Patents Issued in December 9, 2003
  • Patent number: 6659169
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for a centrifugal pump (1) for pumping sensitive biological fluids which includes (i) an integral impeller and rotor (21) which is entirely supported and rotated magnetically by electromagnets (52, 54), (ii) a pump housing (12, 14) and arcuate passages for fluid flow and containment, (iii) a brushless driving motor (40) embedded and integral with the pump housing (12, 14), (iv) a power supply and (v) specific electronic sensing and control algorithms-all fitly jointed together to provide efficient, durable and low maintenance pump operation. A specially designed impeller (21) and pump housing (12, 14) provide the mechanism for transport and delivery of fluid through the pump to a pump output port with reduced fluid turbulence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Advanced Rotary Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Edward Lopatinsky, Lev A. Fedoseyev, Yuriy Igorevich Fedosov, Nil Askhatov
  • Patent number: 6659170
    Abstract: A finned-coil heat exchanger has a housing with spaced walls defining an internal chamber with air flowing from an upstream end to a downstream end, spaced transfer tubes with heat conducting media flowing therein from the downstream chamber end to the upstream chamber end, a series of spaced fins in contact with the tubes to transfer heat to flowing air, and a fan unit to move air through the exchanger. An air inlet is defined at the upstream end of the housing or in the lower end of one of the walls so that air can enter the internal chamber. The tubes each extend tortuously back and forth on a plane parallel to the direction of air flow so that there is a counterflow effect across the various segments of each tube. The tubes have at least six segments extending transversely across air flow with the tubes and fins being sized and spaced to provide for better air flow through the heat exchanger housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Inventor: Hemant D. Kale
  • Patent number: 6659171
    Abstract: A hydrophilic modification method comprising a step of forming a coat having a solid coat amount of 0.02 to 3 g/m2 on a heat exchanger with a modifier for hydrophilicity after treatment for rust prevention thereof wherein said modifier for hydrophilicity comprises a modified polyvinyl alcohol (A) having, on a side chain thereof, a group represented by the formula (I): in the formula, n represents an integer of 1 to 500, R1 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group containing 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and R2 represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, and at least one member (B) selected from the group consisting of phosphorus compound salts and boron compound salts of Ca, Al, Mg, Fe and Zn, said group represented by the formula (I) accounting for 0.01 to 20 mole percent relative to hydroxyl and acetoxy groups contained in said modified polyvinyl alcohol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignees: Nippon Paint Co., Ltd., Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Toshio Inbe, Susumu Maekawa, Akira Ushio, Koichi Saito, Norizumi Matsui, Osamu Kasebe, Kengo Kobayashi, Hiroyoshi Sugawara, Kazuhisa Uchiyama
  • Patent number: 6659172
    Abstract: A heat exchanger includes a plurality of spaced-apart plates and a plurality of spacers that separate the plates. The plates and spacers cooperate to form hot-side and cold-side passageways. The plates are made of a thermally and electrically conductive material, and the spacers are made of an electrically non-conductive material. A voltage is applied across the plates to electro-hydrodynamically increase heat transfer efficiency of the heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: AlliedSignal Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas MacGregor Dewar, Alexander F. Anderson
  • Patent number: 6659173
    Abstract: A tubing shoe (30) comprising: a body (32) for mounting on the end of a tubing string; and reaming members (36) extending longitudinally and helically around the body, the reaming members providing substantially complete circumferential coverage of the body whereby, in use, when the tubing shoe is advanced axially into a bore, the reaming members (36) provide reaming around the shoe circumference. A rotatable torque reducing sleeve or centraliser (38) may also be mounted on the body, rearwardly of the reaming members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Downhole Products PLC
    Inventors: Ian Alastair Kirk, William Barron, Alistair Bertrum Clark
  • Patent number: 6659174
    Abstract: A component, such as an electric motor, for use in a subterranean environment. The component comprises an attached recording system to record the cumulative use time of the component. The recording system typically includes a timing circuit or other circuit to output data related to use of the component. This data is recorded by a recording device to maintain a cumulative total.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corp.
    Inventor: James R. Hogan
  • Patent number: 6659175
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of determining the extent of recovery of materials injected into a oil well comprising the steps of: a) preparing a material to be injected into an oil well; b) admixing therewith a chemical tracer compound at a predetermined concentration; c) injecting the admixture into an oil well; d) recovering from the oil well a production fluid; e) analyzing the production fluid for the concentration of the chemical tracer present in the production fluid; and f) calculating the amount of admixture recovered from the oil well using the concentration of the chemical tracer present in the production fluid as a basis for the calculation. Fluorinated benzoic acids are disclosed as a preferred tracer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Core Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Malone, Earuch Broacha, Don Shaw, Tom Hampton
  • Patent number: 6659176
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for remediation of non-aqueous phase liquids (NAPL), including the use of a prior art hydrophobic adsorption system including a continuous loop of adsorptive material, with a weighted pulley on the free end of the loop to allow for the loop to be placed within a well being deeper than it is wide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Inventor: Raj Mahadevaiah
  • Patent number: 6659177
    Abstract: A sample module for use in a downhole tool includes a sample chamber for receiving and storing pressurized fluid. A piston is slidably disposed in the chamber to define a sample cavity and a buffer cavity, and the cavities have variable volumes determined by movement of the piston. A first flowline is provided for communicating fluid obtained from a subsurface formation through the sample module. A second flowline connects the first flowline to the sample cavity, and a third flowline connects the first flowline to the buffer cavity for communicating buffer fluid out of the buffer cavity. A first valve capable of moving between a closed position and an open position is disposed in the second flowline for communicating flow of fluid from the first flowline to the sample cavity. When the first valve is in the open position, the sample cavity and the buffer cavity are in fluid communication with the first flowline and therefore have equivalent pressures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Victor M. Bolze, Jonathan Brown, Andrew Kurkjian
  • Patent number: 6659178
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for sealing well bores is disclosed. The apparatus comprises plates which initially have a width smaller than the diameter of the well bore to be sealed or plugged. The plates are fabricated from a mineral substance which has the property of swelling into an expanded state upon contact with and absorption of a liquid. The apparatus further comprises means for placing the plate within the well bore. Among the mineral substances which may be utilized for forming the plate are members of the group of clay minerals known as smectites, including sodium montmorillonite, calcium montmorillonite, sodium bentonite, and calcium bentonite. A method sealing a well bore with the apparatus is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: WZI, Inc.
    Inventors: Mary Jane Wilson, Jesse D. Frederick, Fredrick Woody
  • Patent number: 6659179
    Abstract: A method of treating a subterranean hydrocarbon bearing formation penetrated by a perforated section of a cased wellbore. A treating mixture containing particulate material is pumped from the casing through the perforations and into the formation. After injection of the particulate through the perforations a screen is circumferentially expanded in the casing and hydrocarbons are flowed through the perforations and into the casing while the screen prevents particulate materials from flowing into the well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Inventor: Philip D. Nguyen
  • Patent number: 6659180
    Abstract: The well intervention system of the invention is a novel subsea deployed wire line, “stiff wire” (conventional wire-line located inside reeled tubing or embedded in the tubing wall), coil tubing, or reeled pipe unit landed on the existing subsea wellhead assembly or tree, wherein the unit includes as an additional novel component a “carousel” tool caddy. The carousel is utilized to allow the remote change-out of multiple tool strings that are included in the carousel prior to deployment, thereby eliminating the need for a “riser” conduit to the surface or the need to trip tools through the riser column for tool replacement. The subject invention also includes an improved method for conducting a well intervention activity, wherein the method includes the step of selecting a tool for the well intervention activity from a carousel tool caddy located in close proximity to the well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research
    Inventor: Jeff H. Moss
  • Patent number: 6659181
    Abstract: A completion system for a subsea well includes a tree having a generally cylindrical wall forming an internal bore therethrough and a production port extending laterally through the wall in communication with the internal bore. The internal wall has a landing arranged to support a tubing hanger having seals for sealing the production port between the tubing hanger and the internal wall, the production port being arranged to communicate with a lateral production fluid outlet port in the tubing hanger. A workover port extends laterally from an opening in the internal wall below the production port and the production port seals and a tubing annulus seal sealing the workover port from the tubing annulus. A tubing annulus port extends from an opening in the tree below the tubing annulus seal and the tubing annulus port and workover port being arranged to be in fluid communication externally of the internal bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Cooper Cameron Corporation
    Inventor: Michael P. Hartmann
  • Patent number: 6659182
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for installing conductor casing for offshore oil wells. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a retrievable suction embedment chamber assembly drives a string of casing into the seafloor using hydrostatic pressure by releasably forming a seal around the casing to be driven and using a pump to lower the pressure inside the chamber. The assembly may then be flooded with seawater, released from the casing, then repositioned at a higher point on the casing, and the embedment process repeated. The assembly may also be used to embed several subsequent strings of casing in series.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Kent Saugier, Bill G. Tompkins
  • Patent number: 6659183
    Abstract: A drill cuttings injection system injects cuttings from drilling a well into a wellhead assembly. The wellhead assembly has a tubular housing mounted to an upper end of a well and a casing hanger concentrically located in the housing, defining an annular clearance. A port extends through the housing for injecting a stream of drill cuttings into the annular clearance. A sleeve is mounted in the port. The sleeve has a cylindrical sidewall and an inner end containing a deflection plate. The sleeve has an aperture in the sidewall adjacent the deflection plate for discharging the stream after the stream contacts the deflection plate. The deflection plate protects the casing hanger from erosive contact with the stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: ABB Vetco Gray Inc.
    Inventor: Martin James Ward
  • Patent number: 6659184
    Abstract: A multi-line back pressure control system for providing two way hydraulic line movement while maintaining back pressure control. Check valves are integrated in hydraulic fluid control lines extending downhole into a wellbore. Each check valve is pilot operated with pressure from another hydraulic line to selectively open the lines for two way fluid communication. Removal of the pilot pressure closes the check valves to provide passive back pressure control against catastrophic wellbore events. Pilot pressure operation between multiple pressurized lines can be provided with valves such as three-way, three-position piloted valves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Welldynamics, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy R. Tips, Brett W. Bouldin, Richard P. Rubbo
  • Patent number: 6659185
    Abstract: A communication tool (100) for communicating hydraulic fluid through a tubing retrievable safety valve (50) is disclosed. The tool (100) has a first section (102) and a second section (132) that are initially coupled together. A set of axial locating keys (112) is operably attached to the first section (102) and is engagably positionable within a profile (62). A radial cutting device (148) is radially extendable through a window (152) of the second section (132). A circumferential locating key (140) is operably attached to the second section (132) and is engagably positionable within a pocket (66) of the safety valve (50) when the first and second sections (102, 132) are decoupled, thereby circumferentially aligning the radial cutting device (148) with the non annular hydraulic chamber (60).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Stuart M. Dennistoun, Roddie Robert Smith, Imre I. Gazda
  • Patent number: 6659186
    Abstract: An apparatus usable in a subterranean well includes a valve, a first mechanism, a second mechanism, and a lock. The valve controls communication between an exterior region that surrounds the valve and an inner passageway of the valve. The first mechanism causes the valve to transition from a first state to a second state in response to pressure in the exterior region. The second mechanism causes the valve to transition between the first state and the second state in response to a pressure differential between the exterior region and the inner passageway. The lock fixes the valve in one of the states.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Dinesh R. Patel
  • Patent number: 6659187
    Abstract: A fire fighting fluid proportioning system and method including a fire fighting fluid conduit in fluid communication with a fire fighting fluid regulating valve and a venturi, the venturi in fluid communication with a valve source of fire fighting foam concentrate, and having a pilot valve connected directly or indirectly to the regulating valve and the concentrate source valve and adapted to adjust, directly or indirectly, the regulating valve and the source valve in response to a sensed indicia of fire fighting fluid pressure in the conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Williams Fire & Hazard Control, Inc
    Inventors: Dennis W. Crabtree, Duane J. Brinkerhoff, Eric LaVergne
  • Patent number: 6659188
    Abstract: A hand-held edger capable of suppressing wear of a cover without an increase in the number of parts. The hand-held edger comprises a main rod supported by an operator's hand; a gear case supported at one end portion of the main rod; a rotating blade connected to a gear in the gear case; a power unit mounted to the other end portion of the main rod, for driving the rotating blade via the gear in the gear case; a resin-made cover attached to a flange of the gear case, for covering the rotating blade; and a wheel supported by the cover, and an outer periphery of the flange is coplanar with the periphery of at least the lowermost portion of the cover or diametrically outwardly protruded therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Takemoto, Yoshiro Yamane, Tadao Yashirodai
  • Patent number: 6659189
    Abstract: A sod harvesting machine comprising a wheeled frame with single or dual cutterheads at the forward end and a sod-receiving wind-up saddle at the rear end. An endless conveyor with a single flight spans the length of the machine and cut sod which is received at the forward end is advanced rearwardly for elevation and transport to the wind-up saddle and discharge at the rear end. The wind-up saddle comprises an expandable frame with pivotally attached supporting arms which commence the wind-up operation in a generally closed “U” configuration, but are controllably adjustably expandable outwardly to open the saddle for continuously accommodating the increase in diameter of the sod roll being helically wound therewithin. When the sod roll reaches its maximum and completed size, the saddle arms are pivoted rearwardly to the horizontal for direct discharge from the harvesting machine onto the ground surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Woerner Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward E. Woerner, Darale G. Haney
  • Patent number: 6659190
    Abstract: A lawn aerator sulky adapted for attachment to a selflawn vehicle, such as a walk-behind mower or fertilizer spreader. The sulky includes a frame supported with wheels, a first platform on which an operator can stand and ride while not aerating, and a second platform carrying one or more aerator tine assemblies on its underside. The second platform and tine assemblies are moveable by the operator selectively transferring his/her weight to position the tine assemblies in a ground-engaged or ground-disengaged position. The sulky includes a device to support the second platform and its tine assemblies in the disengaged position when the operator steps off the platform, and a latching device to hold the second platform and its tine assemblies in the engaged position when the operator steps off the second platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Inventor: Thomas F. Jessen
  • Patent number: 6659191
    Abstract: A vibratory device (10) for dispersing a topdressing and correcting the grain in greens. A deck (30) is supported by a frame (18) with a linkage (36) for raising and lowering the deck (30) with rest to the green. A shaker tray (76) is vibrated within the deck (30) by a vibrator (108) attached to the deck (30). A brush frame (94) is carried within the shaker tray (76) for vibrating against the tips of the grass blades in the green to shake the topdressing into the thatch and to straighten the grass blades. The linkage (36) to raise and lower the deck permits height adjustment of the brush frame (94) with respect to the grass blades so that the brush bristles (106) just tickle the tips minimizing injury to the grass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Inventor: John L. Humphrey
  • Patent number: 6659192
    Abstract: A hydraulic lift device for an attaching device of a tractor which has a hydraulic pressure supply device and a hydraulic tank, comprising for each of two lower steering arms, a double acting hydraulic cylinder having a cylinder housing, a piston rod, a piston with a piston-end piston area and a piston rod-end piston area, as well as a piston-end cylinder chamber and a piston rod-end cylinder chamber. The device further comprises a first switching valve, which has at least three switching positions and four ports. The first port represents a connection to the pressure supply device. The second port represents the connection to the hydraulic tank. The third port represents the connection to the piston-end cylinder chamber of the first hydraulic cylinder and the fourth port represents the connection to the piston rod-end cylinder chamber of the second hydraulic chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: GKN Walterscheid GmbH
    Inventors: Herbert Coenen, John Sayer
  • Patent number: 6659193
    Abstract: An adjustment mechanism for use with farm implements or other equipment utilizes a series of alternating teeth and notches arranged in an arcuate pattern about an axis of adjusting movement on a movable member and a pair of arcuately spaced latching bars on a stationary member of the mechanism. The bars are individually shiftable into and out of engagement with the teeth and notches and are spaced apart such a distance that when either of the bars is in registration with a notch, the other bar is in registration with a tooth. Springs yieldably bias the bars toward the teeth and notches so that the bar aligned with a notch will snap down into the notch while the other bar resides in a standby position abutting the outer end of its tooth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Morris Industries Ltd.
    Inventors: Donald T. Best, Tony M. Matsalla
  • Patent number: 6659194
    Abstract: A blade angle adjustment system for adjusting the angle of the blade with respect to the body of a bulldozer. The blade angle adjustment system includes a pair of sleeve assemblies each being designed for being slidably coupled to one of a pair of lifting arms of the bulldozer. Each of the sleeve assemblies comprises a mounting member coupled to a main portion of an associated one of the sleeve assemblies whereby the mounting member is designed for pivotally receiving one of a pair of pivot arms each of the sleeve assemblies is designed for being coupled to one of a pair of extending rams of the bulldozer whereby lengthening of one of the extending rams slides the associated one of the sleeve assemblies along the associated one of the lifting arms for changing angle the blade with respect to a body of the bulldozer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Inventor: Samuel C. Thompson
  • Patent number: 6659195
    Abstract: A drive head for supporting a soil sampling tube in a drive assembly in which the head and tube are driven into the ground by a power source connected to the head or to at least one drive rod connected to the head. The drive head has a body portion in the configuration of a truncated cone, which is provided with an integral upper threaded nipple for attaching to the drive rod, and an integral lower threaded nipple for attaching to the sampling tube. The drive head has, in addition, a solid body provided with a venting passageway that extends from the lower threaded nipple to an outer surface of the truncated cone for venting air from the head and tube when the head and tube are driven into the ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Inventor: Robert J. Schmon
  • Patent number: 6659196
    Abstract: An upper end (10) for the inner tube of a core drill has a marking device comprising a pendulum (350) or hard ball (30) which runs in a circumferential track (24). The marking device adapted to be carried within a tubular upper end casing (12) which surrounds a spindle (11) which supports the inner tube of the drill. An indent washer (25) is positionable below the marking device and is oriented relative to the casing. When the upper end (10) is lifted, the marking device is driven into contact with the washer (25) and makes an impression. The orientation of the impression reveals the orientation of the drill. The impressioned washer (25) can be used to assist in noting or marking the core orientation after the drill is removed from the earth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Shelljet PTY Limited
    Inventor: Leslie Michael Anderson
  • Patent number: 6659197
    Abstract: Determining the downhole rheological properties of a wellbore fluid. The method includes moving the wellbore fluid through a wellbore tool assembly into a wellbore at a first flow rate. A pressure is measured at a first position proximate a bottom of the wellbore. A pressure is measured at a second position in the wellbore axially separated from the first position. The wellbore fluid is then moved through the wellbore tool assembly at a second flow rate. Measuring pressure at the first and second positions is repeated, and at least one rheological property is determined from the pressure measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Iain Cooper
  • Patent number: 6659198
    Abstract: The backreamer assembly for enlarging shallow depth boreholes in an earthen environment includes a substantially conical cutting surface. Contained within the substantially conical cutting surface is a speed reduction, torque increasing gearbox which transmits rotational power from a drive motor to the substantially conical cutting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: S & S Trust
    Inventor: David Camp
  • Patent number: 6659199
    Abstract: A rotary drag bit carrying PDC cutters and elongated bearing elements associated with at least some of the PDC cutters on the bit face thereof Lateral positioning and angular positioning of the elongated bearing elements are adjusted so that all portions of an elongated bearing element travel substantially completely within a tubular clearance volume defined by the path through the formation being drilled by a PDC cutter with which that elongated bearing element is associated, the associated PDC cutter being positioned at about the same radius from the bit centerline as the elongated bearing element. A method of drilling and a method of drill bit design are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventor: Mohammad Swadi
  • Patent number: 6659200
    Abstract: An actuator assembly is a valveless, high pressure, positive displacement, axial drive system including a hydraulic fluid reservoir and a hydraulic enclosure in an actuator housing with a bi-directional pump assembly driven by an electric motor and a piston assembly disposed within the hydraulic enclosure. The bi-directional pump accurately displacing the piston a given distance to exert a large drive or actuation force and to maximize that actuation force given a limited electrical current transmitted to the motor. Because the pump is bi-directional, the piston can be repositioned after actuation by reversing the direction of flow through the pump without using valves to direct the hydraulic fluid flow. The actuator assembly may also include a piston repositioning assembly connected to the hydraulic enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Jay M. Eppink
  • Patent number: 6659201
    Abstract: A variable orientation downhole actuation tool is made up of a first part which is adapted to be fixed with respect to the end of a down hole tube, and a second part which is adjustable with respect to the first part. The first and second parts are adjustable with respect to each other in any two of the three Euler angles possible angles, that is, the included angle or bend of a respective reference axis, the plane of included angle, or direction, and the rotation of the first body about its reference axis. It may also include a third part such that the third part is adjusted by at least one of the possible angles with respect to the second part, and the second part is adjusted by a further of the possible angles with respect to the first part. A passageway is provided between the first and second parts for the conveyance of material, gas, liquid, solid or some combination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignees: TSL Technology, XL Technology Limited
    Inventors: Philip Head, Mike Yuratich
  • Patent number: 6659202
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for directional drilling utilizing a fluid hammer. The fluid hammer is coupled to a bent steering member which, in turn, is coupled to a drill string. The bent steering member includes means for rotating the fluid hammer independently of the bent steering member. The means for rotating may be a mud motor or a dual drive, pipe-in-pipe mechanism. The fluid hammer may be directed by rotating the drill string and bent steering member to point the fluid hammer in a desired direction. The bent steering member may include a sonde for monitoring its orientation. Fluid pressure capable of activating the fluid hammer is conveyed to the fluid hammer by means of the drill string.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Vermeer Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Randy Runquist, Mark Van Houwelingen
  • Patent number: 6659203
    Abstract: A lockable motor assembly (1) for use in a well bore comprises a PDM motor (2) having a rotor (4) and a stator (3). A locking member (12) has a splined projection (13) which is received within a splined recess (14) of the rotor and external splines (15) which mate with splines provided on a sub (5) connected to the stator. The components are held in this configuration by a shear ring (23) until the fluid pressure within a chamber (28) defined between the locking member (12) and the sub (5) is sufficient to cause the shear ring to shear. The locking member (12) may then move out of the engagement with the rotor to free the motor for operation. The locking member is held in this position by a ratchet mechanism (35).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Smith International Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Cruickshank, John P. Boyce, Christopher J. Caton, Bruce McGarian
  • Patent number: 6659204
    Abstract: A pressure and temperature core sampler comprises a tool for recovering cores specifically enabling the evaluation of methane hydrate resources. Because methane hydrate tends to decompose under conditions of pressure decrease and/or temperature increase as the samples are retrieved to the surface, a coring tool in accordance with the present invention provides a self-contained system for retrieving core samples at or near in situ pressure while cooling the core sample. The coring tool is preferably a wire line retrievable device that provides for nearly continuous coring during the drilling operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Japan National Oil Corporation
    Inventors: James T. Aumann, Craig R. Hyland
  • Patent number: 6659205
    Abstract: A rock drill including a drilling rod (2), a cup-shaped drilling head (5) secured to the drilling rod (2) at one of its ends, and connection elements including at least one radially projecting, entraining web (8) associated with the drilling rod (2) and received in at least one axially extending entrain slot (9) which is formed in an entrain surface of the cup-shaped drilling head (5) for securing the drilling head (5) to the drilling rod (2) for joint rotation therewith and for a limited axial displacement relative thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Hilti Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Werner Kleine, Hans-Werner Bongers-Ambrosius, Udo Hauptmann, Martin Richter
  • Patent number: 6659206
    Abstract: A hardfacing composition for a drill bit is disclosed which includes a carbide phase made from about 80% to less than 100% by weight of a combination of sintered carbide pellets and crushed cast carbide and from more than 0% to about 20% by weight of carburized tungsten carbide. The composition includes a binder alloy. A roller cone drill bit includes a bit body and at least one roller cone rotatably mounted to the bit body. The at least one roller cone includes at least one cutting element. The cutting element has on its exterior surface a hardfacing. The hardfacing on the cutting element was formed with a hardfacing composition that includes a binder alloy and a carbide phase, which includes from about 80% to less than 100% by weight of a combination of sintered carbide pellets and crushed cast carbide, and from more than 0% to about 20% by weight of carburized tungsten carbide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Smith International, Inc.
    Inventors: Dah-ben Liang, Alysia C. White
  • Patent number: 6659207
    Abstract: A bi-center drill bit is disclosed which includes a bit body having pilot blades and reaming blades distributed azimuthally around the body. The blades have cutting elements disposed thereon at selected positions. The body and blades define a longitudinal axis of the bit and a pass-through axis of the bit. In one aspect, selected ones of the pilot blades include thereon, longitudinally between the pilot blades and the reaming blades, a pilot hole conditioning section including gage faces. The gage faces define a diameter intermediate a pilot hole diameter and a pass-through diameter defined, respectively, by the pilot blades and the reaming blades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Smith International, Inc.
    Inventors: Carl Hoffmaster, Timothy P. Beaton
  • Patent number: 6659208
    Abstract: A powered golf caddy vehicle permits a single golfer to conveniently control the speed and direction of travel during a round of golf while following the vehicle. Steering and throttle control functions are merged on a single steering tiller arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Fairway Golf Cars, LLC
    Inventors: Edward J Gaffney, John Daily, Ronald G Koehn, Alan Zaremba
  • Patent number: 6659209
    Abstract: A tractor having a mid-mount type mower includes a pair of frames extending in a fore and aft direction, and a transmission case extending and supported between the pair of frames. The transmission case houses a power take off clutch disposed above a rear wheel differential. A change speed gearing mechanism is disposed between a front surface of the transmission case and the rear wheel differential. With such an arrangement of the components, the transmission case has a reduced length in the fore and aft direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Kubota Corporation
    Inventors: Masashi Osuga, Takashi Yoshii, Hiroshi Shimada
  • Patent number: 6659210
    Abstract: A device for golfing has a golf caddy having one pair of wheels and an inclined holding bar, and an attachment having a substantially horizontal platform with two opposite ends spaced from one another in a horizontal direction, another pair of wheels located at one end of the platform, and electric motor drive means connected with the first pair of wheels so as to drive the first pair of wheels and therefore to move the platform, and means for connecting the platform with the one pair of wheels of the golf caddy so that in one position the platform is connected with the one pair of wheels of the golf caddy at one side of the one pair of wheels so that the holding bar extends at an acute angle to the platform and a user can stand on the platform and ride, and another position in which the platform is connected with the one pair of wheels of the golf caddy and the holding bar extends at an obtuse angle to the platform so that a user can pull the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Inventor: Albert Ronald Tyson
  • Patent number: 6659211
    Abstract: An invalid mobile cart with enclosure (10) having a cart (12) which has a cart top (12T), cart bottom (12A), cart left (12L), cart right (12R), cart front (12F), cart back (12B), at least one cart front wheel, cart rear right wheel (12DRR) and cart rear left wheel (not shown) rotatably and extending downwardly from the cart bottom (12A). At least one wheel is connected to a motor (not shown). A transparent or translucent enclosure (14) is securely mounted on the cart top (12T). The enclosure (14) has an enclosure housing (14A) having a enclosure left door (14L) and enclosure right door (14R) hingeably connected thereto. A steering/control (16) means is positioned on the cart top (12T) at the cart front (12F). The steering/control (16) has a steering/control wheel (16A) connected to a steering/control column (16B) which is connected to the at least one cart front wheel and the motor. A support (18) positioned on the cart top (12T) at the cart back (12B).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Inventor: Charles Esposito
  • Patent number: 6659212
    Abstract: In a hybrid drive for a vehicle, an exhaust gas turbocharger is coupled to an electrical machine. The machine is actuated by an electronic control device to limit the supercharge pressure of the exhaust gas turbocharger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Dietmar Geisse, Karl-Ernst Noreikat, Alfons Rennefeld
  • Patent number: 6659213
    Abstract: A vehicle is provided including a high-voltage battery for a motor/generator power source, a low-voltage battery for electrical loads, an inverter for controlling the motor/generator, sensors which detect a condition of the high-voltage battery, a rotation speed of the engine, a vehicle speed, and a depression of an accelerator pedal, and a microprocessor. The microprocessor is programmed to compute a state of charge (SOC) of the high-voltage battery, compute a degree of deterioration of the high-voltage battery, control a current generated by the motor/generator so that the SOC of the high-voltage battery coincides with a target SOC, vary the target SOC according to the degree of deterioration of the high-voltage battery, determine whether or not the vehicle is decelerating, and set the target SOC to the low target SOC when the vehicle is not decelerating and to the high target SOC when the vehicle is decelerating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Asami Kubo, Kenichi Goto
  • Patent number: 6659214
    Abstract: A tracked vehicle adapted for receiving a wheeled vehicle and to be driven by the wheeled vehicle. The tracked vehicle has a chassis. Guide and drive wheels are mounted on the chassis at each side and a set of tracks are driven by the driven wheels and guided by the guide wheels. Rear wheels of the wheeled vehicle rest in a pair of drive rollers and rotating stiles are adapted for receiving steered wheels of the wheeled vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: R. Pollitt Oilfield Construction, Ltd.
    Inventor: Douglas Laing
  • Patent number: 6659215
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a four-wheel drive vehicle which on account of its constructive composition has very good off-road characteristics, in addition to which the vehicle can be adapted to a number of transport requirements and can act as a tool carrier. The vehicle is substantially frameless in the traditional sense with a front and rear rigid differential axle mounted on a beam or frame extending centrally in the vehicle's longitudinal direction, where at least one of the axles can rotate about the vehicle's longitudinal axis, while at the same time both of the vehicle's axles are each steered in the opposite direction to each other about their axes perpendicularly to the vehicle's longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Inventor: Svein Olaf Lie
  • Patent number: 6659216
    Abstract: A vehicle including an integral transaxle apparatus with axles, a driving hydrostatic transmission (HST), a steering HST, and a differential unit. Driving operating means for slanting operation of a first movable swash plate of the variable displacement driving hydraulic pump for switching the travelling direction between forward and backward and for changing the travelling speed, and steering operating means for slanting operation of a second movable swash plate of the variable displacement steering hydraulic pump so as to determine the leftward and rightward cornering angle are provided. The steering hydraulic motor has a third movable swash plate interlocking with the driving operating means so that the slanting direction of the third movable swash plate is changed according to the operation of the driving operating means, whereby the vehicle turns laterally in the same direction in response to the steering operating means whether the vehicle travels forward or backward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Kanzaki Kokyukoki Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koji Irikura, Norihiro Ishii, Ryota Ohashi, Kenichi Takada, Hirohiko Kawada, Robert Abend, Keith J. Andrews, Toshiyuki Hasegawa, Hiroaki Shimizu
  • Patent number: 6659217
    Abstract: A drive unit assembly utilizes a single input to drive a pair of laterally spaced wheel ends. Each wheel end is suspended independently from the other. The input is operatively coupled to only one of the wheel ends and an exposed axle shaft assembly interconnects the input to the opposite wheel end. The axle shaft assembly includes multiple shaft members to interconnect the laterally spaced wheel ends. One of the axle shaft members is mounted to a vehicle floor structure with a bearing mount and includes connection joints at either end to accommodate the independent motion of each wheel end. The floor and the shaft member move together during suspension travel, allowing the floor to have a lower profile than is traditionally available.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Meritor Heavy Vehicle Technology, LLC
    Inventors: Mark C. Smith, John L. Bennett, Chihping Kuan, John K. Ma, William C. Sullivan, Edward J. Eshelman, Dean M. House, Tomaz Dopico Varela
  • Patent number: 6659218
    Abstract: A steering system comprises a hand wheel positioned for manipulation by a driver, a steering shaft extending from the hand wheel, and a magnetic column lock. The steering shaft is supported by a steering column housing so that it can rotate on its own axis. The magnetic column lock includes a rotor attached to steering shaft, a stator attached to column housing, and magnetorheological fluid filling a space between the rotor and stator. In another aspect of the steering system, the steering shaft extends from the hand wheel through a hand wheel actuator having a position sensor and a motor for providing driver feedback. A steering column extends from a lower portion of said steering shaft to a rack, and includes a pinion at its lower end for engagement with the rack, so that the rack translates left and right when the pinion is rotated in corresponding directions. The rack is connected to the front road wheels and causes the front road wheels to steer when it is translated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven M Thomas, James Myrl Card