Did You Know...
...that after Parker Brothers executives turned down the game of Monopoly because it had "52 fundamental errors" (including taking too long to play), a copy of the game wound up in the home of the company president who stayed up until 1 a.m. to finish playing it? He was so impressed by the game that the next day he wrote to inventor Charles Darrow and offered to buy it!
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 5111763 | Steering unit for barges A steering unit (10) for a barge tow (12). The steering unit (10) has a hull (16) which includes a pair of spaced longitudinally extending portions (50, 52) and defining a cavity or tunnel (54) therebetween. A propeller (48) and rudder (36) are mounted wi... | 05/12/1992 |
| 5046135 | Method and apparatus for frequency stabilization of a down converter A method and apparatus is disclosed for automatic elimination of frequency instabilities in a receiver frequency converter. Such instabilities result from temperature variations and mechanical vibrations of the local oscillator of a first stage converter.... | 09/03/1991 |
| 5019959 | Ballast circuit A ballast circuit for a discharge tube such as a fluorescent tube, mercury vapor, sodium vapor or metal halide lamp is disclosed. D.C. power is provided alternately between two output driver stages and an a.c. neutral return line. In output transformerles... | 05/28/1991 |
| 5014778 | Milling tool for cutting well casing An oil field cutting tool (10) for progressively cutting away a tubular member (14) installed within a well from the upper annular end (12) of the tubular member (14). The cutting tool (10) includes a plurality of elongate blades (32) spaced about the per... | 05/14/1991 |
| 5014813 | Water-proof geophone housing In accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention, a water-proof geophone housing assembly includes a lower body member housing a seismic transducer, a cap member closing the upper end of the lower body member, an upper body member mo... | 05/14/1991 |
| 5016197 | Automated trash management system An automated trash management system for remotely measuring the fullness of a plurality of trash containers is disclosed. Each container is provided with a remote sensing unit for generating a signal proportional to a characteristic of the container by wh... | 05/14/1991 |
| 5012701 | Method of making a threaded retainer ring for a roller cutter on a drill bit A method of making a threaded ring (24) into two (2) semicircular portions (30, 32) for fitting within a groove (19) on a journal (12) of a drill bit (10) to retain a roller cutter (20) thereon. The ring (24) is first formed with screw threads (26) about ... | 05/07/1991 |
| 4993876 | Method and apparatus for protective encapsulation of structural members The method and apparatus for forming an encapsulation or encasement about a structural member that is particularly well suited for use in a marine environment is disclosed. A two component polymer system for protective and repair encapsulation is pumpable... | 02/19/1991 |
| 4987719 | Reinforced concrete building construction and method of forming same A reinforced concrete building structure (10) and method of forming, including first forming a steel framing form (18) of cold formed channel shaped structural steel members of a thickness between 1/32 inch and 3/8 inch including vertical framing members ... | 01/29/1991 |
| 4986891 | Automatic electrophoresis apparatus and method An electrophoresis machine is disclosed in which after a microporous support strip and a sample plate are placed in the machine, all electrophoresis processing, scanning and densitometer functions are automatically performed under computer control. The ma... | 01/22/1991 |
| 4984810 | Treadmill A treadmill is disclosed having a belt system carried by a platform structure. The platform structure is pivotally mounted at its rear end to a base structure. The platform is supported at its forward end by a shock absorber/spring system which provides a... | 01/15/1991 |
| 4976314 | T-slot mandrel and kickover tool In accordance with illustrative embodiments of the present invention, a side pocket mandrel includes an orienting sleeve having guide surfaces that lead to a longitudinal slot which forms, together with an adjacent longitudinal recess in the mandrel, a T-... | 12/11/1990 |
| 4972323 | Automatic engraving systems and method Disclosed is a method making use of a video camera, a programmed computer and a numerically-controlled machine-tool with three displacement axes. Particular transitions of the gray levels of the digitized output signal of the camera are sought. Two contig... | 11/20/1990 |
| 4966690 | Chlorine induction apparatus for treatment of wastewater In accordance with illustrative embodiments of the present invention, a chlorine gas inductor unit for use in wastewater treatment includes an elongated bearing frame having upper and lower bearing housings secured to the opposite ends of a tubular member... | 10/30/1990 |
| 4964617 | Removable extension for a hydraulic floor jack A removable extension (48) for a hydraulic floor jack (10) mounted on the extending end of a lifting arm (26) upon removal of a saddle (28) therefrom and adapted to contact the underside of a vehicle body for raising the vehicle body. The extension (48) h... | 10/23/1990 |
| 4964432 | Method and means for mounting valve member on valve stem A method and means for removably connecting a valve member (62, 62A) on a valve stem (46, 46A) for movement between open and closed positions relative to a valve seat (24, 24A). The removable connection includes a split frustoconical connector (76, 76A) f... | 10/23/1990 |
| 4956822 | Method and apparatus for seismic exploration A towable marine seismic source apparatus for producing a high resolution seismic signal at relatively shallow depths for engineering surveys is disclosed. The apparatus support frame operably mounts a plurality of eight identical chambered air guns in a ... | 09/11/1990 |
| 4954237 | Automatic electrophoresis apparatus An automatic electrophoresis machine is provided with a path for refrigerated air to pass over the agarose gel of a support medium during the time that electrophoresis current is applied to the support medium. Such apparatus is also provided with means fo... | 09/04/1990 |
| 4950885 | Fluid coupled fiber optic sensor A passive transducer apparatus and method of use for producing a useful output light signal in response to a sensed condition. The sensed condition varies the light emitted from a first fiber optic light conductor that is apparently captured or detected b... | 08/21/1990 |
| 4940210 | Ball valve A new and improved valve apparatus and method of operating same that moves a flow closure assembly between open and closed positions with a minimum of frictional resistance while effecting a forcible engagement with both upstream and downstream valve seat... | 07/10/1990 |
| 4938080 | Automatic pipetting apparatus An automatic pipetting apparatus is disclosed having a base on which is mounted a vertical frame supporting a row of positive displacement pipettes which are driven in the up or down direction by an electromechanical mechanism under microprocessor control... | 07/03/1990 |
| 4932261 | Micro-machined accelerometer with tilt compensation A spring-mass-support structure is arranged as an accelerometer with two electrostatic feedback loops so as to measure two components of acceleration. Two of such accelerometers are advantageously used on a submerged platform to determine the direction of... | 06/12/1990 |
| 4932682 | Medication record In accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention, a medication information recording system includes a chart having a series of vertically spaced, partially overlapping prescription slips detachably secured to the left hand margin th... | 06/12/1990 |
| 4931249 | Apparatus and process for mixing and dispensing high viscosity, multiple component reactive liquids into a mold An apparatus and process are provided for mixing and dispensing high viscosity, multiple component reactive liquids into a mold. The apparatus and process are particularly suitable for mixing and dispensing highly viscous intumescent fireproofing material... | 06/05/1990 |
| 4922664 | Liquid sand blast nozzle and method of using same A method and apparatus is disclosed for using a nozzle to propel abrasive particles with high pressure water. The nozzle has a straight line path for a constant flow rate of air and abrasive particles to a propulsion chamber. A water path through the nozz... | 05/08/1990 |
| 4911408 | Seat assembly for ball valves A top entry ball valve (10) has a removable top plate (34) to permit the removal of a ball valve member (80). Valve seat assemblies (98, 100) each include a primary metal seat member (102), a concentric secondary elastomeric seat member (104), and a conce... | 03/27/1990 |
| 4911834 | Drilling mud separation system A separation system for removing drilled solids from a drilling fluid being circulated in a well including a vibratory screen apparatus (10) and method for separating materials having a base (12) supporting a vibratory support frame (13) for relative vibr... | 03/27/1990 |
| 4909920 | Automatic electrophoresis apparatus and method An electrophoresis machine is disclosed in which after a microporous support strip and a sample plate are placed in the machine, all electrophoresis processing, scanning and densitometer functions are automatically performed under computer control. The ma... | 03/20/1990 |
| 4907649 | Restriction subs for setting cement plugs in wells In accordance with illustrative embodiments of the present invention, restriction subs for use in setting cement plugs in wells include a tubular threaded adapter having an internal annular recess, and a metal restriction sleeve mount in such recess. In o... | 03/13/1990 |
| 4904913 | Motor control system for a plastic forming machine A motor control system for a plastic forming machine such as an injection molding machine is disclosed including an interface circuit and a phase inverter for sensing the individual operation steps of the molding machine, producing a time stream of voltag... | 02/27/1990 |
| 4903207 | Method for determining reservoir bulk volume of hydrocarbons from reservoir porosity and distance to oil-water contact level For a formation zone of a well, a method for determining the relationship between bulk volume of oil $c;o as a function of total effective formation porosity $c;E and height h above the oil water contact from capillary pressure... | 02/20/1990 |
| 4899980 | Ball valve A ball valve (10) has a ball valve member (34) mounted for floating movement in a valve chamber (32) between an upstream metal seat (102) and a downstream metal seat (104). Each metal seat (102, 104) fits within a recess (100) and has a body portion (110)... | 02/13/1990 |
| 4899832 | Modular well drilling apparatus and methods A highly automated well drilling apparatus that is transportable in modular units to a well site where the units are rapidly assembled into an integrated operational assembly. The apparatus includes a drilling unit and two raising units that are locked to... | 02/13/1990 |
| 4898201 | Portabl tool for cleaning valve bores and associated inlet passage A portable cleaning tool (12) for cleaning the bore (38) of a valve (10) comprising a tool fitting or connector (52) with a reduced diameter inner end portion (82) having an O-ring (86) for sealing against an enlarged bore portion (40) of the valve body (... | 02/06/1990 |
| 4890247 | Automatic electrophoresis apparatus and method An electrophoresis machine is disclosed in which after a microporous support strip and a sample plate are placed in the machine, all electrophoresis processing, scanning and densitometer functions are automatically performed under computer control. The ma... | 12/26/1989 |
| 4887668 | Cutting tool for cutting well casing A cutting tool (22) having elongate cutter arms (36) mounted about a pivot pin (40) for outward swinging movement. Cutting blades (58, 60) are mounted on the lower ends of the cutter arms (36) and have a plurality of closely fitting hard carbide cutting e... | 12/19/1989 |
| 4881536 | Method and apparatus for prosthesis placement An improved surgical procedure for orthopedic implantation of a prosthesis where the conventional metal prosthesis is provided with an integral collar of a bone cement compatible polymer coating of a desired thickness and shape. The collar thickness serve... | 11/21/1989 |
| 4880284 | Chest of drawers and method of assembly A knock down chest of drawers (10) assembled from a plurality of prepackaged flat panels without any separate fasteners includes a detachable frome (12) having a pair of said panels (16, 18) with a plurality of horizontal grooves (32) therein. Detachable ... | 11/14/1989 |
| 4878651 | Valve seat assembly A through conduit gate valve apparatus having a valve seat assembly that is field maintainable and which prevents the occurrence of pressure lock is disclosed. Each valve seat assembly includes a retainer ring fixed in the valve body and a pressure respon... | 11/07/1989 |
| 4878864 | Outboard thruster with direct drive hydraulic motor In accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention, a new and improved compass-type, retractable marine thruster apparatus comprises a housing pivotally mounted on a base that can be attached to the stern of a vessel, a tubular member ... | 11/07/1989 |
