Abstract: Described is a system for automatically recording information about the physical condition, content and location of earth formations penetrated during drilling of a well, the rate of drilling the well, the well depth, the condition and content of the drilling fluids, and procedures followed in the drilling operation. Immediate visual displays are provided which permit comparisons between graphically recorded input and output data representing, respectively, the condition and content of an identified sample of drilling fluid as it enters the formation from the drill bit and the same fluid sample after it has returned to the well surface. To this end, the volume, or "lag", of fluid required to pump a sample of fluid from the drill bit to the well surface is determined and means are provided to automatically determine the amount of fluid injected into the well between each incremental unit of advance of the drill bit.

Abstract: Disclosed is a well packer which is set by pressure applied through a tubing string which supports the packer within a surrounding well conduit. Once set, the packer is retrievable by either longitudinal or rotary movement of the supporting tubing string. Setting pressure drives opposed cone assemblies longitudinally toward each other to cause slip segments to move radially outwardly into anchoring engagement with the surrounding well conduit. The lowermost cone assembly is constructed in the form of a split ring and is equipped with friction teeth along its internal surface to retain the packer in its set position. A helical retrieving component secures the packer assembly to the central mandrel of the packer. Righthand rotation of the tubing string causes the outer body of the packer to unthread from the helical retrieving component secured to the mandrel which in turn unsets the packer.

Abstract: A check valve assembly for use in a flow conductor. A tubular valve body with a central flow passage is mounted in the assembly. A spring urges the body toward closed position in which a rigid sleeve encircles and covers outlet ports in the downstream end of the body. A resilient skirt of rubber extending from the end of the sleeve engages the outer surface of the body to form a seal which prevents reverse fluid flow through the valve. The rigid sleeve isolates the ports from high reverse pressure differentials. Forward flow, or a sufficiently great forward pressure differential, overcomes the spring bias and pushes the downstream end of the tubular body through the bottom of the sleeve and skirt to a position in which the outlet ports are uncovered for normal flowing operation. The spring returns the valve body to closed position when the flow reverses or the forward pressure differential falls below a prescribed value.

Abstract: Leg apparatus for an offshore drilling unit of the self-elevating type having a floatable hull and a plurality of legs movable from a raised position, in which the legs are supported by the hull in a body of water, to a lowered position, in which the hull is supported by the legs on the floor of the body of water. The legs may comprise a plurality of mutually parallel tubular chord members rigidly interconnected by structural bracing members. The tubular chord members may comprise an elongated tubular body and an elongated plate member, whose longitudinal axis coincides with the axis of the tubular body, rigidly connected to and spanning the interior of the tubular body.

Abstract: Conduit apparatus providing a fire resistant passageway, for an elongate member such as wire, through a hole in a barrier such as a floor, wall or the like may comprise: a tubular core member through the interior of which the elongate member may pass; friction surfaces surrounding the exterior of the core member for frictional and sealing engagement with the barrier hole; and a seal member engageable with the interior of the core member and the exterior of the elongate member.

Abstract: Disclosed is a rotary drive assembly for manipulating well pipe. The assembly, which is carried by the traveling block in a drilling derrick, provides means for engaging well pipe by either threaded or non-threaded connection. The threaded connection is used during drilling for imparting rotary motion to pipe forming a drill string. A torque-clamp, connector sub, and pipe guide combination provides male threads within a guiding surface to facilitate the threaded connection to pipe members. A break-out elevator provides a non-threaded connection which is used for manipulating pipe members and for making up or breaking out a connection between threaded pipe segments. A spring and roller assembly in the elevator facilitates the gripping of a pipe segment by the elevator and cushions the impact on the rotary drive assembly when the elevator is used to lift well pipe.

Abstract: An apparatus for disposing of waste by means of complete combustion including an endless moveable track for conveying the waste through the apparatus, means for depositing the waste on the track, a furnace system for burning the waste, and means for removing any resulting residue from the track.

Abstract: Eyes in adjacent track segments in a bulldozer type track are secured to each other by a pin which is provided with a grease fitting and connecting passages for communicating lubricant to the bearing surfaces in the linkage. The pins are housed in a metal sleeve which cooperates with resilient seals to retain the lubricant in the linkage and to keep external matter away from the linkage bearing surfaces. The pin is held in place by removable retaining means so that the linkage may be separated and reattached without special equipment.

Abstract: A heating and cooling system for an enclosure utilizing electricity generated from wind energy. The system may include a windmill mechanically linked to a plurality of low voltage electrical generators. The electricity is supplied to a plurality of thermoelectric devices which effect heating and cooling of the enclosure. The system is thermostatically controlled and can be employed with existing heating and cooling systems as the primary source of heating and cooling.

Abstract: Apparatus for stabilizing a stringed musical instrument, while held by a musician, of the type having a body and fretted neck. The apparatus may comprise: a support member for resting against the trunk of the musician's body; a rod member attached at one end to the support member and projecting generally away from the musician's body trunk; and a mounting member attached to the back of the instrument body and engageable by the other end of the rod member to generally support the instrument in an oblique plane for better viewing of the fretted neck.

Abstract: Disclosed is a magnetic recording tape cartridge assembly for use with conventional eight-track cartridgetype tape machines. The tape cartridge assembly comprises a miniature tape cartridge element engageable with a tape cartridge adaptor unit which is employed to hold and insert the cartridge element into the tape machine. The cartridge element includes an endless loop of magnetic recording tape onto which is recorded a single musical selection of approximately 3 to 4 minutes in length. In the preferred embodiment, the adaptor has a single cartridge receiver end portion including mounting pin members on which the cartridge element is placed and held stationary. The cartridges are interchangeable with the adaptor allowing a single adaptor unit to be used with a plurality of cartridge elements. In a modified form of the invention, the cartridge adaptor unit includes cartridge receiver portions at each end allowing two cartridges to be carried on the adaptor.

Abstract: A tool adapted for connection to the lower end of a fluid supply line comprising: a housing; a tubular stem telescopically received by the housing for relative reciprocal movement therewith in response to fluid pressure communicated to the housing through the supply line; a working element attached to one end of the stem for movement therewith; and a valve assembly carried by the housing and responsive to predetermined movement of the stem relative to the housing to relieve fluid pressure within the tool, permitting a return of the stem and housing to their initial position relative to each other. In the method, the tool is attached to the end of a fluid supply line and inserted into a well conduit, the continuous supply line is inserted into the conduit until the tool reaches a preselected level; the tool is operated by applying fluid pressure thereto through the supply line; and the supply line is further fed into the conduit as the tool advances through the conduit.

Abstract: Locking apparatus for a ram type blowout preventer having a housing with a passageway through which a tubular member may pass; rams movable between a non-sealing position in the housing, in which the passageway is open, and a sealing position in which the passageway is sealingly closed; and an operator assembly for moving the rams between the non-sealing and sealing positions. The locking apparatus may comprise: at least one rod connected to the operator assembly reciprocable between first and second terminal positions in response to movement of the rams between their non-sealing and sealing positions, respectively; and locking means engageable with the rod when in its second terminal position to lock the rams in their sealing positions. A method of operating such a ram type blowout preventer is disclosed also.

Abstract: A rotary internal combustion engine comprising: a compressor section, a power section and a combustion chamber therebetween. The compressor section may comprise a pair of intermeshing gear members mounted in a compressor housing having an inlet on one side and a discharge on the opposite side. The intermeshing compressor gear members are mounted for rotation in opposite directions to compress and transfer air-fuel mixtures from the inlet to the discharge. The compressor discharge may be connected to the combustion chamber for combustion of the air-fuel mixture therein. The power section may comprise at least one rotor mounted in a housing having an inlet connected to the combustion chamber and through which expanding gases are directed against the periphery of the rotor for driving an output shaft connected thereto. The rotor may be connected to at least one of the compressor gear members for rotation thereof.

Abstract: Dynamometer apparatus for measuring the performance of a wheeled vehicle comprising: a support assembly on which the vehicle may be supported; power absorption apparatus mounted on the support assembly for engagement with at least one wheel of the vehicle; a pump connected to the power absorption apparatus for producing a fluid pressure in response to the torque produced by the vehicle wheel; speed measuring apparatus mounted on the support for engagement with the vehicle wheel to indicate the surface speed thereof; and indicator apparatus connected to the pump and the speed measuring apparatus for correlating fluid pressure and surface speed with the performance of the vehicle.

Abstract: A single length of insulated, stranded steel cable extends vertically through a bin or other material container and functions as a radiating antenna for an electrical signal transmitter. The reactance of the antenna, which varies as a function of the level of material in the container adjacent the antenna, is inductively linked to an oscillator circuit in the transmitter. The transmitter's signal which is altered in frequency with changes in the antenna's reactance is combined with that of a constant frequency reference signal. The frequency of the resulting difference signal is employed to form a remote indication of the material level and to provide control information for automatically maintaining or varying material levels.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for cementing a liner in a well bore in which the apparatus may comprise: a setting tool having a tubular mandrel connected in a pipe string for extension through the liner; a liner wiper releasably disposed within the liner near one end of the mandrel; a plug member for effecting a movable seal behind cement as it is pumped through the pipe string into the liner; a seal assembly sealingly engaging the exterior of the mandrel and the interior of the liner above the liner wiper; and a latch assembly releasably connecting the seal assembly to the liner so as to permit limited axial movement of the mandrel without disturbing the axial position of the seal assembly. In the method of cementing a liner using the apparatus, the force due to pressure applied to the seal assembly, during pumping of cement, is transferred to the liner without transfer to the mandrel.