Abstract: A swivel for transmitting fluid be sing and female housing includes a bearing assembly and seal ring assembly. The seal ring assembly comprises a pair of seal rings each including a plastic ring having a generally U-shaped cross-sectional configuration defining a stop leg for static sealing engagement with a stop surface of one housing and an opposing dynamic leg. Each seal ring member also includes an elastomeric ring which is fitted within the cavity for urging the dynamic leg axial away from the stop leg, and for maintaining a static seal with a static sealing surface on the respective housing. The swivel of the present invention is particular well suited for use between a hose and a fill valve of a propane or LPG gas tank. The swivel of the present invention is able to withstand jarring and shock, and has surprisingly long life and low maintenance.

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.

Abstract: A propane gas distribution system according to the present invention substantially enhances safety by providing a gas lockout device within the enclosure containing the distribution lines to the propane appliances for closing off a gas distribution line in response to either a sensed low pressure level or a sensed high pressure level. The closure member within the lockout device is biased closed, but is normally prevented from closing by a stop member which in turn is held in position until the unsafe low pressure or unsafe high pressure condition exists. A security control member is utilized for restricting the re-opening of the lockout device to select personnel, which typically would be a propane company representative. According to the method of the present invention, gas from the high pressure source is regulated and output to a low pressure gas distribution line.

Abstract: For steering a drill bit, a trajectory control sub has a lower part adjustable relative to the upper part to produce an axial bend to angularly offset the drill bit so that drilling proceeds along a curved path. Adjustable stabilizer blades are mounted on the sub and are movable between extended positions and retracted positions. An actuator is provided which selectively maintains the drill bit in axial alignment with the section of borehole being drilled, and which is actuable to move the blades into their retracted positions and subsequently, with the blades in their retracted positions, to effect tilting of the lower part relative to the upper part to produce the axial bend leading to tilting of the drill bit.

Abstract: Hardware, software and methods for controlling the usage of well drill bits and other aspects of well drilling plans. At least a portion of a given well is drilled with a given drill bit. An abrasive-wear-affecting variable (drilling strength) for the lithology which has been most recently drilled with the bit is continually evaluated. The current abrasive wear of the bit by the total lithology which has been drilled thereby is continually calculated, based on the abrasive-wear-affecting variable. Continued use or retirement of the bit is controlled in accord with the wear calculation. Relative pore pressure at the current site of the drill bit is a useful by product which can be independently used to control other aspects of the well drilling plan, e.g. mud weight and the setting of casing.

Abstract: An improved two-row, four-wheel cane harvester includes first and second front carrier assemblies for carrying cut cane rearward in first and second passageways each passing between the pair of front wheels and then outwardly between the respective front and rear wheels. First and second rear piler assemblies are provided for receiving cane from the respective first and second carrier assemblies and moving the cane transversely before releasing the cut cane across a cut cane row spaced between the first and second rows.

Abstract: A high pressure pump includes a housing having a pump chamber therein for receiving a pump piston, and a separate pressure housing having a liquid pressure chamber therein in fluid communication with a pump discharge flow line within an outlet housing. A force-transmitting piston is provided within the pressure housing and is movable along an axis substantially coincident with the central axis of the pump piston to place a desired load on each of a plurality of compression rods. The pump may be initially manufactured with the pressure housing, or a separate pressure housing may be added to an existing pump without modifying other pump components. According to the method of this invention, a control valve in a compression line is opened, the pump is activated, then the compression line is closed to maintain the compression rods under load.

Abstract: A stop cock for a liquid container, comprising a substantially annular valve housing, a circular valve rotatably mounted in the valve housing, a handle mounted on an operational shaft for rotating the valve between a closed and open position, a seat mounted in the valve housing and cooperating with the valve in the closed position, characterized in that the handle (21) comprises a recess (28) for rotatably receiving a stop bush (29) that comprises a cam (30) which in the closed position cooperates with an indentation (42) of a top plate (24) arranged on a boss (9) and includes a circular passage for shaft (7), said stop bush (29) having an unround passage (33) for mounting a correspondingly formed driving shaft (34) of an unlocking lever (35), the handle (21) and the top plate (24) in a plurality of positions.

Abstract: A downhole adjustable stabilizer and method are disclosed for use in a well bore and along a drill string having a bit at the lower end thereof. A plurality of stabilizer blades are radially movable with respect to the stabilizer body, with outward movement of each stabilizer blade being in response to a radially movable piston positioned inwardly of a corresponding blade and subject to the pressure differential between the interior of the stabilizer and the well bore. A locking member is axially movable from an unlocked position to a locked position, such that the stabilizer blades may be locked in either their retracted or expanded positions. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the stabilizer may be sequenced from a blade expanded position to a blade retracted position by turning on and off a mud pump at the surface.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved knifegate valve 1, comprising a body 3, a knifegate 2, a gland box 4, an actuator 9, 10, 11 for inserting the knifegate 2 through the gland box 4 into the valve body 3 and retracting it therefrom, a support 5,6 for supporting the actuator 9, 10, 11 in spaced relation to the gland box 4 and the body 3 and a securing device 20 for securing the gland box 4 in such a way that it is capable of retaining packing material 17 contained therein in a compressed state, wherein the improvement comprises connecting the securing device 6 to the support 5. The support may comprise a bridge 5 supported in spaced relation to the body 3 by pillars 6 connected to the body 3, in which case the securing device may comprise nuts 20 that are capable of cooperating with corresponding external threads on the pillars 6 to secure the gland box lid 14 to its base 13.

Abstract: Improved methods and apparatus are provided for obtaining multiple fluid samples from subterranean formations of interest. The present invention is particularly well suited for testing nuclear migration in ground water utilizing test wells surrounding a nuclear test site. A plurality of flow ports are provided in the casing each at a depth of a formation of interest, and a sliding sleeve is positioned over each port. A wireline tool is lowered to the selective depth, and downhole electric motor energized to power a pump and pass pressurized fluid to move a first dog radially outward. The downhole tool may be axially moved until the first dog locks into a groove provided in the casing. Fluid entering the casing is sealed above and below the sliding sleeve. Fluid pressure may then be applied to move a second dog radially outward to engage the sliding sleeve, and a control valve regulated to apply fluid pressure to axially move the sleeve and open the port.

Abstract: A method for DNA sequencing, and particularly for sequencing of the entire human genome. Different base-specific reactions are utilized to use different sets of DNA fragments from a piece of DNA of unknown sequence. Each of the different sets of DNA fragments has a common origin and terminates at a particular base along the unknown sequence. The molecular weight of the DNA fragments in each of the different sets is detected by a matrix assisted laser absorption mass spectrometer to determine the sequence of the different bases in the DNA. The methods and apparatus of the present invention provide a relatively simple and low cost technique which may be automated to sequence thousands of gene bases per hour, and eliminates the tedious and time consuming gel electrophoresis separation technique conventionally used to determine the masses of DNA fragments.

Abstract: A lightweight mud pump piston assembly for reciprocating inside of a cylinder. The piston has decreased weight because light weight materials are used to form the majority of the hub which is the heaviest part of the piston. The piston maintains its compressive strength because the critical stress portions of the hub are made with high strength material having higher tensile strength and density than the light weight material.

Abstract: An improved technique more accurately determines pore pressure of sedimentary rock penetrated by a borehole from the earth's surface. Formation overburden is directly measured at one or more locations in the borehole, and a log of formation overburden is generated using the measured overburden pressures and conventional geophysical data. A linear relationship has been determined between the logarithm of effective stress for a specific mineral and the logarithm of solidity, which allows the maximum effective stress and the compaction exponent for that mineral to be determined. This linear relationship enables the effective stress and compaction exponent for rock comprising a combination of minerals to be precisely determined at multiple borehole intervals. The effective stress and overburden calculated according to the techniques to the present invention are particularly useful to geologist and well planners in the oil and gas industry.

Abstract: The present invention provides method and apparatus for mounting bird housings on a generally vertically oriented tubular member. An upper centralizer is mounted below a plate section which secures to the bird housing. The upper centralizer positions the mounting assembly within the tubular member. A lower centralizer or tension element secures the assembly into the tubular member but allows ready removal of the bird housing and attached mounting assembly.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an inoculation device including an easily manipulated handle together with microorganisms associated with a device for transferring and storing for extending periods stabilized, known microorganisms. This device is particularly useful in testing standard laboratory culture media. This device is easily produced by associating known microorganisms, either alone or together with a binding agent and other biologically acceptable additives and preservatives, with the sample transfer portion of the inoculation device. When substantially all of the water is removed from an inoculation device, including known microorganisms, the microbial containing device is storable for extended periods under sterile, dry conditions substantially free of water.