Patents by Inventor Thomas A. Bell

Thomas A. Bell has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20040256104
    Abstract: A method to clean the wellbore and the near wellbore formation adjacent to the wellbore of the gas bearing formation adjacent to the production zone of the wellbore. The method includes the steps of injecting a treatment liquid containing from 84.5 to 100% of liquid carbon dioxide, 0 to 15% of an alcohol, and 0 to 0.5% of a surfactant into the well in a predetermined quantity and maintaining the pressure of the treatment liquid in the near wellbore formation of the gas bearing formation below the fracturing pressure of the formation, releasing the pressure on the wellbore and allowing the liquid CO2 to vaporize and other materials to blow out of the well.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2003
    Publication date: December 23, 2004
    Applicant: CONOCOPHILLIPS COMPANY
    Inventors: Dennis Ray Wilson, Thomas A. Bell
  • Patent number: 6833197
    Abstract: A method of case hardening an article formed of titanium, zirconium or an alloy of titanium and/or zirconium is disclosed. First, the article is heat-treated in an oxidizing atmosphere at a temperature in the range of 700 to 1000° C. so as to form an oxide layer on the article. Then, the article is further heat-treated in a vacuum or in a neutral or inert atmosphere at a temperature in the range of 700 to 1000° C. so as to cause oxygen from the oxide layer to diffuse into the article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2004
    Assignee: The University of Birmingham
    Inventors: Hanshan Dong, Peter Harlow Morton, Andrew Bloyce, Thomas Bell
  • Publication number: 20040220164
    Abstract: The invention provides certain macrocyclic triaza compounds which down-regulate CD4 expression for use in the treatment of autoimmune diseases and inflammatory diseases or conditions. In a specific embodiment, the invention provides certain naphthalene substituted triaza macrocycles which exhibit high activity for down regulation of CD4 expression. In particular, triaza macrocycles having dansyl groups are provided for use in pharmaceutical compositions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2003
    Publication date: November 4, 2004
    Inventors: Thomas Bell, Dominique Schols, Kaka Dey, Kurt Vermeire
  • Patent number: 6804587
    Abstract: A system including a mobile vehicle, an implement, a position sensor, a controller, a user interface (a touch-screen monitor, video monitor or keypad, as examples), a software program to compute a calibration trajectory, and a steering system for steering the vehicle to the desired or adjusted trajectory based on the error between the vehicle's desired and actual positions. In one embodiment, non-co-located sensing and control combine with a calibration procedure to help eliminate model error. Another embodiment uses co-located sensing (but not control) to calibrate the model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2004
    Assignee: Integrinautics Corporation
    Inventors: Michael L. O Connor, Thomas Bell, Michael L. Eglington, Lars Leckie, Gregory M. Gutt, Kurt R. Zimmerman
  • Publication number: 20040177253
    Abstract: A system, method and data unit for automated and secure digital mobile video recording and monitoring are provided where the system includes an authenticated acquisition subsystem for digitally watermarking video data, a video management subsystem in signal communication with the authenticated acquisition subsystem for storing, viewing and verifying the digitally watermarked video data, and a secure wireless video transfer subsystem for signal communication between the acquisition and management subsystems; the method includes digitally watermarking video data, verifying the digitally watermarked video data, and coordinating communications of video data; and the data unit is a digital video data file encoded with signal data having block transform coefficients indicative of a secure digital mobile video recording, the coefficients collectively indicative of an original video data sequence with a secure watermark, the secure watermark including a plurality of signatures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2004
    Publication date: September 9, 2004
    Applicant: MY EZ Communications, LLC.
    Inventors: Zhenyu Wu, Thomas Bell, Xiao-Hong Yan
  • Publication number: 20040150737
    Abstract: A solid state imager arrangement includes an image area, an output register which receives signal charge from the image area, a separate multiplication register into which signal charge from the output register is transferred, means for obtaining signal charge multiplication by transferring the charge through a sufficiently high field in elements of the multiplication register, and an additional register into which excess signal charge is transferred.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2003
    Publication date: August 5, 2004
    Applicant: E2V TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED
    Inventors: Peter James Pool, Raymond Thomas Bell
  • Patent number: 6643576
    Abstract: A method for adjusting a desired trajectory of an automatically guided vehicle guidance system to match a physical constraint such as an obstacle or boundary. The method works around obstacles and boundaries as they occur, consistent with the original trajectory. The method is independent of the type of vehicle. The method may be used regardless of whether the vehicle is under automatic guidance, and the method has a low computational cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: IntegriNautics Corporation
    Inventors: Michael L. O Connor, Thomas Bell, Michael L. Eglington, Lars Leckie, Gregory M. Gutt, Kurt R. Zimmerman
  • Patent number: 6596291
    Abstract: Compositions and methods are disclosed for treating a hair-bearing surface of a warm-blooded animal, including humans, dogs and cats infested with an ectoparasitic insect, such as lice and/or fleas. Compositions and methods are also disclosed for preventing the infestation or re-infestation of an ectoparasitic insect, such as lice and/or fleas on a hair-bearing surface of a warm-blooded animal, including humans, dogs and cats. The compositions include either a water-soluble polyalkylene glycol or a water-soluble polyalkylene oxide mixed with a polymer or copolymer comprising polyalkylene oxide having carboxylic acid-containing residues. Methods of the invention include topical application to a hair-bearing surface of an effective amount of a composition of this invention, and maintaining the same on the surface for a sufficient period of time to treat the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Inventor: Thomas A. Bell
  • Patent number: 6539685
    Abstract: An apparatus for lifting and stabilizing sunken or settled foundations, slabs, footings, etc. includes a lifting plate having a pipe section solidly secured thereto, for passing concentrically over the anchor pier used in such operations. The concentric lifting plate pipe precludes cocking or tilting of the plate relative to the anchor pier and foundation structure, thereby greatly improving the security of the lifting operation. As a result of the increased lifting plate stability provided by the present invention, only a single clamp is needed for securing the lifting assembly to the foundation. The clamp is adjustably positionable as required, to secure to a solid area of the foundation structure. The present system secures the plate to the pier using mechanical fasteners, thus precluding requirement for costly welding and other metal forming equipment. A method of raising or stabilizing a foundation or similar structure using the present apparatus, is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Inventors: Thomas A. Bell, Bill Rietveld
  • Patent number: 6444968
    Abstract: In a CCD imager, a charge is accumulated in pixels of an image area representative of the intensity of incident radiation and is subsequently transferred to a store section and then on a row by row basis to an output register by applying suitable drive pulses to drive electrodes. Signal charge in the output register is transferred to a multiplication register by drive pulses applied to drive electrodes to give charge transfer in the direction shown by the arrows. One or more drive pulses applied to the electrodes of the multiplication register are of sufficiently large amplitude to produce high field regions in the register element to cause signal multiplication by impact ionisation. This gives a low noise amplification of the signal charge, the multiplied signal charge being detected at charge detection circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Inventors: David James Burt, Raymond Thomas Bell
  • Publication number: 20020062622
    Abstract: An apparatus for lifting and stabilizing sunken or settled foundations, slabs, footings, etc. includes a lifting plate having a pipe section solidly secured thereto, for passing concentrically over the anchor pier used in such operations. The concentric lifting plate pipe precludes cocking or tilting of the plate relative to the anchor pier and foundation structure, thereby greatly improving the security of the lifting operation. As a result of the increased lifting plate stability provided by the present invention, only a single clamp is needed for securing the lifting assembly to the foundation. The clamp is adjustably positionable as required, to secure to a solid area of the foundation structure. The present system secures the plate to the pier using mechanical fasteners, thus precluding requirement for costly welding and other metal forming equipment. A method of raising or stabilizing a foundation or similar structure using the present apparatus, is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2001
    Publication date: May 30, 2002
    Inventors: Thomas A. Bell, Bill Rietveld
  • Publication number: 20020022014
    Abstract: Compositions and methods are disclosed for delousing warm-blooded animals, in need thereof, including humans. The compositions include either a water-soluble polyalkylene glycol or a water-soluble polyalkylene oxide mixed with a polymer or copolymer comprising polyalkylene oxide having carboxylic acid-containing residues. Methods of the invention include topical application to a hair-bearing surface of an effective amount of a composition of this invention, and maintaining the same on the surface for a sufficient period of time to delouse the surface. Further optional steps include washing or rinsing the composition from the surface, as well as combing the hair associated with the treated surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 1997
    Publication date: February 21, 2002
    Inventor: THOMAS BELL
  • Publication number: 20020009476
    Abstract: Compositions and methods are disclosed for treating a hair-bearing surface of a warm-blooded animal, including humans, dogs and cats infested with an ectoparasitic insect, such as lice and/or fleas. Compositions and methods are also disclosed for preventing the infestation or re-infestation of an ectoparasitic insect, such as lice and/or fleas on a hair-bearing surface of a warm-blooded animal, including humans, dogs and cats. The compositions include either a water-soluble polyalkylene glycol or a water-soluble polyalkylene oxide mixed with a polymer or copolymer comprising polyalkylene oxide having carboxylic acid-containing residues. Methods of the invention include topical application to a hair-bearing surface of an effective amount of a composition of this invention, and maintaining the same on the surface for a sufficient period of time to treat the surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 1998
    Publication date: January 24, 2002
    Inventor: THOMAS A. BELL
  • Patent number: 6238490
    Abstract: Austenitic stainless steel articles are treated to produce a hardened surface layer thereon by plasma heat-treating the articles at a temperature in the range of 300 to 600° C. and at a pressure in the range of 100 to 1500 Pa in a carbon-containing treatment atmosphere so as to introduce carbon interstitially into the austenite phase in a surface layer on the article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Assignee: The University of Birmingham
    Inventors: Thomas Bell, Yong Sun
  • Patent number: 6210807
    Abstract: The tribological behavior of titanium or titanium alloy article is improved by gaseous oxidation of the article at a temperature in the range of 500 to 725° C. for 0.5 to 100 hours, the temperature and time being selected such as to produce an adherent surface compound layer containing at least 50% by weight of oxides of titanium having a rutile structure and a thickness of 0.2 to 2 &mgr;m on a solid solution-strengthened diffusion zone wherein the diffusing element is oxygen and the diffusion zone has a depth of 5 to 50 &mgr;m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2001
    Assignee: The University of Birmingham
    Inventors: Hanshan Dong, Andrew Bloyce, Peter Harlow Morton, Thomas Bell
  • Patent number: 6189250
    Abstract: A magnetic picture display device is described. The invention includes a horizontal ground surface, a planar item to be displayed, a first support element and at least one front surface-contacting member. The display item has a front surface, a rear surface and at least one edge. The first support element has at least one ground surface contacting portion and at least one rear surface contacting portion. The rear surface-contacting portion includes ferromagnetic material. The front surface-contacting member includes a high-strength magnet. To use the invention the ground surface contacting is located on the ground surface and the rear surface of the item is located on the rear surface contacting portion of the first support element. The front surface contacting member is located on the front surface of the item at a point closest to the rear surface contacting portion of the first support element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Inventor: Thomas Bell
  • Patent number: 6052647
    Abstract: Described is an automatic control system for land (and possible marine) vehicles based on carrier phase differential GPS (CPGPS). The system relies on CPGPS to determine vehicle position and attitude very precisely (position to within 1 cm and attitude to within 0.1.degree.). A system incorporates a technique to calculate and compensate for antenna motion due to vehicle roll and pitch. One aspect of the system utilizes an intelligent vehicle controller that recognizes and adapts to changing conditions, such as vehicle speed, implements towed by the vehicle, soil conditions, and disturbance level. The system provides the capability to control the vehicle on various paths, including straight lines and arbitrary curves. Also described is a technique for initialization and vehicle control using only a single pseudolite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2000
    Assignee: Stanford University
    Inventors: Bradford W. Parkinson, Michael L. O'Connor, Gabriel H. Elkaim, Thomas Bell
  • Patent number: 5105582
    Abstract: The present invention is a golf cup cutter sharpener. The sharpener consists of one or more grinding wheels affixed in a rigid housing. The grinding wheels are cylindrical metal elements covered by a removable, and thus replaceable, abrasive surface. The wheels are belt driven, and powered by a standard electrical motor. The grinding wheels are aligned according to the geometry of the sharpener. The angle of the wheels is chosen so as to provide the proper angle of grinding to create a sharp cutting edge. If two wheels are utilized, the wheels are positioned to contact two non-adjacent scallops of the sharpener. A mandrel holds the cup cutter in place while the sharpening operation is taking place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1992
    Inventors: Peter M. Bell, Thomas A. Bell
  • Patent number: 3993784
    Abstract: In the salting of vegetables, such as cucumbers, control of fermentation using brine acidity as the monitor and continually and rapidly determining brine acidity with tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane as a standard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1972
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1976
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Department of Agriculture
    Inventors: Thomas A. Bell, John L. Etchells, Raymond E. Kelling, James L. Olsen
  • Patent number: 3984131
    Abstract: A fabricated packed pipe coupling gland suitable for a connection where there is at least one brittle pipe, the coupling forming a pressure tight, leak proof coupling which is semi-rigid. The coupling is particularly useful for coupling glass pipe to metal pipe for conveying highly corrosive vapors at high temperature, for example heated titanium tetrachloride vapors to a reactor for forming titanium dioxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1974
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1976
    Assignee: American Cyanamid Company
    Inventors: Jacob Christian Gingrich, Jr., Charles Thomas Bell, Thomas Ralph Hatchell, Benjamin Francis Doty