Abstract: A ring sizer which closely conforms to any ring shape thereby permitting correct sizing of a ring being measured. At least the surface portions of the ring sizer are elastic and adapted to distort locally to the extent necessary for complete conformity with the inner surface of a ring placed thereon and in frictional contact therewith.

Abstract: Alarm system for multi-compartment, postal mailbox arrays incorporating a plurality of individual mail compartments contained behind a primary access door. The system comprises an alarm secured adjacent the mailbox array and coupled thereto by switches coupled to each access door and to the postal lock for that door. The postal lock is modified with an aperture which exposes the internal operation thereof for a switch mounted thereon. In this manner authorized actuation of the lock disengages the alarm system to prevent it from sounding when the access door is opened. Forced opening of the access door without first disengaging the system through the postal lock will otherwise set off the alarm. In this manner a number of access door switches may be coupled to a single alarm box which itself may be constructed for preventing unauthorized deactivation by the utilization of similar switch sensors disposed therein.

Abstract: A device comprising a solid or powdered concrete admixture contained in a water-soluble container such that when the container and its contents are introduced into a wet mixer and agitated for a period of time, the water-soluble container is dissolved and the contents are released into the wet mixer. A separate water-insoluble receptacle is used to house and store the water-soluble container and its contents. In addition, there is disclosed a method for modifying the properties of a concrete by introducing a pre-weighed amount of solid admixture contained in a water-soluble container into a wet mixer and thereafter agitating the resulting mix.

Abstract: A downcomer tray assembly for vapor liquid contact towers. The region of the tray beneath an upper downcomer is constructed with a raised, perforated region for improving mass transfer efficiency. The raised region reduces fluid pressure to facilitate ascending vapor therethrough. A series of louvers selectively directs the upward vapor flow into the liquid region below the downcomer to generate a more efficient vapor-liquid contact and reduced back-mixing across the tray.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a three-sided culvert includes prestressing tendons in the culvert form. A series of prestressing tendons are secured within a form adapted for casting a concrete culvert having three orthogonal sides. The prestressing tendons are utilized in the top slab of the three-sided culvert and are positioned within the form prior to the pouring of concrete therein. Reinforcing steel can be eliminated along with the costs associated therewith and a culvert configuration can be provided with enhanced strength and improved material properties. Such culverts may thus be provided in modular form for placement upon foundations at remote locations for the creation of bridges, drainage areas and the like.

Abstract: A latching seal unit for use on a tubing string in a well bore for connecting the tubing string into a well packer having a receiving head provided with one or more latching lugs, the seal unit including a top sub connectable on a tubing string, a tubular locator body connected with the top sub, a latching collet cage having straight-slots mounted on the locator body formed of circumferentially spaced collet fingers defining longitudinal slots and guide surfaces providing entrances into the slots and a latching recess along each of the longitudinal slots, the longitudinal slots being sized to form an interference fit with the latching lugs in the well packer, and the latching recesses being sized to receive the latching lugs, a tubular seal body connected with the locator body, annular seal elements assemblies on the seal body for sealing with a packer bore, and a mule-shoe guide on the seal body below the seal element assemblies.

Abstract: Disclosed is a tower packing for vapor-liquid contact which includes a plurality of sheets of corrugated material, the sheets being arranged generally vertically and parallel to one another with the corrugations of adjacent sheets criss-crossing one another. The sheets are provided with a plurality of holes for effecting both liquid and vapor distribution in said packing, and the holes are arranged on the sheets with the horizontal spacing between adjacent holes being no greater than about five times the horizontal extent of a hole, and in no event greater than about 5 millimeters. The horizontal extent of the holes is no greater than about 2 millimeters.

Abstract: Apparatus for monitoring the operating performance of a vehicle. The vehicle speed, engine operating speed and manifold pressure of the vehicle are compared to corresponding preset threshold values. The total time during which each of the vehicle speed, engine operating speed and manifold pressure exceed its threshold value is recorded and provided to the driver in a real-time display. The total time during which the engine is operating and the total time during which the engine is idling are also recorded and provided to the driver in a real time display.

Abstract: A lock mandrel for selectively locking a well tool at a desired landing nipple in a well bore, and a running tool for installing the lock mandrel. The lock mandrel includes an upwardly operable expander sleeve for locking the mandrel responsive to an upward force and a selector key assembly for landing the lock mandrel at a landing nipple having a selector profile compatible with the profile on the selector keys of the lock mandrel. The running tool includes a latch key assembly for coupling the running tool with the lock mandrel and an operator lug assembly for operating the lock mandrel. The running tool also includes a non-load bearing shear pin for holding the running tool in a running mode and a emergency release apparatus for releasing the lock mandrel in the well bore and retrieving the lock mandrel with the running tool in the event that the locking mechanism of the lock mandrel is not fully operable in the well bore.

Abstract: A weighted ball includes essentially only a metal center core, an outer cover, and an intermediate material disposed between the metal center core and the outer cover. A small amount of silicone rubber or a similar material may surround the metal center core for adhesively bonding the core to the intermediate material. In all respects to a user, other than weight, a weighted warmup ball is identical to a regulation ball of some kind, e.g., a softball; thus, a weighted ball according to the present invention is an ideal warmup device. Yet another novel aspect of the aspect of the present invention relates to the placement of indicia on the outer cover of a warmup ball according to the present invention which indicia are related to weight and/or added relate on some similar aspect of the ball.

Abstract: Apparatus for securing telephone handsets of varying sizes to a telephone handset support (intermediary attachment) to in which a two piece strap is secured on each end to the telephone handset support, and the two sections are attached together by means of a slots in one strap piece and an engaging tab on the other piece. The slots in the first strap piece are spaced along the length thereof, and are elongated and are either triangular or rectangular in shape. The engaging tab in the second strap piece is formed by notches on each side of and near the end of the second strap piece. The width of the engaging tab is smaller than the longer dimension of any of the elongated slots in the first strap section. The neck of the engaging tab is slightly smaller than the width of the elongated slots in the first strap section.

Abstract: A grain treatment system incorporating a steam vessel and centrally disposed, grain diverting steam sparger unit for facilitating the flow of homogeneous plugs of grain therearound. The system incorporates a discharge unit having garner valves and/or flow restrictors for facilitating the anti-coring grain flow through the steam vessel with side and corner draw-off therein and the even percolation of steam upwardly therethrough for uniformly heating and moisturizing the grain. A vapor generator is used for providing a heating medium comprising a mixture of condensible and non-condensible gases introduced into the grain through the centrally disposed steam sparger. In this manner, homogeneous plugs of grain are uniformly passed through and discharged from the grain treatment system permitting controlled heating and moisturizing of grain and substantially eliminating problems of coring, grain clingage, static sludge build-up and associated grain treatment problems prevalent in many prior art systems.

Abstract: A system and methods for the inspection of a well borehole and the formation around said borehole. The system includes a coiled tubing unit for injecting flexible coiled tubing into a wellbore through a wellhead, a pump and valves for control of injection of fluids such as water, nitrogen, light-hydrocarbons, natural gas, and carbon dioxide through the coiled tubing into the wellbore, and a sensor for visually inspecting and/or acoustically examining the wellbore and a region around the sensor within a slug of fluid injected into the wellbore from the coiled tubing. The method includes the steps of injecting coiled tubing having an inspection sensor into a wellbore to a selected location, injecting an optically transparent or acoustically homogenous fluid into the wellbore through the coiled tubing to form a slug of such fluid around the sensor, and transmitting signals from the sensor representative of well conditions to the surface.

Abstract: A culinary implement system for use with hard boiled eggs in the preparation, storage and handling of whole deviled eggs. The implement comprises a bifurcated cutter adapted for engaging the surface of a shelled hard boiled egg for cutting through to the egg yolk to facilitate its removal therefrom. In this manner a deviled egg can be made from a whole egg rather than the conventional half egg. A storage container is also provided for handling and serving a plurality of whole deviled eggs.

Abstract: A device for sorting documents exiting a document processor such as a document reader or document printer includes at least one document guide which defines an undeflected document travel path and a document bin which includes a series of compartments for receiving sorted documents. Each document guide will alternately permit the documents to travel along the undeflected document travel path to a first document bin or to deflect such documents in first or second deflected document travel paths to compartments of second document bins. By selectively deflecting documents entering the document guide, previously processed documents may be sorted according to document type. Each document guide is comprised of first and second concave guide parts mounted side by side to define an undeflected document travel path therebetween and first and second convex guide parts mounted outside the concave guide parts. The concave guide parts each have a concavely curved outer side.

Abstract: A blowout preventer for use on wellheads for sealing around tubing strings, polished rods, and wirelines, including a body having a bore therethrough and connectable on a wellhead, integral laterally opposed side chambers in the body, a closure cap over each of the side chambers, an operating screw through each of the closure caps, a seal assembly in each of the side chambers adapted to come together in the bore of the body to seal off flow through the body, each of the seal assemblies including a ram plate having only an upper backup plate and side retainer walls, and an elastic seal supported on each ram plate below the backup plate inside the retainer walls, adapted to compress together within the ram body bore for expanding and extruding sufficiently to fully seal off the bore through the body.

Abstract: A phosphorescent vehicle part identification accessory comprising an article of molded plastic having formed therewith a phosphorescent compound adapted for glowing for a period of time following exposure to light energy. The phosphorescent article is secured to the vehicle in a location thereon for receiving illumination from other vehicles and external light sources and providing a decaying glow therefrom. The phosphorescent article may comprise a vehicle wheel valve stem cap, a strip, or a tab adapted for positioning about a vehicle keyhole.