Abstract: A gastight isolation valve for solid materials is presented. The body of the valve has a lower edge which, defines, in the leaktight closed position, an air seal. The air seal is surrounded by a projecting element of the closure member which comprises, on the outer side, an outer peripheral flank having a first gradient. A peripheral sealing surface extends the outer peripheral flank. The sealing surface interacts with a sealing seat of the valve body to provide gastightness.

Abstract: A description is given of an ingot mould for a continuous casting plant comprising an ingot mould tube (12) and an ingot mould body (22). The ingot mould tube (12) is movable axially with respect to the ingot mould body (22). Sealing elements, preferably metal diaphragms (88, 90) allow an axial displacement of the ingot mould tube (12) with respect to the ingot mould body (22), while ensuring the sealing of a sealed chamber (23) containing the circuit for cooling the ingot mould tube (12). A device for generating mechanical oscillations, preferably a hydraulic cylinder (46), is connected to the ingot mould tube (12) through the intermediary of a lever (54) supported by the ingot mould body (22).

Abstract: A composition and method for use in freeing differentially stuck pipes is presented, comprising a hydrocarbon, acetic acid and a surfactant. The composition frees stock pipes quickly, thus reducing down-time during the process of drilling a subterranean well.

Abstract: The invention defines a new computer architecture that will simultaneously improve the efficiency of the instruction word, and the speed of program execution. Instruction word efficiency is important to maximizing the use of available program memory space. The architecture described features an instruction memory that is wider than the minimum instruction width and equal to the maximum instruction width. The architecture is comprised of three sections; instruction memory, instruction read shift register, and control logic. The instruction memory width is equal to the maximum instruction width M (bits); where M is a twos multiple of the minimum instruction width K (bits). Instructions of various sizes are loaded into program memory in discrete blocks of size K. Consequently some multi-byte (assuming K=8) instructions are broken up and therefore occupy a portion of two adjacent memory locations.

Abstract: A method is presented for hot rolling a Z-section sheet pile from a semi-finished H-beam. The semi-finished H-beam is oriented in such a way that its web is substantially parallel to a rolling plane. A preform of the sheet pile is first rolled in a first plurality of rolling passes to form a preform having two flange/web transition sections substantially parallel to the rolling plane. These two flange/web transition sections connect rough-rolled portions for the sheet pile flanges to a middle section which is oblique to the rolling plane. A final Z-section sheet pile is formed from the preform in a second plurality of rolling passes.

Abstract: An automotive antitheft device comprises an elongated member having upper and lower ends. A first hook depends from the lower end of the elongated member. A member is connected at one end thereof to the elongated member by a lock. This member further has a second hook depending from the other end thereof. When installed in an automobile, the first hook at the lower end of the elongated member is positioned about a shaft of the automobile brake pedal (or accelerator pedal) and the upper end of the elongated member extends through the automobile steering wheel in between the steering wheel's spokes. Also, the second hook is positioned about the steering wheel column.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a combined totalizator and fixed odds betting system able to be operated both on and off-course via a central computer (C) connected with communication links (L) to a large number of betting terminals (T). Both totalizator wagering and fixed odds betting are conducted with a common pool. During the lead up to the race the fixed odds dividend to be paid is adjusted for each runner in stages in accordance with the potential liabilities arising at each stage from the bets to date as the pool increases in size towards race starting time.

Abstract: An earplug assembly. The assembly includes a pair of earplugs adapted for insertion into the ear canal of an individual and an attachment member securely connected to each plug. The attachment member has a first predetermined length and is capable of being extended to a second length. Once extended, the attachment member retains its extended second length.

Abstract: A transducer for a stringed instrument comprises a first uppermost coil and a second lowermost coil with the axes of the coils coincident. Permanent magnet pole pieces are arranged in the first coil and metallic non-magnetized pole pieces are arranged in the second coil. Oppositely directed U-shaped shields each having a web and outwardly directed opposed flanges are arranged back to back and receive the coils to shield the coils from each other both magnetically and inductively.

Abstract: A downhole control system for a production well is associated with permanent downhole formation evaluation sensors which remain downhole throughout production operations. These formation evaluation sensors may include, for example, neutron generator, gamma ray detector and resistivity sensors which can, in real time, sense and evaluate formation parameters including important information regarding formation invading water entering the producing zone. Significantly, this information can be obtained prior to the water actually entering the producing geological formation and therefore corrective action (i.e., closing of a valve or sliding sleeve) can be taken prior to water being produced. This real time acquisition of formation data in the production well constitutes an important advance over current wireline techniques in that the present invention is far less costly and can anticipate and react to potential problems before they occur.

Abstract: A fishing reel has a crank assembly for winding the reel with a member or arm connected at one end thereof for rotation with the crank. The other end of the arm has a rotatable shaft affixed thereto with a pivoting handle unit affixed at the other end of the shaft. The handle unit includes a sleeve affixed to the end of the shaft with a handle pivotally mounted to the sleeve. The handle has a center axis passing longitudinally therethrough and the shaft has a center axis passing longitudinally therethrough. The angle between the axes is about 90.degree. in a first end position and about 115.degree. in a second end position. A padded cover is disposed about the handle and is secured thereon by end caps. It will be appreciated that one end of the shaft could extend be pivotally connected to the handle in the same manner the sleeve was connected to the handle, thereby eliminating the sleeve.

Abstract: Ultra thin organo-ceramic and metal oxide films are prepared under room temperature and atmospheric conditions by exposing .alpha.,.omega.-functional siloxane oligomers and fatty acid metal soaps, respectively, to a combination of ultraviolet light (UV) and ozone (O.sub.3). The process includes the steps of preparing ultra thin .alpha.,.omega.-functional polysiloxane and fatty acid metal soap films using, but not limited to, the Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) technique. The LB technique permits construction of molecular monolayer or multilayer films on a variety of substrates. By using carboxylic acid end groups on the siloxane oligomers, metal ions can be incorporated into the SiOx film after UV-ozone exposure. This technique can be used to make electronically, optically, and chemically important organo-ceramic and metal oxide films on temperature sensitive substrates.

Abstract: A method for obtaining a signature from a fired bullet is obtained by mounting the bullet to turn substantially about a longitudinal axis of the bullet, illuminating a surface of the bullet, obtaining and storing a frame image at a given position of the surface portion using microscope optics, the frame image having a transverse extent substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis, advancing the frame image position by an amount less than a transverse extent of the frame image, repeating the last two steps a plurality of times to obtain a plurality of overlapping frame images, combining the frame images to form a continuous composite image having a transverse extent much greater than the transverse extent of the frame images, and computing a signature of the composite image along a line extending in the transverse extent of the composite image.

Abstract: The apparatus has a fired cartridge mounting device for holding the cartridge substantially aligned with a longitudinal axis with a primer surface of the cartridge substantially perpendicular to the axis, a cartridge microscope mounted with its optical axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, a focusing mechanism for focusing the microscope to image a breech face impression on the primer surface and a firing pin impression surface in the primer surface, and an axisymmetric light source mounted to project axially symmetric light onto the breech face impression and the firing pin impression surface about the longitudinal axis. Images of the breech face and the firing pin impressions can be used for comparative analysis independently of an angular orientation of the cartridge held by the mounting device.