Patents Examined by Thuy M. Bui
  • Patent number: 5348514
    Abstract: A tensioner for a power transmission belt is provided that is adapted to be operated in an endless path, the tensioner comprising a support for being fixed relative to the belt, a belt engaging means carried by the support and being movable relative thereto. The tensioner has a mechanical spring operatively associated with the support and the belt engaging means for urging the belt engaging means relative to the support and against the belt with a force to tension the belt. The tensioner has a frictional dampening device operatively associated with the support and the belt engaging means to dampen the movement of the belt engaging means relative to the support in at least one direction of movement thereof, tile dampening device having a longitudinal axis, the support comprising a shaft having a longitudinal axis and being fixed from movement relative to the belt engaging means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 20, 1994
    Assignee: Dayco Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark P. Foley
  • Patent number: 5348097
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for carrying out measuring and/or servicing operations in a well (4), comprising a tubing (2) adapted for being coiled round a drum (1) and a measuring instrument (3) fastened to the end of the tubing.The tubing comprises inwardly a rod (17) elastic in flexure and resisting to compressive stress, well suited for allowing the introduction thereof into tubing (2), notably by thrust.An energy or information transfer line (12) is incorporated during manufacturing of rod (17).Rod (17) is made of a polymeric material comprising reinforcing fibers and it is centered inside the tubing.The invention further relates to a process for assembling the rod in the tubing and to the use of the device in a well producing an oil effluent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 20, 1994
    Assignee: Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventors: Jean-Francois Giannesini, Jean-Baptiste Fay
  • Patent number: 5348109
    Abstract: A cutter assembly for a rotary drill bit comprises a preform cutting element mounted on a carrier. The cutting element includes a thin cutting table of polycrystalline diamond, defining a front cutting face and a cutting edge bonded to a less hard substrate which is in turn bonded to the carrier. The substrate and/or the carrier comprises a first portion of high erosion resistance, formed for example from tungsten carbide, and a second portion of lower erosion resistance, formed for example from tungsten metal, which is located in the vicinity of the cutting edge of the cutting element so that, in use, the wear flat is mostly formed in the material of lower erosion resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 20, 1994
    Assignee: Camco Drilling Group Ltd.
    Inventor: Nigel D. Griffin
  • Patent number: 5348105
    Abstract: A method, a rock drilling equipment (1) a measuring device (10) for aligning a feeding beam (5) in the rock drilling equipment (1) with a drilling direction. In the method, an angle Sg(g) between the drilling direction (S.sub.p) and a direction (S.sub.t) defined by a fixed point selected as a point of sight (T) is measured and stored in a memory, and the feeding beam (5) is adjusted at the following holes so that it is positioned at an angle .beta. corresponding to the drilling direction (S.sub.p) measured with respect to a direction (S.sub.a) of a carrier (1a) by means of the point of sight (T). The measuring device (10) comprises two mutually turntable discs (11, 12) of which one is positioned to indicate the drilling direction (S.sub.p) and the other is turned in such a way that its measuring line points towards a fixed point serving as a point of sight (T), thus defining a reference line (S.sub.t).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 20, 1994
    Assignee: Tamrock Oy
    Inventors: Juhani Lappalainen, Heikki Rinnemaa, Ari Tuunanen, Pertti Saarelainen
  • Patent number: 5345712
    Abstract: A tray having several hollow, frustro conical shaped portions for supporting pots having plants. Such tray has several openings near the edge of the tray to allow the tray to be carried while the pots having plants are positioned in the tray. A raised support is positioned in the bottom of each hollow, frustro conical shaped portions to allow the pot in each of such portions to be slightly elevated so that water can be contained and fed to each plant through the bottom of each pot holding a plant. The tray keeps the plants erect in the decorative container and acts as a filler and water reservoir. The tray is light in weight and may have many configurations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1994
    Inventor: Mannie S. Lambert
  • Patent number: 5346007
    Abstract: A method and assembly for completing a wellbore having a production interval which, in turn, has at least one trouble zone (i.e. unproductive zone) intermediate two productive zones. A well assembly is lowered to position and cement a scab conduit across the trouble zone to seal the zone off from the rest of the open-hole production interval before completing the well by casing the wellbore and gravel-packing the production interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1994
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick W. Dillon, William C. Billings
  • Patent number: 5346005
    Abstract: The invention relates to inflatable borehole plug assemblies wherein the time required for their inflation may be controlled. In particular, the invention enables inflatable borehole plug assemblies to be lowered to a preselected depth in a borehole before inflation occurs. The inflatable borehole plug assemblies of the invention include a sealed gas-tight inflatable container containing a pressurised vessel having a pressure release valve. The pressurised vessel contains an inflating substance and a time delay liquid, and is adapted so that on operation of the pressure release valve: (i) the time delay liquid is discharged from the pressurised vessel, thereby causing a time delay between the operation of the pressure release valve and discharge of the inflating substance from the pressurised vessel, and (ii) after the time delay liquid has been discharged the inflating substance is discharged, thereby inflating the inflatable container to form a borehole plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1994
    Assignee: Sanleo Holdings Pty. Ltd.
    Inventor: Geoffrey Robbins
  • Patent number: 5346440
    Abstract: Transverse element for a drive belt of the kind in which transverse elements whose principal planes rest against each other are fitted displaceably on one or more supports. The transverse elements are provided with one or more supporting surfaces for the support(s), the supporting surface being profiled at least in the direction transverse to the principal planes of the transverse element. The supporting surface is profiled in such a manner that a resultant force, which is to be exerted by a support on the transverse element, essentially engages outside the center of the supporting surface delimited by the principal planes. Stable positioning of the transverse element in the pulleys is thereby obtained, slipping and wear are reduced and efficiency increased. Specifically, the crest of the supporting surface is laterally offset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1994
    Assignee: Van Doorne's Transmissie B.V.
    Inventor: Paul M. Smeets
  • Patent number: 5346004
    Abstract: An environmentally secure polished rod liner head is provided for use on a polished rod employed in an oil well pumping system for vertically reciprocating a string of sucker rods, the polished rod extends through a stuffing box, the polished rod liner head having a body with a passageway therethrough receiving the polished rod, a polished rod liner removably secured to the lower end of the body and encompassing the polished rod, bolts extending laterally through the upper end of the body to secure the body to a polished rod so that the polished rod liner is reciprocated with the polished rod and a closure member within the body passageway above the polished rod liner biased to close in the event the polished rod should be unexpectedly removed from the body to thereby prevent hydrocarbons from being discharged through the polished rod liner and into the atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1994
    Assignee: B. Michael Borden
    Inventors: B. Michael Borden, Brian C. Borden, Ricky D. Page
  • Patent number: 5346006
    Abstract: An outer chain plate for a bicycle drive chain includes an elongated plate body with upper and lower edges, two end portions formed with a respective hole, and a waist portion interconnecting the end portions. The plate body has an outer face which is formed with a generally S-shaped longitudinal recess that includes a straight connecting portion formed in the waist portion, and insert portions which are disposed on two ends of the straight connecting portion and which surround a respective one of the holes. The longitudinal recess has two open ends which extend respectively from the insert portions and which open in opposite directions toward a respective one of the upper and lower edges of the plate body. The plate body further has an inner face which is formed with a generally S-shaped longitudinal projection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1994
    Assignee: KMC Chain Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Nick Wu
  • Patent number: 5346439
    Abstract: A toothed transmission belt adaptable for use with drive transmission having a series of teeth, where the curve of each tooth is based on Schiele's Anti-Friction Formula which describes a tractrix curve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1994
    Assignee: Winfred M. Berg, Inc.
    Inventor: William R. Lynch
  • Patent number: 5346434
    Abstract: An improved bicycle derailleur mechanism generally includes a bracket with two parallel spaced lugs extending perpendicularly therefrom, obliquely positioned on a first pivot member so that an inner cable extending through an adjuster nipple to a cable clamp on a parallelogram body is retained at a same angle when tension in the cable is adjusted by rotating the adjuster nipple, resulting in alignment between the derailleur mechanism and sprockets on a bicycle rear wheel remaining unchanged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1994
    Inventor: Yi-Hsung Hsu
  • Patent number: 5346436
    Abstract: A hydraulic chain tensioner has an air vent. The tensioner includes a housing having a fluid filled chamber and a hollow plunger slidably received within the chamber and biased in a protruding direction by a spring. The plunger has an upper end with an aperture. The vent includes a disk biased by the spring against the inside of the upper end of the plunger. With the disk having at least one channel formed on at least one side of the disk. The channel has a first end at the periphery of the disk and a second end at a position to establish a connection between the atmosphere and the chamber through the aperture in the upper end of the plunger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1994
    Assignee: Borg-Warner Automotive, Inc.
    Inventors: Francis J. Hunter, Mark M. Wigsten, Sam A. Kuznets
  • Patent number: 5346437
    Abstract: A drive system for use in rotating a drive shaft of a component of a binding line can be selectively coupled to a primary motive power source associated with the binding line or to a secondary motive power source operated out of synchronization with binding line. The drive system includes a first drive pulley connected to the primary motive power source, a second drive pulley connected to the secondary motive power source and a double-sided drive belt which engages the drive shaft. A pulley set is coupled to the double-sided drive belt and is rotatable about a pivot point between first and second positions to transfer the double-sided drive belt between the first and second drive pulleys.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1994
    Assignee: R. R. Donnelley & Sons Company
    Inventor: Bobby Chang
  • Patent number: 5343964
    Abstract: The invention relates to a petroleum, gas or geothermal drilling apparatus comprising a central tool and a coaxial bit, wherein the central tool is driven by the rotor of a bottom engine which is fed by the drilling mud and wherein the bit is driven from the surface by the rods of a drill gear which is part of a rotary system, these same rods subjecting the apparatus to an axial load.It is characterized in that there is a prismatic connection between the stator (4) of the bottom engine and the base (5) of the bit, which allows the relative axial displacement of the two tools, and that a spring (6) is interposed between the stator (4) and the base (5) in such a way as to form a constraint on the stator when the central tool tends to fall behind in respect to the bit during their respective forward movements, so as to control the relative axial displacement of the two tools and to distribute between them, as a function of the displacement, the axial load to which the apparatus is subjected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1994
    Inventor: Andre Leroy
  • Patent number: 5344254
    Abstract: A paving apparatus has an edger which is journaled on a screed by a hinge. The edger swings out to allow paving material to fill areas beyond the screed which are not part of the primary surface being paved, such as intersecting driveways. The edger is a vertical plate with a horizontal wear plate along its bottom edge. The angle of the wear plate relative to the bottom edge is adjustable to allow for ditches and ramps which are sloped relative to the surface being paved. Movement of the edger and wear plate can be manual or power driven.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1994
    Assignee: Blaw-Knox Construction Equipment Corporation
    Inventor: Gene Sartain
  • Patent number: 5343945
    Abstract: Oil and gas are separated downhole in a free flowing well and are transmitted separately to the surface. Liquid oil is transmitted through an elongated tubing which extends into a liquid column in the bottom of the well and is anchored in a liquid production tubing string to form an annular flow space. Gas flows from a wellbore space above the column of liquid through the annular space and through a flow passage which may be formed by a side pocket mandrel into the well annulus and then to the surface. The liquid conducting tubing is secured in the tubing string and a seal point is formed by a packer above the gas flow passage formed by the side pocket mandrel. Alternative arrangements provide for a subsurface gas flow safety valve interposed in the gas flow path. The safety valve may be interposed in a cross-over body which permits flow of liquid and gas therethrough and past a seal formed between the body and the tubing string.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1994
    Assignee: Atlantic Richfield Company
    Inventors: Jean S. Weingarten, M. Jane Williamson, Jeffrey L. Harris
  • Patent number: 5343946
    Abstract: A packer assembly for a drop-in check valve includes a series of stacked rings in the annulus between the housing of the drop-in check valve assembly and the surface of the bore of the landing sub. The rings include at least two elastomer rings of different hardness. The top elastomer ring is capped off by a multi-part metal ring assembly comprising oppositely facing inner and outer L-shaped rings and a central T-shaped ring. The inner and outer rings have their vertical legs vertically located against the respective adjoining annulus walls and their horizontal legs in line. The trunk of the T-shaped ring is in the gap between the horizontal legs and in contact therewith so that when the elastomer ring radially expands, the metal of the metal rings is maintained in metal-to-metal contact across the annulus. This seals the annulus and prevents extrusion by eliminating all gaps. The lower elastomer ring can likewise be capped by a similar three-part metal ring assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1994
    Assignee: Hydril Company
    Inventor: Charles D. Morrill
  • Patent number: 5343965
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus combinations for making a substantially horizontal water well completion for irrigation or commercial water supply purposes includes running a substantially vertical surface string of casing, running a bend section of casing that has been preformed to provide a bend angle of about 90.degree. in a straightened-out condition down through the surface section and allowing it to assume its bend condition below the lower end of the surface section, coupling the upper end of the bend section to the lower end of the surface section, running a water production section of casing through both the surface and bend sections and outward horizontally into the aquifer, and either coupling the inner end thereof to the outer end of the bend section, or extending the production section all the way to the surface. Unique coupling mechanisms, running and retrieving tools and other devices also are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1994
    Inventors: Robert R. Talley, David L. Moseley
  • Patent number: 5343949
    Abstract: A zonal isolation washpipe system for isolating a production zone which intersects a wellbore from communication with the surface comprises a seal assembly adapted for sealing engagement within the bore of a well packer disposed about the external circumference of one end of a tubular washpipe, a releasable connector system on the other end of the washpipe which provides means for retrieval of the washpipe from the well bore is placed in sealing engagement by a releasable telescoping expansion joint which is resistant to undesired or premature extension.When it is desired to place the isolated zone on production, a tubing perforator, such as a jet perforator which is commonly known in the art is lowered into the bore of the wash pipe to a location adjacent previously formed perforations in the casing and the wash pipe is perforated.A method for gravel packing a well using the described tools is also presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1994
    Assignee: Halliburton Company
    Inventors: Colby M. Ross, Dhirajlal C. Patel, Timothy F. LaBruyere