Abstract: A subsurface valve with a pressure equalizing mechanism is provided to permit pressure above and below a valve closure member to equalize prior to the opening of the valve closure member. An actuating key is releasably engageable with a recess in a flow tube that is moveably disposed within a longitudinal bore of the safety valve. An equalizing plug is disposed for reciprocal movement within a plug bore, and is moveable in response to movement of the actuating key. To open the valve closure member, the flow tube moves downwardly into engagement with the actuating key, thereby carrying the actuating key into engagement with the equalizing plug to shift the equalizing plug to an open or equalizing position. Pressure above and below the valve closure member is equalized through the equalizing plug prior to the opening of the valve closure member by further downward movement of the flow tube.

Abstract: A device for regulating fluid flow in a well is provided. The device may include: a body member having a central bore extending therethrough, at least one flow port, and a first valve seat; a sleeve member movably disposed within the central bore of the body member, and having a second valve seat adapted for cooperable sealing engagement with the first valve seat; means for selectively controlling movement of the sleeve member to regulate fluid flow through the at least one flow port; and conduit means for transmitting energy to the movement means. The conduit means may include a first and a second hydraulic control line, a single hydraulic control line, or a single electrical conductor. The movement means may include: a piston connected to the sleeve member and movable in response to a combination of hydraulic fluid, pressurized gas, spring force, and/or annulus pressure; or an electric motor connected to the sleeve member.

Abstract: In a broad aspect, the invention is directed to a well locking device having a shear ring for retaining a setting wedge within a well lock housing during running, setting, locking, and removing the well locking device within a bore of a well tubing. In a particular embodiment, the well locking device may include a no-go shoulder provided on the running tool used to locate and set the well lock downhole within the tubing.

Abstract: A fully redundant drawworks is provided with two complete and totally independent systems for controlling and powering the drum and drum shaft of the drawworks. Each system broadly comprises at least one source of power (e.g., a motor or engine), a power transmission means, preferably of the gear or chain type, and some means of mechanically coupling the power source, transmission and drum shaft together. Each system may also be provided with a brake means, such as one or more disc, band, electric or water-cooled brakes. In the event that any component of either system fails, the fully redundant drawworks will still have the ability to raise drill pipe from a bore hole and thus avoid the risk of a “stuck” drill pipe.

Abstract: A bag stack made of low density polyethylene material is disclosed. The bag stack comprises a plurality of bags where consecutive bags are adhesively connected together and where the back walls of the bags in the stack are hot welded together near the tops of the back walls of the bags. When a bag is removed from the stack, the front wall of the following bag is pulled open to permit easy removal of the next bag. A method is disclosed for forming a bag stack in accordance with the present invention.

Abstract: In a broad aspect, the invention is an infinitely variable ratio transmission that may include an input shaft connected to a carrier plate. The input shaft is disposed within the bore of a sun gear. At least one planetary gear is rotatably attached to the carrier plate. A ring gear is connected to an output shaft. The at least one planetary gear is disposed between and meshed with the ring gear and the sun gear. A pump having a first and second gear enclosed within a housing is disposed about the input shaft. The second gear is attached to the sun gear. A pump oil pickup passageway connects an inlet port on the pump to a pump oil reservoir. A pump oil return passageway connects an outlet port of the pump to the reservoir. A control valve is provided to regulate fluid flow through the pump. Various clutch arrangements are disclosed to provide a reverse mode.

Abstract: A brand new device and a method to do arteriographies which allow simultaneous angioplasties by using a catheter and a balloon capable of copying the narrowed portion of the artery under study, providing the contrast required to view the artery via a contrasting medium which is circumscribed within the diagnosis balloon and which is not in relationship with the patient's tissue; therefor, the catheter has a diagnosis balloon which may be filled with the contrasting medium.

Abstract: An oven comprises a cooking chamber, first and second energy sources, a cooling fan, and a controller. The first energy source provides radiation heating in the cooking chamber, and the first energy source has a low mass for rapid heating. The second energy source provides convection heating in the cooking chamber, and the second energy source has a high mass heating element and a convection fan for moving air through the cooking chamber during convection heating. The cooling fan moves cooling air over the first energy source. The controller energizes the first and second energy sources during at least initial convection heating so that the first energy source rapidly heats the cooking chamber in order to facilitate the initial convection heating and to eliminate the need to pre-heat the cooking chamber.

Abstract: A safety shielded, reusable trocar consisting of a trocar cannula subassembly, a safety shield control mechanism, and a separate obturator subassembly. The trocar cannula subassembly includes an outer cannula attached to a main housing having a central bore in which a spring biased, inner cannula is slidably and removably inserted, and an upper housing, removably secured to the main housing, having a central bore which is aligned longitudinally with the bore of the main housing and in which a sealing assembly is removably secured. The obturator subassembly includes an elongated obturator having a replaceable and rotatable knife, an elongated shaft, an arcuate shaped cap, and which extends through the upper housing, sealing assembly main housing, inner cannula, and outer cannula.

Abstract: A rolling cutter drill bit and method for making a rolling cutter drill bit having a cutting insert pressed into a socket, wherein the socket forms a juncture with the curved outer surface of a rolling cutter, and the juncture contacts a plane in contact with the juncture in at least three points located on the juncture.

Abstract: A clothes dryer has a plurality of high energy lamps. The high energy lamps are mounted so as to emit high energy radiation toward a drying chamber. A blower is arranged to move air to the plurality of high energy lamps so as cool the high energy lamps. The air that cools the high energy lamps is delivered to the drying chamber. The plurality of high energy lamps is operated to emit ultraviolet energy for sanitizing the articles in the drying chamber and to emit infrared energy for drying the articles in the drying chamber.

Abstract: The present invention is a combination wireline retrievable, side pocket locatable, fluid measurement and control assembly, which permits measurement and control of fluid from a first downhole production zone while maintaining fluid flow through the tubing from other downhole production zones. The various components of the fluid measurement and control assembly may be separately installed in or retrieved from by either wireline or coiled tubing intervention methods and can remain installed in the production tubing while installing or retrieving other downhole tools through wireline or coiled tubing intervention methods.

Abstract: A process and materials made by the process which includes a bicomponent fiber, made of a nonconductive first component, including a first fiber-forming polymer selected from the group consisting of polyethylene terephthalate, nylon 6, nylon 6,6, cellulose, polypropylene cellulose acetate, polyacrylonitrile and copolymers of polyacrylonitrile; a conductive second component, including carbon particles and a second fiber-forming polymer selected from the group consisting of polyethylene terephthalate, nylon 6, nylon 6,6, cellulose, polypropylene cellulose acetate, polyacrylonitrile and copolymers of polyacrylonitrile; and a conductive third component, including a polymer selected from the group consisting of polypyrrole and polyaniline, said polymer formed in situ and being interspersed among at least a portion of the carbon particles of the second component.

Abstract: A refrigerator has a refrigerator cabinet and a refrigerator door. The refrigerator door is arranged to open and close with respect to the refrigerator cabinet. A storage compartment is associated with either the refrigerator cabinet or the refrigerator door, and a container door cooperates with the compartment to form a container. First and second hinge members are on the container door, and third and fourth hinge members are on the compartment. The first and third hinge members form a first hinge and the second and fourth hinge members form a second hinge between the container door and the compartment. Ribs are on the container door adjacent to, and on either side of, the first and second hinge members. The ribs contact the compartment adjacent to the third and fourth hinge members in order to permit the container door to move quietly into opened and closed positions with respect to the compartment.

Abstract: An apparatus for enhancing production from a wellbore hole may include a body member having at least one cutting assembly. Each cutting assembly may have an upper, middle, and lower cutting arm. The cutting arms are hingedly connected to one another. An upper end of each upper cutting arm is hingedly connected to the body member. A lower end of each lower cutting arm is hingedly connected to a corresponding beveled attachment that is slidably received within a corresponding beveled groove in the body member. The body member includes an interior longitudinal bore in fluid communication with a jet nozzle that is located beneath each cutting assembly. The apparatus is connected to a drill string. As the drill string is rotated, each cutting assembly is moved to a fully-deployed position under centrifugal force, thereby enlarging the wellbore hole. Drilling fluid may be pumped into the apparatus to generate hydraulic power to carry loose cuttings to the surface.

Abstract: A densified sintered product, such as a rolling cutter adapted for use in a steel tooth rolling cutter earth boring bit, has a layer of a metal powder applied to the external surface of the unsintered compact, the metal powder being melted to form a thin glaze of the melted metal powder on the external surface of the sintered compact, and the sintered compact may then be pneumatically isostatically forged.

Abstract: The invention relates to a modular mandibular prosthesis for use after the resection of a patient's mandible. The modular mandibular prosthesis includes a pair of anchor plates and at least one connector member. Each anchor plate has first and second ends. The second end of each anchor plate is adapted to be attached to a portion of the patient's mandible. At least one connector member is disposed between the pair of anchor plates. Each connector member includes first and second ends. The first end of a connector member is connected to the first end of an anchor plate thereby defining a connection. The second end of a connector member is connected to the first end of the other anchor plate.

Abstract: A compact oven assembly has a housing and a high power density, low mass heating element. The housing defines a cooking cavity and a slot which permits access to the cooking cavity. The high power density, low mass heating element is supported by the housing above the cooking cavity. The compact oven assembly may include a food support which is arranged so that, when the food support is inserted into the cooking cavity through the slot, the slot of the housing is substantially closed off. The compact oven may also include a switch operated by the food support when the food support is inserted into the cooking cavity through the slot in order to energize the high power density, low mass heating element. Each high power density heating element has a formed parabolic reflector located above it and opposite to the cooking plane. Accordingly, the energy from the high power density heating elements is directed toward the cooking plane.

Abstract: A refrigerator door supports a shelf which has a shelf front. The shelf is arranged to support a package to be retained, and the shelf has first, second, third, and fourth holes. A wire is arranged to be inserted into the first and third holes so that the wire has a first height with respect to the shelf, and the wire is arranged to be inserted into the second and fourth holes so that the wire has a second height with respect to the shelf. The first and second heights are different so that the wire and the shelf front are able to retain packages of different heights.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining an optimized radiation beam arrangement for applying radiation to a tumor target volume while minimizing radiation of a structure volume in a patient, which uses an iterative cost function based on a comparison of desired partial volume data, which may be represented by cumulative dose volume histograms and proposed partial volume data, which may be represented by cumulative dose volume histograms for target tumors and tissue structures for delivery of the optimized radiation beam arrangement to the patient by a conformal radiation therapy apparatus.