Patents Represented by Attorney James E. Snead
  • Patent number: 5226678
    Abstract: A split gland having only three parts to obtain effective stability to relative motion of the constituent half-gland members. A large area clamping ring generates a clamping force effective to maintain the alignment between male and female mirror image half-gland members. Ease of manufacture and use result from the reduction in complexity of the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1993
    Inventor: Joseph J. Petranto
  • Patent number: 5176207
    Abstract: A system for placing instrumentation within a hole enables a wide variety of instruments to be placed in the hole with enhanced measurement resolution and minimum risk of becoming lodged in the hole by partial collapse of the hole wall. A flexible tubular member is pressurized and averted from a canister into the hole, turning inside out as it extends into the hole. The application of pressure urges the tubular member against the hole wall in the manner of a hole liner or packer. A wide variety of instruments can be attached to the membrane and urged against the hole wall for measurement purposes. Typical measurements include temperature, pore fluid extraction and injection, in situ sensing with fiber optics, pore fluid pressure, and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1993
    Assignee: Science & Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Carl E. Keller
  • Patent number: 4907953
    Abstract: A locking gas equalizer is provided for use with a subsurface pump for lifting fluids having a high gas content. A mechanical lifting piston and rod are slidably mounted beneath the check valve in the traveling pump assembly. When the pump reaches the bottom of its down stroke the piston raises the rod and unseats the check valve. As the pump cycle reverses at the top of the stroke, the inertia of the piston also causes the rod to be raised for unseating the check valve and allowing a small amount of fluid to drop into the pump chamber. Thus, gas pressure within the pump chamber volumes is positively equalized to prevent gas lock up of the pumping action. A hexagonal alignment slider maintains alignment of the lifting piston to prevent hangup of the piston in a stroke through pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 13, 1990
    Inventors: Douglas W. Hebert, Elgie Harris, II
  • Patent number: 4890203
    Abstract: A self contained, hand held light in the form of a baton having a handle of cylindrical contruction that forms a battery compartment therewith. A bottom cap is removably received for closing the lower end of the handle and for actuating a switch means that is connected to be actuated by the cap. A bulb is supported at the upper end of the handle, and circuitry for the bulb supplies current flow from a storage battery by a conductor strip that is bent at the opposed marginal ends into a switch and a bulb holder. A hollow light transmitting cylinder is attached to the upper end of the handle, and a solid nose piece is attached to the upper end of the cylinder. This provides a water-proof device that is useful of signaling, controlling crowds, and illuminating dark areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1989
    Inventor: Thomas J. Watson
  • Patent number: 4794683
    Abstract: A cam shaft manipulating tool for removing and installing a cam shaft within the block of an internal combustion engine. The tool has a shaft threaded at one end for receiving a flange thereon, and a handle is mounted at the opposed end of the tool shaft. The flange is adjustably positioned respective to the tool shaft and to the face of the cam shaft so that part of the threaded end of the tool shaft extends through the flange and beyond the face of the flange that is opposed to the handle. An adaptor is threadedly received on the threaded end of the tool shaft. The adaptor slidably engages a central passageway found in the prior art cam shaft. A bolt circle formed in the flange is used to removably fasten one end of the tool to the end of a cam shaft. The tool enables the cam shaft to be removed and replaced into an engine block within inadvertently contaminating or injuring the cam shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 3, 1989
    Inventor: Orlando D. Pacheco
  • Patent number: 4794657
    Abstract: A pillow assembly has parts thereof made into a trunk, head, and leg pillows, all adapted to be attached together in a particular manner to enable the trunk pillow to be hugged against one's stomach, the leg pillow to be squeezed between one's legs, and a head pillow to receive one's head. A lower end of the head pillow may be removably received by the upper end of the trunk pillow. An upper end of the leg pillow may be removably received by the lower end of the trunk pillow. The pillows are arranged along a common longitudinal axis. The leg and head pillows can be axially and longitudinally positioned respective to one another and to the trunk pillow into an infinite number of different positions and lengths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 3, 1989
    Inventor: Linda S. Avery
  • Patent number: 4714125
    Abstract: A vehicle especially adapted for traveling on snow, which has a single endless track made bendable laterally in order to change direction of travel. The vehicle has a main body assembly which is separated and supported above the track by a special suspension arm. A motor is located in the body assembly, and a drive train is connected between the motor and track. The drive train extends through the suspension arm. The steering control system also passes through the suspension arm and causes the track to flex laterally into a curve in a manner which positions the rider over the flotation centerline of the curved track and thereby maintains balance while negotiating turns. One end of the suspension arm is sprung from the track, and the body is sprung from the other end of the suspension arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1987
    Inventor: Jack C. Stacy, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4678045
    Abstract: A drill string is made flexible near the lower marginal end thereof, and a pneumatic turbine motor is located at the lower terminal end thereof. The pneumatic turbine is connected to a planetary gear reduction system for rotating a drill bit. The diameter and the length of the pneumatic turbine motor, gear reduction system, and bit is of a size which enables the entire assembly to negotiate a sharp bend in the borehole, so that the borehole can be formed to extend downwardly along a relatively straight vertical line towards a payzone, where the borehole then sharply bends laterally towards the payzone, and then continues in another relatively straight line horizontally through the payzone. The pneumatic turbine motor includes reaction ports arranged to force the drill bit against the formation being penetrated, and to counteract the bit torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1985
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1987
    Inventor: William C. Lyons
  • Patent number: 4664034
    Abstract: A cartridge for use in firearms contains fettered shot therein. The fettered shot enables eight or more pellets to be discharged in a tight group and in a manner which increases the effective range of the firearms. The fettered shot of the present invention is especially useful against helicopters and airborn troop assaults.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1985
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1987
    Inventor: Dale W. Christian
  • Patent number: 4553611
    Abstract: In a borehole forming operation, the flow of gas through a downhole pneumatic motor is regulated to eliminate horsepower variations due to variations in bottom hole pressure. The pneumatic motor is connected to the lower end of a tubing string and an orifice is placed within the entrance and exit gas passageways leading to and from the pneumatic motor. The uphole source (i.e., compressors) of gas pressure and gas flow rate is maintained as a constant value which assures that sonic flow conditions exist at the lower orifice. The employment of gauged orifices placed within the inlet and exit passageways of the gas motor assures that sonic flow conditions exist at the lower orifice and as the bottom hole pressure varies, there is no resultant change in the motor output horsepower since constant flow rate and pressure drop ratio through the motor is maintained. This is the case so long as the bottom hole pressure does not increase to the critical ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1984
    Date of Patent: November 19, 1985
    Inventor: William C. Lyons
  • Patent number: 4453611
    Abstract: An all terrain vehicle having a narrow, single, endless track centrally located and guided about a plurality of wheels which support the vehicle main body. The vehicle main body is comprised of a plurality of body sections, each pivotally connected to one another in series relationship to enable each of the body sections to be laterally bent along the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. A wheel is suspended from each body section and is captured by the track so that when the vehicle is laterally bent along the longitudinal axis thereof, the endless track is likewise laterally bent, thereby causing the vehicle to change the direction of its course. The track is made from a plurality of series connected cleats. The cleats are made of two pivoted members which admit the endless track to bend concurrently with the pivoting of the body sections. A steering mechanism comprised of diagonal linkages cause each of the body sections to simultaneously move in a pivotal manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 1980
    Date of Patent: June 12, 1984
    Inventor: Jack C. Stacy, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4434862
    Abstract: This invention relates to a downhole rotary drilling device. More particularly, it relates to a gas operated turbine motor designed to be located downhole adjacent a rotary drilling bit to impart rotational force to the drilling bit and thus accomplish subsurface drilling operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1981
    Date of Patent: March 6, 1984
    Inventor: William C. Lyons
  • Patent number: 4432423
    Abstract: Apparatus by which a vertical borehole is curved to a new angle and extended through a production reservoir. A vertical borehole of a suitable diameter is extended downhole to the proximate depth of the production reservoir. A Zublin drill guide apparatus is employed to drill a curved section of the hole, thereby turning the borehole to a desired angle so that the lower marginal end of the borehole is directed laterally away from the vertical part of the borehole. A drill pipe string is positioned within the vertical part of the borehole. A flexible pipe is fitted to the downhole end of the drill pipe string, and a Zublin straight drill guide assembly is fitted to the end of the flexible pipe. A motor, such as an expansible gas turbine motor, for example, is connected to the end of the straight drill guide assembly. A suitable drill bit is connected to be rotated by the turbine motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1982
    Date of Patent: February 21, 1984
    Inventors: William C. Lyons, Albert O. White
  • Patent number: 4333539
    Abstract: Method and apparatus by which a vertical borehole is curved to a new angle and extended through a production reservoir. A vertical borehole of a suitable diameter is extended downhole to the proximate depth of the production reservoir. A Zublin drill guide apparatus is employed to drill a curved section of the hole, thereby turning the borehole to a desired angle so that the lower marginal end of the borehole is directed laterally away from the vertical part of the borehole. A drill pipe string is positioned within the vertical part of the borehole. A flexible pipe is fitted to the downhole end of the drill pipe string, and a Zublin straight drill guide assembly is fitted to the end of the flexible pipe. A motor, such as an expansible gas turbine motor, for example, is connected to the end of the straight drill guide assembly. A suitable drill bit is connected to be rotated by the turbine motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1979
    Date of Patent: June 8, 1982
    Inventors: William C. Lyons, Albert O. White
  • Patent number: 4311340
    Abstract: Mineral values are recovered from underground formations, and pollution of the formation is substantially diminished if not eliminated, by determining the geometry of an ore body and thereafter isolating the body by the formation of an impermeable barrier thereabout which has the capability of retaining leaching fluid therewithin. Leaching fluid remains downhole without substantial dilution by formation fluid, and conversely without pollution of the surrounding formation, until the mineral values are chemically changed into a recoverable substance which is subsequently pumped to the surface of the earth. In one embodiment of the invention, uranium values are recovered by the use of an organic extractant liquid admixed with an acid aqueous leaching fluid by homogenizing the two solutions prior to pumping the mixture downhole into contact with the ore deposit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1978
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1982
    Inventors: William C. Lyons, Cheryl K. Rofer-DePoorter, Donald B. Buddecke, Edward A. Zublin
  • Patent number: 3983009
    Abstract: A process for destructive distillation of solid wastes and an apparatus for achieving the process whereby organic solid waste material which has been shredded, is exposed to a pyrolytic process to remove water and organic materials by a pyrolytic process wherein the off gases, after having been fractionally distilled to extract useable combustion products, are recycled through the process to enhance the destructive distillation of the solid waste material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1974
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1976
    Inventors: David A. Neal, Patrick L. Stone
  • Patent number: D304336
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 31, 1989
    Inventor: George J. Vigil