Abstract: A seal and seal assembly for use with well tools, such particularly as well packers, for sealing the annulus between the well packer mandrel and the wall of a well tubing such as casing. The seal is fabricated of an elastomeric-like material comprising fluorocarbon resins, poly arylene ketone, and carbon fibers mounted between end retainer assemblies each comprising a mesh anti-extrusion ring, a tapered mesh backup ring, and a metal backup shoe. The seal has internal longitudinally spaced V-shaped recesses to cause the seal to buckle radially outwardly as it is compressed longitudinally to increase the stress along the middle portion of the seal where the seal meets the well casing inner wall. The seal is useful at high temperatures and pressures such as 550 degrees F. and greater than 15,000 psi.

Abstract: Subsurface safety valves of the tubing and wireline retrieveable types operated by a control fluid responsive annular piston in an annular cylinder sealed at opposite ends by a two-way static and dynamic metal-to-metal seal assembly which includes central Bellville loading washers, a spacer ring on each side of the loading washers, and a Bellville sealing washer at each end of the spacer rings. The metal-to-metal seals are useful in a number of applications requiring the sealing of pressurized spaces between spaced concentric parts.

Abstract: A well tool lock mandrel and running and pulling tools for installing and retrieving the lock mandrel. The lock mandrel is used for supporting a well tool such as a subsurface safety valve at a landing nipple in a well tubing string. The lock mandrel includes a tubular body, locking dogs supported in the body, an expander sleeve for operating the locking dogs, and a latch for releasably locking the expander sleeve when the locking dogs are locked outwardly. The running tool includes a head assembly for connection with a wireline tool string, an upper retainer key assembly for connection with the head of the lock mandrel, and a lower locking lug assembly for engagement with the expander sleeve of the lock mandrel for operating the sleeve. The running tool also includes a spring biased insertion sleeve for operating the lower locking lug assembly permitting the running tool to be installed in the lock mandrel when the locking dogs of the lock mandrel are at inward positions.

Abstract: A laser smoke evacuation system and method for laser smoke removal from the site of laser laparoscopy in a patient cavity. The system includes a CO.sub.2 gas pump connected through a control valve, a pressure sensor, and a bacterial filter to a laparoscopic tube inserted into the patient, a return line from a second laparoscopic tube in the patient through a smoke filter, a pressure sensor, a control valve, and a fluid trap into the return of the pump, and an insufflator connected into the patient to supply CO.sub.2 gas lost by leakage and tissue absorption an to provide required distention of the patient cavity. The method includes the steps of supplying a first flow of CO.sub.2 gas into a patient cavity to the operation sites, returning the first flow of CO.sub.2 gas with removed laser smoke from the cavity, cleansing the smoke from the first flow of CO.sub.2 gas, recirculating the cleansed first flow of CO.sub.2 gas back to the patient, and providing a second makeup flow of CO.sub.

Abstract: An endotracheal intubation system including straight and curved cannulas, and cannula support apparatus comprising a bridge connectable over a patient table, and an adjustable mounting block assembly for supporting a cannula over the table in position in the mouth and throat of a patient.

Abstract: A minimum backlash latch assembly for releasably locking a well tool such as a pilot valve in a bore such as in a side pocket mandrel of a well flow conductor. Also disclosed is a pilot valve system for a subsurface safety valve operated by control fluid pressure from the surface including a pilot valve connected with the control fluid line to the subsurface safety valve and into the well production string immediately above the safety valve to bypass the control fluid pressure directly into the tubing string and dump the control fluid pressure from the subsurface safety valve into the tubing string directly above the valve to minimize the time delay between control fluid pressure reduction and the safety valve closure. Three embodiments of the pilot valve are disclosed. One embodiment is operable by electrical energy from the surface. The other embodiments are operable by acoustic energy and radio waves, respectively.

Abstract: A hydraulic well pump for operating a pump sucker rod string including a hydraulic cylinder assembly for raising and lowering the sucker rod string and a fluid counterbalancing system for offsetting the combined weight of the reciprocating service equipment, the fluid column above the pump plunger, and the sucker rod string. One counterbalancing embodiment includes an air supported piston on the movable cylinder exposed to an air chamber below the air piston functioning independently of the hydraulic and power and logic system of the pump. Another counterbalancing system embodiment uses a hydraulic fluid accumulator connected into the system fluid power and logic for supercharging the hydraulic power pumps during the lift stroke and providing opposing force during the downstroke.

Abstract: A hydraulic power and control system for operating a reciprocating hydraulic mechanism including pump means connected to the hydraulic mechanism, a continuous torque hydraulic motor, a direction control driven by the motor to sequentially direct hydraulic power fluid to separate inlets of the mechanism, an escapement for restraining the motor at 180.degree. intervals of rotation for sequentially holding the direction control at two separate positions, one for supplying one inlet and the other for supplying the other inlet of the mechanism, and hydraulic limit valves for controlling the escapement when a reciprocating member of the mechanism reaches the end of each stroke. One embodiment has two constant volume hydraulic pumps connected with the hydraulic mechanism through a reversing valve assembly operated by a scotch yoke connected with the escapement.

Abstract: A well packer adapted to be set and reset in a well bore without removal of the packer from the well bore including a packer mandrel adapted to be connected with a tubing string, an interlocking segment assembly on the packer mandrel for releasable connection with the mandrel, a drag spring assembly connected with the interlocking segment assembly for frictional engagement with a well bore wall, a locking slip assembly coupled with the drag spring assembly for locking the packer with the well bore wall, a seal element package assembly connected with slip assembly for sealing around the packer mandrel with the well bore wall, and a detent ring between the slip assembly and the seal element package permitting initial setting of the upper ends of the slips and preloading of the seal element package preliminary to final setting of the slips and expansion of the seal element package.

Abstract: A pilot valve system for a subsurface safety valve operated by control fluid pressure from the surface including a pilot valve connected with the control fluid line to the subsurface safety valve and into the well production string immediately above the safety valve to bypass the control fluid pressure directly into the tubing string and dump the control fluid pressure from the subsurface safety valve into the tubing string directly above the valve to minimize the time delay between control fluid pressure reduction and the safety valve closure. Three embodiments of the pilot valve are disclosed. One embodiment is operable by electrical energy from the surface. The other embodiments are operable by acoustic energy and radio waves, respectively. Also disclosed is a minimum backlash latch assembly for releasably locking the pilot valve, or other well tools, along a well bore in a receptacle such as a side pocket mandrel.

Abstract: A member (3) is pivotally mounted on the inner face of a trawl door 1, and said member can be attached to a trawl warp which is attached to a trawler. A resilient connection (12) is provided between the member and a point on the inner face of the trawl door. The outer face of the trawl door is provided with a backstrop (42) fixed to the trawl door through an aperture (33). A resilient attachment (42a) is connected between the backstrop and a further aperture (38).

Abstract: A fully programmable system for controlling the operation of one or more gas or oil production wells by controlling the intermittent operation of the wells in response to either programmed information or monitored and measured criteria related to the wells themselves. The system includes battery powered solid state circuitry comprising a keyboard, a programmable memory, a microprocessor, control circuitry, means for inputting measured parameters from a plurality of transducers and a liquid crystal display system for displaying information contained within the memory, or one of the measured parameters. In one embodiment, the system monitors pressure, flow, and other parameters of a plurality of wells drawing petroleum products from a common reservoir to control the intermittent operation of either gas injection to the well, outflow of fluids from the well, or shutting in of the well to maximize the overall output of the entire array of wells drawing from the common reservoir.

Abstract: A well pump sucker rod guide which is a tubular integral body element formed of an elastic minimum friction type material and provided with a longitudinal bore formed along the longitudinal axis of the body, a transverse mounting slot opening from a side of the body into the bore dividing the body into opposite end portions, and a longitudinal mounting slot in each end portion extending radially inwardly into the bore and opening at one end through an end of the body and at the other end into the transverse slot, one of the longitudinal slots extending in the opposite radial directions from the other longitudinal slot, and each said slot being defined by radially outwardly diverging guide walls which also diverge toward the transverse mounting slot. The guide is mounted on sucker rod sections to centralize the reciprocating rod in a production tubing in which a pump is mounted and operated by the rod.

Abstract: A firearm having an aiming light secured along the barrel at a position to project a light beam in intersecting relationship with the barrel to cast an aiming shadow from the discharge end portion of the barrel on a lighted target area at the point of impact of the shot pattern of the gun. The aiming light includes a narrow beam focusing lens bulb, a battery, a battery retaining spring and switch member, and an actuating button for operating the spring switch housed in a chamber of the stock of the gun.

Abstract: A limited torque bolt-nut assembly including a bolt shank having a threaded first end portion and a non-threaded second end portion, a secondary drive head on the second shank portion and a primary shearable drive head on the secondary drive head, and a hollow nut secured over both drive heads and a portion of the non-threaded shank section. The hollow nut drives the primary drive head which rotates relative to the secondary drive head until the primary drive head shears off at a predetermined torque releasing the nut and primary drive head. The secondary drive head remains on the bolt shank for adjustment and removal of the bolt.

Abstract: A sleeve bearing puller for removing sleeve bearings such as camshaft bushings from engine cylinder blocks including a pair of expandable and contractable half cylinder shaped extractors having an outer end pulling flange and internal longitudinally spaced cam surfaces, guide pins between the extractors for guiding them in parallel relation between expanded and contracted positions, and expander mandrel between the extractors having longitudinally spaced cam surfaces for expanding the extractors in parallel relation in response to a pull on the mandrel, and a garter spring encircling the extractors holding the extractors on the expander mandrel.

Abstract: A surface controlled subsurface well safety valve for use in a well tubing string including a flapper valve member, an operator tube for opening the flapper valve member and holding it open, an annular piston on the operator tube operative in response to control fluid pressure conducted from the surface, a spring biasing the operator tube to a position at which the flapper valve is closed, and a temporary lockout sleeve mounted in tandem with the flapper valve operator tube for movement simultaneously with the operator tube to a position at which the operator tube is inoperative and the temporary sleeve holds the flapper valve open, the operator tube and flapper valve having means for engagement of a lockout tool to operate the operator tube and lockout sleeve simultaneously. The lockout sleeve can be returned to inoperative position by control fluid pressure return of the operator tube to a position in which the tube holds the flapper valve open.