Abstract: Secured computerized credit cards of the ferromagnetic storage variety, and a computer system that makes use of such cards at more than one location. The card comprises a plurality of ferromagnetic elements, within a continuous ferromagnetic medium, capable of storing binary indicia, sandwiched between thin sheets of plastic or other non-magnetic material. The magnetic elements are tangentially polarized, and locked-in by virtue of two contiguous sheets having different coercivities. Security is provided by programming the information stored on the card in a variety of ways under the exclusive control of the card owner.

Abstract: An improved gaseous fuel burner system for minimizing the production of NOx in a gas burner, comprising a primary burner, including a burner tube and a primary burner head, having a plurality of primary burner ports, in a two dimensional array, over a selected, substantially planar area, transverse to the burner tube. A mixture of gaseous fuel and primary air is supplied to the burner tube, and to the primary burner ports. Secondary combustion air is supplied around the burner tube and flows downstreamwardly to the primary burner and to the combustion zone downstream of the primary burner ports. Secondary burner ports are provided upstream of the primary burner ports, which carry the gaseous fuel and primary air in the form of jets, mixing with the secondary air, and burning to provide combustion products CO.sub.2 and H.sub.2 O, which flow downstreamwardly with the secondary air into the combustion zone of the primary burner.

Abstract: This invention is an improvement over the conventional molecular seal, used for the purpose of preventing the reverse flow of air into the top of a flare stack system upon cessation of flow of the lighter-than-air waste or dump combustible gases. A cylindrical chamber or housing surrounds vertical pipe sections which are parts of the flare stack system. The cylindrical housing is of significantly larger diameter than the flare stack and is closed at the top between the housing and the flare stack. A vertical pipe projects through and downwardly below the upper closure of the housing. Below the bottom of the vertical pipe inside of the housing, is a bulkhead containing a plurality of circular openings near its outer perimeter, into which a plurality of pipes have been welded, which extend upwardly in the annulus between the vertical pipe and the outer housing. These pipes terminate at a selected distance below the top closure of the housing.

Abstract: A web cutter and splicer for cutting a continuous web of material into relatively short lengths and winding the cut lengths onto a storage roll and which comprises a pulley for initially receiving the continuous moving web thereover and a solenoid actuated clamping or holding device for receiving the web from the pulley and intermittently holding the web against movement. The web also moves around an alignment device and through a solenoid actuated cutting apparatus operably connected with the aligning device for actuation whereby the web is severed at preselected position in order that the severed portion of the web may be wound on the storage roll, said preselected position being selected in such a manner as to facilitate a subsequent splicing of the severed portions of the web into a restored continuous web.

Abstract: An improved flare system in which steam is injected into the column of gas to be burned, from circumferential nozzles at at least two spaced levels, above the tip of the flare stack. A circular manifold surrounds the stack just below the tip and an even number of small diameter riser pipes are attached to the manifold, spaced equally circumferentially. The riser pipes have nozzles all of which are directed radially inwardly and upwardly at a selected angle. Half of the nozzles are spaced at a first selected distance above the tip of the flare stack, and the other half are positioned at a greater selected elevation above the tip of the flare stack. Alternate risers have different elevations of the nozzles. By this means, a minimum diameter of the cross-section of the gas flow is occluded by the steam flow.

Abstract: An improved molecular seal for installation in a flare stack system designed for burning of waste gases of lesser density than air, and for installation at an intermediate point in the flare stack, comprising a housing of larger cross-section than that of the flare stack, the housing being closed by plates at both ends with an outlet conduit sealed through the plate at the outlet end of the housing, and connected to the flare stack. An inlet conduit is sealed through the inlet end of the housing and is connected to the source of waste gases. Inside the housing the two conduits are deflected past each other so that they are substantially parallel, and have their axes in the same plane. The downstream end of the inlet conduit goes to a higher elevation inside the conduit than the upstream end of the outlet conduit.

Abstract: Apparatus for moving objects which comprises at least one roller journalled for engagement with the object to be moved whereby rotation of the roller causes the object to move in a longitudinal and/or rotational direction. The axis of the roller may be canted or angularly disposed with respect to the longitudinal direction of travel for the object in order to control the speed of movement of the object.

Abstract: Apparatus for burning gaseous and liquid fuels in a furnace, to retard formation of NO.sub.x, comprising a fuel tube of selected length and diameter, closed at the end which is inserted into a combustion zone. There are a plurality of ports drilled in the closed end of the fuel tube, the axes of which lie on a conical surface coaxial with the fuel tube. The fuel tube is inserted coaxially into a burner tube of selected larger diameter, and the distant ends are substantially coplanar. A plurality of jets of low pressure steam are injected through a plurality of ports into the annular space between the fuel tube and the burner tube at the outer end of the burner tube. The steam jets flowing through the ports induce a flow of primary combustion air, which mixes with the steam and flows down the annular space to mix with the high velocity jets of fuel as they emerge from the ports on the fuel tube. The fuel, air, and steam mix together prior to entering the combustion reaction zone.

Abstract: A floating breakwater made up of an array of interlocking annular buoyant members of noncorrosive material and including a method of splicing scrap vehicle tires using only tire material or other nondeteriorating material to construct said array of interlocking tires.

Abstract: An improved moisture proof harness lead assembly for use with a magneto distributor housing block having a plurality of threaded bores therein for connection to one end of said harness.

Abstract: An improved rotary plug valve which has a housing having an axial, tapered inner wall forming a tapered inner cavity, with a plurality of radial openings in a transverse plane, at selected angles, leading into the tapered inner cavity. A rotatable tapered plug is adapted to fit inside the tapered cavity, and having "0" ring seal means to seal the outer surface of the plug to the inner wall of the housing. Selected conduits through the plug provide means to control flow of liquid entering one or more of the openings in the housing, to flow through the plug to other selected openings, dependent on the anular position of the plug. The cavity is closed by top and bottom closures. The rotor has an axial shaft, by means of which it can be rotated exteriorly of the valve, by the passage of the shaft up through the center of the top closure.

Abstract: A holder for a cylindrical carbon arc electrode, comprising an elongated body of selected metal, having a forward and a rearward end, and a tubular handle attached to the bottom surface, at a selected angle. The top surface of the body has a longitudinal groove adapted to receive a cylindrical electrode and hold it co-linear with the top surface of the body. A quick-acting toggle clamp or latch means is provided, so that by simply pivoting a wire lever the latch can be loosened, and the position of the electrode in the groove can be altered. Various shapes and constructions can be provided, and the bail of the clamp can press directly on the electrode, or through means of metal blocks, etc.

Abstract: A detector for smoke and/or selected gases includes a sensor means to which the smoke or gas is applied. The sensor is connected at one terminal to ground, the other terminal going through a current meter, through a control potentiometer to a selected positive DC voltage. A potential detector is connected at a selected point in the potentiometer so as to determine when a selected magnitude of current is flowing through the sensor. The output of the detector goes through an alarm control means, and an alarm, which is sounded whenever the current through the sensor is greater than a selected minimum value. The system also includes a scanning detector system where a plurality of separate sensors are used, each in a separate location.

Abstract: An apparatus for discharging to the atmosphere, combustion gases containing sulphur trioxide, means are provided for injecting into the stream, prior to venting to the atmosphere, a selected quantity of diluting gas. The diluting gas and sulphur containing combustion gases are turbulently mixed to provide dilution of the sulphur trioxide in the combined effluent from the stack. In one embodiment, the diluting gases are injected through a pipe positioned axially in the stack, below the top. A column of diluting gas is injected at high velocity into the upwardly moving combustion gases to entrain, mix with, and dilute the sulphur trioxide in the combination gases prior to escape from the stack to the atmosphere. In an improved embodiment, an annular plenum is constructed around the stack at a point upstream of the top of the stack, and a plurality of pipes are directed inwardly radially and upwardly through the wall of the stack.

Abstract: Apparatus to burn liquid fuels in a gaseous fuel burner, which includes preparatory apparatus for the atomization of liquid fuel oil preferably by a diluent gas, and the heating of the fuel droplets and diluent gas so as to completely vaporize the liquid fuel. If atomization is by other means, diluent gas is added prior to vaporization heating. The resulting oil vapor-diluent gas mixture then goes to a burner which utilizes the central orifice of a conventional gas burner. Primary air is induced into the burner tube due to the high velocity of jets of oil vapor-diluent gas. The diluent gas permits low vapor pressure of oil vapor and thus lower operating temperature. For the use of gaseous fuel, the same burner is utilized. The diluent gas can be preferably any noncombustible and non-oxygen containing gas.

Abstract: A disc-type brake apparatus adapted for installation in combination with the drawworks of a well bore drilling operation for automatically sensing any reverse torque situation in the drill pipe and quickly set the brake for precluding transmission of any reverse torque to the rotary table drive and clutch mechanism therefor.

Abstract: A C-shaped or ring-shaped collar member having a groove along the inner periphery of one end in combination with an adjustable pin insert for engaging the end of a torsion spring threaded on a cone. Apertures are provided in the collar for accepting a winding bar to rotate the collar.

Abstract: A cabinet for improving the sound output of an amplifier, the cabinet being in the form of an upright rectangular housing with a horizontal partition dividing the interior into an upper and lower portion, the partition having a speaker opening and a baffle opening, a speaker being mounted in the speaker opening for upward projection of the sound into the housing upper portion, the speaker being connected to the amplifier, a sounding board within the housing upper portion inclined at an angle from the housing rear upwardly towards the housing front, a sheet of metal affixed to the horizontal partition and covering the baffle opening, the vibration of the speaker serving to drive the metal baffle by condensations and rarefaction of the sound waves to either side of the horizontal partition so that the metal baffle functions as a supplemental and complementary sound source.

Abstract: Telescoping vehicles particularly designed and constructed for supporting the opposite ends of elongated members whereby one elongated member is suspended between a pair of the vehicles and a succeeding elongated member is suspended between a succeeding pair of vehicles, the vehicles being so arranged that the rear vehicle of the leading elongated member will nest or telescope within the leading vehicle of the following elongated member in such a manner that the adjacent ends of in-line elongated members will be in abutment.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improved elevator as used in the drilling industry for latching onto and transporting drill pipe. The improvements are particularly adaptable for elevators used in a dual automatic elevator system as described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,063,509. The improvements include: (a) an arrangement wherein an elevator base may be utilized to accept a variety of different sizes of drilling pipe with a variety of different shoulder configurations on the tool joint end of the drilling pipe; (b) an elevator having a removable base so that the elevator may be utilized either for the dual automatic system of U.S. Pat. No.