Abstract: Container (10) has a plastic bag (26) filled with a particulate material and sealed within the plastic bag (26). A rear bulkhead (42) at the rear end of the container is positioned adjacent the plastic bag (26) and a tubular discharge fitting (50) is mounted on bulkhead (42). A vacuum unloading device (58) has a pair of rigid conduits (60), (62) secured to each other in a perpendicular relationship. Unloading device (58) is arranged for connection to discharge fitting (50) by coupling (66) and adaptor (72). Upon slitting or puncturing of the plastic bag (26) and tilting of the front end of container (10) about the rear end thereof above the angle of repose of the particulate material being unloaded, the particulate material is discharged by gravity into the vacuum unloading device (58). The particulate material is drawn by a vacuum through conduit (60) into pneumatic conduit (62) for transport to a suitable storage facility.

Abstract: A dynamometer readout (42, 46) and method is disclosed for obtaining dynamometer information (110) related to pumpjacks (10). For this purpose, a change of pivotal direction of the walking beam (18) may be detected by processor (82) utilizing an encoder component (60) with spaced slots (64) therein and light signal devices (68, 70, 72, 74) positioned to have a spacing different from that of the spacing of the slots (64). Software techniques filter out effects of stray mechanical vibrations. An infrared transceiver (46, 50, 100) of a preferred embodiment includes a radio frequency carrier generator (90) and modulator (88) that produces an infrared signal receivable by a low cost consumer radio receiver. The radio frequency modulation technique for infrared signals (96) and related filtering (98, 102, 104) condition formatted infrared signals for utilization in daylight and through a car window for drive-by downloading of data to second computer (108). A sensor (163) may be substituted for the encoder.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for obtaining a secure mechanical connection and a pressure-tight seal in the overlapping area of two telescoping tubular bodies. The two bodies, including the overlapping area, are radially expanded to increase the inside diameter of the bodies. The expansion forces an annular seal in the overlapping area into a pressure-sealing engagement between the bodies. A string of pipe assembled from joints secured to each other by telescoping, threadedly engaged expanded pin and box connections may be radially expanded into a surrounding well bore to provide a cased well having an internal diameter greater than the original internal diameter of the pipe string. The seal in the connection comprises an annular elastomeric seal ring and an annular Teflon spacer ring carried in a specially dimensioned groove formed in either the box or the pin, or both members of the connection.

Abstract: An oilfield tubular string 10, 60, 60A comprising a plurality of elongate joints having one or both ends threaded. The joints may be connected by a coupling including a generally sleeve shaped coupling body having a tapered upstream thread profile and a tapered downstream thread profile for threaded engagement with a mating profile of a respective joint. The coupling body includes a low stress flex groove 30 having a selected box thread runout bevel angle, and all transitions in the flex groove between surfaces are radiused to greater than 0.100 inches to minimize stress risers. A pin-in-box connection between tubular joints includes mating tapered threads 72, engagement of end shoulder 74, 76, 78, and 80, and a low stress flex groove 82. The present invention allows the elongate joints to be used as both a casing string and a drill string, thereby saving significant time and expense.

Abstract: A nut assembly (10) for engaging an externally threaded bolt (12). Nut assembly (10) includes a cylindrical casing (16) and a nut (20) secured to cylindrical casing (16) projects a substantial distance from cylindrical casing (16) to permit rotation of nut assembly (10) by a suitable conventional wrench. Three internally threaded arcuate segments (28) are mounted within cylindrical casing (16) to engage external screw threads (14) on bolt (12). Detents (40) are formed integrally with cylindrical body (16) and project radially inwardly of the inner peripheral surface (24) of cylindrical casing (16). Detents (40) fit in grooves (41) in segments (28) to connect segments (28) for rotation with cylindrical body (16) and cap (20).

Abstract: Alternate embodiments of a vehicle tire inflation system equipped with a low tire pressure warning device are illustrated wherein a pressure regulating valve controls the pressure delivered to the tires from a pressurized air source and has an integrated electrical switch to indicate if the pressure regulating valve is supplying air to a tire.

Abstract: A differential impulse conveyor 10, 80, 90, 100 includes a tray 12 which is driven in a forward direction at a slow speed and a backward direction at a higher speed to slide goods with respect to the tray and thereby move goods along the tray. The drive motor 26, 27 powers the tray in the forward and backward directions through a drive shaft 40 and a tray crank 66, 106 interconnecting the drive shaft and the tray. Controller 84 is provided for varying the rotational speed of the motor shaft, thereby avoiding mechanical knock in the drive system. In another embodiment, a pair of counterweights 52, 62 are provided on opposing sides of the drive shaft 40, with respective counterweight cranks 46, 56 initiating forward movement of each counterweight at a preselected offset angular position with respect to forward movement of the tray.

Abstract: A double-tube core drill wherein the inner tube (2) is connected to the outer tube (1) by a multi-element needle and/or ball bearing (11), allows for the inner tube (2) to be made rigid and prevents it from rotating along with the outer tube (1). The extraction device (9) and the inner wall (38) of the tube are preferably covered with an antifriction coating. A set of stabilizing elements (67) are spread along the outer tube to stabilize the inner tube (2). Said inner tube has a tapered shoe (32) provided with a lower bevelled lip (14). The drill also comprises a device for indicating that the core has jammed in the inner tube (2) and a sealing device (19) designed to receive a ball (46) provided for sealing the inner tube (2) of said core drill.

Abstract: An apparatus for connecting first and second tubular bodies comprising first and second flange assemblies, each of which has a hub and an annular flange in surrounding relationship to the hub, the hubs and flanges having engageable, complementary frustoconical surfaces that, when the first and second flange assemblies are subjected to compressive loading by means of threaded studs and nuts, cooperate to urge seal faces on the hubs into metal-to-metal sealing contact.

Abstract: A thermowell assembly (20) shown in FIG. 2 is positioned in a pipeline (10) for sensing the temperature of the fluid medium in the pipeline (10) for transmitting the sensed temperature to a meter (12). A temperature sensing probe is received within a temperature conducting tube (36) forming a thermowell and having a plurality of annular fins (40) extending thereabout. In the embodiments of FIGS. 1-7, a liquid (50) is provided in an annular space between the thermocouple (28) and the temperature conducting tube (36). Non-metallic members (70, 74, 80) are positioned between the pipeline (10) and the temperature transmitting tube (36) to isolate thermocouple (28) from ambient changes in the temperature of metal pipeline (10) which may result in an error in the temperature of the flow medium sensed by the thermowell assembly (20). High temperature embodiments shown in FIGS.

Abstract: A method and system for drilling or cutting a subterranean well or formation 52 using a drilling rig 5, a drill string 55, a plurality of solid material impactors 100, a drilling fluid and a drill bit 60 is disclosed. This invention may have particular utility in drilling wells for the petroleum industry and for cutting formation in the mining and tunnel boring industries. In a preferred embodiment, a plurality of solid material impactors are introduced into the drilling fluid and pumped through the drill string and drill bit to impact the formation ahead of the bit. At the point of impact, a substantial portion by weight of the impactors may have sufficient energy to structurally alter, excavate, and/or fracture the impacted formation. The majority by weight of the plurality of solid material impactors may have a mean diameter of at least 0.100 inches, and may structurally alter the formation to a depth of at least twice the mean diameter of the particles comprising the impacted formation.

Abstract: A low temperature, low bath ratio, tensionless and short-term dyeing method using microwaves, comprises the steps of: immersing dyed goods in a vessel filled with dye solution comprising water present in an amount twice as much as the goods to be dyed, a disperse dye present in a ratio of disperse dye to goods to be dyed of 1:1000, a dispersing agent present in a ratio of dispersing agent to dye of below 1:100, and irradiating the dyed goods with microwaves below 2450 MHZ in order to heat them to a temperature of 100-130° C.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for separating gas and solids from well fluids in a borehole including a gas-solids separator (34) having an outer tubular member (44) and an inner flow tube (46). A gas spiral housing (62) has a gas spiral (66) at its lower end positioned beneath a plurality of perforations (60) in tubular member (44). A solid spiral (70) is positioned below upper gas spiral (66) and a swirl chamber (71) is provided between gas spiral (66) and solids spiral (70). Gas separated by gas spiral (66) flows upwardly in inner gas annulus (72) to gas reservoir (74) for discharge by ball check valve (76). The solids are separated by solids spiral (70) and the clean liquid after the gas and solids have been separated flows upwardly in flow tube (46) and pipe string (14) from lower swirl chamber (80). An embodiment shown in FIG. 5 provides a shroud (27A) about a downhole motor (20A) to effect cooling of motor (20A).

Abstract: A metal salt removal procedure for use with a crude oil flow is disclosed. A small amount of water, and a caustic in the range of 7-12 pH, and preferably 9-12 pH, are injected to form water bubbles surrounded by oil. An ethylene oxide reacted with polypropylene glycol at 350° F. or so yields a water soluble demulsifier added at the rate of a few ppm to the water in oil mix. The added reaction product, a polyol, enables metal salt isolation in the water.

Abstract: Apparatus (1) and process for treating particulate material or powder (33) of a size capable of being fluidized in a retort (31) mounted for rotation on a pair of end axles (18, 41). Retort (31) is mounted on a tilt frame (5) for tilting movement in a vertical plane. Gas conduits (18A, 18B) are mounted within an axle (18) for the supply and exhaust of gas for retort (31). A conduit (55) mounted within the other axle (41) permits particulate material to be passed into or out of the retort (31) as shown in FIG. 1B. A removable injection assembly (90, FIG. 10) is utilized for the injection of additional particulate material. A removable sampling assembly (95, FIG. 11) is utilized for removing a sample of the particulate material from the retort (31). As the retort (31) is rotated, particles of the particulate material are constantly intermingled with each other and the walls of the retort (31). Microwave energy as shown in FIGS. 13-14 may be utilized to heat or dry materials within the retort (31).

Abstract: The invention combines a mud motor, a drill bit, a transmission, an underreamer and a torque tube to simultaneously drill a well by rotating the drill bit in one direction and the underreamer in the opposite direction to balance the torque supplied to the bit and the underreamer.

Abstract: A discharge gate mechanism or structure for proportioning a volume of goods between two flow streams. The gate discharge structure includes a one-piece tube 22 having a gate discharge opening 92 therein. A feed trough 20 is connected to tube 22 for reciprocal simultaneous movement with tube 22 for moving the goods along trough 20 and tube 22. A motor 86 is effective to rotate tube 22 and opening 92 therein relative to feed trough 20 to position discharge opening 92 at a desired location for controlling the discharge of goods between two flow streams.

Abstract: A single-stage method for producing &agr;-hydroxy ethers by oxidizing olefinic substrates with organic hydroperoxides and opening the resultant oxirane ring by means of monovalent or polyvalent alcohols wherein a molybdenum compound in combination with a compound selected from the group consisting of boron trifluoride, aluminum oxides, 1,8-diazabicyclo-[5.4.0]-undec-7-ene or 1,4-diazabicyclo-[2.2.2]-octane, and mixtures thereof is used as a catalyst system.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for drilling a well bore 60 through a subterranean formation using a drilling rig 25 and a drill string 50, whereby the bottom hole pressure while circulating drilling fluid (“ECD”) may be substantially maintained when circulation is interrupted or altered, such as when adding a joint of drill pipe to or removing a joint of drill pipe from the drill string. The method includes controllably applying and maintaining a desired variable annulus fluid pressure in the well bore, and thereafter controllably releasing the pressure from the well bore 60. In addition, methods and systems are provided for rotating the drill string while trapping, maintaining and/or releasing the well bore pressure. A substantially constant ECD pressure may be maintained on a formation, thereby facilitating the use of a lower density drilling fluid than may otherwise be required to maintain well control.