Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a method and apparatus for drilling rig mobilization and demobilization. The rig is assembled or constructed at a remote site. It is later taken apart and transported to another remote site or back to a staging point. The rig itself comprises a rig floor which is supported on a set of vertical rig legs which support the rig floor for movement between raised and lowered positions. An equipment module is preferably installed on the rig floor. It goes above the rig floor while other modules are attached under the rig floor and provide additional equipment and service space. The method involves the transportation of the rig floor, the legs, equipment module and other modules to and from the rig site by hover craft while riding on a top deck on the hover craft for lateral transfer and installation.

Abstract: This disclosure is directed to a system for providing a sample. It incorporates and appropriately connected valve element working with a surrounding seat and housing. The valve element responds to pressure from the atmosphere which purges the valve element of remnants of a sample passing therethrough so that no trace constituents are left in the valve element. The valve element is a two position, three way valve element which is rotated, thereby permitting a purge gas to flow or not flow, and it rotated to another position permitting the sample of interest to flow or not flow. A sequence of operations is defined.

Abstract: This disclosure is directed to an improved drill collar having pin and box connection in an elongate hollow member. In cross-section, the drill collar is formed of a square billet defining three rectangular corners. The fourth corner is rounded thereby reducing the weight in that area and thereby creating an eccentered center of mass and mass moment of inertia. A cutter is located along one of the edges so that the cutter scuffs against the well borehole during rotation to thereby enhance circular configuration and to reduce key seating or deviation.

Abstract: A wellhead assembly including a skid, drum, cable spooled on the drum and level wind mechanism is set forth to extend the cable into and out of a well borehole for production of a stripper well. The cable spools over a measuring wheel extends into the well and supports a bail on the end of it. The bail has a foot valve for filling, thereby enabling retrieval of a bail into a surface located stinger connected with a pump to drain the bail. A control system enables cyclic operation.

Abstract: The present structure incorporates a police vehicle which is provided with a closed vault securing a VCR in the trunk. A first camera is mounted on the dash. A second camera is mounted on a portable structure such as a clipboard which is removed from the vehicle. A telemetry link from the clipboard to the vehicle is established for transmitting video data to and from the police officer on foot out of the vehicle. Likewise, a digital data transmission link is established with various input and output devices on the clipboard. At the vehicle, one or more images are recorded on a VCR, and digital data can be transmitted from the vehicle to a remote site for communication with a remotely located police computer or other data base to enable enhanced performance in the field.

Abstract: A prefab building protective system is disclosed, where the building includes multiple frame members supporting an exterior water shedding skin formed of adjacent panels. Two adjacent panels define a seam thereby where rain water leakage may occur. The present invention involves a T-strip having a back plate with width equal to or greater than the width of a frame members, and supporting an upstanding spline sufficient in height to extend through the spacing between adjacent panel members abutted against both faces of the spline.

Abstract: A dressing glove is set forth. It is constructed for wearing while putting on garments likely to tear easily including sheer garments and stockings. Preferably, it incorporates fingertips which are knit with a high thread count cloth or which is polished and slick in the fashion of satin, thereby reducing the areas which might snag the sheer cloth, and also includes an elongate sleeve extending up the forearm of the user. In the sleeve, there is one or more eyelets which fully encircle the sleeve and which enclose elastic bands. In addition, the end of the sleeve terminates at a cuff which has a pucker string in it to enable it to be tied if desired.

Abstract: A centrifuge having a riotatable housing with a tapered portion and with a straight portion. On the interior, a flited conveyor is installed. The conveyor is scrolled at a speed causing the flites to move heavier particles along the conveyor from the straight portion and to the end of the tapered portion, thereby raising the heavier components out of the pond of liquid accumulated in the rotating housing. On the interior of the flited conveyor, there is a stack of closely spaced discs which are rotated with the housing The discs define a enlarged surface area for the pond so that separation of heavier weight materials in the pond is enhanced. The heavier particles pass through the discs and into the flited conveyor for scrolling. The stack of discs enhances the effective pond surface area.

Abstract: This disclosure features a permeation storage chamber in a tube having a first membrane delivering a permeate flow into an intermediate chamber. This chamber delivers flow from a second membrane. The intermediate chamber delivers surplus permeate out through a pressure regulator, or a drain tube. Pressure stabilization at the second membrane enables constant permeation discharge, avoiding pressure or temperature dependent flow rate charges.

Abstract: Furniture for containing computer equipment is disclosed, where the computer equipment can be concealed when not in use. The furniture is in the form of a desk or table which has at least one normal drawer and at least one false drawer front which can be moved relative to or removed from the furniture (desk, credenza and so on). Computer equipment is mounted in the furniture carcass. When the equipment is in use, the false front is pivoted downward or removed, thereby exposing the equipment for easy access, for example via the disc ports. When not in use, the false drawer is positioned vertically and is fabricated to match the front of the normal drawer in appearance.

Abstract: An adjustable reveal is set forth for use in wall construction. In a framed wall, a first and second panel are positioned on the wall to define parallel edges. The spacing between the edges is adjusted so that a sight area is seen between them. A back panel parallel to the two edges is positioned adjacent to the frame and supports an integrally made extending J-shaped slot which is adapted to clasp around and along the edge on one of said panels. A movable J-shaped slot encloses the other edge, thereby defining the visible site area between the two edges. The back panel is integral with one of the J-shaped slots, and the other is preferably positioned in front of the back panel.

Abstract: A rod guide is molded to a sucker rod and includes a plurality of blades, vanes, or fins projecting from the body. At least one of the blades is formed to define a wear gauge with the blade having a graduated width with increasing radius from axis of the sucker rod.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a pig for cleaning thin wall tubes in a heat exchanger which are subjected to internal deposits which become very hard with heating during use. The pig comprises an elongate central mandrel between front and back end pieces and supports a structurally defined carefully positioned disk. The disk in turn has a plurality of radially directed tapped holes evenly spaced therearound and the holes enable threading of a set of headed bolts in them. The length of the bolts is precisely controlled so that the outer exposed tip of the bolt head contacts the tube to scratch the interior to break the hard deposits without denting the surrounding tube.

Abstract: A method and a device for replacing a seal element in an undersea blowout preventer is provided. A complete system includes a control center on the surface, an umbilical from the control center to a remotely operated vehicle (ROV), and a seal element carrier manipulated by the ROV. The carrier includes either a retrieving tool or a running tool, which retains a cartridge which is to be inserted into or has been retrieved from a BOP. The cartridge is split along a vertical plane, with each half of the cartridge becoming a temporarily integral part of a pipe ram on either side of the BOP. Alignment ramps on the cartridge mate with complementary surfaces on the respective faces of the pipe rams. The retrieving tool preferably includes means for hydraulically actuating the retrieving tool with pressure through the umbilical, such as coiled tubing.

Abstract: This invention is directed toward a method of doing business, wherein a first entity, referred to as the Secondary Guarantor, engages in the business of providing and evaluating financial guarantees by way of a joint venture or other arrangement with a second entity, hereafter referred to as the Primary Guarantor, authorized by the appropriate authorities to engage in the writing of financial guarantees. These entities combine to form the "guarantor" or the "company". The guarantee is preferably sold by the secondary guarantor entity to an owner of a product or commodity, and guarantees that the owner will obtain a remuneration subsidy or "settlement" for the product or commodity at the time of sale, should the sale price be below the cost to produce the product or commodity.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to the fabrication of a highly wear layer either directly upon an article or tool support structure or body, or as a wear resistant insert or element which is subsequently attached to the tool body. The wear material is formed by sintering particulate material using the absorption of microwave energy as a means of heating. The disclosure also encompasses post manufacture annealing, using heating by microwave radiation, of both highly wear resistant inserts and composite articles which consist of a wear resistant layer and a body. The wear resistant material, whether fabricated directly upon an article or fabricated separately and subsequently affixed to an article, provides an abrasive wear surface and greatly increases the life of the article. Microwave sintered wear resistant surfaces for mills, drills, grinders, brakes, bearings, saw blades and other articles and assemblies are disclosed.

Abstract: A technique and a system provide control and monitoring of devices external to a marine seismic streamer by segmenting the conductor to which the external devices are coupled. The module which connects sections of the seismic data telemetry cable is modified to include a switch. The switch is controlled by a command signal on the seismic data telemetry cable to segment the twisted pair bus into a plurality of dedicated busses, each dedicated to a subset of the external devices, such as one or two such devices. In this way, the external devices can be communicated with in parallel, rather than in series as in conventional systems.

Abstract: The present apparatus is a device interposed between a phone set and a telephone jack. It is secured by a lock and hasp to a post or frame member so that it overshadows and prevents access to a conventional telephone jack and the wall plate surrounding the jack. When locked in place, and connected serially between the phone set and the telephone line, it includes the user to input a PIN number, and to thereby make calls to specified telephone numbers (one or more). A field in memory stores unique PIN numbers for the users and calls numbers, and keeps track of available time not yet used by the N users. By decrementing with each call, the elapsed total time can be tracked. Charges can be controlled by limiting the authorized telephone numbers.

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 of one or more specific radioactive isotopes affected by a specific phase of the flowing fluid stream. Phase isotopes are deposited upon one or more inserts, and the inserts are positioned within the multiphase fluid flow. Each phase isotope is soluble in only one phase of the multi-phase flow. The rate at which each phase isotope is washed from an insert by each specific fluid phase is then measured by detecting the rate of decrease of preferably photon activity from an insert. Phase flow parameters, including volumetric flow rate and mass flow rate, are then determined for each fluid phase from the measured rate at witch the corresponding phase isotope is washed from an insert.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for operating a fluid actuated actuator between one and another alternate positions provides different forces for locking and unlocking the actuator. The actuator may use the same fluid pressure to operate a primary piston within a cylinder and to operate the locking mechanism. Actuator fluid is communicated to unlock the lock member and to move the piston back to its open or unactuated position. A sequencing valve determines the proper sequence of actuating the primary piston before the locking mechanism is driven in place, and clearing the locking mechanism prior to reciprocating the piston back to its unactuated position. Different forces for locking and unlocking the locking mechanism is provided by a free-floating piston mounted on a guide rod. The invention may also be applied to a BOP or the like where different opening and closing forces are desired.