(19)

(11)

EP 1 846 725 A1

(12)

(43) Date of publication: 24.10.2007 Bulletin 2007/43 (21) Application number: 06720176.4 (22) Date of filing: 03.02.2006

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC):  G01B 3/14(2006.01) G01B 5/20(2006.01) (86) International application number: PCT/US2006/003742 (87) International publication number: WO 2006/084072 (10.08.2006 Gazette 2006/32)

(84) Designated Contracting States: AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC NL PL PT RO SE SI SK TR (30) Priority: 04.02.2005 US 649953 P (71) Applicant: Hcc/Kpm Llc Ford City, Pennsylvania 16226 (US)	(72) Inventors: KUBE, Samuel, C. Templeton, Pennsylvania 16259 (US) PLEKKER, Albert, A. Butler, Pennsylvania 16001 (US) (74) Representative: Baumgärtel, Gunnar  Patentanwälte Maikowski & Ninnemann, Postfach 15 09 20 10671 Berlin 10671 Berlin (DE)