Abstract: The present invention is directed to a gate valve which in one embodiment comprises a valve body having an internal flow passage which extends between an inlet port and an outlet port; a pair of seats mounted in respective seat pockets formed in the body coaxial with the flow passage; a gate disposed between the seats and having a transverse opening therethrough; and a valve stem threadedly connected to the gate; wherein rotation of the valve stem raises or lowers the gate to bring the opening into or out of alignment with the flow passage to either open or close the gate valve, respectively; and wherein each seat comprises a generally cylindrical body portion having a substantially uniform outer diameter and first and second end faces which are adapted to seal with the gate; whereby each seat may be mounted in its seat pocket with either the first face or the second face adjacent the gate.

Abstract: A lid for a drinking cup having a bottom and a sidewall extending generally upwardly from the bottom, the sidewall including an upper edge and an inner surface. The lid comprises a base, a mouthpiece which extends generally upwardly from the base and which has a longitudinal hole formed therethrough, and an elongated stem which depends generally downwardly from the base generally opposite the mouthpiece. The stem comprises two longitudinal side surfaces which are adapted to conform to the inner surface and a longitudinal channel which is formed between the side surfaces. The stem further comprises an upper portion, a lower portion and a spring element for hingedly connecting the lower portion to the upper portion and for biasing the lower portion radially outwardly relative to the upper portion. The channel communicates with the hole in the mouthpiece and, when the lid is secured to the cup, the side surfaces engage the inner surface to form a fluid passageway through which fluid in the cup may be extracted.

Abstract: A centralizer for guiding a well servicing tool through the bore of a BOP stack or the like and into a radially eccentric position within a wellhead assembly, the centralizer comprising a mandrel having a top end which is connected to a running string and a bottom end to which the well servicing tool is connected, a collar having at least one eccentric hole through which the mandrel extends, the collar being rotatably connected to the mandrel, and an energy absorbing bumper supported above the collar and having at least one opening in alignment with the hole in the collar through which the top end of the mandrel projects; wherein the distance between the center of the collar and the center of the eccentric hole is selected to correspond to the radial distance between the center of the BOP bore and the eccentric position within the wellhead assembly; and wherein the outer diameters of both the collar and the bumper are selected to be only slightly smaller than the diameter of the BOP bore; such that the collar

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a swivel joint for fluid conduits which comprises a central axis; a tubular male member having an outer annular surface, a first end and at least first and second outer annular grooves formed on the outer surface coaxial with the central axis; a tubular female member having an inner annular recess, an annular shoulder formed at an inner end of the recess and at least first and second inner annular grooves formed on the recess coaxial with the central axis; wherein the outer surface of the male member is adapted to be received in the recess of the female member such that the first end is disposed proximate the shoulder and each outer groove is aligned with a corresponding inner groove to thereby define at least first and second annular races; a plurality of balls disposed in each race to secure said male and female members together and to facilitate relative rotation of the male and female members about the central axis; wherein the radius of each race as measured from the

Abstract: The transfer device between a jib including at least one pipe section (54a, 54b) fixed to the jib (12) and a coupling, comprises a system of concertina or deformable diamond-shaped type articulated pipe segments and actuated by cable, at least one pipe section (24a, 24b) connecting to the coupling means. Each section fixed to the jib or connecting to the coupling is connected to one end of the system by a bend and rotary joints (53a, 53b), the bend being fixed to a support (51, 52) suspended from the jib. Each end of the system is fixed to a support (74a) movably mounted in rotation by a bearing (78a) on the bend support to which the end is connected, concentrically with the joint (72a) connecting the end to the bend. The invention applies in particular to the transfer of liquefied natural gas from a marine platform to an oil tanker.

Abstract: A lid for a drinking cup having a bottom and a sidewall extending generally upwardly from the bottom, the sidewall including an upper edge and an inner surface, the lid comprising a base, a rim which depends from the periphery of the base and which includes a constriction for removably connecting the base to the cup over the upper edge, a mouthpiece which extends generally upwardly from the base and which has a longitudinal hole formed therethrough, an elongated stem which depends generally downwardly from the base generally opposite the mouthpiece, the stem comprising two longitudinal side surfaces which are adapted to conform to the inner surface and a longitudinal channel formed between the side surfaces, wherein the channel communicates with the hole in the mouthpiece and, when the lid is secured to the cup, the side surfaces engage the inner surface to form a fluid passageway through which fluid in the cup may be extracted.

Abstract: The present invention provides a ball deck which reduces or eliminates the use of castings, which is self-fixturing for welding and can be manufactured and assembled relatively inexpensively and simply, which has drive means that is readily alignable with the drive motors, which incorporates a deck plate easily registerable with the associated driven balls regardless of the adjustment required to align the drive means, and which incorporates a means for attaching the deck plate so that the upper surface thereof is flat and uncluttered and is less susceptible to wear.

Abstract: The invention is an improved pilot valve for controlling the flow of gaseous fuel to both a pilot burner and a main burner, the pilot valve comprising a housing having an inlet part, a pilot port and a main burner port; a bore extending through the housing between the pilot port and main burner port; a stop shuttle normally biased to a seated position in which it blocks communication between the inlet port and the bore; a reset shuttle positioned in the bore for lifting the stop shuttle from its seated position, the reset shuttle supporting a sealing member for sealing the inlet port from the main burner port but permitting communication between the inlet port and the pilot port when the reset shuttle lifts the stop shuttle from its seated position; a thermocouple capable of generating a voltage from the heat of the pilot burner; and an electromagnet connected to the thermocouple and capable, when fully energized, of holding the stop shuttle from moving to its seated position; wherein the reset shuttle is mov

Abstract: An adjustable tubular hanger for suspending a tubular string from a wellhead component is provided which includes an elongated body having a lower end adapted to be connected to the tubular string and an upper end portion including a plurality of axial annular grooves formed in the outer diameter surface thereof, each groove defining a downwardly facing support surface, and a support ring adapted to be positioned around the body in one of the grooves, the support ring having an upwardly facing load shoulder for engaging the support surface and a downwardly facing load surface for engaging a support shoulder formed in the wellhead component, whereby the elevation of the tubular hanger within the wellhead component can be adjusted depending on in which groove the support ring is positioned.

Abstract: A system for sealing a wellhead, the system comprising: a wellhead housing for connecting to a well string casing, the wellhead housing being annularly disposed about a central axis comprising: a primary sealing surface disposed within the wellhead housing; a reference surface extending below the primary sealing surface; and a secondary sealing surface extending below the reference surface; a wellhead connector annularly disposed about the central axis having disposed therein a connector sealing surface; and a secondary seal ring annularly disposed about the central axis and comprising: a ring seal surface for sealing contact with the connector sealing surface; and an extension extending below the ring seal surface and having disposed thereon a sealing land extending from a lower portion of the extension for sealing contact with the wellhead housing.

Abstract: A plant comprising a post (2') with fixed sections attached thereto at various heights, and a horizontally distortable articulated pipe (3') attached to each of said sections. Other fixed sections (B'1 . . . B'19) are arranged on a single level along a substantially horizontal reference line (L'). The end of each pipe is connected to a tubular column (8') extending up to the reference line. Each column is movable along the reference line and may be shifted transversely so that the columns can pass one another in the vicinity of said line. Said plant is particularly useful in the oil industry.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a device for facilitating the heating of a food product having an interior and an exterior, the device comprising an antenna for receiving microwave energy generated by a microwave source, such as a microwave oven, and converting the microwave energy into an electric current, and at least two probes in contact with the antenna and the interior of the food product for directing the current into the interior of the food product, whereby the interior of the food product is resistively heated.

Abstract: A coupler 10 for pressure conduits 12a-d comprises movable components 22, 26 selectively engageable with or disengageable from fixed components 34 to provide disconnectable sealed pressure connections therewith, the moveable components 22 being acted upon by a primary actuator comprising a bearing plate 52, a thrust nut 50 and a threaded drive spindle 44. Spindle 44 is mounted in an end cap 46 normally held fixed relative to the fixed components by collet fingers 66 but which is disengageable from a connector body 14 upon withdrawal of a retainer sleeve (70, FIG. 8) so as to provide secondary actuation of the movable components 22, 26 independently of the primary actuator 44, 50, 52.

Abstract: A sealing arrangement for a subsea wellhead component is provided which comprises a primary seal to prevent leakage of internal pressure from within the wellhead component and a secondary seal surrounding the primary seal to prevent entry of ambient pressure into the wellhead component. The secondary seal is adapted to permit pressure which leaks past the primary seal to also leak past the secondary seal and vent to the atmosphere to provide an indication during testing of the primary seal that the primary seal has failed.

Abstract: A bore seal assembly for sealing between first and second adjoining tubular members which comprises a cylindrical seal sleeve having a bore and two radially outwardly extending sealing lips for engaging a seal pocket formed in the adjoining ends of the first and second tubular members, a cylindrical wear sleeve mounted within the bore for supporting the seal sleeve within the seal pocket, and an elongated erosion sleeve extending longitudinally from the wear sleeve into at least the first tubular member, whereby the erosion sleeve protects the first tubular member against erosion.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an adapter arm for coupling a fabrication tool or workpiece to the work table of a machine tool, the adapter arm comprising an elongated shaft having first and second ends, the first end being adapted to be removably connected to the work table, and a clamping device attached to the second end for releasably securing the tool or workpiece to the shaft, whereby movement of the work table is translated to the tool or workpiece through the shaft.

Abstract: According to the present invention, there is provided a device for guiding a tool on a string within a blow out prevention ("BOP") stack. In one embodiment, the device includes a top collar connected to a bottom collar by a shroud having a plurality of flexible members which bow outwardly from the collars, wherein the shroud covers a portion of the tool. An energy absorbing bumper is provided above the top collar to absorb structural impact caused by a blow out or other inadvertant pressure in a downhole application.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a valve position indicator for indicating an open or closed position of a valve having a valve stem, the valve position indicator comprising a body adapted to be mounted to a subsea xmas tree structure, a traveling block movably connected to the body by at least one guide bolt, the traveling block including a threaded hole for engaging a threaded extension shaft which is coupled to the valve stem, a rigid tube connected to the body and having first and second open ends, and a coiled spring member having one end connected to the traveling block and the other end extending through the first end of the rigid tube, wherein the extension of the spring member beyond the second end by a predetermined amount provides a visual indication that the valve is in its open or closed position, whereby movement of the traveling block in response to actuation of the valve will push or pull the spring member through the tube to provide the desired visual indication.

Abstract: An adjustable casing hanger for suspending a casing string from a wellhead is provided which includes an elongated tubular body having a lower end adapted to be connected to the casing string and an upper end portion including a plurality of axial annular grooves formed in the outer diameter surface thereof, each groove defining a downwardly facing support surface, and a support ring adapted to be positioned around the body in one of the grooves, the support ring having an upwardly facing load shoulder for engaging the support surface and a downwardly facing load surface for engaging a support shoulder formed in the wellhead, whereby the elevation of the casing hanger within the wellhead can be adjusted depending on in which groove the support ring is positioned.