Abstract: An improvement in blowout preventer apparatus of the type having a radially compressible annular packing mounted within a housing chamber, the housing having axially aligned upper and lower conical bores communicating with an inner bore of the annular packing, the packing axially expanding towards said upper and lower bores upon said radial compression, a plurality of rigid end ring segments attached to sectored webs of the ends of the packing and thereby individually movable axially outwardly and radially inwardly relative to the upper and lower conical bores to control the packing axial expansion during radial compression of the packing has keying means cooperating with the rigid end ring segments of the packing and the conical bores for guiding a sector-wise movement of the segments in individually separate and predetermined paths along the conical bores to a common radial position independent of the uniformity of the packing radial compression and/or axial expansion.

Abstract: An oil well blowout preventer includes a radially compressible annular packing having radially-sectored end portions in a housing having axially aligned upper and lower bores communicating with the inner bore of the packing and with the sectored ends, and also includes hydraulic means for radially constricting the packing, thereby causing it to axially expand. A plurality of circumferentially-arranged rigid wedge members carried by the sectored end portions are individually movable radially into the bores to control the axial expansion whereby radial sectors of the packing may move sequentially inward to effect a seal between the upper and lower bores in response to progressive axial expansion of the packing as the packing undergoes nonuniform sector-wise radial compression. The inward radial movement of the rigid members are limited by stops to a common radial position independent of the uniformity of the radial compression.

Abstract: The present invention discloses method and apparatus for connecting together two members having mating surfaces by means of a plurality of fasteners such that equal compression forces are exerted on the members along force lines normal to a common plane. To accomplish the foregoing objectives, a plurality of pins are carried by one member and pass through bores in the opposite member. The pins are longitudinally extended simultaneously with a common internal extending force and stops are affixed to the ends extending through the second member snugly against the surface thereof. Upon release of the common extending force, all the pins attempt to restore to their original positions with equal restorative forces being equal and opposite to the common extending force applied thereto.

Abstract: A gas laser including a discharge tube containing a gas mixture, the discharge tube having one or more inlets and an outlet, in which a reaction vessel is in communication with said outlet and with the inlet of a vacuum pump, and in which the outlet of the vacuum pump is in communication with the or each inlet of the discharge tube.