Did You Know...
...that the video game, Pong, was invented by a guy who graduated at the bottom of his engineering class? Nolan Bushnell spent more time running the games at a local amusement park than he did on his studies at the University of Utah. His dreams of working for Disney's amusement empire were dashed when the company wouldn't hire him. Taking a boring job, Nolan daydreamed about electronic versions of popular games. He invented Pong, the first video game, and went on to found Atari Co.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8112855 | Tool for the removal and reassembly of cylinder valve caps A tool to assist in the removal and reassembly of a valve cap, to a cylinder includes a shaft. The first end of the shaft includes a support surface. The second end of the shaft includes threads for selectively engaging one of the threaded apertures contained in the... | 02/14/2012 |
| 6955183 | Pressure tank valve socket Embodiments of a pressure tank valve socket are disclosed which may be used to safely remove the valve from a propane or other pressure tank without damaging the valve. The pressure tank valve socket applies force only to the sturdiest part of the valve and, thus, p... | 10/18/2005 |
| 6929024 | Threaded device for removing a fractured cartridge from a valve body An improvement for use with a hand operated wrench primarily intended for removing a cartridge from an opening, with such wrench having a slotted aperture at one end. This improvement comprises an elongate threaded device having a mounting shaft at one end, and tape... | 08/16/2005 |
| 6901947 | Rapid evacuation and charging system, and apparatus and methods relating thereto A system for performing rapid charging and evacuation of systems that contain a fluid, such as cooling systems on refrigeration products. In addition, the invention relates to methods of accomplishing rapid charging and evacuation, as well as to tools that form part... | 06/07/2005 |
| 6889702 | Replaceable valve seat ring with enhanced flow design A replaceable valve seat ring for a valve assembly has an annular ring body and an open flow passage extending through the ring body. A seating surface is provided on the ring body adjacent one end of the flow passage. A tool accepting region of the flow passage is ... | 05/10/2005 |
| 6886584 | Method and assembly of replacing receptacle seal A method and assembly of replacing a receptacle seal is provided. A seal removal kit includes a poppet depressing member, retaining collar, seal removing tool, and a seal insertion sleeve that allows the seal to be replaced without removal of the receptacle or porti... | 05/03/2005 |
| 6698449 | Replaceable valve seat ring with enhanced flow design A replaceable valve seat ring for a valve assembly has an annular ring body and an open flow passage extending through the ring body. A seating surface is provided on the ring body adjacent one end of the flow passage. A tool accepting region of the flow ... | 03/02/2004 |
| 6679283 | Valve inspection chamber A valve inspection chamber includes a housing having a vertical inspection and valve retrieval opening. A valve cassette is provided which includes a frame and a valve member movable relative to the frame between an open position and a closed position. A ... | 01/20/2004 |
| 6640826 | Systems and methods for servicing ball valves A temporary ball valve support structure is utilized to apply pressure to the ball in a ball valve so that a seal is maintained between the ball and the upstream seal member in the ball valve to prevent fluid from leaking from the valve while the valve is... | 11/04/2003 |
| 6378550 | Ball valve extractor An apparatus and process for removing a ball valve is provided. The ball valve removal tool provides a handle sliding along the length of a shaft. One end of the shaft is secured within an interior cavity of a ball valve while the opposite end of the shaf... | 04/30/2002 |
| 6370751 | Disposable seal driver and kit The disposable seal driver is used for driving in a hub oil seal into a cavity or counterbore for receiving same. The seal driver comprises a metal cup-shaped member having a top flat wall, an intermediate Fausto-conical wall and a lower cylindrical skirt... | 04/16/2002 |
| 6360770 | Modular lavatory faucet spout mounting A faucet spout fixture provides for spout mounting and removal from above a supporting surface such as a sink deck, without disconnection of the water supply conduits beneath the sink deck. The fixture includes a faucet spout which has a water passage and... | 03/26/2002 |
| 6227225 | Method for pulling a valve seat An apparatus for pulling a valve member from a pump. The apparatus comprises a puller stem containing external threads and a bushing having an inner surface, and wherein the puller stem is disposed through the bushing. Also included is a first halve nut c... | 05/08/2001 |
| 6186164 | Rotary valve comprising a drawing device A rotary valve includes a housing having a housing bore which can be laterally closed by bearing covers. Inside the housing, a cellular wheel is rotatably supported. A guiding device extends in an axial direction of the cellular wheel and serves for drawi... | 02/13/2001 |
| 6142166 | Method and tool for plugging a service connection in a gas main A tool and method for plugging a service connection to a gas main in preparation for removal of the service tee removes the perforator, mills the hole in the main to provide a smooth seat for a sealing plug, and inserts a gas-tight sealing plug into the h... | 11/07/2000 |
| 6142165 | Method and apparatus for installing a branch connector from the top of an excavation The invention relates to a method and apparatus for installing a branch connector on a buried pipe for transporting a fluid, and to do so by means of a multi-purpose long handle from the top of an excavation. The apparatus comprises a bottom saddle positi... | 11/07/2000 |
| 6115896 | Maintenance device for flat filter head valves A maintenance device for flat filter head valves, comprising a metallic structure (1) having an upper flange (2), which is supported and connected by structural components (5) on a support frame (6), from which derive four supporting legs (7) having respe... | 09/12/2000 |
| 6109292 | Method and apparatus for removing and replacing the tamperproof device for a fire hydrant or other valve device A method and system for installing, removing and actuation a rotatable keyed actuation portion or lower valve stem portion of a fire hydrant or other valve device consisting of a first device for installing a rotatable keyed actuation portion, a second de... | 08/29/2000 |
| 5975104 | Ball valve seal replacement apparatus and method While fluid pressure is present on the upstream side of a ball valve assembly, a jig is mounted to the downstream flange of the ball valve assembly. The jig has two hinged arms. A jack-screw pad engages the ball while one or the other of the arms is posit... | 11/02/1999 |
| 5915741 | Faucet cartridge puller assembly and method of use A faucet cartridge puller assembly operable to remove a broken defective primary valve cartridge assembly from a faucet valve assembly which is utilized on a kitchen faucet valve assembly, a bath/shower faucet valve assembly, or a bathroom sink faucet val... | 06/29/1999 |
| 5878769 | Maintenance method and maintenance kit for a gate valve The maintenance method is for a gate valve. The method comprises the steps of closing the gate valve; removing sequentially the hand wheel, the gland flange, the gland and the packing from the stem of the gate valve; mounting a first clamp onto the gate v... | 03/09/1999 |
| 5669404 | Apparatus and method for replacing the diverter valve assembly in a faucet The invention herein disclosed is directed to a series of tools for repairing and replacing diverter valves. The tools are capable of functioning in many phases of diverter valve repair and replacement.... | 09/23/1997 |
| 5657800 | Gas tank evacuator A gas tank evacuator (10) comprises: an evacuator housing (12) to be attached to a neck (44) of a gas tank (38); and an elongated valve-removal rod (14) movably mounted on, and passing through the evacuator housing, the valve-removal rod having a valve-en... | 08/19/1997 |
| 5586571 | Apparatus and method for replacing the diverter valve assembly in a faucet The invention herein disclosed is directed to a series of tools for repairing and replacing diverter valves. The tools are capable of functioning in many phases of diverter valve repair and replacement.... | 12/24/1996 |
| 5533245 | Releasable valve seat removal tool A releasible tool is provided for removing a cylindrical member such as a valve seat, a pump liner, or a bushing from machines, pumps, oil well tubing, or other devices in which it is used. The releasable tool includes a mandrel, a platform slidably mount... | 07/09/1996 |
| 5515250 | Magnetic valve spring shim remover A device for removing valve spring shims from automotive cylinder heads, the device being constructed in the form of a hand tool having a pair of prongs at the end of a shaft, with a magnet installed in each prong.... | 05/07/1996 |
| 5490537 | Prosthesis air valve assembly and tool therefor An improved air valve assembly for mounting in a prosthesis, such as an artificial leg, and a spanner-type tool for mounting and removing the valve assembly. The valve assembly includes a housing to be mounted in the prosthesis with gaskets located on eac... | 02/13/1996 |
| 5472011 | No shut-off repair apparatus for stop valves The primary component of the apparatus is a full port ball valve. One port of the valve is adapted to attach to the bonnet threads of a stop valve. A tubular chamber is attached to the other port of the ball valve with the axes of the ball valve body and ... | 12/05/1995 |
| 5469898 | Gas tank evacuator A gas tank evacuator (10) comprises an evacuator housing (12) into which a neck (80) of a gas tank (82) can be screwed and an elongated valve-removal rod (14) for slidably passing through the evacuator housing and engaging and unscrewing a stem-actuated v... | 11/28/1995 |
| 5445183 | Flush tank tool for replacing a ballcock assembly A flush tank tool for replacing a ballcock assembly in the flush tank of a toilet, which is in the form of a tubular member of rubber-like material formed over a metal core and being closed so that insertion of the tool into the ballcock assembly hole at ... | 08/29/1995 |
| 5421380 | Gas tank evacuator A gas tank evacuator (10) comprises an evacuator housing (12) into which a neck (80) of a gas tank (82) can be screwed and an elongated valve-removal rod (14) for slidably passing through the evacuator housing and engaging and unscrewing a stem-actuated v... | 06/06/1995 |
| 5012566 | Drilling and expanding tool for removing carburetor seal plugs A tool for removing seal plugs from a carburetor baseplate having a shaft and collet arrangement in which the shaft is formed at one end by a drill bit. The members are concentrically aligned within an outer holder member which also functions as a drill g... | 05/07/1991 |
| 4778347 | High production pump for viscous materials and method Apparatus and method of improving the performance of a pump for pumping fireproofing material and the like viscous materials is disclosed wherein the pump is the type which includes a compression chamber (44) having an inlet (48) and an outlet (50). A pis... | 10/18/1988 |
| 4725177 | Retainer for preassembly of mechanical components A retainer is provided for holding at least two valve rocker trunnions in predetermined, fixed relationship prior to and during installation in a diesel engine assembly. The retainer is an elongated strip arcuate in cross-section and provided with shoulde... | 02/16/1988 |
| 4552170 | Line Insertable valve A valve which can be inserted in an existing pipe or similar line without disconnection of the line. The valve is separable into two halves which are clamped around the line. The valve handle is then rotated to drive a cutter through the line, and to posi... | 11/12/1985 |
| 4128930 | Plumbing tool with external shackle A plumbing device includes a radially outwardly and resiliently expansible sealing plug carried on the front end of an elongated axial shaft. An elongated cylinder disposed about the shaft transmits axial movement to the plug from a jack mechanism near th... | 12/12/1978 |
| 4034428 | Adjustable drain control assembly The invention involves an adjustable drain control assembly for a bathtub or the like, comprising a cylindrical component having both end and side openings exposable within the tub when installed, and having a total flow capacity of the order of that of s... | 07/12/1977 |
| 4026001 | Seat extractor tool for extracting valve seats A tool for extracting press-fitted seats from annular seat recesses of a gate valve body by insertion within the flow passage from the valve chamber. The tool is generally cylindrical in shape and has a pair of spaced end caps secured to each other with a... | 05/31/1977 |
| 4019237 | Tool for disassembling hydraulic valve lifters A tool for disassembling hydraulic valve lifters of the type having a housing enclosing a plunger longitudinally movable through a cylindrical cavity therein, the plunger having a coaxial cavity therein with a circumferential lip or groove adjacent the op... | 04/26/1977 |
| 3935713 | Method and apparatus for maintaining and servicing a pressurized refrigeration system or the like A tool for maintaining and servicing a pressurized refrigeration system or the like wherein it is desirable to remove and replace a threaded check valve core without depressurizing the system. The tool includes a body member having a longitudinal passagew... | 02/03/1976 |
