Abstract: The lid portion of a notebook computer is pivotally secured to the base portion of the computer using a metal hinge structure directly interconnected between the lid portion and the metal I/O plate disposed at the back side of the computer base portion and grounded to the system planar board therein. A direct grounding connection is thus formed from the lid portion to the system planar board through this combination I/O plate/lid hinge structure.

Abstract: An electromechanical detector structure is used to sense and log the joints in a downhole jointed tubular structure, such as a well bore casing or production tubing, in a subterranean well. The detector is lowered into the tubular structure on an elongated positioning member, representatively a slick line, through a series of joints to be logged, and then pulled upwardly through the joints. As the detector passes upwardly through each joint it electromagnetically senses the joint and responsively generates an electric output signal. The output signal is used to momentarily drive a drag structure portion of the detector into forcible, motion inhibiting contact with the interior surface of the tubular structure. This, in turn, momentarily creates a detectable tension increase in the elongated positioning member.

Abstract: A recirculating tool assembly is lowered on a length of coil tubing into the production tubing of a well completion to a location above side wall perforations in the production tubing which have become obstructed. The tool assembly includes an upper tool portion telescoped into and releasably latched within a lower sealing and tubing extension portion. Recirculating fluid is pumped down the coil tubing, flowed through a first tool assembly passage, and downwardly discharged into the production tubing. A portion of the discharged fluid is forced outwardly through the production tubing perforations to remove the obstructions therefrom, and the remainder of the discharged fluid is forced upwardly through a second tool assembly passage into the annulus between the coil tubing and the production tubing for return to the surface.

Abstract: A sand screen structure used to filter particulate matter from formation fluid entering a well bore is assembled from a plurality of generally tubular filter sections that may be axially snapped together in a manner facilitating the simultaneous interconnection of circumferentially spaced series of axially extending shunt tubes secured to and passing internally through each of the filter sections. By utilizing snap-fit interconnections between the filter sections, instead of conventional threaded connections, the assembly of the overall sand screen structure is made substantially easier and quicker, and the lengths of the blank, nonfiltering portions of the sand screen structure between its individual filter sections are substantially reduced. In an alternate embodiment of the sand screen structure the shunt tubes are secured within external side surface recesses of the filter section bodies.

Abstract: An earth well completion apparatus and method wherein a work string equipped for jet washing downhole filtration devices, such as well screens and for back washing said downhole filtration devices and containing multiple ball catcher subs which utilize the same drop ball to prevent the inadvertent operation of hydraulically powered tools as well as to permanently valve closed a portion of said work string is concentrically disposed in a production string and run in said well simultaneously. Said ball catcher sub which prevents the inadvertent actuation of said hydraulically operated tools is contained within the main fluid bore of said work string and has an expellable inner collar with an outwardly biased catcher ring which, when expelled, shears hollow shearable means thereby actuating said tool.

Abstract: A subsurface well flow control system includes a series of movable sleeve type flow control devices installed in a well flow conductor at various fluid-containing fracture zones, and a shifter tool movable through the conductor and operable to selectively shift any selected number of the sleeve portions of the flow control devices, in either direction between their open and closed positions, without removing the tool from the conductor. Radially retractable anchor and shifter key sets are carried in side wall openings of the tool body, and are respectively configured to be lockingly engaged with interior side surface groove sets on the body and movable sleeve portions of any of the flow control devices. The key sets are spring-biased radially outwardly toward extended positions, and an electromechanical drive system disposed within the tool body is operative to radially retract the key sets, and to axially drive the shifter key set toward or away from the anchor key set.

Abstract: A combination packer/safety valve assembly is connectable to the bottom end of a tubing string and lowerable therewith into the casing string portion of a gas storage well to control the upward flow through the casing string of pressurized gas stored in a subterranean cavern below the casing string. In response to the delivery through the tubing string to the interior of the assembly of control fluid at a first predetermined pressure a normally closed, axially extending interior passage of the assembly is opened to permit upward flow therethrough of pressurized gas for delivery to the well surface through the casing string.

Abstract: A downhole, inline well safety shutoff valve has a spring-loaded, normally closed flapper shutoff valve element that may be opened by a downwardly driven movement of an operator tube coaxially and slidably disposed within the tubing string bore. The operator tube is vertically driven by a rod structure disposed in an offset passageway in the safety valve housing and operated by fluid control pressure transmitted thereto from the surface. To substantially preclude undesirable communication in the passageway between pressurized production fluid and pressurized rod control fluid, the rod structure is slidably carried within a specially designed seal structure including a cylindrical sleeve coaxially received in the offset passageway, and a sealing ring captively retained between the top end of the sleeve and an annular ledge formed in the passageway. The sealing ring functions to create a dynamic seal around the rod side surface and a static seal between the ring and the interior passageway surface.

Abstract: In a gas turbine engine compressor power unit fuel is supplied at an essentially constant pressure to a fuel nozzle for injection into the combustion liner of the power unit's combustor. Nozzle fuel flow is modulated solely by bleeding off combustor supply air to vary the internal liner pressure, thereby altering the fuel pressure drop across the nozzle.

Abstract: To prevent surge in a compressor, the flow therethrough is automatically altered when the static pressure differential taken laterally across one of its diffuser vanes approaches a magnitude indicative of a surge condition.

Abstract: A perforated foil bearing surface having dry lubricant reservoirs dispersed throughout and a method of producing such perforated foil bearing surfaces.

Abstract: An axially asymmetric exhaust gas muffler has a perforated central exhaust duct that is circumscribed by a duality of reactive sound attenuating chambers in each of which is positioned a resonant sound attenuator.

Abstract: A cantilevered bearing damper assembly has an elastomeric camping section which is maintained essentially entirely in a shear stress condition during lateral deflection of an annular bearing secured to the assembly.

Abstract: A method of operating a variable geometry combustor for use in a gas turbine propulsion engine.

Abstract: A dual alloy cooled turbine is manufactured by casting a hollow cylinder of first nickel-base alloy material with high creep resistance to produce directionally oriented grain boundaries. A preform of a second nickel-base alloy material with high tensile strength and high low-cycle-fatigue strength is diffusion bonded into the bore of the hollow cylinder by subjecting the cylinder and preform to hot isostatic pressing. The resulting cylindrical block is cut into thin precisely flat wafers. A plurality of alignable holes for forming fluid cooling passages are photochemically etched into the individual wafers. The wafers then are laminated by vacuum diffusion bonding techniques, with the holes aligned to form fluid cooling passages. The resulting laminated block is machined to produce the turbine wheel with turbine blades through which the cooling passages extend.

Abstract: The fuel nozzles in a variable geometry combustor cooperate with an inwardly projecting liner wall section to define a sheltered pilot combustion zone within the liner. Simultaneously operable inlet valves are provided for admitting a selectively variable quantity of combustion air into the pilot zone.

Abstract: A toroidal pressure vessel comprises two annular, complementarily formed axial sections which are intersecured along a duality of annular joint lines that circumscribe and are mutually offset along the axis of the toroid. The axial sections are formed by machining a pair of end portions removed from a length of thick-walled metal tubing.

Abstract: The fuel nozzles in a variable geometry combustor cooperate with an inwardly projecting liner wall section to define a sheltered pilot combustion zone within the liner. Simultaneously operable inlet valves are provided for admitting a selectively variable quantity of combustion air into the pilot zone.

Abstract: A variable geometry combustor for use in a gas turbine propulsion engine.

Abstract: A diametrically opposed pair of radially inwardly directed vortex-disturbing tabs are secured to a compressor intake assembly to eliminate vortex whistle therein.