Patents Examined by Jerome Massie
  • Patent number: 4938821
    Abstract: The present invention is a method and apparatus for making a diaper having one or more elastic margins. The diaper uses for the entire moisture permeable backing sheet an elastomeric material of the type that is heat unstable and relatively inelastic in its unshrunk form and stable and relatively elastic in its heat shrunk form. Diapers made using one of these materials as a backing sheet can be conventionally assembled. After assembly, the marginal areas, which may be either or both of the transverse and longitudinal margins, may be heated to a sufficient temperature for shrinkage to occur in the backing sheet. This shrinkage will only occur when the backing sheet is unrestrained. The method provides for the maintenance of longitudinal tension in the central portion of an end-to-end assembly of diaper units while relaxing the edge tension on the units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1987
    Date of Patent: July 3, 1990
    Assignee: Weyerhaeuser Company
    Inventors: J. Donald Soderlund, Richard H. Young, E. Peter Lancaster
  • Patent number: 4925334
    Abstract: A traffic marker includes an upright cone-shaped member (10) and a base (16). Two orifices (18) and (26) are provided on the upper end of the cone-shaped member (10) and on opposite sides thereof. A bracket (20) is provided having an interior portion (30) and an exterior portion (28). The bracket is operable to be inserted through the orifice (26) such that the distal end of the interior portion (30) contacts the interior surface of the cone-shaped member (10) at a point (38). An orifice (34) is disposed in the interior member (30) through which a flag (24) can be inserted. The flag (24) is inserted through the orifice (18) on the opposite side of the cone-shape member (10) through the orifice (34) to contact the opposite sides of the interior surface of the cone (10) at a point (36).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 15, 1990
    Inventor: James R. Beard
  • Patent number: 4855011
    Abstract: An arrangement for manufacturing complex structures by transferring heat and pressure from ceramic molds to the article to be molded. The arrangement comprises a combination of ceramic molds, a flexible pressure bag means for applying pressure to at least one of the ceramic molds and a flexible pressure heating blanket means to apply pressure and heat against at least one of the ceramic molds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 8, 1989
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: John R. Legge, Frank C. Rutherford
  • Patent number: 4830533
    Abstract: The invention provides an asphalt patching device capable of single-handed operation, reducing the time and expense of conventional asphalt patching. The device comprises an auger, a hopper with an associated spreader, a conveyor to transport asphalt from the auger to the hopper, and an operator's station. This device, exclusive of the hopper, is mounted to a wheeled frame which is pulled behind a dump truck carrying the asphalt. The frame is provided with wheels which permit the device to rotate substantially 180.degree. side-to-side behind the truck in order to effect asphalt patches on a roadway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 16, 1989
    Assignee: Idaho Fluid Power, Inc.
    Inventor: Garl Q. Miller
  • Patent number: 4820078
    Abstract: Apparatus for patching or filling paved road surface cracks or joints includes means for simultaneously dispensing molten asphalt bitumen and monofilament strands of reinforcing fiber, wherein fiber roving is chopped into discrete segments and intermixed with the molten asphalt as the patching or joint filling application occurs. The apparatus is intended to be mounted on a mobile rig to facilitate its use, and includes an arrangement wherein the molten asphalt is continuously pumped out to a dispensing nozzle assembly and back to the storage reservoir on the rig whereby the flow maintains a continuous circuit from which the molten asphalt is selectively withdrawn for use in patching and filling operations. Also included is a means for selectively purging the circuit after use of the apparatus, and the method of utilizing the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1986
    Date of Patent: April 11, 1989
    Inventor: George D. Brocious
  • Patent number: 4817719
    Abstract: A process for killing and suspending mixtures of hydrocarbonaceous fluid production, particulary oil, in a formation containing same which minimizes formation damage. First, a "spacer volume" of liquid containing a surfactant is directed into the formation's productive interval. Thereafter, a solidifiable pumpable gel mixture is placed via a wellbore into the formation's productive interval and also within said wellbore. Said mixture solidifies in the formation and forms a gel plug within the wellbore. Thereafter, a light weight cement is placed over said gel plug effectively "Killing" and suspending the production of hydrocarbonaceous fluids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1986
    Date of Patent: April 4, 1989
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventor: Alfred R. Jennings, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4804045
    Abstract: A diversionary spool assembly for the completion hook up of any type of oil and gas well without the use of an expensive and cumbersome valve tree as a permanent part of the producing well. A single valve tree is provided, and is removably mounted on any one of a group of wells provided with diversionary spool assemblies only when a particular well in that group requires maintenance or remedial work to be performed thereon.Each diversionary spool assembly includes a rigid body having at least first and second passages therein, which body is operatively mounted on a tubing hanger supporting casing head for the first passage to be vertically aligned with a vertical bore in the tubing hanger and a tubing string that depends from the latter.The first passage in the normal operation of the well has a plug removably and sealingly disposed therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1989
    Inventor: Lehman T. Reed
  • Patent number: 4789265
    Abstract: Method and apparatus are provided for resurfacing one or more adjacent tennis court surfaces. An elongated, box-like frame structure, supported for rolling movement on a plurality of casters, is provided with flexible blade and brush elements for engaging, spreading, and smoothing court resurfacing material at a predetermined thickness as the structure traverses the court surface. In accordance with method aspects of the invention, the device is movable in one direction to resurface an entire tennis court, and after lateral movement to an adjacent second court area, reversible to move in the opposite direction to resurface an entire second court surface. For a given resurfacing direction, the flexible blade elements engage the resurfacing material ahead of the device while the flexible brush elements engage the resurfacing material behind the device to effect final smoothing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1988
    Assignee: Sport Koter U.S.A., Inc.
    Inventors: Jack H. Wilson, Willis G. Dykes
  • Patent number: 4785881
    Abstract: A plastic well (10) includes a plastic well casing (12) with a hole (16) that is disposed transversely to a casing axis (14). A plastic adapter plug assembly (38) is disposed inside the casing (12) and is forced toward the transversely-disposed hole (16) in the casing (12) by a plastic locking cam (58) that is a part of the adapter plug assembly (38). The adapter plug assembly (38) is supported by a plastic support plate (26) that engages the top (28) of the casing (12), and by a plastic support tube (32) that is bonded to both the support plate (26) and the adapter plug assembly (38). A plastic saddle (18) is disposed outside the casing (12) and is bonded over the hole (16) in the casing (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 22, 1988
    Inventor: Cecil H. Paulus
  • Patent number: 4784229
    Abstract: A choker valve assembly for a drill string is provided for transmitting information measured in an underground bore hole by sensing devices, to the surface by modulating the pressure of the flushing fluid. The valve assembly includes a housing that is non-rotatably connected within the flushing fluid flow passage by cross-pieces extending between the housing and a portion of the inner pipe wall. A drag body valve element is mounted by the housing and is axially displaceable with respect to a tapered restriction portion of the inner pipe. Drive means for displacing the valve element is located outside the housing and extends between the valve element and the pipe wall through the cross-pieces. A cap is provided on each end of the valve element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1988
    Assignees: Schwing Hydraulik Elektronik GmbH, Bergwerksverband GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Ostkamper, Heinz Wallussek
  • Patent number: 4782940
    Abstract: A flexible track (10) is held captive in an armoured face conveyor and comprises a plurality of blocks (14) arranged in longitudinally spaced relation with a pair of links (15) at opposed transverse sides of each adjacent two blocks interconnecting said blocks and forming apertures (18) between adjacent blocks. The blocks (14) have side projections (16) and the links (15) have corresponding apertures which are of slightly greater dimensions longitudinally to permit a small amount of longitudinal movement (end-float) of each block (14) relative to its two pairs of links (15). Each block has a vertical aperture (22) through its body, the apertures (22, 18) in the blocks and between the end faces (20, 21) of adjacent blocks being adapted to receive a tooth (25) of a toothed wheel (26) mounted on a machine movable along the conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1986
    Date of Patent: November 8, 1988
    Assignee: Anderson Strathclyde PLC
    Inventor: Thomas M. Hogg
  • Patent number: 4783228
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for joining a metal skin to an internal structure comprising forming the metal skin to a permanent desired contour; assembling a lattice of ribs and spars and bonding the lattice to the contoured skin and subsequently forming the completed structure by bonding a pair of skin-superstructure assemblies together. Also disclosed is a diaphram designed to apply pressure to the skin only along structurally supported area of the skin to prevent damage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 1986
    Date of Patent: November 8, 1988
    Assignee: Lockheed Corporation
    Inventors: Sam C. Aker, Pettice M. Phillips
  • Patent number: 4777785
    Abstract: A method for guiding a robotic vehicle includes the steps of establishing a tracking position along a row of vehicle sensors at which the border is to intersect the row, positioning the vehicle on the border so that the border intersects the row at an intersecting position, generating a positive signal when a sensor senses any obstruction by vegetation of a path of radiation from a respective emitter to a respective detector, generating a negative signal when a sensor does not sense any obstruction, repeating said generating steps as said vehicle advances, sending a plurality of groups of said generated signals to a processor, averaging said signals, identifying the intersecting position by identifying an adjacent pair of oppositely signalling sensors on the basis of said averaging of said signals, determining whether the tracking position is at or to the right or left of the intersecting position, and steering the vehicle straight when the tracking position is at the same location as the intersecting positio
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1986
    Date of Patent: October 18, 1988
    Inventor: Raymond J. Rafaels
  • Patent number: 4778304
    Abstract: Apparatus for reworking pavement expansion joints by resizing the joint includes a frame having front and rear portions hinged to one another at a transverse pivot axis. The frame pushed along the pavement by a vehicle. The rear frame portion is supported by laterally positioned wheels and by a rear guide disk. The front frame portion is supported by a front guide disk. The guide disks lie along the frame axis and engage the expansion joint to guide the frame along the joint. A concrete cutting saw is mounted to the rear frame portion directly above the axis of the support wheels with its saw blade lying in the same vertical plane as the guide disks. The saw is preferably remotely raised and lowerd through actuation of a hydraulic cylinder mounted to the frame to adjust the depth of cut. The frame is pushed through a link drive having dual axis joints for attachment to the vehicle and the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1987
    Date of Patent: October 18, 1988
    Assignee: Diamond Tech, Inc.
    Inventors: Barney T. Baldi, John D. Ward
  • Patent number: 4776639
    Abstract: A tool assembly for mining machines and particularly for coal planes or coal cutting machines comprises a cutter which has a shank portion which is engaged to a seat of a size comparable to the shank portion of a cutter holder and it is held in that position by a locking pin which extends through aligned bores of the holder and the shank portion which may be retracted into a knockout slot defined in the shank portion which is closed on each side by a portion of the cutter holder in an arrangement in which the locking pin may be retracted into the knockout slot for removal of the cutter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1987
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1988
    Assignee: Halbach & Braun Industrieanlagen
    Inventors: Gert Braun, Ernst Braun
  • Patent number: 4776723
    Abstract: An improved apparatus for stamping impressions in materials such as uncured concrete, includes a base member having an upper and a lower surface and an outer periphery, the outer periphery having a shape which provides a repetitive keyed pattern which may be fitted together with tools of similar shapes in a plurality of locations. An inner blade, having a predetermined cross-sectional geometry, is coupled to the lower surface of the base within the outer periphery. An outer blade surrounds the outer periphery of the base member at the lower surface, the outer blade having a cross-sectional geometry which is a bisection of the cross-sectional geometry of the inner blades, so that two adjacent tools abutted one against the other produce a composite blade at their border which has substantially the same cross-sectional geometry as that of the inner blade. The blades and base member are made of a flexible elastomeric material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1987
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1988
    Inventor: Elias J. Brimo
  • Patent number: 4776411
    Abstract: A drag type drilling bit having a plurality of radially disposed raised lands on the bit face is disclosed. A multiplicity of polycrystalline diamond compacts are strategically disposed on the raised lands. At least a pair of lands are joined at the outside periphery of the bit thereby closing the valley formed between the lands, thus forming a plenum for drilling fluid that exits the bit interior through ports or nozzles communicating therewith. Highly turbulent fluid confined in the plenum continually scrubs and scavenges the hole bottom while simultaneously and uniformly cooling and cleaning the PDC cutters during operation of the bit in a borehole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1987
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1988
    Assignee: Smith International, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth W. Jones
  • Patent number: 4776397
    Abstract: There is disclosed a tool which is adapted to be lowered and raised through a well conduit into and out of a centered position within a well bore beneath the lower end of the conduit. The tool has arms which are spring pressed toward outer positions for engaging the well bore, but held in inner positions in which they may move vertically through the well conduit until the tool has been lowered into a bore near the lower end of the well conduit, and then returned to and reheld in such position upon raising of the tool above the bore during retrieval of the tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1986
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1988
    Assignee: AVA International Corporation
    Inventor: Neil H. Akkerman
  • Patent number: 4775016
    Abstract: An improved feedback system for use with an oscillator carried in a bore hole is provided. The feedback system connects the output legs of a well bore oscillator to the feedback nozzles of the oscillator. It consists of a detachable housing that contains two compliance chambers. Each chamber has a supply port and an exhaust port. Inertance passageways allow fluid to pass through each chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1987
    Date of Patent: October 4, 1988
    Assignee: Hughes Tool Company - USA
    Inventor: Louis H. Barnard
  • Patent number: 4775263
    Abstract: The invention relates to an arrangement and method for operating a self-propelled vibratory plate device. The vibratory plate of this device receives its vibratory motion from counter-rotating eccentric parts driven by an internal combustion engine. According to the method, the vibratory plate is stopped with a deadman's handle mounted on the device without the engine stopping. The method is realized with the arrangement of the invention which includes the deadman's handle. The deadman's handle is connected to the engine's fuel control and a centrifugal clutch between the engine and the eccentric parts is engaged only when the speed of the engine is above idle speed. A cam is provided with an interacting support which limits the angular movement of the deadman's handle to a position which corresponds to the idle speed of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1987
    Date of Patent: October 4, 1988
    Assignee: Dynapac AB
    Inventors: Gert Persson, Gunnar Grane