Abstract: A tool, comprising a head bolt stud and extractor, useful in the alignment of a cylinder head to an engine block when re-attaching the cylinder head to the engine block following replacement of the cylinder head seals.

Abstract: A porous and abrasive plastic stone is disclosed for use in a stonewashing process to commercially age garments or fabric. The plastic stone replaces the pumice stone that is typically used in the stonewashing process. A method for manufacturing the stone includes mixing plastic material with a gas-producing agent within a plastic extruder. This produces a plurality of cells or voids in the plastic as gas expands during the cooling of the plastic. The cells along the periphery of the plastic material are ruptured by the gas to form an abrasive surface comparable to that of pumice and yield a plastic stone with a desired density.

Abstract: A valve for intake or exhaust of gas with respect to a compressor comprises a seating plate and a guard plate releasably attached in opposed relation. The seating plate has a plurality of clusters of holes extending from an outer side of the seating plate thereinto, the holes of each cluster being arranged along a respective circular locus and communicating with respective seating surfaces opening through an inner side of the seating plate. The clusters are non-concentrically spaced from one another about the seating plate. The guard plate defines a respective stop surface generally opposed to but spaced from the seating surfaces associated with each such cluster of holes. The guard plate also has flow passages therethrough from an inner side thereof to an outer side and communicating with the spaces between the stop surfaces and the seating surfaces.

Abstract: A sacrificial anode sub and method are disclosed which provide a lower voltage at the proximately located bit than at the sacrificial anode disposed on sub to thereby deter bit balling. An electromotive force (emf) dynamo is built into the sacrificial anode sub to provide a direct current voltage source for this purpose. Annular insulator electrically insulates sacrificial anode from tubular body. An electrical connection to drill bit is made through threaded lower connector with bit. Impeller rotates in response to drilling fluid flow to rotate the rotor assembly of dynamo.

Abstract: A system for reducing the initial force required to actuate a valve, preferably a rotary valve, from its fully closed position is disclosed. The system comprises an operating arm fixed to and rotatable with the valve stem. Disposed and rotatable about, but not fixed to, the valve stem is a spur gear with an operating lever affixed thereto. The force applied to the operating lever is transferred to the operating arm through a gear sector carried on the operating arm. During the initial actuation, the gear sector engages with and rotates about a latch pin to increase the force applied to the operating arm by the operating lever. During the remainder of the actuating movement, the gear sector is fixed relative to the operating arm so that the force applied to the operating lever is transmitted to the operating arm without any increase in force.

Abstract: An HCl adsorbent, and method of making and using the adsorbent, the adsorbent comprising an activated alumina promoted with an alkali metal in an amount such that if calculated as alkali metal oxide, the adsorbent contains at least about 5% by weight alkali metal oxide. The adsorbent is used for removal of HCl from a fluid stream.

Abstract: A retractable covering for a door comprising a housing mounted on one side of the door and a latching strip mounted on the opposite side of the door, the housing containing a roll of screen or similar sheeting material that can be pulled out of the housing across the door opening, one side edge of the screen being fixed to a biased roller assembly interiorally of the housing, the other side edge of the screen being affixed to a rigid side member that has a formation that engages with a formation on the latching strip on the opposite side of the door such that when the screen is pulled out of the housing, it can be latched across the entire opposite side edge of the door, the housing comprising a base plate that abuts one side of the door frame and a casing, or cover, that preferably snap-fits to the base plate.

Abstract: A hydraulically controlled blowout preventer 10 and method are disclosed for simultaneously moving two sealing assemblies 24, 27 to seal around an oilfield tubular 15 within the bore 14 of BOP 10. A single manual operator 20 may be rotated to simultaneously move master piston 26 and hydraulically interconnected slave piston 79 inwardly toward bore 14 or outwardly away from bore 14, respectively. BOP 10 is field convertible to purely hydraulic operation by disconnecting the threaded shaft 52 from master piston 26. Hydraulic lines 36 and 40 interconnect between cylinders 30 and 82 to result in simultaneous operation of seal assemblies 24, 27.

Abstract: A swivel jet assembly 20 for a fluid distribution system delivers high pressure fluid from a pressurized fluid source to an object to be cleaned. A bearing housing 46 is removably affixed to a swivel body 32 having an inlet port 34 and a fluid transmission passageway 36 therethrough. A hollow shaft 40 has an upstream end positioned within the swivel body and a downstream end extending outward for engagement with a nozzle assembly 30. One or more nozzle jets 116, 118 are supported directly within a nozzle housing, and are angled for causing a torque in response to the high pressure discharged from the nozzle jets. A speed control device within the swivel housing includes a plurality of pins 58 each movable radially outward in response to centrifugal force for engagement with the swivel housing. The swivel is of the in line design, and a thrust bearing 66 is provided within the swivel housing upstream from the swivel speed control device.

Abstract: Electrodes are provided in a drill bit, or alternatively, in a coring bit, to measure variations in formation resistivity surrounding an earth borehole. Three orthoganal accelerometers are also provided in the drill bit, or in the coring bit, to monitor the dynamic behavior of the bit as functions of radial, axial and tangential accelerations.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for cleaning the tubes of a heat exchanger of a type having at least one header that defines a manifold chamber having a plurality of tubes extending therefrom, the tubes and the header defining tube openings to provide open communication between the tubes and the manifold chamber, the tube openings defining a peripheral seating surface, there being bores in the header, respective ones of which are in register with respective ones of the tube openings, the apparatus comprising a tubular member having a first end and a second end, the tubular member being dimensioned such that the first end can be received through at least one of the bores, a force transmitting lever assembly connected to the tubular member and operatively connected to the header whereby the tubular member can be urged toward the seating surface of a tube opening in register with a bore through which the tubular member is received, there being a seal formed between the tubular member and the seating surface.

Abstract: An anti-extrusion lip seal device is disclosed for use that includes a flexible sealing lip portion supported by an annular braided anti-extrusion element. The braided anti-extrusion element is less resilient than the sealing lip portion to resist extrusion forces acting on the seal device. The braided anti-extrusion element includes fibers that are interconnected both laterally and radially. It is further impregnated with elastomeric or resinous material. Resiliency of the braided element may be adjusted during manufacture by varying the tightness of the braid as well as by variation of the resiliency of the impregnated material.

Abstract: The system for analyzing multiple samples includes a plurality of portable of sample supports each for accommodating a plurality of samples thereon, and an identification mechanism for identifying each sample location on each of the plurality of sample supports. The mass spectrometer is provided for analyzing each of the plurality of samples when positioned within a sample receiving chamber, and a laser source strikes each sample with a laser pulse to desorb and ionize sample molecules. The support transport mechanism provided for automatically inputting and outputting each of the sample supports from the sample receiving chamber of the mass spectrometer. A vacuum lock chamber receives the sample supports and maintains at least one of the sample supports within a controlled environment while samples on another of the plurality of sample supports are being struck with laser pulses. The computer is provided for recording test data from the mass spectrometer and for controlling the operation of the system.

Abstract: An improved sampling pump has utility for withdrawing fluid from a pressurized source and outputting fluid to a sampling container. The fluid pump assembly of the present invention includes an operator unit for reciprocating a plunger, and a side body port positioned within the pump body for receiving a removable filter. A pressure regulator has an inlet positioned within a side body port of the pump body and regulator outlet port in fluid communication with the operator unit. A collar rotatable with respect to a regulator housing is provided for reducing installation costs and for optionally removing condensate from the regulator. An adjustable discharge valve is pressure balanced for increasing the reliability of the pump. An improved seal is utilized for dynamic seal engagement between the pump body and the pump plunger.

Abstract: A process for producing alkali metal isethionate ethoxylates by reacting an alkali metal isethionate and a polyol, the mole ratio of polyol to alkali metal isethionate being greater than about 7:1, the reaction mixture produced being neutralized with a non-oxidizing inorganic acid to produce a neutralized reaction mixture from which the alkali metal isethionate ethoxylate is recovered.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for detecting the approach of a boundary stratum while drilling in a substantially horizontal subsurface zone using sensor tools having sensors with different depths of investigation. The two depths of investigation signals are used to reduce spurious signals. In some cases, dips or angles of the boundary strat with the borehole may be determined. In alternative embodiments, one or more electromagnetic energy transmitters are used with a single receiver pair to generate a characteristic signature of approaching boundary stratum.

Abstract: A tubular drill pipe having a pin connector at one end and a box connector at the other end has each connector adapted to mate with a connector similar to that at the opposite end of the pipe--but on another pipe, to form a tool joint. The connectors are of the type having two pair of axially abutting make-up faces: a primary annular shoulder formed at the inner end of the base of the pin connector, which mates with the end face of the box connector to form a first such pair; and an internal secondary shoulder at the inner extremity of the base of the box connector which abuts the end of an outermost nose section of the pin connector.

Abstract: A wellhead flange assembly 12 is provided for interconnecting the threaded end of an upwardly projecting screwed wellhead 16 with a lower flange of the blowout preventer 24. The flange assembly comprises a threaded adapter 40 including a thin-walled portion 54, a flange support portion 56, and an upper stop portion 52. A wellhead flange 42 includes a plurality of bolt holes 44 and an upper surface 51 for engagement with the lower flange of the blowout preventer. A plurality of securing members 48 are provided for selectively connecting and disconnecting the wellhead flange 42 and the threaded adapter 40. An adapter-to-flange seal 60 is provided for sealing engagement between the threaded adapter 40 and the wellhead flange 42. According the method of the invention, the threaded adapter may be easily heated to facilitate removal from the screwed wellhead, or may be cut off the screwed wellhead without damaging the screwed wellhead, thereby permitting the reuse of the wellhead flange on a new well.

Abstract: An improved pressure compensator of the top-vented type for a roller cone drill bit comprises an elastomeric compensator diaphragm having an annular, peripheral, radially outwardly extending flange. An annular, axially acting compression spring is at least partially imbedded in the flange, elastomeric material of the flange at least partially underlying and overlying the spring for sealing engagement, respectively, with an axially facing shoulder in a recess in the bit body and a cap forming part of the assembly. The cap is disposed above the flange in the bit recess, and has a lower end surface for sealing abutment with the flange. The cap also has a vent communicating a zone above the diaphragm, in the recess, with the exterior of the bit. A retainer is positioned to hold the cap in the recess, thereby also retaining the diaphragm in the recess, and compressing the spring sufficiently to cause sealing engagement on both sides of the flange, but not beyond the elastic limit of the spring.