information to select appropriate video clips from the library that replicate the game, and presenting the selected video clips at the remote location to provide a realistic audiovisual representation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2005
    Assignee: Multimedia Games, Inc.
    Inventors: Gordon T. Graves, A. Clifford Barker
  • Patent number: 6953917
    Abstract: A method and system for ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements to train, test, perform, evaluate and document identified covered tasks and provide the means to meet governmental and/or industrial standards including measuring applicable physical parameters, recording the steps involved and values of the parameters measured, comparing the steps and values recorded for each covered task with pre-established approved standards and providing a record identifying covered tasks that meet or that do not meet pre-selected approved standards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2005
    Inventor: David O. Chenault
  • Patent number: 6904779
    Abstract: A method of forming a finned tube in which the fins are planar, paralleled and extend radially to the tube longitudinal axis, including the steps of positioning at least one rotating forming roll against the tube exterior surface, the forming roll being spaced from the tube and rotatable about an axis that is parallel to said tube longitudinal axis, the forming roll having on the surface thereof an elongated helically arranged fin forming protrusion, the helical protrusion having a pitch of “x” and linearly advancing the tube past the forming tool a distance of “x” for each revolution of the forming roll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2005
    Inventor: Thomas E. Hickok
  • Patent number: 6893615
    Abstract: A method and system for providing substantially water-free compressed exhaust gas including extracting exhaust gas from a hydrocarbon fuel consuming engine, passing engine exhaust gas through a catalytic converter, passing the exhaust gas from the catalytic converter through a first compressor and chiller/separator in which the exhaust gas is compressed and chilled below the dew point temperature thereof to cause entrained water vapor therein to condense out, separating out and disposing of the condensed water to achieve extra dry exhaust gas and compressing the extra dry exhaust gas in a second compressor to provide compressed exhaust gas for industrial purposes such as for injecting into a subterranean formation to augment the production of crude oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2005
    Assignee: NCO2 Company LLC
    Inventor: Wade J. Alexander
  • Patent number: 6886890
    Abstract: A panel having particular utility in a chair or other apparatus for receiving an occupant in a seated position includes an envelope of resilient material having an opening with a fastener for closing the envelope. An envelope support frame is substantially rigid and formed in a closed loop. The envelope support frame is positioned inside the envelope to tension the resilient material of the envelope in one or more tension zones. A fastener is closed to envelop the envelope support frame with the resilient material. The width of each tension zone when the envelope is in a its relaxed state is different than the width of each immediately adjacent tension zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2005
    Inventors: David L. Rowland, Erwin W. Rowland
  • Patent number: 6874193
    Abstract: A pipeline pig that is moved by pressurized gas flow and that provides for distribution of treating liquid subsisting in the lower portion of the pipeline, having a pig body with a nose cone at a foward end thereof, centralizers affixed to the pig body by which it is supported in the pipeline, a bypass passageway within the nose cone communicating with the pipeline interior, a siphon passageway within the nose cone communicating with a lower portion of the pipeline interior and therby with any liquid subsisting therein and having an outlet end, and a venturi in communication with the siphon passageway and the bypass passageway, gas flowing through the bypass passageway serving to draw liquid from the lower portion of the pipeline through the siphon passageway whereby the liquid is discharged form the siphon passageway outlet end onto ineterior surfaces of the pipeline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2005
    Assignee: TDW Delaware, Inc.
    Inventor: Rick D. Pruett
  • Patent number: 6860979
    Abstract: A method of augmenting the separation of immiscible heavier and lighter components of an emulsion including the steps of passing the emulsion into a treatment vessel, establishing at least one dual frequency electric field within the vessel and selectably varying the electric field at a frequency F1 modulated in intensity at a frequency F2 where F1 is greater than F2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2005
    Assignee: National Tank Company
    Inventor: Gary W. Sams
  • Patent number: 6847207
    Abstract: An instrument pig and method of operation thereof for determining the characteristics of a ferromagnetic pipeline through which it passes, including a pig body, first and second coaxial circumferential, spaced apart magnets of opposed polarities supported to the pig body and providing substantially complete magnetic saturation of an area of the pipeline between the magnets, first instruments between the magnets and arranged to generate signals that are responsive to flux leakage servicing to provide first information as to anomalies in the pipeline interior and/or exterior surfaces, second instruments supported by the pig body between said magnets and arranged to generate signals that are responsive to eddy currents induced in the pipeline interior surface servicing to provide second information as to anomalies in the pipeline interior surface, signal processing circuitry combining the first and second signals and wherein the second instruments are energized only in response to signals generated by said signa
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2005
    Assignee: TDW Delaware, Inc.
    Inventors: William D. Veach, Tyler S. Lloyd, Jed C. Ludlow
  • Patent number: 6808019
    Abstract: A guide for use on a sucker rod vertically reciprocated within the tubing of an oil well having an internal cylindrical surface in which the guide has an elongated tubular body portion concentrically surrounding the sucker rod with first and second guide portions integrally extending from the body portion, each guide portion having a semi-cylindrical guide surface of diameter slightly less than the tubing and of arc of about 180°, the second guide portion being rotationally diametrically opposed to the first guide portion whereby the opposed guide surfaces together provide about 360° of guide surface adjacent the tubing internal cylindrical surface and wherein the first and second guide portions are displaced with respect to each other providing a pair of diametrically opposed fluid flow passageways.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Inventor: John F. Mabry
  • Patent number: 6802909
    Abstract: A method of improving the operation of a gas pipeline having at least some water therein including the steps of introducing into the interior of the pipeline a soluble soap pig that is dimensioned to move through the pipeline by gas flow, the composition of the soap pig being selected such that at least some soap is applied as a film to the interior wall as the soap pig moves through the pipeline and in which the soap pig slowly dissolves within the pipeline. The soap film preferably has anti-corrosive and/or antibacterial properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2004
    Inventor: Doyle J. Crenshaw
  • Patent number: 6773492
    Abstract: A system for separating an entrained liquid component from a gas stream employing at least one vortex tube having a liquid outlet end and a wet gas inlet tangential to its sidewall and arranged so that wet gas rotates within the vortex tube to cause the liquid components to be forced against the interior wall surface by centrifugal action. An orifice plate closing the vortex tube first end has a concentric gas outlet opening therein. A vortex finder tube extends concentrically within the vortex tube providing an annular area between itself and the vortex tube internal wall. A gas deflector positioned within the annular area has a downwardly spiraled surface that diverts wet gas downwardly away from the wet gas inlet. In one embodiment, an outlet tube is affixed to the orifice plate central opening and is configured to divert outlet gas downwardly. In another embodiment, an energy absorbing housing surrounds the vortex tube liquid outlet end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Assignee: National Tank Company
    Inventor: Hugh M. West
  • Patent number: 6769152
    Abstract: An improved pipeline pig launcher method and use thereof for conveying a pig into a pipeline including an upright launch barrel having a lower end in communication with the pipeline, a valve affixed to an upper end of the launch barrel and having a full diameter passageway therethrough, an upright pig receiving chamber connected at a lower end to the valve and in vertical alignment with the valve and launch barrel, and a cover removably closing an upper end of the receiving chamber providing, when in an open position, provision for insertion of a pig so that when said valve is open, the pig can pass downwardly into the launch barrel and from there into the pipeline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Assignee: Parnell Consultants, Inc.
    Inventors: Doyle J. Crenshaw, Floyd T. Parnell
  • Patent number: 6755916
    Abstract: A method of distributing liquid present in the lower portion of a gas pipeline to the interior upper surface of the pipeline including the steps of passing a pig having a venturi therein, through the pipeline, the venturi being actuated by gas pressure taken from within the pipeline, the pig being asymmetrically weighted providing a pig upper portion and a pig lower portion, siphoning liquid from a lower interior portion of the pipeline through the venturi, storing liquid drawn from a lower portion of the pipeline in a reservoir carried by the pig, distributing siphoned liquid from the reservoir onto the pipeline upper interior surface and wherein the gas pressure is taken from a rearward portion of the pig.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Assignee: TDW Delaware, Inc.
    Inventor: Rick D. Pruett
  • Patent number: 6739601
    Abstract: An improved jack for supporting and moving a horizontally extending trailer tongue above the earth's surface having a longitudinally extending support shaft, a bracket rotatably attaching the support shaft to a trailer tongue by which the support shaft may be pivoted between a horizontal position and a vertical position, a wheel housing affixed to the support, a ground engaging wheel rotatably supported adjacent the wheel housing and having a wheel gear affixed thereto; a crank arm rotatably supported by the wheel housing adjacent an upper end thereof at a height closer to the trailer tongue than the earth's surface, and a rotation transfer system coupling the crank arm to the wheel for moving the trailer tongue, the elevation of the crank arm requiring reduced bending over by an operator standing on the earth's surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2004
    Inventor: Boyce Fine
  • Patent number: D504224
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Inventor: Sharon E. Sexson
  • Patent number: D506058
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2005
    Inventor: Sharon E. Sexson
  • Patent number: D507231
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Inventor: Ronald D. Tuesch
  • Patent number: D511737
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2005
    Inventor: Ronald D. Tuech