Abstract: A variable electric brake assembly applies braking force to the wheel of a materials handling vehicle through a rotor shaft. A brake rotor rotates on the rotor shaft and is located within the brake assembly. When the vehicle is in a parked position, both an inner coil and an outer coil are de-energized. With the inner coil de-energized, an inner armature is not attracted to the inner coil, and the inner armature is forced against the brake rotor by springs to prevent the rotation of the brake rotor. When the vehicle is moving in a free running position, the outer coil remains de-energized while the inner coil is energized. With the inner coil energized, the inner armature is attracted to the inner coil and overcomes the force of the springs, thereby allowing the brake rotor to freely rotate. When the vehicle undergoes dynamic braking, both the outer coil and the inner coil are energized.

Abstract: An electric submersible pump is provided having a pothead connector for use to connect a downhole cable to an electric motor of the submersible pump. The pothead connector has a tubular housing having an inner end and an outer end. The downhole cable has electrical conductors which are separately covered by insulation layers. Lead sheaths separately extend around each of the insulation layers to encase each the electrical conductors. The downhole cable extends through the inner end and into the tubular housing, and then is electrically connected to the electric motor through the outer end of the tubular housing. An insulator is provided in the outer end of the tubular housing for separating electrical conductors in alignment for mating with a connector mounted to the electric motor. A lead based alloy solder seal is disposed within the tubular housing, intermediately between the inner and outer ends.

Abstract: A clip for securing a manifold tube to an automotive heat exchanger has a portion which secures to a support plate of the heat exchanger without brazing. The base of the clip has a lip which inserts over an edge of the plate. A loop joins the base and extends around the tube. A leg joins the other end of the loop and has a lip which is inserted over an opposite edge of the plate. A fastener secures the first and second ends of the loop to each other to grip the tube and hold the lips in gripping engagement with the edges of the plate.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for automatically processing returned video cassettes to determine that the appropriate tape cartridges are matched with the appropriate cases, to assure that the tape cartridges are fully rewound, to check the video cassettes back into inventory and then to sort the cassettes by selected entertainment categories for reshelving. A feed chute is provided for receiving the cassettes and passing them to a size sorter for detecting the sizes of the cassettes. Cassettes of inappropriate sizes are then ejected from processing and placed in an unprocessed return staging bin. Cassettes of the appropriate size are then passed through an orientation detection and orientating section in which the video cassette cases are oriented in a particular alignment for presenting to a rewind and bar code reading system. The video cassettes are then automatically checked for an appropriate match between the tape cartridges and the cases.

Abstract: A method for adjusting an air conditioner compressor for a particular vehicle application involves selecting the proper control curve. The control curve is a graph of suction inlet pressure verses discharge pressure. The graph has a linear portion over which increased discharge pressure decreases suction pressure. The low demand condition at which suction pressure is highest and discharge pressure lowest may result in an evaporator outlet pressure that is too high or too low. To change the evaporator outlet pressure, the control valve for the compressor is adjusted or replaced to vary the slope of the linear portion of the control curve. Varying the slope will change the maximum suction pressure to reach an optimized solution under low demand conditions. The slope is varied by changing a bias pin in the modular control valve to one of a different diameter. The bias pin is one factor that controls the opening and closing of the valve to vary the capacity of the compressor.

Abstract: A safety device is provided for a high-pressure flow line that is formed from sections of pipe that are coupled together. The safety device is formed from a pipe clamp having two halves that are coupled together about one of the pipe sections so that the pipe section is securely held between the two halves of the clamp. A cable is positioned generally along the length of the flow line. A cable engagement portion is joined to one of the two halves of the clamp and has a slot for receiving the cable. A removable slot closure retains the cable within the slot. In one embodiment, a resilient insert can be releasably coupled to the clamp to bear against the exterior of the pipe sections when the clamp is secured thereto.

Abstract: A well packer has a metal seal which seals between the packer mandrel and the casing. The metal seal includes a seal sleeve located on the exterior of the mandrel. The sleeve has an inner wall and an outer wall radially separated by a channel. The inner channel is initially separated from the exterior of the mandrel by a clearance. An energizing ring is sizably mounted to the mandrel for axial movement relative to the mandrel. Initially, the energizing ring will be located at the entrance of the channel. An actuating device moves the energizing ring into the channel, wedging the walls of the seal sleeve apart. The inner wall seals against the mandrel. The outer wall seals against the casing.

Abstract: A parallel flow heat exchanger is provided having two spaced apart header tubes and a plurality of parallel flow tubes which extend between the header tubes. Prior to passing assembled components of the heat exchanger through a brazing furnace, various external components such as flow fittings and mounting brackets are secured to one of the header tubes by a snap-on brackets which are integrally formed into the external components. Each of the snap-on brackets has a central body portion with a brazing clad, concave contact surface for fitting flush against a side of one of the header tubes. A pair of arms extend from one side of the central body portion, symmetrically spaced apart about a central axis of the snap-on connector for fitting around ribs formed by the edges of the header tubes. Tips are formed on the ends of the arms. The tips have tapered side surfaces which face inward, toward the other arms, for spreading the arms apart as the arms are pressed onto the ribs of the header tube.

Abstract: An aircraft has an exhaust flame or plume which can be modulated to communicate. A sound emitter is mounted to the aircraft for emitting acoustic waves into the exhaust plume. An encoder will control the emitter at selected digital sequence to provide a digital message. The flame or plume will radiate at a frequency range of interest depending on the type of aircraft. The sound waves cause the frequencies to change from a continuous spectrum to a spectrum which has a much lower amplitude. A detector remotely located from the aircraft will detect radiation. It filters frequencies outside of the frequency range of interest. It will discriminate between the modulated pattern and the continuous pattern. This output provides the digital code that was encoded by the encoder. A decoder will decode the message for the recipient.

Abstract: A tensioning system for a tieback string of casing between a subsea wellhead and a surface wellhead employs hydraulic pressure. A mandrel is connected into the tieback string. A casing hanger mounts to the mandrel and an internal gripping member between the casing hanger and the mandrel allows upward movement of the mandrel relative to the casing hanger but prevents downward movement. The operator lowers the string into the well with the casing hanger in an extended upward position and secures the tieback. The operator then closes the blowout preventer and applies hydraulic pressure in the annulus below the blowout preventer. Seals seal the casing hanger to the surface wellhead and also seal the inner diameter of the casing hanger to the running conduit. The hydraulic pressure forces the casing hanger down onto an internal landing shoulder in the surface wellhead.

Abstract: A coal gasification system has a pulse detonation device. The pulse detonation device is employed to discharge hot exhaust pulses into the coal gasifier. Also, a pulse detonation device discharges reverse flow pulses into a ceramic candle filter system to dislodge particulate build up on the candles. The pulse detonation device utilizes a rotatable core feed cylinder. The core feed cylinder is carried within an inner side wall of the stationary annular detonation chamber. The core feed cylinder has ports in the side wall that will register with ports in the inner side wall of the annular detonation chamber at least once each revolution. Fuel is introduced through valves mounted to the outer side wall of the annular detonation chamber.

Abstract: A subsea choke assembly for a well has a resilient closure seal within it which is used for retrieval purposes as well. The closure member is a metal resilient ring having tapered seal surfaces. The tapered seal surfaces locate between the choke body housing and the choke body bonnet. When securing the bonnet to the housing, the resiliency of the closure seal must be overcome, as well as the force required to insert an inner seal into its sealing surface within the bore. When the bonnet is released, the closure seal has sufficient spring force to push itself upward from the housing. In addition, it pushes the bonnet upward from closure seal. The choke body moves upward in unison with the bonnet, freeing the inner seal from its sealing surface.

Abstract: A thrust chamber for use in a horizontal hurst apparatus or other pump apparatus is disclosed. The thrust chamber includes a housing, a rotatable shaft mounted within the housing, a first downthrust bearing section connected to the shaft and to the housing, and a second downthrust bearing section also connected to the shaft and the housing. The two downthrust bearing sections are interconnected so that as a downthrust load is placed on the shaft, the first downthrust bearing section receives the load and engages the second downthrust bearing section so as to share the load substantially equally between the first downthrust bearing section and the second downthrust bearing section. Each downthrust bearing section is substantially alike and additional downthrust bearing sections may be added as desired. The thrust chamber further includes an upthrust bearing section, connected to the shaft and the housing.

Abstract: A disk drive has an improved electrical interconnect assembly for coupling one or more conductive paths leading from a read/write head with the conductive terminals of a flexible cable. The improved interconnect assembly includes an interconnect tab with a plurality of interconnect pads attached thereto. The interconnect tab is connected to a suspension assembly containing a planar suspension member which is located and secured on the actuator arm such that the interconnect tab extends beyond the peripheral edge of the actuator arm. The interconnect tab is inclined toward the side of the actuator arm opposite the side on which the suspension assembly is mounted. The end of the inclined interconnect tab extends to a distance from the planar suspension member approximately equal to half the thickness of the actuator arm. The flexible conductive cable has conductive paths connected to an array of terminals which is oriented at an incline wherein each terminal is aligned with a corresponding interconnect pad.

Abstract: A rotary vane compressor has a compressor housing which contains an oval chamber. A cylindrical rotor is mounted on an axial shaft and has radial vanes which engage the chamber and slide radially inward and outward in slots formed in the rotor as the shaft rotates. A pair of thrust shoulders are on the shaft, spaced axially apart from each other exterior of the rotor and facing in axially opposite directions. A deep groove ball bearing assembly is stationarily mounted in the housing in engagement with both of the shoulders on the shaft. Radial, moment, and thrust in both axial directions applied to the shaft are transferred by the shoulders through the bearing assembly to the compressor housing.

Abstract: In response to detecting activation of a safety indicator on the towing vehicle, a radio frequency control signal is transmitted from a transmitter means on the towing vehicle. Thereafter, the radio frequency control signal is received on a towed vehicle using receiver means powered by a power source located on the towed vehicle. In response to receiving the radio frequency control signal, a safety indicator on the towed vehicle is automatically connected to the power source on the towed vehicle to activate the safety indicator on the towed vehicle. The radio frequency control signal may be encoded in response to the detection of a particular one of a plurality of safety indicators on the towing vehicle. Upon receiving the encoded radio frequency control signal, a corresponding one of a plurality of safety indicators on the towed vehicle may then be automatically connected to the power source on the towed vehicle.

Abstract: A wellhead system has features which allow the injection of drilling cuttings in an annulus between first and second strings of casing. A wellhead assembly has an outer wellhead housing connected to a string of conductor pipe. An outer port is located in the sidewall of an extension member located below the outer wellhead housing. An inner wellhead housing lands in the outer wellhead housing. An inner port is located in an extension member below the inner wellhead housing. An internal landing shoulder is located within the conductor pipe. An external landing shoulder is located on a swivel connector joint mounted on the upper end of a first string of casing. The connector joint is secured to the inner wellhead housing extension member. Once landed, the landing shoulder on the connecting joint supports the weight of casing, allowing the inner wellhead housing to be rotated to orient the inner port with the outer port.

Abstract: A subsea wellhead system is used in areas which have shallow water producing sands. A first string of casing extends from the sea floor through a section of conductor pipe and below the conductor pipe to a point above the water sand. An external wellhead housing having flow ports is supported at the upper end of the conductor pipe. A valve sleeve is located on the exterior of the external wellhead housing. The valve sleeve is movable to a closed position, closing the flow ports. A second string of casing is installed to a point below the water producing formation. An internal wellhead housing is secured to the upper end of the second string of casing, which lands within the external wellhead housing. During cementing of the second string of casing the flow ports are open. After cementing, the valve sleeve is moved to the closed position.