Abstract: An insect barrier and deterrent device for preventing crawling insects from obtaining access to the contents of a food or water containing structure or a food preparation surface from the adjacent ground, floor, or other support surface. One embodiment of the barrier includes an insecticide-charged spongy member disposed under a protective cover. The spongy member according to one embodiment is retained on a support member. The cover may be removably disposed over the spongy member. Another embodiment of the spongy member is affixed to the underside of a flange around the upper outer edge of a pet dish or the like, within a downwardly extending lip on the flange. Another embodiment of the invention includes a slick member of a suitable plastic or other substance in place of the charged spongy member. Another embodiment of the invention includes a protective cover with a downwardly extending lip around its outer peripheral edge and an anchor stake affixed to its underside near its center.

Abstract: A disposable medicinal syringe including a tubular plunger from which air has been evacuated and a seal member releasably attached on the distal end of the plunger. The plunger is slidingly and sealingly disposed in the barrel of the syringe. A luer lock assembly is mounted within the barrel and includes a releasable hub portion which is securely engageable with the releasable plunger seal member, the securely engaged members when released being actuated by ambient air pressure into retraction into the evacuated plunger. The luer lock assembly is adapted for receiving a hypodermic needle or other medical device.

Abstract: Underground frangible pipe replacement apparatus and methods for replacing an existing unserviceable pipe by first crushing the existing pipe entirely inwardly, or imploding it, to destroy it. The resulting shards are then forced outwardly into the surrounding soil, creating a bore large enough to accommodate a replacement pipe at least as large as, or large than, the old pipe. The new pipe is pulled into place substantially simultaneously with the expansion of the bore. The crushing tool includes a generally tubular main body and a plurality of longitudinally extending, tapered blades circumferentially disposed about the ID of the main body of the crushing tool. The blades taper outwardly and forwardly from near the midportion of the crushing tool. The crushing tool has a connecting rod at its center, including means for connecting the crushing tool to a motive force at one end and means for connecting the crushing tool to the expanding plug at the other end.

Abstract: Disclosed are compositions and methods of treating oak wilt, decline, or other fungus-induced diseases of trees. A mixture is applied to the root system comprising sulfur and pentachloronitrobenzene or pentachlorophenol as its active ingredients, and optionally other ingredients such as a wetting agent, nitrogen, an insecticide, and a nutrient source. It is preferable to simultaneously treat the bark and crown of the tree with a composition which includes a fungicide and an insecticide. Other ingredients, such as a wetting agent or a fungicide/nutrient, can also be present in the Bark & Crown Composition.

Abstract: A beverage server has a divided fluid container comprising a pair of isolated chambers. The container has mounted thereon a closure cap of a cap assembly which locks to the top of the container. The closure cap has filler caps on its upper face for alternately exposing the chambers to permit filling them with beverages to be dispensed, and closing off the chambers from the outside. The cap assembly houses a chamber selection mechanism for alternately selecting one or the other of the chambers from which to dispense a beverage. The chamber selection mechanism includes a trigger housed in the handle which actuates a rack and pinion assembly housed in the closure cap. A pinion rod and chamber plug carrier arm mounted thereon rotate as the pinion gear is engaged by the rack. A chamber plug carried by the arm is rotated as desired into position for alternately opening up or closing off one of the two chambers.

Abstract: An enclosed protective chamber for a subsea wellhead assembly includes a main body installed on the sea floor. Subsea wellhead apparatus is mounted in the chamber on top of a well. A pressure-containing lid is mounted on and sealed with respect to the main body such that chamber pressure is isolated from the subsea hydrostatic head. An inflatable, elongated, flexible storage tank or dracon is attached to the chamber through a conduit having a pressure-balanced relief valve therewithin. The dracon is attached to the conduit through a quick disconnect coupling and closure valve which permit ready attachment, removal, or replacement of the dracon. Under normal operating conditions the dracon is deflated. The dracon is preferably anchored to the sea floor. When a leak in the subsea wellhead assembly occurs, excess chamber pressure permits surplus fluid to enter and fill the dracon.

Abstract: An improved casing hanger and seal assembly includes a split seal ring disposed between annular plates on a support shoulder in a wellhead. A plurality of floating pedestals are received within the seal ring. A slip and bowl assembly is mounted over the seal ring in the head, and when loaded by the casing weight provides the force to energize the seal ring to seal the casing and head. The floating pedestals provide stops to limit seal energization to a predetermined amount, and are movable with the seal ring to assist in distributing stress equally across the cross-section of the seal ring.

Abstract: Disclosed is a pig receiver for capturing a pipeline pig as it is discharged or ejected from the pipeline. The receiver is readily attachable, detachable and portable. The receiver includes a webbed conduit made of flexible webbing. The webbed conduit includes a passageway having a diameter approximately equal to the diameter of the pipeline to which it is attached. The webbed conduit includes longitudinally extending webbings having loops formed in the webbing ends. The receiver is attached to the pipeline flange by a chain disposed through the webbing loops and is secured around the pipeline by a padlock or other fastener. The unattached ends of the longitudinal webbings are drawn together and secured by a closure, preferably a clevis which is disposed through the loops in the unattached ends of the longitudinal webbings.

Abstract: A pair of cutting snips includes a pair of handles which are mounted to a pair of blades. Located on one of the blades is a pivotably mounted self-aligning anvil. When the handles are squeezed, the blades come together in such a manner that the workpiece is caught between a blade and the anvil such that the workpiece is cut in a linear fashion.

Abstract: A medicinal syringe including a tubular plunger from which air has been evacuated and a seal member releasably attached on the distal end of the plunger. Upon application of a predetermined longitudinal axial force to the seal member, the attachment between the seal member and the plunger will rupture, releasing the seal member for movement within the plunger. The seal member when released will be forced by the differential pressure between the vacuum and the ambient air into the interior of the tubular plunger. The plunger is slidably disposed in a tubular barrel. A needle is disposed in a hub releasably attached within the distal end of the barrel. Upon application of a predetermined longitudinal axial force to the hub, the attachment between the hub and the barrel will rupture, releasing the hub for movement within the barrel. The hub when released will be forced by the pressure differential, along with the distal plunger seal member, into the interior of the tubular plunger, carrying the needle with it.

Abstract: A method for producing a metallic interface suitable for overlaying consists of exposing the area of an alloy combination to be overlayed to a temperature above its lower critical until an element reduced zone arises. This element reduced zone more easily accepts element diffusion that takes place during overlaying. Accordingly, an improved interface, one that is more ductile and less prone to cracking, is produced.

Abstract: A locking plier having a pair of opposed, pivotable work-gripping jaws with facing curved portions on each jaw between the tip and the pivot, and transverse work-gripping teeth in the curved portion of each jaw, the face of the teeth in the curved portion of one jaw which faces toward the handle being at an angle of from about 75.degree. to about 85.degree. to the primary form centerline, and the face of the teeth in the curved portion of the other jaw which faces away from the handle being at an angle of from about 75.degree. to about 85.degree. to the primary form centerline, each such tooth having an included angle of from about 45.degree. to about 90.degree..

Abstract: A process and apparatus for removing hydrogen sulfide from high pressure gas and recovering liquid sulfur, which includes reacting the H.sub.2 S with sulfite ions and an acetic acid-acid salt buffering system in an aqueous stream whereby liquid sulfur is formed, producing an effluent gas stream containing residual H.sub.2 S and an effluent aqueous stream containing the liquid sulfur, extracting the residual H.sub.2 S from the gaseous effluent stream, and using the extracted H.sub.2 S as well as H.sub.2 S recovered from the effluent aqueous stream as a source of sulfite ions for circulation to the reaction step, and as a source for additional liquid and solid sulfur. Apparatus and methods are also disclosed for recovering solid sulfur from a gaseous stream containing gaseous sulfur by contacting the gaseous stream with sulfur particles in a fluidized bed.

Abstract: The invention provides an emergency suspension system for use particularly with drill casings in a wellhead. The system, which is intended to surround the casing, comprises an annular bowl member (6) having an internal tapered annular space (16) which reduces in diameter from its upper to its lower end and a support means comprising an annular support element arrangement (28) at least partially formed from resilient material and a plurality of support members (20,22,24) at least partially embedded in said resilient material and having a circular cross-section in at least one direction, said members forming a plurality of annular arrays adapted to surround said tubular member, the uppermost of said arrays (20) comprising support members having said circular cross-section larger than that of a lowermost (24) of said arrays.

Abstract: A plastic-sandwiched framework structure for constucting a portable folding table. The structure includes upper and lower plastic table top halves and a framework grid sandwiched therebetween. The table top halves are bonded or cemented to one another. The framework grid is preferably made of wood, and includes joists or beam members interconnected by cross members. The framework grid is received in a correlatively shaped shell integrally formed in the lower half of the table top. Folding legs are mounted on the underside of the table top and connected through the lower table top half to the cross members. The lower table top half is provided with gussets at selected locations between relatively high vertical walls and the adjacent horizontal planar surfaces. Substantially all other interfaces between vertical and horizontal surfaces on the exterior of the lower table top half are provided with a radius. Stiffening ribs, which may be extensions of the shell, are also disposed on the lower table top half.

Abstract: A system and method for controlled directional drilling utilizes a system approach to design the hardware for drilling according to the well plan. The bend angle of a bent housing, connected between the bit and downhole motor, the diameter of a plurality of stabilizers and placement of the stabilizers with respect to the drill bit are selected and predetermined on the basis of the desired well plan. With the use of an MWD, the direction of the progressing borehole is tracked from the surface. Direction changes as required are controlled from the surface simply by controlling rotation of the drillstring. For curved path drilling, only the downhole motor is rotated, causing the borehole to travel along the curve determined by the bend angle in the bent housing and the diameter and location of the concentric stabilizers. When straight hole drilling is required, both the downhole motor and the entire drill string are rotated, effectively nullifying the effect of the bend angle in the bent housing.