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 |
| 8166676 | Post-puller and method A method of removing a T-type fence post from the earth with a powered, mobile piece of equipment controlled by a human operator includes attaching a substantially flat plate to a lift arm of the powered, mobile piece of equipment such that the plate hangs substanti... | 05/01/2012 |
| 8122618 | Method for removing alluvial deposits from the bottom of a watery area Method and device for removing alluvial deposits from the bottom of a watery area, whereby the layer of alluvial deposits (6) situated on the bottom (13) is carried to a place of discharge (16) and whereby the removal of the alluvial deposits ( | 02/28/2012 |
| 7963051 | Post-puller and method A method of removing a T-type fence post from the earth with a powered, mobile piece of equipment controlled by a human operator includes attaching a substantially flat plate to a lift arm of the powered mobile piece of equipment such that the plate hangs substantia... | 06/21/2011 |
| 7908775 | Two-stage snow plow A snow plow includes a primary moldboard and auxiliary plow positioned behind the primary moldboard. The snow plow may be a one-way or reversible snow plow. In the later case, the primary moldboard and auxiliary plow are attached to a drive frame that is rotatable a... | 03/22/2011 |
| 7870683 | Method of trenching below the water table A method for trenching below the water table in environmentally sensitive areas such as the Florida Keys is shown. A first pass made by a trencher digs a first trench from the surface to the water table. During the first pass, relatively dry spoil is removed from th... | 01/18/2011 |
| 7774959 | Dragline bucket, rigging and system A dragline bucket includes a bottom wall, a pair of sidewalls and a rear wall that collectively define a cavity. The sidewalls each have a large downward taper of at least about 7 degrees in at least its forward area. In an alternative embodiment, the sidewalls each... | 08/17/2010 |
| 7726048 | Automated machine repositioning in an excavating operation A method of repositioning a machine during an excavating operation from a first machine position to a second machine position is provided. A target distance to the second machine position is selected. An operator input device configured to send a control input signa... | 06/01/2010 |
| 7707752 | Trench wall in the ground and method for the production thereof The invention relates to a method for producing a trench wall in the ground and which is penetrated by an obstacle, lateral trench wall recesses being sunk on either side of the obstacle and below the obstacle is produced a lower trench wall recess by laterally pivo... | 05/04/2010 |
| 7587842 | Method for storage tank demolition A hydraulically-operated ripper tool is mounted as an attachment on a hydraulic arm of a carrier or excavator and used in a method for demolition of large metal walled structures such as storage tanks in a very short time. The ripper tool has a concave, sharp inner ... | 09/15/2009 |
| 7367143 | Cutter and method for working the soil A cutter for working the soil includes a cutting frame, at least two cutting wheels that are supported on the cutting frame in a rotatably drivable manner about parallel axes of rotation, and an adjusting device, The adjusting device functions to adjust the center d... | 05/06/2008 |
| 7356947 | Method for making a trench wall in the ground, trench wall cutter, and trench wall cutting device The invention relates to a method for making a trench wall in the ground, in which at least one cutting wheel located on a trench wall cutter is given a rotary movement by a drive, the trench wall cutter is lowered into the ground and soil material below the cutting... | 04/15/2008 |
| 7287344 | Landscaping apparatus and method A landscaping tool for attachment to a bucket of a landscaping vehicle, the tool generally comprising an elongate plate having two opposite longitudinal working edges and a plurality of integrally formed teeth protruding from each working edge. The elongate plate ha... | 10/30/2007 |
| 7284346 | Systems and methods for controlling the removal of soil from an earth moving scraper Hydraulic systems for controlling movement of an apron and a bucket of earth moving apparatuses are disclosed. The hydraulic system includes a hydraulic fluid supply, a hydraulic cylinder for moving the apron, a hydraulic cylinder for moving the bucket and a valve f... | 10/23/2007 |
| 7266914 | Wear plate assembly A bucket assembly is provided with a kit that includes a base plate for permanent connection to a lower part of the bucket, and sacrificial, impermanent replaceable wear edge segments for the forward lip and corner leading edges of an excavator or loader bucket. The... | 09/11/2007 |
| 7264734 | Method for treating dredged material The present invention provides a method for treating dredged material in which liquid is first added to the dredged material, and dewatering the dredged material to obtain a filtrate and a solid portion. Contaminants are removed from the dredged material by at least... | 09/04/2007 |
| 7234252 | Method and apparatus for beneficiating soils during vacuum excavation An apparatus for soil excavation having a vacuum hose, a vacuum holding tank and at least one air lance and/or water jet, in which a soil beneficiating agent is introduced into the soil during one or more of the steps of the vacuum excavation process. ... | 06/26/2007 |
| 7191853 | Hole cleaning and/or forming tool A tool for cleaning and/or forming holes, the tool having a shaft, the shaft having a lower end and at least two buckets attached adjacent to the lower end of the shaft, each bucket having an open mouth which extends radially from the axis of the shaft, consequently... | 03/20/2007 |
| 7181871 | Sludge harvester for removing sludge from sludge ponds A sludge harvester for removing a concentrated nutrient sludge from a sludge pond includes a frame, one or more wheels or skids attached to the frame, means for gently breaking up at least a portion of the sludge layer adjacent to a dilute layer, and means for captu... | 02/27/2007 |
| 7165346 | Method and device for air-assisted moving of soil in an earth moving apparatus Devices and methods for air-assisted loading of soil in an earth-moving apparatus are disclosed. One aspect of a device includes a source of a current of air and at least one conduit for directing the current of air towards soil moved by the earth-moving apparatus. ... | 01/23/2007 |
| 7152346 | Method for making a trench wall in the ground, trench wall cutter and trench wall cutting device The invention relates to a method for making a trench wall in the ground, in which at least one cutting wheel located on a trench wall cutter is given a rotary movement by a drive, the trench wall cutter is lowered into the ground and soil material below the cutting... | 12/26/2006 |
| 7152347 | Method and apparatus for applying railway ballast A method and apparatus for spreading ballast along railways makes use of an inertial measurement system to determine where to apply ballast from a hopper car. A variety of techniques can be used to determine the location and speed of the ballast spreading train, inc... | 12/26/2006 |
| 7143847 | Drilling apparatus Drilling apparatus, such as an underreamer (20) comprises a generally cylindrical tubular body (22) and two cutting blades (26, 27) pivotally mounted to the body and movable between a retracted position and an extended position. Each cutting bla... | 12/05/2006 |
| 7127838 | Universal control adapter system A universal control adapter system allows any commercial or custom snowplow controller to be quickly and easily attached and detached from any commercial or custom snowplow blade. A first adapter connects the snowplow driver's controller to a first universal control... | 10/31/2006 |
| 7115203 | Remediation with ozone of sediments containing organic contaminants A system for treating sediments contaminated with organic contaminants, such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and other contaminants polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) includes treating the sediments with ozone to react the... | 10/03/2006 |
| 7108124 | Method for multiple lift stacking using mobile conveyor system Mobile conveyor modules are used for transporting aggregate over a long distance, or for transferring the aggregate to other modules, and for stacking the aggregate either linearly or radially. These modules may be used in various combinations by themselves or in co... | 09/19/2006 |
| 7096609 | Trencher unit The trencher unit of the present invention mounts to a standard loader attachment fitting and relies on the auxiliary hydraulic power of a loader. A powered chain drive sprocket is mounted near the upper end of the trencher unit. An idler wheel is mounted at the bot... | 08/29/2006 |
| 7066276 | Method and apparatus for excavating earth to a desired depth A system and method of facilitating excavating a below grade opening at a construction site in a parcel of land includes a first vehicle having a motor operably connected to at least a pair of traction members and a second excavating vehicle. The motor is operably c... | 06/27/2006 |
| 7032332 | Method of controlling a backhoe An electronic control for damping oscillation of a swinging backhoe assembly includes a crossover valve that connects the hydraulic lines that supply hydraulic fluid to the boom swing cylinders to each other whenever an electronic controller senses incipient oscilla... | 04/25/2006 |
| 6966132 | Method and device for moving subsea rocks and sediments A method for moving subsea rocks and sediments which can be at significant depths, in connection with removal of protective rocks around installations where maintenance is to be conducted. Tubing with an ejector nozzle is arranged completely externally in relation t... | 11/22/2005 |
| 6964165 | System and process for recovering energy from a compressed gas A process for extracting energy from a compressed gas includes of submerging a piston-cylinder assembly to a first, lower position, holding the assembly in the lower position while introducing a predetermined amount of compressed gas into the assembly, and then rele... | 11/15/2005 |
| 6954006 | Hydroelectric system A hydroelectric system for disposal in a continuous flowing water vein includes at least one generator and a housing configured to include a venturi flow restriction for accelerating flow to the generator. ... | 10/11/2005 |
| 6952892 | Lip assembly A lip assembly is disclosed. The lip assembly comprises a lip having an upper surface, a lower surface, a front portion, and a rear portion. A plurality of holes is disposed between the front portion and the rear portion. The lip also includes support members. Each ... | 10/11/2005 |
| 6938514 | Connector assembly for mounting an implement to a prime mover A connector assembly for attaching an implement to a prime mover having spaced connecting pins, the connector assembly including a pair of spaced plates, each of the plates carrying a first receiver to receive a first of the connecting pins and a second receiver ada... | 09/06/2005 |
| 6910319 | Hydrojet for cutting plant growth from waterways An apparatus and method for cutting plant growth from waterways to promote fluid passage through such waterway. Water under high pressure is forced through a nozzle orifice to cut, chop and/or pulverize the aquatic plant matter. The nozzle is on a spray-head assembl... | 06/28/2005 |
| 6857207 | Engulfment rescue device and method A device and method is provided for rescuing a person trapped in engulfing material at an engulfment site. A reduction tool is used to loosen the engulfing material in order to free or facilitate freeing a buried or partially buried victim. The loosened engulfing ma... | 02/22/2005 |
| 6823616 | Method of excavating A method of excavating a surface layer of soil is disclosed that uses an excavator with a grab having two bucket halves with cutting edge. In a first excavating position, the grab is held in a first orientation as seen in projection on a horizontal plane and inserte... | 11/30/2004 |
| 6817119 | Apparatus and methods for subsidence deepening This invention relates to apparatuses and methods for subsurface mining, and more particularly to apparatuses and methods for relocating (including dredging, mining, filling, reverse-layering, replenishment) subsurface strata. ... | 11/16/2004 |
| 6751893 | Nozzle mount for soft excavation An excavation wand including a vacuum tube is disclosed herein. The vacuum tube includes a side wall defining at least one air relief opening adjacent a distal end of the vacuum tube. The excavation wand also includes at least one nozzle for directing excavation flu... | 06/22/2004 |
| 6739078 | Machine control over the web A system to control a piece of construction equipment or other piece of heavy equipment at a remote location via a data network in which a user provides movement instructions via a graphical user interface at a user PC to a programmable controller interfaced to the ... | 05/25/2004 |
| 6736216 | Laser-guided construction equipment A construction apparatus (12) and method of controlling a construction apparatus from a laser source (38) made up of a substantially non-rotating beam (56). The construction apparatus includes a body (14), a construction tool (16) ... | 05/18/2004 |
