Abstract: A seal adapter for reducing the escape of exhaust gases between an outboard motor and a propeller includes a substantially hollow cylindrical connecting member (71) having a shoulder (84) for dividing the connecting member (70) into a plurality of sections. A seal ring (80) is associated with one of the sections for engaging with an annular recess (76) located within the propeller hub (74) to provide a substantially tight seal.

Abstract: A coping saw is provided having two spaced-apart rotary actuators supported by a frame. Two saw-blade sections extend between the two rotary actuators and are intended to singularly engage a work piece. The saw is adapted to contain a drive mechanism which is coupled to a first of the two rotary actuators for causing the saw-blade sections to move in at least one direction. Alternately, the coping saw may be configured to be an attachment for a conventional rotary tool.

Abstract: An alarm assembly is provided alerting the operator through one of a visual, audible, or tactile signal, the occurrence of a specified event. The alarm assembly includes a locking mechanism coupled to a substrate which has a natural frequency. The locking mechanism is maintained in a condition which inhibits the natural frequency of the substrate unless commanded to do so by an electronic circuit which includes sensors for monitoring one or more specific criterion. The locking mechanism is preferably a non-Newtonian flow fluid locking mechanism which uses a magneto-rheological fluid to dynamically adjust the locking strength of the locking mechanism as well as the natural frequency of the substrate based upon user inputs and dynamic events. The alarm assembly can be dynamically “tuned” in and out of the natural frequency of the substrate so the substrate vibrates, produces an audible noise, or generates a current upon the occurrence of a predetermined event.

Abstract: A file cabinet providing access to files from substantially all sides, and having one or more rotatable tiers, each tier containing a plurality of file containers. Each tier includes a central support wherein at least one radial support arm is rotatably mounted thereto to rotate about the central support. Mounted to the terminus of each radial support arm is a file support, each configured to rotate about a vertical axis between a retracted position toward the interior of the tier, and an extended position. Each file support is adapted to receive a file container suspended thereon to provide detachable storage. Tiers may be added by attaching additional central supports in tandem.

Abstract: An lever assembly for an adjustable steering column, comprising a bracket assembly extending from the adjustable steering column, the bracket having a first and a second bracket arms, a lever arm having an intermediate portion pivotally coupled between the first and second bracket arms such that opposite ends of the lever arm are movable between a first and a second positions; and a lever pin extending from one of the first and second bracket arms and biased into frictional engagement with the lever arm when one of the ends is in said first position. An adjustment member is provided adjacent the biasing member for adjusting the biasing force of the lever pin against the lever arm.

Abstract: A transmission shifter assembly is provided having a lever cooperating with at least one linking lever such that movement of the lever results in a corresponding movement of one of the linking lever to select a desired gear, an assembly for selectively locating the lever at a desired gear selection position, and at least one fluid locking assembly cooperating with the locating assembly for locking the lever in a desired position and preventing accidental disengagement. The fluid locking assembly includes at least one linear actuator whose movement is controlled by a magneto rheological fluid.

Abstract: A shifter assembly for use on tilting and/or telescoping steering columns includes a cam connected to the steering column, and a crank spaced from the cam and connected to a fixed portion of the vehicle such as the lower portion of the steering column. A gear shift lever is provided which is connected to the cam. A parallel cable linkage assembly interconnects the cam and crank.

Abstract: A steering column assembly for a vehicle wherein the steering column may be adjustable in a tilt direction, telescoping direction or both. The steering column includes a first housing, a second housing pivotally coupled to one end of the first housing, and a locking assembly interconnecting the first and second housings. The locking assembly includes a clutch having one end attached to the first housing, and an opposite end in sliding engagement with the second housing. A caliper member is provided on the second housing, and extending through the clutch to selectively fix the clutch in place and thus fix the relative position of the first housing in relation to the second.

Abstract: An apparatus for abrading or deburring a workpiece is provided and includes in combination a conveyor for moving the workpiece from a first position to a second position and at least two assemblies intermediate the first and second positions and opposite the conveyor for abrading one side of the workpiece in a plurality of directions. In an alternate embodiment of the invention, a third assembly may be provided which deburrs an opposite side of the workpiece as it is passed through the deburring assembly. The conveyor for moving the workpiece positively fixes the location of the workpiece with respect to the conveyor and translates the workpiece through the deburring assembly.

Abstract: A light weight and compact geophone assembly for detecting transient seismic signals along orthogonal axes. The geophone assembly having a plurality of geophones arranged within close proximity of each other within a compact housing. The geophones are interconnected to a conductor cable passing through the housing in a unique water-tight sealing arrangement. At the cable entrance into the housing, the conductor cable is surrounded by a tapered boot compressed about the cable by a sleeve which in turn is fixed in place by a locking nut. The locking nut is received by complementary threads at the cable entrance into the housing. When tightened, the locking nut forces the compression sleeve over the tapered surface of the boot, compressing the boot about the cable. In addition, the locking nut and compression sleeve urge the boot in compression between the cable and the housing. Located atop of the housing is a bubble leveling device.

Abstract: A wire line sampler is disclosed for extracting a sample of fluid from a predetermined depth in a bore hole. The sampler may be an elongate housing having an interior volume which is connected to the exterior of the tool through a port. The housing contains an assembly for opening the port to allow the bore hole fluid to enter the housing interior upon command of an operator located at the surface. A flow restriction assembly is also provided to control the rate at which the fluid enters. A piston located within the housing closes the port once a sufficient amount of sample has been collected. The collected sample is maintained at the collection pressure without the fear of contamination from fluids at shallower depths and from explosive decompression as the sample is retrieved.

Abstract: A streamer-cable assembly is provided having a tubular outer jacket enclosing an open-cell and closed-cell foam core. The foam core provides an axial hole for retaining a plurality of pressure sensors and a plurality of off-axial holes providing passages for the transmission bundle. Longitudinal channels along the exterior of the foam inserts receive substantially rigid stress members which provide longitudinally strength to the streamer. Cable noise associated with the cable jerk and cable whip/vibration is radially reduced by the open-cell foam core and rigid stress members while the closed-cell foam core provides buoyancy to the streamer cable at the connectors between sections.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for balancing a seismic streamer cable. The housing is comprised of a first and a second valve coupled about the streamer cable. Each valve has a clasp adapted to engage a socket on the other valve to ridigly fasten the valves together about the streamer cable. The housing surrounds and retains weights applied to the streamer cable. An alternate embodiment is disclosed where the weight is integral with each valve. The exterior of the housing is designed to produce laminar flow conditions for the fluid passing over the housing as the cable is under tow, reducing ambient noise detected by the sensors within the streamer cable.

Abstract: A method for properly migrating seismic data which has been elevation-static corrected. The method is comprised of assigning a zero (or very small) migration velocity for data located below a datum, yet above the original recording surface elevation. A best estimated earth velocity is input into the migration algorithm to represent the earth below the original recording surface. For seismic data collected in water-covered environments where the water bottom is irregular, the method contemplates that the data lying above the water bottom are migrated using the migration velocity of water. The data lying at or below the water bottom are migrated with a migration velocity of zero. In a second step, are elevation-static corrected and migration is performed where the velocity is zero between the datum and the original surface. Data below the surface is migrated using the estimated earth velocity.

Abstract: A method for removing boundary-generated artifacts in synthetic and actual seismic data. After seismic data processing, undesirable boundary-generated artifacts appear in the final seismic section. To remove this unwanted noise from the section, zeros are added to the lower boundary of the seismic section. This essentially pushes the sources of the noise downward in time in the section. After padding with zeros, the seismic data is collapsed to their point sources of origin using the Stolt migration/diffraction algorithm. Once the data are collapsed, the size of the seismic section is reduced to its original size. Following the resizing of the section, the inverse of the earlier applied Stolt algorithm is applied to return the seismic data to its original form, minus the boundary-generated artifacts.

Abstract: A compound linkage arm assembly for providing a substantial force to initially extend an arm assembly from a sonde without increasing the driving force in the opening mechanism. A linear drive mechanism initially acts upon a linkage within an arm assembly of the tool. The links unseat and force the arm away from the tool without much force from the drive mechanism. Once the arm is moved away from the tool by the full extension of the links, push rods act directly upon the arm to contact the bore hole wall. The advantage of this arrangement is that the linear drive mechanism is not required to exert a great amount of lateral force upon the arm to obtain the initial extension. The links acting between the arm and the sonde body provide the lateral force necessary to extend the arm.

Abstract: An inventive method for simultaneously collecting depth-of-focus vertical seismic profiling (VSP) data and three-dimensional surface seismic data is disclosed. At least one seismic sensor is deployed at a predetermined depth of a borehole and raised in increments determined by the survey. A seismic source and a plurality of seismic sensor may be deployed at the surface along a partial arc offset from the top of the borehole by a distance inversely proportional to the depth of the sensor in the borehole. The seismic source generates a seismic signal at a plurality of points in a circular path around the borehole. Once a circle has been completed, the borehole sensor is raised, and the seismic signal generator and sensors are moved to the next largest circular path and the process is repeated. The seismic signals are simultaneously recorded by the borehole sensor and the sensors deployed in the arcuate path.

Abstract: A transducer assembly for use along the surface of the earth or in a borehole to detect seismic signals along mutually orthogonal axes. The transducer assembly includes at least two geophones or accelerometers gimbally-mounted within a housing such that when the housing is oriented at substantially any angle, the enclosed geophones remain in their respective planes with respect to gravity and their axes of sensitivity to the seismic signals remain orthogonal to each other.

Abstract: A method for migrating seismic data in the frequency-wave number domain is provided for migrating the seismic data having large vertical and lateral velocity variations in a fast, efficient and accurate manner. A root-mean-square (RMS) velocity function is derived from a set of seismic data samples comprising a body of seismic data. A best fit migration velocity is determined from the seismic data so as to provide a best migration. The seismic data may then be partitioned into a series of discreet frames and stretched according to a predetermined algorithm. Each partition is migrated in series by a portion of the RMS Velocity function until the data are fully migrated. After migration, the migrated seismic data are inversely stretched vertically followed by an inverse lateral stretch to remove any distortion instilled in the data by the initial data stretching.