Author: claimsbot

1. A modular setting tool for use in a well comprising:
a sensing and actuation module receptive to at least one input source; and
a power generation module acting upon an output from the sensing and actuation module to supply sufficient energy to set a downhole tool in the well, the power generation module comprising:
a housing having an inlet port and an outlet port in fluid communication with a chamber disposed within the housing;
a piston moveably disposed in the chamber, the piston having a first surface area on the end nearest the inlet port larger than a second surface area on the opposite end of the piston near the outlet port; and
a control line in fluid communication with the outlet port.
2. The setting tool of claim 1 in which the at least one input source is a pressure pulse, an electromagnetic signal, an acoustic signal, or a pressure source.
3. The setting tool of claim 1 in which the sensing and actuation module comprises a command compartment and a trigger.
4. The setting tool of claim 3 in which the command compartment comprises a battery, a sensor, and a microprocessor.
5. The setting tool of claim 4 in which the sensor senses a pressure pulse, an electromagnetic signal, an acoustic signal, or a sustained pressure.
6. The setting tool of claim 1 in which there is a plurality of pistons arranged in series and having an ultimate piston to further amplify the pressure applied by the ultimate piston.
7. The setting tool of claim 1 in which the piston collapses an atmospheric chamber as the piston is displaced.
8. The setting tool of claim 1 further comprising one or more rupture disks disposed in the sensing and actuation module.
9. The setting tool of claim 1 in which the power generation module further comprises a rupture disk disposed in the inlet port.
10. The setting tool of claim 1 in which the power generation module further comprises a back-up actuation device.
11. The setting tool of claim 10 in which the back-up actuation device comprises an auxiliary rupture disk.
12. The setting tool of claim 11 in which the back-up device further comprises a check valve.
13. The setting tool of claim 1 in which the power generation module further comprises a compensation feature.
14. The setting tool of claim 13 in which the compensation feature is a spring.
15. The setting tool of claim 1 in which the power generation module further comprises a full throttle feature.
16. The setting tool of claim 15 in which the full throttle feature comprises a full throttle piston disposed in the chamber and a full throttle port in the housing.
17. The setting tool of claim 1 in which the power generation module has an adjustable setting feature.
18. The setting tool of claim 17 in which the adjustable setting feature comprises at least two pistons in which a first piston operates alone or in conjunction with the other pistons to intensify the pressure applied by the first piston.
19. The setting tool of claim 18 in which the other pistons are selectively enjoined from moving with the first piston via a pin inserted through openings in the pistons.
20. The setting tool of claim 1 in which the power generation module further comprises:
a rupture disk disposed in the inlet port; and
a sleeve to protect the rupture disk from premature rupture.
21. The setting tool of claim 20 in which the power generation module further comprises an adjustment spring.
22. The setting tool of claim 1 in which the power generation module further comprises an open port to allow fluid communication between the exterior of the housing and the outlet port.
23. The setting tool of claim 22 in which the power generation module further comprises a filter disposed in the open port.
24. The setting tool of claim 22 in which the power generation module further comprises an equalization port to allow fluid communication between the exterior of the housing and a central region of the chamber.
25. The setting tool of claim 1 in which the power generation module further comprises a velocity valve.
26. The setting tool of claim 1 in which the downhole tool is a valve, a packer, a flow control device, or a sampler.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A dry couple in wheel brake assembly, comprising:
a hub adapted for detachably mounting on an axle of a vehicle with a single retaining nut;
a wheel mounted for rotation on said hub;
at least a stationary component of a brake assembly comprising a caliper assembly including a support member mounted on said hub, the support member having a caliper unit mounted to it and an elongated support housing defining at least one arm and extending to a side of the axis of said axle, the elongated support housing having a portion that extends into a slot in said axle;
a rotating component of a brake assembly mounted on and rotatable with said wheel; and
a brake actuator mounted on said hub for actuating said brake assembly.
2. A brake assembly according to claim 1 wherein said rotating component is a disc.
3. A brake assembly according to claim 2 wherein said disc is detachably mounted to an inner lip within an inner surface of the rim of the wheel.
4. A brake assembly according to claim 1 wherein said rotating component is a disc detachably mounted within an inner portion of the rim of the wheel.
5. A brake assembly according to claim 1 wherein said caliper assembly comprises a self contained hydraulic actuating system which comprises:
a cylinder in said support housing having a free piston mounted therein;
a plurality of pistons in each of said caliper units; and
a cylinder in said support housing having a free piston positioned therein;
a plurality of pistons in each of said caliper units; and
hydraulic fluid passages communicating between said cylinder and said pistons.
6. A brake assembly according to claim 5 wherein said free piston is positioned for engagement and actuation when said hub is detachably mounted on an axle of a vehicle.
7. A brake assembly according to claim 4 wherein said actuator comprises:
a U shaped support member having at least one arm extending to opposite sides of said disc; and
a cylinder on each of said arms for biasing a friction pad into engagement with a surface of said disc.
8. A brake assembly according to claim 1 wherein said brake actuator comprises:
a support member having at least one portion extending to opposite sides of said disc;
at least one brake pad carried by said support member and positioned on each side of said disc; and,
an electric motor for biasing each of said brake pad into engagement with a surface of said disc.
9. A combined wheel and brake pad assembly, comprising:
a hub adapted for detachably mounting on an axle of a vehicle;
a quick connect device for detachably retaining said hub on said axle;
a wheel mounted for rotation on said hub;
at least a stationary component of a brake assembly mounted on said hub wherein said at least a stationary component of the brake assembly comprises a caliper assembly including a support member mounted on said hub, the support member having a caliper unit mounted to it and an elongated support housing defining at least one arm and extending to a side of the axis of said axle, the elongated support housing having a portion that extends into a slot in said axle;
a brake disc detachably mounted on and extending radially inward from the wheel rim and rotatable with said wheel; and
a self contained brake actuation system mounted on said hub for actuating said brake assembly.
10. A brake assembly according to claim 9 wherein said stationary component caliper assembly of said brake assembly mounted on said hub comprises a self contained hydraulic actuating system which comprises:
a cylinder in said support housing having a free piston positioned therein;
a plurality of pistons in each of said caliper units; and
hydraulic fluid passages communicating between said cylinder and said pistons.
11. A brake assembly according to claim 9 wherein said brake actuator comprises:
a support member having portions extending to opposite sides of said disc;
at least one brake pad carried by said support member and positioned on each side of said disc; and,
an electric motor for biasing each of said brake pad into engagement with a surface of said disc.
12. A quick mounting combined wheel and brake assembly, comprising:
a hub adapted for detachably mounting on a suspension of a vehicle by attaching a single retaining device;
a quick connect device for detachably retaining said hub on said suspension;
a wheel having a rim mounted for rotation on said hub;
at least one stationary component of a brake system mounted on said hub wherein said at least a stationary component of the brake assembly comprises a caliper assembly including a support member mounted on said hub, the support member having a caliper unit mounted to it and an elongated support housing defining at least one arm and extending to a side of the axis of said axle, the elongated support housing having a portion that extends into a slot in said axle;
at least one rotating component of a brake system detachably mounted on the rim of said vehicle; and
a self contained brake actuator mounted on said hub for actuating said brake assembly;
wherein the hub, wheel and self contained brake actuator mounted on said hub are removable by removing the single retaining device and sliding the hub off the axle.
13. A brake assembly according to claim 12 wherein said rotating component is a disc detachably mounted within an inner portion of the wheel rim.
14. A brake assembly according to claim 13 wherein said brake actuator comprises:
a support member having portions extending to opposite sides of said disc;
at least one brake pad carried by said support member and positioned on each side of said disc; and,
an electric motor for biasing each of said brake pad into engagement with a surface of said disc.
15. A brake assembly according to claim 12 wherein said caliper assembly comprises a self contained hydraulic actuating system which comprises:
a cylinder in said support housing having a free piston positioned therein;
a plurality of pistons in each of said caliper units; and
hydraulic fluid passages communicating between said cylinder and said pistons.
16. A brake assembly according to claim 12 wherein said retaining device is a threaded retaining nut or bolt.

We claim:

1. A process for the preparation of alendronic acid, which comprises the steps of:
a) reacting a compound of the formula I with H3PO3
6
wherein
R is an imido group; and
R1 is selected from the group which consists of chloro, bromo, iodo, fluoro, hydroxy, amino, OR2 or OC(O)R2, wherein R2 is C1-C12 alkyl, C1-C12 cycloalkyl, or C1-C12 aryl;

b) reacting the product of step (a) with a deprotecting agent; and
c) recovering alendronic acid.
2. A process according to claim 1 wherein R is selected from the group which consists of N-phthalimido and N-maleimido.
3. A process according to claim 1 wherein R1 is selected from the group which consists of chloro, bromo and hydroxy.
4. A process according to claim 1 wherein step (a) further comprises the use of one or more of the compounds selected from the group which consists of H3PO4, PCl3, PCl5 and POCl3.
5. A process according to claim 1 wherein step (b) comprises using one or more deprotecting agents selected from the group which consists of HCl, HBr, acetic acid, H3PO3, and H3PO4.
6. A process according to claim 1, wherein steps (a) and (b) take place in a single vessel.
7. A process according to claim 1 in which step (a) is performed at the temperature of between about 25 C. and about 180 C.
8. A process according to claim 7 in which step (a) is performed at the temperature of between about 80 and about 140 C.
9. A process according to claim 1 in which step (b) is performed at the temperature of between about 25 C. and about 130 C.
10. A process according to claim 9 in which step (b) is performed at the temperature of between about 100 C. and about 130 C.
11. A process according to claim 6 which is performed at the temperature of between about 25 C. and about 180 C.
12. A process according to claim 11 which is performed at the temperature of between about 80 C. and about 140 C.
13. A process according to claim 1 wherein the molar ratio between the compound of formula I and H3PO3 is between 1:1 and 1:6.
14. A process according to claim 13 wherein the molar ratio between the compound of formula I and H3PO3 is between 1:2 and 1:5.
15. A process according to claim 4 wherein the molar ratio between the compound of formula I and PCl3 is between 1:1 and 1:6.
16. A process according to claim 15 wherein the molar ratio between the compound of formula I and PCl3 is between 1:2 and 1:3.
17. A process according to claim 4 wherein the molar ratio between the compound of formula I and H3PO4 is between 1:1 and 1:6.
18. A process according to claim 17 wherein the molar ratio between the compound of formula I and H3PO4 is between 1:2 and 1:4.
19. A process according to claim 4 wherein the molar ratio between the compound of formula I and PCl5 is between 1:1 and 1:6.
20. A process according to claim 19 wherein the molar ratio between the compound of formula I and PCl5 is between 1:2 and 1:3.
21. A process according to claim 4 wherein the molar ratio between the compound of formula I and POCl3 is between 1:1 and 1:6.
22. A process according to claim 21 wherein the molar ratio between the compound of formula I and POCl3 is between 1:2 and 1:3.
23. Alendronic acid prepared according to the process of claim 1.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1-31. (canceled)
32. A suction arrangement for dental treatments for the suction-extraction of oral fluid originating from the mouth of a patient, comprising:
a) at least one suction mouthpiece, which is introduced or introducible into the mouth of the patient in order to extract the oral fluid from the mouth by suction; andor
b) at least one delivery device, which is connected or connectable via at least one flow path to at least one suction mouthpiece in order to generate a negative pressure at the suction mouthpiece and in order to extract the oral fluid by suction; and
c) at least one collecting arrangement for collecting particles from the oral fluid extracted by suction, the collecting arrangement having:
c1) a first particle separating device for separating particles from the oral fluid, wherein the first particle separating device is arranged or arrangeable in a flow path of the oral fluid;
c2) a second particle separating device for separating particles from the oral fluid, wherein the second particle separating device is arranged or arrangeable in a flow path of the oral fluid;
wherein:
c3) the first particle separating device is activated or operative when particles that do not contain noble metal andor contain mercury are present in the oral fluid;
c4) the second particle separating device is active or operative when particles that contain noble metal are present in the oral fluid and is deactivated or inoperative when particles that do not contain noble metal andor contain mercury are present in the oral fluid; and
c5) the second particle separating device is arranged or arrangeable in the mouth of the patient in front of the suction opening of the suction mouthpiece, or in the suction mouthpiece itself, or in a connection part for the suction mouthpiece.
33. A suction arrangement as claimed in claim 32, further comprising a switchover device, wherein:
in a first switching state, the switchover device switches the second particle separating device into the flow path of the oral fluid or arranges it therein; and
in a second switching state, the switchover device switches the second particle separating device out of the flow path of the oral fluid or removes it therefrom.
34. The suction arrangement as claimed in claim 33, further comprising an operating device, which is connected or connectable to the switchover device, for actuating or switching the switchover device.
35. The suction arrangement as claimed in claim 34, in which the operating device comprises at least one switch, in particular a pressure switch, rotary switch or slide switch, or else some other input device, for example a keypad or a voice input.
36. The suction arrangement as claimed in claim 34, wherein the operating device:
is mechanically or magnetically coupled to the switchover device; and
mechanically switches or actuates the switchover device.
37. The suction arrangement as claimed in claim 34, wherein the operating device is:
electrically coupled to the switchover device; and
electrically switches or actuates the latter.
38. The suction arrangement as claimed in claim 33, wherein the switchover device comprises a valve or a two-way or multi-way valve.
39. The suction arrangement as claimed in claimed in claim 33, wherein the switchover device comprises:
an electric actuator or drive; andor
an electromagnetic valve; or
an electrically driven two-way or multi-way valve.
40. The suction arrangement as claimed in claim 33, further comprising at least one sensor unit, which is connected or connectable to the switchover device, for actuating or switching the switchover device in order to sense the presence of noble metal or mercury in the oral fluid.
41. The suction arrangement as claimed in claim 32, wherein:
in a first switching state of the switchover device, the first particle separating device is located acting in a separating manner in the flow path in order to separate particles that do not contain noble metal andor contain mercury from the oral fluid; and
in the second switching state of the switchover device, the second particle separating device is located acting in a separating manner in the flow of oral fluid in order to separate particles that contain noble metal and do not contain mercury from the oral fluid.
42. The suction arrangement as claimed in claim 41, wherein the second particle separating device is connected upstream of or in front of the first particle separating device in the flow direction.
43. The suction arrangement as claimed in claim 32, wherein the second particle separating device is arranged or arrangeable in the mouth of the patient, in particular in the vicinity of the tooth being treated, andor in front of or at the suction opening of a suction mouthpiece or in the suction mouthpiece itself.
44. The suction arrangement as claimed in claim 32, wherein the first particle separating device andor the second particle separating device comprises at least one filter device, which comprises in particular at least one woven filter fabric or knitted filter fabric, andor at least one separation device, in particular a gravity separation device or centrifugal separation device, andor at least one carrier, in particular a cofferdam, having a surface to which the particles adhere.
45. The suction arrangement as claimed in claim 32, wherein the second particle separating device:
is exchangeable manually or automatically, in particular by means of a drive; or
is insertable or introducible into the flow path of the oral fluid and also removable therefrom again.
46. The suction arrangement as claimed in claim 45, further comprising:
a holding device for holding the second particle separating device in the flow path of the oral fluid;
wherein:
in particular when particles that contain noble metal are present in the oral fluid, the second particle separating device is inserted or introduced into the holding device or a component formed from the second particle separating device together with the holding device is inserted or introduced into the flow path of the oral fluid; and
when particles that do not contain noble metal andor contain mercury are present in the oral fluid, the second particle separating device is removed from the holding device or the component formed from the second particle separating device and the holding device is removed from the flow path of the oral fluid.
47. The suction arrangement as claimed in claim 32, wherein the first particle separating device andor the second particle separating device are or is arranged or arrangeable between at least one suction mouthpiece and at least one delivery device.
48. A suction arrangement as claimed in claim 32, having
a) at least two suction mouthpieces, at least one of which is inserted or insertable into the mouth of the patient in order to extract oral fluid from the mouth by suction,
e) wherein the first particle separating device is connected downstream at least of the first suction mouthpiece and the second particle separating device is connected downstream of the second suction mouthpiece but not of the first suction mouthpiece.
49. The suction arrangement as claimed in claim 46, wherein:
the holding device for the second particle separating device is configured as the holding device for the second particle separating device itself or a component formed from the holding device; and
the second particle separating device is configured as, with or on a connection part, via which the suction mouthpiece is connected or connectable, in particular in a detachable manner, to a delivery line or a delivery tube.
50. A method using the suction arrangement as claimed in claim 32 for sucking or extracting oral fluid originating from the mouth of a patient during a dental treatment, comprising:
a) introducing at least one suction mouthpiece into the mouth of the patient; andor
b) providing at least one collecting basin for collecting oral fluid;
wherein:
c) at least one delivery device, which is connected or connectable via at least one flow path to at least one suction mouthpiece or the collecting basin, generates a negative pressure at the suction mouthpiece andor collecting basin in order to extract the oral fluid by suction;
d) a first particle separating device, which is arranged or arrangeable in the flow path of the oral fluid, in particular in the flow path between at least one suction mouthpiece or the collecting basin and at least one delivery device, is activated or is switched into the operative state when the oral fluid contains particles that contain mercury, and which thus separates the particles that contain mercury from the oral fluid;
e) a second particle separating device, which is arranged in the flow path between at least one suction mouthpiece and at least one delivery device, is activated or switched into the operative state, or a second particle separating device is arranged in or introduced into the flow path of the oral fluid, in particular into the flow path between at least one suction mouthpiece or the collecting basin and at least one delivery device, when the oral fluid contains particles that contain noble metal, and thus the second particle separating device separates the particles that contain noble metal from the oral fluid, and
f) the second particle separating device, which is arranged in the flow path, is deactivated or switched into the inoperative state, or the second particle separating device is removed from the flow path, when the oral fluid contains particles that contain mercury.