Abstract: An abrasive resistant choke assembly. It is especially for use in withstanding the abrasive action of sharp particles of silt and sand that are carried by hot fluids flowing under pressure from producing wells. It includes a choke passage with an inlet end that has an angle of taper of less than 8.degree..

Abstract: A method of continuously producing a super conductive intermetallic compound. It includes passing a filament of a metallic substrate through a high temperature plating chamber. The filament is heated electrically to a higher temperature while plating gases of the metals which make up the intermetallic compound are introduced in the form of halides of such metals along with sufficient hydrogen to complete a chemical change which plates the superconductor on the filament.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for evaluating the corrosion protection that will be provided to a metallic surface by a surface layer. The layer is formed by use of corrosion inhibitors in a corrosive fluid.

Abstract: A sewer back-up alarm unit. It replaces the plug in an access opening. And, it has a solid wall with a short pivoted arm mounted on the inside of the wall. The arm is angled and pivots freely between two positions, as limited by the wall. There is a liquid level float that is hung from one end of the arm by a flexible chain. A counterweight is mounted on the other end of the arm to pivot it to the position opposite to the one which the weight of the float causes. There is a magnetic switch mounted on the outside of the solid wall, and a magnet on the arm actuates the switch when the float is raised by the level of liquid in the sewer. An alarm circuit may be connected to the switch, as desired.

Abstract: A heavy-duty coupling unit that incorporates a sensitive torque-measuring device. It has a compact arrangement for making a direct longitudinal torque coupling in normal use. And, in addition it provides for alternative lateral chain drive coupling. It is especially adapted for use with a rotary drilling rig.

Abstract: An ignition system for internal combustion engines. It concerns an improvement for a controlled-duration continuous-wave high-frequency system, that has an output transformer with a control winding thereon. The system has an oscillator with the output transformer included therein. The oscillator generates spark energy, and an engine-timed unit controls an electronic switch that starts and stops the oscillator by breaking and making a loading circuit for the control winding. The improvement concerns a time constant element in electronic circuit means between the engine-timed unit and the electronic switch. The arrangement is such that the engine-timed unit controls the beginning of all spark intervals, and the end of each spark interval at less than a predetermined speed of the engine. But, only the time constant element controls the end of each spark interval at more than the predetermined speed of the engine.

Abstract: An acoustic type of pipeline marker that has combined with it, as a unitary structure, an acoustic signal detector for determining whether the marker is operating. The detector is only energized when it is desired to check whether the marker is emitting the desired acoustic signals into the pipeline. The detector provides a visual signal.

Abstract: The structure of a gas scrubber for large diameter conduits. It employs an axially located element that forms an annular venturi passage. This eliminates any tendency toward incomplete scrubbing of the gas stream.

Abstract: A mixing chamber and system for connecting it to a stream of inert gas, in order to monitor the stream for detecting the presence of hydrogen therein. It has a hydrogen detector in the chamber, and there is a stream of dry air mixed with the inert gas stream to provide oxygen which is required for operation of the hydrogen detector.

Abstract: A nozzle valve of the type for fuel injection in an internal combustion engine. It has a needle and a valve seat adjacent to one end of the needle, plus a spring to bias the needle against the seat. It also has means for lifting the needle off the seat when the spring bias is exceeded. And, it includes means actuated by the needle lift to initiate an electric spark signal.

Abstract: A method and/or system for measuring formation porosity from drilling response. It involves measuring a number of drilling parameters and includes determination of tooth dullness as well as determining a reference torque empirically. One of the drilling parameters is the torque applied to the drill string.

Abstract: A cleanout procedure for use in a well with low bottom hole pressure that has become filled with sand. It employs a conductor string of pipe and a wash string of pipe inside the conductor string, both inserted in the well. A high pressure gas is applied to the inner annulus formed by the conductor and wash string, and the workover wash fluid is circulated down the wash string up the outer annulus formed by the well casing and the conductor string, to be joined by the gas and so wash out the sand through the outer annulus. Sand is separated at the surface.

Abstract: A special purpose electrical connector. It is for connecting an end of a resistive type of electrical conductor so as to have maximum electrical and mechanical properties.The resistive conductor has a resilient material core of desired resistivity which is surrounded by an insulator. A pair of conductive material wires are applied in a cooperative manner with one wire extending doubled for a substantial distance into the core. The other wire wraps around the outside of the insulator and pierces through to join the first within the resilient core, before extending axially beyond the end of the core and insulation.

Abstract: A sensitive arrangement for determining presence of oil, at low parts per million, in water. It employs infrared absorbtion measurement, and first mixes the water with an oil solvent that may be separated from the water after taking any oil into solution. Also, the solvent is one which does not have any significant infrared absorbency at a predetermined wave length, which does have absorbency by hydrocarbons. After separation of the oil solvent, it is continuously passed through an absorption cell in an infrared spectrometer, to monitor the presence of oil in the water.

Abstract: A static-type fluid-mixing method. It deals with mixing different fluids in a stream which are separated longitudinally. A portion of the stream is diverted laterally and the remainder is reversed after continuing in the original direction for a given distance. Both parts are then mixed by joining one another down stream.A static-type mixer. It has a conduit for carrying a stream of fluids separated longitudinally. It includes passages for diverting a portion of the stream laterally, and means for longitudinally reversing the remainder of the stream to rejoin the diverted portion after a given amount of flow of the stream.

Abstract: A system employing a plurality of electronic oscillators for generating test signals at spaced locations remote from a selection point. The oscillators are coupled to a gathering line for petroleum products, each being located adjacent to an acoustic detector coupled to the line for signaling the presence of a leak within its range. A digital selector which manually generates a given number of pulses is located at the selection point. There is a binary counter at each oscillator to receive the pulses. And, there is also a binary encoder at each oscillator to determine which one will be energized, depending upon the number of pulses generated by the selector.

Abstract: A method of suppressing noise trains that develop from harmonics of a vibrator-type sweep signal. It includes the step of generating a plurality of such sweep signals in series and with the phase of each succeeding sweep signal being shifted relative to the previous one by a predetermined phase angle which is a fraction of 2.pi.. The generated signals are separately recorded and transformed by inverse phase shifting before being added or stacked in a conventional manner.

Abstract: Skimmer apparatus for a pond or reservoir where the surface layer contains frangible solid matter. It employs a weir structure with a curved edge, and a pair of arms having interlocking teeth extending radially from the edge. One arm is stationary and one rotates so that the interlocking positions of the teeth will break up the solid matter.

Abstract: A hydrocarbon vapor control system for preventing escape to the atmosphere, and for disposing of such vapors by clean burning. It includes a pair of adsorption beds and means for alternatively connecting them to receive the vapor while the other one of the beds is being regenerated with the effluent vapor from the regeneration being burned. There is a hydrocarbon detector at the outlet of each adsorption bed to determine when it has become saturated.A hydrocarbon vapor control unit includes a canister with an inlet at the bottom to admit the vapor. There is a support for an adsorption bed in the canister, and there is an outlet at the top which is designed to permit burning the effluent when the adsorption bed is being regenerated by air flow through the inlet.

Abstract: A coupling unit for use in filling tank ships with petroleum products. It is a 90.degree. elbow with a flange for attaching a loading hose, and there is an integral skirt to fit over a hatch opening. Also, there are quick release type bolts with the skirt to hold the unit in place over a hatch opening when loading product.