Patents Examined by Thomas A Beach
  • Patent number: 8112913
    Abstract: Disclosed is a multi-configurable bucket for screening material comprising a blade having a bottom edge, a top edge and a connector therebetween for securing to a distal end of the arm of a earth moving equipment. The bucket has a bottom screen having front and rear edges being rotatable about the top edge of the blade section. The bottom screen is positionable so as to extend angled away from the bottom edge of the blade. The bucket further comprises a front screen rotatable relative to the bottom screen having a main screen portion and an angled end screen portion. The front screen is positionable to a closed position proximate the front edge of the bottom screen such that the front edge of the bottom screen extends past the angled bottom portion of the front screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Inventor: Chester Lea Sirr
  • Patent number: 8109520
    Abstract: A cylinder head gasket includes at least one metal plate having a plurality of cylinder bores, a plurality of liquid holes and a plurality of bolt holes. Sealing beads are formed around the cylinder bores and the fluid holes, and a parting bead is formed separately from the sealing beads. In case the at least one metal plate is divided, in a plan view, into four areas including a front side and a rear side, and an intake side and an exhaust side by two straight lines perpendicular to each other to have equal areas, respectively, the parting bead is added to at least one of the four areas such that a total length of the sealing bead and the parting bead therein is between 95% and 100% of one of the four areas having a longest total length of the sealing bead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Ishikawa Gasket Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toshihiro Imai
  • Patent number: 8100182
    Abstract: In combination, the loose tube flying lead includes: a) a pair of improved cobra head assemblies, each being able to receive a variety of different stab-plates with minimal modification; b) a pair of bend limiters, one extending from each cobra head assembly and c) an elongate bundle of non-constrained interior conduits surrounded by an over-hose, the over-hose being connected to each bend limiter. The over-hose may rotate independently of the bend limiters and the cobra head assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Deep Down, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald E. Smith, John Theobald
  • Patent number: 8100439
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for fixing a door or flap, in particular a door or flap of a refrigerator and/or freezer, in the closed position, wherein the device includes a spring element and a holding element, in particular a closing cam, which are arranged such that in the closed position of the door or flap they cooperate such that separating the spring element and the holding element from each other only is possible by applying force, wherein the spring element is a leaf spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Liebherr - Hausgeräte Ochsenhausen GmbH
    Inventors: Jürgen Gerner, Georg Dorner
  • Patent number: 8100443
    Abstract: Rotary knob or handle 1 for opening and/or closing doors, gates or windows, comprising a first part 2 designed to operate a closing mechanism by rotation around a rotation axis X, a second part 3 which is rotatable around substantially the same axis X, a connecting part 5, which is coupled to said second part 3 in rotation around said axis X. The connecting part 5 is movable with respect to the first part 2 along said axis X, between a first position and a second position. In said first position of the connecting part 5, the connecting part 5, and with it the second part 3, are substantially freely rotatable around said axis X with respect to said first part 2. In said second position of the connecting part 5, the connecting part 5 and the second part 3 are rotationally coupled by a dog clutch to said first part 2. The rotary knob or handle 1 is provided with several push buttons 4 on said second part 3, arranged at an angle with respect to said rotation axis X.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Inventor: Joseph Talpe
  • Patent number: 8100406
    Abstract: A gap 6 between a stationary component 2 and a rotating component 4 is sealed by means of a leaf seal comprising an array of leaves 8, 9. The leaves 8, 9 are disposed in pairs, comprising a higher curvature leaf 8 and a lower curvature leaf 9 which contact each other resiliently at their tips 12. The contact at the tips 12 provides a damping effect. As a result, the tips 12 of the leaves 8, 9 are relatively stable when subjected to an air flow F, enabling damaging flutter to be suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC
    Inventor: Christopher Wright
  • Patent number: 8100441
    Abstract: An electronic device and its push-lock and push-release type of latch structure are provided in the invention. The latch structure includes a platform, an elastic restorable element connected to the platform, and two side bases respectively disposed on two opposite edges of the platform. Each of the side bases has a base body having a loop track with a stopper, a driven element movably disposed on the base body and movable with the platform, and a “U” type rod pivotally connected to the driven element at one end thereof and extending into the loop track at another end thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Quanta Computer Inc.
    Inventors: Wen-Chieh Liao, Wei-Cheng Wang
  • Patent number: 8096365
    Abstract: A hydraulic control system for controlling an external device (4) at a well installation includes a control module (2) for generating electrical and/or optical control signals. A control pod (8) receives the control signals, the control pod controlling the external device. A hydraulic line (10) links the control pod to the external device (4) for controlling it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Vetco Gray Controls Limited
    Inventor: Christopher David Baggs
  • Patent number: 8096364
    Abstract: A method for providing an umbilical connection for a well installation, the well installation being located at the bed or floor of a body of water, comprises the steps of providing an umbilical with first and second ends and prior to operative deployment of the umbilical, locating the umbilical such that at least a portion of the umbilical is substantially statically retained within the body of water. Additionally, an umbilical deployment system for a well installation located at the bed or floor of a body of water, comprises an umbilical, wherein, prior to operative deployment of the umbilical, at least a portion of the umbilical is substantially statically retained within the body of water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Vetco Gray Controls Limited
    Inventor: Paul Dursley
  • Patent number: 8096559
    Abstract: Seal assemblies are herein discussed. The seal assemblies can have a stiff backing ring supporting a seal ring, which is positioned adjacent an inner seal ring. In preferred embodiments, the inner seal ring is made from a material that enables the inner seal ring to absorb media particles in situ to change its particle density. This allows the seal assembly to form wearable surfaces on the fly to decrease wear on the seal ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Bal Seal Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Hugh Q. Cook
  • Patent number: 8096561
    Abstract: Ring-shaped flange gasket produced from a rubbery-elastic material, said flange gasket comprising two rings (2, 3), each having a ring-shaped reinforcing insert (9, 10), said rings being formed in a wedge-shaped manner transversely relative to the ring axis (4) and, at sides (5, 6) that face each other, adjoining one another at right angles to the ring axis (4) by means of planar surfaces and there being in engagement with one another so as to be rotatable, wherein along at least one circumferential section, the ring-shaped reinforcing insert (9, 10) has a wave profile (11) with an increasing wave height in a region of increasing wedge height.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Klinger AG
    Inventor: Frank-Peter Eisenach
  • Patent number: 8091255
    Abstract: An apparatus to gather and relocate benthic life and life supporting material for use in combination with a seabed or aquatic bed dredger, plough, mole or other seabed disturbing apparatus comprising a means of gathering the benthic life and life supporting material in, on or above the seabed in front of and in the path of the draghead or said seabed disturbing apparatus, thereby preventing entrainment or damage to the benthic life, and a means of releasing the benthic organisms and life supporting material via a directional exit duct, away from the work area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Inventor: Ray Drabble
  • Patent number: 8091633
    Abstract: A tool used for treating and/or maintaining a wellbore that includes acoustic transducers for locating a lateral wellbore that intersects a primary wellbore. The tool includes a sensor to sense water and/or gas, and if the water and/or gas enters the primary wellbore from a lateral wellbore, the lateral to primary intersection can be identified by correlating information from the sensor and acoustic transducers. If needed, the tool can be used to plug the water and/or gas supplying lateral wellbore. The tool may include a bendable sub portion for orienting a portion of the tool for insertion into the lateral wellbore and a plug section for plugging the lateral wellbore after insertion therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventor: Mohammed Najim Al-Khamis
  • Patent number: 8091647
    Abstract: The present embodiment of the invention relates to an apparatus and method for using components in a subsea assembly formed from a raw polymer material combined with a marine growth inhibitor material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph A. Nicholson, Gareth B. Eccles, Daryl H. Love
  • Patent number: 8091648
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for direct connecting downhole control hydraulics through an oil field hanger, where the hanger is coupled to a wellhead, to hydraulic lines extending outside the wellhead. Further, the direct connection allows hydraulic system integrity with reduced contamination and leakage. Hydraulic tool ports, formed on the hanger, are coupled with hydraulic lines extending downward to a hydraulic tool. Side ports, formed in the hanger, are fluidicly coupled to the hydraulic tool ports. Hydraulic lines extending outside the wellhead are directly coupled with the side ports by accessing the side ports through access openings in the wellhead when the ports are aligned with the access openings. The system can still maintain pressure within internal spaces of the wellhead after the connection by sealing the access openings with flanges, where the hydraulic lines extend through openings in the flanges that are also sealed around the lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: T-3 Property Holdings, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Steven Allen
  • Patent number: 8087476
    Abstract: A system for damping vibration in a drill string can include a magnetorheological fluid valve assembly having a supply of a magnetorheological fluid, a first member, and a second member capable of moving in relation to first member in response to vibration of the drill bit. The first and second members define a first and a second chamber for holding the fluid. Fluid can flow between the first and second chambers in response to the movement of the second member in relation to the first member. The valve assembly can also include a coil for inducing a magnetic field that alters the resistance of the magnetorheological fluid to flow between the first and second chambers, thereby increasing the damping provided by the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: APS Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Ellsworth Wassell, Daniel E. Burgess, Jason R. Barbely
  • Patent number: 8087466
    Abstract: The invention relates to a centralization and running tool (CTR) in a subsea installation in connection with offshore related oil and gas exploration, where the subsea installation (SCM) is arranged to be placed on the ocean bottom or a drilling template and comprises a pipe-formed body (10), at least partially open at the top and extended, arranged to receive and carry through a drill stem (12) from a drilling rig or a drilling vessel. The centralization and running tool (20) is arranged to surround the drill stem (12) and to be placed in the pipe-formed body (10), and the centralization and running tool (20) comprises, together with the drill stem (12), a rotary packing housing (22) with a number of seals (24,26) that lie against the drill stem (12), and the packing housing (22), in accordance with the movements of the drill stem (12), is arranged for radial movement to take up angular deviations of the drill stem (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: AGR Subsea AS
    Inventor: Arvid Iversen
  • Patent number: 8087276
    Abstract: A pin tumbler lock releasing method involves cooperatively using keyway insertible and universally configured lift, key and shim devices to raise the pin stacks within a pin tumbler lock to just above the lock's shear line and then rotating the lock's plug element within its outer easing in order to disengage its locking mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Inventor: Carl Black
  • Patent number: 8087465
    Abstract: A locking tree cap for use on a subsea tree. The tree cap may be installed and retrieved using a remote operated vehicle. The tree cap may include deflectable collet fingers that lock the tree cap to a tree spool. The deflectable collet fingers may be adapted, such as with enlarged heads, to extend into recesses of the tree spool when the tree cap has been landed on the tree spool. The tree cap may be locked onto a tree spool before energizing sealing members within the bores of the subsea tree, thereby protecting the sealing members from damage during the installation of the tree cap onto the tree spool. The tree cap may include soft landing means such as a plastic cap, on the end of stabs to protect the sealing members as the tree cap is landed. The tree cap may include a secondary locking mechanism used to further secure the tree cap to the tree spool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Aker Subsea Inc.
    Inventors: Alan Huang, Venu Kopparthi, Saul dos Santos Filho
  • Patent number: 8087464
    Abstract: A system for installation of a subsea module of great length by means of a vessel, using a cable for its installation and/or retrieval, and methods applied therein. The system allows transporting the subsea module on the vessel to a location in the sea and descending the subsea module into the sea at a vertical position for installation on the seabed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Petroleo Brasileiro S.A.-Petrobras
    Inventors: Roberto Rodrigues, Luiz Eduardo Peclat Bernardo, Robson Soares Junior, Giovani Colodette, Romulo Cobe Vasconcellos, Sergio Luis Uliana, Orman Salvador Toscano