Abstract: A method of cementing in a wellbore penetrating subterranean formations characterized by employing a graded density spacer fluid intermediate a displacing fluid and a displaced fluid. This is particularly advantageous where a cement slurry is employed as displacing fluid to displace drilling fluid employed to drill a well penetrating subterranean formations. This alleviates problem with intermixing of the two fluids. This invention is doubly advantageous where a well contains both a substantially vertical portion and a substantially horizontal portion, since in the latter portion, the use of this invention enables controlling under-running or over-running of a displacing fluid with respect to a displaced fluid.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically raising and lowering boat motors includes a mounting configuration that allows the motor to move up out of the water and down into the water. A hydrofoil is connected with the motor. When the boat is propelled by a second motor, the water pushes up on the hydrofoil, forcing the first motor up out of the water. A locking device can be used to maintain the first motor in the up position. The locking device can be disengaged to allow the motor and hydrofoil to fall into the water. Alternatively, the motor and hydrofoil can be maintained in the up positon by the force of water against the hydrofoil. When the second motor is shut down the motor and hydrofoil automatically drop into the water.

Abstract: A mobile enclosure, which allows access to a vehicle in an unsafe environment and minimizes the possibility of contamination of the cockpit includes a trailer that is subdivided into plural subcompartments. A decontamination area is provided for decontaminating personnel ingressing the enclosure. The enclosure also has a vehicle maintenance area for receiving the vehicle personnel hatchway portion of a vehicle. The maintenance area has docking doors which are contoured to fit around the vehicle and open and close automatically to admit the vehicle. Decontamination facilities are provided immediately outside of the docking doors, to decontaminate the vehicle personnel hatchway portion as it is admitted to the enclosure. A crew compartment is provided where personnel, including the pilot, can rest, eat, and work. The enclosure has an auxiliary power unit that provides decontaminated air and water, electricity and heat for hot water.

Abstract: What is disclosed is a method of accelerating the set of a retarded cement. The cement may range from a drilling fluid containing dispersants or retarders that will slow down the set of the drilling fluid when cementitious fluid is added thereto, through overwashing, or treating a retarded primary or remedial cement that may have been injected into fractures or areas within a well to overwashing a plug or any volume of retarded cement that needs to be set in a well.The specific uses are discussed.

Abstract: A combination bag holder and bag therefor characterized by a bag holder that has no standing vertical member from a freestanding base with a hanger rack means adjacent the top and holding a flexible permeable collection bag above the floor, the bag having a yoke that is open along its bottom to receive the hanger rack. Also disclosed are the hanger rack and the bag, per se.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically raising and lowering boat motors includes a mounting configuration that allows the motor to move up out of the water and down into the water. A hydrofoil is connected with the motor. When the boat is propelled by a second motor, the water pushes up on the hydrofoil, forcing the first motor up out of the water. A locking device can be used to maintain the first motor in the up position. The locking device can be disengaged to allow the motor and hydrofoil to fall into the water. Alternatively, the motor and hydrofoil can be maintained in the up position by the force of water against the hydrofoil. When the second motor is shut down the motor and hydrofoil automatically drop into the water.

Abstract: A fence combination including a fence protector disposed along a line of the fence and adapted to hold fence material off the ground characterized by a plurality of sections abutting in end-to-end engagement, with each section having a fence receiving slot, a shoulder defined by engagement of the fence receiving slot and a lesser dimensioned drain slot therebelow; and a plurality of fastening means adapted to hold the sections aligned along the line of the fence. Also disclosed is a preferred embodiment which each section has a plurality of drain passageways extending from the bottom of the drain slot to the bottom of the section; wherein clips are provided for holding the ends of the sections in alignment by engaging these respective drain passageways at the ends of each sections.

Abstract: A string of lights characterized by a plurality of electrical conductors having their soft penetrating insulating material thereabout penetrated by sharpened ends of conductors connected with light emitting diodes spaced along a string of the elongate conductors. A low voltage transformer is also disclosed for electrically biasing the light emitting diodes.

Abstract: The detector has two disc shaped magnets that are magnetized through their respective thicknesses. One magnet is fixedly coupled to a container, and the other magnet is left free to slide transversely with respect to the fixed magnet. The magnets are oriented so that the opposite poles of the magnets are adjacent to each other. In the absence of a shock acting on the container, the free magnet remains in a centered position with respect to the fixed magnet. Indicating apparatus is provided to indicate when the free magnet is moved to an off-center position due to an accelerational force, and the direction of the accelerational force. In one embodiment, the indicating apparatus includes a marking device coupled to the free magnet and a recording surface coupled to the container. In another embodiment, the indicating apparatus includes a transparent cover and tabs for retaining the off-center free magnet.

Abstract: An apparatus mounts a sonar transducer to a boat. The apparatus includes a tubular member with a handle at one end and a transducer mounting bracket at the other end. The transducer mounting bracket is adapted to couple to a sonar transducer. Both the handle and the transducer mounting bracket are pivotally coupled to the tubular member and to each other by a linkage rod. By moving the handle up or down, the transducer mounting bracket will move correspondingly to a new elevational orientation. In one embodiment, the tubular member is received by a cylindrical bore in a ball; the ball is mounted to the boat. By turning the handle to one side, the tubular member and the transducer mounting bracket will correspondingly turn to a new azimuthal orientation. In another embodiment, the tubular member is received by a sleeve mounted in a pivotable ball. The tubular member can move relative to the sleeve. Locking nuts on the sleeve, when tightened, prohibit movement of the tubular member.

Abstract: A tire pressure monitoring system for vehicles characterized by a plurality of tire pressure sensors for sensing pneumatic pressure interiorly of the tire, a plurality of transmitters connected responsively with the tire pressure sensors and adapted to be energized when any one of the tire pressure sensors indicates a low pneumatic pressure within one of the tires; at least one receiver responsively disposed with respect to the transmitters so as to be energized by a transmitter when the transmitter is energized by the tire pressure sensor and a warning means, including a buzzer and a light, disposed in the operator's cab for conveying the warning to the operator when a low tire pressure is sensed, the warning means being electrically connected with the receiver, or receivers, so as to be energized when the receivers are energize.

Abstract: A method of accelerating the set of retarded cement characterized by contacting the retarded cement slurry with a solution containing an effective amount of a compatible accelerator. The compatible accelerator is selected from the group consisting of triethanolamine, diethanolamine and monoethanolamine. This may be employed in overwashing operations, treating retarded cement that is injected into open areas in the well or treating the set of a plug of retarded cement in a well to effect acceleration and/or viscosification of the cement. Also disclosed are specific uses.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically cleaning magnetic tape in a cartridge, and in particularl a 3480 type cartridge, has a cartridge nest for receiving and retaining the cartridge, a rotatable take-up hub, a load arm, cleaning apparatus and control apparatus. The load arm swings between a first position, where the arm engages the cartridge load block, and a second position, where the arm and the load block are at the take-up hub. In moving from the first to the second position, the load arm strings the tape through the cleaning apparatus. The cleaning apparatus has tissues for wiping the tape and a scraper for scraping the oxide surface of the tape. The tape is cleaned as it is wound out to the take-up hub and also as it is rewound into the cartridge. The control apparatus provides automatic operation of the load arm, and the wind out and rewind operations.

Abstract: An indoor heat exchange unit and method of making same characterized by an arcuate coil shape heat exchange unit made by bending a planar heat exchange unit to fit within a limited space with an open inlet at one end and blocked at the other end so as to force air to flow past the coil and transfer heat through the fins and tubes of the coil in the process. Also disclosed are preferred embodiments in which an air circulation fan circulates air and where a thermostat controls the flow of heat exchange fluid through the coil as the air is passed through the arcuate coil to obtain a predetermined temperature, or the like, in the air.

Abstract: A method of cementing in a wellbore penetrating subterranean formations characterized by mixing a predetermined quantity of Portland Cement containing at least 2 percent by weight of tricalcium aluminate; at least 2 percent by weight of gypsum; and 0.3-2.0 percent by weight of polyvinyl alcohol with enough water to form a pumpable slurry; pumping the slurry to a desired location in the wellbore and allowing the slurry to harden to a solid mass. Also disclosed is the composition. These methods and composition provide a cementing that has many advantages and beneficial results as delineated in the specification.

Abstract: What is disclosed is method and apparatus for alleviating the problem with cleaning of sluice boxes. The invention is characterized by continuous cleaning of an endless belt onto which the heavy metal concentrate is projected by a conventional sluice boxes, shaker screens and the like, and eliminating the down time of the apparatus for cleaning, as in the prior art. This down time is approximately fifty percent of the time.

Abstract: A water distillation apparatus has an outer chamber and an inner chamber suspended within the outer chamber by support arms. The inner chamber suspends a heating element to create steam. Heat is transferred from the inner chamber to the outer chamber, wherein the heated water in the outer chamber is allowed to degassify. Degassification removes unpleasant tasting chemicals from the water before distillation. Openings are provided for air circulation to remove the gasses. A condenser is also suspended by the support arms. The stem exits the inner chamber and goes into the condenser. A fan provides air circulation through the condenser. The outer chamber is not penetrated by any openings, thereby precluding the possibility of any leaks. The support arms bear on the outer chamber walls; the inner chamber is removed from the outer chamber for cleaning simply by lifting up. In one embodiment the outer and inner chambers are made of a ceramic material to better regulate heat transfer.