Abstract: A ceiling fan assembly is provided having a frame defining a plurality of fan blades, a replaceable one-piece fabric covering attached to the frame, and a frame holder that supports and positions the frame and attaches it to a fan motor. The fabric covering may be used to provide a visual display such as decoration or advertising.

Abstract: The present invention provides a cementing system and method for wellbores by cementing an annulus between a wellbore casing and a wellbore. In at least one embodiment, the invention includes a landing collar defining a restricted passage, a wellbore casing defining a passage coupled to the landing collar, a top cementing plug for sealingly engaging the wellbore casing, a bottom cementing plug for sealingly engaging the wellbore casing, and a fluid injection assembly coupled to the wellbore casing for injecting fluidic materials into the wellbore casing and controllably releasing the top cementing plug and the bottom cementing plug into the wellbore casing. The bottom cementing plug includes a plug body defining a plug passage, a frangible membrane for sealing the plug passage, and a one-way valve for controlling the flow of fluidic materials through the plug passage. The invention also includes the bottom cementing plug and methods for operation.

Abstract: A mass flow measurement device includes a flow sensor tube and a housing having the flow sensor tube situated therein. A drive device is positioned outside the housing for vibrating the flow sensor tube, and at least one pick off sensor is situated relative to the flow sensor tube so as to measure the twist in the flow sensor tube due to Coriolis force. Another mass flow measurement device includes an enclosure having first and second ends. A first sealing member is situated relative to the enclosure first end and a flow body such that the flow body and the first end are connected in a sealed manner. A second sealing member is situated relative to the enclosure second end and a user interface assembly such that the user interface assembly and the second end are connected in a sealed manner.

Abstract: A centrifugal pump for a household appliance includes a synchronous alternating current electrical motor having a permanent magnet rotor and a bladed impeller coupled to an end of the rotor which extends into a cavity in the hub thereof. The rotor and the hub are provided with transverse coupling formations, respectively, which have angular extensions with angular play between the rotor and the impeller for promoting the starting of the motor. The rotor coupling formation includes a transverse appendage on a rigid drive body secured to the rotor, and a resilient damping formation molded onto the drive body and having two end portions for engaging the impeller coupling formation, and an intermediate portion which interconnects the end portions and extends at least partially through the drive body so that the damping formation as a whole is constrained axially and angularly on the drive body.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a vibration isolation gasket for mounting a food waste disposer to a sink that is at least partially molded onto a portion of the housing of the disposer, and preferably to the disposer's container cover. The vibration isolation gasket preferably includes a rubberized and integrally-formed gasket portion, sleeve portion, and over-molded portion. The gasket portion couples to the drain opening and may contain pleats to prevent food ejection from the disposer. The sleeve portion connects the gasket and over-molded portions, bears the weight of the disposer as it hangs from the sink, and acts as the primary structure for reducing vibration-induced noise. The over-molded portion is preferably molded onto the top and bottom of the container cover, which is in turns crimped to the remainder of the disposer housing.

Abstract: A lock for a liquid dispensing faucet lever includes a locking member that is attachable to the faucet and can be positioned in a locked position where the lever seats in a notch formed therein to prevent moving the lever from the closed position to the open position. The locking member may be attached to the faucet via an opening extending therethrough for receiving the faucet's spout, such that the locking member is rotatable about the spout. The locking member is rotatable from the locked position to an unlocked position in which the lever is not seated in the notch, allowing movement of the lever from the closed position to the open position. The locking member may be configured such that it automatically moves from the unlocked to the locked position upon movement of the lever from the open to the closed position.

Abstract: A pet shelter includes a bottom member having an edge, a top member having an edge, and a medial member disposed between the top and bottom members. The medial member has a top edge and a bottom edge. The pet shelter includes a lock for selectively interconnecting the bottom member to the bottom edge of the medial member and a lock for selectively interconnecting the top member to the top edge of the medial member. The lock includes a tab disposed in the bottom edge of the medial member and a tab disposed in the edge of the top member. The bottom member includes an aperture for receiving the medial member tab to thereby selectively lock the bottom member to the medial member. The medial member includes an aperture for receiving the top member tab to thereby selectively lock the top member to the medial member.

Abstract: A latch operable between a locked position and an unlocked position for securing a hood to a litter pan includes a rim adapted to be disposed on the hood. The hood rim includes a top wall and a sidewall. The top wall includes an aperture and the sidewall includes a rib. A rim is disposed on the pan and includes a top wall and a sidewall. The top wall includes a rib for insertion into the hood rim top wall aperture. When the latch secures the hood and pan in the locked position, the hood rim is disposed adjacent the pan rim such that the pan rim rib is disposed in the hood rim aperture and the hood rim rib engages the pan rim sidewall to prevent separation of the hood and pan.

Abstract: The present invention provides a bi-directional ball seat and method of use. In at least one embodiment, the present invention provides a fluid control system that includes a radial protrusion that can be selectively engaged and disengaged upstream and/or from a ball seat. For example, a ball can be placed in a passageway, engaged with a downstream ball seat, and the radial protrusion radially extended into the passageway distally from the seat relative to the ball. A reverse movement of the ball is restricted by the active radial movement of the radial protrusion into the passageway. The control system can be used to control a variety of tools associated with the well. Without limitation, the tools can include crossover tools, sleeves, packers, safety valves, separators, gravel packers, perforating guns, decoupling tools, valves, and other tools know to those with ordinary skills in the art.

Abstract: A method for completing a well in a single trip, including: inserting a completion tool assembly into the well, the completion tool assembly having a gravel packing assembly and a service tool assembly slidably positioned substantially within an interior cavity in the gravel packing assembly; removably coupling the service tool assembly and the gravel packing assembly; plugging at a first location, whereby fluid is blocked from flowing through the interior channel; diverting fluid blocked by the plugging at the first location through a first fluid flow path to an exterior of the completion tool assembly; circulating a gravel pack slurry through the completion tool assembly; plugging at a second location, whereby fluid is blocked from flowing through the interior channel; diverting fluid blocked by the plugging at the second location through a second flow path that reenters the interior channel at a location distal of the first and second plugging locations; and circulating a filter cake stimulating fluid thro

Abstract: A self-cleaning litter apparatus (30) comprises a base (31); a turntable (32), rotatably mounted within the base; a pan (33), for holding a quantity of animal litter, the pan being rotatably driven with the turntable; a rake assembly (36), providing a rake movable through the animal litter; a waste receptacle (37) for receipt of animal waste deposited in the litter, the receptacle providing a door (155) selectively moving to open and close the receptacle relative to movement of the rake assembly; a sensing mechanism (120) comprising a plurality of weight sensors (66), and an electrically activated track assembly (121) for determining the presence of an animal in the pan; a drive mechanism (170) for rotating the turntable, driving the rake assembly and operating movement of the door and, a controller (259) having a timer, and selectively providing power to the sensing mechanism.

Abstract: A transimpedance amplifier includes a first amplifier, a first MOS resistor device and a first voltage divider circuit. The source terminal of the first MOS resistor device is coupled to the first amplifier inverting input. The voltage divider circuit is coupled between the first amplifier output and the non-inverting input. The output of the first voltage divider is coupled to the first MOS resistor drain terminal. A second amplifier, second MOS resistor device and a second voltage divider circuit is also provided. The output of the second amplifier is coupled to the gate terminal of the first MOS resistor device. The gate terminal of the second MOS resistor device is coupled to the second amplifier output. The drain terminal of the second MOS resistor device is coupled to the second amplifier non-inverting input.

Abstract: A self-adjusting nozzle for use in injecting pressurized, and optionally pulsating, fluid into a well bore or other conduit for the purpose of cleaning out the bore or conduit, the nozzle having slidably engaged mandrel and tool tip sections, each with an axial bore, and the tool tip having a plurality of axially and circumferentially spaced discharge ports communicating with the axial bores, the mandrel being able to reciprocate inside the tool tip without operator intervention in response to obstructions encountered ahead of, around or behind the nozzle as it enters or leaves the well bore or conduit, thereby sequentially blocking or unblocking some of the discharge ports to direct more of the pressurized fluid against the obstruction.