Abstract: A device for preventing liquids or liquid-like substances splashed out of a bowl or basin from falling onto a background surface includes a base for supporting the device around a portion of the bowl or basin. A shield portion is attached to and extends upwardly from the base between the bowl or basin and the background surface. The base may include legs on opposite sides of a cutout in the shield portion for allowing access to a faucet or other fixture. The shield portion may be provided with an overhang folding back over the bowl or basin from the top of the shield portion, such overhang having a lip disposed vertically over the bowl or basin. The shield portion may include a rear shield and two side shields attached substantially perpendicularly to the base and to one another, and the base may include a lip for extending over an edge of the basin. The device preferably is made of a transparent or translucent material, such as acrylic plastic, safety glass, or the like.

Abstract: A reclosing apparatus for reclosing an open container while still laden with contents, to inhibit spillage of the contents. The reclosing apparatus comprises a plate mounted about the central post of a container top for rotating between open and closed positions. The plate includes an axis bore for receiving the central post therethrough, and a sealing region for effecting a spill-resistant seal over the opening in the container top. The sealing region may include a seal depression and/or a seal ridge. When the reclosing apparatus is in the closed position, the seal depression protrudes through the opening, effecting at least a partial spill-resistant seal therewith. The seal ridge, if included, is formed in the plate to matingly align with a border ridge formed in the container top around the periphery of the opening.

Abstract: There is disclosed herein an instrument for use in efficiently and sanitarily extricating an ingrown hair from the skin, the instrument comprising an elongate handle and a tip attached to the handle, wherein the tip comprises a curved and tapered blade.

Abstract: Apparatus for connecting portions of subsea flow conduits includes a stab member with a body and having a bore therethrough, one end of which exits from the stab body through a side port. A stab receptacle includes a bore for receiving the stab body, and a flow bore intersecting the receiving bore and leading to the exterior of the receptacle. The side port communciates with the receptacle flow bore when the stab member is landed in the receiving bore. Seals above and below the side port seal the receiving bore above and below the intersection of the receptacle flow bore and receiving bore. The cross-sectional areas of the seals exposed to internal fluid pressure are substantially equal, resulting in zero blow-apart force on the stab connection. Alternatively, the lower seal can have a larger exposed cross-sectional area than the upper seal, resulting in a net force tending to hold the connection teogether.

Abstract: A split gate for a gate valve regulating fluid flow with reduced gate drag. The split gate comprises a plurality of members for sealing a flowway intersecting a valve chamber. A first member seats against a first portion of the flowway and has a pressure-balancing surface pressure-isolated from the first flowway portion and from the valve chamber. A second member seats against a second portion of the flowway and allows pressure in the second flowway portion to bear on the pressure-balancing surface of the first member. Pressure in the valve chamber exceeding pressures in the flowway portions creates pressure differentials pressing the gate members more firmly against their seats, thereby increasing the frictional resistance opposing reciprocation of a closed gate to its open position.

Abstract: A postal service facility including a housing, access areas for supporting postal service equipment installed on or within the housing surface, and a rotatable assemblage of postal boxes disposed between mounts within the accessible housing interior. A lockable outer door provides access to the assemblage in the housing interior. Electric switches controlling a motor and a brake provide the preferred means of rotating the assemblage. The assemblage contains a plurality of individually lockable postal boxes. Locking strips or lockable panels allow concurrent access to a plurality of boxes to facilitate delivery of posted items to the boxes. The assemblage can be generally cylindrical in shape for most efficient use of space. Alternatively, the assemblage can be rectangular in cross section.

Abstract: There is disclosed herein an apparatus forming a part of an actuator for providing a constant visual display of the position of a valve. Such apparatus comprises an indicator shaft rotatably disposed in a bore which is oriented perpendicularly of and offset from an actuator stem, a rack means on the actuator stem, a pinion means on the indicator shaft, and an indicating means engraved on the end face of the indicator shaft and visible from the exterior of the actuator. The apparatus is sealingly enclosed and immersed in a fluid medium. Linear motion of the actuator stem generates angular motion of the indicator shaft, causing the indicating means to provide a visual display of valve position.

Abstract: A device for loading and transporting elongate objects on vehicle roof-tops. A lower tubular member connected to a vehicle in an upright position and further stabilized by a support disposed between the vehicle and the lower tubular member rotatably receives an upper vertical member so that these members are aligned coaxially. A horizontal load bearing member attached substantially at its midpoint to the upper end of the upper vertical member includes rollers which allow elongate objects to be rolled onto the horizontal load bearing member. A supporting pin is placed through the lower tubular member in one pair of a plurality of pairs of holes located at 180-degree spacing for supporting the upper vertical member and allowing height adjustment of the device. Eyebolts are secured at each end of the horizontal load bearing member in one pair of a plurality of pairs of holes to provide adjustable tie down points for the elongate objects.

Abstract: A reduced drive area hydraulically actuated spool valve is protected against cavitation and provided with enhanced lubrication by connecting the variable volume inside the valve housing adjacent the non drive area of the spool end to the source of pressure fluid controlled by the valve. A stub piston is affixed to the spool end in fluid tight relationship, e.g. integral, to exclude the pressure fluid from the area therebetween. A floating cylinder is provided for the stub piston to eliminate the need for precise alignment of the stub piston axis with respect to the housing. Fluid passages substantially balance the fluid force acting on this floating cylinder to keep it from binding, this being just enough unbalance to hold the cylinder end against a ball pivot.

Abstract: A pin thread profile mold includes two parallel spaced apart plate type thread profile gages. A cast is made with the mold positioned adjacent the thread with the plates parallel to the thread axis and the plane midway therebetween radial to the thread axis, the mold-thread interface being caulked with clay. After being placed adjacent the thread the mold is packed with self hardening plastics material in the plastic state, such as dental plaster. After the plastics material has hardened the cast is removed from the thread and sent to a laboratory for comparison with a desired profile.

Abstract: The subsea wellhead system includes a wellhead, a housing seat disposed in and connected to the wellhead, a casing hanger supported by the seat, a holddown and sealing assembly in the annulus between wellhead and hanger, a running tool attached to the hanger for lowering it into the well and initially actuating the holddown and sealing assembly, and apparatus for applying hydraulic pressure to further actuate the seal. The housing seat and wellhead are connected by breech block teeth. The seat maintains 360.degree. bearing surface with the hanger. The holddown and seal assembly includes an upper rotating member threadingly engaging the hanger and suspending a lower stationary member. The latter includes a Z-shaped portion having a plurality of frustoconical metal rings positively connected by links. The rings form grooves housing resilient elasotmeric members.

Abstract: The subsea wellhead system includes a wellhead, a housing seat disposed in and connected to the wellhead, a casing hanger supported by the seat, a holddown and sealing assembly in the annulus between wellhead and hanger, a running tool attached to the hanger for lowering it into the well and initially actuating the holddown and sealing assembly, and apparatus for applying hydraulic pressure to further actuate the seal. The housing seat and wellhead are connected by breech block teeth. The seat maintains 360.degree. bearing surface with the hanger. The holddown and seal assembly includes an upper rotating member threadingly engaging the hanger and suspending a lower stationary member. The latter includes a Z-shaped portion having a plurality of frustoconical metal rings positively connected by links. The rings form grooves housing resilient elastomeric members.

Abstract: The invention disclosed herein includes a method and apparatus for latching a temporary guide base to a permanent guide base as the permanent guide base is raised, whereby the two guide bases may be retrieved simultaneously. The apparatus includes a socket means in each guideline of the temporary guide base and a latch means in the base of each guidepost of the temporary guide base. When the permanent guide base is lowered, the latch means passes over the socket means. When the permanent guide base is raised, however, the latch means engages the socket means and the temporary guide base is raised.

Abstract: A flangeless, disc-like seal plate is disclosed for insertion between opposing flowline hubs for sealingly connecting, blocking or rerouting fluid flow between various fluid carrying lines within said flowline hubs. For connecting flow lines, straight throughbores within the seal plate are provided with V-seals in channels on said seal plate around the throughbores, as well as O-ring seals around said V-seals and another O-ring near the periphery of the disc itself. No seals or seal grooves are necessary on the hub faces. For connecting hydraulic control lines, the seal plate is equipped with transverse channels interconnecting various throughbores but may also be provided with blind ports for totally blocking off certain control lines at the plate. Within said throughbores, fluid diverter plugs are inserted which are either equipped with protruding caps for opening up corresponding check valves housed within hub lines or flush plugs such that said check valves remain closed after clamp-up.

Abstract: A torque multiplier subsea tool for setting a seal between a casing hanger and a subsea wellhead includes a mandrel having a sun gear with axial elongate teeth. An outer barrel is disposed around the mandrel forming an annulus therebetween. A planetary gear assembly is disposed in the annulus between the barrel and the sun gear to transmit to the barrel a torque which is higher in magnitude than that applied to the mandrel. A connector body disposed around the mandrel, below the planetary gear assembly, includes radially movable dogs for engaging the casing hanger. The barrel engages the sealing assembly and transmits the increased torque thereto to advance the sealing assembly downwards and to set the seal. The mandrel advances downwards with the sealing assembly and releases the dogs from the casing hanger. An emergency release mechanism is provided to advance the mandrel downwards to release the dogs in the event such downward movement is prevented during normal seal setting operation.

Abstract: For joining together two concrete slabs (1, 2) juxtaposed side by side along a crack (3), a cylindrical cartridge with vertical axis is used comprising two half shells (4.sub.1, 4.sub.2) made from cast metal and joined vertically together by a key (11) housed in recesses (10.sub.1, 10.sub.2) each formed in a central projecting step (9.sub.1, 9.sub.2), these half shells being urged mutually horizontally apart by a continuous elastic belt (12) made from an elastomer material adapted to ensure sealed isolation of the inside of the cartridge with respect to the outside.

Abstract: A pneumatically-powered hammer for giving concrete surfaces a rough texture and an efficient method for using the hammer. The hammer comprises a pneumatic riveting hammer with a uniquely short and blunt-ended accessory secured thereto. The pneumatic riveting hammer uses, for example, a 11/2 inch piston and is activated by increased air pressure thus assuring a rapid, forceful stroke. Operation of the hammer includes holding the blunt end of the accessory securely against the concrete surface to be textured while moving the hammer horizontally across the surface in short vertical strokes during the entire time the hammer is activated. Excessive gouging and corner chipping caused by the hammer are repaired by partially filling such gouges or chips with wet, fast-setting concrete and securing leavings broken away by the hammering process to the wet concrete such that the repaired gouges and chips match the remainder of the surface in color and texture.