Abstract: The timing gear device or structure (26) has a pair of timing gears (28, 30) mounted on parallel rotating shafts (22, 24). Each timing gear (28, 30) has an outer gear portion (32) and a concentric interfitting inner gear portion (34). Outer gear portions (34) have teeth (48) which intermesh to transmit torque from drive shaft (22) to driven shaft (24). Each concentric inner gear portion (34) has longitudinally extending splines (44) in meshing relation with splines (46) on the inner periphery of outer gear portion (32). As shown in particular in FIGS. 5-8, the timing gears can be replaced by timing structure (26) by angular alignment or indexing of driven shaft (24) with inner gear portion (34) secured thereto while outer concentric gear portion (32) is removed. For indexing, drive shaft (22) is fixed and timing gear (28) is mounted thereon by key (40).

Abstract: In accordance with illustrative embodiments of the present invention, the arrangement of a combination stuffing box and pressure transmitter system for use with a reciprocating or rotating rod on pumps or pumping systems is disclosed. The stuffing box assembly includes a housing that holds a primary and second seal that are separated by a lubricating reservoir filled with a refined environmentally friendly sacrificial lubricant from the unknown fluid being pumped. The secondary seal transmits the pressure of the fluid being pumped to the sacrificial lubricant that is being sealed from the atmosphere by the primary seal. The secondary seal has its outside diameter sealing against the housing liner and has its inside diameter sealing on the pump rod. It is free to move with respect to the liner and the rod to transmit the pressure of the fluid being pumped to the sacrificial lubricant between the primary and secondary seals, as well as balance the pressure across the secondary seal.

Abstract: A universal handgun carrying system, more commonly known as a holster, is provided for waist belt support, for positioning and carrying both semi-automatic and revolver type handguns. Inside and outside sheet-like panel members composed of leather or other suitable material are joined only at the front, so as to provide a universal holster assembly having an open rear portion that is closed by the waist belt of the user. Each of the inner and outer panels defines a body section having a pair of belt slots, with the front belt slots of both panels in registry and with the rear belt slots offset from one another. Projections, being preferably integral with the body sections, extend upwardly from the inner and outer panels and are provided with fastening devices such as snaps. One of the projections defines a retention strap and is adapted to be bent over the upper portion of a handgun to secure the handgun within the holster.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing metal or non-metal vessels, including straight and curved pipes and various pipe connections, such as T's, elbows, swages, etc., and pressure containing vessels such as tanks, with an external composite lining of a webbing of biaxial or triaxial weave preferably composed of fiberglass which is pre-impregnated with a high temperature heat curable polymer composition capable of being heat cured at a temperature range of from about 275° F. to about 375° F. The vessel is prepared for bonding by abrasive cleaning and by solvent cleaning. Metal imperfections are then filled with an epoxy. A small amount a quick setting epoxy is employed to attach one end of the web to the external surface of the vessel in oriented position for wrapping of the web in intimate surface-to-surface contact with the vessel. During wrapping only enough tension is applied to the pre-impregnated webbing to eliminate any wrinkles.

Abstract: A reinforced plastic pallet having a plurality of pallet sections each composed of plastic material and having interlocking elements defined by side walls of the pallet sections. At least two of the pallet sections define front and rear pallet edges and each have at least one reinforcing receptacle located adjacent the front and rear pallet edges. At least two elongate reinforcing elements are located within the reinforcing receptacles and are oriented for reinforcing the front and rear pallet edges to minimize bending thereof when the front and rear pallet edges are resting on a rack and under load. The pallet sections are of generally tubular configuration having planar upper and lower walls and parallel side walls. The side walls define dove-tail or other interlocking connectors for securing the pallet sections in immovable assembly.

Abstract: Elastomeric pads are arranged radially around the main bearing which rotatably supports a mooring turret with respect to a vessel. The elastomeric pads act as radial springs to react the radial turret loads in the vessel and to compensate for ovaling of the vessel in response to sea environmental forces on the vessel. A radial spring assembly is provided which applies compressive load to the elastomeric pads when the vessel and turret move radially toward each other, but prevent tension from being applied to the pads when the vessel and turret move radially away from each other.

Abstract: An arrangement and method are disclosed for providing a fluid flow path between a seabed supply of hydrocarbons and a turret moored storage vessel. A steel catenary riser interface buoy provides support for a steel catenary riser and the lower end of a flexible riser. This arrangement allows both risers to be pre-installed prior to arrival of the storage vessel or other floating storage facility. A turret interface buoy, secured to an upper end of the flexible riser is used in the installation process as well as in the hook-up of the riser system to the storage vessel.

Abstract: A machine has a support (3) which receives and supports a button shank (6) at a support station (4); a winding device (12) rotates thread (21) through an outlet (25) to wind it around the shank supported in the support under the control of tensioner (17); hooks (56, 57) catch the thread at both ends after bonding the winded thread, the hooks moving as a unit (77) snap the thread to release the shank from the support.

Abstract: Apparatus and processes for water impurity analysis and for impurity analysis of various other liquids as well. Apparatus and processes are provided for physical characterization of liquid drops as a liquid sample builds up and then drops from a sample needle or other source. Liquid drop characterization is through utilization of infrared liquid drop measuring and computer modeling to measure a liquid drop as it builds up and then measures the falling liquid drop. By optically measuring an infrared radiated falling drop, and/or by characterizing the manner by which a sample drop is formed, a very precise way of determining the exact volume of a liquid sample is accomplished. Sample volume is typically directly proportional to concentration levels of the chemical constituent to be measured. By computer modeling, a falling drop can be quantified as to volume, rather than depending on the otherwise standard way of injecting a “known” volume.

Abstract: A combined well casing spider and elevator has a body defining a bowl inner wall tapered to reduced diameter from the top to bottom end and defining first external guide surfaces being inclined upwardly and outwardly and having a kicker element defining a second coextensive external guide surface being inclined upwardly and outwardly to a greater extent than the first external guide surface. A gate member is pivoted to the body for movement of a well casing to and from the bowl. A circumferential array of casing gripping slips is located within the bowl and form a circular hole to receive a well casing. The slips are vertically movable along the bowl inner wall to effect radial enlargement and contraction of the circular hole to release and grip the casing.

Abstract: A slimbore marine riser and BOP are provided for a subsea completion system which includes a tubing spool secured to a wellhead at the sea floor. The tubing spool has an internal landing profile for a reduced diameter tubing hanger which is arranged and dimensioned to pass through the bore of the riser and BOP at the end of a landing string. The tubing hanger, arranged and designed to be sealingly positioned in the tubing spool landing profile, has a production bore and a relatively large multiplicity of electric and hydraulic passages which terminate at a top end of the hanger with vertically extending electric and hydraulic couplers. A passage is provided through the body of the tubing spool which provides communication from above the tubing hanger to the well annulus below the hanger. A remotely controllable valve is placed in the annulus bypass passage.

Abstract: A soft yoke mooring system, with torsional spring devices to provide restoring force to yoke arms coupled to a mooring body. Two torsional spring device types are preferred. A first torsional spring device type includes a plurality of nested tubular shafts, which are coupled end to end to each other in a coaxial array. Torque arms extend from a yoke arm end to one end of the tubular shafts, with the other end of the shafts coupled to a vessel. A second torsional spring device type includes stacks of elastomeric shear unit arrays or blocks of elastomeric material, which are coupled between a torque diaphragm device and a vessel and with the torque diaphragm device coupled by a torque arm to an end of a yoke arm.

Abstract: A laterally translatable pressure staged rotary shaft sealing mechanism having a seal housing with a shaft passage therein being exposed to a fluid pressure P1 and with a rotary shaft being located within the shaft passage. At least one annular laterally translatable seal carrier is provided. First and second annular resilient sealing elements are supported in axially spaced relation by the annular seal carriers and have sealing relation with the rotary shaft. The seal housing and at least one seal carrier define a first pressure staging chamber exposed to the first annular resilient sealing element and a second pressure staging chamber located between and exposed to the first and second annular resilient sealing elements. A first fluid is circulated to the first pressure chamber at a pressure P1, and a second staging pressure fluid is circulated to the second pressure chamber at a fraction of pressure P1 to achieve pressure staging, cooling of the seals.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for dissolving various forms of chemicals in solid material form into a liquid solution is disclosed. The apparatus includes a fluid reservoir to which an ultrasonic generating device is attached, capable of creating an acoustic wave that induces alternating compression and rarefaction fronts that react with microscopic inclusions in the liquid to produce cavitation. The cavitation phenomenon works on microscopic inclusions or bubbles or entrained air and or vapor of the liquid. The release of energy during this process causes solids held together by binders to become separated and be blended into solution at a consistent and predictable rate. The chemical to be supplied may be in solid form either in a pelletized or granular form arranged in a vertical column with only the lower portion of the column submerged in the solution with the level of submersion being adjustable.

Abstract: A stairway (10) is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 in one embodiment of the invention in which a pair of side support panels (12, 14) are formed of a hollow plastic material. Side support panels (12, 14) have closed end columns (24, 26, 28) extending from an outer face of the side support panels to provide a relatively large bearing area. Another embodiment of a stairway (10A) shown in FIGS. 3-5 has a side rail panel (40A) positioned on a lower side support panel (12A) with wooden posts (32A) received in open ended columns (24A, 26A, 28A) of lower side support panel (12A) and received within columns (42A, 44A and 46A) of side rail panel (40A). Posts (32A) are normally embedded in concrete (36A) for securement of the stairway (10A).

Abstract: An improved motor starter assembly is provided on a frame and having an external profile which matches that or is within that of a prior motor starter is disclosed. The improved motor starter assembly provides a soft start circuit within the profile. Retrofitting of prior art motor starters is accomplished by moving the power fuses and related hardware of an existing medium voltage (2.4 Kv to 7.2 Kv) and installing the new soft start circuit on the frame of the existing motor starter. The retrofitted arrangement mounts the motor fuses horizontally and the vacuum contactors vertically in an arrangement to provide enough space within the external profile to mount the soft start circuit arrangement.

Abstract: An air-conditioning condensate drainage system for mounting to the roof membrane of the roof structure of buildings or for constructing directly onto the roof membrane of a building structure. The air-conditioning condensate drainage system has an isolation membrane having a bottom surface for assembly to a roof membrane. A pair of ridge structures are disposed in fixed relation with the isolation membrane and are disposed in spaced relation with one another and cooperate with the isolation membrane to define an air-conditioning condensate drainage channel between the spaced ridge structures. Each of the ridge structures has one or more ridge defining elements which is fixed to the isolation membrane and projects above the isolation membrane sufficiently to define a condensate drain channel therebetween.

Abstract: The widely used JPEG standard algorithm for two-dimensional image compression may be adapted for compression of arrays of any dimension and data type, specifically for arrays of seismic data. Because the JPEG algorithm processes, more or less independently, small subsets (8.times.8 blocks) of larger images or arrays of data, such adaptations are particularly useful in applications that cannot maintain a large, uncompressed, multi-dimensional array in computer memory. JPEG-like methods enable compression and decompression of large arrays by iteration over sub-arrays that are small enough to reside in memory. These algorithms lead to the concept of a compressed virtual memory. Special care must be taken in JPEG-like algorithms to avoid blocking artifacts, which are discontinuities between blocks of data that are compressed and decompressed independently. Fortunately, computationally efficient methods for suppressing these artifacts are well known.