Patents Issued in September 2, 2003
  • Patent number: 6612338
    Abstract: A valve structure that comprises a housing and a valve. The housing includes a first fluid communication passage between a first port and a second port. The valve is movable with respect to the housing between a first configuration, a second configuration, and an intermediate configuration between the first and second configurations. The first configuration permits substantially unrestricted fluid flow between the first and second ports. The second configuration substantially prevents fluid flow between the first and second ports. And the intermediate configuration provides restricted fluid flow between the first and second ports. The valve includes a first valve element and a second valve element. The first valve element includes a second fluid communication passage providing the restricted fluid flow between the first and second ports. The second valve element is positionable in first and second positions with respect to the first valve element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: Siemens Automotive Inc.
    Inventors: Craig Andrew Weldon, John Edward Cook, William Charles Gillier
  • Patent number: 6612339
    Abstract: A piston for a low pressure fluid accumulator of a hydraulic control unit of a vehicle brake system includes a cylindrical body having an outer surface defining a first end surface of the piston. The first end surface includes a plurality of interconnected ridges. The ridges have outer surfaces and form cavities therebetween. Each ridge is adapted to provide a sealing surface between the first end surface of the piston and an inner surface of a fluid accumulator in which the piston may be inserted. In one embodiment of the invention, the closed end of the piston includes a thick self-supporting wall. A thin skirt extends from the thick self-supporting wall toward the open end of the piston. A plurality of axially extending skirt support ribs is formed on the inner surface of the piston skirt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: Kelsey-Hayes Company
    Inventors: Westley J. Wilke, Christopher J. Roberts, Jeff King
  • Patent number: 6612340
    Abstract: Fusion of facing portions of the turnback portion of an installed everted resin impregnated cured in place liner installed in an existing conduit is avoided by adhering a high temperature turnback release film to a portion of the trailing end of the everting liner. After cure and removal of the downstream end of the liner, the high temperature release film is peeled away from the cured liner. This avoids the need to remove the fused portion of the turnback by cutting or excavation of a section of the liner. Fusion generally occurs due to the exotherm from the crosslinking of the thermosetting resin impregnated into the flexible lining.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: Insituform (Netherlands) B.V.
    Inventor: John Patrick Lause
  • Patent number: 6612341
    Abstract: A method for securing a shell assembly to a pipeline. A two part shell assembly is secured to the pipeline and holds in position an annular sealing arrangement located about a predetermined area of the outer surface of the pipeline. The sealing arrangement includes a containment ring surrounding an annular seal. The containment ring is provided with connected through passages so that sealant can be introduced by a hole in the assembly into the passages to provide sealing between the containment ring and the pipeline, and between the containment ring and the shell assembly. Thus, should the annular seal fail during service the introduced sealant provides a seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: Lattice Intellectual Property Limited
    Inventor: Dan Quoc Vu
  • Patent number: 6612342
    Abstract: The invention concerns a flexible pipe element, in particular for exhaust pipes of combustion engines of motor vehicles, with a helically threaded or ring-corrugated bellows, at least one strip wound hose which is coaxially adjacent to the bellows and which is helically wound or comprises several annular segments, at least one spacer which is disposed locally between the bellows and the strip wound hose and a knitted tube disposed on the outside, wherein the pipe element has an overall maximum rigidity of 5 N/mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: IWKA Balg- und Kompensatoren- Technologie GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Uwe Gödel, Georg Salzer
  • Patent number: 6612343
    Abstract: The invention describes the use of compositions containing at least one thermoplastic polymer and an epoxy resin modified by at least one aromatic polyamine to coat surfaces, especially pipes through which oil is transported. The polymer compositions used contain at least one thermoplastic polymer which is preferably amorphous selected from the group formed by polysulphones, polyetherimides and polyphenylene esters and at least one epoxy resin modified by at least one aromatic polyamine containing at least two primary amine groups in its molecule. Different layers of polymers are deposited on different types of surface, more particularly as internal and external coatings for conduits. The invention also provides a surface coating comprising such compositions. Multi-layer coatings are also produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventors: Yves Camberlin, Jacky Grenier, Stéphane Poncet, Anthony Bonnet, Jean-Pierre Pascault, Henri Sautereau
  • Patent number: 6612344
    Abstract: A vent and fluid transfer fitment for sealing and transferring a fluid from an inverted fluid-filled container without premature leakage to a receiver attachment, has a transfer check valve and a venting check valve which are preferably duckbill valves. The transfer check valve is attached to the fitment for allowing fluid to be transferred from the container when the receiver attachment engages the transfer check valve. The venting check valve is also attached to the fitment for allowing air to displace the fluid as the fluid exits the container, wherein both the transfer check valve and the venting check valve have an inherent sealing pressure created by the static pressure of the fluid within the container. In addition, the inherent sealing pressure of the venting check valve is less than the inherent sealing pressure of the transfer check valve which allows air to enter the container due to the pressure differential created as the fluid is displaced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Phillip Gene Nagel, James Christopher Bailey, Gordon Edgar Atkinson, Arnold George Benecke
  • Patent number: 6612345
    Abstract: An apparatus for replenishing paint into a paint cartridge (25), which is capable of putting paint in respiratory circulation while the cartridge is in a waiting state. The apparatus includes a replenishing valve (61) which is capable of feeding paint to and from a paint chamber (30) of the paint cartridge (25) which is set on a replenishing stool (52), and a respiratory paint circulation valve (91) which is capable of feeding paint-extruding thinner to and from a thinner chamber (31) of the cartridge. After switching the replenishing valve (61) to a drain or discharge side, paint-extruding thinner is supplied from the respiratory paint circulation valve (91) to push paint out of the paint chamber (30) of the cartridge (25). Then, after switching the replenishing valve (61) to the side of a paint supply source, paint-extruding thinner is discharged by way of the respiratory paint circulation valve (91) to suck paint into the paint chamber (30).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: ABB K.K.
    Inventors: Toshio Hosoda, Tomoaki Takeda, Shinji Tani, Kimio Toda, Takanobu Mori, Isamu Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 6612346
    Abstract: A method of inflating a tire comprising separating N2 gas from air using a membrane; providing the N2 gas to a storage tank having capacity for at least 40 cubic feet of N2 gas at 18° Centigrade, providing the N2 gas from the storage tank to a hose, the hose including a stop valve and a fitting suited to mate with a tire inflation stem; securing the fitting to a tire inflation valve, and opening a stop valve to initiate the introduction of N2 gas into the tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Lee Allen, John Martin Vasser
  • Patent number: 6612347
    Abstract: A metering and packaging device includes several cups fixed to rotate about a shaft. These cups are positioned under hopper outlets during a portion of their rotation to receive bulk material, and over passages through a bottom plate during another portion of their rotation to dump bulk material into weigh buckets. The outlets, cups and passages through the bottom plat are angularly displaced from one another such that the cups drop measured portions of bulk material in an alternating fashion into the weigh buckets, and the weigh buckets drop the portions into a packaging machine in an alternating fashion into a packaging machine which separately packages each successive and alternately dropped portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: Spee-Dee Packaging Machinery, Inc.
    Inventor: David J. Hill
  • Patent number: 6612348
    Abstract: A liquid delivery system for a marine vessel or a road vehicle is provided which comprises a flexible bladder for housing a liquid, a portable pump, a protective housing for the pump, a pump switch and conduits for connecting the bladder, the pump and a container for liquid or the vessel or vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Inventor: Robert A. Wiley
  • Patent number: 6612349
    Abstract: A plate joiner including a fence support, a drive, and a fence system. The fence support includes a cutter and a contact surface, which defines a cutter slot. The cutter is arranged and configured to protrude from fence support through cutter slot to make a plunge cut into a surface of a workpiece when the contact surface is pressed against the surface and the cutter is plunged into the workpiece by pushing on a rearward handle portion of the tool. The drive is arranged and configured to rotatably drive the cutter through a motor. As shown in the drawings a preferred fence system includes an angle adjustment system arranged and configured to position the fence at a wide range of fence angles and, at any selected distance from a top face of the workpiece to the fence, the distance from the top face of the workpiece to the cutter remains constant as the front fence angle is adjusted. A preferred fence system includes a trunnion which pivotally couples the front fence to the fence system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: Porter-Cable Corporation
    Inventors: John C. Smith, Earl R. Clowers
  • Patent number: 6612350
    Abstract: A carrying case, such as a purse or fanny pack, having a skeleton formed of a bendable, rigid material. The skeleton has front and rear opposing sidewalls, each having an arcuate shape. The sidewalls are joined along the bottom longitudinal edges thereof and are normally spaced apart along their upper longitudinal edges to form a clamshell shaped configuration. The front sidewall has an inwardly and downwardly extending latching lip formed in its upper longitudinal edge. The upper longitudinal edges of the sidewalls can be closed and latched by squeezing the front and rear sidewalls toward each other and snapping the upper longitudinal edge of the rear sidewall into the lip formed in the upper longitudinal edge of the front sidewall. A fabric cover is pulled over and around the sidewalls of the skeleton. The endwalls of the fabric cover forms the endwalls of the carrying case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Inventor: Edel Maria Brynjulfsen
  • Patent number: 6612351
    Abstract: A pneumatic rubber tire is provided having inner and outer air retention quasi envelopes which individually substantially envelop the tire air chamber and which are comprised of a first inner quasi envelope as an integral innerliner and a second outer quasi envelope as a combination of sidewalls and tread. Such pneumatic tire is of a relatively conventional open toroidal shape. The innerliner and the sidewall-tread combination are termed as being quasi envelopes in a sense that a rigid rim, onto which the tire is to be mounted and inflated, is used to complete the closure of the tire's air chamber envelope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventor: David John Zanzig
  • Patent number: 6612352
    Abstract: A tire (1) having sidewalls (3) with an annular strip (8) within which a plurality of ribs (9) is formed. The ribs are disposed in mutual side by side relation and circumferentially distributed. The annular strip (8) is made in the form of a hollow on a sidewall (3) of the tire (1) and is designed to display informative inscriptions (12) the characters of which (13) are defined by projections (19) projecting from the surface of the annular strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: Pirelli Coordinamento Pneumatici S.p.A.
    Inventors: Antonio Barrese, Massimo Battaini
  • Patent number: 6612353
    Abstract: A tire having a crown reinforcement formed of at least two working crown plies (32, 34) having axial widths L32, L34 greater than the width L33 of an additional reinforcement (33) of inextensible, substantially radial reinforcement elements, which reinforcement is arranged radially between said plies (32, 34) and is axially composed of three parts, a central part (33′) in the form of a ply formed of inextensible, substantially radial reinforcement elements and two lateral parts in the form of strips (33″), each formed of circumferential reinforcement elements, the modulus of elasticity upon traction per unit of width of a lateral strip being at most equal to the modulus of elasticity upon traction, measured under the same conditions, of the most extensible working ply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: Michelin Recherche et Technique, S.A.
    Inventor: Guy Cluzel
  • Patent number: 6612354
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire comprises a cord-reinforced layer such as carcass, belt, bead reinforcing layer which is made of metallic cords, each metallic cord is made up of six to twelve metallic filaments whose diameter is in a range of from 0.15 to 0.45 mm, the metallic filaments include waved filaments and unwaved filaments, each waved filament is two-dimensionally waved at a wave pitch and wave height before twisted, the wave pitch is in a range of from 5.0 to 35.0 times the diameter of the filament, and the wave height is in a range of from 0.2 to 4.0 times the diameter of the filament, and the metallic filaments are twisted together into the cord at a twist pitch of from 10 to 40 mm so that the two-dimensionally waved filaments are each subjected to a certain rotation around its axial.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignees: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd., Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinichi Miyazaki, Kazumi Yamazaki, Osamu Toda, Yasuo Sakai
  • Patent number: 6612355
    Abstract: A device for applying an adhesive label to a disk such as a CD or DVD includes a platen and a central hub rising from the platen. The label is centered about the hub on the platen. The hub has three deformable legs that are biased outwardly and that are deformed inwardly when a disk is slid down the hub against the label, with the label adhering to the disk on contact. The disk can then be slid back up the hub to remove the disk with label. Centering structure is provided for engaging the label to hold the label centered about the hub until the disk abuts the label.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: Microvision Development, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Cook, Jim Mayall
  • Patent number: 6612356
    Abstract: A back-up pad is provided over an anvil surface of a back-up plate, and between the anvil surface and a sealing surface of a sealing die, in an apparatus for forming seals between layers of film material. The back-up pad has a slip layer on one side thereof and a firm polymeric support layer on an opposite side thereof, the slip layer opposing the sealing face of the die so that the layers of film material pass between the sealing die and the back-up pad during seal formation. The polymeric support layer may have a Shore-A hardness of at least 10 at 20° C. and a dynamic loss tangent of less than 0.1 from 20° C. to 80° C. An example of a support layer is a polycarbonate pad, and an example of slip layer is a glass cloth coated with Teflon™. The back-up pad is particularly useful for forming lap seals in relatively thick film materials, such as laminated films having multi-layered films laminated together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Oil Corporation
    Inventors: Dan-Cheng Kong, Richard A. Rehkugler, Donald F. Sexton
  • Patent number: 6612357
    Abstract: An impact detection system for an industrial door, the system including two members that are releasably coupled to each other to move together with the door as it travels, disposed beyond the doorway opening is a radiation emitter and a radiation detector, preferably packaged together in a photoeye device, and emitting a beam of radiation; the first member carries a reflector that, when the two members are coupled, reflects the radiation back to the photoeye, and that is movable to a position wherein it does not reflect the radiation back to the photoeye in response to separation of the two members caused by the door being impacted, the change in state from 1) the radiation being reflected to the photoeye to 2) the radiation not being reflected to the photoeye thus serves as an indication that an impact on the door has occurred.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: Rite-Hite Holding Corporation
    Inventors: Mark D. Beringer, David P. Leppert, Peter S. Schulte
  • Patent number: 6612358
    Abstract: A two track storm door exhibits three track-like features. A rectangular frame defines an open bounded region. A screen fills the open region. Two glass panes, one for each track, are movable independently of one another to close or open the region. A spline secures the screen within the frame and a bearing surface is provided by the spline against which one of the panes bears.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: Larson Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Bill R. Hay, Kelly D. Nordgaard, Allen E. Lee, Bryan P. Zacher
  • Patent number: 6612359
    Abstract: A slider ventilation curtain for an agricultural building has upper and lower curtains, with the lower curtain having an upper hem pipe that is mounted in a fixed location on the wall of the building, and an upper curtain that slides past the lower curtain, up to a closed position and down to a ventilation position for permitting outside air to enter the building from above the animals. There are roll up mechanisms associated with the lower hem pipes of the two curtains to permit the curtains to be rolled up for storage, so that the wall can be fully open for summer conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: Norbco, Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph R. Moreau
  • Patent number: 6612360
    Abstract: A product having a metal-fabric joint includes forming a fabric anchoring component by casting a low melting point yet high compressive strength material into a cavity in a metal component. The product includes (a) a metal housing including an interior entrance, at least first and second opposed interior walls, and an interior end opposite the interior entrance, the at least first and second opposed interior walls and the interior end defining an interior cavity; (b) a fabric; (c) a fabric anchor assembly; and (d) a castable material disposed in the interior cavity so as to envelop the fabric and the fabric anchor assembly. A method of fabricating the product includes the steps of (a) anchoring the fabric with the fabric anchor assembly; (b) inserting the anchored fabric in the interior cavity; (c) providing the interior cavity with the castable material so as to envelop the anchored fabric; and (d) solidifying the castable material to a cast material so as to form the product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: ILC Dover, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald R. Cohee
  • Patent number: 6612361
    Abstract: A substantially rectangular-section casting conduit of an ingot mold, for continuous casting of molten metal, is divided into two portions; a first portion has a variable inner section, by having rounded inner edges with a radius of curvature decreasing gradually in the flow direction of the molten metal along the conduit; the second portion is consecutive with the first portion, and has a constant inner section with rounded inner edges of a predetermined optimum radius of curvature for subsequent rolling operations. The design of the first portion of the casting conduit prevents the metal, as it cools and contracts through the conduit, from detaching from the walls, and in particular from the edges, of the mold, thus enabling an increase in casting speed with no fall in product quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: Europa Metalli S.p.A.
    Inventor: Giovanni Martellucci
  • Patent number: 6612362
    Abstract: A thin-strip casting device (1) assures across the entire selected range of the width an about constant production of thin-strip (12) without requiring artificially extended charging times of the steel plant installed upstream. A multitude of interchangeable pairs of casting rollers (2) having different casting roller diameters “D” depending on the strip width “B” to be cast, are associated with the thin-strip casting device (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Inventor: Georg Bollig
  • Patent number: 6612363
    Abstract: A mold for the continuous casting of beam blanks is provided with a casting passage which, as seen in a transverse plane of the mold, has two lateral portions for forming the flanges of a beam blank and a central portion for forming the web of the beam blank. The thickness of the mold wall is reduced in the central portion of the casting passage in order to improve heat transfer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: SMS Demag Inc.
    Inventor: Donald P. Lorento
  • Patent number: 6612364
    Abstract: A continuous slab casting method whereby upstream of a soft reduction portion of a path of the strand and preferably downstream of a liquid core reduction portion, the strand is allowed to bulge by ferrostatic pressure of the liquid core, the bulge being pressed back during the soft reduction stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: Demag Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Hans Streubel
  • Patent number: 6612365
    Abstract: A heating-element accommodating-box cooling apparatus includes: an indoor air passage 5 for fetching air in a heating-element accommodating box and returning it to the heating-element accommodating box; an outdoor air passage 9 for fetching outdoor air and exhausting the fetched outdoor air to the outside; a partition plate 10 provided so that both of the air passages become independent of each other; a fan unit 3 for conveying air in the outdoor air passage 9 and the indoor air passage 5; and a heat exchange element 4 disposed at a point of intersection between the two passages to exchange the sensible heat of the outdoor air and the indoor air, wherein the heating-element accommodating-box cooling apparatus is mounted exteriorly on a panel of the heating-element accommodating box. Consequently, it is possible to effect cooling of the heating-element accommodating box with energy saving, and the space for installation of the cooling apparatus in the box is not required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuki Saishu, Mutsuhiko Matsumoto, Yoshikazu Tada, Yoshihisa Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 6612366
    Abstract: A protective wrapping device adapted for shielding a condenser tube of a heat exchanger includes two shell walls configured to complementarily mate with each other and to wrap around the tube for heat removal and for preventing formation of water scale on the tube. A plurality of tightening members are disposed to secure the shell walls to the tube. When the tightening members are released from the shell walls, the shell walls can be detached from the tube for cleaning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Inventor: Lung-Hsi Chuang
  • Patent number: 6612367
    Abstract: A heat exchanger and method of making same includes a plate extending longitudinally. The heat exchanger also includes a plurality of apertures forming a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet extending through the plate. The heat exchanger further includes a mechanism forming a restriction to fluid flow through either one of the fluid inlet or the fluid outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ramez S. Abdulnour, Kevin Bennett Wise
  • Patent number: 6612368
    Abstract: A flow completion apparatus comprises a wellhead housing installed at an upper end of a well bore and a tubing spool connected over the wellhead housing. The tubing spool includes a central bore extending axially therethrough, a production outlet communicating with the central bore and an annulus passageway communicating with the tubing annulus. A tubing hanger is supported in the central bore and includes a production bore extending axially therethrough and a production passageway communicating between the production bore and the production outlet. An annular seal is positioned between the tubing hanger and the central bore above the production passageway, and the tubing spool comprises a workover passageway extending between the annulus passageway and a portion of the central bore located above the seal. Furthermore, the tubing hanger comprises an annulus bore extending between the workover passageway and the top of the tubing hanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: FMC Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard D. Kent, Michael R. Tierney, Gregory L. Glidden, Chistopher E. Cunningham, Christopher D. Bartlett
  • Patent number: 6612369
    Abstract: The invention is a subsea umbilical termination assembly (UTA) for use with a launch system mounted on a vessel, wherein the UTA involves a lift point, a guide surrounding a connector attached to the lift point, a housing with a mandrel for engaging the connector and at least one interface, numerous flying leads connected to the housing, a base for the housing, and an emergency quick disconnect connected to the mandrel, wherein the disconnect has a hydraulic connector that engages hydraulic pistons that can then disengage numerous locking dogs enabling the hydraulic connector to disengage from the UTA, and wherein the interface in the housing connects to an electrical umbilical, a fiber optic cable, or hydraulic umbilical.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: Kvaerner Oilfield Products
    Inventors: Ralph P. Rocha, Travis M. Bordman, Michael J. Galyen, Paul J. Drouet, John A. Sweeney, Mark B. Means
  • Patent number: 6612370
    Abstract: A composite riser for transporting fluids between a location on a seabed and an installation near or at the surface of the sea comprises an outer sheath of tubular form extending longitudinally in a lengthwise direction of the riser, a plurality of spacing members arranged within the outer sheath so as to define a plurality of longitudinally extending channels in the outer sheath from one end to an opposite end of the riser, and a plurality of fluid-carrying tubes disposed in the channels such that the tubes are freely movable in the lengthwise direction of the riser relative to the outer sheath, the tubes being constructed of fiber-reinforced plastic material. One or more tension members are disposed in the channel(s) and are freely movable relative to the outer sheath in the longitudinal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: Kvaerner Oilfield Products AS
    Inventors: Ove F. Jahnsen, Per-Ola Baalerud
  • Patent number: 6612371
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a sealing sleeve which is disposed in a lateral fluid conduit that extends at least partially through a tubing hanger and a surrounding spool and which is slideable between a retracted position for running and retrieval of the tubing hanger and an extended position for sealing across the interface between the tubing hanger and the spool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: FMC Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Gavin J. McIntosh, Roberto L. Quoiani
  • Patent number: 6612372
    Abstract: A two-stage packer and method for sealing an annulus in a wellbore is provided. The packer may be set by a force which will not cause a sealing element to buckle, collapse, or otherwise fail. In one aspect, the packer comprises a body having a sealing element and shoulder disposed there-around, and a slideable member slideably arranged on the body, the slideable member having a first surface disposable beneath the element to increase the inner diameter thereof and a second surface disposable against an end of the element to increase the outer diameter thereof. The method comprises running a body into the wellbore, the body comprising a sealing element and a slideable member slideably disposed there-around, wherein the slideable member comprises a first surface and a second surface; forcing the first surface beneath the element to increase the inner diameter thereof; and forcing the second surface against an end of the element to increase the outer diameter thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: Weatherford/Lamb, Inc.
    Inventors: Roland R. Freiheit, James F. Wilkin
  • Patent number: 6612373
    Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method for the protection of off-road vehicles, such as ladle carriers, pot carriers, slag carriers and front end loaders which are used in high heat or flammable environments. The present invention prevents and/or limits damage from radiant heat, provides for the extinguishment of fires, provides a level of protection to the vehicle operator, and provides for the operator's escape from the vehicle at the onset of a fire or high heat incident. The apparatus and method of this invention implements the use of a liquid surfactant based wetting agent. The wetting agent is formulated to prevent radiant and ambient heat damage to the vehicle from radiant heat, flame and splashing of molten material on the vehicle. The wetting agent can be made to be environmentally safe. The present invention provides an increased level of safety to the operator, should the operator be required to escape from the vehicle in the event of a fire or high heat incident.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Inventor: Richard P. Brennan
  • Patent number: 6612374
    Abstract: A beach cleaner for recovering waste while being towed by a traction vehicle. The beach cleaner includes a grating-like portion for scooping up waste present in front of the beach cleaner as the beach cleaner is moved. The grating-like portion is inclined so that the front side thereof assumes a lower position. A rotor is disposed on an upper side of the grating-like portion and for rotation so that a lower portion thereof moves rearwardly. The rotor is centered on a rotary shaft extending in the transverse direction of the vehicle. The rotor delivers the waste rearwardly between the rotor and the grating-like portion. A reticulate portion is formed behind the grating-like portion. The reticulate portion is inclined so that the rear side thereof is located at a lower position to hold waste.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Ohzeki, Yoshihiro Kimura, Yasuji Hashimoto, Yoshinobu Itani, Shinji Furuta, Takashi Shinozaki
  • Patent number: 6612375
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling variation in the pitch of an agricultural vehicle, where the apparatus includes a controller that controls a position of an implement attached to the agricultural vehicle, and a first valve that is coupled to, and receives a first control signal from, the controller. The apparatus further includes a suspension cylinder having a first chamber that is hydraulically coupled to the first valve. The first control signal provided from the controller is functionally related to a first additional control signal provided by the controller, and the first additional control signal is used to determine the position of the implement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: HUSCO International, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey A. Rogala
  • Patent number: 6612376
    Abstract: A housing assembly for a power edger that includes a housing and a door that is coupled to the housing and movable between an open position and a closed position. When positioned in the closed position, labyrinth seal members that are formed onto the housing and the door engage one another to form a labyrinth seal that inhibits dirt and debris from being expelled from the housing assembly. The housing assembly also includes a guard for shrouding a rotating blade. The guard includes a confronting portion having a leading end and a trailing end. The confronting portion is defined by an increasing radius relative to the rotary axis of the blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventors: Oleksiy P. Sergyeyenko, Jacob R. Prosper, David M. Shaver
  • Patent number: 6612377
    Abstract: An excavation cleaning tool or dredge is provided which rotates and scrapes together and captures the loose soil, sand and gravel debris at the bottom of the hole to provide a clean, flat-bottomed hole which is free of compressible excavation waste material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Inventor: Kenneth O. Rynard
  • Patent number: 6612378
    Abstract: A one-pass field tillage implement and method which maintains a uniform soil density throughout the crop root zone for greater root development, improved plant health and greater yields by eliminating tillage of the soil at seed planting depths. The implement includes a wheeled frame operably supporting at least three longitudinally spaced tillage tool assemblies which first chops crop surface residue, then aggressively lifts and redistributes the chopped surface crop residue and breaks up the soil surface crust, and then levels the soil so that the soil surface is substantially smooth and ready for planting, all in a single-pass without tilling the soil at seed planting depths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Inventor: Gregg A. Sauder
  • Patent number: 6612379
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a multi-purpose gardening tool. In one preferred embodiment, the tool includes an arcuate central base. Extending from one end of the base is an arcuate scoop adapted to dig into, scoop up and transport a quantity of material. Extending from an opposite end of the base is a substantially V-shaped cutter having a sharpened peripheral edge for cutting through roots and the like. Preferably, the base, scoop and cutter are aligned and have a common radius of curvature to define a smooth bottom surface. The tool includes a handle extending generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the tool. To protect a hand of a gardener gripping the handle, the handle offset from the peripheral edges of the scoop and cutter and the handle is supported at opposite ends by a pair of solid circular supports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: Wilmart, Ltd.
    Inventor: William D. Timmons
  • Patent number: 6612380
    Abstract: An attachment, primarily for a tractor having a three point hitch, has a post with a seat for a gooseneck hitch ball, and mounting brackets for a fifth wheel type hitch that permit a limited amount of pitch and roll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Inventor: Donald D. Pyle
  • Patent number: 6612381
    Abstract: A disc gang is provided that is suitable for use as part of a multifunctional seedbed preparation implement or in a standalone disc harrow. The disc gang is configured to permit a gang angle of the disc gang to be adjusted to accommodate differing soil conditions and/or to obtain different tillage characteristics. The disc gang may include a frame mounted on a mainframe of a primary tillage implement such as a cultivator. The frame includes a main beam mounted on the implement's mainframe and a disc support beam connected to the main beam and supporting a plurality of rotating discs. The gang angle can be infinitely adjusted through a designated range by pivoting one end of the disc gang about a vertical pivot axis while permitting another end portion of the disc gang to slide along a support surface for that end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: Case, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey Powell, Edward G. Sheets
  • Patent number: 6612382
    Abstract: An iterative drilling simulation method and system for enhanced economic decision making includes obtaining characteristics of a rock column in a formation to be drilled, specifying characteristics of at least one drilling rig system; and iteratively simulating the drilling of a well bore in the formation. The method and system further produce an economic evaluation factor for each iteration of drilling simulation. Each iteration of drilling simulation is a function of the rock column and the characteristics of the at least one drilling rig system according to a prescribed drilling simulation model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventor: William W. King
  • Patent number: 6612383
    Abstract: A dual function drag bit is used in a method for both milling well casing or liner and subsequently drilling rock formation without the sequential removal of a milling assembly and replacement with a drilling assembly. The method employs a cutting tool that is capable of both milling steel pipe casing in a well bore and subsequently drilling rock formation outside the well bore after passing through the casing. In one embodiment an insert embedded into the surface of the cutting tool comprises at least an outer layer, such as cemented tungsten carbide, capable of milling steel casing, and at least a second layer, such as polycrystalline diamond, capable of drilling formation, the two layers being bonded together and to a carbide substrate. In another embodiment, inserts with a polycrystalline diamond cutting face for drilling rock formation are in parallel with cemented tungsten carbide cutters for milling steel casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: Smith International, Inc.
    Inventors: Praful C. Desai, Charles H. Dewey
  • Patent number: 6612384
    Abstract: New cutting structures for roller cone drill bits. In one aspect, a drill bit includes a bit body, roller cones attached to the bit body and able to rotate with respect to the bit body, and a plurality of cutting elements disposed on each of the roller cones, such that axial force on the bit during drilling is substantially balanced between the cones. In another aspect, a drill bit includes a plurality of cutting elements disposed on each roller cone such that the amount of work performed by each cone during drilling is substantially the same as the amount of work performed by each of the other cones. In yet another aspect, a drill bit includes a plurality of cutting elements disposed on each roller cone such that distribution of axial force on the bit is optimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: Smith International, Inc.
    Inventors: Amardeep Singh, Ying Xiang, Sujian Huang
  • Patent number: 6612385
    Abstract: A method for starting a mobile fuel cell system, in particular for a vehicle, includes conveying air to be supplied to the system during starting and operation of the system by a motor-powered compressor, in order to ensure a necessary operating pressure and, if required, additional humidifying of the air. A motor drive for the compressor has an electric motor which is supplied from a mobile starter battery during a starting phase. An output voltage of the starter battery is different from an operating voltage at an output of a fuel cell stack of the fuel cell system. A control device is provided between an output of the starter battery or of the fuel cell stack and a motor input. The control device interrupts the starting voltage supplied from the output of the starter battery and switches over to the output voltage of the fuel cell stack when the output operating voltage of the fuel cell stack reaches an adequate level. A fuel cell system is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Walter Stühler, Alfred Weiss
  • Patent number: 6612386
    Abstract: A propulsion system for use in a hybrid vehicle, the propulsion system includes an internal combustion engine, an electric motor/generator operatively coupled to the internal combustion engine, an electric storage medium, and a propulsion system controller for actuating the propulsion system. The propulsion system controller varies the operating conditions of the electric motor/generator system in response to operating conditions of the vehicle. The propulsion system controller further varies the operating conditions of the electric motor/generator during an engine cranking sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Goro Tamai, William Leonard Aldrich, III, Tony T. Hoang, Patrick L. Risse
  • Patent number: 6612387
    Abstract: The invention concerns a device wherein the equipment and the support formed by the motor vehicle structural element are assembled in at least one point by to matching co-operating element. The equipment co-operating element is elastically deformable for being spaced from or brought close to the support, to enable direct interlocking at said point for mounting with means for cushioning the equipment on the support. The equipment is in particular a heat exchanger comprising an array of tubes assembled at each of their opposite ends by a collector plate closed by a fluid box, the equipment co-operating element being then a structural part of the fluid box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignees: Valeo Thermique Moteur, Valeo Vision
    Inventors: Jean-Nicolas Guyomard, Jacques Sigonneau, Jean-Claude Naty