Abstract: A cryogenic fuel powered vehicle is disclosed. A cryogenic fuel, such as liquid nitrogen or other liquified gases, is stored in a container at a selected pressure. The apparatus includes a suitable container, a heat exchanger for adding heat to the cryogenic liquid to cause it to expand and convert to gas, a valving apparatus which controls the rate of flow of the expanded gas, and a power plant formed of at least one cylinder having a double acting piston. The double acting piston has inlet and exhaust valves connected to it. The relative timing of the opening of the intake valve is related to the movement of the piston by a cam and cam follower to reduce the gas pressure in the piston at the end of each stroke practically to zero to eliminate waste of the cryogenic fuel. The valve system is adjustable to accommodate depletion of the cryogenic storage container.

Abstract: In oil wells which utilize a reciprocating pump installed in a tubing string, an apparatus is disclosed which has the preferred form of a pair of telescoped tubular members threaded into the pump just above the lower end where sanding locks the pump. The two are telescoped together and are pinned by a shear pin. When it is time to pull the pump, if there is undue resistance to its removal from the tubing string, the shear pin will shear, releasing the two for telescoping movement. The innermost sleeve has a protruding shoulder limiting its upward travel. When the telescoping movement occurs, a set of slots is exposed. The slots open to the interior, and sand accumulated around the tool under pressure of a column of liquid standing thereabove washes down through the slots and out of the way. If no sanding occurs, the shear pin is not sheared and the two telescoped members maintain their original position.

Abstract: A hydraulic motor for use in a drill string is disclosed. The motor incorporates a closed hydraulic system having a piston exposed to variations in mud flow pressure. The piston reciprocates and by its movement pumps hydraulic fluid in a closed hydraulic circuit. A motor is driven. The motor is supported on a hollow drive shaft. The drive shaft extends through the tool. It is hollow to permit mud flow to continue to the drill bit attached therebelow. The motor is attached to the exterior and rotates the shaft. The hydraulic fluid from the motor is returned to a reservoir and flows in a closed circuit from it. All of the equipment is in a closed elongate housing threading into the drill string.

Abstract: A booster dolly for use by tow trucks is disclosed. The booster dolly is useful where a blowout or wheel bearing failure in a trailer has occurred as might happen to submersible boat trailers. The apparatus incorporates in the preferred embodiment an axle brace which supports slidable mounted V-shaped pillow blocks. They are moved along the axle brace to locations where they then support the axle of the failed trailer thereabove. One of the two pillow blocks stands taller than the other and it is provided with a downwardly extending portion which adjustably connects with a tandem brace. The tandem brace is adjustably maintained at some distance below the axle brace. The tandem brace is drilled with appropriate mounting openings to receive a set of dolly wheels thereon, the dolly wheels mounted on removable stub axles and being pin fixed in position. This apparatus enables a failed trailer to be carried on the dolly.

Abstract: An improved carton construction is disclosed. In the illustrated embodiment, it utilizes a top closure which folds over the top of the assembled carton, therebeing a matching closure on the opposite side to define a central opening for ventilating the fruit. Each top closure has appended at each end a curved skirt which terminates in a protruding tab. The tab inserts into a half circle opening, commonly called a half-thumb hole which is cut with an L-shaped cut, thereby securing the pair of top closures above a multiple thickness shoulder which gives strength to the end wall of the box for stacking.

Abstract: As a preferred embodiment of the invention disclosed herein, a winch is stationed to one side of an oil field derrick and a cable spooled on the winch extended over a pipe rack and secured at a convenient location above the derrick floor. A pair of spaced pulleys or carriages are independently pulled along the extended portion of the taut cable by a pair of selectively-controlled winches respectively carrying a cable or wire coupled to the carriages. Pipe carriers are dependently coupled to the carriages and operatively arranged for carrying a pipe laid between the carriers in a nearly-horizontal position as the selectively-controlled winches move the carriages along the extended cable between the derrick floor and the pipe rack. The pipe section is selectively raised or lowered over the pipe rack by operating the first winch to either tighten or slack off on the extended cable.

Abstract: A device for encoding the expression of a keyboard percussive instrument is disclosed. The apparatus places a suitable AC voltage on a coating applied to a hammer and positions a pair of capacitive coupled pads near the string to be struck by the hammer. As the hammer sweeps past the pads, signals are capacitively coupled from the hammer motion to the pads. Suitable latches are set and unset to form a signal which is coupled through a switch, a sample and hold amplifier, then to an analog to digital convertor which forms an expressive signal of N bits length. The signal is begun by depression of the key and is terminated by closure of the key upon release by the musician, the key of the instrument being provided with capacitive pickup pads coupled to the key and through a reset gate to the latches. Alternate embodiments are additionally disclosed.

Abstract: This disclosure is directed to a temporary enclosure for a pipe. It includes a recessed opening in a body having an internal O-ring seal mechanism for engaging the end of a pipe. It is held to the pipe by incorporating a surrounding lip about the exterior of the pipe. The lip supports at spaced locations around the periphery three or four sets of pipe gripping devices. Each set incorporates a link which is pivoted to an arcuate body having serrated teeth on the innerface which contacts the pipe. As pressure is increased in the pipe, the device is forced off of the pipe. When this occurs, the connective link rotates, causing the peripheral gripper with teeth to bite into the pipe and thereby grip and hold the pipe.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detection of monoalkylhalides is disclosed. This apparatus contemplates detection of extremely small traces of monoalkylhalides through the nucleophilic substitution of a heavier halogen (preferably iodine) by introducing a sample gas having a monoalkylhalide therein in trace concentrations to be detected and passing it through a closed container providing a surplus of heavier halide ions. An exemplary source of a heavier halide is a container having an alkali iodide therein heated to a temperature sufficiently elevated to initiate iodine disassociation, such as 250.degree. C. An exchange of an iodine for a covalently bound fluorine or chlorine atom is achieved. The monoalkylhalide then has a larger molecular diameter and more complex electronic structure than that originally provided. It also has an enhanced affinity for slow or low energy electrons. This enhances the operation of detection equipment exemplified by an electron capture detector.

Abstract: A new and improved pig is disclosed. In the preferred embodiment, the pig is constructed of a foamed plastic body which is elongate, shaped somewhat like a bullet and which body is wrapped with spiraled cloth which is joined into the bullet shaped body by the elastomeric material which forms the body. The cloth material is a backing for metal staples which are U-shaped and which position pairs of parallel points extending outwardly. They form collectively an abrasive surface on the body which enables it to clean a pipeline. An improvement is incorporated wherein an additional coat of elastomeric material encapsulates the staples, supporting them in a fixed relative position to one another and which additional coating material is on the exterior of the belting to support the staples.

Abstract: A new and improved pipeline coupling apparatus is disclosed. This apparatus incorporates an elongate support member having the form of an I-beam where the flanges of the I-beam serve as a guide for a traveling carriage. The traveling carriage is urged along the I-beam by means of a hydraulic cylinder and piston rod. The traveling carriage centers a pipe. It positions the coupling and forces the pipe into the coupling. The coupling itself is supported for sliding movement by a free moving carriage beneath the I-beam.

Abstract: An apparatus for modification of a gasoline pump is disclosed. This apparatus incorporates electronically driven display numerals. The numerals are supported on a PC board recessed within a housing. They are slanted at an angle approximating 45.degree.. They are recessed into the housing and are surrounded by a nonreflective flat back housing incorporating an overhanging eyebrow and right and left shields. The recess further includes a generally horizontal flat cheek plate extending from the face of the panel back to the numeral display. The numeral is so arranged that it can be viewed from a substantial distance without ambiguities or distractions as a result of glare, and is otherwise highly visible. A circuit for driving the electronic numerical display is incorporated.

Abstract: Wrapping apparatus for a pipeline joint is disclosed. The preferred and illustrated embodiment incorporates a set of rollers which carry the body of the mechanism around a pipeline at the bare weld. The apparatus carries a roller and the roller dispenses sheet wrapping material. The apparatus has a framework which is somewhat similar to a clamp mechanism, having a throat which enables it to open and close and thereby clamp the mechanism to the pipe. It is adjustable to accomodate pipes of different diameters.

Abstract: A wire line oil tool adapted for multiple connectors on the bottom. It can be used as an overshot, a fishing neck grapple or an inside grapple. It incorporates an outer body which is annular about a central member. A catch mechanism locks the outer body up or down relative to the inner body. The catch mechanism enables the tool to operate on jarring. On jarring, the two parts move relatively to an up or down position. In the down position, the appendages at the bottom of the tool open to engage a fishing neck or the like. In the up position, it is latched or held. If retrieval of the tool is impeded, subsequent jarring will reverse the catch mechanism and release the fishing neck. The device is particularly adapted to be used on wire line retrieval and running operations. In the event an item is grasped which cannot be retrieved, subsequent jarring will achieve release and retrieval of the tool.

Abstract: Pipe coating apparatus which incorporates means for rotating and advancing a pipe along a specified path and an applicator means for placing cementicious materials thereon. The slurry is applied by a mechanism having a top opening which receives cement therein, the opening directing cement to a reinforcing ply which is applied to the pipe. The reinforcing material is delivered through the applicator mechanism. The cement falls on the reinforcing material which normally has a mesh construction. The pipe is advanced and rotated simultaneously. The helical movement of the pipe draws the reinforcing mesh into a gap at the lower side of the pipe above a free rotating parallel roller. A ply of weatherproofing material such as plastic film is placed on the pipe.

Abstract: The new and improved hull construction for a jack-up rig is disclosed. In the preferred embodiment, a three legged jack-up rig is disclosed. The rig is supported on three legs which extend through similar corner compartments having leg elevating equipment thereat. Along the three sides of the triangular hull, side compartments of similar rectangular and or trapezoidal construction are located which encompass or enclose a central triangular compartment. The side compartments are aligned in a strengthening direction. The main side compartments have a rectangular area and hence lend themselves readily to crew quarters, machinery rooms, and the like. The rectangular construction utilizes repetitive structural members and hence a limited number of identical structural modules is used. The use of a central triangular module with side modules parallel to the sides of the platform provides major structural bulkheads for bearing the weight of the hull and the bending moments in the hull.

Abstract: A seismic energy source which incorporates multiple augers and a rotary mechanism therefor mounted on a vehicle, the auger incorporating an internally situated seismic shock wave source which creates shock waves passing through a window in the auger into the soil. The shock wave source incorporates a chamber which stores compressed air and a valve mechanism which releases the air sharply for a short interval to create a shock wave in the soil.

Abstract: Two embodiments of a hot tap are disclosed. In the first embodiment, a hot tap is formed around a pipeline. It includes an elongate sleeve divided into two semi-cylindrical portions. The two portions preferably bolt together. They divide along two lengthwise edges. In the lowermost half, stationary semicircular gripping devices for gripping the pipe are enclosed. They are formed as inserts in the lowermost portion. In the uppermost portion, a semicircular tapered wedge is included at the remote ends. The wedge is located adjacent to a movable tapered collet. It has a set of serrations or teeth which dig into the pipeline. The collet is driven lengthwise against the wedge by means of hydraulically actuated pistons and cylinders. The pistons and cylinders extend, thereby driving the collets against the tapered wedge to firmly grasp the outer surface of the pipe. This arrangement is located at both ends of the elongate cylindrical member. This secures and locates a laterally directed tubular member.

Abstract: A pipe coupling apparatus is disclosed. This apparatus is adapted for quick connection of two pipes without the use of flanges and the like. The apparatus is adapted for undersea connections and it may be used elsewhere. The present apparatus is comprised of an elongate housing enclosing two tapered sets of slips or collets. They work opposite a tapered surface in the housing. A circular piston is hydraulically pumped against the taper to force the collets against the pipe. This siezes and holds the pipe as a first step in completing the coupling. A second housing is adapted to be connected to the mating pipe. The second housing incorporates a circular piston therein which has an internal face which is tapered. The tapered face is driven past the exterior of an encircling clamp ring. The clamp has a cross section which is defined by a pair of inwardly protruding shoulders.

Abstract: A tubing pressure test apparatus which comprises an elongate hollow body is disclosed. A fishing neck on a sliding mandrel carrying a check valve on the bottom end is received an upper outer hollow mandrel which has an internal valve seat. Fluid communication from the exterior of the mandrel to an internal passage is controlled by the check valve on the upper mandrel. The check valve is received in the seat below lateral passages to the exterior. The axial internal passage communicates through the bottom of the tool to enable the tool to be pulled upwardly in the tubing string through a column of liquid. The upper outer mandrel is threaded to a central pipe which supports an expandable resilient element. The pipe is slidably connected to an outer lower mandrel which has a taper which forces the expandable element radially outwardly when a compressive force is applied to the top of the tool.