Abstract: A geophone is disclosed that has a cylindrical housing closed at one end by a bottom and the other end by a top. A magnet assembly of a rare earth magnet with pole pieces at each end of the magnet is centrally mounted in the housing providing an annular space between the magnet assembly and the housing. A coil form is located in the annular space. Springs support the coil form for axial movement relative to the magnet assembly along the longitudinal axis of the housing. The rare earth magnet produces a magnetic field sufficiently strong that the pole pieces can be made longer than the coils on the coil form thereby provided a uniform magnetic field in which the coils move thereby reducing the amount of harmonic distortion produced by the geophone.

Abstract: There is disclosed a container for collecting hydrocarbons which might leak from a source, such as a loading or unloading line of and oil storage tank, and which, for environmental purposes, should not be permitted to spill out of the container into the open area. The container is of such construction that a hard rain or other addition of large quantities of water to the container will not cause the hydrocarbons to spill out of the container.

Abstract: A hard metal insert for a drill bit is disclosed having an outer body and an encapsulated inner body. The particle size and the chemical composition of the outer body and the inner body are such that the outer body is harder and more wear resistant than the inner body and the inner body is tougher than but not as hard as the outer body. The dimension of the outer body is approximately of equal thickness to the inner body at the cutting surface of the insert to ensure maintaining even wear.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for severing multiple concentric casing strings in an abandoned oil or gas well allowing the upper portion of the casing strings to be removed comprising positioning a container holding a sealed cylinder full of air at atmospheric pressure that is surrounded by a high velocity explosive in the casing at the location of the desired cut. Igniting the explosive at one end of the container so that the mixture detonates producing a shock wave and gas bubbles that travel downwardly progressively, collapsing the sealed cylinder and increasing the pressure of the air in the cylinder until the cylinder fails whereby pressurized air forced from the cylinder causes the shock wave and gas bubbles from the TNT, RDX, and aluminum mixture to move laterally and sever the casing strings.

Abstract: A satellite-based navigation system providing improved accuracy and reliability over wide geographical areas, including remote regions, is disclosed. Ranging-type signals transmitted through two or more commercial geostationary telecommunication satellites are received at known reference locations where navigation and correction information is generated and transmitted back to remote users. At the same time, the reference stations receive signals from the Global Positioning System (GPS), generate corrections for the GPS measurements, then transmit these corrections to the remote user. The remote user receives all of this information plus direct measurements from both the GPS and the geostationary satellites and, using conditional error processing techniques, provides a position solution whose accuracy and reliability exceeds that of GPS alone. Alternatively, integrated carrier phase data can be substituted for pseudoranges obtained from the geostationary satellite transmissions.

Abstract: There is disclosed a subsurface safety valve which is adapted to be installed in a tubing string within a well bore and of a type which remains open only so long as a controlled condition is maintained. Also disclosed are several embodiments of a mechanism for holding a rotary control rod of such a valve or other apparatus in a desired rotational position to maintain it open, or otherwise in a desired state, and then releasing it, upon loss of the controlled condition, for return to its original rotational position.

Abstract: A pipe protector is disclosed comprising a tubular rubber member with an inner diameter sized to the approximate outer diameter of a pipe. The protector is a variable diameter pipe protector that prevents slipping on undersized pipes, but can also be used on full sized pipes. The pipe protector is capable of surrounding a full size outer diameter pipe and is provided with at least one rubber flap attached to the inside surface to compensate for undersize pipe diameters.

Abstract: A method is provided for loading a delivery system for a chemical repellant composition. An aqueous mixture comprising one part water-soluble isothiuronium salt and two parts weak base is prepared. Capsaicin is added to the aqueous mixture before it is loaded into the delivery system. A fluorescent compound, such as dichlorofluorescine, may also be added to the aqueous mixture and capsaicin before loading the delivery system.

Abstract: There is disclosed a textile treating machine having an outer shell in which textile treating liquids may be contained, and a perforated drum for receiving textiles to be treated and having a shaft extending through an opening in one end of the shell. A bearing assembly is mounted on the other side of the shell and supports the shaft for extension through it so that the shaft and drum may be rotated to cause treatment liquid to be circulated through the textiles, and a seal assembly is releasably connected to the shell to sealably surround the shaft adjacent the shell opening inboard of the bearing assembly so as to prevent leakage of the liquid from the shell into the bearing assembly. The shaft includes a main section which extends through the seal and bearing assemblies and a bushing which is releasably connected over a tapered inner end of the main shaft section, and the drum has an opening in one end which surrounds the inner end of the shaft and is of a size to pass the seal assembly therethrough.

Abstract: Apparatus for confirming the presence or absence of leaks in a liquid storage container, particularly in partially filled underground storage tanks, subjected to partial vacuum for the purpose of testing the tank for the presence of a leak in the area above the liquid using a hydrophone or microphone either positioned in or attached to the container to detect the sound produced by the ingress of fluid into the container as a result of the vacuum. The ingress of fluid is confirmed by recording and observing the vacuum pump on/off cycles that define a time period for the system to change from a high vacuum state at a first predetermined pressure toward a low vacuum state at a second predetermined pressure, with the pump operated to restore tank vacuum level at the end of each period back to the first predetermined pressure, such observed trends of the measured patterns in the on/off cycles for a leaking container being distinguishable from the on/off cycles for a non-leaking container.

Abstract: A cable having a thixotropic filling compound therein, the filling compound being a gel composition including a water absorbent hydrocarbon polymer with pendent anionic groups. The composition eliminates shorts caused by moisture contact with such wires. The cable including the composition is stabilized against thermally induced capacitance changes and shows improved oxidation induction times.

Abstract: There are disclosed two embodiments of a top transfer type continuous batch washing machine comprising an intermediate outer housing and an additional outer housing at each end thereof, with each outer housing having one or more bath sections, and a continuous elongate inner housing made up of cylindrically shaped drums having their inlets and outlets connected to one another. Rollers are mounted on the outside of the outer housings in position to support tubular members which extend between adjacent sections of the inner housing to suspend the lower portion of each drum of an intermediate section in a bath section of the intermediate outer housing and the lower portion of each drum of each outer section in a bath section of an additional outer housing.

Abstract: A tubular connection is shown having wedge threads, the individual threads preferably interlocking by having wider crest dimensions than respective root dimensions, but with the stab flanks and load flanks generally angling in the same direction with respect to the longitudinal axis of the connection. Thus, when the stab flank is positive, it is less positive than the load flank is negative. Conversely, when the stab flank is negative, it is more negative than the load flank is positive. Preferably, the roots and crests radially interfere prior to full makeup. The connection achieves distribution over the entire thread length of the bearing stresses that resist torsional makeup, of the torque load, and of sealing. The slant of the flanks achieves self-centering of the pin member with respect to the box member either during assembly or disassembly depending on the angling in the respective embodiments.

Abstract: A fluid powered stepping motor is disclosed for connecting to a pipe string to rotate a tool relative to the pipe string by raising and lowering the pressure in the pipe string. The motor includes a housing, the lower end of which is connected to the tool. A mandrel is connected to the pipe string and extends into the upper end of the housing to support the housing for rotation relative to the mandrel. A passageway extends longitudinally through the mandrel in fluid communication with the pipe string. A piston is located in and closes the passageway so that the piston will move downwardly in the passageway in response to fluid pressure in the passageway acting on the piston. Resilient spring resists the downward movement of the piston in the passageway, and cam members rotate the housing an incremental distance when the piston moves downwardly in the passageway.

Abstract: A plurality of tubes having flanged ends are assembled in end to end fashion by clamping the flanges between first and second portions of connector blocks, the portions of the connector blocks being provided with channels formed in the opposed surfaces thereof for defining a passage through the connector block when assembled to each other and a groove in the channel formed in the opposed surfaces for receiving the flanges formed around the ends of the tubes. Each of the portions of the connector blocks is provided with complementary projections and recesses for frictionally engaging one portion to the other and for frictionally engaging the connector blocks to the pieces of a multiple piece, snap-together, children's building toy set.

Abstract: A geophone is disclosed that has a cylindrical housing closed at one end by a bottom and the other end by a top. A magnet assembly with pole pieces at each end of the magnet is centrally mounted in the housing providing an annular space between the magnet assembly and the housing. A coil form is located in the annular space. Springs support the coil form for axial movement relative to the magnet assembly along the longitudinal axis of the housing. Washers are included on the upper and lower sides of each of the springs to enhance the life span of the springs by reducing the damage caused by torsional forces experienced by the springs during normal operation and rough handling. Also incorporated in the geophone are resilient members mounted between the coil form and the housing to prevent the coil form from directly hitting the housing and thereby reduce the amount of frequency shift experienced by the geophone over its life span.

Abstract: There is disclosed a double-acting hydraulic jar having upper and lower detent pressure chambers having upper and lower restrictions, respectively, formed on the inner diameter of its outer tubular member and through which upper and lower detent means carried about the outer diameter of the inner tubular member may be moved in order to impart either an up or down jar.

Abstract: A clamp assembly is for connecting the two hubs of a hub connector with each hub in sealing engagement with a seal ring, the hubs having flat opposing surfaces with ring grooves and tapered annular surfaces on the opposite side of the hubs from the ring grooves. The clamp assembly includes a flat sided, adapter ring for positioning between the opposing faces of the hubs, the adapter having a ring groove on each side for engaging seal rings located in the ring grooves in the faces of the hubs, a plurality of tapped holes in the outside wall of the adapter ring, a plurality of clamp segments positioned around the adapter ring, studs connected to the tapped holes in the adapter ring and extending through openings in the clamp segments and nuts on the studs outside the clamp segments for moving the clamp segments toward the hubs to cause the inclined surfaces on the clamp segments to force the hubs into sealing engagement with the seal rings.

Abstract: There is disclosed a connector for releasably connecting tubular members connected to adjacent ends of riser pipes in end-to-end relation. The tubular members have locking grooves about their adjacent ends, and a split lock ring surrounds the adjacent ends of the tubular members, when in end-to-end relation, and has upper and lower teeth thereabout for fitting tightly within the grooves to hold the ends of the tubular members in end-to-end relation. The lock ring is moved between locking and unlocking positions by means of cam rings having tapered conical cam surfaces thereabout for slidable engagement with follower surfaces about the upper and lower ends of the lock ring.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for storing and delivering a liquid cryogen. The apparatus is a dewar having a rotating liquid cryogen intake, a rotating gas supply vent, and a rotating capacitance gauge. Also disclosed is a system and a process employing the system for liquefying a gas to produce a liquid cryogen in the dewar wherein the gas is subcritically cooled and then condensed in the pressure vessel of the dewar.