Abstract: A subsea system comprises a central template that is piled into the seabed and carried wing modules that are connected to the template by hinges. This allows the template to be deployed and the wing modules attached subsequently or for the wing modules to be folded upwardly into a collapsed disposition as the template is deployed. In either case, the template can be deployed through the moonpool of a vessel and does not require a heavy lifting barge. An example of a module usable with the template is a hinge-over guidebase which can allow the commencement of drilling of a well while a manifold and christmas tree are being constructed for subsequent attachment. Thus, installation of the system is easy and drilling of the well can commence quickly.

Abstract: In combination with a dual elbow swivel joint having a female elbow member rotationally coupled to a male elbow member, the invention comprises an orientation device having an angle marker located on one elbow member and an indicator mark located on the other elbow member. The angle marker contains a number of angle markings located at predetermined angles measured from the central axis of the elbow member. The indicator mark is placed on the other elbow member in a location such that, when aligned with an angle marking, the elbow members are in a predetermined angular orientation relative to each other. The angle markings on the angle marker each have a length which is related to the amount of wear that has been found to occur in the dual elbow swivel joint when the female and male members are oriented at that particular angle. Thus, the orientation device enables an operator to orient the female and male elbow members at an angle at which the dual elbow swivel joint will experience the least amount of wear.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a check valve assembly comprising an upstream body member and a downstream body member which are joined in sealing engagement to thereby form a closed body; a generally ring-shaped seating member formed from a unitary piece of material and comprising a flat base surface positioned in said closed body with said flat base surface facing upstream, a flat top surface parallel to said flat base surface, a flow passage extending from said base surface to said top surface and a bore extending into said top surface toward said base surface, said bore defining an annular lip surrounding said flow passage and a recessed upward-angled planar top sealing surface; said seating member further comprising a cut-out segment formed in said lip which defines two extensions projecting axially from the top sealing surface and a transverse hole in each extension through which a hinge pin is received to connect a movable flapper lid to said seating member; said flapper lid comprising a flapper s

Abstract: A tubing hanger is provided with a production bore and an annulus bore spaced radially outwardly of the production bore. The annulus bore is closed by a valve member in the form of an annular disc that is rotatable by a piston provided in the tubing hanger to move between a position in which the aperture in the valve member is aligned with the annulus bore and a position in which spaced parallel upper and lower surfaces of the valve member close the annulus bore.

Abstract: A valve comprising a body having an interior cavity, an inlet port and an outlet port; an upstream seat and a downstream seat positioned within the cavity, each seat including a bore in alignment with the inlet and outlet ports to define a flow passage through the valve body; a closure member movably positioned between the seats to either open or close the flow passage; a seat-to-closure member seal defined between each seat and the closure member, the seat-to-closure member seal defining a first area between the seat-to-closure member seal and the bore of the upstream seat; wherein the upstream seat includes a sealing member between the seat and the valve body which is positioned asymmetrically around the bore; and wherein the sealing member defines a second area between the sealing member and the bore which is larger than the first area.

Abstract: A bore seal assembly for sealing between adjoining tubular members having a seal pocket formed in the adjacent ends thereof which comprises a cylindrical seal sleeve having a bore and two radially outwardly extending sealing lips for engaging the seal pocket, a cylindrical finger spring mounted within the bore of the seal sleeve and having an annular central section and a plurality of fingers extending axially outwardly therefrom for urging the sealing lips against the seal pocket, and a cylindrical wear sleeve having a curvilinear outer diameter for supporting the fingers and transferring the contact point between the fingers and the wear sleeve toward the ends of the fingers to thereby increase the stiffness of the fingers and maintain a spring force sufficient to overcome the force caused by contraction of the seal sleeve in low temperatures.

Abstract: A wheel aligner comprises a communications unit attachable to the conventional heads and the console to provide for cordless communication of information between the heads and the console in the absence of cables.

Abstract: A safety valve for use in a horizontal christmas tree is disclosed which comprises a valve element rotatably mounted in a valve body for opening and closing a flow path through the valve body. A seal is provided between the valve body and valve element and defines a sealing surface at which all points are spaced equidistant from the valve body rotational axis. A hydraulic actuator is also provided for rotating the valve element.

Abstract: An improvement to a vehicle wheel balancer having a rotatable shaft upon which a wheel to be balanced is mountable and a digital signal processor, the improvement comprising a parameter entry device for determining the offset and diameter of the wheel which comprises an elongated rod slideably and rotatably mounted to the balancer in parallel with the rotatable shaft; a transverse arm connected to an end of the rod nearest the wheel, the arm comprising a wheel contacting tip; a first rotary encoder coupled to the distal end of the rod and having a shaft associated with the rod, wherein rotation of the rod rotates the shaft and thereby causes the first rotary encoder to generate a digital signal representative of the amount of rotation of the rod; a rack mounted to the balancer in alignment with the rod; and a second rotary encoder coupled to the rod and having a shaft associated with a rotatable gear which engages the rack, wherein extension of the rod rotates the shaft and thereby causes the second rotary en

Abstract: A release assembly for operating a remote mechanism such as a subsea well connector includes a funnel-shaped body adapted to engage the well connector and a movable arm adapted to engage and disengage a locking cap of the well connector and provide lifting force in order to actuate the locking cap.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for monitoring and automatically calibrating the primary sensors of a vehicle wheel aligner comprises secondary sensors for signaling the control means of the wheel aligner when the wheels are in known angular orientations. The outputs from the primary angle determining sensors of the wheel aligner are recorded when the secondary sensors signal the control means, and the control means calculates a calibration relationship between the outputs and the known angles to apply to future outputs of the primary sensors.

Abstract: A wheel alignment apparatus comprising eight sensors for measuring the toe angles of the wheels of a vehicle and a computer for calculating toe angle information from any six companion sensors and for comparing the toe angle information calculated using the six sensors with the toe angle information calculated using at least the remaining two sensors to determine if the wheel alignment apparatus is in calibration.

Abstract: A sludge collector mechanism for scraping settled sludge off the bottom of a settling tank is disclosed wherein a sludge collector flight comprises a high strength "H"-shaped cross section and inwardly projecting lips for engaging the outwardly projecting clips of a wear shoe to thereby secure the wear shoe to the sludge collector flight.

Abstract: A handle for imparting rotational motion to a rotationally-operable device including a valve stem and shear pin assembly, the handle comprising an elongated arm having a hub section for receiving a modular hub, a hand grip attached to one end of the arm, and yoke means attached to the distal end of the arm, the modular hub having protrusions for linking the modular hub to the hub section to provide for the transfer of torque between the handle and the modular hub and internal voids for engageably receiving the valve stem and shear pin assembly.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for determining the vertical distance between a point on a vehicle and a reference line comprises a linear measuring device, a fixture to aid in the taking of linear measurements of the point along two oblique angles, and a computer for calculating the vertical distance from these two measurements.

Abstract: In a sludge collector mechanism having a sludge flight for scraping settled sludge off the bottom of a settling tank and skimming floating waste from the surface of the water contained in the tank, a support rail assembly for maintaining the flight on a level generally even with the surface of the water, the support rail assembly comprising a non-metallic longitudinal track on which the end of the flight is slideably supported and at least one non-metallic mounting bracket for securing the track relative to the sidewall of the settling tank. The track comprises a cross section having a substantially horizontal rail portion, a transverse stem extending downward from the underside of the rail portion, and two opposing fingers, one extending upward from the bottom of the stem and one extending downward from the underside of the rail portion.

Abstract: In an aircraft deicer comprising a reservoir and a pump connected to the reservoir through a first conduit, the pump operating to circulate a fluid contained within the reservoir throughout at least a portion of the deicer, the improvement comprising: a jet pump located in the first conduit between the reservoir and the pump for increasing the pressure of the fluid within the first conduit between the jet pump and the pump; the jet pump comprising a tubular body portion having an inlet end and a discharge end and a nozzle located within the body portion between the inlet end and the discharge end; and a second conduit extending from a discharge end of the pump to the nozzle; whereby fluid from the discharge end of the pump is injected into the fluid flowing from the reservoir through the jet pump.

Abstract: In an apparatus for making plastic bags or the like from a continuous film of material comprising a sealing drum having at least one seal bar for imparting transverse seals to the film at regularly spaced intervals and a perforator having a rotatable perforator blade for imparting transverse perforations to the film at regularly spaced intervals, the film comprising print marks appearing thereon at regularly spaced intervals, an apparatus and method are disclosed for tracking the positions of each print mark and each perforation and comparing the difference between these positions to a desired difference and thereafter adjusting the angular position of the perforator blade until the difference between the positions of each print mark and each perforation is equal to the desired difference to thereby maintain a desired spacing between each print mark and each perforation.

Abstract: In an apparatus for making plastic bags or the like from a continuous film of material comprising a sealing drum having at least one seal bar for imparting transverse seals to the film at regularly spaced intervals and a perforator having a rotatable perforator blade for imparting transverse perforations to the film at regularly spaced intervals, an apparatus and method are disclosed for tracking the positions of each seal and each perforation and comparing the difference between these positions to a desired difference and thereafter adjusting the rate of rotation of the perforator blade until the difference between the positions of each seal and each perforation is equal to the desired difference to thereby maintain a desired spacing between each seal and each perforation.

Abstract: A handle for imparting rotational motion to a rotationally-operable device, which comprises an elongated arm having hub means for detachably connecting the handle to the rotationally-operable device, a hand grip attached to one end of the arm, and yoke means attached to the distal end of the arm.