Patents Issued in March 18, 2008
  • Patent number: 7343935
    Abstract: In a gas flow control flap operating mechanism including a ball-head joint provided between an actuator drive and the gas flow control valve flap with a ball head which is received in a multipart ball-head socket, the parts of the ball-head socket are interconnected so that the ball-head socket is closed around the ball head and the ball-head socket is contained by a receiving part and includes locking means which hold the multipart ball-head socket in the receiving part and in engagement with the ball-head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Hans Butz, Hermann Büter
  • Patent number: 7343936
    Abstract: A coupling used during testing of a water line including an upstream pipe and a downstream pipe connected by the coupling. A removable barrier disk prevents water from flowing through the connected pipes until after testing, when the disk is then detached from the body member of the coupling. A piercing assembly interacts with a groove near the perimeter of the disk to initiate a tear that propagates along the groove as the disk is pulled away from the body member of the coupling. The piercing assembly is attached to the disk by a fulcrum element offset with respect to a center of the planar disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: MCP Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Fred Collins, Albert A. Amparan, Mark J. Cataldo
  • Patent number: 7343937
    Abstract: A method of inserting a cured in-place pipe from a cleanout includes positioning a lining along a portion of a length of a bladder, wherein the lining is frangibly connected to the bladder, inserting the bladder through the cleanout, to a position wherein the lining is within the pipe and does not block the pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: LMK Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Larry W. Kiest, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7343938
    Abstract: An industrial two-layer fabric comprising pairs of an upper surface side warp and a lower surface side warp arranged vertically, and warp binding yarns woven with upper surface side wefts and lower surface side wefts to form a portion of an upper surface side surface design and a portion of a lower surface side surface design. Upper surface side warps and warp binding yarns are of the same diameter and lower surface side warps have a greater diameter than warp binding yarns and upper surface side warps. A lower surface side layer is designed so that lower surface side warps and warp binding yarns are arranged alternately, and one lower surface side weft passes over one lower surface side warp and one warp binding yarn adjacent to each other, and passes under a plurality of lower surface side warps and warp binding yarns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Nippon Filcon Co. Ltd.
    Inventor: Keiichi Takimoto
  • Patent number: 7343939
    Abstract: A method of wire forming using a pliers having opposed faces on jaws, each with a relief between the face and a pivot point of the pliers, the reliefs forming a recess, and a link movably secured to the pivot point and carrying a post extending into the recess, the method including forming a loop in a U-shaped wire received in the recess around the post by closing the jaws until the faces compress the U-shape into a loop around the post, and in an alternative embodiment, an elongated link retained to the pliers with a spring holds the post in a desired position before engagement between the wire and post, and wherein the link is extendable to position the post beyond the jaws to allow further formation of the wire received around the post.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Swanstrom Tools USA Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy W. Sheriff
  • Patent number: 7343940
    Abstract: A wire comb and method for assembling an organized bundle, such as a bundled cable, from a plurality of strands using the wire comb. The wire comb includes an inner component as a hub and an outer component as a collar. The hub has slots configured to accept the plurality of strands lengthwise, and at least one projection that extends beyond an outer perimeter of the hub. The collar has at least one recess configured to interface with the projection of the hub for connecting the hub to the collar. The collar also has an opening that allows the plurality of strands to be inserted into the collar prior to connecting the hub with the collar. As such, combing can be accomplished without requiring that the wire combing commence from either end of the strands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Adobe Communications Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Gordon P. (Skip) Loeffler, Geoff J. Gomes, Dennis W. Newberry
  • Patent number: 7343941
    Abstract: A pressurized package contaning an initial paint formulation having a neutral or clear color is prepared by mixing a propellant and a clear non-pigmented base or a clear pigmented base or a white pigmented base in a pressurizable container. This pressurized container is then sold to retail stores where tints and/or pigment dispersions are injected into the pressurized container to arrive at a matched or selected final color and sold directly to the end user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Seymour of Sycamore
    Inventors: Christopher Heatley, William G. Zanellato
  • Patent number: 7343942
    Abstract: A method of forming a gas tank filler neck includes configuring at least a portion of a seamless tubular member to induce a swirl to passing fuel for venting vapors from the gas tank during fuel filling. The configuration may include deep drawing a seamless funnel member, forming a relatively large inlet at one end thereof, and forming a relatively small outlet at the opposite end thereof, the inlet having an axis offset from the axis of the outlet. A filler neck includes a seamless funnel member defining a relatively large inlet opening and relatively small outlet opening, the position of the inlet opening relative the outlet opening inducing a swirl to the fuel being supplied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Shelby Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Patrick R. O'Connell
  • Patent number: 7343943
    Abstract: An automated system is provided and includes a safety and cost reducing feature that is capable of detecting whether an underfill condition exists within the product container as a unit dose of medication is delivered thereto. More specifically, the medication is typically injected into the product container under action of a delivery device, such as a pump, and the underfill detection device is capable of calculating if air (air bubbles) has been dispensed into the product container and based on this information, the device is able to measure the amount of the unit dose of medication within the product container and if necessary, additional medication can be added if it is determined that an underfill condition exists in order to compensate for the presence of the air bubbles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: ForHealth Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Abdul Wahid Khan, Abdolhosein Nasiri
  • Patent number: 7343944
    Abstract: An improved elongated fuel inlet pipe having an opening on one end for inserting a fuel source and a plunger valve at an opposite end for permitting fluid to flow into a tank. The pipe has a plurality of slots in a top sidewall of the pipe, a movable closure over the slots and a spring to bias the collar to a closed position. A gate is mounted inside the pipe and is drivingly linked to the closure by a finger that extends through one of the slots for displacing the closure longitudinally toward the plunger valve when there is an increased pressure applied to the gate for permitting fluid flow through the slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Scott Dennis
  • Patent number: 7343945
    Abstract: A milling system for milling patterns into a workpiece is disclosed. The system comprises a baseplate having an aperture and a template disposed within the aperture and positionable in a plurality of registrated orientations relative to the baseplate. The baseplate is formed of two separable baseplate parts. A system for vertically supporting a rotary cutting tool is also disclosed. The system comprises a base, a plurality of posts extending upwardly from the base, and a tool support for supporting the rotary tool. The tool support has a plurality of sleeves, one associated with each of the posts. The sleeves slidably receive respective ones of the posts. The tool support further includes springs for biasing the tool support away from the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Nomis LLC
    Inventors: Karl-Heinz Schelberg, Jurgen Mathee, Joe Karkosch, John R. Kochanski
  • Patent number: 7343946
    Abstract: A high speed planer head. Disclosed according to one aspect of the invention is a hub and a threaded member. The hub is axially disposed for rotation about an axis, and has a pocket for receiving a first knife against a supporting wall of the pocket. The threaded member has a frustoconical ramping portion for producing a wedging force against the knife when the threaded member is threaded into a threaded hole in the hub. According to another aspect of the invention, a second hub for carrying a second knife is provided, the second hub preferably being bolted to the first hub to that the hubs can be disassembled. The second knife preferably has two linear cutting edges and the second knife preferably has at least two curvilinear cutting edges and more preferably has four concave, semi-circular cutting edges that are spaced apart from one another with 90 degree rotational symmetry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Key Knife, Inc.
    Inventor: Bradley R. Stager
  • Patent number: 7343947
    Abstract: The cylindrical shank of a rotatable tool is retained in the cylindrical bore of a tool holder by a retainer that engages an annular groove on a portion of the shank of the tool that extends outward of the rear surface of the tool holder. The tool has an axial bore in the distal end of the shank. The retainer has a pair of spaced ridges that engage the annular groove on the shank and a panel that extends across the distal end of the shank. The retainer is held in place by a pin extending through the panel and into the bore in the distal end of the shank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: The Sollami Company
    Inventor: Phillip A. Sollami
  • Patent number: 7343948
    Abstract: A pneumatic tire for two-wheeled motor vehicles 1 comprises a belt layer 7 and a tread reinforcing layer 9 outside of a single carcass ply 6A made of organic fiber cords. The belt layer 7 is comprised of a belt ply 7A in which steel cords are spirally wound substantially parallel to a tire circumferential direction. The tread reinforcing layer 9 is comprised of a reinforcing ply 9A in which organic fiber cords are aligned to be substantially parallel to the tire circumferential direction. A width RW of the reinforcing ply 9A in a tire axial direction is not less than 30 mm and not more than 90% of a tread grounding width CW.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Satoshi Matsunaga
  • Patent number: 7343949
    Abstract: The invention concerns an installation comprising a feeding device (100, 101, 103, 104, 1, 11, 12) unwinding the support (G) and a treating device (105, 4) for operating on the parts (P). A reading unit (102) positioned on the passage (Z) of the bar codes (CB) of the parts (P), supplies signals (SL). A data source (107) contains data concerning the bar codes (CB). A control circuit (106, 5) receives the sense signals (SL) and the data signals (SD) so as to compare them and transmit control signals (SC) for the treating device (105, 4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Inventor: Jean-Claude Vandevoorde
  • Patent number: 7343950
    Abstract: Vibratory welded connections are formed between first and second members of thermoplastic material by interposing a junction piece of similar material and vibrating the junction piece at high speed while pressing the first and second members in a controlled manner against opposite sides of the junction piece. Friction created by the vibration generates heat which melts a small amount of material at the engaging surfaces which upon cooling provides a strong welded joint having minimal flash. Entire frame systems such as window frames can be fabricated by an apparatus system which forms a friction welded joint between adjacent ends of the frame members. Furthermore the frame can be fabricated around a panel such as a glazing panel. The welded connections formed by the system do not mar the finish of the frame members and produce no unsightly flash bead requiring subsequent machining steps for its removal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Bystronic Solution Centre Inc
    Inventors: Stephen Field, Michael Glover
  • Patent number: 7343951
    Abstract: The invention concerns an installation for machining (1) a continuous material (2), comprising a device for applying fluids, for example plastic substances and/or fluid adhesives, in the form of a surface coat at least partly on the continuous material (2) directly applied or by transfer. Such installations are particularly used for laminating a continuous material and one or more substrates. The invention is characterized in that the application device (A) mounted in the deflecting and/or pressing roll (4) is an interchangeable modular unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Solipat AG
    Inventor: Rudolph Nüssli
  • Patent number: 7343952
    Abstract: The apparatus for manufacturing a reinforcement for a tire comprises an eyelet 60 through which the cord 4 can slip; the eyelet 60 is carried by a drive mechanism 3. A guide ring 5 is positioned relative to a main arm 31 in such a manner that this passes through the ring during its cyclical movement. The ring comprises a slot 54 through which the cord passes. The ring 5 comprises a base 50, two lateral walls 51 which are rigidly connected to the base and which are disposed on either side thereof, two deflectors 52 each rigidly connected to one of the lateral partition walls disposed at the end thereof opposite the base, the two deflectors being oriented towards one another and each ending with a lip 53, the lips being of similar and opposite shapes, the slot 54 being defined by the lips of the deflectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Michelin Recherche Et Technique S.A.
    Inventor: Henri Hinc
  • Patent number: 7343953
    Abstract: A device and method of using same is provides which includes the use of an apparatus configured to apply labels to parcels moving along a conveyor belt. The apparatus of the present invention includes a support frame, a pair of turntable assemblies, a corresponding pair of arm assemblies, similarly corresponding arm assembly drive motors, a label application head assembly, a label printer/supplier, and a controlling apparatus. The support frame supports the pair of two turntable assemblies. Each of the turntable assemblies supports one of the arm assemblies such that each of the arm assemblies is pivotable about a horizontal axis. Each of the arm assemblies is also movable along its longitudinal axis relative to its respective turntable. The lower ends of arm assemblies are attached together in a hinged connection. At one end of one of the arm assemblies is attached a label application head assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: United Parcel Service of America, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven L. Smith
  • Patent number: 7343954
    Abstract: A label applying apparatus according to the present invention is constituted such that only energization power for a release operation of a manual lever is stored up during a grasp operation of the manual lever to a grip of a main body, and a label is delaminated from a backing paper web by the release operation of the manual lever, wherein the release operation ceases automatically when the release operation corresponds to a length of the label.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Shinsei Industries Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Yanagida, Shoji Takahashi
  • Patent number: 7343955
    Abstract: A tire changing machine for changing difficult to mount tires is provided. The machine utilizes various implements configured about the machine's chassis in such a way that they do not interfere with each other's operation. In this way, the machine enables an operator to effectively change various tires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Hennessy Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles L. Cunningham
  • Patent number: 7343956
    Abstract: A protection device for a vehicle interior has a flexible sheet-like structure which is arranged movably between a compactly put-away rest position and an extended functional position and which is connected on the end side transversely to the direction of extension over its width to a dimensionally stable profiled part. The sheet-like structure has a sheet-like section which is extended over its width and is connected extensively and cohesively to a sheet-like section of an outer casing of the profiled part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Bos GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Thomas Schleef, Gunter Haebe, Juergen Wurster
  • Patent number: 7343957
    Abstract: A guide roller seat for a window covering includes a seat body, and a plurality of guide rollers rotatably mounted in the seat body to guide movement of a cord which is extended between an automatic winding mechanism and a covering body of the window covering. Thus, the cord is kept with a determined tension by the drawing action of the guide rollers, so that the cord is drawn by guidance of the guide rollers so as to fold or extend the covering body smoothly and evenly, thereby preventing the covering body from being tilted during the drawing action of the cord.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Inventor: Shih-Ming Lin
  • Patent number: 7343958
    Abstract: A garage door cable drum is disclosed for a sectional overhead door of a type having a substantially non-linear lift-weight to lift-height characteristic. The drum includes a generally spiral cable groove having a variable minor radius. The groove minor radius at any intermediate point along the groove is sized to provide a lift-cable moment arm that yields a corresponding cable lift force that is slightly less than an instantaneous lift weight of the garage door at any intermediate door elevation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Amarr Company
    Inventors: A. Anthony East, Darrin Brunk, Yannick Funk, Normand Savard, Mathieu Provencal
  • Patent number: 7343959
    Abstract: The present invention provides a pressure casting method of a magnesium alloy. In the method, a molten magnesium alloy is cooled to form a partially molten state containing a solid-phase, and the partially molten state is further cooled to form a solid-phase granularly crystallized solid material. The solid material is partially-melted and pressure cast into a mold by a molding machine. A ratio of primary crystals in said solid material is set to 55 to 65%. The solid material is partially-melted in a solid-phase and liquid-phase coexisting state at a selected heating temperature so that a semi-solid having thixotropic properties and having the size of a main solid phase of 50 to 250 ?m and a solid-phase ratio of 30 to 70% is formed. The semi-solid is pressure cast into a mold through a nozzle while maintaining the semi-solid state to form metal products having a ratio of primary crystals of 20 to 50%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignees: Nissei Plastic Industrial Co., Ltd., Chiba Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Tetsuichi Motegi, Kazutoshi Takayama, Kiyoto Takizawa
  • Patent number: 7343960
    Abstract: A system for producing cast components from molten metal. One form of the present invention includes a system for the precision pouring of molten metal within a casting mold. The precision pouring system is driven by a pressure differential.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Donald J. Frasier, M. Eric Schlienger
  • Patent number: 7343961
    Abstract: Ultrathin hot rolled steel strips are obtained from thin slabs using a continuous casting process and production line. The process and production line includes a secondary cooling system, a roughing mill, an induction heating zone to fix temperatures of the intermediate strip chosen between 1000 and 1400° C., a final rolling zone to reduce the thickness of the hot finished strip while keeping a controlled temperature of the hot rolled strip from the last stand of the finishing rolling mill higher than 750° C. The strip is cooled between the last stand of the finishing rolling mill and the coiling station using a specific T.T.T diagram (time-temperature-transformation) for steel quality and strip thickness. A control system is also provided with a master system and six further peripheric sub-systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Inventor: Giovanni Arvedi
  • Patent number: 7343962
    Abstract: A heat sink for dissipating heat from an electronic component comprises a heat spreader and a plurality of first fins and second fins provided thereon. The first and second fins are parallel to each other and arranged in alternating order so as to define a plurality of air passages. The first and second fins are so arranged that thinner air passages and denser fin distribution in the middle along the extension direction of the air passages and wider air passages and lower fin distribution density at two ends are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignees: Fu Zhun Precision Industry (Shen Zhen) Co., Ltd., Foxconn Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Wan-Lin Xia, Tao Li, Min-Qi Xiao, Yong Zhong
  • Patent number: 7343963
    Abstract: A method and incorporated heat sink that is cooled both thorough air flow and liquid circulation is provided. The heat sink is disposed close to electronic components and used for their cooling. It comprises a finned structure positioned such that air can easily pass though it; a heat source plate disposed thermally in direction of heat flow to one side of the finned structure such that the heat source plate is in thermal communication with the finned structure fin base and fin tips, and a second plate also disposed at an opposing end of the finned structure in thermal communication both with finned structure fin base and fin tips. The heat sink also includes fluid re-circulator disposed at least partially in the plates for circulating fluids though the plates and around said finned structure such that both fin tips and fin base is cooled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Randy J. Zoodsma
  • Patent number: 7343964
    Abstract: A support device for supporting a plurality of elongated members. The support device having a longitudinally extensive strip having a plurality of sets of transverse corrugations located at successive longitudinal locations along the strip. Each set of transverse corrugations forming a plurality of elongated member engaging zones extending laterally outwards from both faces of the strip to engage the elongated members in the tube bundle on opposite sides of a tube lane. The support device is useful to support elongated members in a bundle and to mitigate the possibility of damage from flow-induced vibration in elongated members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research & Engineering Company
    Inventors: Thomas M. Rudy, Amar S. Wanni, Marciano M. Calanog
  • Patent number: 7343965
    Abstract: A brazed plate heat exchanger (30) is provided for transferring heat between a first fluid (32) and a second fluid (34), with the first fluid (32) being pressurized to a relatively high pressure. The heat exchanger includes plate pairs (41), with each pair (41) defining a plurality of flow channels (56) for the first fluid (32). Each of the flow channels (56) has a hydraulic diameter less than 1 mm. Reinforcements (62) are provided between each of the plate pairs (41) and are aligned with inlet and outlet openings (46,48) to define inlet and outlet manifolds (50,52) for the first fluid (32).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Modine Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Stephen B. Memory, Jianmin Yin, Tao Jia, Milisav Lazarevic, Roland Strähle
  • Patent number: 7343966
    Abstract: A stamped manifold for a heat exchanger includes a central portion having a plurality of mating tubular members for connection to tubes of a heat exchanger. The manifold includes a plurality of folds disposed between the mating tubular members to form a pair of channels below a plane of the central portion and a central fold above the plane of the central portion. The manifold includes a first extension member extending from a side edge of the central portion and a second extension member extending from another side of the central portion and opposing the first extension member. The free ends of the first extension member and the second extension member are disposed in the pair of channels in contact with the central fold and secured in place to define a first fluid conduit and a second fluid conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Newfield Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Takeyoshi Nitta
  • Patent number: 7343967
    Abstract: A well fluid homogenization device for use in a pumping system configured to recover fluids from a well includes a central hub and a plurality of posts extending from the central hub. The well fluid homogenization device is configured to rotate with a drive shaft to homogenize well fluid as the well fluid passes through a pumping system. The well fluid homogenization device is well-suited to be incorporated within gas separators and pump assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Wood Group ESP, Inc.
    Inventor: Raymond E. Floyd
  • Patent number: 7343968
    Abstract: A coupling seal assembly is described for directing a pressurized abrasive fluid between a non-rotating conduit member and a rotating second conduit member. The seal assembly includes a first ceramic floating seal member secured to the non-rotating conduit member and a second ceramic seal member secured to the rotating conduit member. Enhanced service life of the seal assembly under high pressures and high rotary speeds is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Deublin Company
    Inventor: Zbigniew Kubala
  • Patent number: 7343969
    Abstract: A secondary packing arrangement is provided for use with a well having a reciprocating pump and polished rod, and in combination with a stuffing box, the stuffing box being modified. Packing seals, a barrier fluid and a pressure transmitter cooperate with modified stuffing box components to regulate the pressure on either side of a packing seal. The barrier fluid is contained above the packing seal, with well fluids and accompanying pressures being contained below the packing seal, such that if leakage occurs, relatively clean barrier fluids are leaked instead of well fluids. The pressure across the packing seal is substantially balanced across the packing seal, or the well fluid side pressure is less than the barrier fluid side, thus reducing the occurrence of leakage and extending the life of the packing seal. Sources for the well fluids cooperating with the pressure transmitter include the well's flow line and casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Inventors: Randolph A. Busch, Harrold H. Palmour
  • Patent number: 7343970
    Abstract: A system and method is provided for producing fluid from a subterranean formation. A sensor system is used to monitor bottom hole flowing pressure and formation pressure. The relationship of these pressures is utilized in conjunction with a stability envelope of the formation in optimizing fluid production.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Jorge E. Lopez de Cardenas, Adinathan Venkitaraman
  • Patent number: 7343971
    Abstract: A method and system for dissociating methane hydrate deposits in-situ is provided wherein an oxidizer fluid and a supply of fuel, both at a pressure higher than that of the methane hydrate deposit, are supplied and delivered to the methane hydrate deposit. The fuel is combusted downhole by reacting it with the oxidizer fluid to provide combustion products. The combustion products are placed in contact with a diluent fluid to produce a heated product fluid. The heated product fluid is injected into the methane hydrate deposit whereby methane is dissociated from the methane hydrate and made available for extraction. In addition, carbon dioxide may be made available to promote the formation of carbon dioxide hydrates from the liberated methane hydrate water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Precision Combustion, Inc.
    Inventor: William C. Pfefferle
  • Patent number: 7343972
    Abstract: An aqueous, viscoelastic fluid gelled with a viscoelastic surfactant (VES) is stabilized and improved with an effective amount of an alkali earth metal oxide and/or alkali earth metal hydroxide. These fluids are more stable and have reduced or no tendency to precipitate, particularly at elevated temperatures. The additives may also increase viscosity to the point where less VES is required to maintain a given viscosity. These stabilized, enhanced, aqueous viscoelastic fluids may be used as treatment fluids for subterranean hydrocarbon formations, such as in hydraulic fracturing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: John Robert Willingham, Allen D. Gabrysch, Patrick A. Kelly, James B. Crews, James H. Treadway
  • Patent number: 7343973
    Abstract: A method of treating a subterranean formation or of stabilizing a surface within a subterranean fracture comprising: providing a treatment fluid comprising lightweight proppant at least partially coated with an adhesive substance; introducing the treatment fluid into a portion of a subterranean formation; depositing at least a portion of the lightweight proppant in the portion of the subterranean formation; allowing at least a portion of the lightweight proppant in the subterranean formation to form a particulate pack; and, allowing at least a portion of the adhesive substance to migrate from the lightweight particulates to a surface within the portion of the subterranean formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald G. Dusterhoft, Harvey J. Fitzpatrick, David Adams, Walter F. Glover, Philip D. Nguyen
  • Patent number: 7343974
    Abstract: A method for strengthening a wellbore with an exposed geological formation, the method including: determining or estimating material properties of the exposed geological formation; determining changes necessary in material properties of the exposed geologic formation to achieve desired improvements in property of the exposed geologic formation; and treating the geological formation to improve material property values by injecting a formulation that hardens in-situ to form a geosynthetic composite. In another aspect, an apparatus for utilizing the described method with minimal handling of chemicals includes is an automated in-line chemical metering and pumping apparatus that requires no large mixing tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventor: Kenneth Michael Cowan
  • Patent number: 7343975
    Abstract: A bottomhole assembly (BHA) and method for stimulating a well includes setting a packer of the BHA in a wellbore. The BHA includes the packer and a jetting tool coupled to a tubing string. Process fluid is pumped down the tubing string and jetted with the jetting tool to perforate a formation. Stimulation process fluid is pumped down an annulus of the wellbore to fracture the formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Jim B. Surjaatmadja, Billy W. McDaniel, Mark Farabee, Loyd East
  • Patent number: 7343976
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides methods of treating a subterranean formation with a viscosified treatment fluid comprising combining water, a carbonyl-containing first compound, and an amine-containing second compound; wherein the carbonyl-containing first compound comprises at least one carbonyl moiety and is either a gelling agent or a derivatizing agent, and wherein the amine-containing second compound comprises at least one amine moiety and is a gelling agent when the carbonyl-containing first compound is a derivatizing agent and is a derivatizing agent when the carbonyl-containing first compound is a gelling agent; allowing at least one carbonyl moiety from the first compound and at least one amine moiety from the second compound to form a derivatizing linkage and create a derivatized gelling agent; and, placing the viscosified treatment fluid into a portion of a subterranean formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael J. R. Segura
  • Patent number: 7343977
    Abstract: A tool for generating a force downhole comprises a body, a longitudinally movable activating member mounted to the body, and a longitudinally movable driven member also mounted to the body. The driven member is operatively associated with the activating member such that on translation of the activating member in one axial direction, the driven member is translated in an opposite axial direction. The tool may be utilised to convert a pulling action, applied by a spoolable member, to a pushing action, useful in disengaging a downhole lock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Weatherford/Lamb, Inc.
    Inventors: David Glen Martin, Richard Michael Gledhill
  • Patent number: 7343978
    Abstract: A scale dissolver fluid for dissolving scale in a subterranean hydrocarbon-bearing formation comprises an effective amount of a scale dissolver formulation and an effective amount of a surfactant for controlling the viscosity of the fluid. In use, formation hydrocarbons act on the surfactant to reduce the viscosity of the fluid so that the fluid selectively invades a hydrocarbon-bearing zone of the formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy Gareth John Jones, Gary John Tustin, Philip Fletcher, Jesse Ching-Wang Lee
  • Patent number: 7343979
    Abstract: A method and device for controlling the disconnection of a wireline (4), of the kind used in wireline operations in a wellbore, from a wireline tool (8), the wireline (4) being provided with a conductor (6) arranged to communicate signals, the signals being monitored at the wire-line tool (8) by means of a lower monitoring and control circuit (24), and the lower monitoring and control circuit (24) activating, by disappearance of signals from the surface, a disconnect device (12) after a predetermined time, the disconnect device (12) being arranged to disconnect the wireline (4) from the wireline tool (8).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Smedvig Offshore AS
    Inventor: Mikal Dreggevik
  • Patent number: 7343980
    Abstract: An enhanced protection extended coverage pendent fire protection sprinkler has a body including a fluid passage and an output orifice sealed with a seal cap, two arms extending from the body and meeting at a hub, a release mechanism with a thermally-responsive element positioned between the seal cap and the hub, and a deflector positioned on the hub and facing the output orifice. The deflector includes a pair of aligned slots, aligned with a plane of the arms, and a pair of perpendicular slots, perpendicular to the aligned slots and having a width that is less than that of the aligned slots. The deflector further includes a pair of corner slots, positioned between the aligned slots and the perpendicular slots. Angled slots are positioned between the aligned slots and the corner slots and between the perpendicular slots and the corner slots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: The Reliable Automatic Sprinkler Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Oliver S. Pahila
  • Patent number: 7343981
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of using at least one fluoroketone selected from monobromoperfluoroketones, monohydromonobromoperfluoroketones, (perfluoroalkoxy)monobromoperfluoroketones, (fluoroalkoxy)monobromoperfluoroketones, and monochloromonobromoperfluoroketones for i) extinguishing fire by applying to the fire such a fluoroketone, ii) preventing fire in an air-containing enclosed area containing combustible materials by introducing into the area such a fluoroketone and maintaining the fluoroketone in an amount sufficient to suppress combustion of combustible materials in the enclosed area, and iii) reducing or eliminating the flammability of a flammable working fluid, by mixing between about 0.1 to about 99 percent by weight of such a fluoroketone with the flammable working fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Mario J. Nappa, Velliyur Nott Mallikarjuna Rao, Allen C. Sievert
  • Patent number: 7343982
    Abstract: A hydraulically powered tractor adapted for advancement through a borehole including an elongate body, aft and forward gripper assemblies, and a valve control assembly housed within the elongate body. The aft and forward gripper assemblies are adapted for selective engagement with the inner surface of the borehole. The valve control assembly includes a gripper control valve for directing pressurized fluid to the aft and forward gripper assemblies. The valve control assembly also includes a propulsion control valve for directing fluid to an aft or forward power chamber for advancing the body relative to the actuated gripper assembly. Aft and forward mechanically actuated valves may be provided for controlling the position of the gripper control valve by detecting and signaling when the body has completed an advancement stroke relative to an actuated gripper assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Western Well Tool, Inc.
    Inventors: Phil Mock, Rudolph Ernst Krueger, V, Duane Bloom, N. Bruce Moore
  • Patent number: 7343983
    Abstract: A zone isolating and testing apparatus comprising an isolation tool and a downhole flow control means and a method of using such apparatus. The zone isolating and testing apparatus is particularly useful for testing zones during reverse circulation drilling using concentric drill string such as concentric drill pipe or concentric coiled tubing. The isolation tool of the zone isolating and testing apparatus comprises an expandable packer means and is adapted to connect to concentric drill string near the drilling means and be in fluid communication with the concentric drill string. The downhole flow control means of the zone isolating and testing apparatus comprises at least two valves, one for closing off the annular conduit between the inner tube and outer tube of the concentric drill string and the other for closing off the inner conduit of the inner tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Presssol Ltd.
    Inventor: James I. Livingstone
  • Patent number: 7343984
    Abstract: A core sample collector includes a cylinder and a piston, wherein the piston includes a piston body, upper piston rings and lower piston rings, and a sterilizing agent is held in a space defined between the piston, the cylinder, the upper piston ring and the lower piston ring. The sterilizing agent may be an antimicrobial polymeric gel. A core sample is collected by contacting the cylinder against a surface from which the core sample is to be taken, and causing relative movement between the cylinder and the piston such that: (i) the sterilizing agent is applied to the inner peripheral wall surface of the cylinder, (ii) the upper and lower piston rings scrape the sterilizing agent from the inner peripheral wall, and (iii) a core is received in the cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Independent Administrative Institution, Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology
    Inventors: Noriaki Masui, Shigeru Deguchi, Kaoru Tsujii, Hiroshi Kitazato