Patents Examined by James A. Leppink
  • Patent number: 4726421
    Abstract: There is disclosed a device for latching a well tool within the seal bore of a pocket to one side of a bore through a mandrel connectable in the well string. The mandrel has a recess above the seal bore to receive latching dogs on the lower end of collet fingers carried by the device and an upwardly facing shoulder above the recess which engages the latching dogs to cause them to be flexed inwardly as they are lowered into positions opposite the recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1988
    Assignee: AVA International Corporation
    Inventors: Neil H. Akkerman, John P. Hare
  • Patent number: 4726463
    Abstract: In transport installations, particularly escalators, a latent danger of jamming exists between a moving step and the stationary skirt panels mounted laterally near the steps, above all for flimsy footwear. In the escalator step according to the invention, throughout a danger zone coinciding with the precursive level run of an escalator step run, a tread edge member laterally adjacent each step is positively shifted upwards by a certain amount. In a return run of the escalator step run, this tread edge member is held by a spring force in a position lying flush with a tread surface of the step. The relative motion occurring between each step and a traction member for forming a constantly horizontally running tread surface of the step in the precursive level run of the escalator step run, results also in an angular displacement between an escalator step body of the escalator step and a cam or crank arm connected with a pivot axis of the traction member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1988
    Assignee: Inventio AG
    Inventor: Walter Babler
  • Patent number: 4726706
    Abstract: A retro-reflective roadway marker is generally comprised of a one-piece housing, having integrally molded retro-reflective faces.The reflective faces having outside surfaces with abrasing reducing raised members and inside surfaces of light reflecting elements that are preferably formed from three mutually intersecting surfaces.In one form the reflective elements within the housing are integrally molded with partition walls, dividing the reflective elements into small cells, each cell with a plurality of the reflective elements functioning independently without being encapsulated by the filler material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1988
    Inventor: Adil H. Attar
  • Patent number: 4723869
    Abstract: A trowel (10) for surfacing cement work such as driveways, floors, or the like, is provided. The trowel includes a blade assembly (12) having a flexible blade member (14) with a lower surface and an upper surface. A rib base (22) is mounted on the upper surface (18) of the blade member (14) to provide reinforcement. A handle (32) is pivotally connected at one end portion to the blade assembly (12) such that an operator can move the blade member (14) over the surface of the concrete from a remote location. Adjustable weights (46A-B) can be selectively added to or taken away from the blade assembly (12) to vary the effective weight of the trowel. These weights (46A-B) are selectively positioned on the blade assembly (12) to maintain the ability of the blade member (14) to flex approximate its edge portions, and to enhance the smoothness of a produced surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1988
    Inventor: Nicholas Dragich
  • Patent number: 4723612
    Abstract: A rotating diamond bit has a cutting face that includes a plurality of cutters and nozzles affixed thereto in spaced relationship respective to one another. A passageway extends through the bit body for flow of fluid through the bit connection to each of the nozzles. Each nozzle has an outlet orifice arranged to direct a lateral flow therefrom which impinges on the cutting face of each of the diamond compacts. The nozzles and compacts are arranged in groups, with there being a plurality of cutters and at least one nozzle in each group. The lateral flow from the nozzles diverges in a fan-like pattern to impinge directly onto the cutting face of each of the plurality of cutters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1988
    Inventor: Dusty F. Hicks
  • Patent number: 4723934
    Abstract: A belt tensioning device for engagement with the endless drive belt of a vehicle accessories drive system. A pivot support base is adapted to be mounted on a vehicle engine in a stationary position adjacent the drive belt and has a lever arm assembly pivotally mounted thereon. An idler pulley is mounted on an extended end of the lever arm assembly and is biased into tensioning engagement with the drive belt by a torsional coil spring. An arcuate-shaped plastic bearing strip is located between arcuate surfaces of the pivot support base and an outer cylindrical housing portion of the lever arm assembly and has two distinct bearing surfaces. The lever housing slides on the bearing strip during movement of the lever arm towards and away from the drive belt which provides frictional damping for the lever to reduce undesirable movement of the idler pulley.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1988
    Assignee: Dyneer Corporation
    Inventor: Henry W. Thomey
  • Patent number: 4722720
    Abstract: In a tension providing device having a rotary shaft which rotates the spring force in an inserted casing, a pushing body which slide in an axial direction by the aid of the rotation of the rotary shaft, a seal bolt screwed with the base end portion of the casing, and a boot which covers between casing and pushing body, the mixing of dust and foreign matters from outside and the leakage of the lubricant coated or filled in the inner portion are prevented due to the covering of the boot and seal with bolt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1988
    Assignee: NHK Spring Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Juji Ojima, Isao Hino
  • Patent number: 4722404
    Abstract: The invention includes a low-friction seal assembly for use with a rotary drill bit having bit cutters manufactured by casting. The seal assembly includes a seal element having a bellville spring element surrounded by an elastomeric material. The seal element is secured for rotation with the bit cutter by pitted surfaces of a securing groove formed in the cutter, adhesive, and/or by roughening the surface of the bit cutter contacting the seal element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1988
    Assignee: Varel Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Robert F. Evans
  • Patent number: 4722393
    Abstract: A minimum backlash latch assembly for releasably locking a well tool such as a pilot valve in a bore such as in a side pocket mandrel of a well flow conductor. Also disclosed is a pilot valve system for a subsurface safety valve operated by control fluid pressure from the surface including a pilot valve connected with the control fluid line to the subsurface safety valve and into the well production string immediately above the safety valve to bypass the control fluid pressure directly into the tubing string and dump the control fluid pressure from the subsurface safety valve into the tubing string directly above the valve to minimize the time delay between control fluid pressure reduction and the safety valve closure. Three embodiments of the pilot valve are disclosed. One embodiment is operable by electrical energy from the surface. The other embodiments are operable by acoustic energy and radio waves, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1988
    Assignee: Otis Engineering Corporation
    Inventor: William D. Rumbaugh
  • Patent number: 4722392
    Abstract: A production sub carrying a plurality of annular locator rings is coupled in series relation with downhole production equipment. A collet latch assembly including fixed and floating collet members is connected to a down hole service tool and is inserted into releasable coupling engagement with the annular locator rings of the production sub. Resilient finger portions of the fixed collet are alternately supported and unsupported by the floating collet to establish positive engagement with a selected one of the annular locator rings or to permit passage of the latch assembly with respect to the locator ring. The foregoing arrangement provides positive restriction to longitudinal movement of a work string which allows a downhole service tool attached to the work string to be selectively positioned at predetermined operating locations relative to downhole equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1988
    Assignee: Otis Engineering Corporation
    Inventors: Lewis D. Proctor, Colby M. Ross, Brian P. Manzi, Frank Giusti, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4722635
    Abstract: When compacting soil a vibration mass bearing on the ground is caused to vibrate, wherein the vibration process is controlled in dependence on the behaviour of the mass spring system, part of which being constituted by the soil. Tests have shown that in comparison with fall weights soil can be compacted up to the same extent in a shorter period of time or can be compacted to a greater extent in a same period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1985
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1988
    Assignee: Ballast-Nedam Groep N.V.
    Inventor: Hans G. Schnell
  • Patent number: 4722637
    Abstract: An automatic tilt adjusting bracket for connection between a pole handle and a concrete float blade. The bracket includes a base member, a cover member and mechanical linkage interconnecting the base and cover members. As the pole handle is pushed and pulled, a force is applied to the cover member pivoting the base member relative thereto for automatically lifting the leading edge of the float blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1988
    Assignee: Marshalltown Trowell Company
    Inventor: Herbert C. Glesmann
  • Patent number: 4722636
    Abstract: A tandem screed for use with a paving machine for compacting and smoothing asphalt paving composition includes a front screed mounted at the end of a towing arm and a rear screed mounted to the rear of the front screed and laterally extensible with respect thereto. A rear screed hydraulic cylinder is hooked up in series with a tow point hydraulic cylinder such that as the tow point is lowered, the rear screed is lowered with respect to the front screed; and as the tow point is raised, the rear screed is raised with respect to the front screed. The rear screed is thereby maintained at the same elevation as the front screed as the tow point is raised or lowered, thus avoiding bumps and irregularities in the pavement surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1988
    Assignee: Astec Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: J. Donald Brock
  • Patent number: 4721163
    Abstract: A tubing hanger alignment system for a subsea well, periodically subjected to treatment by removing the well tubing and inserting treating tools therein, wherein a tubing guidance system cooperating with the wellhead for engaging a downwardly moving tubing hanger running system thereby to rotate said tubing hanger sufficiently to position the carried tubing at a predetermined relationship with the wellhead, thereby providing access into the tubing hanger for sealing elements of an over-positioned subsea tree co-operative with the wellhead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1988
    Assignee: Texaco Limited
    Inventor: Peter J. R. Davis
  • Patent number: 4721203
    Abstract: A powered accumulating conveyor apparaus is disclosed which may be pneumatically controlled to define a plurality of conveying stations therein. Each of the conveying stations or zones being separately operable to be in the conveying mode responsive to the simultaneous receiving of a pilot signal from the immediate downstream conveyor therefrom and to receiving a loaded signal. A drive configuration is included having a drive belt selectively engageable with respect to driven rollers separated from one another by idling rollers. The drive belt is maintained in contact with the driven rollers and can be removed from contact to halt driving thereof by rotation of a cam-like brake member in such a manner as to force an abutment edge in contact with the driven rollers to cease movement thereof and to remove contact of the drive belt therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1988
    Assignee: Unex Conveying Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Kimball, Harold Pfeiffer
  • Patent number: 4720882
    Abstract: An antiseismic stop device for girder structures of bridges, viaducts and the like, in which said girder structure is simply resting on the piers, said device comprising separate stop means, one for each girder structure, respectively at a point corresponding to the movable girder and to the fixed girder, said means being placed centrally with respect to the intrados of the girder structure, and providing both means that are integral with the girder structure and means that are integral with the head of the pier, said means being coupled so that they can run through pin means and forming as a whole a member which is capable of absorbing the relative motions between the girder structure and the pier both in the static and the dynamic condition, and of counteracting the seismic shock just at the very moment it first surges up.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1988
    Inventor: Pellegrino Gallo
  • Patent number: 4721494
    Abstract: A drive transmission structure for a tractor comprising a belt drive system for transmitting power from an engine output shaft to a transmission having a brake mechanism. The belt drive system includes a belt type stepless change speed mechanism having a split pulley assembly and a swing device for swinging the split pulley assembly toward the engine output shaft and the transmission, a first belt for transmitting the power from the engine output shaft to the split pulley assembly, and a second belt for transmitting the power from the split pulley assembly to the transmission. The pulley assembly defines two split pulley sections for engaging the first and second belts, respectively. A control device is provided to change power transmission ratios by actuating the swing device. Further, a tension pulley type clutch mechanism is provided to act on the first belt or the second belt. The brake mechanism and the tension pulley type clutch mechanism are controlled by the clutch and brake control mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1988
    Assignee: Kubota, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuaki Hayashi, Hiroshi Itatani, Niro Bando, Mikio Yuki, Nobuyuki Yamashita, Hiroyuki Ogasawara, Mitsuaki Miyata, Kazuaki Kurohara, Fumihiro Ikeda, Yutaka Nakata
  • Patent number: 4720208
    Abstract: A rake for leveling aggregate, such as one-half to two-inch size aggregate used in roofing or landscaping applications, is comprised of a heavy, rigid, generally vertically disposed frame including a downwardly depending portion extending thereunder for immersion, submersion and movement through a volume of aggregate to be levelled over a flexible membrane. The downwardly depending portion has rounded ends and may be of a symmetrical serpentine shape intermediate the ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1988
    Inventor: Anthony M. Spigarelli
  • Patent number: 4720207
    Abstract: A road working machine for cutting into a road surface includes a power driven, cutting tooth carrying rotor comprising a plurality of rotor segments removably attached to a shaft to vary rotor width. Each of the segments includes a plurality of subsegments attached to one another and to the rotor by threaded fasteners. Rings supporting a higher concentration of cutting teeth angled toward the ends of the rotor can be secured to the endmost rotor segments for edge cutting. A cover for the rotor includes an adjustable baffle which may be secured at any of a plurality of positions in the cover to lie adjacent an end segment of the rotor in use regardless of the rotor width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1988
    Assignee: Koehring Company
    Inventor: C. Ranjan Salani
  • Patent number: 4718790
    Abstract: A paver for spreading aggregate over a surface. The paver includes a collecting hopper for receiving material from a dump truck. Rotating discs form a portion of the floor of the collecting hopper, and on operation of the discs aggregate is moved to cascade from a rear edge of the collecting hopper into a feed hopper. Material flows from the feed hopper to a region in advance of a screed in the paver. The collecting hopper is tiltable fully to clean aggregate therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1988
    Inventor: Jack D. Layton