Abstract: A system for recycling solid waste into energy includes a heated enclosure 66, one or more input conveyors 60, 67 move waste materials through the heated enclosure, provide a flow line with a temperature gradient of at least 150 F.°, and mechanically move the waste particles and the residual solids along the flow line. A heated rotary drum 74 is in fluid communication with the flow line, and condenser unit 94, 98 receive vapors from the flow line and the rotary drum and output hydrocarbons. One or more discharge conveyors 76 discharge carbon black from the rotary drum. Control valves 80, 82 seal a vacuum downstream from the discharge conveyors, and control valves 34, 46 seal vacuum upstream from the one or more input conveyors. Various types of vacuum pumps may be used to maintain a selected vacuum between the control valves.

Abstract: A bottom hole assembly 10 for drilling a deviated borehole includes a positive displacement motor (PDM) 12 or a rotary steerable device (RSD) 110 having a substantially uniform diameter motor housing outer surface without stabilizers extending radially therefrom. In a PDM application, the motor housing 14 may have a fixed bend therein between an upper power section 16 and a lower bearing section 18. The long gauge bit 20 powered by the motor 10 may have a bit face 22 with cutters 28 thereon and a gauge section 24 having a uniform diameter cylindrical surface 26. The gauge section 24 preferably has an axial length at least 75% of the bit diameter. The axial spacing between the bit face and the bend of the motor housing preferably is less than twelve times the bit diameter. According to the method of the present invention, the bit may be rotated at a speed of less than 350 rpm by the PDM and/or rotation of the RSD from the surface.

Abstract: A flow-through instantaneous fluid heater system is designed to satisfy the need for a heater not limited by being connected to a storage tank and which can be made using a plastic casing, incorporating cool-down when out of service and with features of venting and simplified flushing and draining. The system incorporates the use of one or more compartments, usually assembled in two compartment modules connected in series. Each compartment includes a casing having a hollow cylindrical interior region. An inlet aperture is located at one end of the casing and an outlet aperture is located at the other end of the casing. The lower end of each casing is closed by a removable base and the upper end of the casing is closed by a top plate and a heating element. The heating element is positioned axially in the interior region of the compartment. The heating element is activated by a control system which senses and compares temperatures of the water at the compartment outlets.

Abstract: A self-cleaning exhaust system including a top, a front wall, a rear wall, and side walls extending between the rear wall and the front wall. A baffle depending from the top intermediate the front wall and the rear wall. A plate extending forwardly from the rear wall to forwardly of the baffle. A first filter is located in an air flow path. A first spray outlet is located in the air flow path before the first filter for providing a first cleaning spray into the air flow so that the air flow draws the cleaning spray onto a first surface of the first filter. A method of removing contaminants is also disclosed.

Abstract: A system and method for protecting a structure from wind damage utilizes a netting 12 positioned over the roof of the structure and a plurality of ground anchors 16, 17 at least partially below ground level and spaced from the structure. A plurality of perimeter cables 18, 20, 34 are each spaced about a perimeter portion of a netting when deployed, and a plurality of tie-downs 22 each interconnect one of the plurality of perimeter cables to a respective one of the plurality of anchors.

Abstract: A weighted scrub brush has a brush head defining a leading end, a trailing end, a pair of laterally opposing ends, a downwardly facing bristle support surface, and an upwardly opening weight recess. A weight having first and second opposing ends is removably positioned within the weight recess. Mating support members support the first end of the weight, while a cantilevered support latch partially overlaps the second end of the weight to secure the weight within the weight recess. A conduit extends from a liquid intake port, through the handle, and to the brush head to dispense liquid from the conduit to the plurality of bristles. A roller is secured to a central body portion of the brush head forward of the handle, such that the brush head may be pivoted to a forward, inverted position to roll the brush.

Abstract: The invention relates to a control mechanism for a timepiece of the type comprising a frame (10) defining a reference plane and, secured to this frame: a control rod (12) furnished with an annular groove (14) having a width l, an external diameter D and an internal diameter d, mounted so as to move in translation on the frame (10) along a first axis (AA?) included in said plane, and a retaining plate (20) mounted on the frame (10) parallel to said plane and comprising a locking piece (22) mounted so as to rotate about a second axis (BB?) perpendicular to the reference plane and interacting with said rod (12) by engagement in the groove (14), in order to limit its translational movement.

Abstract: An improved seasoning system 10, 11, 13 uniformly coats a food product with the desired amount of seasoning, with the seasoning rate preferably being controlled as a function of the product volume signals from the sensors 26, 34, 108 and 110. The seasoning system preferably utilizes linear motion conveyors and either a rotating drum 36 or a deflector 98 and a second seasoning unit 112, 114 between linear conveyors 94, 96. Oil may be sprayed onto food products and tumbled in a drum 16 which both rotates and moves in a reciprocating manner with the conveyor tray 14. An improved seasoning tray 123, 144, 148 has a planar floor 122, 138, 162 with an angled discharge edge 124, 137, 182 for uniformly distributing seasoning on the product. The seasoning system minimizes damage to the food product and uniformly coats the product with a desired amount of seasoning.

Abstract: Makeup plates on the abutting surfaces of a tool joint pin and a tool joint box are provided. The makeup plates are recessed in a short distance from the outer diameter of the tool joint elements, such that when the joint is made up, the makeup plate develops an easily visible gap between the tool elements. In this way, a quick determination may be made, without measurement, as to whether the joint can be refaced, or require re-machining.

Abstract: An improved tumble drum is provided for mixing one food product with another food product, and includes a rotating tumble drum for rotating the products about a drum axis of rotation, with the drum having a product input in one end and a product output in an axial opposing end. A tumble drive motor rotates the tumble drum. Another drive mechanism reciprocates the tumble drum linearly in a direction aligned with the axis of rotation. The product is discharged from the axial opposing end of the tumble drum. A product tray is providing for inputting food product to the tumble drum, and the rotating tumble drum may be fixed to the product tray such that the drive mechanism linearly rotates both the tumble drum and the product tray in a slow forward/backward manner.

Abstract: A receptacle 20 is removably secured to hull 12 of an offshore structure 10, and supports an elongate member 14, which may be a riser string, extending downward to the sea bed or to another structure. The elongate member 14 includes a tapered supporting surface 18, which may be provided on a tapered stress joint or flex joint 16. The receptacle 20 includes a mounting bracket 22 secured to the structure 10, and a basket housing 30 which has a tapered interior surface 34 for mating engagement with the exterior surface 18. According to the method, the mounting bracket is fixed to the structure, and the receptacle basket positioned about the elongate member and the assembly then positioned for being supported on the bracket. The supporting surface on the basket may be arranged for positioning the elongate member at a selected azimuth and declination relative to the offshore structure.

Abstract: Tubing rotator 10 includes a main body or rotator spool 20, a selected bottom connector 50, and a selected top connector 70. The bottom connector 50 may be adapted for a screw cap type wellhead or a flanged wellhead. The top connector may comprise a pin connection mandrel 72 with either a threaded or flanged upper end, or a flow-T and/or BOP housing that bolts to the top of the spool. The tubing rotator may be adapted for hanging the tubing directly from the tubing rotator or may be used with a double box bushing 110 hung within the tubing rotator. The tubing rotator may also use a swivel hanger 120 included in the tubing head.

Abstract: A system for forming a patch in a well at a location along a tubular string which has lost sealing integrity includes a central patch body 60, an upper expander body 52 carrying an upper seal 50 or 56, and a lower expander body 98 carrying a lower seal 102, 104. The running tool includes an inner mandrel 14 axially moveable relative to the central patch body, and one or more pistons 20, 30, 20A axially moveable relative to the inner mandrel in response to fluid pressure within the running tool. Top expander 48 is axially moveable downward relative to the upper expander body in response to movement of the one or more pistons. The expander sleeves may remain downhole to radially support the downhole tubular.

Abstract: An injection molding machine 10 utilizes a two part mold to produce a molded part. A machine includes a clamping mechanism 20 including one or more clamping cylinders 22 for applying a mold clamping force to the two part mold, an injection mechanism 30 for plasticizing material and injecting the plasticized material into the closed mold, and a controller 50 for powering the molding machine hydraulic system 52. In one embodiment, clamping pressure is automatically increased or decreased to allow air to escape as plasticized material flows into the mold cavity. In another embodiment, the controller provides a minimum clamp pressure to maintain the plasticized material within the mold as a function of fluid injection pressure to the screw member of the injection system.

Abstract: A GPS unit 40 outputs a ground speed signal to an agricultural dispenser for applying chemicals to a field or for planting seeds. A GPS receiver 3 receives satellite signals from a plurality of satellites, and outputs a vehicle ground speed signal based upon GPS calculations. A converter 5 converts the vehicle ground speed signal to a series of pulses having a frequency indicative of the vehicle ground speed. The pulses are then transmitted to the agricultural dispenser 52 which is pulled by a tractor 34 to apply the desired amount of chemicals to the field or for planting the desired amount of seeds as a function of the vehicle ground speed.

Abstract: A horizontal spool tree wellhead system 10 utilizes a casing 18, 19 installed in a well bore and a wellhead housing 20 at the upper end of the casing. A spool 23 of the horizontal tree 22 is connected to the upper end of the wellhead housing, and includes at least one radially extending side port. The BOP 28 is also installed at the upper end of the housing with a bore aligned with the wellhead housing bore. After drilling the well, the casing string 19 carrying a casing hanger 42 may be lowered through the bores of the BOP, the spool tree, and the wellhead housing and into the well. An orientation/isolation sleeve 60 may be installed in a predetermined rotational orientation with the spool tree. A tubing hanger 70 having a side port is landed onto the orientation sleeve and is automatically oriented to align the tubing hanger side port with the spool side port.

Abstract: An eductor mixing device (10) has a main body or housing (28) of a generally cylindrical shape and an inner tube (42) for one component to be mixed with a liquid is mounted in main body (28) with a vortex chamber (56) formed in an annulus between the main body (28) and the inlet flow tube (42). Pressurized liquid enters the vortex chamber through a generally rectangular entrance opening (36) along an arcuate surface (42) which smoothly merges with the cylindrical surface (30) of the main body or housing (28). A liquid in a swirling motion moves in a descending helical path about inner tube (42) and passes through a gap G between coaxial frusto-conical surfaces (55) and (68) of the converging inner nozzle (52) of the inner tube (42) and an outer coaxial liquid nozzle (60) of diffuser ring (58) .

Abstract: A method for improving ROP and reducing hazards in drilling subterranean wells by using an acoustical system 15 to look ahead of the drill bit 14, detects and analyzes geologic features ahead of the bit 14 which may be qualified as drilling hazards 17. Detection of such hazards 17 may facilitate use of more aggressively penetrating bits 14 such as PDC bits as opposed to roller cone bits. In addition, other drilling parameters may be adjusted to improve ROP due to the ability to timely respond to identified hazards 17 before they may be detrimentally encountered by the bit 14. The acoustic system 15 may look ahead of the bit 14 by at least 100 meters, using propagated acoustic waves 19 to locate changes in acoustic impedance which may represent drilling hazards 17. In addition, bulk resistivity ahead of the bit 14 may also be measured and used to locate drilling hazards 17.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for operating a vessel or pipeline closure. A closure 110 includes a hub 12 fixedly and sealingly secured to the vessel, and a cap 30 for threaded engagement with the hub 12. An anchor 122 may be fixedly secured to the hub, and a plurality of stops 132 each may be fixedly secured to a periphery of the cap 30. An end of a threaded rod 144 is attached to a selected stop, which may be a slot in the cap. A threaded collar 127 advances the threaded rod 144 axially, thereby rotating the cap 30 relative to the hub 12.