Abstract: An earplug of the type that has a stem (12) and a plurality of flanges (21–23), is constructed to be stiff enough to be easily inserted into the ear canal, and to thereafter press with minimal force against the walls of the ear canal for comfort. The earplug is molded of an elastomeric material whose stiffness decreases considerably, such as at least 4%, when it is warmed from room temperature (about 72° F.) to ear canal temperature (about 100° F.). Each flange has a radially inner portion (52) that extends straight at an angle (B) that is within 15° of a radial direction (62) (a direction perpendicular to the stem axis), and has a radially outer portion (54) that extends straight and at an angle (C) that is within 20° of an axial direction (66).

Abstract: An antenna minimizes radiation from the outer conductor (44) of a coaxial cable (40) that is coupled to the antenna by providing a balancing tab (90) that lies near the connection (72) of the cable outer conductor (44) to the antenna. One antenna includes a Yagi structure (12) constructed of a plate of metal that forms a long boom (20) and a plurality of directors (28) extending laterally across the boom, with an electrical coupling loop mounted at a rear region of the Yagi structure. The coupling loop includes a folded dipole in the form of a metal coupling plate that forms a loop (54) with a gap (70), the loop having a laterally elongated front loop end (60). The Yagi structure is formed with a balancing tab (90) that lies forward of the loop, that has a lateral length (D) less than half that of one of the directors, and that extends from only one side (22) of the boom which is the side to which the outer coax conductor (44) is connected to the loop.

Abstract: A water stream is treated to remove oxygen before injecting the water into an underground hydrocarbon reservoir. The water-oxygen mixture is separated by centrifugal action using fixed spin blades (20). Oxygen is removed from the center of the conduit through a gas pipe (30) coupled to a vacuum pump (50). Nitrogen may be introduced upstream of the centrifuge to dilute the water-gas solution to improve the efficiency of the gas-liquid separation.

Abstract: A compact exercise device (10) of the type wherein a person grips handle devices (12, 30) lying at opposite ends of a rope that extends through a housing (22), the person pulling one end of the rope away from the housing while resisting movement of the other end of the rope towards the housing to exercise. A windup spool (114) lies in one of the handle devices and a spring (130) urges the spool to wind up rope by a spring, but the spool is normally prevented from turning in either direction by a release mechanism (110). A person who holds a handle grip (100) with most fingers of his/her hand, uses his/her thumb to depress a button (90) to operate the release mechanism. While the thumb continues to depress the button, the person moves a handle device away from the housing to lengthen the effective length of rope, or moves a handle device towards the housing to shorten the effective length of rope.

Abstract: A holder (20) for a cutting insert (12), which includes a head (22) with a pocket (24) for holding the cutting insert and a bar device (26) for supporting the head, allows the use of a removable head for a miniature head and bar device that fits into a small hole in a workpiece, and allows rapid and easy replacement of the head. The head has a front part (42) of small height for holding the cutting insert and has a taller rear part (40) of the same height as the bar device. The head rear part has a screw-receiving hole (56) that extends at a downward-rearward incline (A) into a corresponding threaded hole (62) at the front of the bar device. The head and bar device respectively have a recess (70) and a projection (74) that lie around the screw-receiving holes and that align the head and bar device. A coolant passageway system (92) in the bar device provides coolant for both right and left hand heads.

Abstract: An earplug (10) that includes a soft foam body (12) and a stiffener (14) in the body, is produced by a method that has minimum steps and that results in an earplug of attractive design and that uses a minimum of material. One method includes molding an earplug body in a body cavity (52) while a mandrel (56) lies in the body cavity. After the foam material in the body cavity has at least partially solidified, the mandrel is removed, leaving an empty stiffener cavity (60) in the foam body (12). With the body remaining in the body mold (54), flowable stiffener material (14A) is poured into the stiffener cavity of the body and allowed to solidify, to produce an earplug with a molded-in stiffener (14). Another method, results in an earplug (90) with a stem (95) having a rearwardly-projecting stem portion (96). This method includes molding a stem rear portion (96) in a stiffener cavity (110) while allowing stiffener material to project forward of the rear portion to form a stem free front portion (120).

Abstract: Apparatus for boosting the signal between a cell phone (14) and a cell site (16), which includes an amplifier (64) that continually operates at a fixed gain. A power detector (72) controls an attenuator (62) that can be switched to pass the amplified signal through an attenuator (74) of moderate resistance, or through an attenuator (60) of zero resistance so the power output is boosted within the limits allowed under cell phone system standards.

Abstract: An earplug (10) with a body front portion (22) for insertion into a person's ear canal, has a pocket (30) to increase comfort and is constructed to enhance noise attenuation. The pocket, which allows easier compression of the body front portion for increased comfort, has a plurality of baffles (50) that attenuate sound better than a pocket without baffles. The pocket with baffles is formed by a core pin (80) that lies in an injection mold (82) and that forms the pocket, the core pin having a plurality of slots (81) that form the baffles. The pocket includes a rear portion (36) that forms a wide passage, and the earplug includes a blocker portion (90) that partially or completely closes off the rear pocket passage.

Abstract: Water that is produced during offshore hydrocarbon processing, such as hot produced water accompanying hydrocarbons taken from subsea reservoirs, or cold water resulting from heating LNG (liquified natural gas) to convert it to gas, is changed in temperature to be closer to that of the surrounding sea using apparatus of minimal cost. The apparatus includes a mixer tube (52) that lies totally submerged in the sea and a nozzle (54) that receives the produced water and that has a nozzle end (76) lying in a middle portion of the mixer tube. A location of the mixer tube middle portion at the nozzle end has an inside diameter (A) much larger than the nozzle end outside diameter (B) to induce the through flow of sea water from the surrounding sea through the mixer tube. The produced water is pumped to a high enough pressure to create turbulence in the mixer tube immediately downstream of the nozzle end to better mix the produced and sea waters.

Abstract: Earplugs with soft foam bodies and with stiffeners in the bodies, are molded by suspending the stiffener in the body mold cavity using a pin (60) that extends into a passage (56) at the rear of the body. Each stiffener is tapered in diameter, with a rear end (34) of greatest diameter.

Abstract: A container (10) for holding a bundt cake (12), which avoids an unsightly accumulation of sugar frosting around the central hole in the cake, and which provides strength for stacking containers with cakes therein on top of one another. The container includes a base (14) with a cake-supporting surface (30) and a central upward projection (32) for insertion into the central cake hole, and a cover (16) with a cover top (20) and with side walls (22) that have bottoms (24) that latch to the base. The central upward projection has a plurality of largely vertically extending grooves (40) that allow hot frosting to flow down to a recess (44) lying below the cake-supporting surface. The middle of the cover forms a downwardly-extending post (62) that engages the top of the center projection on the base, to support the cover, especially when containers holding cakes are stacked.

Abstract: An offshore hydrocarbon production system includes a vessel (12) with a turret (16), and a fluid swivel (50) on the turret that is connected to risers (41–43) that extend to the sea floor (26), wherein a drilling/workover rig (60) on the vessel can lower tubing (65) toward the sea floor without danger that the tubing will wrap about the risers when the hull weathervanes. The rig is mounted on the turret. Pipes (54) that extend from the rotatable part of the fluid swivel to fittings (55) on the hull (14), are supported on a gantry (80) that is fixed to the hull and having a gantry middle portion (106) that extends over the turret. The gantry middle portion extends higher than the top (88) of the rig.

Abstract: A water saver toilet that produces a larger water spot (122) in the toilet bowl (12) and a better flushing, and that enables partial and full flushing. A trapway (14) that extends from the toilet bowl outlet to a drain (16), has upper and lower traps (30, 32) and a trapway passage (34) that extends between and into the traps. The lower trap is constructed to be sealed by water therein prior to each flushing, and a pressured air source (98) applies pressured air to the trapway prior to a flushing. The pressured air in the trapway pushes some upper trap water into the toilet bowl to increase the water spot therein. A first container (40) lies in the water tank, and the water therein can be flushed down from the first container though a coupling region (80) and though a flush valve (24), for a partial flushing. A full flushing is achieved by opening a second valve (62) to pass water lying in the tank around and above the first container, and through the coupling region and the flush valve.

Abstract: A system for using natural gas to safely provide large amounts (at least 30 megawatts) of electricity to consumers. The system includes a floating generating vessel (110) that lies offshore and carries one or more turbine-generator sets (114, 116) that use natural gas as fuel and whose electricity output is delivered though a power line (138) that extends at least partially in the sea to a consumer. One consumer is a process vessel (112) that processes natural gas and that has transfer facilities (68) that transfer liquified gas to or from a tanker (106) that holds over 10,000 tons of liquified gas. Some of the gas is transferred from the process vessel through a conduit (136) in the sea to the generating vessel (110) to provide fuel. Another consumer is an onshore facility (52). The generating and process vessels (110, 112) are widely separated (e.g. at least 0.2 kilometer) to protect personnel in the event of a gas explosion or fire.

Abstract: A valve for supplying pressured air to vehicle air bags, includes a shuttle (20) with a valving member (80) having a precision polished seal surface (86) that presses against a precision polished sealed-against housing lower surface (50) of a housing (14) that confines the shuttle to sliding left and right. A recess (90) in the valving member can connect first and second holes (52 and 56, 58) in the housing lower surface, or isolate the holes from each other. The shuttle includes a shuttle frame (70) with a vertical bore (74) that receives a guiding part (82) of the valving member. A conduit extends from the valving member recess to a sealed region (102) at the top of the vertical passage to pressurize the sealed region with pressured air, to push down the valving member against the housing lower surface.