Patents Represented by Law Firm Hubbard, Thurman, Turner & Tucker
  • Patent number: 4972867
    Abstract: A safety structure for detecting fluid leakage from a valve having an exposed end of a rotatable valve stem connected to a valve element within the valve for rotating the valve element between an open and a closed position. The safety structure comprises a jacket, and an elongated handle extension disposed within the jacket for rotation about its axis. The handle extension includes an end which extends outward from the jacket for turning the handle extension. The jacket terminates in an annular flange which is attached to the valve in an isolating configuration having the exposed end of the valve stem covered, and the handle extension connected to valve stem via a slot on the lower end of the handle extension and a pair of opposed flats on the covered end of the rotatable valve stem over which the slot extends for transferring the rotation of the handle extension to the valve stem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 27, 1990
    Inventor: J. O. Ruesch
  • Patent number: 4967841
    Abstract: Apparatus and method are provided for washing apparatuses in use of remedial tubing. A cylindrical housing has a fluid expansion chamber with fluid passageways communicating between the housing and the chamber. A turbulating sleeve freely rotates relative to the housing. Compression ports permit fluid to be transmitted through the housing, the passageways and into the chamber for injection through the ports to activate rotary motion of the sleeve for turbulizing washing action. A second housing is provided on the apparatus having normally closed wash ports which are angularly directed toward the remedial tubing and rearwardly relative to the apparatus. The wash ports are normally closed and may be opened, selectively, and when open, fluid flow through the apparatus is directed only through the rearwardly directed wash ports to drive particulate matter impacted exterior of the tubing and rearwardly of the apparatus from the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 6, 1990
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventor: Douglas J. Murray
  • Patent number: 4967541
    Abstract: An inverted horizontal wrapping machine is provided with an article infeed system which includes a horizontal feed trough with an open exit end positioned closely adjacent the inlet end of the wrapping material tube being continuously formed by the machine's forming box. Offset to one side of the trough is a looped drive chain structure which is rotated in an essentially horizontal plane. A spaced series of flag-type pusher members are pivotally secured to the chain structure for movement therewith, the flag portions of the pusher members along the inner side of the chain structure being swept through the trough to slide articles therein sequentially into the tube inlet. As each pusher flag reaches the exit end of the trough, a first cam element upwardly and rearwardly pivots the flag to disengage it from its associated article, and the pivoted flag is then moved horizontally away from the trough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 6, 1990
    Inventor: Lawrence D. Lakey
  • Patent number: 4967845
    Abstract: A lock open mechanism for downhole safety valve of the type having a valve head movable downwardly from a closed to an open position relative to the bore of a well conduit. The housing of the safety valve is provided with a first downwardly facing locking shoulder above the valve head. The upper portion of the safety valve housing is provided with a no-go shoulder and above that a second downwardly facing latching shoulder. A mandrel has a tubular locking body shearably secured to its lower end which locking body is abutable with the valve head. The valve head is displaced downwardly by incremental jar produced downward movements of the mandrel until a locking collet carried on the locking body engages the first downwardly facing locking shoulder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 6, 1990
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventor: Steven H. Shirk
  • Patent number: 4966892
    Abstract: Processes for producing aloe extracts including the separation of the leaves of the aloe plant into distinct portions. In particular, a first process is described for producing an aloe extract which is substantially free of anthraquinone-rich yellow sap and a second process is described for extracting the active chemical substance in the aloe plant.The active chemical substance in the aloe plant is extracted from aloe leaves and its characteristic properties are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 30, 1990
    Assignee: Carrington Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventor: Bill H. McAnalley
  • Patent number: 4966063
    Abstract: An aircraft armament mounting system includes an elongated support plank member which is insertable transversely through the aircraft cabin area so that a central portion of the plank is disposed within the cabin area and its opposite end portions project outwardly from the aircraft. This central portion is anchored to the aircraft, and outer tip portions of the plank are pivotable between extended and inwardly folded positions. A pair of rocket launchers are mounted on downwardly projecting support structures secured to the outer ends of the plank tip portions, the support structures having integral adjustment mechanisms which permit vertical and horizontal adjustment of the rocket launcher firing axes. Supported on the underside of the plank end portions, inwardly of the foldable tip sections, are a pair of machine gun pods supported on specially designed shock absorbing gun mounts which carry a pair of machine guns provided with electrically driven charging assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 30, 1990
    Inventors: Paul H. Sanderson, Richard C. Serkland
  • Patent number: 4966367
    Abstract: A ball striking practice apparatus comprises a lower anchor means, an upper anchor means and an intermediate anchor means horizontally spaced relative to the aforementioned anchor means but defining therewith a vertical plane which normally is bisected by the body of the person utilizing the practice device. A practice ball is positioned between the aforementioned three anchor elements by three elastic cords. The ball is diametrically traversed by a wire having looped ends on the exterior of the ball which provide anchoring means at the top and bottom surfaces of the ball. A horizontal, radially disposed wire is inserted into the ball and has a hooked end engaging the center of the diametrical wire. The radially disposed wire defines a looped end exteriorly of the ball and positioned radially intermediate the top and bottom loop ends. Each of the looped ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 30, 1990
    Inventor: Hector A. Oyarzabal
  • Patent number: 4964462
    Abstract: A snubbing unit, used to raise or lower a collar-connected series of tubing joints through a riser spool communicating with a well bore, is provided with an electromagnetic sensing system operative to detect and indicate the entry into, position within and travel direction within a sensing spool between the upper and lower blowout preventers of each tubing collar. The sensing system includes upper and lower electromagnetic coils coaxially circumscribing the sensing spool, and a frequency generator for energizing the coils. First and second phase comparators are used to detect current phase alterations in the coils, caused by variations in the vertical proximity between each collar and the coils, and responsively transmit output signals indicative of such phase alterations. The output signals are sent to a position sensing circuit which utilizes them to illuminate collar position and travel direction lights on an operator control panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 23, 1990
    Inventor: Michael L. Smith
  • Patent number: 4964065
    Abstract: An electronic communication system monitor in one embodiment has sensors for sensing electrical and environmental conditions for communication system elements. Control relays connect the elements to a programmable controller. The programmable controller has a keyboard, display, printer and modem for remote communication of information; especially alarms providing notice of operating conditions outside acceptable parameters. A second embodiment provides a logic circuit connected to selected sensors which determines when a combination of conditions exist to cause alarm and automatically activates a remedial device to alleviate a potential problem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 16, 1990
    Assignee: Decibel Products, Inc.
    Inventors: John R. Hicks, Peter Mailandt
  • Patent number: 4962812
    Abstract: Existing inflatable packers employ a three valve system for controlling the application of tubing pressure to the interior of an inflatable packing element surrounding the tubing. The three valves of such system are disposed in chordal relationship in the tubular wall of a valve collar which is secured to one end of the inflatable packing element. The valves employed are respectively an inflation initiating valve, a check valve and an inflate limit valve which are serially connected insofar as fluid flow is concerned. Because of the configuration of the flow passages, damage caused by fluid flow is much more severe on the check valve and inflate limit valve. Since no increase in diameter of the check and inflate limit valve can be tolerated, a duplicate set of such valves are provided in the tubular wall of the valve collar with the two sets of check valves and inflate limit valves connected in parallel to essentially double the effective flow area through such valves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 16, 1990
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventor: Vel Berzin
  • Patent number: 4963273
    Abstract: The present invention provides a modified liquid phase drilling fluid having desirable properties of shale swelling inhibition, lubrication, and high temperature performance. The fluid does not rely on the incorporation of inorganic salts or high molecular weight water soluble polymers for control of shale swelling or shale disintegration and exhibits performance characteristics, approaching those of oil base drilling fluids, without the objectionable properties of hydrocarbon oils or its potential hazardous impact on the environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 16, 1990
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Alphonse C. Perricone, Dennis K. Clapper, Dorothy P. Enright
  • Patent number: 4961762
    Abstract: A backflushed panel type filtration system is positionable over the flow discharge opening in a dividing wall separating the material collection and clean air flow chamber portion of an air throughflow type particulate collecting device. The filtration system has a filter media section captively retained within an inner peripheral face frame which, in turn, is nested within an outer support frame, this dual frame structure being provided with upstream and downstream peripheral face sealing gaskets. An upstream side flange portion of the outer frame is insertable into the discharge opening and serves to automatically align the filter structure therewith. An internally partitioned clean air flow shroud is removably positionable atop the filter structure and has flange portions which engage the downstream seal gasket and cooperate with side wall portions of the outer filter frame to automatically align the shroud with the underlying filter structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 9, 1990
    Inventor: D. Franklin Howeth
  • Patent number: 4959910
    Abstract: A printing press is provided having an improved register cam incorporated therein, the printing press also including a transverse alignment mechanism for aligning the printing medium prior to printing thereon. The improved register cam includes adjustment means associated therewith for selectively adjusting the linear position of the alignment member responsible for engaging and the aligning the printing medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 2, 1990
    Inventor: Tommy R. Hamilton
  • Patent number: 4959928
    Abstract: An air-assisted tool for mechanically cleaning a rotary driveable buffing pad or the like comprises a hollow body portion to which a series of mutually spaced, externally toothed cleaning spurs are rotatably secured. The tool has an air inlet fitting connectable to a high pressure air supply hose to flow pressurized air through the tool body, and an outlet passage for discharging the air at a point adjacent the spur members. To use the tool, an operator grasps the tool body, places the cleaning spurs on the buffing pad during driven rotation thereof, and laterally moves the spurs radially inwardly and outwardly along the operative side of the rotating pad. The spurs are rapidly rotated by the moving pad and function to circumferentially rake the rotating pad to dislodge therefrom hardened cleaning material or the like adhering thereto from a previous use of the pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 2, 1990
    Inventor: Carl C. Hartwig, Sr.
  • Patent number: 4960102
    Abstract: A fuel-fired, condensing type forced air heating furnace is provided with an improved hot combustion gas-to-air heat exchange system which includes a generally drum-shaped primary heat exchanger having an outlet end connected to a first end of a transfer manifold whose second end is connected the inlet end of a fin-and-tube type secondary heat exchanger which is spaced laterally apart from, faces, and extends generally parallel to the primary heat exchanger. A radial discharge fuel burner end portion is coaxially positioned within an inlet end of the primary heat exchanger and, during furnace operation, a draft inducer fan draws burner combustion gases sequentially through the primary heat exchanger, the transfer manifold and the secondary heat exchanger while air to be heated is flowed externally over these heat transfer elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 2, 1990
    Assignee: Rheem Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Timothy J. Shellenberger
  • Patent number: 4959920
    Abstract: A multi-action fishing lure has a buoyant, relatively short head section to which an elongated buoyant tail section is jointedly secured, the tail section having a pair of depending treble hooks operatively secured thereto in a longitudinally spaced relationship. The front end of the head section has a concave face to which a line eye is secured in a downwardly off-centered orientation. Secured to a bottom front portion of the head section is an elongated, essentially planar lip member which is downwardly and forwardly angled relative to the head section, laterally protrudes downwardly and forwardly of the front end of the head section, and longitudinally protrudes horizontally from opposite sides of the head section. When the lure floats in an at-rest position on the water's surface, the head section is downwardly and rearwardly canted by a small weight structure positioned within a lower rear end portion of the head section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 2, 1990
    Inventor: Wendall C. Walker
  • Patent number: 4960173
    Abstract: A mechanism for accurately positioning a well tool in axially concentric relationship to a well conduit comprises a housing having a plurality of stabilizer linkages mounted thereon with one end of each linkage being pivotally secured to the housing and the other end free to move in an axial direction. A compression spring engages a force transmitting connection to the other ends of the stabilizer linkages to bias same to a radially expanded position engaging the conduit wall. The connection between the compression spring and the stabilizer linkage includes two telescopically related sleeve elements which are secured together by a shear screw. In the event that the stabilizer linkage becomes stuck in the well, upward jarring movements of the housing will shear the shear screw and permit the stabilizer linkages to collapse radially inwardly and thus permit removal from the well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 2, 1990
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Michael L. Cognevich, Steven H. Shirk
  • Patent number: 4959214
    Abstract: Processes for producing aloe extracts including the separation of the leaves of the aloe plant into distinct portions. In particular, a first process is described for producing an aloe extract which is substantially free of anthraquinone-rich yellow sap and a second process is described for extracting the active chemical substance in the aloe plant.The active chemical substance in the aloe plant is extracted from aloe leaves and its characteristic properties are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 25, 1990
    Assignee: Carrington Laboratories Inc.
    Inventor: Bill H. McAnalley
  • Patent number: 4957907
    Abstract: A process is described for extracting a pharmaceutically active polysaccharidic substance from the aloe plant.The pharmaceutically active polysaccharidic substance and its characteristic properties are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 18, 1990
    Assignee: Carrington Laboratories Inc.
    Inventor: Bill H. McAnalley
  • Patent number: 4955369
    Abstract: A dynamically shiftable knee brace is used to counteract anterior tibial displacement caused during leg extension by the quadriceps muscle when the anterior cruciate ligament is missing or damaged. The brace includes pairs of rigid thigh and calf support members which extend along and are strapped to thigh and calf portions of the leg, the support member pairs being pivotally connected at their inner ends to one another by a pair of specially designed hinges positioned on opposited sides of the knee. As the leg is extended from a flexed position toward its fully straightened position the hinges cause a relative anterior-posterior shift between the support member pairs in a manner creating a shear force across the knee which is opposite that generated by the quadriceps muscle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 11, 1990
    Inventors: Gary R. Bledsoe, Brett O. Bledsoe