Patents Represented by Law Firm Gunn, Lee & Miller
  • Patent number: 5199271
    Abstract: An air conditioning system (10) for an aircraft, the air conditioning system (10) having a separator (14) located between the high pressure side of a compressor (12) and a condenser (18). A timer (34) activated normally open solenoid (32) is located on a separator drain line 28 to periodically dump the lubricant accumulated in the separator (14) back into the compressor (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1993
    Assignee: Zee Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: John W. Ewer
  • Patent number: 5199814
    Abstract: An impact recovery delineation system comprises a base member that provides improved mechanical and chemical bonding to the road surface and a portable base that provides a rigid center portion and flexible ends to maintain the position of the delineator device after vehicle impact. A sealed, pneumatic tube of high impact resistant material composition acts as a delineator post and is adapted to receive modified load cells. Upper and lower load cell elements are provided with cable passages to allow side-by-side placement of wire rope cables. The passages are particularly geometrically configured and have two radiused edges and two straight edges which result in rapid bending and recovery of the delineator post system upon high speed impact, in any direction, by an automotive vehicle. A vented signage panel having air vents therein to reduce wind resistance, improve and speed recovery of the impacted system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1993
    Assignee: Flexco
    Inventors: Richard O. Clark, Richard M. Milton
  • Patent number: 5195976
    Abstract: An apparatus for thermal regulation, or temperature control of intravenous fluid. The apparatus includes four subassemblies to control intravenous fluid temperature during rapid time varying fluctuations in fluid flow rates independent of ambient air temperature and initial fluid temperature. The first subassembly is an intravenous infusion subassembly containing a fluid reservoir, flexible tubing and a syringe for injecting fluid into a human. The second subassembly is a disposable heat exchange subassembly containing a wire heat exchanger and temperature and flow sensors. The heat exchanger is fabricated into the flexible tubing of the infusion subassembly. The third subassembly is a controller subassembly including a microprocessor system to control the heat exchange subassembly and power supplies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1993
    Assignee: Houston Advanced Research Center
    Inventor: Charles A. Swenson
  • Patent number: 5195361
    Abstract: A test device and method of testing includes a BOP skid mounted to center an upright housing and piston beneath the BOP. A flange on the BOP mates with a flange on the housing to enable the BOP to be clamped by a ring. The ring is divided into two halves having upper and lower encircling lips. In the housing, the piston seats a seal ring to isolate fluid in a chamber for pressure testing of the seal ring with the flange and other components of the BOP. In addition, the test device and method can be applied to industry standard flanges on valves and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1993
    Assignee: Petco Equipment Tools Co.
    Inventors: Gary R. Wood, Carl P. Hutchinson
  • Patent number: 5191758
    Abstract: A harvester for nut-bearing trees comprising a self-propelled chassis having a forwardly projecting, vertically shiftable frame carrying a tree-shaking mechanism and a flexible fabric canopy foldable from a generally transverse, transport position relative to the chassis to an inverted cone-shaped configuration surrounding the trunk and lower limbs of a tree. A portion of the cone-shaped configuration is defined by a rigid vertically inclined wall having windows for the operator to view the tree being approached and the interior of the canopy during the tree-shaking operation. Nuts, hulls and trash shaken from the tree into the canopy are carried by conveyors through a trash-separating zone and then through a dehuller. The separated nuts are then sized and bagged according to size by mechanisms mounted on the self-propelled chassis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1993
    Assignee: Continental Wholesale Florists, Inc.
    Inventor: Jean P. Cote
  • Patent number: 5191876
    Abstract: Applicant's invention is a lightweight solar collection system, supported overhead, having a parabolic reflecting trough which continuously rotates about a fluid-filled collection conduit located at the trough's focal point. The system is supported overhead preventing bending of the collection conduit, ensuring that solar rays reflected off the trough will continuously focus on the conduit. A tracking system, cooperating with the reflection assembly, monitors the location of the sun, cuing the motor when rotation of the trough is required for maximum heat collection. The efficiency acquired through a reflection assembly supported and braced overhead used in cooperation with a system monitoring movement of the sun, allows solar heat collection for operation of a cooling and heating unit simply and economically.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1993
    Inventor: Curtis L. Atchley
  • Patent number: 5190216
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for delivering metered and atomized quantities of liquid to an internal combustion engine wherein the liquid is metered in a T-shaped fitting having a liquid supply arm, an air arm which is perpendicular to the supply arm, and a delivery arm is aligned with the supply arm. Liquid is pumped from a liquid source to fill the supply and part of the delivery arm of the T-shaped fitting. A predetermined pulse of pressurized air is delivered to the air arm of the T-shaped fitting, transversely striking and severing the accumulated liquid in the delivery arm from the liquid in the supply arm to form a liquid slug. The pressurized air pulse forces the liquid slug out of the T-shaped fitting into an acceleration pipe, accelerates the liquid slug through the acceleration pipe, stores kinetic energy in the moving liquid slug, moves the liquid slug through a nozzle, atomizes the liquid slug, and cleans the nozzle and preconnected passages of residual liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1993
    Inventor: Carl F. Deneke
  • Patent number: 5190562
    Abstract: A bleaching composition comprising a partially saturated carrier and a bleaching agent prepared by first mixing the dry carrier with the dry bleaching agent and then adding water while continuing mixing to produce a moist powder. This powder is used in a tumbler with at least partially nonsynthetic dyed fabrics to dry bleach or fade the dye from the fabrics. Specifically, the bleaching composition is a mix of potassium permanganate as the bleaching agent and diatomaceous earth as the carrier and is tumbled with the fabric to remove the dye from the fabric. The tumbling causes repeated contact with the bleaching agent and removes the dye in the fabric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1993
    Assignee: Ocean Wash, Inc.
    Inventors: Glen A. Dickson, Donnie R. Gray
  • Patent number: 5184434
    Abstract: A process for the forming and use of a coherent abrasive suspension jet, which involves treating water with additives to give the water a high shear dependent viscosity or viscoelasticity, or a moderate yield value, and suspending fine, abrasive particles within the treated water. The suspension that is formed may be retained in a reservoir prior to use, and requires no agitation or stirring as a slurry solution would require. The suspension that is formed allows for the use of an abrasive jet nozzle that requires only a single supply conduit and requires no mixing chamber, collimating cone, or collimating tube, as conventional jets require. The coherent abrasive suspension jet medium allows for the use of much lower pressures, much finer orifices, and much simpler operations. The process overcomes many of the difficulties associated with the reduced velocities and increased jet diameters that are attained by conventional abrasive jets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1993
    Assignee: Southwest Research Institute
    Inventors: Richard H. Hollinger, William D. Perry
  • Patent number: 5181564
    Abstract: A tool for milling a down-hole casing or tubing comprising a tubular body rotatable about its longitudinal axis and having a longitudinal passage therethrough. Means is provided at a first end of the cylindrical body for connection to a drive means to rotate the body. The first end forms the upper end of the body in the working position. At least one first blade extends outwardly from the cylindrical body and has a lowermost cutting edge extending upwardly from its innermost portion at an angle of from about 2.degree. to about 60.degree. to a radial plane perpendicular to said longitudinal axis, and at least one second blade extends outwardly from the cylindrical body and has a lowermost cutting edge extending downwardly from its outermost portion at an angle of from about 2.degree. to about 60.degree. to a radial plane perpendicular to said longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1993
    Assignee: Weatherford-Petco, Inc.
    Inventors: John D. Lindley, Colin R. Mackenzie, Mark E. Hall
  • Patent number: 5180969
    Abstract: A method for rapidly detecting and locating reinforcing steel corrosion in concrete structures using non-linear harmonic and intermodulated frequencies of electromagnetic signals. The method comprises transmitting either a single primary frequency or two primary frequencies into the concrete structure in the general direction of the reinforcing steel. The reflected/generated signal, which is composed of the primary frequencies and of various harmonics and intermodulation components, is received, filtered, and amplified. A third order harmonic frequency is isolated with a band pass filter, is amplified, and is compared with the amplitudes of the primary frequencies. Intermodulation frequencies, primarily the combination of the primary of a frequency and the second harmonic of a second frequency, or the primary of a second frequency and the second harmonic of a first frequency, are isolated by appropriate band pass filter, are amplified, and are compared with the primary frequency or frequencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1993
    Assignee: Southwest Research Institute
    Inventors: Hegeon Kwun, Gary L. Burkhardt, Jay L. Fisher
  • Patent number: 5179140
    Abstract: A filled resin composition is provided which is particularly adapted for the formation of wear-resistant, lubricious surfaces. The compositions when formed into integral threads with the bodies of plastic-reinforced pipe provide superior thread action and extended thread life.The compositions comprise a thermosetting resin such as epoxy resin and hardener, in combination with a filler which in turn comprises ceramic powder, graphite and short fiber lengths. The compositions may vary widely as will hereinafter become apparent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1993
    Assignee: Fiber Glass Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Gholamhossein Ariannejad
  • Patent number: 5177988
    Abstract: A locking system for a dead bolt and slam bolt locking of a movable door to a stationary keeper comprises a lock housing defining a cylinder chamber having an opening alignable with a keeper recess in the closed position of the door. A spherical locking bolt is mounted on a piston which is slidably and sealably movable in the cylinder chamber between an inner non-locking position and an outer locking position. The interior of the cylinder chamber is filled with a non-compressible fluid by outward movement of the piston and a normally closed check valve prevents exhaust of such fluid to produce a dead lock conditon. The check valve is alternatively opened by a manual key or by remotely controlled energization of a solenoid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1993
    Inventor: Raymond B. Bushnell
  • Patent number: 5179621
    Abstract: A solid state DC power control circuit to efficiently use DC battery power without the normally associated energy waste which includes an input control signal filtering, amplifying, and conditioning circuit (133), a triangular waveform generator circuit (131), a comparator circuit (135), an inverting MOSFET (metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor) circuit (137), and a plurality of power MOSFET devices (42), which together combine to translate a typical variable resistance control input into a voltage level and condition it suitably to be compared with a known triangular waveform thereby creating a pulse width modulated signal whose pulse widths correspond in duration to the relative percent "on" or "off" of the control input signal and which regulates a plurality of parallel MOSFET devices (42) which together share the load of an external DC power drain circuit (143).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1993
    Assignee: DAX Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: James C. Nelson, III
  • Patent number: 5176208
    Abstract: A device for providing fluid cross over in a milling operation is set forth. It is particularly used by connection to a pipe string which supports the milling device for cutting junk from a well. It features an elongate hollow tool body having a central portion which defines a trash receiving chamber. There is a pipe inserted into this chamber from below for introducing return fluid after cutting which is laden with metal shavings, chips, and trash. In this chamber, fluid flows upwardly through the pipe, and trash collects in the chamber by surrounding the pipe falling to the bottom of the chamber by weight. The chamber is limited at the top end by transverse wall which has a number of perforations having an aggregate cross sectional area to prevent fluid flow restriction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1993
    Assignee: Ponder Fishing Tools, Inc.
    Inventors: Phillip T. Lalande, Milton H. Madeley, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5171052
    Abstract: A pole for effecting the manual movement of a load of vertically stacked units, such as bottle cases, comprises two telescopically related body members having a grasping element at one exposed end for engaging the lower portion of the stacked load and a transverse handle, mounted on the other exposed end of the telescoped body members and rotatable about the axis of the telescoped body members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1992
    Assignee: R&M Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Cunningham, Michael R.
  • Patent number: 5169065
    Abstract: The present disclosure is a nozzle which is comprised of an inlet, an outlet, and an elongate cylindrical housing closed by heads or covers. Within the housing there is an elongate chamber means. Multiple plates extend transversely across the chamber means and are drilled with a number of holes to provide an adequate cross sectional area for a water flow or fluid flow through the chamber. There is an additional transverse plate with holes therein. A number of flexible bendable nylon strings are positioned so that the strings have ends, and the strings are positioned so that the ends are directed toward the outlet. Fluid flow is improved by reduction from highly turbulent flow to laminar flow to string line flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1992
    Assignee: Naylor Industrial Services
    Inventor: Christopher J. Bloch
  • Patent number: 5165788
    Abstract: A cover (70) for a small lamp, the cover having a flat, ring-shaped member (16) with locking legs (28) projecting vertically downward from the underside (26) of the ring (18) for locking into notches in the base (62) of the lamp. The ring-shaped member (18) has locking upright members (24) which project vertically from the top surface (22) thereof, which hold a glass shield (20) in place and which receive on the upper portions thereof a locking ring member (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1992
    Assignee: Lucifer Lighting Company
    Inventor: Donald D. McLaughlin
  • Patent number: D331460
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1992
    Inventor: Rita P. Mulder
  • Patent number: D334314
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1993
    Assignee: Flasher Equipment Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Richard M. Milton