Abstract: A tractor-trailer unit with a self steering semi-trailer characterized by a steerable bogie assembly includes elongated cables connected to the bogie assembly by way of a rotatable pulley, the cables being moved in response to a cam and lever arrangement, and a pair of opposed locking levers which are responsive to slack in one or the other of the cables to engage the pulley to prevent further turning movement of the bogie assembly in the direction of the slack cable. The pulley includes a set of circumferentially spaced apart pins which engage the respective locking members in an escapement action to allow the steerable bogie to be turned back toward a centered or aligned position with the trailer frame if one or both cable traces become slack.

Abstract: Certain wellbore fluid stimulation treatments may be monitored by a system including instrumented manifolds which may be connected between a base fluid source and a blending unit and between the blending unit and fluid injection pumps, respectively for measuring flow rates of the base fluid, the fluid additives and the fluid composition formed by the base fluid and the fluid additives. Instruments are also provided for measuring fluid temperature, pH, viscosity and flow behavior indexes (n', K') and fluid density. Quality control and determination of pressure losses in the wellbore together with modeling of stimulation treatments may be carried out by the continuous monitoring of parameters with the base fluid manifold and the mixed composition manifold.

Abstract: A dry bulk cement storage and mixing system comprises one or more generally cylindrical storage tanks or bins having somewhat wedge shaped bottom discharge sections with tapered flight conveyor screws extending across the diameter of the bin at the convergence of opposed sloping sidewalls of the bottom section. The conveyor screw is connected to a pneumatic fluidizing plenum wherein compressed air is introduced into the plenum for conveying material to a mixer or recirculating the material back into a selected storage tank through a distributor device mounted on top of the tank which distributes the material to minimize segregation of smaller or less dense particles during discharge of the material into the storage tank. One embodiment of the storage tank is mounted for rotation about a generally horizontal axis and includes a transversely extending cement unloading and vent conduit extending within the tank chamber.

Abstract: The inside wall surface of a wall casing or tubing string is cleaned by providing an apparatus including a resilient flanged plug member and an elongated body having plural helical wraps of wire bristles disposed on the exterior surface thereof for engagement with the casing wall to provide a scraping and cleaning action. The apparatus is typically employed to clean the interior of the casing concurrent with displacing a column of cement composition through the casing for use in cementing the casing in place in the wellbore.

Abstract: Wellbores are cemented with a cement composition formed from drilling fluid occupying the wellbore by circulating a quantity of drilling fluid mixed with a cement material and a dispersant such as a sulfonated styrene copolymer with or without an organic acid into the wellbore to displace the drilling fluid and to continuously convert the drilling fluid into the cement composition. The cement composition may be recirculated through the space in the wellbore to completely evacuate any drilling fluid not converted to cement so as to minimize any faults in the cement composition occupying the wellbore. A preflush composition containing the dispersant and being rheologoically compatible with both the drilling fluid and the drilling fluid converted to cement slurry may be used as a displacement fluid.

Abstract: A latching tool for retrieving downhole well instruments and devices is adapted to be connected to the lower end of a tubing string for movement for movement to engage a fishing head connected to the instrument or device to be retrieved from the wellbore. The latching tool includes a body made up of separable members and having a through bore formed therein, plural radially movable spring biased latching dogs, and an elongated sleeve disposed for sliding movement in said bore for holding said latching dogs in a retracted position and permitting said latching dogs to move to an extended and latching position in response to movement of the sleeve.

Abstract: Heavy hydrocarbon containing sludges such as refinery waste streams, oil storage tank sludges and marine oil tanker ballast are treated by passing the sludges in a flow stream through an indirect dryer to vaporize liquids having a boiling point at atmospheric pressure of less than about 700.degree. C. and to provide substantially dried solid particles discharged from the dryer. The dried particles, containing heavy hydrocarbons as a coating or as a part of the solids, are conducted to a combuster/oxidizer and exposed to a high velocity flow stream of oxygen containing gas, typically low pressure forced air, to burn the residual hydrocarbons in the solids and to reduce heavy metals and the like to oxides thereof. A sludge handling system includes a rotary disk type indirect dryer connected to a lift pipe type combustor/oxidizer for thorough exposure of the dried solids to an oxygen containing atmosphere.

Abstract: A rotary viscometer includes a rotor member having plural helically staggered mixing blades disposed on the outer surface thereof for thoroughly mixing a quantity of fluid whose viscosity is being measuring during rotation of the rotor member. The viscometer has a relatively large annular space between the rotor member and a stationary bob member, and the viscosity of hydraulic fracturing fluids for earth formations, in particular, of a type which exhibit increased viscosity at elevated temperatures, is measured by an improved method using the viscometer.

Abstract: A retractable dust control hood for a rotary table saw includes a generally hollow box member which is supported for movement between a working position directly over the saw blade and a retracted position substantially above the saw blade to permit ease of handling workpieces with respect to the saw and a saw support table surface. The hood is supported from a member disposed above the table surface by parallelogram linkage and a counterbalance mechanism including a rod extending between one set of parallelogram link members and a second set of parallelogram link members. A coil spring is disposed around the rod and acts to move the parallelogram link members relative to each other to counterbalance the weight of the hood. The hood includes a transparent window and a lamp for illuminating the interior space of the hood for ease of viewing the workpiece during operation of the saw.

Abstract: Ion chromatograms are prepared with a chromatograph including a separation column and a conductivity measuring ion detection unit which are adapted to be selectively placed in communication with separate reservoirs for diluted and undiluted samples of a fluid to be analyzed. A control unit switches the reservoirs into communication with an eluent pump for displacing fluid samples through the detection unit in timed relationship such that the most concentrated ion is measured in the diluted sample prior to measurement by the detection unit of the last of the lesser concentrated ions. A pump having a controllable flow rate is connected to a mixing conduit through control valves which switch the flow to and from the reservoirs so that the reservoirs may be simultaneously filled with diluted and undiluted samples of fluid. The diluted sample may be prepared by mixing the undiluted fluid with the eluent.

Abstract: Apparatus for pressure testing fluid transmission pipelines comprising spaced apart annular inflatable seal members supported by support members which are interconnected by an elongated flexible tube to define an annular space which may be pressurized to pressure test a section of pipe between the seal members. The tubular member defines a flow passage for pipeline fluid during operation of the apparatus. A fluid motor is disposed in the passage and drivably connected to a hydraulic pump which receives fluid from the pipeline to pressurize the seal members and the annular space. The pump may be remotely controlled by radio control receiver-transmitter apparatus to operate the pressure testing apparatus and to monitor pressures in the seal members and the test space. The pump and control members may be disposed in a housing which is mounted adjacent one end of the apparatus. The apparatus is propelled through a pipeline by pressure fluid in the line.

Abstract: A wellbore fluid sampling apparatus includes an elongated barrel member having a chamber formed by a through flow passage opening from the bottom of the barrel member to a port in the barrel member. Spaced apart ball type valve closure members are connected to an actuating linkage comprising a rack and pinion mechanism connected to respective ones of the closure members. A cocking and retaining mechanism includes an actuating rod and a collet sleeve connected to the rack member and biased by a coil spring to move the rack member to simultaneously close both valves upon release of the collet sleeve from gripping engagement with the wall of the bore in a body member of the apparatus. In an alternate embodiment, the actuating member includes a part gripped by a stationary collet which may release the part upon movement of a sliding sleeve which is actuatable at will. The actuating member is connected to elongated cable traces which are operable to move the valves between open and closed positions.

Abstract: An apparatus useful in investigating the wall surfaces of a structure defining a cavity comprising: a tool having a periphery and being capable of being at least partially located in the cavity; and a plurality of transducers located at different points on the periphery of the tool, each of the transducers being capable of sending first signals toward the wall surfaces of the cavity and receiving reflected second signals. An improved method for investigating the wall surfaces of a structure defining a cavity is also disclosed.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided to sense and measure solar-induced luminescence, as well as reflectance, within the field of view of a target window for receiving a composite ray of light from the target. A first filter within the path of the composite ray of light transmits a first narrowband component thereof, including a predetermined Fraunhofer Line frequency, to a first sensor. A second narrowband component thereof, proximate the Fraunhofer Line frequency, is directed to a second sensor such that ratios of the electromagnetic energy impinging, respectively, on the first and second sensors may be determined. A removable filter tray carrying the narrowband filters and fine tuning means is employed to facilitate the selection of the predetermined Fraunhofer Line frequency.

Abstract: Particulate solids material contaminated with volatile vaporizable fluids are treated by an apparatus comprising an elongated inclined housing having a hollow conveyor screw disposed therein for rotation to move material from a lower inlet end of the housing to an upper inclined end of the housing for discharge through a bottom outlet opening. The conveyor screw is constructed from a hollow hub member having an upper open end and a lower end with a plurality of openings for conveying heat exchange pebbles or spheres from the upper end of the housing to the lower end through the interior of the hub. A combustor is disposed within the interior of the hub for generating combustion gasses which heat the conveyor screw and the heat exchange pebbles prior to entry of the pebbles into mixing with the material being conveyed through the apparatus.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring the concentration of one material in another, such as the concentration of water in crude or refined mineral oil, comprises a conduit for receiving and discharging a continuous flow stream of the fluid mixture and which is formed as part of a coaxial microwave transmission line. A microwave or radio frequency range signal generator in the form of an unbuffered oscillator is connected to the transmission line for generating a high frequency signal which may be varied by a voltage controlled oscillator tuning circuit. A signal receiver monitors the change in frequency caused by impedance pulling of the oscillator due to the change in fluid dielectric constant and transmits a differential frequency signal to a frequency counter and microprocessor for comparison of the measured signal with known reference signals for determining the percentage of one fluid mixed in the other in the flow stream.

Abstract: A motor operated fishing and setting tool for wellbore instruments and apparatus includes a tubular body member, a lower guide member having a conical surface formed therein and an inner sleeve with an elongated bore for receiving a fishing head. The fishing head includes an annular groove for receiving plural ball keys which are retained in openings formed in the inner sleeve member. The ball keys are controlled by an outer sleeve member movable between a position for forcibly holding the ball keys in registration with the groove in the fishing head and a retracted and radially outwardly displaced position to permit uncoupling of the fishing head from the tool.

Abstract: A multi-phase fluid flow measuring system for measuring the volumetric fractions of gas, water and oil including a centrifugal separator for conducting primary separation of gas from the liquid phase, a conduit section forming a closed chamber and a piston displaceable into the chamber to measure the increase in pressure of a liquid sample trapped in the chamber in relation to movement of the piston for determining the residual gas content of the liquid phase, a liquid phase flow meter and apparatus for measuring the microwave energy transmissivity through a sample of the liquid phase to determine the volumetric fraction of water and oil in the liquid phase. One embodiment of the system uses two apparatuses for measuring the microwave transmissivity at different pressures of the liquid phase to compare the transmissivity readings as a way of determining the residual gas content in the liquid phase.

Abstract: Certain wellbore fluid stimulation treatments may be monitored by a system including instrumented manifolds which may be connected between a base fluid source and a blending unit and between the blending unit and fluid injection pumps, respectively for measuring flow rates of the base fluid, the fluid additives and the fluid composition formed by the base fluid and the fluid additives. Instruments are also provided for measuring fluid temperature, pH, viscosity and flow behavior indexes (n', K') and fluid density. Quality control and determination of pressure losses in the wellbore together with modeling of stimulation treatments may be carried out by the continuous monitoring of parameters with the base fluid manifold and the mixed composition manifold.

Abstract: Crude oils and other oleaginous substances which have washed onto and socket thoroughly into coarse bottom sediments such as sand beaches and sediments forming the bottom of certain holding ponds may be released for recovery by mechanical or hydraulic plowing of the relatively loose sediments followed by hydraulic agitation of the sediments to permit the substances to float to the surface of the body of water. Shallow water beach areas may be plowed by a conventional crawler tractor having an array of ripper teeth fitted with hydraulic jet nozzles for severaly agitating the sands which are plowed by the ripper teeth. A submersible pump or pump intake is preferably supported spaced from the normal path of the tractor and in the body of water to collect relatively clean water for discharge through the nozzles.