Abstract: A novel materials technology has been developed and demonstrated for providing a high modulus composite material for use to 1000° F. and above. This material can be produced at 5-20% of the cost of refractory materials, and has higher structural properties. This technology successfully resolves the problem of “thermal shock” or “ply lift,” which limits traditional high temperature laminates (such as graphite/polyimide and graphite/phenolic) to temperatures of 550-650° F. in thicker (0.25″ and above) laminates. The technology disclosed herein is an enabling technology for the nose for the External Tank (ET) of the Space Shuttle, and has been shown to be capable of withstanding the severe environments encountered by the nose cone through wind tunnel testing, high temperature subcomponent testing, and full scale structural, dynamic, acoustic, and damage tolerance testing.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of manufacturing a soft-solid elastomer custom ear device into which electronics are embedded provides a completely in-the-ear hearing aid with a soft body. This technology replaces hard acrylic ear molding. This hearing aid by virtue of its soft-solid design, meets the needs of the dynamic human ear canal which cannot be met with conventional hard acrylic molding. This hearing aid provides improved comfort and sound quality by better adapting to the dynamic changes in the ear canal which occur during everyday activities. This soft custom body also provides for ear-worn configurations of all subminiature electronic devices requiring discrete coupling to the human ear. These devices include digital telephones, cellular telephones, pagers, two-way communication systems, clocks, recorders, and many other subminiature technologies.

Abstract: A packaged, transportable waste treatment system for hazardous and non-hazardous wastes comprises a pair of mixing tanks having a flow inlet at the lower bottom central portion of the tanks, the flow inlet providing an injection conduit which proceeds vertically a distance into one of the tanks. A floc concentration tube is provided with an inner bore, the tube being vertically mounted in the tank about the injection conduit with the tube having a lower fluid inlet and an upper fluid outlet, the fluid inlet being in communication with the tank by means of a plurality of perforations in the tube at the fluid inlet adjacent the bottom of the tank. A rotatable propeller shaft having a mixing propeller mounted thereon is attached to the tank structure, the shaft being mounted at least in the tube bore above the injection conduit with the propeller being between the lower fluid inlet and the upper outlet immediately adjacent the outlet of the injection conduit.

Abstract: A modular well testing unit for use in hostile environments provides a plurality of modular sections providing upon assembly an enclosed structure for housing the components of the well testing unit, each of the modular sections being self-supporting and transportable. Upon assembly insulation is provided to give an internal controlled environment surrounded by a substantially continuous external shell. Access internally allows movement between adjacent modular sections by personnel, for example. A production intake allows an oil stream from an oil or gas well to be tested to be transmitted to the interior portion of the enclosure. An outlet is provided for discharging oil as well as air, gases, and liquids other than oil such as water. A plurality of well-testing, fluid-handling vessels are disposed respectively in the plurality of modular sections.

Abstract: A high pressure gate valve apparatus provides an elongated cylindrical valve body providing a fluid conveying linear cylindrical longitudinal bore of substantially uniform configuration. A gate valving member is movable within the valve body entirely within the confines of the valve body and not projecting laterally therebeyond. The valve member is movable at generally right angles to and intersecting the fluid conveying bore with the gate valving member providing a flow opening therethrough, the valving member being movable within the valve body between open flow and closed flow positions. A pair of spaced generally parallel cylindrical drive chamber is provided on the valve body substantially parallel to the central flow conveying bore.

Abstract: A drill string safety valve operator provides a rotatable tubular body having a longitudinal through bore for conveying fluids. A valve member is movably disposed within the body for valving the fluid flow through the bore. A crank arm extends from and is coupled to the valve member at the valve stem for moving the valve member between open flow and closed flow positions responsive to rotation of the crank arm. A bearing is carried at the outboard end of the crank arm for transmitting load to the crank arm. An annular ring is supported about the tubular housing and provides a surface that can engage the bearing. Hydraulic cylinders power the annular ring so that the annular ring engages the bearing. Downward movement of the ring causes a corresponding downward movement of the bearing and a corresponding rotation of the crank arm. The apparatus thus allows quick remote closure of the valve during a blowout condition of the drill pipe bore.

Abstract: An improved video game control console is provided for use with home video game computers. The apparatus adjusts to the lap of the players by using a pair of spaced apart controller containers which slide upon a frame. Each container is centered on each leg respectively of the player and can be fastened thereto. The two controller containers are clamped upon the frame when the desired spacing is reached. The containers have ample surface area so that oversized controls can be used which facilitate better play with less player fatigue.

Abstract: An automatic rod and reel support carriage apparatus automatically rotates the reel crank to retrieve a line. The apparatus provides a weighted base frame upon which is securely fastened a motordrive. A rotating hub provides radially spaced recesses which engage the reel crank. A carriage is also supported by the base for holding the reel in a position which engages the reel crank with the hub. A pivotally movable trigger provides a ferrule at its end portion which loosely engages the line so that the line can pass through the ferrule. The trigger actuates the motor drive when the line is tensed such as when a fish pulls on the line. When such tension pulls the line, the trigger is deflected and closes a microswitch that actuates the motordrive. Absent tension on the line, the trigger deflects the line away from the axis of the rod and the trigger is disengaged from the microswitch.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing a high intensity, ultraviolet, electronic video image is provided. The apparatus includes an electronic video imaging tube for printing on vesicular microfilm, diazo microfilm, and diazo paper and the like. The tube is constructed of a housing having an interior with an electron gun emitting a scanning electron beam across a path which intersects the interior of the housing. A phosphor target of ultraviolet phosphor is disposed within the housing interior and is positioned upon the path for reflecting therefrom a high intensity, ultraviolet video image. The phosphor target is preferably convex, and concentric with a curved surface portion of the housing. The curved surface portion of the housing reflects the high intensity, ultraviolet video image from the interior of the housing to the exterior portion thereof. A reduction lens assembly can be provided for diverging or converging the image as desired.

Abstract: A vessel supported shrimp trawl cage system provides a pair of spaced apart nets which are supported at the water surface by the vessel so that a forward end of the net defines a net opening and the rear of the net defines a tail. A pair of cages corresponding to the pair of nets are supported in a partially submerged position by the vessel and have a cage inlet which is forward facing and connects to the tail of the net so that shrimp caught in the net are fed into the cage via the tail of the net. The cage includes a plurality of cage surfaces of preferably rigid perforated material such as expanded metal and are connected at their edges to form an enclosure which confines the shrimp entering the cage from the nets. Confinement is preferably on the top, sides, and bottom as well as the rear so that the shrimp cannot escape by swimming or by jumping from the cage.

Abstract: A hand-held defense weapon provides a first and second pair of shafts which are connected together at a common pivot located at the central portion of each shaft. A pair of handles are respectively on one end of each shaft and a pair of blunt elements are mounted on the other end of each shaft opposite the handle. A third shaft is connected to the common pivot at one end of that shaft with the shaft carrying a blunt element at the other end. The three shafts are thus independently movable with respect to the pivot and with respect to each other so that the apparatus can be positioned between any selected fingers of a user's hands, the shafts collapsing with respect to each other for storage to a position where the shafts are generally aligned side by side. The blunt elements can be removable to expose tips which are "tooled" such as Phillips, or flat-head screwdrivers or the like. Preferably the blunt elements would be spherical members threadably attached to the ends of the shafts.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed for drilling a well. A separator sub includes a cyclone separator which separates a stream of drilling mud into a less dense first portion and more dense second portion. The stream of drilling mud flows downward in an annular stream around the cyclone separator and then flows into a lower end of the cyclone separator. The less dense first portion of the stream of drilling mud is directed from the cyclone separator downward to a drill bit so that the drilling mud adjacent the drill bit has a density less than an initial density of the stream of drilling mud. The more dense second portion of the stream of drilling mud is directed upward from the cyclone separator and is ejected into a well annulus with an upward component of velocity and thereby reduces a hydrostatic drilling mud pressure adjacent the drill bit.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed for drilling a well. A separator sub is used to separate a stream of drilling mud into a less dense first portion and more dense second portion. The less dense first portion of the stream of drilling mud is directed downward to a drill bit so that the drilling mud adjacent the drill bit has a density less than an initial density of the stream of drilling mud. The more dense second portion of the stream of drilling mud is ejected into a well annulus with an upward component of velocity and thereby reduces a hydrostatic drilling mud pressure adjacent the drill bit.

Abstract: A kelly valving apparatus for controlling flow of fluid through a kelly and drill string comprises a rotatable tubular section having a fluid conveying bore adapted to be attached to the drill string at the kelly with a valve associated valve body valving the flow of fluids through the bore. A remotely operable operator is rotatable with the rotatable tubular section, operably engaging the valve for moving the valve between positions which open and close the bore, the operator including at least one hydraulic cylinder having an extensible ram actuated by hydraulic fluid, and linkage is connected to the valve and the hydraulic cylinder so that extension/contraction of the ram effects an opening or closure of the bore. A liquid interface fluid collector ring is positioned adjacent the rotatable tubular section for transmitting pressurized hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic cylinder, even during spinning of the cylinder with the tubular section.

Abstract: An improved barge and tug connection apparatus comprises a barge having a V-notched portion for receiving a tug into the V-notch. A tug for pushing the barge is disposed during operation within the notch allowing the tug to pitch and heave in the notch relative to the barge responsive to wave action. An articulated bow fender attached normally to the bow of the tug and disposed during operation between the bow of the tug and a portion of the notch of the barge longitudinally spaces the barge from the bow of the tug. The articulated bow fender maintains a substantially constant horizontal spacing of the barge with respect to the tug in a longitudinal direction while allowing both the tug along its entire length to pitch and heave with respect to the barge responsive to wave action.

Abstract: A method of driving composite timber pile sections provides a pair of timber pile sections, the first of which is driven into the earth a distance leaving the butt of the pile exposed. A splice element is embedded into the remaining pile section and leveling material is added to the top of the first pile section. Upon assembly and during driving, the leveling material is laterally confined with the splice element while the respective mating surfaces of the two pile sections confine the leveling material vertically with the leveling material thus transferring compressive load between the two pile sections. In the preferred embodiment the splice element is a cylindrical element having a hollow inner bore which during operation contains the leveling material. An initially displaceable but later setting, non-displaceable material such as mortar (a mixture of cement, sand and water) could be used as the leveling material.

Abstract: A protective vest for use by motorcycle riders, snow mobile riders, rodeo riders and the like provides an integral inner vest of cushioned material such as foam having a vertical opening at the front portion thereof and a pair of arm openings allowing it to be dorned by a wearer. A lowermost circumferential armor plate of hardened plastic, for example, extends from the vertical opening 360.degree. degrees around the wearer and vertically from the lowermost portion of the vest upwardly a distance terminating at the middle portion of the vest. The hardened armor plate is bonded, for example, directly to the innermost foam vest. A pair of bilaterally symmetrical hardened plates extend from the mid portion of the vest upwardly over the shoulder of the vest and downwardly onto the back portion thereof forming a pair of bilaterally symmetric continuous armor plated panels separate from the lowermost panel and from each other.

Abstract: The present invention provides unique hinge means comprising three components, two of which are wedge shaped members or segments which slidably pivot relative to each other about a central pivot point and the third being a base bracket pivotably attached to the center wedge whereby the two wedge members fan open relative to the base bracket in operational sequence.The present hinge finds particular application for use in a solid rigid suitcase and which is adapted for retaining garments in a full length arrangement. The present suitcase comprises two halves operably connected along their bottom portions by opposing pairs of expanding hinges positioned at each end.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the mounting of lift cranes on jackup rigs, offshore platforms, and like offshore structures provides a first static bearing race portion which is mounted upon the jacking structure, for example, of a jackup rig surrounding the telescoping leg associated therewith. On offshore platforms, a vertical leg portion of the jacket can be extended vertically with the static bearing race portion being affixed to the extended vertical jacket leg. A second movable bearing race portion is attached to the static race portion with a plurality of bearings therebetween allowing the first and second bearing race portions to rotate with respect to one another. The crane is then supported on the upper bearing race portion with the telescoping leg of the jackup rig or offshore jacket structure passing through both bearing race portions, the crane structure unencumbering vertical movement of the leg in the case of a jackup rig.

Abstract: A foot-powered wheeled vehicle provides a frame having a platform normally occupied by a user. A pair of spaced apart front and rear trucks each supports a pinion geared shaft and a pair of wheels affixed to opposite ends of the shaft and rotatably with respect to the platform. A pair of independently actuable front and rear foot pedals hingedly are connected to the frame, each of the pedals being movable as desired by the operator between upper relaxed and lower depressed positions with each of the pedals being capable of imparting rotational energy to the wheels associated with its truck. Return springs are associated with each of the pedals for independently biasing each of the pedals toward the upper position which is overcome only by depression by the foot of the operator. Each pedal provides a curved toothed gear rack which is connected at its uppermost end portion to the pedal and which drivingly engages the pinion gear portion of the shaft responsive to depression of the pedal.