Did You Know...
...that Thomas Edison's patent application on his phonograph was approved by the Patent Office in just seven weeks? In contrast, it took Gordon Gould, the inventor of the laser, 30 years to obtain his patent -- finally awarded in 1988!
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 |
| 8100479 | Miner acoustic communication and location system A miner communication and locating system is disclosed. Two technologies used in the system include a communicator, and a locator array that may be used with a computer. The communicator portion allows trapped miners to continually signal without physical effort tha... | 01/24/2012 |
| 8096622 | Method of controlling mine fires with polymeric gel A method is disclosed for controlling a mine fire by delivering a water-absorbent polymeric composition to a rock structure involved in a fire and infusing the polymeric composition into the rock structure. The polymeric composition may also be used to create a seal... | 01/17/2012 |
| 8007047 | Mine refuge A mine refuge for use in a mine includes a chamber having an interior space sized and shaped for occupancy by at least one person. An oxygen supply is installed in the chamber for supplying oxygen to the chamber. A mask is operatively connected to the oxygen supply ... | 08/30/2011 |
| 7533942 | Mine refuge A mine refuge for use in a mine includes a chamber sized and shaped for occupancy by at least one miner. An oxygen supply is adapted to be installed in the chamber for supplying oxygen to the chamber. A carbon dioxide reduction system is adapted to be installed in t... | 05/19/2009 |
| 7464992 | Method for forming a barrier A method for forming a barrier to seal off a remote chamber includes the steps of: forming a borehole that communicates between a first location and the remote chamber; inserting a conduit through the borehole to extend into the remote chamber; introducing a flowabl... | 12/16/2008 |
| 7438506 | Jack for carrying and installing mine panels A jack includes a base, a guide extending from the base, and an extensible member having an extensible fit with the guide and extending from the guide to have a free end. A support is located at the free end of the extensible member. An actuator is capable of extend... | 10/21/2008 |
| 7393060 | Grid of synthetic material The invention relates to a grid of synthetic material with two groups of parallel, load-bearing strands, wherein the strands of the first group extend in the longitudinal direction of the grid and the strands of the second group extend transversely to the longitudin... | 07/01/2008 |
| 7360595 | Method and system for underground treatment of materials A method for underground treatment of subsurface materials comprises providing an injection pattern and a recovery pattern, the injection pattern and the recovery pattern located proximate to a subsurface treatment zone and at least one of the injection pattern and ... | 04/22/2008 |
| 7334644 | Method for forming a barrier A method for forming a barrier to seal off a remote chamber includes the steps of: forming a borehole that communicates between a first location and the remote chamber; inserting a conduit through the borehole to extend into the remote chamber; introducing a flowabl... | 02/26/2008 |
| 7332007 | Dusting device with multiple stream nozzles A dedusting device 1 with a demister 15 advantageously arranged standing obliquely has a very compact construction because sufficient moistening or wetting of dust-containing crude air 24 is possible through the use of intensively acting multipl... | 02/19/2008 |
| 7320365 | Methods for increasing production from a wellbore The present invention generally relates to a method for recovering productivity of an existing well. First, an assembly is inserted into a wellbore, the assembly includes a tubular member for transporting drilling fluid downhole and an under-reamer disposed at the e... | 01/22/2008 |
| 7299864 | Adjustable window liner A system for lining a junction between a main bore and an auxiliary bore includes a first tubing adapted to line at least a portion of the main bore. The first tubing has a lateral opening therein. A second tubing has a junction shield extending outward therefrom. T... | 11/27/2007 |
| 7264048 | Slot cavity A method for accessing a subterranean zone from the surface includes drilling a substantially vertical well bore from the surface to the subterranean zone and forming a slot cavity in the substantially vertical well bore proximate to the subterranean zone. The slot ... | 09/04/2007 |
| 7213644 | Cavity positioning tool and method In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, a method is provided for preventing formation of sludge in a subsurface cavity having particulate laden fluid disposed therein. The method includes positioning a downhole device having a fluid agitator into ... | 05/08/2007 |
| 7207395 | Method and system for testing a partially formed hydrocarbon well for evaluation and well planning refinement A method and system for testing a partially formed well includes forming a first well bore intersecting a subterranean formation. The first well bore includes a portion of a planned well having a first configuration. A production characteristic of the subterranean f... | 04/24/2007 |
| 7207390 | Method and system for lining multilateral wells In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a method for lining a lateral wellbore includes drilling a main wellbore extending from a surface to a subterranean zone, casing the main wellbore with a main casing having a plurality of lateral wellbore w... | 04/24/2007 |
| 7166349 | Grid of synthetic material The invention relates to a grid of synthetic material with two groups of parallel, load-bearing strands, wherein the strands of the first group extend in the longitudinal direction of the grid and the strands of the second group extend transversely to the longitudin... | 01/23/2007 |
| 7163063 | Method and system for extraction of resources from a subterranean well bore A method for stimulating production of resources from a coal seam includes forming a drainage well bore in the coal bed that has a first end coupled to a ground surface and a second end in the coal seam. The method further includes inserting a liner into the well bo... | 01/16/2007 |
| 7108577 | Wedge-lock building blocks A building block that is releasably attachable to another block of compatible design by wedging the tongue of one block into the groove of another block, without the need for any intermediate adhesives, bonding materials or any other means of holding the blocks toge... | 09/19/2006 |
| 7104320 | Method of optimizing production of gas from subterranean formations The present invention relates generally to subterranean well construction, and more particularly, to improved methods for producing gas from subterranean formations that include coal seams. The method according to the present invention includes the steps of drilling... | 09/12/2006 |
| 7100687 | Multi-purpose well bores and method for accessing a subterranean zone from the surface A well system includes at least two well bores extending from a surface to a subterranean zone. Each of the two well bores is used to form a well bore pattern for the subterranean zone that intersects the other well bore and transports fluid from the subterranean zo... | 09/05/2006 |
| 7073595 | Method and system for controlling pressure in a dual well system A method for controlling pressure of a dual well system includes drilling a substantially vertical well bore from a surface to a subterranean zone and drilling an articulated well bore from the surface to the subterranean zone using a drill string. The articulated w... | 07/11/2006 |
| 7051809 | Burn assisted fracturing of underground coal bed A method for fracturing subterranean coal formations by injecting air into the formation, igniting the coal, driving the fire away from the wellbore by injecting a cooling media into the burning formation adjacent the wellbore, and subsequently extinguishing the fir... | 05/30/2006 |
| 7048049 | Slant entry well system and method A system for accessing a subterranean zone from the surface includes an entry well bore extending down from the surface. A plurality of slanted well bores extend from the entry well bore to the subterranean zone. Drainage patterns extend from the slanted well bores ... | 05/23/2006 |
| 7048340 | Method for introducing and blowing rock dust and device for carrying out said method In a method for introducing and blowing rock dust to bind carbon dust during advance working or coal mining using an advance working or mining machine, respectively, the cutting tools are retracted relative to a displaceable machine frame after having cut an outbrea... | 05/23/2006 |
| 7036584 | Method and system for accessing a subterranean zone from a limited surface area A method and system for accessing subterranean resources from a limited surface area includes a first well bore extending from the surface to the target zone. The first well bore includes an angled portion disposed between the target zone and the surface to provide ... | 05/02/2006 |
| 7025137 | Three-dimensional well system for accessing subterranean zones A drainage system for accessing multiple subterranean zones from the surface includes an entry well extending from the surface. The system also includes two or more exterior drainage wells extending from the entry well through the subterranean zones. The exterior dr... | 04/11/2006 |
| 7025154 | Method and system for circulating fluid in a well system A method for circulating drilling fluid in a well system includes drilling a substantially vertical well bore from a surface to a subterranean zone and drilling an articulated well bore from the surface to the subterranean zone. The articulated well bore is horizont... | 04/11/2006 |
| 7021562 | Macrolaminate direct injection nozzle A fuel injector for a gas turbine engine includes a bulkhead having adjacent angled wall segments, each of which includes an injector opening. Fuel injectors are supported by the bulkhead on adjacent wall segments. Each fuel injector includes an inlet fitting includ... | 04/04/2006 |
| 7011167 | Device for sealing a drill hole and for discharging drillings or stripped extraction material In a device for sealing a bore hole and discharging drill cuttings and stripped excavation material, including a housing adapted to receive sealing elements and an opening capable of being connected to the bore hole, one side wall of the housing is provided with at ... | 03/14/2006 |
| 7004687 | Hydrotropic additive for process water used to condition and stabilize soils and other base materials used in construction Hydrotropic wetting agents enhance the activity of water for earthy materials by lowering surface tension to promote surface-to-surface contact, to neutralize the electric double layer, to destroy protective colloids, to neutralize other charged particles, and to bi... | 02/28/2006 |
| 6976533 | Method and system for accessing subterranean deposits from the surface Improved An improved method and system for accessing subterranean deposits from the surface that substantially eliminates or reduces the disadvantages and problems associated with previous systems and methods. In particular, the present invention provides an articul... | 12/20/2005 |
| 6966610 | Treatment of rock surfaces A method for providing a protective coating in a mine comprising spraying onto the rock surfaces of the mine a hot melt adhesive in an amount to form a coating at least 1 mm, preferably at least 2 mm in thickness and allowing the coating to solidify. The hot melt ad... | 11/22/2005 |
| 6964298 | Method and system for accessing subterranean deposits from the surface An improved method and system for accessing subterranean deposits from the surface substantially eliminates or reduces the disadvantages and problems associated with previous systems and methods. In particular, the present invention provides an articulated well with... | 11/15/2005 |
| 6964308 | Method of drilling lateral wellbores from a slant well without utilizing a whipstock In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a method for drilling a lateral wellbore from a slant well includes drilling the slant well below the surface of the earth such that the slant well is angled toward a first horizontal direction that coincid... | 11/15/2005 |
| 6957166 | Method and apparatus for load rate monitoring A system for real-time monitoring of the dynamic loading rate on support systems used in underground mines and other situations is provided. The load rate monitoring apparatus uses a programmable microcontroller to monitor and calculate the loading rates on the supp... | 10/18/2005 |
| 6945738 | Method and apparatus for safety protection of temporary roof support Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a method and apparatus for safety protection control of temporary roof support. In one embodiment, a temporary roof support has a load sensing member. In another embodiment, a beam structure of temporary roof supp... | 09/20/2005 |
| 6942030 | Three-dimensional well system for accessing subterranean zones A method for accessing a plurality of subterranean zones from the surface includes forming an entry well from the surface and forming two or more exterior drainage wells from the entry well through the subterranean zones. The exterior drainage wells each extend outw... | 09/13/2005 |
| 6846132 | Mine stopping and braces therefor A mine stopping installed in a mine passageway includes a plurality of elongate panels extending generally vertically in side-by-side relation from a floor to a roof of the passageway to at least partially close the passageway. A generally horizontal elongate brace ... | 01/25/2005 |
| 6715961 | Method of supporting mine walls and installing a mine stopping A method of supporting opposite first and second walls of a mine passageway includes providing an elongate beam having opposite first and second ends and a longitudinal axis. The beam is configured to have substantial columnar strength for bearing a substantial long... | 04/06/2004 |
