...that in the early 1940s GE engineer James Wright was charged with a task of utmost importance to the war effort: develop a cheap substitute for rubber that could be used to produce tires, gas masks and a whole host of military gear. Wright tackled the task diligently -- and wound up inventing Silly Putty.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7854275 | Spring-operated anti-stall tool An anti-stall tool in an oil well drilling assembly that controls reciprocation of the drill bit by a controller that alters weight-on-bit (WOB) depending upon measured downhole pressure or torque. The downhole controller keeps the drill bit rotating by maintaining ... | 12/21/2010 |
| 7624808 | Expandable ramp gripper A gripper for use in a downhole tool is provided. The gripper can include an actuator, a toe assembly, and an expandable assembly. The toe assembly can be a leaf-spring like elongate continuous beam. The expandable assembly can be a linkage including a plurality of ... | 12/01/2009 |
| 7607497 | Roller link toggle gripper and downhole tractor An expandable gripper assembly may be configured for anchoring a tool in a passage. The expandable gripper assembly includes first, second, and third pivotally connected links that are coupled to a tool. The third link is adapted to engage an inner wall in the passa... | 10/27/2009 |
| 7607495 | Tractor with improved valve system A hydraulically powered tractor includes an elongated body, two gripper assemblies, at least one pair of aft and forward propulsion cylinders and pistons, and a valve system. The valve system comprises an inlet control valve, a two-position propulsion control valve,... | 10/27/2009 |
| 7604060 | Gripper assembly for downhole tools A gripper assembly for anchoring a tool within a downhole passage and for possibly assisting movement of the tool within the passage. The gripper assembly includes an elongated mandrel and flexible toes that can be radially displaced to grip onto the surface of the ... | 10/20/2009 |
| 7493967 | Tractor with improved valve system 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 ... | 02/24/2009 |
| 7392859 | Roller link toggle gripper and downhole tractor An expandable gripper assembly may be configured for anchoring a tool in a passage. The expandable gripper assembly includes first, second, and third pivotally connected links that are coupled to a tool. The third link is adapted to engage an inner wall in the passa... | 07/01/2008 |
| 7353886 | Tractor with improved valve system A hydraulically powered tractor includes an elongated body, two gripper assemblies, at least one pair of aft and forward propulsion cylinders and pistons, and a valve system. The valve system comprises an inlet control valve, a two-position propulsion control valve,... | 04/08/2008 |
| 7343982 | Tractor with improved valve system 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 ... | 03/18/2008 |
| 7275593 | Gripper assembly for downhole tools A gripper assembly for anchoring a tool within a downhole passage and for possibly assisting movement of the tool within the passage. The gripper assembly includes an elongated mandrel and flexible toes that can be radially displaced to grip onto the surface of the ... | 10/02/2007 |
| 7191829 | Gripper assembly for downhole tools A gripper assembly for anchoring a tool within a downhole passage and for possibly assisting movement of the tool within the passage. The gripper assembly includes an elongated mandrel and flexible toes that can be radially displaced to grip onto the surface of the ... | 03/20/2007 |
| 7188681 | Tractor with improved valve system A hydraulically powered tractor includes an elongated body, two gripper assemblies, at least one pair of aft and forward propulsion cylinders and pistons, and a valve system. The valve system comprises an inlet control valve, a two-position propulsion control valve,... | 03/13/2007 |
| 7185716 | Electrically sequenced tractor A downhole drilling tractor for moving within a borehole comprises a tractor body, two packerfeet, two aft propulsion cylinders, and two forward propulsion cylinders. The body comprises aft and forward shafts and a central control assembly. The packerfeet and propul... | 03/06/2007 |
| 7174974 | Electrically sequenced tractor A downhole drilling tractor for moving within a borehole comprises a tractor body, two packerfeet, two aft propulsion cylinders, and two forward propulsion cylinders. The body comprises aft and forward shafts and a central control assembly. The packerfeet and propul... | 02/13/2007 |
| 7156181 | Puller-thruster downhole tool A method and apparatus for propelling a tool having a body within a passage. The tool includes a gripper including at least a gripper portion which can assume a first position that engages an inner surface of the passage and limits relative movement of the gripper p... | 01/02/2007 |
| 7121364 | Tractor with improved valve system 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 ... | 10/17/2006 |
| 7080700 | Tractor with improved valve system A hydraulically powered tractor includes an elongated body, two gripper assemblies, at least one pair of aft and forward propulsion cylinders and pistons, and a valve system. The valve system comprises an inlet control valve, a two-position propulsion control valve,... | 07/25/2006 |
| 7080701 | Electrically sequenced tractor A downhole drilling tractor for moving within a borehole comprises a tractor body, two packerfeet, two aft propulsion cylinders, and two forward propulsion cylinders. The body comprises aft and forward shafts and a central control assembly. The packerfeet and propul... | 07/25/2006 |
| 7059417 | Puller-thruster downhole tool A method and apparatus for propelling a tool having a body within a passage. The tool includes a gripper including at least a gripper portion which can assume a first position that engages an inner surface of the passage and limits relative movement of the gripper p... | 06/13/2006 |
| 7048047 | Gripper assembly for downhole tools A gripper assembly for anchoring a tractor within a downhole passage and for assisting movement of the tractor within the passage. The gripper assembly includes an elongated mandrel and flexible toes that can be radially displaced to grip onto the surface of the pas... | 05/23/2006 |
| 6938708 | Electrically sequenced tractor A downhole drilling tractor for moving within a borehole comprises a tractor body, two packerfeet, two aft propulsion cylinders, and two forward propulsion cylinders. The body comprises aft and forward shafts and a central control assembly. The packerfeet and propul... | 09/06/2005 |
| 6758279 | Puller-thruster downhole tool A method and apparatus for propelling a tool having a body within a passage. The tool includes a gripper including at least a gripper portion which can assume a first position that engages an inner surface of the passage and limits relative movement of the gripper p... | 07/06/2004 |
| 6745854 | Electrically sequenced tractor A downhole drilling tractor for moving within a borehole comprises a tractor body, two packerfeet, two aft propulsion cylinders, and two forward propulsion cylinders. The body comprises aft and forward shafts and a central control assembly. The packerfeet and propul... | 06/08/2004 |
| 6715559 | Gripper assembly for downhole tractors A gripper assembly for anchoring a tractor within a downhole passage and for assisting movement of the tractor within the passage. The gripper assembly includes an elongated mandrel and flexible toes that can be radially displaced to grip onto the surface of the pas... | 04/06/2004 |
| 6679341 | Tractor with improved valve system A hydraulically powered tractor includes an elongated body, two gripper assemblies, at least one pair of aft and forward propulsion cylinders and pistons, and a valve system. The valve system comprises an inlet control valve, a two-position propulsion con... | 01/20/2004 |
| 6640894 | Gripper assembly for downhole tools A gripper assembly for anchoring a tractor within a downhole passage and for assisting movement of the tractor within the passage. The gripper assembly includes an elongated mandrel and flexible toes that can be radially displaced to grip onto the surface... | 11/04/2003 |
| 6601652 | Puller-thruster downhole tool A method and apparatus for propelling a tool having a body within a passage. The tool includes a gripper including at least a gripper portion which can assume a first position that engages an inner surface of the passage and limits relative movement of th... | 08/05/2003 |
| 6478097 | Electrically sequenced tractor A downhole drilling tractor for moving within a borehole comprises a tractor body, two packerfeet, two aft propulsion cylinders, and two forward propulsion cylinders. The body comprises aft and forward shafts and a central control assembly. The packerfeet... | 11/12/2002 |
| 6464003 | Gripper assembly for downhole tractors A gripper assembly for anchoring a tractor within a downhole passage and for assisting movement of the tractor within the passage. The gripper assembly includes an elongated mandrel and flexible toes that can be radially displaced to grip onto the surface... | 10/15/2002 |
| 6431291 | Packerfoot with bladder assembly having reduced likelihood of bladder delamination A packerfoot includes a bladder assembly comprising an elongated generally tubular inflatable bladder having ends bonded to generally rigid bladder attachment portions. The bladder includes end portions bonded to the bladder attachment portions and a cent... | 08/13/2002 |
| 6427786 | Electro-hydraulically controlled tractor A tractor for moving within a borehole comprises an elongated tractor body and two propulsion assemblies that are longitudinally movably engaged with the body. The tractor body has annular pistons configured to receive hydraulic thrust to propel the body ... | 08/06/2002 |
| 6367366 | Sensor assembly A sensor assembly including a sensor mounted on the piston and a transmitter mounted on either the piston or cylinder. Preferably the transmitter includes a wheel which engages the wall of the cylinder so as to rotate as the piston reciprocates within the... | 04/09/2002 |
| 6241031 | Electro-hydraulically controlled tractor A tractor for moving within a borehole comprises an elongated tractor body and two propulsion assemblies that are longitudinally movably engaged with the body. The tractor body has annular pistons configured to receive hydraulic thrust to propel the body ... | 06/05/2001 |
| 6230813 | Method of moving a puller-thruster downhole tool A method and apparatus for propelling a tool having a body within a passage. The tool includes a gripper including at least a gripper portion which can assume a first position that engages an inner surface of the passage and limits relative movement of th... | 05/15/2001 |
| 6003606 | Puller-thruster downhole tool A method and apparatus for propelling a tool having a body within a passage. The tool includes a gripper including at least a gripper portion which can assume a first position that engages an inner surface of the passage and limits relative movement of th... | 12/21/1999 |