Abstract: A rod brake, and a method, including an elastic device, such as a coil spring, array of split rings, or an elastic sleeve, that engages one or more grooves in a cylindrical surface to restrain the rod from longitudinal movement relative to another body, and wherein longitudinal force is applied to distort the elastic device and push it out of the one or more grooves to release the rod for longitudinal movement is disclosed. A locking sleeve is added to lock the elastic device against distortion and movement to the release configuration.

Abstract: A connector for securing tubular members or conduits in sealed end to end relationship is disclosed. A split ring biased to an unlocked position is carried on the pin connection member in a recess. After the connection is made, the split ring is expanded through a window in the box connection member and locked in place. Alternative embodiments showing a split ring biased to a locked position and a split ring with an articulated joint are shown. A fourth embodiment that allows preloading of the split ring is shown also.

Abstract: A drilling fluid degasser having a weir to more evenly spread the drilling fluid over the leaves of the degasser to increase the efficiency of the degasser is disclosed. Additionally, a plurality of gas vent pipes are provided that ensure that once the gases are removed from the drilling fluid, the gases are removed from the degasser without contacting the drilling fluid to ensure the gases are not mixed into the drilling fluid again.

Abstract: An enhanced endotracheal tube utilizing a fiber optic bundle positioned in its wall section to transmit light and a reflectively coated bore to transmit images is disclosed. Additional passages formed in the wall of the endotracheal tube are adapted to receive a stylette and to act as an air passage for inflating an inflatable cuff formed on the inner end of the endotracheal tube. The light transmitted through the fiber optic bundle aids in illuminating the patient's laryngeal area and the image is reflected along the reflectively coated bore to aid the physician in intubating the patient. Alternative embodiments using a bore with a sleeve having a different refractive index from that of the tube material and an enhanced endotracheal tube for use with children are shown.

Abstract: An apparatus for hiding a door key including a door mat formed of either a plastic material or braided material such as hemp is disclosed. The door mat is rectangularly shaped with raised portions formed on the top surface. Different embodiments are shown with these raised portions forming a decorative border, an esthetically pleasing pattern or a greeting, such as “WELCOME”, as is commonly seen. A hidden compartment sized to receive a typical house key is formed in these raised portions that is accessible through a hook and loop type closure. When the hook and loop type closure is closed, the compartment and its contents remain hidden from view.

Abstract: A tile roof ridge row vent and the method of its use and construction are disclosed. The ridge row vent is designed for use with either barrel tile or flat tile. The tile roof ridge row vent includes an elongate member having a vertical section and a side section connected to allow air flow therebetween. The vertical section has a lower sealing skirt that extends under the top row of roof tiles and the side section includes plurality of ventilation openings angled downwardly and outwardly to allow air to exit the vent while preventing rain or other inclement weather from entering the vent. A second embodiment is shown for use with a single sided or mansard type roof. A third embodiment is shown for use in high wind and hurricane prone areas with an angled roof and includes an external baffle added to the ridge row vent. A fourth embodiment utilizing the ridge row vent with the external baffle is shown for use with a mansard type roof.

Abstract: A method for forming and applying a roadside display system is disclosed. Character-shaped are formed in a thermoplastic polymer resin material with a highly reflective face. A readily available sheet cutting die press allows the characters, numerals or letters, to be cut on site with a minimum of effort. Typically, a matching set of character-shaped inserts are cut from a second sheet of thermoplastic polymer resin material with a different color, contrast and reflectance. The inserts are placed in the corresponding character-shaped apertures cut in the first sheet and then a reactant, in the form of contact cement, is used to adhere the sign to a roadside curb. An exothermic reaction occurs between the reactant and thermoplastic polymer resin material which adheres the thermoplastic polymer resin material to the curbside.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for portable digital entertainment system which melds direct microwave communications with digital technology to provide a system for “on demand” distribution of digital data, such as songs or video games. The apparatus includes a microwave cellular tower capable of transmitting and receiving a plurality of digital transmissions, a storage unit of user selectable songs and games coupled to the microwave cellular tower through a selection processor for managing the exchange of song and game selections between the storage unit and the microwave cellular tower, and a plurality of user portable digital cellular devices exchanging digitally encoded transmissions with the microwave cellular tower in response to a user's song or game selection request. The portable digital cellular devices include a liquid crystal display window which allows a user to select a desired song to be heard or game to be played.

Abstract: A pregrouted base plate and the method of its use and construction with rotating machinery such as pump and electric motor assemblies that are coupled together by a pair of shafts and require precise alignment of those shafts for a long and dependable service life is disclosed. The pregrouted base plate is formed as a generally rectangular parallelepiped structure with one side open. The novel method of its use includes pregrouting the baseplate before installation, curing the grout and machining the mounting surfaces for the rotating machinery before field installation to ensure precise alignment of the pump and motor shafts. A second embodiment is shown with an open frame having two sides open.

Abstract: An apparatus for rapid venting of the compressed air and deballasting of a buoyant air tank in a positively buoyant riser system in the event of a premature drive off or a riser section parting is shown. The buoyancy tank or housing includes an annularly shaped flange positioned on its upper end and retained by explosive bolts. The inner circumference of the flange is sealed to the riser section supported by the buoyancy housing. A sensing means, activated by a parting of the riser, actuates the explosive bolts to release the annularly shaped flange and flood the buoyancy housing while restraining lines limit movement of the buoyancy housing with respect to the riser section.

Abstract: A variable bore ram packer designed for use in a standard ram-type blowout preventer used in oil and gas drilling operations is disclosed. The variable bore ram packer is molded of an elastomeric material having a central semi-circular opening sized to fit closely about a tubular member. The packer member includes a plurality of pillar inserts molded within the elastomeric material around the central semi-circular opening. The packer member and the plurality of pillar inserts are molded into a unitary structure allowing the plurality of pillar inserts to move and seat against different diameter tubular members to prevent extrusion of the elastomeric material between the pillar inserts and the tubular member. The pillar inserts include a top plate, a bottom plate and a spacer pin positioned therebetween. The top and bottom plates are a substantially triangular shape and in the preferred embodiment are free to rotate relative to the spacer pin independently of one another.

Abstract: An apparatus for reducing the bending stress imparted to threaded fasteners in flanged connections is disclosed. The apparatus includes a radially tapered surface machined in the backface of the flanges to coact with the head of the threaded fastener as the threaded fastener is tightened to a predetermined torque value. This coaction compensates for flange deflection as the threaded fastener is tightened.

Abstract: An apparatus for rapid venting of the compressed air and deballasting of a buoyant air tank in a positively buoyant riser system in the event of a premature drive off or a riser section parting is shown. The rapid venting of the compressed air ensures that the riser section cannot rapidly ascend to the surface and damage the drilling rig positioned above. In a first embodiment, the buoyancy tank or housing includes a circumferentially shaped channel positioned on its upper end. An annularly shaped ring is placed over the circumferentially shaped channel and sealed in place by a frangible weld. A tether line attaches to the annularly shaped ring and extends to an anchor point on the BOP stack below. In the event of a catastrophic parting of the riser, as the riser sections and attached buoyancy tank or housings begin ascending, the tether line is drawn tight.

Abstract: An improved ram bore profile for use with a variable bore ram packer designed for use in a standard ram-type blowout preventer used in oil and gas drilling operations is disclosed. The improved ram bore profile in the ram body is a substantially U shaped cutout in the front face of the ram body. The U shaped ram bore profile extends between the upper surface and lower surface of the ram body. The substantially U shape of the improved ram bore profile is further characterized by having an arcuate rear portion with a pair of diverging sides that extend outwardly toward the front face of the ram body to a front throat that intersects perpendicularly the front face of the ram body. The improved ram bore profile is capable of being used with variable bore packers of different configurations.

Abstract: A novel method and apparatus for hair styling is disclosed that allows a user to bind or retain hair in a particular orientation while allowing the user to then braid, twist or wind the hair as desired. The hair styling apparatus includes a wire center core spirally wound with a fabric strip such that the fabric strip acts as a sheath to substantially cover the wire center core. The wire center core is sized to be flexible so a user may bend or wind the hair styling apparatus as desired while having sufficient stiffness to retain the desired shape. The hair styling apparatus may be further enhanced by the addition of an elastic loop at one end to allow grouping a bundle of hair as in a pony tail. Additionally, the ends of the hair styling apparatus may be adorned with beads or other ornaments that are interchangeable with use of threaded end connections. Several methods of use for such a novel hair styling apparatus are shown.

Abstract: Double shearing rams designed for use in a standard ram-type blowout preventer used in oil and gas drilling and workover operations are disclosed. The double shearing rams include an upper shear ram and a mating lower shear ram. The upper shear ram includes an upper cutting blade and a lower guide blade vertically spaced to form a cavity therebetween. The cavity is sized to receive the lower ram's cutting blade in close fitting engagement when the rams are closed. The upper shear ram has a primary cutting edge formed on its leading edge and a secondary edge vertically and axially displaced from the primary cutting edge. During shearing operations, initial movement of the shear rams allows the upper shear ram's primary cutting edge to cooperate with the lower shear ram's cutting blade to make an initial shear of the member or members in the blowout preventer's bore.

Abstract: A high torque rotating actuator is disclosed. The high torque rotating actuator has a variable helix angle that allows the actuator to generate greater torque near the end of its travel when it is needed to close a valve or operate a choke. The high torque rotating actuator is designed for use with valves and chokes. In a second embodiment, a high torque rotating actuator is configured to give a shorter overall assembly. As in the preferred embodiment, a variable helix angle is used to generate greater torque near the end of its travel when it is needed to close a valve or operate a choke.

Abstract: An apparatus for rapid venting of the compressed air and deballasting of a buoyant air tank in a positively buoyant riser system in the event of a premature drive off or a riser section parting is shown. The rapid venting of the compressed air ensures that the riser section cannot rapidly ascend to the surface and damage the drilling rig positioned above. In a first embodiment, the buoyancy tank or housing includes a vertical channel positioned on its exterior. A cover plate is placed over the vertical channel and sealed in place by a frangible weld. A tether line attaches to the cover plate and extends to an anchor point on the BOP stack below. In the event of a catastrophic parting of the riser, as the riser sections and attached buoyancy tank or housings begin ascending, the tether line is drawn tight. Further ascension of the buoyancy tank or housings, causes the frangible weld joints to break and peel back the cover plate, exposing the vertical channels.

Abstract: A disposable medical collection tube holder assembly with retractable needle is disclosed. The spent needle, or other similar medical device, affixed to the holder may be safely encapsulated and disposed by a simple, one handed operation, and, both the needle and the holder are rendered useless for any subsequent operation. The invention is comprised of two parts, a collection tube holder and an evacuated accessory fitted with an air release/vacuum seal mechanism that readily permits the introduction of the vacuum into the hollow chamber of the accessory. When using the collection tube holder in the standard manner, and after the collection of the blood or other bodily fluids is complete, the collection test tube is withdrawn from the holder and then the needle withdrawn from the vein. The accessory, a tubular member with an evacuated interior, is inserted into the collection tube holder fully, and longitudinally axial force is applied to the proximal (thumb) end of the evacuated accessory.

Abstract: A subsea wellhead assembly is disclosed with an extension spool secured thereto and an in line tree assembly locked within the extension spool. Ball valves are disposed within the vertical bores of the in line tree assembly. Valve actuators are disposed radially on the extension spool with a cylindrical sleeve mounted coaxially around the one end of the actuator and rotatable relatively to the actuator about the common axis of the actuator and the sleeve, so that, when the actuator engages with the corresponding ball valve, the sleeve bridges the gap between the extension spool and the in line tree assembly to lock the in line tree assembly to the extension spool.