Abstract: An apparatus and methods for removing sand and debris from a well bore utilizes an elongated string which includes a pump functioning to pump debris into the string interior from the lower end of the well bore. The pump includes a stationary hollow piston with a hollow piston rod which is connected to the lower portion of the string, and a cylinder which is connected to the upper portion of the string. The cylinder is keyed to the piston rod to transmit rotary motion from the upper portion of the string via the pump to a lower portion of the string in which the debris is trapped. Check valves are provided below and above the pump in the string to prevent retrograde flow of liquid downwardly in the string. By reciprocating the upper portion of the string, debris is pumped into the lower portion of the string, along with well liquids. The liquid pumped into the string from the well continues upwardly in the string, passing through the interior of the piston rod and piston and into the pump cylinder.

Abstract: A method for locating and catching fish in which a pH measuring device is lowered from the surface of a body of water constituting a fish habitat. During the lowering of the device, the depth at which the device is located is measured periodically, and the pH of the water at the several measured depths is determined. The several measured depths and the corresponding pH values are compared to determine the rate of change of pH per unit of depth. One or more discrete intervals of depth of the water over which the greatest rates of change of pH occur are identified. Upon completion of the lowering, the pH measuring device is removed from the water. A fish catching device is lowered in the water to a point located from about one to eight feet above a depth interval at which a marked increase in the rate of change of pH in the water has been identified as occurring.

Abstract: A method for selecting a fishing lure of a color or colors most visible and attractive to fish which includes the steps of observing the condition of the water to be fished to determine the relative clarity of the water, then measuring the light transmittance at the depth in the water to be fished. The water condition observed and the light transmittance value measured are then compared with a color chart upon which colors have been precorrelated to light transmittance values and water clarity conditions according to which color is most attractive to fish at a specific transmittance value and water condition. A lure color is selected on the basis of such comparison, and used to fish at the depth at which the water transmittance value has been measured.

Abstract: An improved surface blasting apparatus for cleaning a surface to be treated by throwing abrasive against the surface at high velocity, then recovering and cleaning the abrasive for reuse. The abrasive rebounding from the treated surface is directed against a magnetic receiving member around which a quantity of the ferrous abrasive forms a protective envelope, with additional high speed abrasive striking said envelope and consequently losing kinetic energy. Means is provided for removing debris from the abrasive by entraining the debris in a flow of air through the apparatus. The debris is separated from the air stream by cyclonic rotation in a dust collector. An alternate embodiment includes a deflector plate to prevent the undesirable escape of abrasive forward of the apparatus. Another embodiment provides for a weighted roller with sharp spikes protruding radially outwardly therefrom to puncture surface coatings which are difficult to remove by normal blasting procedures.

Abstract: A spirit level which includes an elongated frame with one or more vial receiving openings therein. A liquid-containing spirit level vial extends at least partially across each of the openings. A transparent sight plate is removably extended at least partially across each of the openings. Structure is provided for limiting the movement of the respective sight plate in the respective opening toward the spirit level vial located therein, and a gasket is positioned in the opening over the sight plate to retain the sight plate against movement away from the spirit level vial. The gasket is removably retained in its described position, and can be removed to permit the sight glass to be extricated to permit access to be easily had to the respective spirit level vial.

Abstract: A process for prepacking fresh meat to enhance and improve the consistency of its quality at the point of retail sale, and to increase the shelf life of the meat, such process including the steps of treating the meat with an aqueous solution containing three active components, and then packaging the meat in a controlled gaseous atmosphere containing from about 20 to about 80 percent carbon dioxide, and from about 2 to about 30 percent oxygen, with the balance being nitrogen. The solutions active components include certain phosphate compounds and a reducing agent which is selected from the group consisting of ascorbic acid, isoascorbic acid, or the sodium and potassium salts of these acids, and reductic acid. The third ingredient is either citric acid or tartaric acid, or ethylenediaminetetracetic acid, or an alkali metal salt thereof, functioning as a sequestering agent.

Abstract: A dynamically balanced protective cap for exhaust pipes, including a tubular element having an angulated bias cut defining a slanted opening at one end thereof. A closure flap assembly is pivotally secured to the tubular element for pivotation about a horizontal axis. The closure flap assembly includes a closure plate configured to lie across the close the slanted opening at one end of the pipe. The flap assembly also has a pair of parallel, trapezoidally shaped balancing plates, each secured along one edge to one edge of the closure plate. The parallel balancing plates are disposed on opposite sides of the tubular element, and each carries a bearing sleeve which receives a stub axel secured to the tubular element. A pair of horizontally spaced, monoplanar wind vanes are secured to aligned edges on the two balancing plates, and each wind vane extends normal to the respective balancing plate to which it is secured.

Abstract: An agricultural bag loading machine having an improved mechanical assembly for automatically effecting controlled, continuous compression and delivery of compacted animal feed material into a flexible agricultural storage bag via a compression and delivery chamber. The compressed, delivered feed material has a uniform, air tight side wall density throughout the bag-delivered, sausage shaped feed material mass. The loading machine has additional features, including a pneumatic bladder assembly for changing the forming chamber dimensions and configuration, an improved agricultural bag attachment and continuous feeding mechanism which eliminates bag fold-over and wrinkling problems during filling, and an integral forming chamber cleanout mechanism which enables clearing and cleaning of the forming chamber at the end of an agricultural bag loading operation.

Abstract: A dimmer switch which includes a rotary potentiometer mounted on a board secured to, and projecting normal from, a switch arm support bracket. The support bracket is secured to a face plate. A cover housing cooperates with the face plate to enclose the bracket and board and any circuit components, including the potentiometer, which are mounted on the board. A switch arm assembly carries trunnion studs pivotally supported in receiving trunnion sleeves forming part of the support bracket, and the switch arm assembly further includes a pivot lever projecting through an aperture in the face plate, and a toggle end to which is adjustably secured an arcuate gear segment. A projecting operating shaft of the rotary potentiometer carries a gear drivingly engaged by the gear segment on the switch arm.

Abstract: A casing stabbing apparatus which includes a derrick bracket subassembly for attachment to a brace of a derrick, and a boom having an end pivotally connected to the bracket assembly for pivotation about a vertical axis and about a horizontal axis. A pair of arcuate casing gripping jaws is pivotally connected to the second end of the boom. A piston and cylinder assembly extends between the jaws to selectively converge and diverge the jaws. A second piston and cylinder assembly extends between the bracket assembly and the boom to elevate the boom by pivotation about a horizontal pivotal axis. A third piston and cylinder assembly extends between the bracket assembly and the boom to swing the boom laterally in pivotation about a vertical axis.

Abstract: A system of flexible conduit and fittings useful particularly, though not exclusively, for conveying, supporting and connecting electrical service cables and wires. The system includes a corrugated, synthetic resin conduit which is flexible and mechanically strong, connector sleeves for clampingly engaging sections of the corrugated conduit in end-to-end relation, and hanger sleeves for clampingly engaging the conduit and suspending it from a wall or similar surface. A novel electrical outlet box is provided and includes internally toothed conduit-receiving inlet fittings for securely engaging an end of the conduits in inlets to the box.

Abstract: A surface blasting apparatus for treating a surface with abrasive, cleaning dust and debris from abrasive rebounded from the treated surface so that the abrasive may be reused, and separating the debris from the air. Air and debris flow through abrasive rebounded from said surface and through a baffle system which prevents abrasive flow therethrough. A row of magnets is positioned adjacent the baffle system for receiving and arresting abrasive exiting an abrasive return chute. A mechanical conveying system lifts abrasive upwardly so that it falls toward an abrasive storage hopper. The abrasive falls in the form of a curtain through which air exiting the baffle system passes. The air and dust contained therein enter a prefilter in a first cleaning chamber and heavy dust falls downwardly therefrom. The air flows from the prefilter into a second cleaning chamber where it is filtered so that light dust is removed therefrom and falls downwardly.

Abstract: A heat exchange apparatus including a generally cylindrical hollow housing having an upper end and a lower end, and a heating device disposed in the lower portion of the housing. A heating coil assembly is disposed within the housing over the heating device, and includes a radially inner coil bank and a radially outer coil bank adjacent the inner wall of the housing. An intermediate coil bank is connected between the inner and outer coil bank and includes a plurality of helical convolutions of increasing diameter as they successively occur in an axial direction from the lower end of the housing toward the upper end thereof. A baffle frame assembly interconnects and spacially orients the inner and intermediate coil banks, and radially outwardly deflects heated gases from the heating device.

Abstract: A quick disconnect coupling element which includes a laterally ported female socket body having a hose-receiving neck projecting therefrom. A pair of spaced lugs are disposed on opposite sides of each of a pair of latching handle ports opening into the female socket body, and each lug pair functions to pivotally support a latching handle having a camming surface located inside the female socket body. A wire safety spring element is mounted adjacent each latching handle and prevents the handle from prematurely unlatching a male coupling element from the female socket body as a result of vibratory forces.

Abstract: An agricultural sweep which includes a pair of divergent wings having sharpened, earth-cutting edges. The wings define an angle of between 60.degree. and 100.degree., and a hard metal insert is used to provide an overlying cap at the forward end of the two wings where the wings converge and extend toward a leading point. The pointed forward ends of the two wings are cut away, and a point carried by the insert is inserted in the space which remains after the pointed forward ends of the two wings have been removed. The insert tapers to a ridge or crest which lies in a plane which bisects the sweep, so that the wings lie on opposite sides of the bisecting plane.

Abstract: A method for selecting a fishing lure of a color or colors most visible and attractive to fish which includes the steps of observing the condition of the water to be fished to determine the relative clarity of the water, then measuring the light transmittance at the depth in the water to be fished. The water condition observed and the light transmittance value measured are then compared with a color chart upon which colors have been precorrelated to light transmittance values and water clarity conditions according to which color is most attractive to fish at a specific transmittance value and water condition. A lure color is selected on the basis of such comparison, and used to fish at the depth at which the water transmittance value has been measured.

Abstract: A comminuting apparatus which includes a housing containing a drum rotatable about a horizontal axis, a first crushing and screening grate pivotally suspended in the housing, and having a lower end adjustably movable toward the drum to form with the drum a selectively widenable throat, and a second arcuate fine grinding and screening grate pivotally mounted in the housing, and forming with the drum an adjustably dimensioned constricting throat. The drum carries at its outer periphery, a plurality of circumferentially spaced, axially extending rows of detachably mounted hammer elements. Each hammer element in each of the axial rows is received in an undercut, trapezoidally-shaped slot in an elongated hammer retainer bar. Each of the hammer bars is retained in its respective undercut slot by a plurality of wedge blocks.

Abstract: A device for imparting a set to the stirrups of a saddle to orient them in a riding status to receive the boots of a mounted rider, the device including a pair of open-sided stirrup engaging elements secured to opposite ends of an elongated rod. The stirrup engaging elements include a bight or web portion which is laterally offset from the axis of the rod by a distance which is approximately the width of a saddle stirrup.