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 |
| 7293618 | Power slip for drillpipe This invention relates to a mechanical apparatus for gripping and manipulating tubular members, such as drill pipe. The apparatus is essentially an automated slip puller, which generally comprises a slip base, a pulling mechanism pivotally attached to the slip base,... | 11/13/2007 |
| 7289871 | Drilling apparatus The invention provides a drilling apparatus (1) having a base (2) from which a drilling arm is pivotally mounted. The drilling arm (3) has an inner arm (4) and an outer arm (5). The inner arm (4) has a first end (6) a... | 10/30/2007 |
| 7228913 | Tubular clamp apparatus for top drives and methods of use An apparatus for releasably clamping and holding a member for wellbore operations, the apparatus having a main body, two opposed clamping apparatuses in the main body, the two opposed clamping apparatuses spaced-apart for selective receipt therebetween of a member t... | 06/12/2007 |
| 7188683 | Drilling method A system and method is disclosed for continuously supplying drilling fluid down a bore hole while adding or removing tubulars. ... | 03/13/2007 |
| 7134513 | Drive mechanism for boring machine An auger boring machine includes a track having an initial end and a terminal end, and the track is provided with a rack. The boring machine also includes a sled that is mounted on the track and adapted to be moved between the initial end and the terminal end of the... | 11/14/2006 |
| 6966448 | Trailer-mounted crane apparatus A trailer-mounted crane apparatus includes a trailer supported from a ground surface on at least two wheels. A hydraulically operated crane arm is mounted to the trailer and is extendable outwardly. A crane hydraulic power unit is mounted to the trailer and supplies... | 11/22/2005 |
| 6543121 | Method and apparatus for actuating riveting tooling Riveting apparatus wherein a planetary roller screw delivers the high forces required for actuating the fastener upset tooling. In order that precise control of the entire upset operation may be obtained, a servo-controlled electric motor operates the act... | 04/08/2003 |
| 6502648 | 360 degree clutch collar An adjustment mechanism for a clutch. The adjustment mechanism includes an annular adjustment structure having an adjustment profile with a ramp section, a first adjustment segment, a last adjustment segment and a plurality of intermediate adjustment segm... | 01/07/2003 |
| 6357100 | Apparatus for actuating tooling Riveting apparatus wherein a planetary roller screw delivers the high forces required for actuating the fastener upset tooling. In order that precise control of the entire upset operation may be obtained, a servo-controlled electric motor operates the act... | 03/19/2002 |
| 6227306 | Pipe gripping device A pipe gripping device is taught which is useful for moving pipe into and/or out of a well. The pipe gripping device includes a first set of slips for holding a pipe in a pipe light condition and a second set of slips for holding a pipe in a pipe heavy co... | 05/08/2001 |
| 6199641 | Pipe gripping device A pipe gripping device is taught which is useful for moving pipe into and/or out of a well. The pipe gripping device includes a first set of slips for holding a pipe in a pipe light condition and a second set of slips for holding a pipe in a pipe heavy co... | 03/13/2001 |
| 5795079 | Shaft bearing in a rock and ground-drilling machine A rock or ground-drilling machine includes a gear housing (14) in which there is journalled a shaft (31) which surrounds a drill string (23) in the manner of a sleeve and which is affixed to the drill string by means of a chuck (7) connected to the shaft ... | 08/18/1998 |
| 5765651 | Cable-tool casing hammer A novel improvement in a tubular ram device for bi-directional driving of pipe casing, vertically or horizontally, wherein the driving hammer imparts the force to the pipe casing through a bowls-anvil and removable collet, thus allowing driving of section... | 06/16/1998 |
| 5746276 | Method of rotating a tubular member A tool 60 for rotating a tubular member 80 passing through a slip assembly 66 is powered by a rotary table 62 of a drilling rig. Tool 60 includes a cam ring 8 having a plurality of interior camming surfaces 82 thereon, and a cage plate assembly 84 rotatab... | 05/05/1998 |
| 5658091 | Apparatus for inserting prefabricated vertical drains into the earth Apparatus for inserting prefabricated drain members downwardly into underlying earth which includes a vertically extending mast that supports an elongated earth penetrating mandrel. The mandrel is adapted to receive a prefabricated drain member for moveme... | 08/19/1997 |
| 5566769 | Tubular rotation tool for snubbing operations A tool 60 for rotating a tubular member 80 passing through a slip assembly 66 is powered by a rotary table 62 of a drilling rig. Tool 60 includes a cam ring 8 having a plurality of interior camming surfaces 82 thereon, and a cage plate assembly 84 rotatab... | 10/22/1996 |
| 5350027 | Drill machine table A drilling machine for a mobile drilling appliance which includes a housing which is adapted to travel along a jobber, a drive motor mounted on said housing, a pinion operatively connected to said drive motor, a step-down gear rotatably engaging said pini... | 09/27/1994 |
| 5215153 | Apparatus for use in driving or withdrawing such earth entering elements as drills and casings Apparatus for driving earth entering elements such as drills and casings which can be threaded together to form strings has a column to be erected in a wanted position. The column is provided with a unit moveable lengthwise thereof between upper and lower... | 06/01/1993 |
| 5213449 | Apparatus for inserting wick drains into the earth Apparatus for inserting flexible drainage wick members downwardly into the earth which comprises a mast having a hollow longitudinally extending chamber therein, and an insertion tube disposed in the chamber for movement therein, the insertion tube being ... | 05/25/1993 |
| 5191840 | Spike driving machine having pushing and percussive spike driving functions A machine for driving spikes into the ties of a railroad track includes a spike driving assembly movably disposed relative to a frame for gripping spikes and driving gripped spikes into the ties, the spike driving assembly having a spike pushing function ... | 03/09/1993 |
| 4676312 | Well casing grip assurance system A casing grip assurance interlock system connected with the elevator and the spider of a well casing installation apparatus including positioning valves respectively actuated by the elevator and the spider to permit actuating fluid pressure to be admitted... | 06/30/1987 |
| 4643262 | Pressurized medium actuated gripping device A pressurized medium actuated gripping device which is included in a rock or earth drilling machine for rotary drilling, and is adapted for gripping a drill rod for transmitting rotation and/or axial movement to a string of drill rods, said gripping devic... | 02/17/1987 |
| 4637477 | Device in rock drilling machines A device in rock drilling machines with a gripping device (24) which is rotatably mounted in a non-rotating drilling head (14) and intended to grip a drill string (21) for transferring rotational and axial movements to it. The gripping device is hydrostat... | 01/20/1987 |
| 4582146 | Earth drilling apparatus A drill pipe rotary drive mechanism for an earth drilling apparatus comprises a housing, a drive member mounted in the housing for rotation therein about a rotary axis and having an axial bore opening at each end to the exterior of the housing, and a driv... | 04/15/1986 |
| 4516662 | Rod-clamping means of a percussive air tool for driving into the ground and removing therefrom rod-like pieces A rod-clamping device comprises an impact load transmission assembly which includes a housing having a through axial cavity and a system of jamming elements, a rocoil force take up assembly which includes a housing having a through axial cavity, a collar ... | 05/14/1985 |
| 4478292 | Pipe gripping apparatus with interlocking plates In accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention, the individual slip members of a pipe handling apparatus are maintained in substantially the same horizontal plane by plate members attached to the top of the respective slip members,... | 10/23/1984 |
| 4431063 | Drive mechanism for drill A drive mechanism for a drill provides both rotational drive and axial feed for a drill of substantial diameter such as those used to drill holes for roof bolts in mine shafts. A plurality of sprockets carry two chains of drive links which interlock aroun... | 02/14/1984 |
| 4429753 | Rotary pull down pull up drive for drill pipes A gear drive used in water well drilling or blast hole drilling to remove overburden in open pit coal mining, not only rotates the drill pipe but also pulls down or pulls out the drill pipe as it rotates. A hydraulic motor within a housing operates a firs... | 02/07/1984 |
| 4421175 | Method of drilling and casing a well A well drilling rig having a rotary table for driving a drill string rotatively and having jacking mechanism for lowering casing into the well after drilling, with the jacking mechanism including fluid pressure actuated piston and cylinder means which may... | 12/20/1983 |
| 4396401 | Poking system for gasifiers A poking system for use in checking the condition of and agitating the contents of a coal gasifier utilizes a carriage (22) for transporting a poker (50) around the gasifier from one poke hole (12) to another. The carriage (22) mounts a poker assembly (24... | 08/02/1983 |
| 4306626 | Hydraulic earth boring machine A hydraulic earth boring machine for forming conduit passageways beneath established surfaces such as roadways, walkways, or the like. The boring machine includes a hydraulic cylinder having an open axial passageway for receiving a boring shaft. A drive c... | 12/22/1981 |
| 4290494 | Flexible shaft and roof drilling system A system for drilling holes in the roof of a mine has a flexible shaft with a pair of oppositely wound, coaxial flat bands. One of the flat bands defines an inner spring that is wound right handed into a helical configuration, adjacent convolutions being ... | 09/22/1981 |
| 4273199 | Torquer/thruster A torquer/thruster with a hydrostatically actuated chuck assembly having an elastomeric bladder that is fitted about a cylindrical collet into which a flexible roof drill is received. The collet is formed with a series of spaced slits that are disposed in... | 06/16/1981 |
| 4269277 | Power slip assembly Disclosed are apparatus for gripping and manipulating pipe members, including a plurality of slip carriers mounted on an equal number of carrier actuators. The carrier actuators are arranged within a drive sleeve and constrained by radial T-slot connectio... | 05/26/1981 |
| 4262756 | Torquer/thruster A torquer/thruster with a hydrostatically actuated chuck assembly having an elastomeric bladder that is fitted about a cylindrical collet into which a flexible roof drill is received. The collet is formed with a series of spaced slits that are disposed in... | 04/21/1981 |
| 4196914 | Chuck for an earth boring machine Rotary and axial forces are transmitted through a chuck to a rotary drill string. The chuck clampingly engages the drill string to transmit rotary and axial forces. A multiplicity of jaw elements in the chuck contact the drill string. The chuck includes a... | 04/08/1980 |
| 4190119 | Earth drilling apparatus An earth drilling method and apparatus utilizes a unique drill string rotary drive and support arrangement which provides for the utilization of longer drill strings than could heretofore be accommodated on prior art drill masts of equal height.... | 02/26/1980 |
| 4128133 | Torquer/thruster for flexible roofdrill A torquer/thruster with a hydrostatically actuated chuck assembly configured to drivingly engage a flexible roofdrill for applying rotational torque and longitudinal thrust to the roofdrill shaft. The chuck assembly is mounted within a rotatable and longi... | 12/05/1978 |
| 4098360 | Soil sample core extraction tool A soil sample core extraction tool having a handle member on which is movably mounted a soil probe member and a clutch arranged for selectively preventing movement of the soil probe with respect to the handle member. By sequential actuation and release of... | 07/04/1978 |
| 4086969 | Crowd for kelly bar In a heavy duty drilling machine having a boring head for rotating a kelly bar, a crowd frame supported above the boring head by hydraulic rams, a crowd supported in the crowd frame and means supported by the crowd frame to engage the crowd with the kelly... | 05/02/1978 |
