Did You Know...
...that Charles Goodyear performed some of his experiments on rubber while in debtor's prison? He was there so often he referred to it as his "hotel". Chronically in debt because of poor business sense and ill health, Goodyear depended on the generosity of friends and family. Even after he unlocked the secret to vulcanizing rubber, he was unable to improve his financial situation. When he died, his estate was $200,000 in debt.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7363980 | Downhole flow control apparatus, operable via surface applied pressure Flow control apparatus, for placement in a downhole location in the tubing string of a well. The apparatus comprises a valve element and a lock element. Application and removal of annulus pressure (on the annulus between the tubing and the casing) permits the appara... | 04/29/2008 |
| 7320485 | V insert edge contour A V-band clamp that includes an annular band having an inner surface and an outer surface. A latch assembly is attached to the outer surface of the band for attaching objects together. A plurality of insert segments are attached to the inner surface of the band, whe... | 01/22/2008 |
| 7252150 | Downhole tool A downhole tool including a selectively releasable joint, a downhole drilling assembly including the downhole tool, and a corresponding method. In one embodiment of the invention, a downhole drilling assembly includes a downhole tool having a first body and a second... | 08/07/2007 |
| 7191677 | Adjustable angle drive for a rotary power tool The present invention provides an adjustable angle drive for a rotary power tool such as a drill. The adjustable angle drive includes input and output shafts journalled for rotation in input and output housings. The input and output shafts are rotatably coupled thro... | 03/20/2007 |
| 7192233 | Looseness preventive nut The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and accordingly an object thereof is to provide a looseness preventive nut which does not loosen even if vibrations are applied, and can be used as a single nut. In at least a first embodiment, the inv... | 03/20/2007 |
| 7152674 | Disconnect devices A disconnect device for use as part of a tubing string downhole in an oil or gas well and which comprises a tubular body, at least one slip held within the tubular body, and a sleeve housed within the tubular body to hold the at least one slip in coupling engagement... | 12/26/2006 |
| 7128083 | Wet barrel fire hydrant flow preventer The present invention provides a fluid flow prevention apparatus for a wet barrel fire hydrant which is simple and inexpensive to install and effectively cuts off water flow while reducing water hammer. The fluid flow apparatus includes an in-line valve member for c... | 10/31/2006 |
| 7117892 | Quick disconnect valve assembly This disclosure is concerned with fluid system components. In one example, A quick disconnect valve assembly includes first and second valve elements configured to releasably engage each other. Each valve element includes a housing that defines a valve seat and a fl... | 10/10/2006 |
| 7100696 | Disconnect for use in a wellbore The present invention generally relates to a disconnect for use in a wellbore to separate a tubular string from a stuck wellbore component. In one aspect, the invention includes a disconnect with a first portion and a second portion and a lock nut preventing the sep... | 09/05/2006 |
| 7028778 | Fluid system component with sacrificial element A fluid system component is provided that is implemented as a section of metal pipe having a predetermined wall thickness and including a sacrificial element intended to preferentially fail upon the occurrence of certain predefined conditions. The sacrificial elemen... | 04/18/2006 |
| 7011162 | Hydraulically activated swivel for running expandable components with tailpipe An apparatus for use in a wellbore, the apparatus comprises a top body, a bottom body, and a sleeve mechanically connected to the top and bottom bodies. The sleeve movable between a first position to a second position, whereby in the first position, the top and bott... | 03/14/2006 |
| 7000952 | Duct separation restraint apparatus and method A coupling apparatus and method for coupling two duct sections together to form a joint therebetween. The apparatus includes a catcher ring component formed coextensive with the edge of one section of duct, and a catcher finger component formed coextensive with an e... | 02/21/2006 |
| 6910826 | Breakaway coupling A breakaway coupling for a light pole or the like is disclosed and is utilized on each of the anchor bolts of the foundation for the pole. Each of the couplings comprises a metal coupling nut which has a plurality of radially spaced-apart and vertically disposed sli... | 06/28/2005 |
| 6907932 | Control pod latchdown mechanism A latchdown mechanism 11 latches a control pod 10 to a lower mounting plate 14 of a subsea tree. A receptacle housing 12 secured to subsea tree receives the control pod therein and has an interior latching surface 13 at an upper en... | 06/21/2005 |
| 6895952 | Appliance end fitting An appliance end fitting for connecting a gas operated appliance to a pressurized gas cylinder includes a simplified interior valve that acts as both a thermal valve and an excess flow control valve. The end fitting has an elongated body formed in two telescoping se... | 05/24/2005 |
| 6843506 | Safety device A safety device (23) for a fluid hose (14) having at one end one part (19) of a separable connector (18) by means of which the hose (14) may be connected to another pipe (21) carrying the other part (20) of the connec... | 01/18/2005 |
| 6835310 | Device for coupling together a tube and a filter housing The invention relates to a device for using various types of coupling system to connect together a tube (2) and a filter housing (3). According to the invention, the device comprises: a head plate (21) independ... | 12/28/2004 |
| 6736157 | Blocking device The present invention relates to a device for blocking a liquid- and/or vapour-flow from a hose and positioning a hose rupture to a coupling in the hose, e.g. the end of the hose and a nozzle, the coupling comprising a female fitting (2) and a male fitting ( | 05/18/2004 |
| 6722701 | Quick connect coupling having a shielded fuse An invention coupling for LP gas or similar fuel source systems is disclosed. The coupling includes a nipple having a nose and a recess, a nut notably disposed in the recess and a fuse disposed between the nut and the nose. The coupling automatically decouples from ... | 04/20/2004 |
| 6698714 | Fluid safety discharge system A fluid safety discharge system for a relief valve having an inlet and an outlet includes a bushing frictionally engaging the relief valve outlet. The relief valve outlet is internally threaded for engaging with a threaded device, such as a discharge line... | 03/02/2004 |
| 6692034 | Breakaway device for fueling stations A breakaway device joins a portion of a dispensing hose that is connected to a fueling station with a portion of a dispensing hose that is joined to a coupling that connects to a vehicle during fueling. The breakaway device includes a pair of leg members ... | 02/17/2004 |
| 6594881 | Bit torque limiting device A torque limiting device that allows a drill string to rotate relative to the cutting structure of the bit when a predetermined torque is applied between the cutting structure of the drill bit and the drill string. The torque limiting device utilizes a re... | 07/22/2003 |
| 6497295 | Torque limiting tool A down-hole tool comprises a generally tubular body for connection in a drill string, the body typically having an upper tubular member and a lower tubular member interconnected to be axially secured and relatively rotatable, and a frangible element secur... | 12/24/2002 |
| 6457896 | Breakaway coupling A breakaway coupling having a loop for receiving a connecting element. The loop includes a material reduction region. The material reduction region is formed as part of the loop such that the loop breaks at that region when placed under a pre-defined load... | 10/01/2002 |
| 6450541 | Releasable connector A releasable connector connects between coiled tubing, a pipe string or similar tubular string and a tool/piece of equipment. Two sleeve-shaped inter-connectable parts are configured to be releasable, wherein one is connected to the coiled tubing, and the... | 09/17/2002 |
| 6349767 | Disconnect tool A disconnect tool includes a housing that has a first segment and a second segment. A first collet is coupled to the first segment and has a first plurality of fingers, each of the first plurality of fingers is bendable between a first position in which t... | 02/26/2002 |
| 6308727 | Fuel dispensing swivel breakaway assembly A coaxial hose, dual plane, swivel breakaway assembly for use in combination with a fuel dispenser apparatus is disposed between a hose attached to a fuel dispenser unit and a nozzle. The swivel breakaway assembly 30 has body portions with a first, assemb... | 10/30/2001 |
| 6257625 | Flexible joint and long nut for flexible joint A flexible joint comprises: first cylindrical bodies comprising a pair of spherical ring members; a second cylindrical body comprising a sleeve relatively movably inserted in the first cylindrical bodies from an axial direction X of the second cylindrical... | 07/10/2001 |
| 6179343 | Infinitely selectable angle pipe fitting A pipe elbow is provided having two parts, each part having an arcuate segment. The arcuate segment of the first part fits sealably into the arcuate segment of the second part. By severing a portion of the arcuate segment of the first part at an angle nee... | 01/30/2001 |
| 6161872 | Breakaway connector for compressed natural gas hoses A breakaway system for a compressed natural gas fueling hose. The system includes an upper ring that surrounds the fueling hose. A lower portion includes three concentric disks that are arranged as a gimbals. An outer disk is coupled to the upper ring wit... | 12/19/2000 |
| 6123123 | Non-stretch breakaway hose particularly for fuel dispenser A system for dispensing a fluid from a first tank into a second tank, in which one of the tanks is attached to a vehicle. The system comprises a flexible, stretchable, resilient delivery hose, a first end of the delivery hose being connected to the first ... | 09/26/2000 |
| 6102626 | Caisson wellhead system and method of installing the same A caisson wellhead system having a weak point wherein the wellhead system may be installed in a well as a single unit. The caisson wellhead system of the invention includes a lower tubular member having an upper rim. A lower rim of an upper tubular member... | 08/15/2000 |
| 6070910 | Push-in closet flange A closet flange with a body portion having a tapered end and a plurality of grooves circumferentially disposed about the tapered end. The grooves increase in diameter in the upstream direction and are configured to receive an elastic O-ring. As the closet... | 06/06/2000 |
| 5979867 | Quick connect coupling for portable LP gas cylinders Technically a functional combination of a nipple with a plug, a stem, a spring, a guide bushing and a coupling nut to form a quick disconnect device for a valve on portable cylinders for LP gas. The device disconnects the gas supply in case of an excess flow.... | 11/09/1999 |
| 5839866 | Mechanical overload protection device A new overload protection device has been invented of the type in which components are fixed mutually by means of a safety member adapted to be cut or broken when the components are subjected to an overload, wherein the safety member is a thread spiral or... | 11/24/1998 |
| 5806896 | Fluid transport pipe joint A joint for a fluid transport pipe is provided for use in e.g. connecting and communicating a fluid piping device such as a branch pipe or a sluice valve to a through bore defined in a fluid transport pipe. The joint includes a joint body, to be connected... | 09/15/1998 |
| 5758902 | Combination clip for writing board An improved clip for a writing board is provided. In accordance with the invention, the clip includes a clip body attached to a writing board. A clip blade is attached to the clip body and includes a binding edge for releasably binding paper against the w... | 06/02/1998 |
| 5699822 | Breakaway coupling device A breakaway coupling device is provided having a male and female valve body. The female valve body, a plurality of boltholes extending therethrough, and a plurality of boreholes extending therethrough. The female valve body further defines a first cavity ... | 12/23/1997 |
| 5683115 | Weak link for a seismic streamer cable connector module The rotatable cylindrical sleeve that comprises the female cable connector termination of a seismic streamer cable section is made in two telescoping parts. The two telescoping parts are indexed together by a shear pin to form a weak link assembly. If a s... | 11/04/1997 |
| 5529085 | Breakaway hose coupling A breakaway hose coupling device (10) for releasably joining two fluid dispensing devices in fluid communications, and for selectively disengaging the dispensing devices in response to a disengaging force in excess of a preselected value being exerted on ... | 06/25/1996 |
