Abstract: A self aligning stuffing box for a pumpjack unit of the type having a polished rod reciprocatingly extending therethrough and downhole to a pump located at the lower end of the borehole. The stuffing box is an annular main body having a tubing adaptor at the lower end by which it can be mounted to the upper end of a well bore. A spool receiving cavity is located within the main body concentrically respective to the polished rod, and an annular spool is received within the cavity. The polished rod reciprocatingly extends through the spool and main body. A seal assembly is mounted to the inner surface of the spool for sealingly engaging the polished rod. The spool cooperates with the cavity to form a lubrication chamber that extends outwardly and about the spool. The spool moves within the spool receiving cavity radially of the passageway to align the polished rod with the wellbore.

Abstract: A grasp analysis apparatus and method by which the power of grasp exerted by the human hand can be measured, and by which a determination can be made related to the maximum effort of grasp that is made during the measurement. The apparatus includes a housing having opposed walls which can be forced towards one another in proportion to the magnitude of the compressive strength exerted by the person that grasps the housing. A transducer enclosed within the housing is compressed between the movable opposed walls and provides a signal that is proportional to the magnitude of the compressive force of the grasp. The signal is converted into a measurement indicative of the magnitude of the force. A plurality of measurements taken at different locations along the fingers are plotted to reveal the true effort being made while grasping the apparatus.

Abstract: A cased wellbore extends downhole to a pay zone which is produced by a rod actuated downhole pump that lifts fluid from the bottom of the wellbore up through a tubing string to a wellhead. The pump is seated in a pump cavity, and the tubing string is tensioned and is rotated. The upper end of the tubing string is attached to a fluid conveying swivel and a tubing rotator. A combination tubing anchor having a fluid conveying rotatable mandrel is attached adjacent to and forms part of the lower end of the tubing string by which the lower end of the tubing string is rotatably and releasably affixed to the casing in proximity to the lower end of the wellbore. A plurality of radially active slips are actuated in response to manipulation of the tubing string to extend the slips into engagement with the casing wall and to retract the slips in order to remove the tubing string from the borehole.

Abstract: A sight glass placed between two spaced apart confronting fittings and connected to a vessel to show the level of liquid in the vessel is shielded by a novel transparent plastic enclosure. The enclosure is in the form of a polygon and is made from a sheet of impact resistant plastic. The enclosure includes an elongated main body member having a U-shaped front member that is removably attached to a rear closure member. Upper and lower end members are removably secured to each opposed end of the main body member. Each of the end members have an outwardly opening slot formed therein for slidably receiving and capturing the spaced apart fittings therewithin. The transparent plastic material preferably is polycarbomate which exhibits high impact resistance and thereby offers great protection to the sight glass.

Abstract: Used drilling mud, and other high solids oilfield waste which has been contaminated with hydrocarbons, is pumped downhole into a salt cavity where the mud and hydrocarbons separate with the mud gravitating to the bottom of the cavity and the hydrocarbons rising toward the surface of the ground. Brine separates the accumulated hydrocarbons from the residual mud. The brine or the hydrocarbons is selectively removed for sales while additional water or contaminated mud is added to the system as may be required. The salt cavity preferably is located in a geographical area wherein anhydride ledges are formed therewithin upon formation of the cavity. The resultant ledges form baffle plates that coalesces the separated particles of oil and enhance formation of the separated hydrocarbon.

Abstract: Bird protector apparatus for attachment to the outlet end of a flue gas stack that emits flue gases into the atmosphere. The stack has a concentrically arranged outer annular member spaced from the inner stack for flow of gas therebetween. The protector apparatus prevents birds from alighting on the end of the stack as well as on the protector itself. The protector apparatus comprises a conical wire mesh screen of a size to preclude birds traveling therethrough and to freely allow flue gases to flow therethrough, and has a lower end opposed to an apex. A clamp attaches the lower end of the wire cone to the upper end of the stack, with the apex being axially aligned with the centerline of the stack. An apparatus can be included on the exterior of the wire cone to frighten birds from perching on the apex.

Abstract: An irrigation system for watering a group of large fields on which crops are grown. A water well is arranged on each field and an electric motor driven pump produces each water well. A motor/generator supplies current to an electric motor of each water well by a step-up transformer having a low voltage primary and a high voltage secondary winding to receive current from the electrical generator. The primary of a several step down transformers are connected in parallel to supply current to an irrigation pump motor. Each electric motor has a contact connected to current carrying electrical conductors that are buried below the surface of the ground. Well water is conveyed to a pivot type traveling irrigation system having a rotating coupling by which water is conveyed from said pump into the sprinkler system. All of the electrical conductors interconnecting the transformers and pump motors are placed underground.

Abstract: A process for separating nitrogen and hydrocarbons from a mixture of gases by splitting the mixture into a plurality of separate streams and throttling the flow of each stream to achieve a selected variable flow rate therebetween. The plurality of separate streams are individually cooled by exchanging heat with a plurality of different process streams, then the cooled separate streams are combined, cooled by another process stream, and again cooled by expansion. The cooled combined streams then enter a separation column where nitrogen ascends the column and exits as a process stream while hydrocarbon descends the column to a reboiler thereof and exits as several process streams. The reboiler is used for cooling one of the separate streams. The hydrocarbon from the bottom of the column is expanded and used to cool a reflux condenser located inside the column and thereafter cools another of the streams before it is discharged from the process.

Abstract: Oil, water, and sludge are separated from a mixture thereof to provide waste oil, usable water, and concentrated sludge. The sludge can be further reduced in volume to facilitate disposal. The invention includes a system having a vessel with a coalescer supported therewithin to form an upper oil containment chamber at the top of the vessel, a contaminated water inlet chamber at one side, a lower sludge containing chamber at the bottom, and a treated water outlet chamber at the other side. The coalescer includes a number of corrugated plate members disposed parallel to one another and inclined respective to the horizontal. The corrugations of the plate members, when viewed in horizontal cross-section, form a sinusoidal wave pattern. There being a wide, long, thin, inclined, sinusoidal passageway formed between the plate members that extend from the inlet chamber to the outlet chamber.

Abstract: Neurological testing apparatus by which the sense receptor's of a person can be tested. The apparatus is of a configuration to be held in the hand and includes a body having a front surface opposed to a rear surface to provide ample space for supporting a plurality of spaced apart covered substances thereon. The substances are each different from the other and each substance test one of a person's sense receptors. One of the members include a sweet tasting substance, another member includes a sour tasting substance, and another member includes a substance fragrant to a person's smell. Other substances include color and indicia. A protective cover is removably placed on the substance for testing the smell and taste. The testing apparatus further includes a sharp end opposed to a disk end for testing a person'sense of feel and peripheral vision.

Abstract: A collection system for accumulating spills from a well rig that is working on a wellbore, and accumulates the spills in a suitable storage vessel. The floor of the rig is located above the wellhead of a wellbore, and the collection system is located therebetween to intercept spills from the work-over or drilling rig. The collection system has a framework supported from the well head. A sloped plate collector member is supported by the well-head and is located within a framework. The framework supports a panel member which intercepts spills and other debris, and directs the spills to an outlet in the sloped plate member through which spills gravitates to the storage vessel.

Abstract: An enclosure comprising a container having a bottom, a sidewall attached to the bottom and terminating in an open end. The sidewall has an inner wall surface opposed to an outer wall surface. A closure member made complementary to the open end can be removably affixed thereto. The closure member provides a downwardly extending lip having an inner wall surface opposed to an outer wall surface, one of which slidably adjoins one of said inner and outer wall surfaces of the container wall when the closure member is mated respective to the container. A fixed locking member having an inclined rail thereon is attached to the outer wall surface. Also provided is a sliding locking member having an upper flange that bears against the top of the closure member and a lower rail engaging member of a size to receive the rail therewithin to thereby force the closure member toward the container bottom when the sliding locking member simultaneously engages the closure member and the fixed locking member.

Abstract: A tool for magnetic treatment of fluid flowing therethrough has an annular casing that can be connected to a flow conduit to receive flow from the conduit when connected thereto. A plurality of magnets are supported from a plurality of spaced inner and outer holding members within the casing, with a magnet being supported between adjacent holding members. Diametrically opposed outwardly opening sockets in each of the inner holding members telescopingly receive the marginal end of a magnet so that the magnets are arranged with like adjacent poles. The holding members include a plurality of inner holding members and outer holding members, and each inner holding member has opposed sockets for receiving adjoining magnets while each outer holding member has a streamlined end opposed to a socket end. Rods are attached to an enlargement on each outer holding member so that the rods bear against the interior wall of the casing and secure the magnets within the casing.

Abstract: An improved drilling fluid for use in a drilling operation. A drilling rig has a drill string for forming a borehole while drilling fluid flows down the drill string to a drill bit and back up the borehole annulus to a mud pit. The improved drilling fluid of this method enables the borehole to be extended through a geothermal formation having a temperature up to 500 degrees F. The drilling fluid has a highly viscous thixotropic fluid added thereto during a drilling operation in order to achieve a mixture having at least 1/2% polymerized alkali metal silicate that is formed by combining an aqueous acid solution with an aqueous alkali metal silicate solution, whereby a polymerized alkali metal silicate gel is produced followed by shearing of the gel to impart thixotropic properties thereto.

Abstract: An excavating machine has a track mounted main frame with a digging implement mounted to one end of the main frame for vertical adjustment in the usual manner. A stabilizer apparatus is pivotally mounted to the other end of the main frame. The stabilizer apparatus has a wheel that is forced against the ground to tilt the main frame longitudinally about the support track in order to dampen oscillations induced into the machine by the digging implement and to force the digging implement to engage the ground with a constant force which enables the excavating machine to excavate material in an improved manner.

Abstract: An inhaler apparatus by which a vapor is condensed by a powder containing medication into a cloud of very fine particles that can be inhaled deep into a patient's lungs. The apparatus includes an enclosure, preferably a transparent container, which enables the patient to observe the formation of the cloud. The cloud is formed because of the provision within the enclosure of the proper pressure, moisture content, temperature, and a dust-like powder that is actually the medication and which seeds the cloud. A heater is placed adjacent a liquid to cause the liquid to heat and vaporize. A small pump reduces the pressure within the container only the amount required to achieve the proper conditions for the cloud formation. A liquid is placed in a liquid containing part of the container.

Abstract: A grasp analysis apparatus and method by which the power of grasp exerted by the human hand can be measured, and by which a determination can be made related to the maximum effort of grasp that is made during the measurement. The apparatus includes a housing having opposed walls which can be forced towards one another in proportion to the magnitude of the compressive strength exerted by the person that grasps the housing. A transducer enclosed within the housing is compressed between the movable opposed walls and provides a signal that is proportional to the magnitude of the compressive force of the grasp. The signal is converted into a measurement indicative of the magnitude of the force. A plurality of measurements taken at different locations along the fingers are plotted to reveal the true effort being made while grasping the apparatus.

Abstract: A portable system for reworking the inside diameter of oil field pipe and casing, and especially plastic coated pipe that is to be re-coated. The system includes a grinderhead that removes irregularities from the inner surface of the pipe to render the pipe suitable for use in deep wells. A cutterhead assembly is rotated as it is forced into the interior of a joint of pipe. The cutterhead assembly includes a mandrel which turns a special cutting device having a plurality of grinders for engaging and cutting the inner wall of the pipe as the entire grinderhead is forced to travel through the pipe. Alignment and grinding members attached to the mandrel maintain the longitudinal axis of the grinders in proper alignment to produce the desired new pipe inside diameter. Included in the system is a special cutterhead for removing old plastic coating material in advance of the grinderhead whereby the cutterhead mostly removes plastic while the grinderhead mostly removes metal from the inner pipe surface.

Abstract: A process for separating nitrogen and hydrocarbons from a mixture of gases by splitting the mixture into a plurality of separate streams and throttling the flow of each stream to achieve a selected variable flow rate therebetween. The plurality of separate streams and individually cooled by exchanging heat with a plurality of different process streams, then the cooled separate streams are combined, cooled by another process stream, and again cooled by expansion. The cooled combined streams then enter a separation column where nitrogen ascends the column and exits as a process stream while hydrocarbon descends the column to a reboiler therof and exits as another process stream. The reboiler is used for cooling one of the separate streams and is therefore one of the process streams. The hydrocarbon from the column is expanded and used for the processe stream that first cools the combined streams and thereafter cools another of the separate streams and then is discharged from the process.