Abstract: A transurethral resection apron system having ties adapted for securing one end of the apron to a urological operating table and the opposite end of the apron about the surgeon's neck, including two generally pentagonal flexible water impervious panels joined along two of their sides to define a capture region for fluids and particles expelled from the bladder during transurethral resections. The apron drains into an outlet in fluid communication with a strainer assembly for filtering out resected particles entrained in the expelled fluids, the fluids passing into a discharge hose for disposal at a remote location. The strainer element may be removed from the strainer assembly and resected particles collected for pathological analysis.

Abstract: A system for controlling the infusion of fluid to an operating field at a selected predetermined pressure, as a counterpart to an instrument for severing material from an object in the field, and for evacuating the severed material from the field in a suspension or emulsion of the infusion fluid. The system includes a feature for preventing a low pressure in the operating field, to thereby prevent a surge of fluid from the field, when the evacuation function is terminated by equalizing the pressure in both the infusion and evacuation lines by supplying both lines with fluid from the same container.

Abstract: The pivotable struts of an umbrella-like shunt defect closure device are resiliently biased from a collapsed position to an expanded position by resilient and foldable flat ring sections which extend between the struts when the struts are in their expanded positions but which are folded between the struts when the struts are in their collapsed positions.

Abstract: The threshed material leaving the threshing cylinder of a grain harvester or combine is accelerated into a transverse air stream by a pair of rolls. The rolls are disposed on parallel axes and are rotated at a relatively high speed in opposite directions whereby their confronting peripheries engage and accelerate the threshed material to a velocity substantially in excess of the speed at which such material would fall by gravity. A wide band of relatively high speed air is directed transversely through the accelerated material to provide a precleaning of straw and chaff from the material normally passing to the grain separation or cleaning shoe section of the combine. The grain in the accelerated material continues in a relatively straight line trajectory and the straw and chaff are separated from the grain by the transverse air stream.

Abstract: Improved aerosol filters, particularly cigarette filters, are prepared by imparting a patterned surface, preferably a plurality of longitudinal grooves, to a web of a synthetic thermoplastic fibrous material, preferably a tow of longitudinally aligned crimped continuous cellulose acetate filaments, and forming the resultant patterned web into a filter of the desired form.

Abstract: A method for preparing a cellulose acetate fiber rod is provided, which is characterized by blooming a tow composed of cellulose acetate fibers, adding to or coating on the bloomed tow from 1 to 20 percent by weight (based on the weight of the cellulose acetate fibers) of a plasticizer comprising 1,4-butanediol diacetate, and gathering and curing the resulting cellulose acetate fibers at much higher speed than is possible in the conventional methods to form a cigarette filter rod which does not harm cigarette flavor and smoking taste.

Abstract: New dyestuffs are described for keratinic fibers which produce particularly luminous shades without the need for an oxidizing agent. These dyestuffs have the formula: ##STR1## or a tautomeric form thereof wherein each of R.sub.1 and R.sub.4, which may be identical or different, represents a member selected from hydrogen, halogen, alkyl having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, alkoxy having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, acylamino and ureido;Each of R.sub.2 and R.sub.3, which may be identical or different, represents a member selected from hydrogen, halogen, alkyl having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, alkoxy having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, amino, N-alkylamino, N-(hydroxyalkyl)-amino, N-(carbamyl-alkyl)-amino, acylamino and ureido, each of said alkyls containing 1 to 6 carbon atoms;Each of R.sub.5 and R.sub.6, which may be identical or different, represents a member selected from hydrogen, halogen, alkyl containing 1 to 6 carbon atoms and alkoxy containing 1 to 6 carbon atoms, with the proviso that when R.sub.5 and R.sub.

Abstract: An artificial fingernail is formed to have abutting contact with the convex forward edge of a natural fingernail, and to be securely bonded to that edge.

Abstract: A timer device is connected into the water supply hose of an automatic swimming pool cleaner to control the flow of water to the drive jets. The controlled flow varies over the range of full, restricted and no flow so that the speed of the cleaner may be varied. The timer device includes a bypass outlet which serves as another pool cleaning jet when the drive jets are turned off and which also serves to bodily move the timer device and to impart an axial shifting movement to the supply hose whereby the cleaner may be moved free of a trapped position before the next cycle of drive jet operation commences.

Abstract: A continuous sheet pickling line and apparatus therefor which embraces the concept of pickling sheets by passing them horizontally through a tank made of suitable material and so constructed as to hold a sufficient quantity of pickling acid as to permit the sheets to be completely submerged as they pass therethrough, certain of the support rollers for the sheets and drive gears and associated bearings also being submerged. The line and associated apparatus processes the sheets in one continuous operation during which the sheets are fed onto an entry conveyor from a pack, one sheet behind the other, whereafter they are processed while horizontally disposed through the pickling tank, sheet scrubber, drying conveyor, leveler, oiler and then stacked in a suitable piler. Provision is made to heat and agitate the acid within the tank and to control the acid level.

Abstract: There is disclosed an apparatus for washing vegetables, fruits and the like foodstuffs. It is formed of a vessel and a basket, within the vessel, for containing the foodstuffs. The basket is mounted in the vessel for rotation about the vertical axis of the latter and a flexible band is fixed, at one end, to the rotation bearing of the basket and extends outside the vessel to cause rotation, when pulled, of the foodstuffs containing basket. The vessel has a cover which is formed with a chamber apertured at the bottom and the basket has a disc at the top with a series of holes registering, during rotation, with the apertured bottom of the chamber so that water poured in the chamber may flow into the basket through such holes during rotation of the said basket.

Abstract: A telescopic umbrella is provided; the umbrella has a telescoping umbrella stick, with a runner sliding thereon with stretchers running from the slide; at the outer ends of the stretchers are dome ribs, above each of which is located an auxiliary link running approximately parallel therewith, one end of each auxiliary link being hinged to a dome rib while the other end is hinged to a strut; the strut running, when the umbrella is in an open configuration, obliquely upwards from the stretcher towards the umbrella stick, and a control link running from each stretcher approximately parallel with an inner dome rib part, the outer end of the control link serving to control the folding motion of the outer dome rib part in dependence on the movement of the umbrella runner.

Abstract: A folding umbrella of the type in which a lower section closes upon an upper section, as both these sections close upon the umbrella rod, and wherein this closing movement is automatically achieved, i.e. is the result of articulating or pivotal movement of the umbrella ribs, rather than being movement that must be manually imparted.

Abstract: In a process for controlling a particle flow system which is to be operated at slightly above the velocity at which saltation occurs, a cross correlation technique is used to determine the spread of particle velocities in the system and this is compared with a signal representing the desired spread to produce an error signal indicating the desired mean velocity of particle flow. A second cross correlation technique, having a shorter integration period, is used to determine the actual mean particle velocity and this is compared with the first error signal to produce a second error signal to control the flow rate of the conveying fluid.

Abstract: A system for injecting a predetermined amount of additive fluid into a main stream of fluid which controls the amount of additive injected by a timing circuit. A pump continuously circulates the additive through a circuitous path having a valve which diverts the additive into the main stream. A control system receives signals from a turbine meter in the main stream and opens the valve a predetermined length of time at a frequency depending on the signals received from the turbine meter, thereby maintaining a constant concentration of the additive in the main stream.

Abstract: An exhaust gas purifying apparatus for an engine, such as a thermal reactor or catalytic converter, is supplied secondary air through a secondary air control valve which is controlled by a combination of a first and a second differential pressure responding device. The first of these devices is responsive to the difference between a constant pressure and varying pressures of the engine manifold and of a secondary air supply means, in order to ensure the suitable secondary air feed, at low, medium and high load on the engine. A connector passage connects a passage of this first device to a pressure chamber of the second device, which actuates the secondary or control valve.

Abstract: An easily assembled valve shifting mechanism includes a hexagonal shaft over which several different cam plates are slidably assembled in a predetermined manner. Each cam plate includes complementary cam surfaces for engaging and providing positive motion to a cam follower mounted on a valve spool. The cam surfaces of all the cam plates bear a predetermined relationship to each other to cause movement of the different valve spools in a predetermined sequence. One of the cam plates further includes detent means for defining each of the steps in the predetermined sequence.

Abstract: A chamber in a valve case has an inlet port of exhaled air in one of its end walls. Spaced inwardly from the side wall of the chamber is a valve seat surrounding the inlet port and engaged by one side of a sealing member, the opposite side of which is engaged by a rigid disc secured to a valve stem that extends through the port and into guiding means for the stem. The diameter of the disc is nearly as great as the diameter of the chamber. A spring in the case is compressed between the disc and the other end wall of the valve chamber for pressing the sealing member against the seat. The disc is spaced from the ported wall of the chamber far enough for the marginal portion of the disc that extends laterally out beyond the sealing member to be inclined toward the ported wall but spaced from it.

Abstract: A pressure stabilizer for use in hydrocarbon storage facilities which acts as an orifice and also permits the pressure in the system to be stabilized when it reaches a given amount. The stabilizer has a casing with a valve seat and a heavy ball located above the valve seat so that the ball is forcibly displaced upwards when the pressure in the hydrocarbon storage facility reaches an amount sufficient to lift the weight of the ball. Support members extending from the side of the valve seat suspend the ball away from the valve seat a sufficient distance to form the appropriate sized orifice and to minimize contact of the ball to the casing so that the possibility of the stabilizer being frozen closed is minimized.

Abstract: A fuel control device having a passage therethrough for interconnecting a fuel source with a main burner and having a poppet valve arrangement that is directly manually operated for opening and closing the passage so as to control the flow of fuel from the source to the main burner, the poppet valve arrangement having a poppet valve member that is moved relative to its valve seat upon the manual manipulation of a selector of the control device. The poppet valve member can work with or against the pressure of the fuel from the source thereof when the poppet valve member is being moved to its closed position.

Abstract: A prepackaged shirred tubular casing article comprising a shirred casing length having a sizing means confined within an unshirred portion of said casing length, said sizing means having an outer perimeter larger than the inner perimeter of said unshirred casing length.

Abstract: The selvage forming device comprises a frame adapted to be connected to a heald of a loom and to guide at least one warp thread. Two superimposed members are rockably mounted in the frame, and an actuating arm is secured to one member for rocking said member, the members being hinged together so that rocking of one member causes the other member to rock in the opposite sense. Each member carries one of a cooperating pair of needles for guiding binding threads, the rocking motion of the members being such as to cause scissors motion of the pair of needles in a plane transverse to the wrap threads. The frame is provided with a plurality of vertical wires under tension for guiding the warp threads.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for producing a narrow fabric, such as for example curtain heading tapes and in which one weft is of relatively stiff form and a second weft has a high coefficient of friction relative to that of the stiff weft, and wherein the stiff weft is inserted only in curtain warp sheds and the second weft is inserted only in other warp sheds.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an automatic fluid filling device for maintaining fluid at a desired level in one or more battery cells each having a cell opening. The device comprises a plurality of members each removably insertable into a battery cell, and each including wall means having a first portion sealingly engaging a battery cell opening and also having a second portion located above the first portion, which second portion partially defines a generally air-tight chamber located above the battery cell opening, which second portion also includes an aperture and a removable cap which sealingly engages the aperture for allowing access to the fluid in the battery cell. The wall means further includes a third portion which partially defines a passage located below and in communication with the chamber and in communication with the battery cell for affording fluid flow from the passage to the battery cell.

Abstract: A transport tank and a spreader tank with a communicating conduit system for the transfer of liquid sludge to the latter tank. A conduit shut off and venting system includes a receptacle into which a first conduit discharges with a remaining flexible conduit segment leading to the spreader tank. The receptacle mounts an air cylinder provided with a piston actuated valve assembly operable to close a receptacle intake port and open a receptacle vent for venting and evacuation of the flexible conduit segment. When oppositely positioned the valve assembly closes the vent for normal fluid transfer. A valve in circuit with a fluid level sensing device controls air cylinder operation.

Abstract: A railway tank car is provided for interconnection in fluid communication with associated tank cars. Each of the tank cars includes a tank mounted on a chassis structure with two lading conduits respectively coupled to the tank, each having an outer end extending outwardly from the tank adjacent to the top thereof and at least one having an inner end extending into the tank and terminating near the bottom thereof. A vapor vent is connected to the tank to vent gas vapors produced during loading. The vent is closed by a valve actuated by a control mechanism in response to a level sensing means which determines the level of liquid lading in the tank. The tank car or train may be loaded or unloaded from either end thereof since the cars can have symmetrical internal piping, and, similarly the gas vapor may be collected from either end of the tank car or train.

Abstract: A process for highspeed branding of an intricate pattern, usually a wood grain pattern, into materials such as particle board, hard board or various lumbers having poor grain characteristics is disclosed. The material to be branded is passed under a heated rotary die having the desired pattern thereon to emboss by heat shrinking and to char the pattern into the material; and the improvement of the process of the present invention, which effects an increased die life, is comprised of maintaining the die at about a temperature between about 800.degree. and about 900.degree. F. This temperature range is high enough to achieve high quality branding and high quantity production, while minimizing degradation of the die pattern from oxidation and contact with the material being branded. The die pattern is preferably relatively deep, in excess of 0.040 inch, and is urged into the material to a depth of about one-half the pattern depth.

Abstract: A tightening device for threaded screw part having an engaging part to be engaged with the threaded screw part to be tightened and a main body continuous with the engaging part, wherein a groove is formed on at least one surface portion of the engaging part and a small passage is formed within the main body of the tightening device in the axial direction thereof with the rear end thereof being closed, both groove and small passage being aligned in the axial direction of the main body, and an elongated, bow-shaped plate spring having a tapered surface at the front tip end thereof is inserted into the small passage along the groove so that its rear end may be stopped at the innermost part of the small passage and its front end may be substantially in flush with the tip end of the engaging part, whereby, at the time of tightening the threaded screw part, the engaging part firmly grasps the head of the threaded screw part to facilitate the tightening operation.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire having a coating of lubricating material on the interior surface thereof to reduce friction between the contacting portions of the interior surfaces when the tire is used in a deflated condition. The coating may be on only the contacting portions of the internal surfaces which so come into contact, of which the following is a specification.

Abstract: A process for producing homogeneous binary alloys comprised of a first element present in a major amount having a melting point below the liquidus of the binary alloy and a second element present in a minor amount having a melting point above the liquidus of the binary alloy, whereby the second element is formed into a semi-consumable electrode and is employed to melt the first element progressively fed into a crucible or mold. The power for forming the high energy electric arc is controlled to maintain a molten pool in the crucible and to effect a progressive melting of the semi-consumable electrode, whereby liquid droplets of the higher melting alloy enter and become substantially completely dissolved in the molten pool at a controlled rate in consideration of the rate of feed of the first element to provide a resultant binary alloy having the desired proportion of the two alloying elements. The process is particularly applicable for producing homogeneous ingots of titanium-molybdenum binary alloys.

Abstract: Aluminum is produced from low-grade aluminum alloys by melting an Al-X alloy wherein X has a higher specific weight than aluminum and forms an eutectic mixture rich in aluminum, the starting melt being on the side of the eutectic mixture rich in aluminum, and radially cooling the melt from the inside to the outside while under the effect of centrifugal force.

Abstract: A portable vacuum investment casting apparatus includes a box-like housing having an upper generally flat supporting wall with a vertical conduit terminating in an opening in the top wall. A vacuum conduit is connected to the vertical conduit and terminates in an outer sidewall in large and small conical connectors to receive a conventional shop or household vacuum cleaner hose. A manually adjustable valve is connected in an exhaust pipe from the vacuum conduit for controlling the vacuum level. The apparatus is powered from a conventional household type vacuum cleaner device or similar fan unit which establishes a relatively high air flow with a relatively low vacuum. A small vacuum gauge tube is mounted on the front wall adjacent to the vacuum setting control. The top end is connected to the vertical conduit and the lower end has a supply tube with an adjustable end member to set the initial liquid level.

Abstract: A vibration dampener for an engine with cooling fins on its cylinders is an integrally formed resilient material member with a first portion having lug portions mountable on opposite sides of cooling fins and between adjacent cooling fins. The lug portions in their outer end portions are of reduced size relative their inner portions, and are wider in their inner end portions than the distance between the fins. Connected ends of the first portion traverse ends of the cooling fins. The vibration dampener is constructed and adapted to be mounted and held in place on an engine solely by friction with the lug-like portions compressed between cooling fins. It reduces the vibrating frequency to which the cooling fins on the cylinders can be forced by normal operation of the engine to prevent the engine from reaching a resonant frequency.

Abstract: An improvement in heat transfer and a reduction in fouling by liquid flowing inside of heat exchanger tubes is achieved by the apparatus and method of the present invention wherein the heat exchanger includes internally ridged or corrugated metal tubes rather than conventional plain tubes. Despite the formation of a normal appearing fouling layer on the downstream portion of a ridge, the ridged tubes remain relatively clear on the upstream portion of the ridge. Periodically, as the downstream portions of the tubing ridge surfaces build up a fouling coating, the flow direction of the tube side fluid is reversed to remove at least a substantial portion of the previously deposited coating.

Abstract: A heat exchange system having a source of heat exchange output fluid for effecting a heat exchange function and having a source of return fluid resulting from the output fluid providing its heat exchange function. A thermally operated element controls the amount of flow of the output fluid from the source in relation to the temperature of the thermally operated element. A sensing device senses the temperature effect of the heat exchange function in relation to a predetermined temperature that the heat exchange system is to provide, the sensing device directing one of the output fluid and the return fluid to the thermally operated element to cause the same to change the amount of flow of the output fluid when the temperature effect deviates from the predetermined temperature a certain amount whereby the thermally responsive element is subject to a relatively wide swing in temperature for large control movement thereof in relation to a relatively narrow swing in temperature at the sensing device.

Abstract: System using solar energy to heat a fluid in a heat storage tank can be utilized in either a heating mode or cooling mode. In the heating mode, several valves are actuated to cause fluid contained in an internal heat exchanger in the heat storage tank to circulate in series circuit with external heat exchange means in communication with the space to be heated. In the cooling mode, the valves are operated to cause the heated fluid in the internal heat exchanger mounted in the heat storage tank to circulate to a heat exchanger mounted in a refrigerant boiler. As the refrigerant boils, vapors are formed which pass through an ejector. The expanded refrigerant vapors are then condensed to liquid in a fan cooled condenser and a portion of the liquid is returned to the refrigerant boiler by a refrigerant circulating pump.

Abstract: The heat pipe assembly is formed into an H-shape or a Y-shape. The H-shaped configuration comprises two heat pipes, each having condenser and evaporator sections with wicking therein coupled by a tube with wick at their evaporator sections. The Y-shaped configuration utilizes a common evaporator section in place of the two evaporator sections of the H-shaped configuration. In both configurations, the connection between the vapor spaces of the two heat pipes equalizes vapor pressure within the heat pipes. Although both heat pipes have wicks, they have sufficient fluid only to saturate a single pipe. If heat is applied to the condenser section of one of the pipes, this heat pipe becomes inoperative since all the fluid is transferred to the second pipe which can operate with a lower thermal load.

Abstract: A heat exchange system having a source of heat exchange output fluid for effecting a heat exchange function and having a source of return fluid resulting from the output fluid providing its heat exchange function. A thermally operated element controls the amount of flow of the output fluid from the source in relation to the temperature of the thermally operated element. A sensing device senses the temperature effect of the heat exchange function in relation to a predetermined temperature that the heat exchange system is to provide, the sensing device directing one of the output fluid and the return fluid to the thermally operated element to cause the same to change the amount of flow of the output fluid when the temperature effect deviates from the predetermined temperature a certain amount whereby the thermally responsive element is subject to a relatively wide swing in temperature for large control movement thereof in relation to a relatively narrow swing in temperature at the sensing device.

Abstract: A heat exchange system having a source of heat exchange output fluid for effecting a heat exchange function and having a source of return fluid resulting from the output fluid providing its heat exchange function. A thermally operated element controls the amount of flow of the output fluid from the source in relation to the temperature of the thermally operated element. A sensing device senses the temperature effect of the heat exchange function in relation to a predetermined temperature that the heat exchange system is to provide, the sensing device directing one of the output fluid and the return fluid to the thermally operated element to cause the same to change the amount of flow of the output fluid when the temperature effect deviates from the predetermined temperature a certain amount whereby the thermally responsive element is subject to a relatively wide swing in temperature for large control movement thereof in relation to a relatively narrow swing in temperature at the sensing device.

Abstract: A heat exchange system having a source of heat exchange output fluid for effecting a heat exchange function and having a source of return fluid resulting from the output fluid providing its heat exchange function. A thermally operated element controls the amount of flow of the output fluid from the source in relation to the temperature of the thermally operated element. A sensing device senses the temperature effect of the heat exchange function in relation to a predetermined temperature that the heat exchange system is to provide, the sensing device directing one of the output fluid and the return fluid to the thermally operated element to cause the same to change the amount of flow of the output fluid when the temperature effect deviates from the predetermined temperature by a certain amount whereby the thermally responsive element is subject to a relatively wide swing in temperature for large control movement thereof in relation to a relatively narrow swing in temperature at the sensing device.

Abstract: A heat exchange system for heating a plurality of separate locations or for dissipating heat from a heat source at a region remote therefrom. A plurality of heat exchange devices in the form of flexible containers or envelopes, are mounted in heat exchange, or thermal, relationship with a conveying means which conveys a heated fluid material from a heat source. The containers are mounted so as to be maintained in a substantially extended relationship with the conveying means so that the heat from the heated fluid is effectively transferred via the heat exchange device to the regions adjacent thereto, substantially primarily by convection.

Abstract: A parking device for containing a blowout preventer aboard a floating drilling station. The parking device includes a parking frame which is capable of holding the blowout preventer with its center of gravity lying above the points at which the blowout preventer is supported on the parking frame. The blowout preventer can be moved as a unit back and forth between a parked position and an installed position for utilization on the drilling station. For enabling such movement a first drive mechanism is provided for raising and lowering the parking frame and additionally a second drive mechanism is provided for moving the parking frame sideways.

Abstract: Precompletion apparatus for use in air drilling and casing a problem formation in a well including a casing landing nipple at the lower end of a first string of solid well casing installed by suitable conventional techniques, an expendable plug for engagement in the casing landing nipple to plug a well bore after air drilling below the casing landing nipple to control the well during inserting of a slotted liner, an expending shoe for engaging and displacing the plug downwardly from the landing nipple, a slotted well bore casing for lining a well bore along a problem formation which has been air drilled, and a casing hanger for supporting the slotted liner along the air drilled portion of the well bore from the landing nipple. The plug and hanger each have locking keys engageable with a casing landing nipple and expandable seals for sealing with a seal surface along the casing landing nipple.

Abstract: A piston device for removing liquids from within a well fluid delivery tube to increase the gas flow therefrom, and for scraping paraffin from the tube walls. The piston has an elongated tubular body formed with a plurality of axially spaced wiper or scraping rings which extend radially outwardly from the body for removing the paraffin from the tube walls. A rotor member is mounted on the bottom of the tubular body and is spaced a predetermined distance below the bottommost ring. A plurality of angled grooves or vanes are formed in the rotor member which causes rotation of the rotor as the piston moves upwardly through the tube. The revolving rotor member produces a turbulence in the space between the rotor and bottom ring which forms a sealing effect across the tube wall providing a greater gas pressure below the piston than above it. The pressure differential causes the piston to rise to the top of the tube bringing with it paraffin and liquid deposits.

Abstract: Viscous petroleum may be recovered from viscous petroleum-containing formations including tar sand deposits by contacting the formation with a heated multiple-component solvent for the petroleum. At least one solvent component is normally gaseous material such as methane, ethane, propane or butane and at least one component is normally liquid, such as pentane and higher molecular weight hydrocarbons. The solvent mixture is heated to a temperature in excess of ambient temperature, and preferably from 100.degree. to 500.degree. F. prior to injection into the formation. The multiple solvent is introduced under sufficient pressure that it is substantially all liquid at the injection conditions. Recovery of petroleum and solvent may be from the same well as is used for injection or from a remotely located well.

Abstract: The subject process pertains to the secondary recovery of oil by the steam stimulation of an underground oil reservoir. As an added benefit, mechanical power and/or electrical energy may be simultaneously produced. In the subject process, raw fuel gas is first produced by the partial oxidation in a free-flow gas generator of a hydrocarbonaceous feed, such as preferably a portion of the oil recovered. The raw fuel gas is cleaned, purified, and burned in a gas turbine which drives a compressor or electric generator. The sensible heat in the raw fuel gas leaving the gas generator and in the flue gas discharged from the gas turbine is recovered by the production of high quality steam. This steam is injected into subterranean formations and reservoirs to accelerate production and to provide additional oil recovery.

Abstract: Natural gas is recovered from gas hydrate reservoirs by passing light hydrocarbons, which do not form hydrates at reservoir conditions, through the formation to dissolve and recover the natural gas. A freezing point depressant can also be injected into the reservoir to accelerate development of production.

Abstract: A method of recovering bitumen from a subterranean tar sand formation characterized by a plurality of steps. First, a continuous wellbore having a second section thereof contained within the formation and first and third sections thereof extending the second section to the earth's surface is formed. Next, the first and third sections of the wellbore are cased. Thereafter, a heated fluid is circulated through the wellbore contacting the formation to reduce the viscosity of the bitumen contained therein rendering the bitumen mobile. Subsequently, bitumen mobilized by the heated fluid is recovered via the wellbore.

Abstract: Method for the acid treatment of a subterranean formation surrounding a wellbore comprising introducing alternate slugs of acid and an aqueous gel prepared from water-soluble cellulose ethers into a borehole penetrating a formation to be acidized. The slugs of gel serve as spacer slugs to direct the acid slugs into the portions of the formation or zones of a multi-zone formation it is desired to acidize.

Abstract: A new and improved apparatus and method for lowering the apparatus downwardly in a drill string on a wireline to releasably engage a recess in a threaded joint or collar of the drill string to prevent further downward movement of the apparatus and to thereafter detonate an explosive by manipulating a wireline actuated jar with repeated downward blows for exerting a jarring force to the joint as a result of the explosion to release the threads at the joint upon simultaneous application of a back-off torque to the drill string. The apparatus can be released and removed from the well without breaking or damaging the collar locating and supporting portion of the apparatus.