Abstract: A high temperature, high pressure retrievable packer adapted for service under extreme operating conditions when the packer apparatus is held in the wellbore with a mechanical slip and a barrel slip. The barrel slip has a barrel slip body with a plurality of openings defined in the outer surface of the body. Cylindrical inserts are received in the openings. The cylindrical inserts define upward facing and downward facing gripping edges that will engage casing when the barrel slip body is radially expanded. The inserts are preferably tungsten carbide inserts. A sufficient number of inserts are included along the length and around the circumference of the barrel slip so that the barrel slip can get a good grip in the casing wall. Separate metals may be used for the barrel slip body and the inserts so that a higher yield strength alloy steel may be utilized than is possible with other barrel slip arrangements.

Abstract: A tapered connector for a tubing string. The present invention includes a tapered connector used in interconnecting sections of the tubing string having differing outside diameters. The connector is preferably conical and fixedly attached to the tubing portions in various ways, such as welding. The tubing string can be injected into a well by using a tubing injector with gripper blocks having a V-shaped groove defined therein adapted for engaging the different diameter tubing sections and the tapered connector and methods of injecting are also disclosed.

Abstract: A louvered light control controls the light emitted by a standard drop-in fluorescent light fixture. The fluorescent light fixture is removed and a louver frame containing first and second louver assemblies stacked within the louver frame is inserted in place of the lens. The louver assemblies are oriented so that the louver vanes of the first louver assembly are at a right angle with respect to the louver vanes of the second louver assembly. Adjusting means for adjusting the movable vanes of the first and second louver assemblies between a relatively open position and a relatively closed position permit control of light emitted by the fluorescent light fixture.

Abstract: A cylinder head bolt plug replaces longer cylinder head bolts and provides increased air flow to the combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine, reduced exhaust back pressure, and reduced frequency of cracked cylinder heads. Longer cylinder head bolts are replaced by a cylinder head bolt plug and shorter inner-fitting cylinder head bolts to permit reshaping and recontouring of the interior walls of air inlets and exhaust gas outlets. The shorter inner-fitting cylinder head bolts also reduce flexing and cracking of cylinder heads caused by tightening of standard longer cylinder head bolts. Method and apparatus permit modification of existing cylinder heads according to the invention.

Abstract: A retrofittable muffler to reduce noise associated with air-operated hand tools and other working devices provides a housing with an inner expansion chamber and an outer expansion chamber so that at least a portion of spent pneumatic fluid passes from the pneumatic device, through the internal expansion chamber, and through the outer expansion chamber prior to discharge to atmosphere through exhaust ports in the housing.

Abstract: An aid for teaching students to read, comprising sound letters formed from standard English alphabet letters, each sound letter corresponding to a single sound most commonly associated with a particular alphabetic letter or combination of alphabetic letters of said standard alphabet, each said sound letter characterized as having a front, a back, a top, a bottom, a left side and a right side, said sound letters adapted for arrangement in a visually associated, juxtaposed relationship to form combinations of said sound letters so that students are able to read said combinations of said sound letters phonetically.