Abstract: An instrument manifold and pressure transducer are provided for detecting a pressure differential across an orifice fitting. Removable flanges are utilized on the output side of the orifice fitting, and on the input and the output ends of the manifold. Each flange may be structurally secured to its respective piece of equipment by special nipples, and is provided with apertures for receiving bolts to interconnect the flanges and the equipment. The versatility of the equipment is substantially increased, the response time and signal reliability is increased, and the installation costs are reduced.

Abstract: A non-destructive on-site method of inspection, and testing of the insulating performance and reconditioning of a concentric insulating tubular conduit member is disclosed. The insulating tubular conduit members comprise concentric walled members with an intermediate annular insulating cavity defined therebetween. This non-destructive method of testing and inspection is based on a determination of the presence of an unacceptable level of moisture in the annular insulating cavity. Visual, auditory, electrical, and radioactive indicating means can be employed in accordance with the principles of this invention.

Abstract: This invention relates to a mobile emergency medical vehicle having a main transport engine and a medical equipment, supply and patient compartment or module, with such compartment having an independently operated electrical generating means powered by an auxiliary engine capable of providing all of the electrical power requirements of the compartment including exterior and interior electrical lighting, vacuum generating means, power outlet means, compartment air conditioning, heating and the like. The electrical generating means is capable of supplying both 115 volt AC and 12 volt DC power through a converter to the compartment. Switching means is provided to facilitate switching at least a portion of the 12 volt DC power requirements of the patient compartment including exterior and interior lighting and vacuum generating means to the electrical system of the main transport engine upon failure of the compartment electrical generating means or auxiliary engine for any reason.

Abstract: A sealing apparatus having particular utility in a submersible electric motor utilized in subterranean wells comprises a tubular housing assembly securable in upwardly projecting, sealed relationship to the motor housing. An extension of the motor shaft projects upwardly through the tubular housing to drive a pump or other subterranean well tool. The upper end of the extension shaft is exposed to well fluids and a first shaft seal is mounted in a seal mounting chamber defined in the upper end of the tubular housing assemblage. Below the seal mounting chamber, the tubular housing assemblage defines a diaphragm chamber. A conduit is provided between the lower portions of the seal mounting chamber and the lower portions of the diaphragm chamber.

Abstract: A fluid pressure activated firing head for a perforating gun disposed in a subterranean well by a packer is provided with a column of clean fluid overlying and filling the bore of the firing head but communicating with the casing annulus above the set packer. A fluid passage is provided at the top of the conduit extending the clean fluid column through the packer, and the downwardly facing leg of the annular fluid passage is provided with a pressure transmitting seal to permit the entire fluid passage to be filled with clean fluid of a lighter density than the casing annulus fluids, thus insuring that casing annulus fluid can never enter the interior of the pressure activated firing head.

Abstract: A packer for effecting steam treatment of a production formation of a subterranean well comprises an insulated mandrel which is slidably inserted within the bore of an inner tubular body assembly. An outer operative tubular assembly surrounds the inner assembly and mounts a plurality of drag blocks, upper and lower cone elements, a plurality of radially displaceable slips cooperating with the upper and lower cone elements, and an outer packing element fabricated by an assemblage of high temperature resistant, non-resilient seal elements formed primarily of graphite. An inner packing element is provided in the inner tubular body assembly, utilizing additional high temperature resistant, non-resilient seal elements formed primarily of graphite, which sealingly engages the insulated mandrel.

Abstract: A seal bore packer comprising a packer subassembly which can be employed with either wireline or tubing manipulatable packer setting subassemblies is disclosed. Packing elements and slips on a packer subassembly are expanded when relative axial forces are applied to the packer by wireline or mechanical setting forces. The packer has an inner mandrel and intermediate mandrel connected by a shear pin. A collapsible ring holds the outer packer assembly, including slips and packing elements, normally secured to the intermediate mandrel. Relative movement between the intermediate mandrel and the inner mandrel releases the packer.

Abstract: A pre-cured proppant charge useful, for example, for propping a fracture in a subterranean formation is disclosed. The charge is made up of a large number of particles composed of a single substrate particle which can be silica sand, glass beads, or the like, coated with a thermoset resin. The thermoset resin is one which, when it is the resin coating on particles of a proppant charge, produces such a charge when the Conductivity Ratio, as defined herein, throughout a given closure stress range is greater than that of a charge of the uncoated particles. The proppant is produced by coating the particulate substrate with a suitable thermosettable resin, controlling the coating step to produce substrate particles coated with a fusible, thermosetting resin, and curing the resin by heating the coated particles, so that substantially all of the resin coated particles are composed of a single substrate particle with a thermoset resin coating thereon, prior to introduction into a subterranean well.

Abstract: A removable bushing for slidably and sealably supporting a mandrel within the bore of a well conduit comprises an outer tubular body insertable in the well conduit in series relation. Said outer tubular body defines an internal seal bore and an annular latching recess adjacent the seal bore. An internal tubular body assembly is telescopically inserted in the well conduit and carries external seals engagable with the seal bore and an internal seal stack. The internal tubular body further comprises a collet having a plurality of peripherally spaced locking arms terminating in locking heads which are engagable with the annular recess in the outer tubular body. A mandrel is inserted within the bore of the outer tubular body in sealing engagement with the internal seal stack.

Abstract: A downhole injection valve for selectively opening and closing the bore of a tubing string to permit the passage of chemical treatment fluid at a preselected flow rate to a downhole tool comprises a first annular valve element mounted in a valve housing which is connected in a tubing string above the downhole tool. A slip joint is connected between the valve housing and the downhole tool to permit relative upward and downward movement of the valve housing with respect to the tool. A second annular valve element is disposed in surrounding relationship to a support rod which is inserted in the tubing string and supported at its bottom end by the downhole tool. Upward movement of the tubing string effects contact of the first and second annular valve elements to close all fluid flow through the bore of the tubing string. Conversely, downward movement of the tubing string will effect axial separation of the valve elements to permit fluid flow through the tubing string to the downhole tool.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a surfactant for use in invert emulsion drilling fluids, the invert emulsion drilling fluid produced therefrom, and a method of drilling, completing and working over a subterranean well utilizing said drilling fluid. The drilling fluid comprises an emulsion formed by producing a diamide having from between about 20 mole percent and about 35 mole percent of a polyamine, and from between about 30 mole percent and about 70 mole percent of a fatty acid having from between about 6 to about 20 carbon atoms therein, the diamide thereafter being further reacted with from between about 15 mole percent and about 35 mole percent of a tricarboxylic acid. The total amine value of said oligamide being from between about 10 to about 30, and the acid value of said oligamide being from between about 26 to about 46. When the surfactant is diluted to about 70 w/w percent concentration with a suitable solvent, the ES.sub.

Abstract: An elongated paste containing box is provided having a shaft supporting a roll of wall covering sheet adjacent the rear face of the rear wall of the box. A bottom wall is pivoted for vertical movement relative to the bottom edge of the front wall of the box and is spaced from the bottom edge of the rear wall of the box so that a sheet of wall covering can be passed through the bottom of the box on the bottom wall and in contact with a body of adhesive paste contained therein. A linkage for applying a compressive force to opposite ends of the bottom wall is provided to permit a desired bow in the bottom wall to be produced and thus maintain the bottom wall in a desired, vertically spaced relationship to the front wall of the box to obtain either a uniform or a desired non-uniform deposit of paste from one lateral edge to the other lateral edge of the wall covering sheet passing through the box.

Abstract: A metal boot protector includes a U-shaped wire rod and a correspondingly-shaped plate for protecting the rearward upper portion of the boot while the user is driving a vehicle. The rod fits snugly in a crease between the sole and the upper portion of the boot. The plate includes an outwardly extending bevel along its upper edge, and the plate sides moving upward from the rod to the bevel extend outwardly from a vertical plane passing through the rod center, and then are contoured inwardly of the plane to prevent debris from becoming lodged between the guard and the boot.

Abstract: A high energy firing mechanism for a well perforating gun comprises a downwardly directed shaped charge which is discharged by an impact detonatable primer. The explosive jet developed by the downwardly directed shaped charge impinges upon a booster charge which in turn is connected to a primer cord leading to the shaped charges of a perforating gun. Sufficient detonating energy is produced to assure high energy detonation of the booster charge and primer cord, even though such elements may be formed from a thermal resistant explosive.

Abstract: A heat retention insole for shoes comprises a laminated structure incorporating a flexible plastic bottom sheet, a similar flexible plastic upper sheet, and a spacer sheet formed primarily of foamed organic plastic material. The spacer sheet is provided with large area apertures defined by bars extending transversely between portions of a perimetral band portion. The large area apertures are loosely filled with particles of insulating plastic material, thus assuring that the top and bottom sheets are maintained in spaced relationship even when subjected to foot pressure. The outer surfaces of the insole are preferably provided with a heat reflecting coating or film to minimize the loss of heat from the foot by radiation and reflect any such radiated heat back into the foot of the wearer.

Abstract: A piston type expander/prime mover utilizes a plurality of pairs of cylinders mounted on a rotatable cylinder support. Each cylinder has an open end and a closed end and each pair of cylinders has their open ends disposed in spaced, opposed relationship. A pair of pistons respectively cooperate with the pair of cylinders, and each piston has a connecting rod pivotally secured thereto and projecting through the open end of the respective cylinder. The two ends of the connecting rods are in turn pivotally connected to a lever arm which is secured to the movable element of a first unidirectional (over-running) clutch which has its stationary element secured to a stationary shaft. A first load transmitting element is secured to the rotatable element of the unidirectional (over-running) clutch. Valving is provided in the closed end of each cylinder to permit a charge of pressured gas to be introduced into such closed end as the respective piston approaches such closed end.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for effecting the firing of a perforating gun having a plurality of vertically spaced, shaped charges wherein the firing is accomplished from the lowermost shaped charge to the uppermost shaped charge. In one modification, the detonation of the shaped charges is accomplished by a primer cord extending through all the gun sections, which is detonated only by a booster charge located in the bottom portion of the perforating gun housing. The booster charge is in fluid communication with the interior of the housing and, upon the occurrence of leakage of well fluids into the housing, the booster charge is rendered ineffective, thus preventing the firing of the perforating gun when the lower portion of the gun is filled with well fluids. In another modification, a conventional primer cord with booster charges on each end is inserted in each gun section, as is a length of flame-transmitting tubing.

Abstract: An actuating assembly for a single set production-injection packer and a method of operation are provided for use in variable temperature downhole environments, such as are encountered in steam injection processes for petroleum recovery operations. After the packer is set, a compensator allows for fluid volume increase or decrease of the packer fluid chamber to maintain the proper packer inflation pressure. A piston-type accumulator with a preselected nitrogen load prevents rupture of the packer by compressing the nitrogen load while further expanding the fluid chamber for the packer fluid should the inflation pressure rise above a selected level. The packer may be unset by axially raising the tubing with respect to the set packer to open the packer fluid to downhole pressure.

Abstract: An improved valve is provided of the type having a spring biased ball for sealing engagement with both a metallic seat and a plastic seat. The valve is of the type including a passageway adapted for receiving a stinger to unseat the ball from both seating surfaces, thereby allowing fluid to pass through the valve body. The diameter of the soft seat approximates the diameter of the ball, and preferably at least a portion of the sealing surface of the soft seat is spaced opposite the metallic seat with respect to a plane parallel to the metallic seat and passing through the center of the fully seated ball. The soft seat may be secured in the valve body by a retainer, which maintains a radial outwardly directed force on the soft seat.

Abstract: Energy saving temperature and humidity sensing and control processes, system and apparatuses operate effectively in response to signals received from occupants and to dynamic responses of building and its heating, ventilating and air conditioning system. The disclosed processes, apparatuses and system utilize thermostats equipped with a drift ramping and hold time to save energy; the thermostats only need resetting to a neutral comfort set point which is accomplished by means of a push button or touch plate. The disclosed systems are pre-programmed and set so that occupants will be comfortable although the temperature within the building drifts because the rate of drift is controlled to a gradual and normally unnoticed change.