Abstract: A method for extracting valuable constituents from underground hydrocarbonaceous deposits such as heavy crude tar sands and oil shale is disclosed. Initially, a stratum containing a rich deposit is hydraulically fractured to form a horizontally extending fracture plane. A conducting liquid and proppant is then injected into the fracture plane to form a conducting plane. Electrical excitations are then introduced into the stratum adjacent the conducting plate to retort the rich stratum along the conducting plane. The valuable constituents from the stratum adjacent the conducting plate are then recovered. Subsequently, the remainder of the deposit is also combustion retorted to further recover valuable constituents from the deposit. Various R.F. heating systems are also disclosed for use in the present invention.

Abstract: An adjustable wrench comprises a supporting member having a plurality of gripping arms pivotally supported thereon. The gripping arms are moveable into and out of engagement with a hex-headed nut or bolt. The apparatus may be modified to use two or four or eight arms for gripping square-headed or octagonally-headed nuts or bolts. Obviously, the gripping structure could also be used for gripping other objects, as in a drill chuck or lathe.The apparatus has a second moveable member capable of rotary motion adjacent to the supporting member. The second moveable member has supported thereon a cylindrical cam member moveable longitudinally of said gripping arms and engageable with cam surfaces thereon to move said arms pivotally inward into gripping relation.