Patents Issued in May 31, 2011
  • Patent number: 7950412
    Abstract: A toilet refill restrictor apparatus includes an adapter interposed between a fill valve and a refill hose. The adapter is non-removably coupled to the fill valve and is configured with a larger proximal pathway, and a smaller distal metering pathway for restricting the refill flow rate. The adapter may be coupled to a shortened horizontal outlet formed at a top portion of the fill valve. The horizontal outlet is shortened to a length such that the refill hose cannot be connected directly to the outlet. The adapter may also be coupled to a fill valve without a horizontal outlet where an exit port is defined in the vertical conduit of the fill valve. The adapter includes a securing mechanism to prevent removal from the fill valve without excessive force or breaking the adapter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Fluidmaster, Inc.
    Inventors: Jack Nguyen, Christopher Coppock
  • Patent number: 7950413
    Abstract: An electromagnetic pressure regulating valve device for regulating a hydraulic pressure including at least one pressure regulating valve which includes a solenoid part having at least one bobbin holding an electric coil, a coil core and a movably guided armature; a valve part having at least one supply connection, one return connection, one load connection and one actuating element operated by the armature and cooperating with a valve seat; and an electronic part having at least one pressure sensor for measuring the hydraulic pressure present at the load connection. At least the pressure sensor is situated on an end of the solenoid part facing the valve part upstream from the electronic part. Positioning the pressure sensor close to the valve part may substantially reduce the filter effect of the transmission link, and the hydraulic pressure to be measured is therefore transmittable free of errors up to a much higher cutoff frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Walter Fleischer, Klaus Schudt, Christof Ott, Ulrich Foerch
  • Patent number: 7950414
    Abstract: A valve chamber is defined in a valve body of the regulating check valve. A first communicating hole and a second communicating hole communicate the valve chamber with a first flow passage and with a the second flow passage, respectively. A valve element is slidably installed in the valve chamber to seat on or lift away from a valve seat to close or open the first communicating hole. A pressure in the first flow passage urges the valve element away from the valve seat, and a pressure in the second flow passage urges the valve element toward the valve seat. The spring is interposed between the valve element and the valve body to urge the valve element away from the valve seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignees: Denso Corporation, Nippon Soken, Inc.
    Inventors: Takashi Suzuki, Kouichi Mochizuki
  • Patent number: 7950415
    Abstract: A socket part actuated without pressure for a fluid coupling is provided with a mechanism for mechanically sealing, to a large extent, the insertion space of a plug against the penetration of foreign matter. In addition, a throttling device is provided, which practically does not obstruct the fluid connection for an inserted plug, while a high flow resistance is produced for a plug that has been pulled out, without, however, completely blocking the flow path. The associated plug also has a sealing device in order to protect the flow channel against the penetration of particles when the plug is removed. In case the plug is connected to a compressed-air tank, this is provided with a throttling device, which practically does not obstruct flow for an inserted plug, but forms considerable flow resistance for a removed plug without completely blocking the flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: TEMA Marketing AG
    Inventors: Stefan Witt, Horst Simon
  • Patent number: 7950416
    Abstract: In a solenoid valve including a cylindrical sleeve which is formed with an input port, an output port, a drain port and a feedback port, and a spool which is inserted into the sleeve and which is formed with a plurality of lands for closing the individual ports, and a communication portion for communicating the individual ports; an input notch is formed in an end edge of the land located near the input port, while a drain notch is formed in an end edge of the land located near the drain port, and an axial height Hin of the input notch and an axial height Hdr of the drain notch are set so that the proportion ? (=Hin/(Hin+Hdr)) of the height Hin to the sum of the heights Hin and Hdr may fall within a range of at least 0.72 (preferably, 0.85) and less than 1.0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Aisin Aw Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaya Nakai, Takahiro Kokubu
  • Patent number: 7950417
    Abstract: A surge tank is sized to retain a volume of fluid. A fluid inlet/outlet port is attached to the tank, and an elastomeric bladder is disposed within the tank and separates the fluid from a volume of gas. A nozzle system is disposed within the tank and has a nozzle member comprising a first plurality of axially elongate perforations, and a second plurality of perforations. The nozzle member can extend a partial or complete distance with tank. The tank body includes a throat that extends outwardly from a portion of the tank adjacent the port, and a portion of the nozzle member comprising the first plurality of perforations is disposed within the throat. An annular space exists adjacent the nozzle member in the neck to facilitate the flow of solid constituent within the fluid from the tank and into the nozzle member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Young Engineering & Manufacturing Inc.
    Inventor: Winston B. Young
  • Patent number: 7950418
    Abstract: A method for repairing a pipeline by means of at least one shell that is adapted to the outer contour of the pipeline, wherein the at least one shell is attached to the outer wall of the pipeline using an intermediate layer between the interior of the shell and the outer wall of the pipeline. The intermediate layer is made of an adhesive that can be activated, which is used to substantially completely coat the interior of the at least one shell. The attachment of the shell is carried out by applying a force acting at least in the radial direction, and the activation of the adhesive. A shell that is coated in this manner is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Fraunhofer—Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventors: Michael Wolf, Manfred Peschka
  • Patent number: 7950419
    Abstract: A condensate draining pipe is provided for a heating system, a ventilating system, and/or an air conditioning (HVAC) system that includes, but is not limited to a condensate feed portion and a condensate drain portion. The condensate feed portion and the condensate drain portion are connectable to one another by a press-fit coupling assembly comprising an O-ring seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Olaf Kaden, Andreas Marutschke
  • Patent number: 7950420
    Abstract: A flexible hose for conveying fluids or gases comprises two elastomeric layers surrounding either side of a reinforcement layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Achim Amma, Andreas Graudus
  • Patent number: 7950421
    Abstract: A reinforcement binding machine capable of detecting, by the rotation of a reel, that wire on the reel is consumed and the reel, the reinforcement binding machine wherein an interrupter is installed in the cassette case of a binding machine body, a cover is rotatably held on a reel mounting shaft, an opening part is formed in the cover, a projection is formed on the reel and fitted into the opening part, and a color with a lightness different from that of the cover is applied to the projection to detect the rotation of the reel by the interrupter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Max Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasushi Nakagawa, Noboru Ishikawa, Ichiro Kusakari, Takahiro Nagaoka, Shuichi Ishii, Atsushi Matsuoka
  • Patent number: 7950422
    Abstract: A vacuum device for a material handling system includes a vacuum device body and a sealing element. The vacuum device body has a vacuum passageway in which a vacuum is generated in response to activation of a pressurized air supply that forces pressurized air through a venturi device. The sealing element moves to a sealing position to substantially seal the vacuum passageway when the air supply is activated, and is urged toward the sealing position via pressurized air that is diverted from an inlet of the vacuum device to the sealing element. The sealing element moves to substantially vent the vacuum passageway when the air supply is deactivated. The vacuum passageway may be in fluid communication with a vacuum cup, which seals against the object when the sealing element is at the sealing position and the vacuum generating device generates at least a partial vacuum in the vacuum passageway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Delaware Capital Formations, Inc.
    Inventors: Maurice Perlman, Keith S. Attee
  • Patent number: 7950423
    Abstract: Powder dispensing and sensing apparatus and methods are provided. The powder dispensing and sensing apparatus includes a tray support structure to receive a cartridge tray holding cartridges, a powder dispenser assembly including powder dispenser modules to dispense powder into respective cartridges of a batch of cartridges in the cartridge tray, a powder transport system to deliver powder to the powder dispenser modules, a sensor module including sensor cells to sense respective fill states, such as the weights, of each of the cartridges in the batch of cartridges, and a control system to control the powder dispenser modules in response to the respective sensed fill states of each of the cartridges of the batch of cartridges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: MannKind Corporation
    Inventors: Trent A. Poole, David F. Bonneau, Per B. Fog
  • Patent number: 7950424
    Abstract: A device for controlling the filling of a receptacle with liquid by a drink vending machine. The device includes visual marking device for marking the liquid fill level in the receptacle, a device for emitting a signal towards the receptacle, a device for receiving an incident signal and which receives the incident signal returning from the receptacle and a controlling device configured for commanding the stoppage of filling on the basis of a variation of the incident signal. The receiving device includes a series of photoelectric receivers and at least one variable which is a displacement of a light incident signal measured by the receivers. The visual marking, emitter and receiver are displaceable en masse so as to make it possible to modify the marking of the level of fill in the receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Nestec S.A.
    Inventors: Matthieu Ozanne, Alexandre Kollep, Ralph Piguet, Grégoire Terrien, Xavier Greppin
  • Patent number: 7950425
    Abstract: A filler neck an actuation ring (16) having a slot (18) and an entrance portion which is conically narrowed towards the tank, the most narrow cross-section of the entrance portion being smaller than the diameter of a diesel-nozzle and larger than that of an otto-nozzle the actuation ring (16) has an actuation portion at the end facing the tank at least on one side of the slot a closing mechanism is associated with the end of the actuation ring facing the tank and designed such that in closing position thereof it stops the otto nozzle inserted into the actuation ring and the actuation portion of the actuation ring engages the closing mechanism, whereby the closing mechanism is moved from the closing position into an opened position by the actuation portion if the actuation ring is radially expanded by the diesel-nozzle inserted into the actuation ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: ITW Automotive Products GmbH & Co KG
    Inventor: Roland Och
  • Patent number: 7950426
    Abstract: A tire comprising a circumferential tread including at least one tread block having at least one edge. The tread block includes at least one void provided therein not more than about 4 millimeters from the edge of the tread block. Exemplary voids include sipes, such as one-end open sipes, two-end open sipes, and internal sipes, and cutouts, such as internal cut-outs and edge cut-outs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, LLC
    Inventor: Francis J. Byrne
  • Patent number: 7950427
    Abstract: The present invention provides a shock absorber loaded in the inner cavity of a tire enclosed by a tire for a two-wheeler and a rim, which exhibits suitable hardness when starting running and is excellent in cushioning property, both when starting running and during running, due to decrease in hardness as the temperature increases while running. Specifically, the present invention relates to a shock absorber which is loaded in the inner cavity of a tire enclosed by a tire for a two-wheeler and a rim and contacts substantially with the entire inner surface of a tire to be compressed, is circular in the tire circumferential direction and has closed cells; the shock absorber comprising an expanded rubber composition containing at least 5 parts by weight of an organic polymer having a softening point of at least 40° C., based on 100 parts by weight of a rubber component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiaki Sakaki, Yasuhisa Minagawa, Sadahiko Matsumura
  • Patent number: 7950428
    Abstract: A non-pneumatic tire includes a spoke structure that can be easily mounted on a rim of a wheel. Durability is improved by suppressing the buckling of a spoke structure. A non-pneumatic tire includes a spoke structure (5) and a tread ring (11). The spoke structure (5) includes a cylindrical outer member (2) and a cylindrical inner member (3) which are concentrically arranged, and which are connected to each other with a plurality of fins (4, 4?) arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction. The tread ring (11) fits onto the outer periphery of the spoke structure (5). The spoke structure (5) is divided in the tire circumferential direction into at least two circumferential-direction separate structures (511, 521, 531).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryoji Hanada, Hideki Seto, Yoshiaki Hashimura, Jun Matsuda, Tsuyoshi Kitazaki, Izumi Kuramochi, Kenichiro Endo
  • Patent number: 7950429
    Abstract: A tire for vehicles which does not require pressurization by means of a pressurized fluid has a tread, two sidewalls, and two beads which are attached to a wheel rim made of elastomer material, and is provided with at least one tubular reinforcement body which is associated with the tread; each of the sidewalls having a respective homogeneous resilient annular membrane, a straight generatrix of which forms an angle (A) other than 90° with the axis of the tire; the membranes being stretched radially between the tread and the beads such as to be pre-tensioned in the absence of external loads acting on the tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Fiat Auto S.p.A.
    Inventors: Stefano Re Fiorentin, Mario Palazzetti, Giovanni Monfrino
  • Patent number: 7950430
    Abstract: Pneumatic tires for aircraft service having a belt package with shoulder reinforcement. The tire includes a belt reinforcing structure or belt package having multiple cut belts, multiple spiral wound belt layers positioned radially between the cut belts and the tread, and multiple spiral wound shoulder layers proximate the shoulder. The spiral wound belt layers and the spiral wound shoulder layers are formed by a continuous cord-reinforced strip having a strip width. The spiral wound belt layers are characterized by a first winding pitch of approximately one strip width per revolution and the spiral wound shoulder layers are characterized by a second winding pitch of less than one strip width per revolution. Alternatively, the spiral wound shoulder layers may be formed with a tiered arrangement by shifting the starting location for successive spiral wound belt layers laterally so that the side edges are not coincident.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventors: Roel Domingo Villanueva, John Joseph Slivka
  • Patent number: 7950431
    Abstract: In a heavy duty pneumatic bias tire having a ply rating of not less than 58 and an aspect ratio of not more than 80%, a rubber volume as the product of the sum of each distance between ply cords in an inner mutually adjoining carcass ply per 50 mm, the sum of each distance between ply cords in an outer mutually adjoining carcass ply per 50 mm, and a distance between ply cords of mutually adjoining inner and outer carcass plies with respect to three or more inside carcass plies of an innermost ply group in at least a portion corresponding to a position of a maximum tire width is 500-1350 mm3, more preferably 700-1000 mm3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventor: Hazime Takagi
  • Patent number: 7950432
    Abstract: A graphic transfer assembly is disclosed. The graphic transfer assembly includes an inflatable member that is capable of expanding to fill the interior of an article of footwear. The graphic transfer assembly can include a fluid pump for filling the inflatable member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Elizabeth Langvin, Zvi Rapaport
  • Patent number: 7950433
    Abstract: A machine for inflating and sealing an inflatable web comprising a series of pre-formed flexible containers, each of the pre-formed containers being capable of holding therein a quantity of gas and having an opening for receiving such gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Sealed Air Corporation (US)
    Inventors: Laurence Sperry, Eric Kane
  • Patent number: 7950434
    Abstract: An adhering apparatus having a pressurizing tool including a plurality of pressurizing surfaces and rotatably mounted on a base member, a supply reel which supplies a release tape adhered to an adhesive tape along the pressurizing surfaces of a periphery of the pressurizing tool, a cutter which is disposed to face one of the pressurizing surfaces and cuts only the adhesive tape into a predetermined length, and a backup tool supporting a lower surface of the substrate and disposed to face a pressurizing surface located downstream from the pressurizing surface facing the cutter. When the base member is driven downward in the vertical direction, the pressurizing surface facing the backup tool adheres the adhesive tape to the upper surface of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Shibaura Mechatronics Corporation
    Inventor: Masahiro Suzuki
  • Patent number: 7950435
    Abstract: A convenient adhesive tape dispenser with improved cutting operation of the adhesive tape at a lower part of a case body. The adhesive tape dispenser includes a case body having a body case formed with a holding part to mount an adhesive tape inside, a coupling case coupled with the body case and formed with an assembling space at a rear part, and a cover case formed with a fitting piece at a front part to be coupled in the assembling space. The case body is formed with a mounting hole at a front part and an exposure space at an upper part of the mounting hole. A cutter part is mounted in a mounting hole of the case body. An elastic pressing plate is positioned at an upper part of the holding part for pressing the adhesive tape downward elastically to keep tension when the adhesive tape is released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Inventor: Dong Soo Lee
  • Patent number: 7950436
    Abstract: A room darkening screen apparatus includes a shade roll. A shade with a first end and a second end is provided wherein the first end is connected with the shade roll and the second end is connected with a bottom bar. A header is connected with the shade roll and a folding rod is connected with the header such that the folding rod, when released from the header, folds the shade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Homerun Holdings Corporation
    Inventors: Willis Jay Mullet, Christopher Lee Wysoczynski, Steven Karl Maurer, Richard Scott Hand, Doug Real, Darrin Anthony Trapani
  • Patent number: 7950437
    Abstract: A window covering is disclosed that includes a first rail, window covering material adjacent the first rail, at least one lift cord extending through the window covering material to the headrail, a plurality of pulleys positioned adjacent the first rail, at least one spring motor adjacent the first rail, at least one spring motor cord extending from the one or more spring motors and a rigid connector attached to one or more spring motor cords and one or more lift cords. The connector and one or more spring motor cords are configured to pass along at least one of the pulleys during movement along a cord path defined by one or more of the pulleys. The connector should have a length that is not greater than ? of the circumference of at least one of the pulleys the connector passes over during extension of the window covering material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Whole Space Industries Ltd.
    Inventor: Tzong Fu Lin
  • Patent number: 7950438
    Abstract: A screen closure for a garage doorway has a plurality of screened panels movable from an elevated, stored position in which such panels are side-by-side to an extended, operative position in which the panels extend vertically a distance sufficient to close the doorway. Those panels which are at eye level and below when the panels are in their extended position are substantially coplanar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Inventor: Robert Albert
  • Patent number: 7950439
    Abstract: By providing a door wherein the components forming a multi-panel unit assembly, a support & alignment mechanism, an automatic actuating panel action locking and release mechanism, sliding mechanism and hinges, a dual action door assembly is achieved which assures component engagement that allows the door assembly to operate within controlled confines combining first a sliding action and then a swing action to open the door for full unobstructed access of a range of doorway widths from narrow to ultra-wide while overcoming the support problems, full open access problems and wide swing radii problems consistent with conventional doors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Inventor: Victor Ray Anderson
  • Patent number: 7950440
    Abstract: The invention relates to a roller blind arrangement comprising at least one roller blind web (10) and at least one winding tube (12) for winding and unwinding said roller blind web (10), which comprises side edge areas and at least one guiding element (18) which is used for guiding along said side edge areas extending in the direction of the roller blind extension guided in a guide (20). The guiding element(s) are rigidly fixed to the side edge areas of the blind web (10) by means of at least one first seam (30) in such a way that a slipping with respect to said roller blind web (10) is defined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Webasto AG
    Inventors: Andreas Rockelmann, Sebastian Glasl
  • Patent number: 7950441
    Abstract: A method including positioning an insert in a vertical mold including a first mold portion and a second mold portion; and casting a material including a metal around at least a portion of the insert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Michael D. Hanna, Mohan Sundar, Andrew Schertzer
  • Patent number: 7950442
    Abstract: A method for designing the location, surface temperature, flow rate, length and type of cooling lines within a mold for a casting process. The method allows the user to optimize each value for each individual cooling line of the mold. The method can utilize one or more parameters of the casting process and the heat load to be carried by each of the cooling lines in designing the mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Die Therm Engineering LLC
    Inventor: J. Scott Kirkman
  • Patent number: 7950443
    Abstract: Apparatus for supporting a heat exchanger such as a condenser of an air conditioning system on a vehicle, for pivotal movement between an operational position and a position angularly related to the operational position, for such purposes as inspection, cleaning, service and maintenance, the apparatus being configured for holding the heat exchanger in the operational position, and for guiding and controlling movement thereof to the tilted position, and holding the heat exchanger in the tilted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: CNH America LLC
    Inventors: John T. Rasset, Jay M. Larson
  • Patent number: 7950444
    Abstract: An automotive air conditioning system is disclosed. At the foot mode position of a rotary door 25, a gap T is formed along the door diameter between a circumferential end of a door surface 25c of the rotary door 25 and a seal rib 28 of a case 11. The flow path of a foot opening 22 communicates with a defroster opening 20 through the gap T. At the defroster mode position of the rotary door 25, on the other hand, the other circumferential end of the door surface 25c comes into contact with the seal rib 28 and closes the gap T, and the door surface 25c closes up the foot opening 22. Even upon slight rotation of the foot rotary door under the air pressure of the foot mode, therefore, the defroster blowout air amount and the foot blowout air amount are kept in a predetermined proportion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Akira Masatsugu
  • Patent number: 7950445
    Abstract: A combined assembly of a fixing base and heat pipes includes a fixing base and at least one heat pipe. The fixing base has a plate body. The bottom surface of the plate body is formed with a transverse opening trough. The opening trough is provided with a through-hole penetrating the plate body. A longitudinal groove is provided in the opening trough at a position corresponding to that of the through-hole. One end of the longitudinal groove does not penetrate the plate body and is formed into a loose-proof section on the bottom section of the opening trough. The heat pipe has a heat-absorbing section and a heat-releasing section. The heat-releasing section penetrates to the outside of the through-hole, and the heat-absorbing section is accommodated in the opening trough. A portion of the heat-absorbing section is inserted into the longitudinal groove and stopped by the loose-proof section, and the other portion thereof is formed with a plane that is in flush with the bottom surface of the plate body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignees: Golden Sun News Techniques Co., Ltd., Cpumate Inc
    Inventors: Chih-Hung Cheng, Ken Hsu
  • Patent number: 7950446
    Abstract: A clip is capable of engaging with a heat sink for securing a fan to the heat sink. The clip includes a mounting plate, a supporting plate, a spring fastener and a spring positioning plate. The supporting plate extends from the mounting plate. The spring fastener extends from the supporting plate and spaced from the mounting plate for pressing the fan toward the heat sink. The spring positioning plate extends from the mounting plate. The mounting plate is horizontally inserted into the heat sink and the spring positioning plate is V-shaped and resiliently engaged in a V-shaped receiving space of the heat sink, thereby securing the clip to the heat sink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignees: Fu Zhun Precision Industry (Shen Zhen) Co., Ltd., Foxconn Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jing Zhang
  • Patent number: 7950447
    Abstract: A heat dissipation module includes a cooling base, at least a guide heat pipe and a cooling fin set. The cooling base provides at least a circular recess and at least a receiving groove. The guide heat pipe is placed in the circular recess. The cooling fin set is joined to the cooling base and provides a lower folding side at each cooling fin thereof and the folding side has at least a concave upward portion corresponding to the circular recess. The receiving groove is disposed at two end sides of the circular recess for receiving solder, soldering paste, solder club or bonding agent. Therefore, when the cooling fin set and the guide heat pipe are joined to the cooling base, the receiving groove is capable of speeding up the joint and preventing abnormal phenomena such as incomplete soldering, creating clearance and excessive solder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Asia Vital Components, Co. Ltd.
    Inventor: Ching-Hang Shen
  • Patent number: 7950448
    Abstract: A combined system for treating an oil or gas well is provided which includes a truck, having a truck bed attached thereto and a fracturing support unit and an iron skid mounted on the truck bed. The fracturing support unit includes well head control equipment, and the iron skid includes a manifold having an arrangement of valves for controlling the flow of fluid to the well. The iron skid may be advantageously articulated off the truck bed and onto the ground for unloading the iron components used to treat the well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Hitman Holdings Ltd.
    Inventors: Matt Bruins, Brendon Hamilton
  • Patent number: 7950449
    Abstract: A stress and torque reducing tool has a plunger that reciprocates inside of a body. The tool is connected between the pump and the sucker rod string and reduces stress transmitted therebetween. The body and plunger have longitudinally extending surfaces located at the plunger upper end portion, which surfaces cooperate and limit rotation of the body with respect to the plunger. An upper fluid port is located in an upper end of the body, while one or more lower fluid ports are located in a lower end of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Harbison-Fisher, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles David Willis
  • Patent number: 7950450
    Abstract: A method for cleaning and/or altering an inside surface and shape of a tubular is disclosed. The method includes placing a surface finishing tool in the tubular, energizing the surface finishing tool, and causing extendable assemblies therein to extend radially to contact an inside diameter of the tubular. Moving the surface finishing tool axially and/or rotationally while the extended members are in contact with the inside diameter of the tubular cleans debris from the inside surface of the tubular. In another aspect of the invention, the tool burnishes the inside diameter of the tubular, thereby altering the surface characteristics and rounding the tubular.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Weatherford/Lamb, Inc.
    Inventors: Burt Martin, Simon John Harrall
  • Patent number: 7950451
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are described that combine a measurement of the physical velocity of material within the annulus of a well between the drill pipe and the wall of the well with a measurement of the area of the flow as determined from a measurement of distance between the drill pipe and the wall of the hole to determine the actual material volumetric flow rate. Changes in volumetric flow rate at one or more points along the well can be used to determine the occurrence and location of well dysfunctions. This knowledge can then be used to make decisions about treating well dysfunctions which will lead to more efficient use of drilling rig time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: BP Corporation North America Inc.
    Inventor: Mark W Alberty
  • Patent number: 7950452
    Abstract: An anti-fouling system for offshore drilling structures which injects metallic ions into seawater pumping systems. An ion generator may be positioned at various positions including the strainer basket of one or more of the seawater pumps or at various positions in the system. As well, ion generators may be skid mounted and/or otherwise centrally located and connected by controllable valves to various treated water injection points, whereby the flow rates are determined and ion concentrations are maintained at desired levels throughout the system, regardless of different pumping rates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: S & N Pump Company
    Inventor: Jeff Lutz
  • Patent number: 7950453
    Abstract: A gas burner assembly for heating a subsurface formation includes an oxidant conduit, a fuel conduit, and a plurality of oxidizers coupled to the oxidant conduit. At least one of the oxidizers includes a mix chamber for mixing fuel from the fuel conduit with oxidant from the oxidant conduit, an igniter, and a shield. The shield includes a plurality of openings in communication with the oxidant conduit. At least one flame stabilizer is coupled to the shield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Walter Farman Farmayan, Steven Paul Giles, Joseph Phillip Brignac, Jr., Abdul Wahid Munshi, Faraz Abbasi, Lloyd Anthony Clomburg, Karl Gregory Anderson, Kuochen Tsai, Mark Alan Siddoway
  • Patent number: 7950454
    Abstract: A technique that is usable with a well includes running a screen assembly and a service tool as a unit into a well and using the service tool in connection with a sand control operation. The use of the service tool in connection with the sand control operation includes operating at least one valve of the screen assembly. The technique includes withdrawing the service tool from the well after the sand control operation and running a completion into the well to operate the valve(s) of the screen after the withdrawal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Dinesh R. Patel, Axel Destremau
  • Patent number: 7950455
    Abstract: Non-spherical particulates are useful in the stimulation of subterranean formations. A proppant pack composed of the non-spherical particulates exhibits greater porosity than a corresponding proppant pack composed of spherical particulates. Non-spherical particulates which are hollow and non-porous may further be at least partially filled with a chemical treatment agent including water-soluble or oil-soluble chemical treatment agents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Phillip B. Kaufman, D. V. Satyanarayana Gupta, Allan R. Rickards, Christopher J. Stephenson
  • Patent number: 7950456
    Abstract: Casing deformation and control for inclusion propagation in earth formations. A method of forming at least one inclusion in a subterranean formation includes the steps of: installing a liner within a casing section in a wellbore intersecting the formation; and expanding the liner and the casing section, thereby applying an increased compressive stress to the formation. Another method of forming the inclusion includes the steps of: installing an expansion control device on a casing section, the device including at least one latch member; expanding the casing section radially outward in a wellbore, the expanding step including widening at least one opening in a sidewall of the casing section, and displacing the latch member in one direction; and preventing a narrowing of the opening after the expanding step, the latch member resisting displacement thereof in an opposite direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Travis W. Cavender, Roger L. Schultz, Grant Hocking, Robert Pipkin
  • Patent number: 7950457
    Abstract: The present invention relates to apparatus and methods to stimulate subterranean production and injection wells, such as oil and gas wells, utilizing rocket propellants. Rapid production of high-pressure gas from controlled combustion of a propellant, during initial ignition and subsequent combustion, together with proper positioning of the energy source in relation to geologic formations, can be used to establish and maintain increased formation porosity and flow conditions with respect to the pay zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Inventor: Dale B. Seekford
  • Patent number: 7950458
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for drilling a well in a heavy oil or bitumen reservoir for in situ recovery of heavy oil and bitumen is provided. More particularly, an apparatus and method for drilling, completing and/or stimulating a heavy oil or bitumen well in a heavy oil or bitumen reservoir is provided, comprising: providing a concentric drill string having an inner tube and an outer tube defining an annulus therebetween, the outer tube further having a plurality of slots sealed with a temporary filler material; drilling a borehole into the reservoir using a drilling member connected at the lower end of the concentric drill string and delivering drilling medium through one of the annulus or inner tube and extracting the exhaust drilling medium through the other of the annulus or inner tube; leaving the concentric drill string in the well after drilling of the borehole is completed; and removing the temporary filler material to expose the plurality of slots in the outer tube and form a slotted liner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: J. I. Livingstone Enterprises Ltd.
    Inventor: James I. Livingstone
  • Patent number: 7950459
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for forming a fluid for use within in a subterranean formation including combining a partitioning agent and viscosifying polymer into a fluid, introducing the fluid into the subterranean formation, and recovering at least a portion of the fluid at a uppermost surface of the subterranean formation. Methods and apparatus of forming a fluid for use within in a subterranean formation including combining a partitioning agent and viscosifying polymer into a fluid, introducing the fluid into the subterranean formation at a temperature of about 45° C. or higher, and recovering at least a portion of the fluid at a uppermost surface of the subterranean formation at a temperature of about 45° C. or lower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Philip F. Sullivan, Gary John Tustin, Yiyan Chen, Lijun Lin
  • Patent number: 7950460
    Abstract: A process is described for replacing at least a portion of the liquid within the annular volume of a casing system within a wellbore with a second liquid. The second liquid is preselected to provide a measure of control of the pressure within the annular volume as the fluid within the volume is being heated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignees: Chevron U.S.A. Inc., Los Alamos National Security, LLC
    Inventors: Robert E. Hermes, Manuel E. Gonzalez, Brian C. Llewellyn, James B. Bloys, Don M. Coates
  • Patent number: 7950461
    Abstract: A well system includes a valve interconnected in a casing string and selectively configurable between first and second configurations via a line external to the casing string, the valve in the first configuration being operable to selectively permit and prevent fluid flow between the casing string exterior and interior, and in the second configuration to selectively filter and prevent fluid flow between the casing string exterior and interior. A method of selectively stimulating a formation includes: positioning a casing string in a wellbore intersecting the formation, the casing string including a valve operable via an external line to selectively permit and prevent fluid flow between the casing string interior and exterior; and stimulating an interval set of the formation by opening the valve, flowing a stimulation fluid from the casing string into the interval set, and then configuring the valve to filter formation fluid which flows into the casing string.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Welldynamics, Inc.
    Inventors: Kirby G. Schrader, Alfred R. Curington, Bharathwaj Kannan