Abstract: A rupturable pressure relief apparatus which is non-fragmenting and which is particularly suitable for liquid and low pressure gas service. The apparatus includes an annular rupture disk having an annular flange portion connected to a concave-convex portion by a circular transition connection. The concave-convex portion includes a groove in a side thereof creating a substantially circular line of weakness therein and at least one concave-convex hinge reinforcing member is attached to a side of the concave-convex portion of the rupture disk. The hinge reinforcing member is positioned and is of a shape whereby upon rupture of the rupture disk, the concave-convex portion tears along the line of weakness created by the groove and bends about an integral untorn portion corresponding with the hinge reinforcing member.

Abstract: In a pressure relief valve a valve body, having a lateral exhaust port, is provided with a valve moveable toward and away from a fluid inlet sealing face at its pressure connected end and guided by a valve stem projecting through the other end of the body. A radially projecting arm, connected with the valve body opposite its inlet end, supports a cylinder having a groove therein nesting a lever pivotally connected with the outwardly projecting end of the arm and overlying the outwardly projecting end of the valve stem for receiving at least one endless rupture band therearound and normally maintaining the valve closed. Excessive fluid pressure against the valve pivots the lever out of its groove and expands the endless band beyond its tensile strength limit which unseats and opens the valve.

Abstract: Provided is an underwater pressure regulator comprising a high and a low pressure chamber, an inlet to the high pressure chamber and at least one outlet port associated with the low pressure chamber. A valve assembly including a valve seat is interposed between the high and low pressure chambers to control the flow of air between the chambers. A coil spring maintains the valve in open position when pressure in the low pressure chamber decreases. An oil reservoir responds to ambient water pressure via a flexible diaphragm to maintain the outlet pressure, i.e., the secondary pressure at a constant level above the ambient pressure at different depths. A piercing member serves to perforate the diaphragm upon excessive expansion of the latter due to high pressure leakage within the regulator system, oil being discharged, under pressure, through the perforated diaphragm, whereupon the regulator then becomes a conventional water-filled unit.

Abstract: Disclosed is a mud saver valve which includes a tubular body connectable between a kelly and a drill string. An annular seat ring having a central opening is mounted within the body. A piston is axially movably mounted within the body for engagement with the seat ring. The piston includes a bore substantially coaxially aligned with the central opening and a flange that extends radially outwardly from the piston to slidingly engage the interior of the body. The piston has a plurality of ports above the piston to communicate the exterior of the piston with the bore. A plug is removably mounted in the piston. The plug includes a shear ring removably inserted in the bore and a spear axially movably mounted in the shear ring. The plug is movable between a first position wherein the spear sealingly engages the shear ring in a second position that allows fluid to flow upwardly between the spear and the shear ring. A spring is provided to urge the piston into engagement with the seat ring.

Abstract: A standing valve for controlling fluid flow through a well flow conductor. The standing valve allows formation fluids to enter the flow conductor downhole and to flow in one directin to the well surface. The standing valve functions as a check valve to prevent fluids injected into the flow conductor at the well surface from flowing out the other end of the well flow conductor. The standing valve is operated by changes in the velocity of fluids flowing through the valve. When the pressure of fluid injected into the flow conductor from the well surface exceeds a preselected value, an alternative flow path is opened within the standing valve to allow the injected fluid to flow in the other direction through the valve.

Abstract: A sealed differential pressure gauge of the general type shown in Phillips and Zoludow U.S. Pat. No. 3,645,140 in which a sealed housing is provided that includes a flexible diaphragm that is to be exposed to differential pressures to operate a sensitive and accurate motion transmitting indicator device that is in the form of a pivotally mounted helix cooperating with a range spring mounted magnet, with the range spring being linked to the diaphragm so that the movement of the diaphragm, indicates differential pressures and changes thereof, operates the indicator device for reading of the gauge. The housing comprises a housing member and back plate therefor that, together with the rim portion of the diaphragm, are shaped to provide for blowout capability of the gauge that is rearwardly directed out of the back of the gauge should overpressures be experienced when the gauge is in operation.

Abstract: A breakaway pipe coupling which, in use, is located in the pipeline extending between a movable tanker, such as a sea vessel, and a storage tank. The purpose of the coupling is to provide a weakness in the pipeline so that a pull be exerted on the pipeline which exceeds a predetermined value, the coupling will break and quickly close off the pipeline to prevent spillage.The coupling includes a main body portion (31) and a breakaway portion (20), valve means (60) in the main body for closing the conduit (14) passing through the coupling, actuation means (70) being provided for operating the valve means to close the conduit (14) on removal of the breakaway portion from the main body portion and dampening means (76, 80) for controlling the rate at which the valve means closes the conduit.

Abstract: A gas-pressurizer is disclosed. An enclosed canister surrounds a piercing chanism, over the end of a pressure-conducting pipe. The piercing mechanism is comprised of an end-cap with portals therethrough, a stub, and a gas dispensing, piercing pintle riding upon the stub. When pressurized gas is sent through the pipe, it forces the pintle through the upper end of the canister, allowing the gas to pressurize a storage tank.

Abstract: A valve body, having a lateral exhaust port, is provided with a valve movable toward and away from a fluid inlet sealing face at its pressure connected end and guided by a valve stem projecting through the other end of the body. A plurality of rupture bands, extending transversely across the outwardly projecting end of the valve stem, are connected with the body for normally maintaining the valve closed. Excessive fluid pressure against the valve ruptures the bands and releases pressure through the lateral port.

Abstract: A construction for protecting a member, such as an adjusting screw or fixing bolt, fitted to a base, from being tampered with, including a wall formed generally in the shape of a hollow tube, attached by one of its ends to the base, and surrounding the member to be protected, and a plug inserted into the other end of the wall so as to be wedged into it, with a slot being formed in the wall, extending along the axial direction of the wall from the end of the wall remote from the base, to a slot bottom at an axial position between the free end of the wall and the base, the slot bottom being closer to the base than is the part of the plug which is closest to the base, so that a gap is left between the bottom of the slot and the bottom wall of the plug for a removing tool to be inserted to lever the plug out of the end of the wall.

Abstract: A hermetically sealed high pressure gas container comprising a high stren chamber for confining the gas and a check valve fitted on and soldered to a boss formed integral with the chamber. The check valve serves as a temporary seal and permits the chamber to be charged with gas under atmospheric conditions. After charging, the inlet port of the check valve is soldered closed to provide a hermetic seal.

Abstract: An adjustment prevention mechanism comprises a stationary covering member disposed opposite to a head of an adjusting screw for adjusting fuel flowing in a slow speed fuel passage in idling of an engine, and a cap-shaped plug. The stationary covering member is secured to something within an engine room, for example a suction pipe of the engine, and has a hole through which the adjusting screw is adjusted. The cap-shaped plug is inserted rigidly in the hole to blockage the hole after the adjusting screw was adjusted, so that the adjusting screw can not be readjusted by usual users after the engine is transferred to the users.

Abstract: Disclosed is a tubing retrievable surface controlled subsurface safety valve having provisions for blocking communication of control fluid to the valve's pressure responsive operator and for locking the valve open in the event of valve failure. This abstract of the disclosure is neither intended to define the scope of the invention which, of course, is measured by the claims nor is it intended to limit the invention in any way.

Abstract: A reliable signaling device is provided which will allow an operator of a reactor vessel to ascertain when a leak has occurred in the reactor vessel rupture disc or diaphragm. The signaling device is actuated by pressure which escapes through a leak in the rupture disc. The signaling device makes the operator aware of when a rupture disc is leaking and thereby avoids a potential hazard of the reactor vessel exceeding its designed pressure rating. The signal device when modified may also be used in vacuum operations.

Abstract: In a shock strut for an aircraft landing gear having inner and outer elongated telescoping tubes and a primary orifice selected and designed to attenuate the load level to a certain design condition which is compatible with the aircraft's structural threshold up to a certain overload sink speed, a load attenuating valve which opens when the design velocity is exceeded. The load attenuating valve includes secondary orifices held closed by a tension fuse which ruptures and opens the orifices in parallel to the primary orifice for additional flow, thus keeping the pressure drop across the orifices to an acceptable level so as to permit full stroking of the strut. In this way, as much energy as possible is absorbed before the load is transmitted to the aircraft on failure.

Abstract: An aircraft flight control including a linkage system having a walking beam to which control inputs are imparted and from which a control output is taken and having anti-jamming and over-control abatement provisions.

Abstract: A steam injection system including a steam deflector connectable into a tubing string which steam deflector provides for selectively passing steam through the tubing string to the bottom thereof or diverting steam from inside the tubing string out into the wall liner-tubing annulus and in a direction concentric with and substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tubing string and above the bottom end thereof utilizing a sliding-sleeve arrangement and packer cup means packing off the well liner-tubing annulus both above and below the steam deflector.

Abstract: A pressure relief valve including a housing, first and second bores in axial alignment in the housing, first and second plungers in the first and second bores, respectively, a third bore in the first plunger, a seal between the first and second plungers with the end of the second plunger being located in communication with the third bore, a first conduit for placing the housing in communication with a source of fluid pressure to expose the first plunger thereto and also expose a portion of the second plunger thereto through the third bore, a shear pin for holding the second plunger in position whereby the fluid pressure on the first and second plungers is exerted on the shear pin, a plurality of radial bores in the housing proximate the seal between the first and second plungers, and a second conduit in communication with the radial bores for conducting high pressure fluid from the housing upon shearing of the shear pin and after movement of the second plunger away from the first plunger.

Abstract: In a spraying container structure, before the sealing and blowing operations there is mounted in the valve body comprising a housing and a cover which is provided with a temporary sleeve, a closure member which is adapted to cooperate with a sealing element to close the valve. The closure member is maintained in the valve open position in the valve body during the production of the container.

Abstract: A tire inflator includes a pressure vessel filled with non-flammable compressed gas. A tubular valve housing is secured within the inflator outlet and includes radial ports opening to the bore of the housing and located adjacent an outer apertured end wall. A tubular valve body is slidable within the housing bore and includes a conventional tire valve. The inner ends of the housing and valve body each include a slightly raised rib in concentric relationship. A rupturable diaphragm secured to the ribs locates the valve body relative to the housing and seals the space therebetween. Over pressure in the vessel ruptures the diaphragm between the valve body and housing and moves the valve body outwardly into engagement with the end wall of the housing. The pressure fluid within the pressure vessel escapes to atmosphere through the space between the valve body and housing and through the radial ports.

Abstract: Disclosed is a circulating valve for use in a well. The circulating valve includes a valve plug initially blocking flow through the valve which moves to a position permitting flow through the valve upon the application of a predetermined pressure differential across the valve plug. This abstract is neither intended to define the scope of the invention, which, of course, is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting in any way.

Abstract: In a safety bag device for use in a vehicle and of the type wherein a rupture plate is interposed between a high pressure gas container and a conduit leading to an inflatable safety bag. A nozzle having a plurality of nozzle holes opened into the conduit is interposed between the rupture plate and the conduit. A spool is slidably fitted to the nozzle in such a way that it may normally close a predetermined number of nozzle holes, but may be displaced away from the nozzle to open them in response to the increase in pressure in the nozzle chamber when the rupture plate is ruptured in case of a collision, whereby the flow rate of the high pressure gas flowing into the inflatable safety bag may be suitably controlled so as to prevent very rapid expansion of the bag resulting in the injury to an occupant.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for sealing wells utilizing an inflatable bag and an automatically releasable or breakable coupling. An air compressor or other fluid source supplies a fluid to the inflatable bag via a hose connected to the bag by this coupling. The bag is lowered into the well and it is then inflated until a predetermined pressure is reached at which time the coupling releases or ruptures thereby disconnecting the hose from the bag, thus allowing the hose to be recovered and used again. The well is thus sealed by the inflated bag. Concrete or any other similar substance can then be deposited into the well to fill the cavity formed between the bag and the level of the ground. Before the concrete hardens, data such as the date that the well has been sealed can be imbedded into the concrete thereby forming a permanent record of this information. Additionally, a temporary seal can be formed by inflating the bag just below ground level without utilizing the releasable coupling.

Abstract: A drilling fluid saver valve connected to the lower end of a kelly allows down flow of mud or other drilling fluid when pumps are actuated to circulate drilling fluid. The valve closes when the pumps are off, thereby to retain drilling fluid thereabove in the kelly. This prevents loss of fluid when the kelly and valve are disconnected from the drill pipe. The valve includes a tubular body and a top sub screwed therein. A replaceable seat is carried by the lower end of the sub. A poppet type valve closure is urged upwardly against the seat by a helical spring strong enough to close the valve against the weight of drilling mud in the kelly. The closure has a tubular stem extending down through the spring. The poppet valve closure has a central flow passage therethrough, communicating with the stem and controlled by an upwardly opening check valve, to communicate drill pipe pressure to the kelly when the pumps are off. The check valve closure is frangible for easy break-out if wire line tools need to be run.

Abstract: An occupant restraint system for a vehicle including an air bag having a collapsed inoperative condition and an expanded operative condition for restraining movement of an occupant of the vehicle during a collision, a fluid supply, and a diffuser for directing fluid from the fluid supply into the air bag. The fluid supply includes a staged source of fluid for expanding the air bag. Fluid from the first source stage is introduced into the diffuser immediately upon the collision of the vehicle to initiate expansion of the air bag. After a time delay of milliseconds, a greater mass flow of fluid from the second source stage is introduced into the diffuser to complete the expansion of the air bag.

Abstract: A high pressure gas tank safety and service valve which comprises a body portion that sealingly engages a threaded opening of a high pressure gas tank. The valve has a flow passage that communicates the interior of the gas tank to an outlet port of the safety and service valve; the flow passage including first and second axially spaced valve seats which are, respectfully, engageable by first and second valve members interconnected by a safety rod. The first valve member is operable to open and close communications between the interior of the high pressure gas tank and the outlet port of the valve to permit selected exhausting of the gas tank. The second valve member is normally bias toward engagement with the second valve seat and in the event of a fracture resulting in the escape of gas, the second valve member will automatically close communications from the tanks.