Abstract: A system and method for a packaging system for the shipment of high explosive components is described. One or more explosive devices are positioned in a tubing assembly having opposed ends and a thick wall of relatively low-density fibrous material, e.g. rolled paper tube. An impact absorbing element is positioned at each end of the tube. The impact absorbing element may include an end cap positioned within each end of the tube, and a cushion formed of partial tubes and an end cap. The complete assembly is sized to fit and be held in position by a standard shipping container. Multiple perforating charges in a tubing assembly may face opposite sides of a charge divider. Shaped charges may have their concave openings filled with a jet interrupter, e.g. sand. Circular charges may include heat releasable fasteners, e.g. nylon screws, which allow the charges to separate in case of fire.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention recites a system for exchanging information. The system comprises a display unit and a document exchange unit communicatively coupled with the display unit. The document exchange unit further comprises a shared memory. A control unit is coupled with the document exchange unit and is used for selecting the information which is to be exchanged. The control unit transmits the selected information to the shared memory via the document exchange unit and the display unit thereafter displays the information. A sensor unit, which is communicatively coupled with the control unit, is used for accessing the information.

Abstract: A detonator system for borehole systems which include detonating cord exposed to borehole fluids, pressures and temperatures. A firing head has a sealed chamber for an electrically fired detonator and has a booster charge holder forming part of the seal. The chamber is sealed by a wire line firing sub and by the booster holder. The charge holder includes a bulkhead separating the detonator chamber from a booster charge chamber and providing part of the detonator chamber seal. The detonator explosive and the booster charge are positioned on opposite sides of the bulkhead so that upon detonation of the detonator, the bulkhead is ruptured and the explosion transfers to the booster charge and from it to the detonating cord. The firing head includes holes for attachment of borehole tools such as perforating guns or back off tools to be fired by the detonating cord.

Abstract: A system and method for a packaging system for the shipment of high explosive components is described. One or more explosive devices are positioned in a tubing assembly having opposed ends and a thick wall of relatively low-density fibrous material, e.g. rolled paper tube. An impact absorbing element is positioned at each end of the tube. The impact absorbing element may include an end cap positioned within each end of the tube, and a cushion formed of partial tubes and an end cap. The complete assembly is sized to fit and be held in position by a standard shipping container. Multiple perforating charges in a tubing assembly may face opposite sides of a charge divider. Shaped charges may have their concave openings filled with a jet interrupter, e.g. sand. Circular charges may include heat releasable fasteners, e.g. nylon screws, which allow the charges to separate in case of fire.

Abstract: A hand-held fluid dispenser having an enclosure for supporting a container holding a fluid to be dispensed, and a method of operating such hand-held fluid dispensers. A first proximity sensor is located inside the enclosure immediately adjacent one side of the enclosure, and a second proximity sensor is located inside the enclosure immediately adjacent an opposite side of the enclosure. An actuation circuit is supported inside the enclosure and is electrically connected to the first and second proximity sensors. The actuation circuit produces an actuation signal in response to detecting opposed digits of an operator being simultaneously in close proximity to the first and second proximity sensors.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a non-blocking roll of roofing membrane employing a combination of silicone rubber sealant, non-woven fiberglass scrim and pressure sensitive adhesive. The method utilizes a process by which silicone rubber sealant is applied to the top surface of the non-woven fiberglass scrim and made to penetrate {fraction (1/10)} to {fraction (9/10)} of the way into the thickness of the scrim, thus no silicone rubber sealant reaches the bottom or underside surface of the scrim. To the remaining {fraction (9/10)} to {fraction (1/10)} of the scrim's thickness and to the bottom surface of the scrim is applied pressure sensitive adhesive. This construction results into a self-adherent roofing membrane that can be packaged and transferred in roll form without the need to include an additional release liner sheet or non-blocking material such as talc, mica, or clay powder.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a non-blocking roll of roofing membrane employing a combination of silicone rubber sealant, non-woven fiberglass scrim and pressure sensitive adhesive. The method utilizes a process by which silicone rubber sealant is applied to the top surface of the non-woven fiberglass scrim and made to penetrate 1/10 to 9/10 of the way into the thickness of the scrim, thus no silicone rubber sealant reaches the bottom or underside surface of the scrim. To the remaining {fraction (9/10)} to {fraction (1/10)} of the scrim's thickness and to the bottom surface of the scrim is applied pressure sensitive adhesive. This construction results into a self-adherent roofing membrane that can be packaged and transferred in roll form without the need to include an additional release liner sheet or non-blocking material such as talc, mica, or clay powder.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for manufacturing multiple conductor cable having improved transmission parameters. The apparatus includes a rotatable alignment die having a plurality of apertures. At least one strand of the multiple conductor cable is caused to traverse an aperture of the rotatable alignment die. A rotation motor causes the strand to rotate about its elongate axis, and a translation motor causes the strand, or the cable, to traverse along its elongate axis. The multiple conductors are brought into a predetermined mutual mechanical alignment that is calculated to produce a cable having at least one improved transmission parameter. The cable can additionally include a support member adapted to maintain the conductors in the mutual mechanical alignment. A binder is applied to the cable to maintain the conductors in the predetermined mutual alignment.

Abstract: A plaintext message to be encrypted is segmented into a number of words, e.g., four words stored in registers A, B, C and D, and an integer multiplication function is applied to a subset of the words, e.g., to the two words in registers B and D. The use of such an integer multiplication greatly increases the diffusion achieved per round of encryption, allowing for higher security per round, and increased throughput. The integer multiplication function may be a quadratic function of the form ƒ(x)=x(ax+b), where a is an even integer and b is an odd integer, or other suitable function such as a higher-order polynomial. The results of the integer multiplication function are rotated by 1 g w bits, where 1 g denotes log base 2 and w is the number of bits in a given word, to generate a pair of intermediate results t and u. An exclusive-or of another word, e.g., the word in register A, and one of the intermediate results, e.g., t, is rotated by an amount determined by the other intermediate result u.

Abstract: A plaintext message to be encrypted is segmented into a number of words, e.g., four words stored in registers A, B, C and D, and an integer multiplication function is applied to a subset of the words, e.g., to the two words in registers B and D. The integer multiplication function may be a quadratic function of the form ƒ(x)=x(ax+b) or other suitable function such as a higher-order polynomial. The results of the integer multiplication function are rotated by lg w bits, where lg denotes log base 2 and w is the number of bits in a given word, to generate a pair of intermediate results t and u. An exclusive-or of another word, e.g., the word in register A, and one of the intermediate results, e.g., t, is rotated by an amount determined by the other intermediate result u. Similarly, an exclusive-or of the remaining word in register D and the intermediate result u is rotated by an amount determined by the other intermediate result t.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for providing secure user identification or digital signatures based on evaluation of constrained polynomials. In an exemplary user identification technique, a prover sends a verifier a commitment signal representative of a first polynomial satisfying a first set of constraints. The verifier sends the prover a challenge signal representative of a second polynomial satisfying a second set of constraints. The prover generates a response signal as a function of (i) information used to generate the commitment signal, (ii) a challenge signal, and (iii) a private key polynomial of the prover, such that the response signal is representative of a third polynomial satisfying a third set of constraints. The verifier receives the response signal from the prover, and authenticates the identity of the prover by evaluating a function of information contained in at least a subset of (i) the commitment signal, (ii) the challenge signal, (iii) the response signal and (iv) a public key of the prover.

Abstract: There are disclosed methods and apparatus for perforating and treating zones of a well, as by hydraulic fracturing, stimulating and acidizing, and otherwise performing related activities within a well, wherein a plurality of perforating assemblies containing shaped charges are connected as part of a casing liner which is lowered into a well bore and then anchored therein by a column of cement in the annulus between the liner and bore to locate the assemblies opposite zones in a horizontal section of the well. Work strings are lowered into selected assemblies to cause tools carried thereby to sequentially detonate the shaped charges to perforate the zone opposite thereto and to selectively open or close the perforated zones by shifting a sleeve within a housing of the assembly as well as treating the perforated zones.

Abstract: Apparatus engageable with a well casing for suspending a perforating gun in the casing. The apparatus includes toothed slips forced into engagement with the well casing. A spring maintains an engaging force on the slips with the casing. In response to detonation of the perforating gun, a first release mechanism is operated to allow the perforating gun to drop a short distance. After initial dropping of the perforating gun, a second release mechanism is operated to release the engagement of the toothed slips with the casing, thereby allowing the entire unit to fall to the bottom of the well. A retrieval tool attached to a tubing string can be utilized to operate the second release mechanism, disengage the unit from the casing, and retrieve it from the well.

Abstract: Well apparatus is disclosed in which a tool is lowered on a pipe string into a well conduit for shifting a sleeve slidably mounted within a tubular housing connected as part of the well conduit. The sleeve has vertically spaced grooves about its inner diameter, and the tool has latches which are selectively moved into and out of engagement with a selected groove in the sleeve in response to the control of the pressure of fluid within the tool. When engaged in a groove, the tool may be raised or lowered with the pipe string to raise or lower the sleeve.

Abstract: A safety booster for a perforation gun assembly which includes a cup having at least one opening and a secondary explosive disposed within the cup. The booster also includes a cover for the opening to contain the secondary explosive inside the cup.

Abstract: A medical mattress and mattress cover are disclosed, the mattress cover comprising a vapor-permeable support portion and discharge portion. Preferably the permeability coefficient of the discharge portion is much greater than that of the support portion so that water vapor passing into the cover from a user is discharged, the user and mattress remaining substantially dry. Each vapor-permeable portion may comprise a vapor permeable film supported on a textile fabric. In a second embodiment the mattress is provided with bearers defining passageways and the cover has means for passing a flow of air through the cover. This embodiment is suitable for use on an impermeable mattress support.

Abstract: A downhole pressure attenuation apparatus is provided by which the explosive and hydraulic peak pressure and quasi-static pressure pulses generated by perforating gun detonation are attenuated by one or more fluid-free chambers having initially closed vent ports which are opened substantially contemporaneous with gun detonation so as to provide one or more free volume, pressure absorbing cavities. The pressure attenuation apparatus is made up of at least one fluid-free chamber and one or more pressure relief vents. Each pressure relief vent includes at least one charge port assembly having a prestressed port and an explosive filled shaped charge. The number of charge port assemblies used in each vent is determined by the surface area to be opened and the size of the vent chamber.

Abstract: Hydraulic cylinder apparatus, including a ram and attached piercing element is chained and secured around a perforating gun. A hydraulic cylinder is pressurized to thereby drive the piercing element through the sidewall of the perforating gun. The piercing element is tapered so that it is self-sealing during penetration of the gun sidewall. The piercing element is allowed to retract in a controlled manner so as to control the depressurization of the perforating gun.

Abstract: Disclosed are method and apparatus for cutting tubular members from the inside by use of an explosive-induced shock wave. In a particular disclosed embodiment, an electric detonator is used to initiate two equal lengths of linear explosives, each of which initiates a non-electric detonator, to provide dual simultaneous detonation of both ends of an elongate high explosive charge distribution. The resulting collision of detonation shock fronts at or near the center of the explosive charge diverts the shock energy 90.degree. into a 360.degree. distribution about the axis of the charge distribution in a plane perpendicular to that axis to provide the energy to cut a tubular member circumscribing the explosive charge.

Abstract: A device and method for selectively controlling the flow of production fluid through a tubing string in an oil and gas well according to which a housing is connected to a tubing string for insertion into the well, and well fluid is passed from the ground surface into the housing. The housing is provided with a plug to establish well fluid pressure in the housing to actuate a packer and/or other ancillary devices. The plug can be removed from the hosing by increasing the pressure of the well fluid in the housing above a predetermined value, thus permitting the flow of production fluid from the formation zone, through the housing and the tubing string, and to the ground surface.