Abstract: A garment which converts from a jacket to a vest and vice versa. The garment has retractable sleeves which are rolled or folded into sleeve storage compartments which encircle the arm holes. In one embodiment, the sleeves have a longitudinal slit which runs the length thereof to facilitate folding for storage in the compartment. The garment has a retractable hood which stores in a hidden compartment in the collar. The garment has one or more retractable safety panels which can be colored international orange and/or have enhanced light reflective properties. The safety panels cover a substantial portion of the back of the garment when in use. The garment has a day pack as an integral part thereof. The garment has means to adjust the fit around the midsection of the torso by constriction of the garment.

Abstract: A compact tortilla press and oven unit. The press delivers formed tortillas to the oven wherein they are toasted on a plurality of rotating oven discs. The tortilla is initially received by a first oven disc upon which a first side of the tortilla is partially toasted. Upon completion of one revolution of the first oven disc, the tortilla is removed therefrom by a first scraper. A second rotating oven disc adjacent to and in vertical alignment with the first oven disc receives the tortilla on a second side thereof by means of a slide intermediate to the first and second discs. The slide receives the tortilla upon removal thereof from the first disc and allows the tortilla to turn over and be placed upside down on the adjacent disc. Upon completion of one revolution of the second disc, upon which the second side of the tortilla has been partially toasted, the tortilla is removed therefrom by a second scraper.

Abstract: A collapsible, folding barbecue cooking unit is provided having a generally rectangular base formed by a base plate with upstanding side and rear wall portions. A pair of side plates and a back plate are hingedly connected to the upstanding side and back wall portions and are positionable in upright interlocked relation during use. A pair of horizontal grill elements of slightly smaller dimension than that of the base plate are capable of being supported within the cooking unit by opposed handle elements that are selectively engageable with grill positioning slots formed in the side plates. For storage, the grill elements are positionable within a rectangular grill storage receptacle defined by the base plate and the upstanding wall portions thereof with the handle portions of both of the grill elements being exposed outwardly of the unit. The side wall and rear wall portions are then foldable to overlapping relation against the uppermost grill element within the grill storage enclosure.

Abstract: A thread guage for indirectly determining the pitch diameter and taper of threads on casing and tubing is disclosed. In the preferred and illustrated embodiment, the thread guage includes a pair of adjustable thread engaging arm assemblies mounted on a bar member. The arm assemblies are selectively locked along the bar member, the distance between the arm assemblies being a fixed position corresponding to a specified thread size. At least two indicators are mounted on one of the arm assemblies providing a value of the measured thread dimensions relative to a standard, which value is used to determine pitch diameter and taper of the thread.

Abstract: An oven for heating a distillable material in a preselected gas atmosphere. The oven comprises an inner heating chamber adapted to receive a spherical gravity lid, the heating chamber being connected to and in communication with a gas exhaust tube having a condensate trap at the termination thereof. The inner heating chamber is also in communication with and surrounded by an outer gas flow chamber, the outer gas flow chamber having a plurality of heater elements therein. The gas exhaust tube is surrounded by an ante chamber which is in communication with the outer chamber. The heater elements are continuously monitored by a programmable controller and a thermocouple in communication therewith. During oven operation, a purge gas is introduced to the ante chamber and flows therefrom into the outer gas flow chamber around the heater elements and into the top of the inner heating chamber.

Abstract: A Top Entry Trunnion Ball Valve is provided having a valve body forming seat recesses with seat members movable disposed therein and urged towards sealing engagement with a spherical valve member by spring members and by differential pressure induced force. A seat retractor mechanism is movably disposed within the valve body and is movable by an externally controlled tool into retracting engagement with the seat members. The seat members and the seat retractor element have cooperative cam surfaces that cause camming movement of the seat members away from the valve member upon linear movement of the seat retractor. A fire safe seal and spring chamber is in communication with a relief passage having volumetric closure plugs permitting introduction of solvent or other softening agent into the spring chambers for removal of any accumulation of foreign material therein.

Abstract: In the preferred and illustrated embodiments of the present apparatus, a tray or platform standing above the bottom of an ice chest is disclosed. The tray is a generally horizontal planar member having a number of slots or openings formed therein, and further comprising a set of feet which support the horizontal member in an elevated position. In an alternate embodiment, the tray rests on a set of raised transverse members integrally formed in the bottom of the ice chest.

Abstract: In the preferred and illustrated embodiment, a deep well is utilized to form a reaction chamber for combustible waste in water. A stream of water borne combustible waste is delivered into a deep well, sufficiently deep to obtain a pressure and temperature in a bottom located reaction chamber at which the water becomes supercritical, there being a pipe for delivering oxygen under pressure for combusting oxygen dissolved in the supercritical water with the waste materials. The reaction is exothermic to sustain itself. It is started preferably by electric current flow to initially raise the temperature in the reaction chamber. The preferred structure is a cased abandoned well having a surrounding cement bond to the formation thereby retarding heat loss into the formation, the bottom located reaction chamber sustaining supercritical conditions.

Abstract: For use with a subsea well incorporating an external conductor pipe extending upwardly above the seabed, a protector apparatus is set forth. In the preferred and illustrated embodiment, the preferred embodiment describes a longitudinally split, flange equipped, bolt joined elongate conductor clamp supported on a frame at the bottom thereof and having a plurality of appended upstanding braces. The bottom frame is adapted to be rested on a seabed and held in place by a number of anchors driven into the seabed at corners. This apparatus is selectively installed after completion of a well wherein the conductor pipe extends above the bottom, and the apparatus is subsequently removed after protecting the pipe after drilling but before installation of a platform.

Abstract: A sampling apparatus having a pressure balanced check valve is set forth in the preferred and illustrated embodiment. The sampling system includes an elongate probe which is driven by a diaphragm motor. The probe extends through a fixed housing and terminates at a sample collection head. The probe is provided with a lengthwise passage in it. Sample is collected from a pumping apparatus comprising a reciprocating anvil and a fixed hammer. These two unyielding members are reciprocated toward one another. They capture, therebetween, a resilient plug having a dished area which collapses on pressure. This forces sample from the dished area. It flows into a passage, into the probe, through a check valve. The check valve is pressure balanced so that the force required to overcome it is not dependent on line pressure, sample collection container back pressure and the like. Dead volume is reduced to an absolute minimum.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for dispensing and applying copper foil to an edge and/or periphery of stained glass. The apparatus includes a horizontal base having a turntable, applicator platform, and dual adjustment applicator head mounted thereon. The applicator head includes a vertically adjustable foil support and a vertically adjustable guide bushing to permit the centered or uniformly offset application of the copper foil to the glass.

Abstract: This disclosure sets forth a variable tensioning system for use in a valve featuring shear seals. In the preferred and illustrated embodiment, a spring system provides loading on the valve element to force that element into engagement with a valve seat. A sliding sealing surface is accomplished in this contact. The valve element may be a tapered plug, a sphere or a flat face or plate. Typically, it is a hard member working against a seat supporting a seal surface featuring a sliding shear seal. A specific minimum load is applied to the valve element to accomplish sealing against minimum pressure. The present apparatus incorporates a closed chamber enclosing a slideable piston. The piston has a specific cross-sectional area exposed to fluid pressure of the fluid being controlled by the valve. The piston applies pressure dependent force against the valve element.

Abstract: In the preferred and illustrated embodiment of the invention, a valve enclosure is disclosed. The enclosure comprises a substantially cylindrical body open at both ends. The cylindrical body includes interior threads at each end thereof and an enlarged central portion between the threaded ends. The valve enclosure is threadably connected to a container including an upstanding valve protruding therefrom and enclosed by the valve enclosure. Visual indicators are provided on the exterior of the valve enclosure body indicating that the container is full or empty.

Abstract: An apparatus and package for liquid or granular materials includes two pivotally mounted dispensing blocks associated with a dispensing arm, whereby upon application of an actuating force to the dispensing arm, a resilient tube of the package is pinched shut by one dispensing block and the other dispensing block opens a slit diaphragm valve disposed within the resilient tube.

Abstract: An improved cervical spine collar which takes the anatomy of the patient's lower head and upper torso into account comprising a rear section, left and right pliable sections, left and right side sections, left and right adaptation grooves, and left and right front sections. The rear section has an extension block and upper and lower comfort edges. The pliable sections permit the collar to bend to fit about the patient's neck and head. The side sections are sufficiently rigid to prevent lateral flexion and have support fins for support and comfort. The front sections collectively comprise a mandible buttress to block flexion and have a shoulder support, chin rotation blocks and cricochyrodectomy passage which may be used without obstructing placement, use or removal of the collar. The collar may be adjusted to fit various neck sizes through the use of optional side adjustments and inflatable tubes.

Abstract: An uneven, vertical row of timbers attached to a length of metal sheet, such that the metal sheet supports the timbers, acting as a barrier or edging to earth contained within, while the timbers provide a decorative part. The edging so constructed may be connected end to end to itself or other such edging units to form continuous shapes.

Abstract: For use in servicing a completed well exposed to the possibility of upward flow, an improved tool is set forth in the preferred and illustrated embodiment. This tool is adapted to be run on a wireline to support wireline service equipment therebelow; it incorporates a set of weights which are affixed to a sleeve, the sleeve connecting with a set of serrated collet slips on a tapered cone. The tapered cone is connected with a central rod or stem which extends therebelow, telescoping in the sleeve, the two being forced to telescope by a coil spring. At the top end, the cone is connected with a fishing neck and rope socket to enable the device to be run on a wireline. If flow from the bottom of the well occurs, the tool is forced to an expanded position and thereby sets, substantially blocking the passage to limit fluid flow pass the tool.