Abstract: A method and apparatus are described for removing noise by smoothing fine resistivity measurements made with a tool from inside a borehole penetrating an earth formation. Pixel values representative of the resistivity measurements are examined to determine the directions of features in the measurements and a smoothing of the pixel values is then made along the measured directions. The orientations of the features are obtained with a similarlity investigation of pixels in sub-array windows along parallel lines whose slope is varied. Optimal slope lines along which the pixel values in a window best resemble each other are determined as the direction of the features. Smoothing is done along the optimal slope lines. Substantially noise free pixel measurements are obtained to enable subsequent automatic signal processing such as the detection of edges between layers of different resistivity. The edges are recorded with an emphasis on a visual display for enhanced visual analysis.

Abstract: In a method for locating fractures in subsurface earth formations traversed by a borehole a first signal is generated representative of low frequency Stoneley waves (that is tube waves) propagating along the borehole from a source mounted in a logging tool. A second signal is generated by an array of detectors on the tool, representative of low frequency Stoneley waves propagating along the borehole and arising from reflection from fractures of the waves propagating from the source. An indication of the presence of fractures is derived by deconvolving the second signal with the first signal and identifying the time and magnitude of the peak value of the envelope of the deconvolved signal. The variation that would be expected in the presence of fracture and the actual variation are compared and a fracture detected when the actual and expected variations match. Alternatively the first and second signals can be cross-correlated and the time of the peak negative value of the cross-covariance determined.

Abstract: Techniques are described whereby measurements derived from acoustic investigations made from inside a borehole penetraing an earth formation are factorized into components with high depth resolution. In one embodiment travel times of an acoustic wave such as the compressional is factored into mud travel time and interval travel times through the earth formation. In another embodiment amplitude measurements of an acoustic wave are factored into components such as receiver gain, earth formation attenuation, and coupling effectiveness at the boundary between the borehole and the earth formation. In both embodiments an additional component can be factored out that is a function of transmitter to receiver spacings. A modified Gauss-Seidel iteration technique is described whereby iterations can rapidly converge with less sensitivity to large variations in the measurements. Factorization of receiver gains effectively enables calibration of the receivers during well logging.

Abstract: An acoustic method and apparatus for investigating an earth formation penetrated by a borehole are described. Acoustic transducers are mounted on a tool to accurately determine the distance between a segment of the tool and the wall of the borehole. The acoustic transducers are positioned in such manner that the stand-off distance between individual resistivity measuring electrodes in an array, which is also mounted on the tool segment, and the borehole wall can be measured. The stand-off measurement is recorded and may be used to correct the electrode resistivity measurements. In one embodiment a calibration of acoustic transducers as a function of depth is obtained by employing acoustic calibrating transducers to compensate for borehole environment effects on the performance of the acoustic transducers as well as determine the acoustic velocity of the borehole fluid, such as mud. Several embodiments are described.

Abstract: A multiple waveguide junction such as a magic T is described capable of coupling large average and peak powers with a low standing wave ratio over a wide bandwith. The magic T structure employs waveguide arms which meet at a common junction region and has a plane of symmetry that bisects both the E and H input waveguide arms. The latter arms each have necked down segments so as to improve the bandwidth of the structure. Impedance matching elements are employed in the junction region. One element has a ridge-like shape selected to provide an impedance match to the H input waveguide arm. Other matching elements are employed to provide a low SWR over a bandwidth that approaches a 3:1 ratio.

Abstract: A plastic container and handling assembly are described to enable a plastic container to store heavy bulk materials while handling the container for transport or other purposes. A groove is formed in the region of the container for which support is desired and a metal bar of corresponding shape and size is placed in the groove. A metal support having a plate in abutment with the metal bar and overlying it as well as adjoining regions of the plastic container is welded at spaced apart places to the bar without causing melting of the plastic container to thus affix the support to the container. Several embodiments are described.

Abstract: A manually operated actuator is described with which small incremental motions of a rod are obtained to advance a piston of a prefilled syringe. The device employs a reciprocally actuated drive element with a hole through which the rod passes freely when the drive element is in a release position. When the drive element is pivoted to a rod engaging position a pair of edges formed by the hole engage the rod and advance it an increment depending upon the amount of linear movement of the drive element. A back-up inhibitor is employed to prevent the rod from moving back when the drive element is returned to a release position. The back-up inhibitor is syringe responsive by employing a mechanism which causes engagement of the rod by the inhibitor when a syringe is attached to the actuator housing. A syringe with specially adapted flanges is described for use with the actuator.

Abstract: A rotor for a sorting apparatus for cleaning fibrous suspensions such as produced from the making of paper is described. The rotor is equipped with sorter blades which extend substantially parallel to the axis of rotation and are set at a desired angle relative to the direction of rotation of the rotor so as to create a hydrofoil effect. The sorter blades are mounted to one or more supporting walls shaped in a spiral form to provide spiral surfaces which are coaxial with the axis of rotation of the rotor and impart a conveying motion to the fibrous suspension. Upon rotation of the rotor in a fibrous suspension entanglements by impurities are avoided and the danger of the occurrence of a blockage of the strainer used in the sorter apparatus is reduced.

Abstract: The optical densities of both the background and the image areas of an original are measured so as to obtain a control signal useful in photocopying the original, by a system which includes a detector for generating a measuring signal representing optical densities detected on the original; a detector for deriving from the measuring signal a peak signal level representing the background density; first and second detection circuits for producing respective output signals representing numbers of measuring signal portions detected at first and second reference signal levels, which levels differ from each other and each from the peak signal level; a control rendering the reference signal levels dependent in magnitude on the derived peak or background signal level, and preferably proportional to it; and a comparison circuit for deriving from the output signals a control signal indicating in relation to the background density the relative amounts on the original of image information items that have optical densitie

Abstract: A technique is described for the making of frames for an authentic plank-on-frame ship model kit. A wooden boat hull is made with a hull thickness that is the same for that of the frames. The hull has the internal and external surface contours desired for the ship model. The boat hull is then sliced at regular intervals to form individual segments representative of the desired frames. A set of frames is then selected from the sliced segments for an authentic plank-on-frame ship model.

Abstract: A technique is described for producing an image log of an investigation of the wall of a borehole with a high resolution tool. The tool employs sensors for measuring a characteristic such as the conductivity of the wall at locations which circumferentially overlap. An accurate tool depth measuring device is employed to modify the measured characteristic so that the measurement can be displayed as a linear function of depth without visually detectable artifacts. Various signal processing and image enhancing techniques are described to produce an image log on which the characteristic can be seen as a variable intensity image in which small scale variations of the measured characteristic remain discernable and significant features visually stand out from the log.

Abstract: An air circulator for an oven is described formed of a self-contained housing sized to be placed at a convenient location inside the oven with food being heated. The housing encloses a spring motor and a propeller connected to the motor through a reduction gear train. An air flow is produced from a housing outlet adjacent the propeller and may be directed in a desired direction by a rotatably adjustable air flow deflector on the housing and at the outlet.

Abstract: A high resolution method and apparatus for measuring the depth of a tool suspended from a cable inside a borehole are described. The tool includes accelerometers for measuring its acceleration and this measurement is combined with a cable depth measurement with which the amount of cable in the borehole is determined. A Kalman filter is employed to continually provide estimates of the velocity and depth of the tool from the accelerometer and cable depth measurements. A filter modifier alters operation of the filter during discontinuous motions of the tool such as when it is stuck and slips. A tool sticking detector senses when the tool is stuck and for how long to correspondingly modify the filter by forcing it to more strongly rely upon accelerometer measurements when the tool is stuck and gradually return to normal filter operation when the tool resumes movement after having been stuck.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring an earth formation characteristic from inside a borehole penetrating earth formations is described. A tool carrying a sonic transmitter and an array of receivers is moved along the borehole and waveform signals from the receiver array are generated from repetetive operations of the transmitter. Sub-arrays of particularly related waveform signals relevant to a selected depth interval that is less in length than the aperture of the array are identified. Each sub-array of signals is then converted to a domain of signals composed of values of a coherence as a function of a range of values of a characteristic such as slowness. The converted signals are then combined so as to provide combined coherence values as a function of different values of the characteristic. One or several peaks of the combined coherence values are detected and determine the value of the characteristic for the selected depth interval. Similar processing is continued for other depth intervals.

Abstract: A method and system are described for manufacturing molded packings used in the shipment of articles such as computers, typewriters and the like. The system employs a plurality of mold plugs positioned on a rotating platform whereby the mold plugs are alternately moved between work stations. At one work station a separator sheet is manually placed over a mold plug. At another work station a foaming material dispensing gun is automatically operated in a predetermined pattern over a mold which encloses the mold plug. The pattern is manually adjustable to fit any particular mold plug. Control over the system is obtained with a microprocessor programmed to operate with sensors and actuators associated with the system.

Abstract: A light detector circuit is described in which the baseline level of the output signal of a light detector is stabilized by feeding back a control signal to an element that has a voltage variable resistance and is connected in series with the light detector across a voltage source. Several embodiments are shown. In one embodiment a differential amplifier circuit with an integrating feedback circuit is employed to establish a stabilized control voltage.

Abstract: A display cooler is described formed of a self-supporting bin structure having a central cavity to hold products such as beverages and having upper located recesses sized to receive ice packs. The bin structure is formed of axially partitioned mating halves which form an externally cylindrical surface adapted to receive a display panel that is wrapped around the bin structure. The halves are held together with bands and a liner is employed inside the cavity. A drain is located at the bottom of the liner to enable removal of water condensed onto cool surfaces.

Abstract: A gear system having a plurality of discrete gear ratios includes a retarder connected to a gear component intermediate between an input shaft and an output shaft. The gear component connected to the retarder is coupled to the output shaft with the same relative gear ratio greater than 1 in at least two adjacent ones of the discrete gear ratios of the gear system. The use of a relative gear ratio greater than 1 permits the use of a physically smaller retarder. The use of the same relative gear ratio between the retarder and the output shaft in at least two adjacent gear ratios of the gear system avoid jolts during shifting with the retarder engaged.