Work Cleansing Patents (Class 173/197)
  • Patent number: 11161213
    Abstract: Appropriate control is performed in accordance with the state of a power tool and/or a dust collection attachment. A dust collection system for a power tool includes a hammer drill to hold a bit, a dust collection attachment connected to the hammer drill, and a dust collection controller that controls the operation of the hammer drill and/or the dust collection attachment in accordance with the specifications of the hammer drill and/or the dust collection attachment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: MAKITA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kiyonobu Yoshikane, Keita Mori, Yoshitaka Machida, Yu Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 10738535
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for supplying non-hydraulic power to a tool unit during well operation. A top drive supplies power to a power consumer of the tool unit with a non-hydraulic power supply: a mechanical power coupling from the top drive to the tool unit, a wireless power coupling from the top drive to the tool unit, a local power supply on the tool unit, and/or combinations thereof. The non-hydraulic power supply may be capable of supplying at least 2 kW for at least 10 s. The system may include a fixed gear coupled to the top drive, a slewing ring meshed to the fixed gear, and a revolving gear meshed with the slewing ring and coupled to the tool unit. The slewing ring is configured to transfer rotational force from the fixed gear to the revolving gear, and may be rotated by rotating a torque shaft or actuating the fixed gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: WEATHERFORD TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS, LLC
    Inventors: Frank Wern, Federico Amezaga
  • Patent number: 10544631
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a coupling system for a top drive and a tool includes a housing of the top drive having a bore therethrough, an adapter of the tool, a latch member at least partially disposed within the housing and radially movable between an extended position and a retracted position, wherein the latch member is configured to longitudinally couple the housing to the adapter, and a lock member at least partially disposed within the housing and longitudinally movable relative to the housing, wherein the lock member is configured to move the latch member between the extended and the retracted positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: WEATHERFORD TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS, LLC
    Inventor: Thomas Reinecke
  • Patent number: 10526852
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a coupling system for a top drive and a tool includes a drive stem of the top drive configured to transfer torque to the tool, a key disposed on the drive stem and movable to an extended position, an adapter of the tool configured to receive the drive stem, a key recess disposed on the adapter and configured to receive the key in the extended position, and a biasing member configured to bias the key towards the extended position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC
    Inventor: Jimmy Duane Wiens
  • Patent number: 10480247
    Abstract: A method and system for coupling a drive unit to a tool adapter includes joining a first plate to a second plate; stabbing a stabbing member of the first plate into a hollow of the second plate; and rotating a bar of the second plate from an open position to a closed position to secure the stabbing member in the hollow. An embodiment includes positioning the tool adapter below the drive unit; stabbing a coupling head into a coupling recess; moving a fixation ring vertically; and securing bolts of the drive unit in notches of the coupling head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: WEATHERFORD TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS, LLC
    Inventor: Folke Theesen
  • Patent number: 10113377
    Abstract: A completion system and method adapted for use in wells having long lateral boreholes includes a mast assembly, a pipe handling mechanism, a pipe arm, a pipe tub, a pump/pit combination skid, a rig carrier, and a control system. The mast assembly can extend in a generally vertical direction, e.g., perpendicular to the rig carrier and/or the earth's surface, such that the rig can be placed directly adjacent to a wellbore, and the top drive or a similar drive system can be engaged with and move along the mast while remaining above the wellbore. The top drive can be engaged with a support fixture that resists torque and rotation during operation. The support fixture can in turn be engaged with the mast to transfer torque forces to the mast while being vertically movable along the mast to enable positioning of the top drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: SUPERIOR ENERGY SERVICES—NORTH AMERICA SERVICES, INC.
    Inventor: Mark J. Flusche
  • Patent number: 9689616
    Abstract: A device for supplying a rinsing medium to a tool of a hammer drill and a hammer drill. The device includes at least one of a rotatable and axially displaceable drilling tool holder having at least one supply channel for the rinsing medium, a transfer part interacting with the drilling tool holder, a housing, a feeder structured and shaped essentially in an axially symmetrical manner, and a holding part with a rinsing medium inlet. The feeder and the holding part are arranged as a connected component, and friction bearings are arranged on both sides of the feeder and arranged toward the drilling tool holder. The holding part is structured to be radially displaceable within limits via bending with respect to at least one of the housing and a fixing ring connected to the housing, but positively fixed tangentially.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: TMT-BBG RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT GMBH
    Inventors: Romain Clesen, Michael Wolfsberger
  • Patent number: 9388644
    Abstract: A drilling device and method with a drill rod which can be driven in a rotating manner and has an internal line, a support rope, a rotary joint between the drill rod and the support rope and has a holding member which is in connection with the support rope and a rotary member which is in connection with the rotatable drill rod, a line and a rotary feed-through which is designed for the passage of fluid and/or data between the line and the internal line of the drill rod, wherein the rotary feed-through has a rotor connected to the drill rod and a non-rotating stator, to which the line is attached. Provision is made for the support rope to be designed in a torsion-proof manner and for a rigid connecting element to be arranged as a torque support between the stator of the rotary feed-through and the torsion-proof support rope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: BAUER Spezialtiefbau GmbH
    Inventor: Ulli Wiedenmann
  • Patent number: 9291010
    Abstract: A guide dolly for a drilling rig, the guide dolly having: a first dolly engagement roller assembly that is to move in parallel with a drilling mast of the drilling rig. The guide dolly also having a first dolly arm pivotably connected to the first dolly engagement roller assembly. The first dolly arm is configured to attach to a top drive of the drilling rig. A movement of the first dolly arm is to change a position of the top drive over a drilling location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignees: Canyon Oak Energy LLC, Loadmaster Universal Rigs, Inc.
    Inventor: R. Michael Barnes
  • Patent number: 9243450
    Abstract: A top drive assembly having a top drive traveling block; a retracting guide dolly for use with the top drive traveling block and top drive operably by a master control system to hydraulically operate all of the top and bottom dolly arms simultaneously to extend and retract the top drive and top drive traveling block laterally and move the dolly as needed based on signals from a plurality of sensors disposed on the drilling rig, or on equipment adjacent the drilling rig.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignees: Canyon Oak Energy LLC, Loadmaster Universal Rigs, Inc.
    Inventor: R. Michael Barnes
  • Patent number: 8794347
    Abstract: The invention relates to an arrangement designed to be inserted in a cavity (19) in a front part (14) of a rock drilling machine with a shank adapter (16). The arrangement comprises a cartridge (1) with a flushing head (2) and a guide (3) coaxially arranged to create a longitudinal channel (5) designed as a passage for the shank adapter (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Atlas Copco Rock Drills AB
    Inventors: Jörgen Rodert, Peter Birath
  • Publication number: 20130330144
    Abstract: A device for the extraction of processing products includes a double-walled extraction hood, which has a first inner housing part and a second outer housing part arranged at a distance from the first inner housing part. The two housing parts are arranged coaxial with each other and partially within each other in such a way that an air channel is formed between the two housing parts. The air channel has a front end that can be aligned with the workpiece and a rear end opposite the front end. A flow directed from the front end to the rear end can be created in the air channel. The extraction hood, in particular the inner housing part of the extraction hood, is designed to accommodate at least part of the processing device and can be connected thereto.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2012
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Applicant: KraussMaffei Technologies GmbH
    Inventors: Sebastian Eickens, Markus Jansen
  • Publication number: 20130319711
    Abstract: A hand-held power tool is equipped with a dust extraction device which includes a dust box for holding dust. A closing flap is arranged in a tube section which lies in the flow path to the dust box, and this closing flap can be adjusted between the closed position and the open position. The closing flap is pivotably held in the region of the inner wall of the tube section and can be opened in the direction of the dust box. In the closed position, the closing flap bears against a stop which protrudes into the tube section, extends at an angle with respect to the direction of flow through the tube connection piece, and forms a stop line or stop area against which the closing flap correspondingly bears.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2008
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Inventors: Robert Simm, Weihong Li, Qun Zhou, Yi Lv, Wei Liu, Gendang Zhang, Achim Duesselberg, Xuejing Chen
  • Publication number: 20130312991
    Abstract: An attachment for dust collection for cutting machining includes a rotation mechanism and a dust collection enclosure for enclosing at least part of a tool. The dust collection enclosure is rotatably configured by being fixed to the rotation mechanism. A gap for checking a machining state is provided in the dust collection enclosure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2013
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Applicants: Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Mori Seiki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Morihiro HIDETA, Koji SATO, Hisayuki OODE, Shinya MATSUO, Tatsuo NAKAHATA
  • Publication number: 20130192862
    Abstract: The present invention is generally directed to an oscillating power tool system. The tool system may include an oscillating power tool. The oscillating power tool may include a housing and a clamp assembly for coupling a tool accessory to the housing. The system may also include a dust collection accessory. The dust collection accessory may include a clamp for coupling to the housing and a dust collection apparatus coupled to the clamp for receiving dust generated by the tool accessory. The present invention is also generally directed to a dust collection accessory for a power tool. The accessory may include a clamp for coupling the accessory to a body of the power tool. The accessory may also include a dust collection apparatus coupled to the clamp for receiving dust generated by the power tool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Applicant: BLACK & DECKER INC.
    Inventor: Black & Decker Inc.
  • Patent number: 8439127
    Abstract: A drive apparatus for a drill stem of a de-coking system is disclosed. The apparatus includes a feeder as water supply to the drill stem. The drill stem is rotatably driven by a rotational drive which includes a motor and a first and second gear box. The second gear box has an output gear which is meshed with a large gear which is connected to an outer gear rim of the feeder. A skirt envelops the gear which is formed by an output gear and by the second motor driven gear box and the gear which is connected to the feeder completely. A lower side of the skirt is open.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Ruhrpumpen GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Paul, Dirk Heidemann, Maciej Barcikowski
  • Publication number: 20130062089
    Abstract: A device for supplying a rinsing medium to a tool of a hammer drill and a hammer drill. The device includes at least one of a rotatable and axially displaceable drilling tool holder having at least one supply channel for the rinsing medium, a transfer part interacting with the drilling tool holder, a housing, a feeder structured and shaped essentially in an axially symmetrical manner, and a holding part with a rinsing medium inlet. The feeder and the holding part are arranged as a connected component, and friction bearings are arranged on both sides of the feeder and arranged toward the drilling tool holder. The holding part is structured to be radially displaceable within limits via bending with respect to at least one of the housing and a fixing ring connected to the housing, but positively fixed tangentially.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: TMT-BBG RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT GMBH
    Inventors: Romain CLESEN, Michael WOLFSBERGER
  • Patent number: 8339277
    Abstract: In some embodiments, an apparatus [100] and a system, as well as a method and an article, may operate to transmit downhole data in a drilling fluid via fluid pressure modulation, and receive the downhole data at a fluid pulse receiver included in a conduit [104] coupled to a drill pipe downstream from a Kelly hose. Other apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald L. Spross, Kenneth J. Bryars, Andrew J. Downing
  • Publication number: 20120234570
    Abstract: A power tool comprising: a body (103); a dust catching attachment (120) attachable to the body (103); an engagement mechanism portion (151) which engages the body (103) with the dust catching attachment (120); and a spacing member that biases the body (103) and the dust catching attachment (120) in a state that the body (103) and the dust catching attachment (120) are engaged to each other by the engagement mechanism portion (151).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2012
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicant: MAKITA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshitaka MACHIDA, Masanori FURUSAWA
  • Patent number: 8267188
    Abstract: A machining tool comprises a frame mounting an extendable yoke slidable with respect to the frame in a first direction through one or more mounting pillars. A tool motor is mounted on the yoke. A drive mechanism for the yoke is also mounted in the frame, with a drive motor to drive the yoke drive mechanism. A belt is between pulleys on the drive motor and mechanism to transmit drive between them. A rotatable sleeve is around the tool motor and on which sleeve the belt engages on opposite sides of the tool motor, whereby the tool motor can extend between the drive motor and mechanism, thereby resulting in a compact arrangement of the tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: The University of Sheffield
    Inventor: Garth Martyn John Nicholson
  • Patent number: 8196674
    Abstract: It is an object of the invention to provide a technique that contributes to further improvement of an impact tool. A representative impact tool includes a motor, a tool body that houses the motor, a dynamic vibration reducer and a driving mechanism part that is driven by the motor and forcibly drives the dynamic vibration reducer by applying an external force other than vibration of the tool body to the dynamic vibration reducer, during hammering operation. At least one of the dynamic vibration reducer and the driving mechanism part is mounted to the tool body in a form of an assembly into which at least one of a plurality of component parts forming the dynamic vibration reducer and a plurality of component parts forming the driving mechanism part are assembled in advance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Makita Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroki Ikuta, Shin Nakamura, Yoshio Sugiyama, Masao Miwa, Takuya Sumi, Takuo Arakawa
  • Patent number: 8186453
    Abstract: It is an object of the invention to provide an effective technique for reducing adverse effect of a dust suction device on the operability of a power tool, in the power tool which can suck dust generated during operation. The power tool has a motor 111 and a tool body 103 that houses the motor 111. A tool bit 119 is coupled to a tip end region of the tool body and driven by the motor 111 to perform a predetermined operation. The power tool further includes a dust suction part 151 through which dust generated during operation by the tool bit 119 is sucked and which covers at least a tip end of the tool bit 119, a dust transfer passage 153 through which the dust sucked into the dust suction part 151 is transferred and which is partly disposed within the tool body 103, and a dust discharge port 174 through which the dust transferred through the dust transfer passage 153 is discharged to the outside. Further, the dust discharge port 174 is disposed on the opposite side of the motor 111 from the tool bit 119.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Makita Corporation
    Inventors: Masanori Furusawa, Yoshihiro Kasuya, Hajime Takeuchi
  • Publication number: 20120043101
    Abstract: A hammer drill includes a dust collector engaged with a housing by sliding. An engagement protrusion, which can engage and disengage with a rear engagement recessed portion provided on a guide groove of the housing, is provided at a position where the dust collector engages with the housing and biased in the direction of engagement with the rear engagement recessed portion. A front engagement recessed portion is also provided on the guide groove, and can engage with the engagement protrusion at a slide position of the dust collector in front of the engagement position. By engaging the engagement protrusion with the front engagement recessed portion, the dust collector can be fixed to the housing even at the slide position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2011
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Applicant: MAKITA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshiaki ISHIKAWA, Kiyonobu YOSHIKANE, Yoshitaka MACHIDA
  • Publication number: 20110226502
    Abstract: A hammer drill is provided with a connector equipped with a female terminal, movably between a connection position where the female terminal is located inside a plug-in port and a non-connection position where the female terminal is in retreat from inside the plug-in port. The hammer drill is also provided with a torsion spring that urges the connector toward the non-connection position. The connector is provided with a shutter portion that is located inside the plug-in port to close the plug-in port at the non-connection position and is in retreat from inside the plug-in port at the connection position. A dust collecting device is provided with a press rail that comes into abutment on the connector to move the connector to the connection position against the urging of the torsion spring as the dust collecting device is mounted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2011
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Applicant: MAKITA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shinya BITO, Kiyonobu YOSHIKANE, Hitoshi IIDA, Shinji ONODA, Yoshitaka MACHIDA
  • Patent number: 7967084
    Abstract: An external water delivery system includes a water box front head, a collet configured to interface with the water box front head, a polymer sleeve configured to be positioned between the water box front head and the collet, a shank, and at least one seal positioned within the sleeve. The sleeve and seals are configured to provide a water chamber when coupled to the shank. An inner of the sleeve provides a bearing surface for the shank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Longyear TM, Inc.
    Inventor: William James Murray
  • Publication number: 20090321103
    Abstract: Cleaning implement apparatus for cleaning boreholes formed within various different substrates, such as, for example, concrete slabs, concrete blocks, bricks, or the like, comprises a first embodiment for use within a power-operated tool, such as for example, a roto-hammer type power tool for drilling boreholes within concrete or brick substrates, while a second embodiment of the apparatus comprises a manually-operated tool. The first embodiment comprises a bit member having a slotted drive shank (SDS) connection for mounting within the chuck mechanism of the roto-hammer type power tool. In this manner, the same roto-hammer type power tool can be used for both drilling the borehole within the substrate as well as for cleaning the borehole by exchanging the cleaning implement for the drill bit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2008
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Inventor: Richard Griffith
  • Patent number: 7628223
    Abstract: A rock drilling machine includes a sleeve having openings surrounding a portion of a lubrication channel. A groove surrounds the sleeve, and one end of a second channel is connected to the groove. The other end of the second channel is connected to a lubrication point so that lubricant from the lubrication channel is distributed from the lubrication channel, through the sleeve and groove to the second channel, and from the second channel to a lubrication point of the rock drilling machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: Atlas Copco Rock Drills AB
    Inventors: Kurt Andersson, Jörgen Rodert
  • Publication number: 20090133892
    Abstract: A dust suction module includes a plurality of bearing surfaces (2, 2?, 2?) with which the dust suction module (1) is mountable on an associated hand-held power tool (3), an air filter (4), a rotatable suction wheel (5), a plurality of opening outwardly, air discharge openings (6), and a plurality of opening outwardly, auxiliary discharge openings (7) formed in at least one of the plurality of bearing surfaces (2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2008
    Publication date: May 28, 2009
    Inventors: Gerold Fritz, Rainer Ontl
  • Patent number: 6758287
    Abstract: A support for supporting a power tool (3) on a displacement carriage (2) and including an attachment element (7) for connecting the power tool (3) with the carriage (2), and a bolt insertable into an eyelet (8) of the power tool (9) for releasably connecting the attachment element (7) with the power tool (3) with the bolt (6) having axial and radial conduits (12, 13) communicating with an outer cylindrical surface of the bolt (6), so that predetermined position of the bolt (6) in the eyelet (8), a drilling fluid can be delivered through the bolt (6) to fluid conduits (4) of the power tool (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2004
    Assignee: Hilti Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Tim Pröls, Konrad Artmann, Martin Richter
  • Patent number: 6575254
    Abstract: An electrical hand operated tool driving device (1), such as a hammer drill, a combination hammer or a chipping hammer, has an electropneumatic striking mechanism (2), for which a cooling medium (8), for cooling the striking mechanism (2), flows through a liquid-tight cooling medium duct (10, 11, 12, 13), which is disposed in a housing (7) of the tool driving device (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Assignee: Hilti Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Hans-Werner Bongers-Ambrosius, Martin Richter, Konrad Artmann
  • Patent number: 6220369
    Abstract: A scrap removing and tool cooling device includes a cooling air conduit adapted to be disposed in a housing of a machine tool and extending in an axial direction parallel to a tool spindle of the machine tool. The cooling air conduit includes an inlet formed in the housing for introducing cooling air therein, and an outlet passing through a front end wall of the housing. A hood member includes a rear surrounding wall engaging the front end wall of the housing and extending to surround and be spaced apart from a front holding end of the tool spindle with a first distance so as to cooperate with the front end wall to define a chamber to communicate with the outlet, and a front surrounding wall extending forwardly from the rear surrounding wall and surrounding and spaced apart from the front holding end with a second distance smaller than the first distance so as to cooperate with the front holding end to define a blowing outlet to communicate with the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Inventor: Hey Yeh
  • Patent number: 5370194
    Abstract: The drive head assembly for a drilling machine includes a drive head body having a cavity with an upper portion and a lower portion. A bolt is located in the upper portion of the drive head body cavity, and a collet is located in the lower portion of the drive head body cavity. The collet also includes a cavity. A collet insert is located in the collet cavity, and the collet insert has a drill string opening to fixedly secure a drill string.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1994
    Assignee: The Robbins Company
    Inventor: Llewellan Anderson
  • Patent number: 5195598
    Abstract: An improved rotary drill head assembly including a drill head cover having an upper portion, a rotatable drill retaining socket having an outer surface and a support member having an upper portion. The socket extends above the support member. A flinger attached to the upper portion of the support member and having an axial passage extending therethrough, a top cap having an axial passage extending therethrough. An arrangement for attaching the flinger to the top cap including a pin received by one of the flinger and the top cap. A top plate attached to the top cap. The top plate includes an arrangement to protect the pin from the outside environment and to hold the pin in place against axial movement. A sealing arrangement between the upper portion of the drill head cover and the flinger. The flinger, top cap, top plate and upper portion of the drill head cover may be coated with a ceramic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1993
    Inventor: Donald L. DeVall
  • Patent number: 5193626
    Abstract: A drilling device including a hydraulically actuated drive for exerting an oscillatory action on the drive including the drive element, inserting device for hoses conducting a working medium to a pressure-actuated hammer mounted on a front end of the rod and the flushing head at an oscillation angle ranging between 180.degree.-360.degree.. The flushing head is fixed oscilatorily with the drive member and both are swingable about a swivelling axis out of an alignment with the slide and the drive member is formed with a recess for selectively attaching a respective plug-in rod end of the drill rod, so that a torque produced by the drive is transmitted to the drill rod by the drive unit upon interlocking of the flushing head and rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1993
    Assignee: Rudolf Hausherr & Sohne GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Wilhelm Jacob