Patents Issued in March 13, 2001
  • Patent number: 6199598
    Abstract: A measuring feeding device for an air or water jet weaving machine having a stationary storage body for a yarn store consisting of yarn windings wound on tangentially in a predetermined winding direction, from which yarn store the yarn can be withdrawn overhead of the storage body. The device includes a stop element associated with the storage body which can be moved by means of a control unit between a stop position blocking withdrawal of the yarn and a release position allowing withdrawal of the yarn, and a yarn clamping device having a displacement drive and a brake shoe which is adjustable between a lifted position and a yarn clamping position. The braking shoe, in the yarn clamping position is positioned behind the stop element in the winding direction and is maintained in the yarn clamping position after a stroke of the stop element into the release position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: Iro AB
    Inventor: Paer Josefsson
  • Patent number: 6199599
    Abstract: A chemical delivery system which utilizes multiple techniques to achieve a suitable chemical purge of the chemical delivery system is provided. A purge sequence serves to purge the manifold and canister connection lines of the chemical delivery system prior to removal of an empty chemical supply canister or after a new canister is installed. More particularly, a purge technique which may utilizes a variety of combinations of a medium level vacuum source, a hard vacuum source, and/or a liquid flush system is disclosed. By utilizing a plurality of purge techniques, chemicals such as TaEth, TDEAT, BST, etc. which pose purging difficulties may be efficiently purged from the chemical delivery system. The chemical delivery system may also be provided with an efficient and conveniently located heater system for heating the chemical delivery system cabinet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: Advanced Delivery & Chemical Systems Ltd.
    Inventors: John N. Gregg, Craig M. Noah, Robert M. Jackson
  • Patent number: 6199600
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for injecting working liquid into a micro-injecting device and a method for injecting the working liquid into the micro-injecting device. A container filled with the working liquid is in a vacuum chamber connected to a vacuum device, a plurality of cartridges having micro-injecting devices are inserted into the container and the working liquid in the container is filled into heating chambers of each micro-injecting device. Accordingly, the total manufacturing processes can be simplified so as to increase a production yield and the total manufacturing time of the products can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Byung-sun Ahn, Lavrishev Vadim Petrovich, Dunaev Boris Nikolaevich
  • Patent number: 6199601
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for filling flexible pouches with products such as beverages, shredded cheese, and chips. The filling apparatus includes a hood having a dispersion plate for delivering jets of gas such as nitrogen or carbon dioxide over the tops of empty, open, flexible pouches. The pouches are moved under the hood by a turret. Diving nozzles are lowered into the pouches to purge oxygen from the pouches. The pouches are moved by the turret to a fill tube which dispenses liquid into the pouch and then to a downstream purging station where a second diving nozzle is lowered to the top of the pouch to purge any remaining oxygen from the pouch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: Profile Packaging, Inc.
    Inventor: Bernd Laudenberg
  • Patent number: 6199602
    Abstract: A large drum for containing high dispersion, high air content solids for repeated filling and emptying by means of vacuum filling plants and a method for filling them. The drums consist of at least two layers, an inner layer consisting of uncoated air-permeable fabric and an outer layer being coated so as to be dust tight and provide a moisture barrier. These layers being connected to one another by means of a special seam, so that it is possible for the drum to be deaerated solely through this seam. The seam includes an air-permeable dust-retaining filter strip material disposed between the drum layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: Wacker-Chemie GmbH
    Inventors: Helmut Maginot, Armin Grossmann
  • Patent number: 6199603
    Abstract: A mixing assembly which transfers a number of nutritional fluids from individual source containers into a collection container while noninvasively sensing the type of fluid being transferred is provided. The mixing assembly utilizes a transfer set to establish fluid communication between the source containers and the collection container. A sensing assembly is configured to noninvasively sense a number of the types of fluid flowing through the transfer set to help to prevent improper mixing. For other fluids for which the sensing assembly alone may not be able to distinguish with the desired accuracy, the mixing device utilizes a method to approximate the flow rate of that fluid with the flow rate also providing an indication of that type of fluid. By combining the output of the sensing assembly with the flow rate determination, additional fluids can be identified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: Baxter International Inc.
    Inventors: Aleandro DiGianfilippo, James R. Hitchcock, Richard S. Pierce
  • Patent number: 6199604
    Abstract: Using a clean box comprising a box body having an aperture in one side surface, a side lid for hermetically closing the aperture, and gas inlet and outlet valves provided in the box body and having neither an evacuation device nor a transfer device, the gas inlet and outlet valves are opened by a gas feeding/discharging mechanism in a state in which the aperture of the box body is closed by the side lid, a non-oxidizing gas is introduced through one of the gas inlet and outlet valves into the clean box, and a gas having filled the clean box before the introduction of the non-oxidizing gas is discharged through the other of the gas inlet and outlet valves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventor: Toshihiko Miyajima
  • Patent number: 6199605
    Abstract: A dispensing apparatus is which, even when a small amount of a medium is to be dispensed, can satisfactorily dispense the medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignees: Nittetsu Mining Co., Ltd., Sankyo Company, Limited
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Inaba, Toshiyuki Wakasa, Mamoru Shiratori, Masato Ichikawa
  • Patent number: 6199606
    Abstract: An apparatus for handling flowable material, particularly particulate material, which is held in a discharge container such as an IBC having an opening normally covered by a transport cap, comprises a device which is adapted to engage and remove the transport cap and a device to cover at least a rim of the cap during such removal. The problem of contamination is overcome using the apparatus which is in the form of an annular metal (in the embodiment) cowl which has two peripheral spaced apart upstanding walls, the inner wall rising from an internal base in the embodiment and from which also rises the engaging and removing device, which in the embodiment shown comprises a pneumatic piston and cylinder arrangement. The piston carries an extractor in the form of an annular disc or spider having a depending peripheral wall which carries an inflatable ring or tire. The external surface of the inner wall carries at its rim a lip seal which is mounted over an inflatable ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: Matcon (R&D) Limited
    Inventor: Ivan Semenenko
  • Patent number: 6199607
    Abstract: A dry powder composition comprising formoterol and a carrier substance, both of which are in finely divided form, wherein the formulation has a poured bulk density of from 0.28 to 0.38 g/ml is useful in the treatment of respiratory disorders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: Astra Aktiebolag
    Inventor: Jan Trofast
  • Patent number: 6199608
    Abstract: An improved portable work bench includes a structural body, and a platform disposed on and frictionally contacting the structural body. In addition, the platform includes an override mechanism for allowing horizontal movement of the platform along the structural body. Further, the portable work bench may include a plurality of legs for supporting the structural body. The structural body may be tubular and preferably has a trapezoidal cross-section. Such work bench can be used by disposing the platform on the structural body, so that the platform frictionally contacts the structural body. Then the user can mechanically override the static friction between the platform and the structural body and move the platform horizontally along the structural body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: Adan Ayala, Ronald Quiram
  • Patent number: 6199609
    Abstract: A working surface 14 is provided with a plurality of splint locators 15-18 and a bottom locating area 27 suitable for arranging basket splints 11A-C, 12A-C into a predetermined number and configuration of angularly related sets 11, 12. A slot 44, 45 and a linearly aligned set of sockets 48A-C, 49A-C are formed in the working surface 14 outwardly from two of the perimeter edge portions 21, 22 of the bottom locating area 27. An alignment rim 29, 30 is provided for positioning one end of each of the basket splints in one of the angularly related sets 11, 12. A bolt 50, 51 is slidably mounted in each of the slots 44, 45 and extends upwardly through each of the alignment rims 29, 30. A wing nut 56, 57 is threadedly mounted on each of the bolts 50, 51 for releasably tightening the alignment rims 29, 30 at selected sites on the working surface 14. A ring-headed pin 58, 59 extends downwardly through each of the alignment rims 29, 30 for releasably engaging a selected one of the sockets 48A-C, 49A-C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: The Longaberger Company
    Inventors: Tom Harper, Duane Bice, Jack Hindel, Tim Teal, Leane Lefever, Vicki Lahna, Todd Miller, Chris Corp
  • Patent number: 6199610
    Abstract: An antiskid device (A) mounted to a tread (20) of a tire (2) has a pin (10) and a heat insulating member (11) attached to an end of the pin (10). The pin (10) is made of a material having a higher hardness in a first temperature range not higher than a predetermined temperature and a lower hardness in a second temperature range above the predetermined temperature. The insulating member (11) prohibits heat transfer from the tire (2) to the pin (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: Goichi Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Koichi Yanagawa
  • Patent number: 6199611
    Abstract: A wheel carrier for the steered wheel of a motor vehicle with a tire-inflating system, the wheel carrier comprising a shield with an eye at the top and bottom for receiving a kingpin, an axle tube which supports wheel bearings, a wheel hub supported on the wheel bearings, a steering arm, an air duct leading through the wheel carrier into a chamber formed between the axle tube and wheel hub, the chamber being sealed off on both sides, wherein the steering arm is flanged to a sprue with a fitting surface, wherein an air chamber is formed in the fitting surface, and is connected to the chamber by an air duct and is further connected to a tube communicating to the outside of the sprue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: Steyr-Daimler-Puch Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Gerhard Wernick
  • Patent number: 6199612
    Abstract: The tire has a single layer of cushion compound between the cords of the carcass reinforcement that are furthest radially outward in the crown and the cords of the belting that are furthest radially inward in the crown. The single layer of cushion compound may have either a high modulus of elasticity of between 7 and 25 MPa for high crown rigidity or a low modulus of elasticity of less that 6 MPa for reduced hysteresis energy loss.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: Compagnie Générale des Etablisse-ments Michelin-Michelin & Cie
    Inventors: Pedro Costa Pereira, Jean-Yves Denoueix, Daniel Grier Osborne
  • Patent number: 6199613
    Abstract: An apparatus for applying a pad to a component has a flexible diaphragm held in a continuous frame for holding the pad. On its front side which faces the component when the apparatus is in use, the frame has a circumferential, resilient gasket. Through a vacuum connection, a space between the diaphragm and the component is to be attached to a vacuum source. By that the pad applies itself against the component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: CWW-GERKO Akustik GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Alain Petillon
  • Patent number: 6199614
    Abstract: A high speed labeling machine is provided which includes a constant tensioning device for maintaining tension downstream of the metering roll at a substantially constant predetermined level thereby improving both metering and dispensing of labels. The constant tensioning device may also function as a driver for pulling the continuous web of material through the labeling machine thereby reducing the driving load on the metering roll, thus both providing more effective and accurate metering at a given web speed while also allowing higher web speeds to be achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: Exact Packaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald E. Snyder, Robert C. Jenness, Jr., George W. Baker, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6199615
    Abstract: The invention relates to a machine for removing circular labels or shrinkwrap from bottles or similar items. In order to achieve a simple and compact embodiment of such a machine, the cutting agents are set up in the intake section of the machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: Krones AG
    Inventor: Heinrich Klarl
  • Patent number: 6199616
    Abstract: A carpet remover is provided for quickly removing glued-down carpets. The carpet remover includes a rotary power source, particularly a power drive, a take-up shaft, and a coupling mechanism for rotatively connecting the shaft to the power source. The shaft has a means for securing an edge of the carpeting to the shaft. Thus, when the shaft is rotated by the power drive, the carpet is pulled from the floor and rolled up on the shaft. In a preferred embodiment, the shaft is sectional so that the overall shaft length can be changed in response to how firmly the carpet is adhered to the floor. In another preferred embodiment, the shaft can be broken down into arcuate segments and removed while the stripped carpet is still rolled up.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Inventor: Jerry J. Gillespie
  • Patent number: 6199617
    Abstract: A bi-fold door is equipped with door lifting devices operated with an electric motor drive to selectively open and close the door. The door lifting devices have winches operable to wind and unwind elongated webs connected at one end to rotatable members of the winches and anchored at the opposite end to the door. Anchors mounted on the door have adjustable sleeves operable to adjust the working lengths of the webs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: Schweiss Distributing, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael L. Schweiss
  • Patent number: 6199618
    Abstract: In order to produce castings from cast iron with foliated graphite, the carbon content of the cast iron can be set at between approximately 3 and 4% by controlling the melting process of the type and/or operation of the melting furnace. The molten mass is then cast in a sand-casting or lost-form method. During conventional cooling, the known mechanical properties of the cooled cast are set. In order to improve these mechanical properties in terms of hardness and strength, the casting is released from its mold at a temperature ranging from 1,100° C. to 800° C. and is immediately subjected to a cooling treatment by being blasted with an air flow in order to cool it to below 723° C. in a given amount of time. The casting, in selected regions, is cooled to below 723° C. by specific intermittent bursts of air in a relatively short amount of time in order to produce a harder structure. The cooling treatment is stopped when the temperature at the eutectoid line of the iron-carbon diagram is reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Inventors: Michael Fenne, Oswald Holtz
  • Patent number: 6199619
    Abstract: In an arrangement of an ingate system with feeding reservoir for feeding castings, preferably in moulds with pouring form the bottom (ascending casting), with which ingate system at least a feeding reservoir is connected. The ingate system is connected to one or a number of mould cavities least one feeding reservoir (7) is provided consituting a widened part of a duct (4) or a part of a duct in the ingate system (1), and that a partition (6) consisting of a gauze screen (6) or equivalent is provided separating the feeding reservoir (7) and the duct (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: Georg Fischer Disa A/S
    Inventor: Uffe Andersen
  • Patent number: 6199620
    Abstract: Method to transform a rolling mill in order to revamp an old-type rolling line (10) fed by slabs with a thickness greater than 160 mm and arriving from an accumulation store (12) and to insert a segment of new line comprising at least a continuous casting machine (19) to produce thin and medium slabs, with attached relative operating assemblies such as extraction, straightening, shearing devices etc., the old line (10) comprising a roughing unit with one or more stands and a terminal segment (21) with a finishing train (15), a cooling area (17), systems to collect the product (18a, 18b) etc., the segment of new line (110) being achieved and installed in a position near the old line (10) while the old line (10) continues working, the segment of new line (110) being equipped substantially at the terminal end with a movable element (120) in order to be at least temporarily connected to the terminal end (21) of the old line (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: Danieli & C. Officine Meccaniche SpA
    Inventors: Gianpietro Benedetti, Giovanni Coassin
  • Patent number: 6199621
    Abstract: A method and an installation for producing slabs in a continuous casting plant which includes a strand guiding unit arranged following the casting mold and divided into segments. Each segment is composed of a two-part segment frame whose frame parts are braced together by hydraulic cylinders. Rollers for supporting and conveying the solidifying cast strand are mounted in pairs opposite each other, wherein at least one of these rollers, i.e., the drive roller, is pressed with a defined adjusting force against the cast strand for transmitting the strand conveying forces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: SMS Schloemann-Siemag Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Axel Weyer, Lothar Fischer
  • Patent number: 6199622
    Abstract: A connecting structure for connecting a radiator having a reinforcement member and a condenser having a bracket is provided. The structure includes a connecting member having a spacer portion and a holding portion integrally formed on opposite sides of a notch. The spacer portion is fittingly inserted into the reinforcement member, and a folded portion of the reinforcement member and the condenser bracket are inserted into the notch. A bolt is inserted through the reinforcement member, the spacer portion, the bracket and the holding portion and a nut is screwed onto a tip of the bolt for clamping the radiator and the condenser together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: Calsonic Kansei Corporation
    Inventors: Katsuji Mashio, Fumihiro Inoue, Yukinobu Take, Hiroshi Koizumi, Katsumi Nakamura, Hironori Muramoto
  • Patent number: 6199623
    Abstract: A tissue chuck for use with a chuck holder for preparing a tissue sample for sectioning in a cryostat or the like, includes a base, having a tissue mounting surface and a heat transfer surface, and a plurality of fins for transferring heat from the heat transfer surface. Each fin terminates in a fin end, and each fin end is in spaced relation to the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Inventor: James W. Franks
  • Patent number: 6199624
    Abstract: A heat sink is disclosed for use with a heat exchanger employing a circular fan which forces air in a volute path about a central axis. The heat sink includes a plurality of heat exchanging sections disposed in the path about the axis. Each heat exchanging section includes a thermally conductive sheet folded into alternating ridges and troughs defining generally parallel spaced fins. The heat exchanging sections are oriented such that the fins of each section are at an angle to the fins of an adjacent section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: Molex Incorporated
    Inventor: Blaine C. Wotring
  • Patent number: 6199625
    Abstract: A stackable heat sink having a core shaft in heat-engaging relation with a semiconductor device and a plurality of individual thin fins having an opening for receiving the core shaft in press fit relation so that a plurality of the fins, when mounted on the shaft, define a plurality of air passageways and the fins and shaft efficiently transfer heat away from the semiconductor device and into the surrounding atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: PSC Computer Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Fred Guerrero
  • Patent number: 6199626
    Abstract: Self-enclosing heat exchangers are made from stacked plates having raised peripheral flanges on one side of the plates and continuous peripheral ridges on the other side of the plates, so that when the plates are put together, fully enclosed alternating flow channels are provided between the plates. The plates have raised bosses defining flow ports that line-up in the stacked plates to form manifolds for the flow of heat exchange fluids through alternate plates. Rib and groove barriers are formed in the plates inside the peripheral flanges and ridges. The barriers prevent short circuit flow on one side of the plates and promote flow to remote areas on the other side of the plates, to improve the overall efficiency of the heat exchangers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: Long Manufacturing Ltd.
    Inventors: Alan K. Wu, Allan K. So, Bruce L. Evans, Thomas F. Lemczyk
  • Patent number: 6199627
    Abstract: A heat sink includes a number of primary fin plates and a number of secondary spacing plates alternately arranged and fixed together by fasteners extending therethrough. Bottom edges of the plates are flush with each other to form a surface positionable on a heat generating component. Top edges of the primary plates are located above top edges of the secondary plates. Upper portions of the primary plates are formed between the top edges thereof and the top edges of the secondary plates. A number of openings are defined in the upper portion of each primary plate to increase the surface area thereof. The openings may be grooves or slots. Positioning bosses are formed on a first face of each plate for reception in recesses defined in a second face of an adjacent plate thereby properly positioning the plates with respect to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision In. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Steven Wang
  • Patent number: 6199628
    Abstract: A downhole force generator includes a longitudinal force generating and transmitting assembly (including, for example, a motor and a threaded shaft that is extended and retracted by operation of the motor) adapted to be moved into a well. A controller is also adapted to be moved into the well and is connected to the longitudinal force generating and transmitting assembly. The controller includes a memory containing a program to control the longitudinal force generating and transmitting assembly to obtain at least one desired operating condition in the well. A sensor can be connected to the controller. A self-contained power source adapted to be moved into the well can also be used. A method of providing an infinitely variable linear force in an oil or gas well is a particular application for such a downhole force generator. This particular method comprises sensing in the well a parameter responsive over a continuum to changes in a selected operating condition in the well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Harold Kent Beck, Alan Tancel Jackson, Clark Edward Robison, John Joseph Goiffon
  • Patent number: 6199629
    Abstract: A subsurface safety device positioning and monitoring system includes a controller and at least one downhole sensor that senses and records conditions of the well near the valve and of the valve itself. Conditions include temperature, pressure, flow rate, degree of closure of valve, structural condition of valve, water cut of produced fluids, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Steve Shirk, Mike Rawson, Brian Shaw
  • Patent number: 6199630
    Abstract: An apparatus for rotating a tubing string within an oil well. The apparatus includes an outer housing having an upper end, a lower end and a generally hollow interior where the lower end may be used to attach the outer housing to the casing bowl of an oil well. The apparatus further includes a drive assembly and a tubing string hanger generally disposed within the interior of the outer housing. The drive assembly has a generally hollow rotating gear mandrel and a drive gear. The tubing string hanger has a lower end for attaching to and supporting a tubing string. The tubing string hanger engages the rotating gear mandrel such that rotation of the rotating gear mandrel causes rotation of the tubing string hanger. The tubing string hanger, and a tubing string attached thereto, may be withdrawn from the oil well and through the outer housing without withdrawal of the rotating gear mandrel or the drive gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: Alberta Basic Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chris C. Blundell, Andrew J. Wright, Curtis P. Ring
  • Patent number: 6199631
    Abstract: A well production apparatus is provided for a well having a pressure control device operatively associated with the well for controlling pressure within the apparatus and well, wherein the apparatus includes a buoyant tubing member of a sufficient diameter to contain a submersible pump therein which is connected to a compressor. The apparatus further includes a gas fluids separator in the casing of the well. A fluids composition sensor and transmitter are provided for aiding in operating the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Inventor: Roy F. Knight
  • Patent number: 6199632
    Abstract: A locator device (50) that is selectively lockable within a nipple profile (40) disposed within a wellbore (32). The locator device (50) comprises a locator key (106) disposed between a housing (104) and a mandrel (102) that is radially extendable through a window (108) of the housing (104). The locator key (106) has an engageable position and a retracted position with respect to nipple profile (40). A support ring (110) is disposed between the housing (104) and the mandrel (102) that maintains the locator key (106) in the engageable position until the support ring (110) is axially displaced relative to the mandrel (102).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Perry C. Shy
  • Patent number: 6199633
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for mechanically interconnecting a lateral wellbore liner to a main, or parent, wellbore casing. The present invention further provides a method of wellbore construction for the construction of multiple wellbores which are interconnected downhole to form a manifold of pipelines in a reservoirs of interest. Provision is made for flow controls, sensors, data transmission, power generation, and other operations positioned in the lateral wellbores during the drilling, completion and production phases of such wellbores.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Inventor: James R. Longbottom
  • Patent number: 6199634
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for electrically treating an earth formation to cause changes in the permeability of the formation. An electric treatment unit includes a power supply and a power section which together supply voltage pulses of an amplitude which will cause a critical current density to flow within the formation, at which irreversible changes in formation permeability occur. A power control unit controls the pulse duration and the pulse period of the voltage pulses. The voltage pulses are applied to the formation by two electrodes which are preferably connected to respective ones of the conductive casing strings of two different wells which pass through the formation. A current sensor detects the pulsed current being applied to the formation. A programmable controller operates the power control unit such that the durations and the periods of the voltage pulses are varied during different treatment time intervals to correspond to maximum values of conductivity of a zone of the formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Inventor: Viatchelav Ivanovich Selyakov
  • Patent number: 6199635
    Abstract: This invention relates to a shifting apparatus and method for use with a tubular string set in a well for unlocking, selective orientation and relocking of sections of the tubular string below the shifting apparatus of this invention, while the tubular string sections above the shifting apparatus of this invention remain substantially unchanged in their orientation in the well including a lower tubular wall member connected to the tubular string above the shifting apparatus, an upper tubular wall member connected to the lower tubular wall member for controlled movement and orientation between the lower tubular wall member and the upper tubular wall member and connected to the tubular string below the shifting apparatus, and an internal tool located inside the upper and lower tubular wall members for releasablely and selectively locking into the upper and lower tubular wall members for holding the upper and lower tubular walls engaged until orientation of the tubular string below the shifting apparatus is desi
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Inventors: Charles G. Brunet, Michel J. Bouchard
  • Patent number: 6199636
    Abstract: An open type cage, having exterior threads and three equally spaced slots, which locates and contains the stationary or standing ball and seat check valve, and connects to standardized, stationary barrel, top or bottom anchored, rod insert pumps that are commonly used for crude oil production. This cage allows for the placement of a standard sized, flat type, ball and seat at the very end of the pump barrel or extension coupling, or up inside of the same. This positioning allows the upper travelling valve to sweep as close as possible to the lower standing valve when the plunger is at the bottom of its stroke. This reduces the unswept volume and increases the pumps compression ratio. This cage has two slightly different configurations that is determined by the bore size of the pump for which it is designed, but both variations use standard valve sizes and threaded connections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Inventor: Michael L. Harrison
  • Patent number: 6199637
    Abstract: A movable implement for loosening soil below ground, in which a row of blades with blade holders are located perpendicular to a direction of motion of the implement. A supporting arm has one end articulated to each blade, and a frame is articulated to another end of the supporting arm. The supporting arm is engaged by a connecting rod of a crank device, which operates in a vertical plane parallel to the direction of motion. The supporting arm mounts a blade adjustment lever with two arms. The adjustment lever pivots coaxially with an articulating shaft. A stop is mounted on a downward-extending arm of the blade-adjustment lever, and points below the articulating shaft. A lever-adjusting device has a variable angle to the supporting arm for varying the angle of the blade to the ground. A spring forces a blade holder against the stop. The blades are forced away from the stop during movement of the implement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: Wiedenmann GmbH
    Inventor: Georg Wiedenmann
  • Patent number: 6199638
    Abstract: A device for mechanically establishing the lowest point a three-point tractor hitch can sink to. The device comprises a modified chain which is attached at both ends to the towed implement near where the lift arms are attached to the implement. The chain's middle portion is draped over and adjustably attached to the top link, with the result that as the lift arms are lowered the chain draws taut and prevents the lift arms from sinking any lower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Inventor: W. Wallace Bentley
  • Patent number: 6199639
    Abstract: A hilling spade according to the present invention has a pair of moldboards or wings defining a plowing angle having a pointed forward end. Each wing has a central planar surface, a cutting edge, and a lower curved surface between the cutting edge and the central planar surface. The lower curved surface has a curvature oriented vertically inwardly relative to the plowing angle. Each wing also has an upper curved surface having a curvature oriented vertically outwardly relative to the plowing angle. When the hilling spade is used for hilling ridges along rows of plants, the lower curved surfaces are usable for lapping lower portions of the ridges for compacting the lower portions and for reducing erosion of these ridges. The upper curved surfaces are usable for pushing soil over the ridges and under the foliage of the plants on those ridges without damaging the foliage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: Gagnon Ornamental Works Ltd.
    Inventor: Gerald Gagnon
  • Patent number: 6199640
    Abstract: An electric machine tool for tools which operate by percussion, the electric machine tool having a machine housing; a rotatingly drivable work spindle seated in the machine housing; a tool receiver provided for receiving a tool and driven by the work spindle; a mechanical striking mechanism having a beater accelerated in an axial direction and actuating a shaft of the tool in the axial direction by blows; a driver unit which derives an acceleration of the beater from rotational movement, the driver unit having an axially displaceably arranged scanning member which rotates synchronously with the work spindle; two circular-shaped curved paths which guide the scanning member and are fixed in the housing, said circular-shaped curved paths having elevations and depressions, each of the elevations pointing in an axial direction of the work spindle in a direction of the scanning member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Joachim Hecht
  • Patent number: 6199641
    Abstract: A pipe gripping device is taught which is useful for moving pipe into and/or out of a well. The pipe gripping device includes a first set of slips for holding a pipe in a pipe light condition and a second set of slips for holding a pipe in a pipe heavy condition. The second set of slips are actuatable independently from the first set of slips. The pipe gripping device can include a slip moving system which prevents the slip carrier blocks from being driven outwardly against the housing, to thereby prevent the carrier blocks from locking, by being driven against the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: Tesco Corporation
    Inventors: R. James Downie, Matthew Brown
  • Patent number: 6199642
    Abstract: A reversible ratcheting electric power tool has a reversible DC electric motor having an output coupled to drive a drive shaft through a reversible ratchet assembly. The tool housing has a reversing mechanism which includes a manually operable reversing cap rotatable about the axis of the drive shaft for controlling the ratcheting direction of the ratchet assembly, the cap having a pair of projections which respectively engage the actuator buttons of two direction control microswitches coupled through an on-off switch to a battery. When the ratchet assembly is in a neutral or non-ratcheting condition, both microswitches are in a normal deactuated condition connecting both of the motor terminals to the battery negative terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: Snap-on Tools Company
    Inventors: Thomas P. Becker, Joshua M. Beer, Dennis A. Nowak
  • Patent number: 6199643
    Abstract: In directional boring using a boring apparatus having a driven string and a drill head with an excavating tool moving in an orbit about the longitudinal axis of the string, the tool moves with substantially constant angular velocity when boring straight ahead, but when boring along a curve it is stopped and set in vibration in order to obtain more accurate control of the curve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: Tracto-Technik Paul Schmidt Spezialmaschinen
    Inventors: Alfons Hesse, Franz-Josef Püttmann
  • Patent number: 6199644
    Abstract: A drilling tool, including a housing (1), a suction device (14), and at least one gas spring (2) cooperating with both the housing (1) and the suction device (14) and an operational direction of which is parallel to a drilling direction, with the housing (1) having bore (15) for receiving a piston rod (22) and at least a section of cylinder (21) of the at least one gas spring (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: Hilti Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Thomas Thanner, Peter Roth, Peter Niedermann
  • Patent number: 6199645
    Abstract: Enhanced inserts are formed having a cylindrical grip and a protrusion extending from the grip. An ultra hard material layer is bonded on top of the protrusion. The inserts are mounted on a rock bit and contact the earth formations off center. The ultra hard material layer is thickest at a critical zone which encompasses a major portion of the region of contact between the insert and the earth formation. Transition layers may also be formed between the ultra hard material layer and the protrusion so as to reduce the residual stresses formed on the interface between the ultra hard material and the protrusion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: Smith International, Inc.
    Inventors: Nathan R. Anderson, J. Daniel Belnap, Chris E. Cawthorne, Ronald K. Eyre, Madapusi K. Keshavan, Per I. Nese, Michael A. Siracki, Gary R. Portwood
  • Patent number: 6199646
    Abstract: A tractor includes a body frame (4), front wheels (3), propelling shafts (8) disposed in a rear portion of the body frame, and semicrawler units (10) for receiving drive from the propelling drive shafts. Each semicrawler unit includes a drive rolling element (11) attachable to one of the propelling drive shafts, an endless crawler track (15) driven by the drive rolling element and contacting the ground, driven rolling elements (13, 14) engaged by the endless crawler track, and a track frame (12) for supporting the driven rolling elements. The track frame is supported by the body frame to be vertically oscillatable through a pivot shaft (16). Rear wheels (9) may be attached in place of the semicrawler units to the propelling drive shafts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: Kubota Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshifumi Tani, Ryoji Kuriki, Katsushi Fukawatase, Masayuki Sato, Seiichi Takahashi, Kenichiro Tsuji
  • Patent number: 6199647
    Abstract: A front wheel drive power wheel chair has the drive wheel axis of rotation forward of the wheelchair user's eyes and cranial center of perception.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: Pride Mobility Products Corporation
    Inventors: Walter E. Schaffner, James P. Mulhern, Stephen J. Antonishak