Abstract: The heat control production system and method for an oil well utilizes a noncorrosive gas compatible with crude oil fire hazards to provide an insulating annulus between the production tubing string of an oil well and the bore hole or casing or other tubing string surrounding the production tubing string by pressurizing the insulating annulus from the source of gas such that crude oil from the oil reservoir enters the insulating annulus and interfaces with the gas intermediate the surface and the oil reservoir whereby the insulating annulus provides minimal heat transfer to allow the crude oil produced through the production tubing string to reach the surface at a preselected temperature up to the oil reservoir temperature which avoids undesirable precipitation or gelling of paraffinic hydrocarbons from heat loss to the overburden of the oil well.

Abstract: A root grubber tool for brush which is attached to the boom of an excavator, such as, a track excavator or backhoe. The tool includes a framework which has a pair of side members which support, at the lower end thereof, a cutting blade with its leading edge swept inward and downward to accommodate centering the cutting blade on the roots and providing a deeper cut at the center than at the edges. The framework includes mounting arms to secure the tool onto the boom for working the tool. The framework may include a cross support for assisting in gathering smaller brush. Also, the lower edges of the side members are bevelled to aid in the cutting operation. The tool may be maneuvered to depths of 18 to 24 inches to grub out the roots of the brush and secure it between the boom and the tool for displacement from the right-of-way.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improvement in valve assemblies for reciprocating sucker rod operated subsurface pumps and specifically as to the traveling valves and standing valves. The traveling valve includes a valve body having an inwardly-directed lip at the bottom with the valve seat, ball and cage inserted from the top of the valve body. Further the standing valve is positioned in the upper portion of a bushing threaded into the bottom of the pump barrel, thus placing the standing valve and the traveling valve in closer proximity at the bottom of the downstroke than prior such pumps.

Abstract: The Thermal Extraction System and Method utilizes a geothermal heat source to provide thermal energy at the surface by drilling a bore hole into the geothermal heat source and equipping the bore hole with a casing and multiple tubing strings. A cavern is formed in the geothermal heat source, such as a brine cavern. One of the tubing strings is a production tubing string used to produce hot brine at the surface and has a low thermal conductivity fluid surrounding the production tubing string which may be adjusted to maintain an interface with brine from the cavern at varying levels around the production tubing string and thereby provides temperature regulation of the brine. This invention contemplates the production of brine at the surface which may be used in heat transfer applications or processed as feed stock for salt production with unsaturated brine returned to the brine cavern where it becomes saturated.

Abstract: A butterfly valve assembly of plastic material for use in a plastic piping system. The valve body is made from thermoplastic wherein the valve seat has a hard core of phenolic or another plastic and a resilient cover. The plastic valve body utilizes a retainer ring in its construction to maintain pressure on the valve seat which aids in sealing the valve closure thereagainst. The closure disc may be of metal or plastic depending on the service contemplated. The closure disc is retained in the valve body by a lower valve stem which is affixed in the valve body to permit free rotation of the closure disc thereon and an upper valve stem which includes a central retainer ring and is supported by a housing on the valve body. The housing has a bushing that seats against the retainer ring and a tubular plug which seats in the housing exerting pressure against the bushing, and thus, against the central retainer ring to assist in blow-out protection.

Abstract: This invention relates to trailer hitches generally and more specifically to a hitch that may be swiveled and extended as necessary to couple a trailer thereto and readily align and lock the hitch in transportation mode. The hitch has a base plate with a partial semicircular perimeter having a trunnion formed at its center of radius, a tubular housing secured at the trunnion atop the base plate to permit arcuate movement relative to the base plate, and tubular housing having a safety member thereunder which protrudes beneath the semicircular perimeter to limit relative vertical movement between the tubular housing and the base plate, a slide bar captured within said tubular housing with a towing ball projecting beyond said housing for limited linear movement therein, and a spring biased locking pin for releasable securing the trailer hitch with the slide bar retracted and the tubular housing centered along the perimeter.

Abstract: A cross-linking system using boron alpha-hydroxy carboxylic acid salts is shown for use in a water based well treating fluid. The cross-linker will gel the water based fluid usually after a delay at a relatively neutral pH. The cross-linker is provided as a concentrated stable solution containing borate ion as boric acid in a concentration of from less than 1% up to 25% by weight. The cross-linking solution additionally may contain from 1% to 10% of EDTA and/or Glycerine, however, without these additives the cross-linking solution is stable through temperature changes and freeze-and-thaw cycles. Water based fracturing fluid is shown using galactomannan guar polymers, hydroxypropyl guar polymers or derivatives thereof.

Abstract: This invention relates to trailer hitches generally and more specifically to a hitch that may be swiveled and extended as necessary to couple a trailer thereto and readily align and lock the hitch in transportation mode. The hitch has a base plate with a partial semicircular perimeter having a trunnion formed at its center of radius, a tubular housing secured at the trunnion atop the base plate to permit arcuate movement relative to the base plate, and tubular housing having a safety member thereunder which protrudes beneath the semicircular perimeter to limit relative vertical movement between the tubular housing and the base plate, a slide bar captured within said tubular housing with a towing ball projecting beyond said housing for limited linear movement therein, and a spring biased locking pin for releasable securing the trailer hitch with the slide bar retracted and the tubular housing centered along the perimeter.

Abstract: A cross-linking system using boron alpha-hydroxy carboxylic acid salts is shown for use in a water based well treating fluid. The cross-linker will gel the water based fluid usually after a delay at a relatively neutral pH. The cross-linker is provided as a concentrated stable solution containing borate ion as boric acid in a concentration of from less than 1% up to 25% by weight. The cross-linking solution additionally may contain from 1% to 10% of EDTA and/or Glycerine, however, without these additives the cross-linking solution is stable through temperature changes and freeze-and-thaw cycles. Water based fracturing fluid is shown using galactomannan guar polymers, hydroxypropyl guar polymers or derivatives thereof.

Abstract: A cross-linking system using boron alpha-hydroxy carboxylic acid salts is shown for use in a water based well treating fluid. The cross-linker will gel the water based fluid usually after a delay at a relatively neutral pH. The cross-linker is provided as a concentrated stable solution containing borate ion as boric acid in a concentration of from less than 1% up to 25% by weight. The cross-linking solution additionally may contain from 1% to 10% of EDTA and/or Glycerine, however, without these additives the cross-linking solution is stable through temperature changes and freeze-and-thaw cycles. Water based fracturing fluid is shown using galactomannan guar polymers, hydroxypropyl guar polymers or derivatives thereof.

Abstract: A cross-linking system using boron alpha-hydroxy carboxylic acid salts is shown for use in a water based well treating fluid. The cross-linker will gel the water based fluid usually after a delay at a relatively neutral pH. The cross-linker is provided as a concentrated stable solution containing borate ion as boric acid in a concentration of from less than 1% up to 25% by weight. The cross-linking solution additionally may contain from 1% to 10% of EDTA and/or Clycerine, however, without these additives the cross-linking solution is stable through temperature changes and freeze-and-thaw cycles. Water based fracturing fluid is shown using galactomannan guar polymers, hydroxypropyl guar polymers or derivatives thereof.

Abstract: A cross-linking system using boron alpha-hydroxy carboxylic acid salts is shown for use in a water based well treating fluid. The cross-linker will gel the water based fluid usually after a delay at a relatively neutral pH. The cross-linker is provided as a concentrated stable solution containing borate ion as boric acid in a concentration of from less than 1% up to 25% by weight. The cross-linking solution additionally may contain from 1% to 10% of EDTA and/or Glycerine, however, without these additives the cross-linking solution is stable through temperature changes and freeze-and-thaw cycles. Water based fracturing fluid is shown using galactomannan guar polymers, hydroxypropyl guar polymers or derivatives thereof.

Abstract: A cross-linking system using boron alpha-hydroxy carboxylic acid salts is shown for use in a water based well treating fluid. The cross-linker will gel the water based fluid usually after a delay at a relatively neutral pH. The cross-linker is provided as a concentrated stable solution containing borate ion as boric acid in a concentration of from less than 1% up to 25% by weight. The cross-linking solution additionally may contain from 1% to 10% of EDTA and/or Glycerine, however, without these additives the cross-linking solution is stable through temperature changes and freeze-and-thaw cycles. Water based fracturing fluid is shown using galactomannan guar polymers, hydroxypropyl guar polymers or derivatives thereof.

Abstract: An ear shield cap suitable for shading the wearer's eyes and ears from direct exposure to the rays of the sun which may be adjustable for a number of usual head sizes without undue affect on the shading function. The cap has a visor extending from the front of the crown, a pair of ear shields extending from the sides of the crown and the rear of the crown is free of any extension and structured to adust the cap to the head size of various wearers. The visor and ear shields are joined to provide a uniform transition from a visor to the ear shields. The cap may include a rear gore or panel in the crown of stretchable material to provide size adjustment or the rear of the crown may have a cutout which is bridged or spanned by a tab which may be an elastic band, a mating velcro fastener or a snap fastener adjustable to variable lengths. The cap may be of the baseball cap type construction made with materials and features permitting air circulation about the wearer's head.