Abstract: A water based drilling fluid and process for using the same comprising a mixture of water and a polymer complex, wherein the polymer complex is the reaction product of a dispersant selected from the group consisting of lignite, sulfonated lignite, lignosulfonate, and sulfoalkylated lignite, and salts thereof and a water-soluble sulfonated polystyrene having a molecular weight of at least 70,000 and containing 0.7 to 2.0 sulfonic acid groups per styrene unit.

Abstract: A means and method for assuring a tight sealing closure of a valve in a high temperature condition, such as fire, is provided by an expendable link on the downstream side of the valve stem and an intumescent material and piston on the upstream side of the valve stem so that, at an elevated temperature condition, the expendable link gives way to create a tolerance allowing the piston driven by the expanding intumescent material to shift the valve closure element in the direction of the valve seat to accommodate for any deterioration of the valve seal.

Abstract: A valve assembly comprising a valve housing defining an internal valve cavity and a fluid flow passageway, a valve element rotatably received in the valve cavity to control flow through the passageway, one of the valve housing or the valve element defining a seating surface, the other defining a seal member carrying surface, and a seal member carried on the seal member carrying surface on either the valve housing or the valve element for engaging the seating surface and effecting a seal between the valve using the valve element, the seal member being comprised of an intumescent material.

Abstract: A water based drilling fluid and process for using the same comprising a mixture of water and a polymer complex, wherein the polymer complex is the reaction product of a dispersant selected from the group consisting of lignite, sulfonated lignite, lignosulfonate, and sulfoalkylated lignite, and salts thereof and a water-soluble sulfonated polystyrene having a molecular weight of at least 70,000 and containing 0.7 to 2.0 sulfonic acid groups per styrene unit.

Abstract: A connector assembly includes a pin connector for receipt by a box connector. The pin connector features a neck portion having external threads; the box connector features a collar portion having internal threads, generally complementary for meshing with the external threads. The connectors may be threadedly joined together by longitudinally inserting the pin connector into the box connector, whereupon the two connectors are mutually sealed at two locations on opposite sides of the internal and external threads to define, with the threads, an annular region. Application of fluid pressure to the annular region may radially expand the region to permit further insertion of the pin connector into the box connector to mutually align the internal and external threads. Release of the fluid pressure permits mutual meshing between the threads to threadedly connect the pin and box connectors.

Abstract: A downhole packer assembly includes a first packer tool with a flexible tubular packer body which is radially extendable by virtue of fluid pressure in a packer set chamber. A generally annular packer foundation, including an upper packer head, is connected to the upper end of the packer body. The tool defines a bypass flow system for permitting flow of fluid from the packer set chamber to a central longitudinal flowway of the assembly and from this central flowway to the exterior of the assembly. A control sub adjacent the packer foundation is movable with respect to the packer foundation between a first position, for opening the bypass system, and a second position, closing the bypass system. The control sub is preferably further operative, in its first position, to permit communication between the central flowway and the packer set chamber, and in its second position, to close the packer set chamber. A second packer tool is connected in tandem with the first tool.

Abstract: A valve assembly comprising a valve housing defining an internal valve cavity and a fluid flow passageway, a valve element rotatably received in the valve cavity to control flow through the passageway, one of the valve housing or the valve element defining a seating surface, the other defining a seal member carrying surface, a coating of intumescent material disposed on at least a portion of either the seating surface or the seal member carrying surface, and a seal member carried on the seal member carrying surface on either the valve housing or the valve element for engaging the seating surface and effecting a seal between the valve using and the valve element.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming elevated structures. A first construction component is emplaced at a construction site, supported by an underlying earth formation. A second construction component is locked in cantilevered relation to the first such component. A support is extended downwardly from the second component, distal the first component, into load bearing engagement with the earth formation, whereafter the second component is interlocked to the support. The ends of the longitudinal components have improved locks in which a connector of the male lock can be passed through a receiving bore in a female lock only if oriented in a particular angular position, whereafter, if rotated to a different angular position, it cannot be withdrawn from the receiving bore. Similar locks are provided for interconnecting such longitudinal components in side-by-side relation via transom components.

Abstract: A bracket for installing panels, such as aluminum siding, is formed by an elongated member having a cross section providing great rigidity and a cross bar section having a profile for engaging a bottom marginal channel of a panel member. The bracket can either be first mounted on the sructure and the panel received thereon or it can be mounted in the panel and then fixedly attached to the structure to secure the panel thereto.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a tubing drain valve suitable for use in a borehole and a method for operating the disclosed valve. This device is particularly useful in a production pipe string where it provides a convenient apparatus and method for draining production fluid from the string in order to facilitate a variety of activities. More particularly, the present invention relates to a tubing drain valve actuated to its open position by a force developed across the working surfaces of a movable piston by the pressure in the interior of the production string and actuated to its closed position by a mechanical device. Preferably, the tubing drain valve of the present invention further comprises structure to bias the valve to its closed position and structure to bias the valve in its open position. The valve of the present invention is actuated by overcoming the appropriate biassing forces.

Abstract: Discussed is a moisture resistant seam assembly for use with adjoining channel-shaped building surface covering members having adjoining mating flanges which form an elongate seam, the moisture resistant seam assembly comprising an elongate seam cover member adapted to be positioned over the elongate seam of the adjoining mating flanges of the adjoining channel-shaped building surface covering members and an elongate seal member with the elongate seam cover member for sealably engaging the adjoining mating flanges for preventing fluid migration between the seal cover member and the elongate seam.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring flow parameters of an unknown fluid uses four pressure sensors at fixed, spaced locations within a cylindrical member having a constricted and a full diameter portion. The constricted portion has a smooth surface of transition at its entry, internal corrugations, and a sharp increase to the full diameter at its exit. There are no moving parts. All flow parameters can be calculated from the four pressure measurements taken at the entry and exit of the constricted portion and two aligned but separated locations spaced from the sharp increase to full diameter.

Abstract: The invention comprises a drag-type drill bit including a bit body adapted for rotative movement in a pre-determined direction in use and having an operating end face, and a plurality of cutting members mounted in the bit body. Each of the cutting members has a stud portion disposed in a respective recess in the bit body and defining the inner end of the cutting member, and a cutting face generally adjacent its outer end facing outwardly through the operating end face of the bit body and terminating in an outermost cutting edge. The centerline of the stud portion is rearwardly inclined, from the outer end to the inner end, with respect to the direction of movement in use, taken at the midpoint of the cutting edge, at a first angle from 80.degree. to 30.degree. inclusive. The cutting face is oriented such that the tangent to the cutting face at the midpoint of the cutting edge and in the central plane of the cutting member is disposed at a second angle, from 18.degree. to 75.degree.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an apparatus useful for measuring the flow of an abrasive fluid. The present invention comprises a rotary metering device particularly useful for the measurement of oil well production fluids including sand and other abrasive materials. The present invention comprises a rotary metering device for repetitively producing a measuring chamber by the shuttle movement of a plurality of symmetrically disposed blades through slots in a rotor body into and out of a fluid flow channel between the rotor body and its housing. The rotor body of the present invention includes slots having surfaces comprised of a highly wear resistant metal, preferably having a hardness between about 40 and about 70 on the Rockwell C hardness scale to increase the service life of the meter.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an apparatus and method for providing a tubing drain valve suitable for use in a borehole. The present invention is particularly useful in connection with production strings employed in wells producing heavy, sand-bearing oils. The invention comprises a tubing drain valve operable independently of any action or condition on the interior of the pipe string. The tubing drain valve of the present invention is opened in response to the pulling of the pipe string from the borehole. A plurality of dogs carried by a sleeve biased to an initial position about a tubular member suitable for incorporation in a pipe string and including a valved passage through the side wall thereof are designed to engage the casing and temporarily prevent movement of the sleeve as the pipe string is being pulled from the borehole. Continued pulling of the string produces relative movement of the sleeve and tubular member along the longitudinal axis of the tubular member.

Abstract: The invention concerns a device for the cooling of hot gaseous solids suspensions, particularly for the cooling of hot gaseous TiO.sub.2 suspensions resulting from the production of titanium dioxide by vapor phase oxidation of titanium tetrachloride. The device consists of a number of coaxially connected constructional units, each of which consists of three jacketed tubes, i.e., tubes 1, 2 and 3, which are coaxially connected in such a way that tube 1 conically tapers toward tube 2 and that tube 3 is larger in diameter than tube 2. Heat transfer is twice as high in the device of the invention as in a comparable conventional cooling tube of uniform inner diameter; moreover, the demand of scrub solids needed to prevent the formation of deposits on its walls is reduced to one third of the quantity needed in a conventional cooling tube.

Abstract: An apparatus for filling a container with a liquid to a predetermined weight which utilizes a scale which generates a control signal which is based on the weight of liquid within the container, a control valve such as a ball valve having a valve element which permits a selectively variable flow rate through the valve, an actuator which is operatively connected to the control valve to vary the position of the valve element and thereby vary the flow rate, a valve positioner to control the operation of the actuator/valve in response to a calculated positioning signal which is related to the control signal and which is generated by an interface arrangement operatively connected to the scale and the positioner.

Abstract: A mud pulse telemetry system for imparting data pulses to drilling fluids circulating in a drill string including an improved valve arrangment for modulating the pressure of the circulating drilling fluid is disclosed. A rotary acting shear-type valve is arranged in a through conduit configuration so that the seat face of the valve is covered when the valve is in an open position, thus preventing impingement of abrasive fluid particles on the valve seat face during the open flow position of the valve. The rotatable gate is positively driven through an arc in opposite directions by rotary solenoids so that a gate aperture is moved into and out of axial alignment with the opening in the valve seat to generate the pressure pulse. The rotary solenoid valve also permits a tailoring of the force curve of the solenoid for maximum power in actuation of larger flow orifices. The larger flow orifice permits generation of pressure pulses of increased amplitude.

Abstract: A pressure-operated valve is disclosed including a choke positioned between one or more inlet ports to the valve and a flow port within the valve defined by a seat to which a valve element may be sealed to close the valve. The choke includes one or more orifices to provide a constricted flow path such that control fluid, entering the inlet port, experiences a pressure drop before reaching the flow port, whereby fluid pressure downstream of the flow port may effectively control the configuration of the seat-and-valve element combination. The choke, which is sealed within the valve to prevent fluid flow around the choke, may be positioned at the inlet port to receive fluid flow into the valve.

Abstract: A gate valve, seat, and face seal therefor, the valve including a valve body defining a longitudinal flowway and a valve element mounted in the valve body and movable transverse to the flowway between open and closed positions. The valve seat mounted in the valve body includes a seat body having an axially facing annular contact face for opposition to the valve element and an annular groove extending axially thereinto, the annular groove in turn having inner and outer side walls. The face seal comprises an annular elastomeric seal body having a base portion disposed in the annular groove and a sealing portion which, in a relaxed condition, projects axially outwardly from the annular groove. The seal body further has an annular auxiliary sealing formation extending about its outer diameter and sealing engaging the outer side wall of the annular groove.