Abstract: A wire socket connector having an open throated basket type body that incorporates a load supporting connection at the upper portion thereof for connection with a lifting device in the form of a chain, wire line, lifting hook or the like. The body defines a tapered internal socket receptacle for receiving a tapered wire socket that is affixed to a wire line to which force, such as a lifting force, is to be applied. The body also defines a laterally opening slot through which the socket bearing wire line moves to gain registering access with the socket receptacle and is structured to permit relatively linear movement of the wire socket into the socket receptacle as a wire line connection is being made or when the wire line is being released from the wire socket connector.

Abstract: A caisson gate valve (10) fitting within an outer casing (12) extending downwardly from a subsea wellhead below the sea floor is disclosed. The gate valve (10) includes a valve body or block (14) having an axial bore or flow passage (16) therethrough and a transverse cavity (18) in body (14) which extends through the body (14) to provide open ends (19) for cavity (18). Covers (60, 66) are mounted over the open ends (19) of cavity (18). A gate carrier (24) has an oval opening (26) which receives a gate member (28) having a gate opening (30) therein for movement between open and closed positions relative to the flow passage (16). A pair of opposed stems or pistons (32, 34) extend from gate carrier (28) for actuation of gate carrier (24) and valve member (28) between open and closed positions relative to flow passage (16). Fluid chambers (36, 38) adjacent pistons (32, 34) provide pressurized fluid for actuation of gate carrier (24) and gate member (28) therein.

Abstract: A catalyst loading system for utilizing catalyst from a bulk supply located adjacent but not on the upper tube sheet of a catalytic reactor and for mechanized measuring of multiple identical quantities of catalyst and for mechanized loading of catalyst pellets into the reaction tubes of the reactor to achieve even drop rate, compaction and outage of the reaction tubes. A pair of electronic vibrators are mounted to the cart framework and provide for support and vibratory movement of a vibratory tray having a catalyst feed hopper adapted to feed catalyst pellets to a plurality of generally parallel catalyst transfer troughs along which catalyst pellets are moved by vibration of the vibratory tray to a plurality of drop tubes. A compartmented hopper is fixed to the vibratory tray and controllably feeds catalyst pellets into respective catalyst transfer troughs.

Abstract: A hydrodynamically lubricated interference type rotary shaft seal suitable for environmental exclusion and high pressure lubricant retention which incorporates composite multiple modulus construction and a non-planar flexible environmental edge heel geometry which cooperate to resist high pressure extrusion damage while minimizing interfacial contact pressure and accommodating radial shaft motion.

Abstract: In certain offshore locations, for example off the West Coast of Africa, FPSO facilities provide an offloading facility to receive and load produced crude oil onto shuttle tankers. In such arrangements FPSO facilities use spread moored tankers with flowlines suspended in the water column to an offloading buoy or buoys which are located 1,000 to 1,500 meters away from the FPSO. Typically steel pipe flowlines as used with intermediate floatation to provide a suitable configuration that will avoid detrimental loads being imposed resulting from relative motions of the FPSO and the offloading buoy. According to the invention, a Suspended Pipe Line End Manifold (SPLEM) is connected to the end of the flowline assembly for support during towout. The SPLEM is positioned near the buoy and then connected at the sea surface to the bottom of the buoy by flexible leads such as anchor chains. The SPLEM is then flooded by selectively flooding compartments to cause it to sink to an operational position below the buoy.

Abstract: A continuous flow type proportional flow control valve having a very wide controllable flow range and having a valve seat port design permitting a continuous, stable closed loop control to be achieved. The flow port design cooperates with a simple cylindrical flow passage of a movable valve element and provides the valve with a very wide flow control range and the ability to smoothly control the opening, modulation, and closing of the valve to eliminate undesirable hydraulic shock which is an undesirable characteristic of pulse operated flow control systems. The flow controlling seat has a flow controlling port therein that cooperates with the flow port of the closure to define an effective valve opening that is proportionally variable over a wide range of closure movement. The seat port is provided with an extremely narrow elongate slot section less than 1/50th of the maximum width of the aperture.

Abstract: A resilient, ring shaped interference-type hydrodynamic rotary seal having waves on the lubricant side which provide increased film thickness and flushing action by creating contact pressure induced angulated restrictions formed by abrupt restrictive diverters. The angulated restrictions are defined by projecting ridges, corners at the trailing edge of the waves, or simply by use of a converging shape at the trailing edge of the waves which is more abrupt than the gently converging hydrodynamic inlet shape at the leading edge of the waves. The abrupt restrictive diverter performs two functions; a restricting function and a diverting function.The angulated restrictions cause a local film thickness restriction which produces a damming effect preventing a portion of the lubricant from leaking out of the dynamic sealing interface at the trailing edge of the wave, and results in a much thicker lubricant film thickness under the waves.

Abstract: A hay bale trailer (10) for transporting and unloading cylindrical hay bales (B) having a plurality of cradle assemblies (16) supported on the trailer (10) with each cradle assembly (16) including a cradle (22) mounted for tilting movement about a horizontal axis (34) between opposed sides of the trailer (10) to permit selective unloading of cylindrical hay bales (B) from a desired side of the trailer (10). Each cradle assembly (16) includes a turntable (35) on which a cradle (22) is mounted for pivotal movement about a vertical axis (46). Upon unlocking of cradles (22) by removal of locking pins (54) from openings (36), the cradle can be manually pivoted for dumping. Springs (76) return cradle (22) to a hauling position. Cradle assemblies (16) as shown in FIG. 10 can be simultaneously unlocked for individual dumping. Actuating rod (100) unlocks levers (66).

Abstract: A high performance method and apparatus for testing a closed loop transducer is disclosed. A test bitstream signal is combined with a .SIGMA..DELTA. feedback bitstream of the transducer to produce a combined bitstream which is converted to a physical feedback to the sensor of the transducer. The .SIGMA..DELTA. bitstream output of the transducer is recorded for later analysis so as to test characteristics of the transducer. The test bitstream signal is preferably an oversampled, pulse density modulated signal. A testing arrangement is provided which is based upon the storage of short-length test patterns which are repetitively accessed to form a continuous test pattern. The test bitstream provided by the method of the invention produces very low noise and low distortion test signals where a repetitive test pattern is equivalent in length to one period of the test signal.

Abstract: Flying lead hydraulic and electrical umbilical arrangements are disclosed for control of a subsea christmas tree for production and workover operations. Alternative arrangements for deep water ROV arrangements for a conventional christmas tree are illustrated in FIGS. 2A, 2B and in FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C. Alternative arrangements for a horizontal christmas tree are illustrated in FIGS. 5, 6, and 7.

Abstract: A casing hanger assembly is disclosed which includes a bottom member which centralizes a casing string within a casing head and a top member of a conventional slip-type casing hanger design. The bottom member functions to rigidly centralize the casing string inside the casing head while absorbing any side bending load induced by movements of the casing string. The top member, set on top of the bottom centralizer member, supports and transfers the weight of the casing string to the casing head.

Abstract: A pressure transducer, particularly a transducer for measuring gaseous pressure differential across a chamber wall is disclosed. The transducer finds particular application in an air cleaning system. The pressure transducer of the invention is designed and arranged to include a load cell disposed between the chamber wall and a diaphragm which is designed and arranged to seal about a hole in the chamber wall.

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: An improved product transfer system is disclosed for a turret moored FPSO. A swivel stack torque tube is provided such that the swivel stack can be recessed below the manifold decks, but still allow swivel torque reactions to be transferred to the ship structure. Recessing of the swivel stack downwardly with respect to the manifold decks reduces the height of the access structure and locates the swivel stack center of gravity closer to the center of gravity of the vessel. This arrangement results in reduced loads to the turret structure, which supports the swivel stack and reduced height and size of the access structure for the swivel stack.

Abstract: A clinical scrub brush device having an elongate tubular having an inner peripheral wall surface and having a finger opening at one end which may be flared. Internal bristles project radially from the inner peripheral wall surface for scrubbing of a finger or other object inserted into the internal chamber. A perforate structural member is located at an end of the elongate tubular body and has at least one puncture element. A scrub solution chamber having a quantity of liquid scrub solution is supported at one end of the elongate tubular body and has a movable wall to permit manual pressurization of the scrub solution and has a membrane wall preventing movement of the scrub solution into the internal chamber. The membrane is punctured when forced against the puncture element by scrub solution pressure for releasing scrub solution into the internal chamber.

Abstract: An elongate flexible clamp mechanism defines first and second ends and is capable of assume a substantially flat configuration and is capable of being positioned in encircling relation about a cylindrical object such as a pipe. A pair of elongate flexible members such as wire cables, chains or pivotally interconnected rigid members support a plurality of substantially rigid clamping members in spaced relation along the lengths of said elongate flexible members. The clamping members are each provided with jack screws for force applying engagement with the pipe to enable alignment of adjacent pipe sections and to correct minor irregularities in pipe roundness so that adjacent pipe sections can be efficiently welded. The elongate flexible clamp mechanism is provided with first and second latch connector elements which are interconnected when the clamp mechanism is located in encircling relation about the pipe.

Abstract: A disposable cushioned aspirator which forms part of a dental or medical aspirating system. The disposable cushioned aspirator appliance described herein is intended principally to be used in dental procedures where bodily fluids and rinse water is evacuated from a patient's mouth, but the invention has application in medical procedures and various other applications as well. An elongate tubular element having a patient end and a connection end is exteriorly lined with a layer of soft cushioning material such as a porous foam material to protect the soft tissues in and around the mouth of a patient. The elongate tubular aspirator is capable of being manually bent from an initially straight configuration to a curved or other desired configuration and is provided with a structural member extending along its length and being pliable to permit bending and yet of sufficient structural integrity to maintain the aspirator in the desired configuration during use.

Abstract: A riser arrangement increases the stability and/or decreases sensitivity to vortex induced vibration of risers of a riser system including steel tubular lines, SCRIBS and flexible hose risers leading to a floating storage/production vessel. A cross-link is placed between two or more steel tubular lines in order to enhance the stability of the riser system. Devices are coupled to the steel tubular lines for increasing their tension in order to increase the natural frequency of vibration in order to reduce sensitivity to vortex induced vibration.

Abstract: An improved arrangement for connection of a disconnectable spider buoy to an internal turret of a floating production storage and off loading vessel is disclosed. Risers from subsea wells are connected by quick disconnect/connection devices to pipes which run through the turret and then via a product swivel to lines leading to storage tanks on the vessel. A structure is provided to create an enclosed space to enclose the connection devices at the top of the spider buoy. A ventilation shaft runs from the enclosed volume to atmosphere via the top of the turret. A forced air line is provided into the enclosed space for ventilating the space via the ventilation shaft during normal operations. If a gas leak is sensed in the enclosed space, the forced air line is closed. The small volume which surrounds the connection devices quickly fills with hydrocarbon gas to produce a high gas/air ratio in the enclosed space which greatly reduces danger of explosion.

Abstract: A fail-safe closure system for one or a plurality of springless process valve actuators is disclosed. An accumulator is provided with an urging means, such as a spring for pressurizing fluid stored therein. A source of pressurized fluid is also provided. Supply pressurized fluid is applied to an opening chamber of one or a plurality of process valve actuators while a flow path is opened to a vent from the closing chamber of the one or more actuators. For closing the actuator or actuators, a flow path is established by which pressurized fluid from the accumulator is applied to the closing chamber of the actuator or actuators while the opening chamber is vented. Control valves are arranged so that if or when they fail, they fail in a position which allows the process valve actuators to close as described.