Abstract: A tape deck providing means to drive and control a file reel and a machine reel including a vacuum source and a capstan drive means, the tape deck including a first vacuum column of relatively wide width and short length extending upwardly and at an acute angle to the vertical plane encompassing the axis of the file reel and machine reel, and a second relatively wide, short length vacuum column below the first vacuum column and having an axis intersecting the axis of the first vacuum column at an acute angle, the second vacuum column having a transverse end wall at an angle to the second vacuum column outer wall, the sources of vacuum being applied to the vacuum columns, the capstan being positioned at the entrance to the second vacuum column so that a short length of tape extends from the capstan to the exit of the first vacuum column, the tape being wrapped 180.degree.

Abstract: A method and associated apparatus for lateral drilling in an oil and/or gas well involving either stopping the drilling or temporarily cementing in a plug in the existing well bore at the desired location for deviation. A tight radius of curvature is then rotary drilled by use of a flexible drilling collar made up of a series of short drill string sections interconnected by universal joints that terminate within an eccentric collar on the final drill string section. The eccentric collar is equipped with a sidewall engaging means to hold the eccentric collar from rotating during rotary drilling. A flexible collar (e.g., ball and socket) extending outwardly and downwardly from the far end of the final drill string section passing through the eccentric collar connects to a drill bit collar and rotary drill bit.

Abstract: A pack for wearing on the back of the user for carrying sport equipment, the pack being formed of a back portion of flexible material configured to generally cover the back of the user, there being a first and second opening in the back portion adjacent the opposed lower corners thereof, a left and a right shoulder strap each being affixed at one end to the back portion upper edge, the shoulder straps extending through the openings in the back portion and being adapted to be attached at their other ends together in the front of the user so that the straps extend over the shoulders of the user, a generally tubular elongated portion affixed to the back surface of the back portion and extending diagonally thereacross adapted to receive a baseball bat, tennis racket, hockey stick, etc. therein, and a sack portion of flexible material secured to the back portion back surface and being open at the top and adapted to receive balls and other playing equipment.

Abstract: A safety closure for use in a flange in which the flange has an internal circumferential groove in the passageway therethrough, the closure being formed of a cylindrical body slidably receivable within the flange passageway, the body having a reduced diameter opening therethrough, a plurality of leaves slideably supported to the body, the outer ends of the leaf being receivable in the flange groove, an elastomeric gasket to seal the periphery of the body to the flange passageway, and a pressure relief member slidably received in the body passageway, the upper end of the pressure relief member being of enlarged diameter and received between opposed inner ends of the leaves when the leaves are outwardly positioned within the flange groove to thereby prevent the leaves from being removed from the groove, the pressure relief member being downwardly displaceable to an open position permitting fluid flow through the cylindrical body prior to permitting the leaf to be retracted thereby assuring release of pressure b

Abstract: This is a novel swivel joint for connecting two fluid conveying conduits. It includes an inner cylinder connected to one conduit and an outer cylinder connected to the other conduit. There is a double seal with a pressure chamber therebetween the two cylinders at one end thereof and a second double seal with pressure chamber therebetween at the other end. Four sets of bearing means are located between the inner and outer cylinders between the two double seals.

Abstract: This is a system of providing lateral support to the block of a Scotch Yoke mechanism. The Scotch Yoke mechanism is useful in operators or devices which translate linear motion to rotary motion. The Scotch Yoke has a hub with an upper U-shaped member having two arms and a lower U-shaped member also having two arms. The hub is connected to a rod so that rotation of the hub rotates the rod. A drive screw or rod is between the upper and lower U-shaped arms and is provided with a block which has upper and lower rollers for engaging the Scotch Yoke assembly which is mounted in a housing. This whole mechanism may be called an operator. A new and improved way is provided for transmitting applied force which is imposed on the block to the housing proper.

Abstract: A shielded tubular gauge for placement between two spaced apart fittings connected to a vessel to show the level of liquid in the vessel, including an elongated frame having a U-shaped cross-sectional configuration, a connection housing secured to each end of the frame and each having an opening therethrough, the opening being internally threaded in the outer portions thereof, a transparent tubular member received in the frame and in the housings openings, a packing nut received in the threaded opening in each of the housings, each of the packing nuts having a portion extending beyond the housing providing a cylindrical surface receivable in the fittings attached to the vessel, an elastomeric packing ring within each housing engaged by the packing nut and compressed against the exterior of the tubular member and a protective shield, such as of transparent material like polycarbonate or expanded metal, received in the frame providing protection for the tubular member.

Abstract: A transportable seismic energy source having a baseplate for contacting the earth, an upper master cylinder affixed at its lower end to the base plate and extending uprightly from it, a receiving cylinder of outside diameter less than the internal diameter of the master cylinder and supported coaxially within the upper portion of the master cylinder, the master cylinder and receiving cylinder being filled with liquid, a slug firing gun mounted to the master cylinder and arranged so that the gun muzzle extends coaxially and above the receiving cylinder.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods of making measurements in a borehole while drilling by using a fluid circulation system having interfering pressure variations including the steps of measuring selected parameters at various depths in the borehole and generating in pressure changes indicative of the values of the measured parameters, producing signals representing a superposition of the generated pressure changes and the interfering pressure variations and utilizing the recurrence of the interfering pressure variations for deriving from the first signals resultant signals representing substantially the information carrying pressure changes.

Abstract: A collapsible decoy is made of a collapsible frame with a flexible covering. The frame includes a first large wire arch with a wire tail and head configuration attached and a second wire arch. A pivot connects the large arch with the second arch so that the two can be rotated to be essentially one on top of the other in a flat position and then rotating 90.degree. to an expanded position. An anchoring pole is fixed to the larch arch so that the decoy can be supported from the ground.

Abstract: A drilling pipe and pipe connection system for maintaining electric connection between the surface and a subsurface location during drilling having sidewalls consisting of a bundle of parallel, longitudinally oriented, tightly packed wires cemented to each other thus creating a structural "reed bundling effect". Individual insulated conductive wires distributed around the reed bundled sidewall in two concentric subsets are attached to a pair of concentric electrical contact rings located at each end fitting such that when drilling pipe sections are interconnected electrical continuity is maintained. Such a drilling pipe is useful to deliver electricity to a downhole drilling motor or the like and for transmitting electrical signals or data during the drilling operation.

Abstract: An alarm and communication system for water skiers as provided for use with a boat having a driver and a ski rope secured at one end to the back of the boat and a handle at the other end of the rope to which the skier holds, the system including a battery powered radio receiver positioned on the boat, the receiver having an antenna and being arranged to receive a pre-selected radio signal frequency, an alarm switch connected to the radio receiver to provide a closed contact in the absence of the reception by the receiver of a signal of pre-selected frequency and wattage, an alarm connected to the switch, and a radio transmitter, antenna and power source of a size to be supported above the water as a skier holds to a ski rope handle and is supported on the water surface when pulled by the boat, the transmitter antenna being arranged to transmit at the pre-selected frequency of the receiver and of selected wattage sufficient that when the skier is ahold of the ski rope handle and supported above the water surfa

Abstract: A system for use in providing measurements from within a borehole to the earth's surface during drilling operations in which a drill pipe extends from the earth's surface having a drilling means, such as a drill bit, at the lower end and a fluid circulation system forming a column of drilling fluid within the drill string, a direct radiator telemetering system including a housing positioned within the drill string providing for the flow of drilling fluid therepast, the housing being in the form of a tubular member having within it an electrically driven pressure pulse radiating means responsive to electrical signals representing the magnitude of a downhole parameter for producing a sequence of pressure pulses indicative of the magnitude, the tubular housing being of a relatively long length being of approximately a substantial fraction of the equivalent wavelength of the pulses produced by the pulse producing means, and instruments at the earth's surface for maintaining superatmospheric mud pressure in the to

Abstract: A shell formed of a casing having a propellant in it and a means of igniting the propellant, and shot formed of a plurality of metallic pellets each of a pyramid shape, that is, in the form of a polyhedron having a equilateral triangular base and equilateral faces meeting in a common apex. The pyramidal shape causes the pellets to travel in a flatter trajectory than spherical pellets commonly used so that when the shell is of the type used in a shotgun, the pellets have greater range, more directional stability, and are less affected by sidewinds.

Abstract: A method, and a system for practicing the method, of heating liquid in a separator utilizing heat from a glycol regenerator. The system employs a gas pressure operated pump for pumping heat exchange fluid through a closed loop flow path. A gas burner in the regenerator vessel has a pilot light. Piping connects combustible gas to the burner and to the gas pressure operated pump and from the gas pressure operated pump to the pilot light. A thermostatically controlled valve is positioned in the heat exchange closed loop fluid flow path and opens and closes in response to the temperature of the liquid in the separator vessel, the valve opening to permit flow of heat exchange fluid in response to a detected low liquid temperature. Flow of gas through the pump remaining substantially constant at all times and providing a fuel source for the continuous operation of the pilot light.

Abstract: An apparatus for calibrating the gain in a tape drive read system, so that with a calibrated signal source, the output of the read system will be a clean, square wave, digitized signal. Means are provided for taking the output of a read head, reading signals from a tape, applying a controlled attenuation to the signals, such that the output of the read system will be of a correct amplitude output. A sensor assembly including a comparator, is used to monitor the output voltage from the read system, and to provide appropriate signals to the attenuator until the analog output voltage of the read signal is correct.

Abstract: A pair of A-frames and a pair of torque tubes are used in a body support structure of an off highway vehicle to carry all of the load of the vehicle. The vehicle load in the rear is carried directly on the torque tubes and the front load is cantilevered from the torque tubes.

Abstract: A boat guide for use in loading a boat from a body of water onto a trailer. There is one upright post on each side of the boat trailer near the rear end thereof each of which is of sufficient height to extend above the water when loading the boat. A cross-member having a cradle in the center connects the upper ends of these two posts. The posts are each pivotally connected to the floor or frame of the trailer and are held by a spring in an upright position. When the boat is to be loaded, the keel of the boat is directed toward the cradle and as the boat moves over the trailer, the guide rotates but the keel still follows the cradle.

Abstract: A drive for a magnetic tape including a tape deck, a skew plate having an opening in each end thereof for attachment by means of screws to the face of the tape deck, one of the openings being internally threaded, a read/write head affixed to the skew plate between the openings and having a longitudinal read/write surface thereacross engageable by a magnetic tape, the longitudinal read/write surface extending generally perpendicular to the skew plate rearward surface, a cup screw received in the threaded opening in the skew plate, the cup screw having an opening through it receiving one of the screws by which the skew plate is held to the tape deck, whereby the angle of the skew plate relative to the tape deck and thereby the angle of the read/write head relative to the path of tape across it, can be adjusted by rotational adjustment of the cup screw.

Abstract: A rate meter for use with an IV fluid administration system having a vertical transparent drip chamber, the rate meter having an elongated housing having a notch therein for receiving the drip chamber, and a spring bias moveable portion which engages the drip chamber so that the housing is held to the drip chamber in a horizontal manner, the housing having two light emitters positioned on one side of the drip chamber and a photodetector on the other side, the light path between the light emitters and the photodetector being affected by passages of drops of fluid through the drip chamber, circuitry for computing a volumetric flow rate based on the frequency of detected drops, an indicator for displaying the detected flow rate and a self-contained battery. The two light emitters are arranged to provide equal light intensity on the photodetector.