Did You Know...
...that several people are credited with the invention of the flush toilet? Most people have heard of Thomas Crapper (1837-1910), the sanitary engineer who invented the valve-and-siphon arrangement that made the modern toilet possible. Another claimant to "the throne" was British inventor Alexander Cumming who patented a toilet in 1775. Then there's a nameless Minoan (a native of ancient Crete) who lived 4,000 years ago who supposedly was ahead of his time and created the first flush toilet!
PatentStorm News
Make the Most of Our Site
See this month's Top Inventors and Most Cited Patents.
Stay on top of the latest innovations by subscribing to an RSS feed.
Registered users: Manage your profile.
| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 5404947 | Pre-formed stress rings for inflatable packers An inflatable packer apparatus for use in a well bore has pre-formed metal stress rings surrounding the respective opposite end portions of the packer element. The stress rings are machined to initially have conical outer surfaces, and then are outwardly ... | 04/11/1995 |
| 5398755 | Stress rings for inflatable packers An inflatable packer for use in a well includes a tubular mandrel, an inner elastomer sleeve on the mandrel, armor surrounding the inner sleeve, and an outer elastomer sleeve member that covers at least a portion of the armor. Stress rings are mounted on ... | 03/21/1995 |
| 5363542 | Method of assembly for inflatable packer The strength of slats attached to an inflatable packer assembly by welding is increased by forming the slats of an age-hardening materials, welding the slats to the inflatable packer assembly in an annealed condition followed by age-hardening of the welde... | 11/15/1994 |
| 5361836 | Straddle inflatable packer system A straddle inflatable packer system includes upper and lower packer assemblies each having an inner elastomer sleeve surrounded by expansible armor members. For well treating operations, the upper packer includes an external elastomer sleeve which covers ... | 11/08/1994 |
| 5361479 | Method of assembly for inflatable packer The strength of slats attached to an inflatable packer assembly by welding is increased by forming the slats of an age-hardening materials, welding the slats to the inflatable packer assembly in an annealed condition followed by age-hardening of the welde... | 11/08/1994 |
| 5353871 | Inflatable packer with protective rings An inflatable packer apparatus having an inner elastomer sleeve covered by armor such as overlapped, longitudinal slats that extend between upper and lower collars. The end portions of such slats pass through stress rings having outwardly flared nose port... | 10/11/1994 |
| 5350018 | Well treating system with pressure readout at surface and method A well treating tool string run on coiled tubing and having packers to isolate a zone to be treated in response to operation of a selector valve, pressure and temperature transducers in the tool string and a telemetry system which samples the measurements... | 09/27/1994 |
| 5330005 | Control of particulate flowback in subterranean wells The addition of fibrous materials in intimate mixture with particulates for fracturing and gravel packing decreases or eliminates the flowback of proppant and/or formation fines while stabilizing the sand pack and lowering the demand for high polymer load... | 07/19/1994 |
| 5314014 | Packer and valve assembly for temporary abandonment of wells Preferential disconnection of a valve-actuating subassembly from a temporary abandonment safety valve and packer assembly is provided by stops which limit relative rotation between the valve-actuating subassembly within the valve along with a locking coll... | 05/24/1994 |
| 5287930 | Valve apparatus for use in sand control In accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention, a circulating valve for use in sand control and related well operations includes a mandrel that can be rotated in a housing after a weight-responsive clutch is released. As the mandre... | 02/22/1994 |
| 5280824 | Sealing element for inflatable packer The outer, sealing cover of an inflatable packer comprises an alternating series of thick and thin annular portions which act to effect greater sealing stresses and to inhibit the propagation of cracks or tears in the elastomeric cover. Bonding with only ... | 01/25/1994 |
| 5259455 | Method of using borate crosslinked fracturing fluid having increased temperature range The present invention extends the temporary temperature range for the use of magnesium oxide-delayed borate-cross linking of a galactomannan gum fracturing fluid by adding fluoride ion which precipitates insoluble magnesium fluoride. Alternatively, a chel... | 11/09/1993 |
| 5230363 | Suction valve for high pressure slurry pump Where on the valve seating surfaces due to the high pressure pumping of abrasive slurry through an in-line valve is greatly reduced by providing first and second valve seating surfaces which are engaged, respectively by first metal and first elastomeric c... | 07/27/1993 |
| 5229017 | Method of enhancing methane production from coal seams by dewatering Dewatering of coal seams for facilitating the production of gas therefrom through a well is effected by treating the coal seam utilizing a well treatment fluid containing a dewatering aid which both enhances the permeability of the formation to water prod... | 07/20/1993 |
| 5203413 | Product and process for acid diversion in the treatment of subterranean formations The invention relates to the treatment by a fluid, or more generally by an acid fluid, of subterranean formations located in particular around an oil, gas, water or geothermal well. Acid is diverted towards the zone to be treated by a surfactant flush, the ... | 04/20/1993 |
| 5199489 | Method of cementing well casing to avoid gas channelling from shallow gas-bearing formations Gas channeling to the surface in the setting of surface casing can be avoided by employing a cementing process in which a right-angle setting cement is positioned within a wellbore annulus between the wellbore and the casing above a gas-bearing zone with ... | 04/06/1993 |
| 5190675 | Gelling organic liquids A method of producing a gel of an organic liquid, using a metal phosphate ester in which all of the reagents are substantially free of water and pH-affecting substances. The gel is particularly useful in fracturing subterranean formations by entraining a ... | 03/02/1993 |
| 5180500 | Chemical removal of thiourea from hydrochloric acid A chemical method of removing thiourea from spent hydrochloric acid cleaning solutions comprising the steps of: adjusting the pH to not less than 12 by addition of base to remove metal hydroxides; oxidizing thiourea to urea by the addition of at least a s... | 01/19/1993 |
| 5171041 | Reinforced flanges on plastic pipe A method an apparatus are shown for forming a flange on an end of a plastic pipe liner of the type used to line a tubular member. A reinforced disc having a rigid portion and an elastomeric portion is placed about the liner exterior and moved into positio... | 12/15/1992 |
| 5165474 | Anti-rotation device for cementing plugs with deformable peripheral "fins" o "lips" Cement plugs used in the cementing of casing in a borehole drilled into a subterranean formation are restrained from rotation by being forced into a portion of the casing and check valve apparatus which includes a reduced diameter section formed as a cont... | 11/24/1992 |
| 5145340 | Packing for piston and valve machine A packing is disclosed for piston and valve machine, an annular metal body (20) intended to be immobilized in the first recess by a clamping nut and, in its internal pheripheral face (24), an annular second recess (25), a gasket holding and stress ring (2... | 09/08/1992 |
| 5120471 | Process and composition for protecting chrome steel A composition and method for inhibiting the corrosion of steel containing greater than about 9% chromium in the presence of at least one mineral acid, especially at temperatures above 250° F. The composition is made of a corrosion inhibitor selected from... | 06/09/1992 |
| 5105659 | Detection of fracturing events using derivatives of fracturing pressures In accordance with illustrative embodiments of the present invention, a method of determining fracture behavior from downhole pressure measurements that are made during a hydraulic well fracturing operation includes pumping fracturing fluids at a constant... | 04/21/1992 |
| 5103905 | Method of optimizing the conductivity of a propped fractured formation Method of reducing the viscosity of a fracturing fluid containing a polymer by introducing both delayed breaker and nondelayed breaker into the fracturing fluid. Preferably, the relative amounts of delayed and undelayed breaker are determined by first det... | 04/14/1992 |
| 5103910 | Delayed rigid foam systems and applications in particular for selective plugging treatments in the oil industry The invention comprises a selective plugging treatment with good penetration for acid diversion or water control. The fluid comprises a foamed delayed gelation system.... | 04/14/1992 |
| 5103913 | Method of fracturing high temperature wells and fracturing fluid therefore The high temperature stability of an aqueous fracturing fluid is extended for use in high temperature (above 300° F.) subterranean formations through the addition of quantities of unhydrated, particulate guar or guar derivative polymers prior to the pump... | 04/14/1992 |
| 5101902 | Aqueous spacer composition compatible with drilling muds and cement slurries An aqueous spacer composition, compatible with drilling muds and cement slurries including saline slurries, and application there of drilling oil and gas wells. Preferred spacer bases in accordance with the invention comprise a biopolymer of the type prod... | 04/07/1992 |
| 5096618 | Process and composition for inhibiting high-temperature iron and steel corrosion A composition and method for inhibiting corrosion of iron and steel in the presence of aqueous acid at high temperatures, containing an alkenylphenone having the following structure: ##STR1## wherein R1 may be aryl of 6 to about 10 carbons... | 03/17/1992 |
| 5090079 | Apparatus for cleaning pipe An apparatus is shown for cleaning a pipe. The apparatus includes a rigid stem and a motor stationarily mounted on the stem. An outer body surrounds the motor and is rotatably mounted on the rigid stem. A fluid conduit is connected to the stem and to a so... | 02/25/1992 |
| 5086840 | Delayed rigid foam systems and applications in particular for plugging selective treatments in the oil industry The invention concerns delayed gelation systems which are injected under the shape of a foam in the chosen formations. The choise of an either oil compatible, or water compatible foaming agent allows obtaining a remarkable process selectivity. Plugging; acid d... | 02/11/1992 |
| 5069280 | Gravel packer and service tool A gravel packer and service tool combination for use in subterranean wells operates sequentially to lock and seal the packer in the well at a producing formation, release a mechanical connection between the packer and service tool, and open a passage thro... | 12/03/1991 |
| 5046856 | Apparatus and method for mixing fluids Plug flow through a series of tanks in fluid communication is effected by the addition of radial flow impeller means to at least one of the tanks. Plug flow through the tanks allows for sufficient residence time in the series of tanks to effect complete h... | 09/10/1991 |
| 5036919 | Fracturing with multiple fluids to improve fracture conductivity Conductivity damage is decreased in fracturing a high temperature (greater than 200° F.) well by employing a first fracturing fluid which is substantially stable at the bottom hole static temperature and pumping a second fracturing fluid behind the first... | 08/06/1991 |
| 5020592 | Tool for treating subterranean wells A method and apparatus for treating subterranean wells includes a tool supported on a one-piece support tube which operates to raise and lower the tool in the well to a position where well treatment is required. The tool provides inflatable packers and a ... | 06/04/1991 |
| 5013483 | Process and composition for inhibiting iron and steel corrosion A composition and method for inhibiting corrosion of iron and steel in the presence of aqueous acid, especially concentrated hydrochloric acid comprising at least 5% by weight HCl, comprising an effective corrosion inhibiting amount of an alkenylphenone h... | 05/07/1991 |
| 5006177 | Process and composition for cementing wells passing through salt formations The present invention relates to a composition for cementing, containing a small amount of NaCl and from 35 to 150 l/t of sodium silicate. A cement-salt bond having good characteristics such as rheology, fluid loss, etc. . . . is obtained.... | 04/09/1991 |
| 4984634 | Logging of subterranean wells using coiled tubing An apparatus for production logging of a well utilizing artificial lift in a wellbore comprises coiled tubing extending into the wellbore, the coiled tubing having gas injector means provided on its remote end and including means for electrical communicat... | 01/15/1991 |
| 4984632 | Hydraulic release joint for tubing systems A tubing release coupling which does not require rotation to effect release incorporates a collet which is retained within a groove by a collet retainer located on an axially movable piston. The piston is retained in place thereby locking the collet by a ... | 01/15/1991 |
| 4971775 | Process for removal of nickel from effluent containing EDTA A method for removing iron(III), copper(II), zinc(I) and nickel(II) from an effluent containing chelant (EDTA, DEPA, HOEDTA) comprising treating the effluent with a soluble calcium compound (e.g., Ca(OH)2) CaCl2, Ca(NO3) | 11/20/1990 |
| 4971147 | Cable clamp for coiled tubing An electrically conductive cable is held within the inner bore of a well tool connected to coiled tubing by a clamp which comprises a split ring having radially outwardly extending lug portions on the split ends of the ring. The lug portions are located w... | 11/20/1990 |
