Abstract: Gelatin capsules containing oil field chemicals, preferably weighted with a heavy metal compound, are made more stable under certain conditions by the incorporation of a strong chelating agent. The microcapsules can provide an extended treatment period since many materials that would damage the microcapsules are controlled by the chelating agent.

Abstract: An automatic pipe wiping system using a circular air manifold with jets which is automatically triggered to flow air at the pipe. The pipe is wiped, even when moving laterally with crooked pipe. The pipe is air blown to wipe the mud down. The air jets have a pneumatic logic circuit connected to sense upward pipe movement and start air flow to a manifold around the pipe.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a power plant, and especially two or more such power plants connected together. The power plant especially features a piston connected with a reciprocated but non-rotating piston rod which connects with a pump piston at the opposite end. Power is generated by the power piston and imparted through straight reciprocating motion to the pumped piston. Two or more of these power plants are operated together by connecting them together through a connective link so that operation of one times the operation of two or more units slaved to the first. Synchronized operation is obtained.

Abstract: Genetic elements comprising expression vectors and a gene coding for phosphoenol pyruvate synthase is utilized to enhance diversion of carbon resources into the common aromatic pathway and pathways branching therefrom. The overexpression of phosphoenol pyruvate synthase increases DAHP production to near theoretical yields.

Abstract: A battery test contact clamp assembly is set forth. In one embodiment, upper and lower printed circuit boards are spaced apart on four corner located mounting rods of conductive metal. The four rods pass through one of the boards and are held to it by a set of detents and four hubs located at corners to thereby define a rectangular structure where the boards can move closer together or further apart. Frictional mounting hubs are used for the four rods. They are connected electrically in a circuit which involves contact assemblies on the two boards and they are aligned with battery terminals for contact to thereby define an electrical flow path with a test circuit. The contacts are aligned with the battery terminals. Alternative embodiments include two boards with multiple conducting rods there between and they are connected in several independent test modules. Another embodiment features two test contacts mounted on a common board for testing of batteries having two terminals at one end of the battery.

Abstract: The present invention is an electroluminescent device which proves a means for illuminating push-button devices such as television remote controllers, keypads for security systems, computer keyboards, beepers, night lights, telephones, portable emergency lighting, calculators, and like devices. The invention comprises a power supply which includes an electrical voltage inverter and a power source, and which is connected to a thin and flexible electroluminescent planar sheet containing embedded circuitry and powered by alternating current. The individual components are connected together by electrical leads. The thin electroluminescent lamp portion of the invention provides an even area of template illumination when it is placed over push buttons of an underlying device, and that device can then be used under low-level illumination, or even in complete darkness. Additionally, the present invention allows augmentation of existing illumination.

Abstract: A fiber optic modulation and demodulation system is disclosed. The system is configured as telemetry system for relaying signals from sensors in remote, harsh environments. Light is modulated using one or more optical reflective grating and piezoelectric crystal combinations, and demodulated using an interferometer system. The one or more modulators are driven by the responses of one or more sensors thereby modulating one or more carrier wavelengths of a carrier light source. The modulated light signal is transmitted from the sensor or sensors, over an optical fiber, to an interferometer which is used to demodulate the reflected signals and thereby determine the responses of one or more sensors. One embodiment of the invention set forth is that of a telemetry system linking sensors within a borehole to detection and processing equipment at the surface of the earth.

Abstract: The present disclosure sets forth both a method and apparatus for molding a unitary pig formed of two types of material, one being a light weight foam, and the other being a harder polymeric material thereby yielding a unitary harder material in the cast pig. The finished product involves N discs having parallel end faces and a central drilled core; the unitary cast harder material defines end located discs located adjacent to said foam core and a central core therein so that the end located discs adjacent to the foam donut are unitary with the core and bonded thereto.

Abstract: A system and method of marking goods for authentication and tracking purposes is described. The system and method include a central control which enables the system. The method and system are accomplished in real time affording manufacturers the ability to eliminate problems associated with counterfeiting and diversion which begin at the manufacturing site. A central control unit enables the system by providing an allotment of marks to a host unit. The host unit directs marking terminals to mark particular goods or documents with specific information encoding symbols. Goods or documents are either marked directly, or are identified by means of affixed fixtures which are marked with encoding symbols either prior to, or subsequent to, affixing to the goods. Following marking, documents, goods or fixtures are scanned to insure proper marking and then packaged for shipment.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for sampling an analog signal permits the identification of those samples in which data was lost in the sampling process. A data reference element is generated for each sample element, the data reference element having a corresponding sample element. A user friendly display technique is provided to permit the user to controllably display the sampled signal, clearly showing those portions of the signal in which information was lost contrasted with those portions of the signal that were sampled intact.

Abstract: A PCB supporting electronics is potted in a resilient sheet of material having an adhesive back face glued to a urinal below the flush water outlet. The front face is a target for a urine stream; it supports a urine sensor, say a temperature sensor. Added sensors measure urine characteristics as it flows over the face. Residue is flushed away. The PCB supports a data processing circuit. The output is sent to a remote indicator.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a vent strip for a soffit made of two or more serially arranged boards. When assembled, the soffit boards define a central gap closed by this vent strip having perforations therealong to enable breathing through said vent strip; the vent strip also includes an edge located U-shaped receptacle to enable the vent strip to grip or clasp the adjacent serial soffit board(s). The second edge supports an L-shaped bracket to enable the vent strip to be latched over the wall veneer.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for collecting and retrieving liquid samples is disclosed. The sampling apparatus or bailer can reliably collect and retrieve liquid samples from a reservoir such as a liquid filled borehole. The sampling apparatus is mechanically simple, reliable, inexpensive to manufacture, and can optionally be discarded after one sampling operation thereby eliminating the time consuming and expensive step of cleaning the bailer prior to the next sampling operation. Furthermore, weighting is employed to assist in lowering the bailer into the reservoir of liquid to be sampled, wherein the weighting material is isolated from the interior sample chamber of the bailer in order to avoid contamination of the sample by the weighting material. The bailer can be easily emptied of sample liquid thereby minimizing operational costs associated with sampling activities.

Abstract: This invention is related to the measurement of flow rates and component fractions of individual phases of a composite fluid. More particularly, the invention is directed toward apparatus and methods for determining the volumetric flow rate or mass flow of one or more phases of a fluid by measuring the activity, as a function of time, of one or more specific radioactive isotopes affected by a specific phase of the flowing fluid stream. Radioactive phase isotope material is deposited upon one or more inserts, and each deposition of phase isotope material is coated with a corresponding phase coating. Each phase isotope and corresponding phase coating is soluble in only one phase of the multi-phase flow. The inserts are then inserted into the multi-phase flow, and the time required for each flow phase to wash the corresponding phase coating from the insert is measured by the release of the corresponding phase isotope into the flow stream.

Abstract: A patient basin has a bottom, a sloping front wall, and an upstanding back wall. The front edge is curved to fit below the patient's mouth. The back wall includes an integral vertical grip defined by a pair of finger receiving notches.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus that places visual markers onto the display of a document on a graphical user interface. The visual markers assist in the navigation around the document by numbered artifacts.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for drilling a well is set forth. In one aspect, a typical drill stem is assembled from a set of drill pipe and delivers a flow of drilling mud to the drill bit. A smaller tubing string is placed on the interior and connects to a mixing valve just above the drill bit. A gas flow is placed in the tubing which flows to the mixing valve where the gas is mixed in a desired ratio with the drilling mud so the mud weight is reduced, and thereby enables drilling, at a faster rate with an underbalanced condition. Steps are set forth in which the pressure is changed to an overbalanced condition.

Abstract: A stripper/packer which also serves as a blowout preventer includes a split bonnet. The split bonnet comprises a pair of opposed bonnet halves that may be hydraulically actuated into contact with each other and locked in place to form a bonnet over a packer chamber with the body of the packer. The bonnet halves may be locked together by hydraulic actuation of a latch pin or a pair of pins, or a sleeve may be inserted to hold the bonnet halves together. The split bonnet feature provides clear and easy access to a packer element within the packer chamber with coiled tubing or other tubular member through the packer, or with the coiled tubing withdrawn from the packer.

Abstract: The present invention provides a simple system for in-water dry docking pleasure boats using existing boat slips. The system includes a dry-dock basin having one or more ballast tanks mounted below the bottom surface of the basin. The basin is submerged along guide pipes below the boat slip where the boat is typically stored. The basin comprises a port hull half and a starboard hull half that abuttingly engage at a seam which preferably comprises an insert. The insert is preferably flexible and may be formed as a keel well.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a method of converting the preferred hydrated alumina oxide, boehmite, into a green particle which is then sintered to form an abrasive alumina particle. The process involves dispersing boehmite in water at a slightly elevated temperature with an acidic pH, then seeding it with alumina seed particles and drying it, then crushing to desired shapes and sizes, calcining the dried precipitate and sintering the calcined material. This forms high quality alumina abrasive grains. The apparatus used for sintering incorporates an elongate hollow tube, an insulative sleeve thereabout to define an elevated temperature zone, and a microwave generator coupled through a wave guide into a microwave cavity incorporated in the tube. The particles are moved through the tube at a controlled rate to assure adequate exposure to the microwave radiation.