Abstract: Disclosed are high-strength detachable cylinder-to-plate joints for use in manufacturing tables, shelves, other types of furniture and support structures for machinery and articles of manufacture including shelves and furniture made using present invention joints. The joint comprises a disk with a threaded outside diameter attached to a plate by bolts or screws. A cylinder having an annular end with a threaded inside diameter is attached to the threaded disk to form a threaded connection therewith. The threaded cylinder can comprise a sleeve having a threaded end for attachment to the disk, and an opposite end for attaching an extension member that can have a non-cylindrical diameter (i.e. square table leg).

Abstract: Disclosed are threaded seal caps suitable for sealing the ends of common screw and bolt connectors for various purposes including protective/safety, ornamentation and pressure seals in chemical and physical processes or as a guard for a switch. The seal caps include a threaded inside surface for attachment to washers having a threaded outside surface. The caps can include an o-ring gasket for sealing a pressurized connector. The washers are preferably made from a suitable section of all-thread.

Abstract: A kelly spinner for a drilling rig and installation method are disclosed. The spinner is installed directly to a stem of the derrick swivel by means of an adjustable sleeve which fits around the swivel stem. A clamping device is tightened to secure the sleeve to the stem and the clamp to the sleeve. A ring gear bolted to the clamp body is rotated by dual hydraulic or pneumatic motors to rotate the spinner.

Abstract: An improved process for manufacturing melamine from urea simplifies the recovery of melamine, carbamate and ammonia from a fluidized bed reactor effluent stream by operating the process at a pressure between 1.4 and 2 MPa. In such a manner, a carbamate solution can be produced at a sufficiently high concentration for use in a urea plant without an intervening concentration step. In addition, ammonia recycled as a fluidizing gas can be condensed against cooling water to permit easy separation of noncondensables such as oxygen which used in the process as a passivator for carbamate corrosion inhibition. The melamine product is produced as an aqueous solution free of melamine solids. Heat is recovered from the carbamate condensation and used for the vaporization of ammonia which is recycled to the reactor for fluidization.

Abstract: Topical 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-piperdinyloxyl (TEMPO) is disclosed. The compound has utility in a topical pharmaceutical formulation for the cosmetic treatment of hair loss and the cosmetic stimulation of hair growth.

Abstract: An aqueous-based composition comprising a glycerophosphoric acid ester and a diacetyltartaric acid ester of mono and/or diglycerides when combined with viscosifier, sealant and weighting agent is suitable for use as a spotting fluid for downhole drilling operations for releasing stuck drill string. The present invention also enhances drill fluid lubricity, is nontoxic to marine life, non-polluting and may be safely disposed of in off-shore waters.

Abstract: A method of corrosion inhibition using a gelled inhibitor is disclosed. The method comprises consecutively introducing into an annular region of a jacketed pipeline a hydrogel slurried in an environmentally innocuous oil medium and a corrosion inhibitor dissolved in an aqueous medium. The liquid media are contacted to form a gelled corrosion inhibitor in the annulus. The method is particularly useful in buried pipelines where corrosion monitoring is difficult.

Abstract: Disclosed is a combination thermometer and fecal specimen sampling device which permits the concurrent sampling of a fecal specimen and measuring of body temperature from a single penetration of the rectum. The sheath comprises an elongated, rigid, cylindrical sheath with a partially cutaway distal end to form a scoop. The thermometer is inserted into an annular bore in the sheath.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for the makeup and breakout of oil well drill pipe for a top drive drilling system. By using drill stock in units of 2 or 3 joints, top drive systems can significantly reduce the drill time. The apparatus comprises a lower housing placed over a rig mouse hole and an upper housing disposed on the lower housing. The housings have jaws to hold individual drill pipe joints and spring biased legs to permit play in the positioning of the lower housing with respect to the rig platform and the positioning of the upper housing with respect to the pipe. A rotatable jaw rotates one of the pipe sections to connect the pipe. The unit drill stock can then be released from the apparatus jaws and inserted into the drill string. Also disclosed is a tool joint box pipe clamp for hoisting of a drill pipe in the practice of the invention.

Abstract: Sulfonated alkylphenol is added to crude oil at 5 to 200 ppm to inhibit naphthenic acid corrosion of ferrous metal process piping and equipment in contact with the crude oil at naphthenic acid corrosion conditions. There are disclosed corrosion-inhibited hydrocarbon fluids, an improvement in hot hydrocarbon processing with sulfonated alkylphenol, a method for inhibiting naphthenic acid corrosion therewith, and a method for catalytically processing hydrocarbons with sulfonated alkylphenol to avoid catalyst poisoning by iron compounds.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for dispersing gums in hydrocarbon streams, particularly low molecular weight, sticky polymeric materials formed in refinery and petrochemical plant operation. The dispersant comprises a free radically polymerized copolymer of an .alpha.-olefin of from about 10 to about 36 carbon atoms and maleic anhydride wherein the anhydride moieties along the copolymer backbone are substantially unhydrolyzed. The copolymer has a ratio of olefin to maleic anhydride of from about 1 to about 0.5 and a molecular weight of from 5000 to about 100,000. The dispersant alternatively comprises a dispersant mixture wherein the first component comprises the .alpha.-olefin/maleic anhydride copolymer and the second component comprises an alkyl substituted phenol/formaldehyde liquid polymer, such as nonyl phenol/formaldehyde polymer, or a lipophilic/hydrophilic vinylic polymer, such as hydroxyethyl methacrylate/lauryl acrylate copolymer. Also disclosed is a hydrocarbon dispersion made by the method.

Abstract: Dispersing asphaltenes in liquid hydrocarbons, particularly formed during the refining of crude petroleum, is disclosed. The dispersant comprises a free radically polymerized copolymer of an .alpha.-olefin of from about 10 to about 36 carbon atoms and maleic anhydride wherein the anhydride moieties along the copolymer backbone are substantially unhydrolyzed or otherwise not derivatized. The copolymer has a ratio of .alpha.-olefin to maleic anhydride of from about 1:1 to about 1:5 and a molecular weight of from 5000 to about 100,000. Alternatively the dispersant comprises a mixture of the .alpha.-olefin/maleic anhydride copolymer and an alkyl substituted phenol/formaldehyde liquid polymer, such as nonyl phenol/formaldehyde polymer, or a lipophilic/hydrophilic vinylic polymer, such as hydroxyethyl methacrylate/lauryl acrylate copolymer. Also disclosed is a liquid hydrocarbon dispersion containing asphaltenes and 1-100 ppm of the .alpha.-olefin/maleic anhydride copolymer.

Abstract: A removable core cylinder lock having separate key-operated tumbler controlled fences is disclosed. The separately keyed fences permit differentiation between a locking/unlocking operational mode and a core insertion/removal mode to enhance security and applicability of the lock. The lock comprises a core received by a housing. The core has a longitudinal fence retractable by alignment of one group of tumblers and a transverse retainer retractable by alignment of a second group of tumblers wherein both fence and retainer engage the housing to lock the core therein. Insertion of a proper unlocking key permits retraction of the fence without retraction of the retainer so that the core can be rotated in the housing but not removed therefrom. Insertion of a proper removal key permits retraction of the fence and retainer for removal of the core from the housing. In such manner, one core can be rapidly substituted for another to change the keying for the unlocking mode.

Abstract: A low viscosity drilling fluid and method for stabilizing a downhole shale formation are disclosed. The fluid comprises an aqueous solution of a partialy transamidated hydrolyzed acrylamide copolymer, potassium chloride, a weighting agent and an optional viscosifying agent. The copolymer comprises from about 50 to about 98 mole percent primary amide functionality, from about 0.1 to about 15 mole percent secondary amide functionality and from about 2 to about 50 mole percent of the acrylate salt. The drilling fluid has a density out from about 8 to about 18 pounds per gallon and a viscosity of from about 5 to about 30 centistokes.

Abstract: A jet propulsion unit is provided for marine craft where a stream of water is induced in a converging inlet section and delivered as a steady laminar shaped flow regime to an impeller section whose novel impeller/diffuser vane combination and converging annular volume enables operation of the vessel over a wide range of speeds and sea conditions without cavitation. Acceleration of water energized by the impeller through an interchangeable nozzle provides additional thrust and maneuverability. The propulsion unit additionally incorporates an arm-hole duct in the inlet housing for easy clean-up of any fouling and a bypass valve positioned upstream from the impeller to eliminate balling and drag caused thereby.

Abstract: An aqueous-based composition comprising a glycerophosphoric acid ester and a diacetyltartaric acid ester of mono and/or diglycerides when combined with viscosifier, sealant and weighting agent is suitable for use as a spotting fluid for downhole drilling operations for releasing stuck drill string. The present invention also enhances drill fluid lubricity, is nontoxic to marine life, non-polluting and may be safely disposed of in off-shore waters.