Abstract: A guide for use on a sucker rod vertically reciprocated within the tubing of an oil well having an internal cylindrical surface in which the guide has an elongated tubular body portion concentrically surrounding the sucker rod with first and second guide portions integrally extending from the body portion, each guide portion having a semi-cylindrical guide surface of diameter slightly less than the tubing and of arc of about 180°, the second guide portion being rotationally diametrically opposed to the first guide portion whereby the opposed guide surfaces together provide about 360° of guide surface adjacent the tubing internal cylindrical surface and wherein the first and second guide portions are displaced with respect to each other providing a pair of diametrically opposed fluid flow passageways.

Abstract: A method of improving the operation of a gas pipeline having at least some water therein including the steps of introducing into the interior of the pipeline a soluble soap pig that is dimensioned to move through the pipeline by gas flow, the composition of the soap pig being selected such that at least some soap is applied as a film to the interior wall as the soap pig moves through the pipeline and in which the soap pig slowly dissolves within the pipeline. The soap film preferably has anti-corrosive and/or antibacterial properties.

Abstract: A system for separating an entrained liquid component from a gas stream employing at least one vortex tube having a liquid outlet end and a wet gas inlet tangential to its sidewall and arranged so that wet gas rotates within the vortex tube to cause the liquid components to be forced against the interior wall surface by centrifugal action. An orifice plate closing the vortex tube first end has a concentric gas outlet opening therein. A vortex finder tube extends concentrically within the vortex tube providing an annular area between itself and the vortex tube internal wall. A gas deflector positioned within the annular area has a downwardly spiraled surface that diverts wet gas downwardly away from the wet gas inlet. In one embodiment, an outlet tube is affixed to the orifice plate central opening and is configured to divert outlet gas downwardly. In another embodiment, an energy absorbing housing surrounds the vortex tube liquid outlet end.

Abstract: An improved pipeline pig launcher method and use thereof for conveying a pig into a pipeline including an upright launch barrel having a lower end in communication with the pipeline, a valve affixed to an upper end of the launch barrel and having a full diameter passageway therethrough, an upright pig receiving chamber connected at a lower end to the valve and in vertical alignment with the valve and launch barrel, and a cover removably closing an upper end of the receiving chamber providing, when in an open position, provision for insertion of a pig so that when said valve is open, the pig can pass downwardly into the launch barrel and from there into the pipeline.

Abstract: A method of distributing liquid present in the lower portion of a gas pipeline to the interior upper surface of the pipeline including the steps of passing a pig having a venturi therein, through the pipeline, the venturi being actuated by gas pressure taken from within the pipeline, the pig being asymmetrically weighted providing a pig upper portion and a pig lower portion, siphoning liquid from a lower interior portion of the pipeline through the venturi, storing liquid drawn from a lower portion of the pipeline in a reservoir carried by the pig, distributing siphoned liquid from the reservoir onto the pipeline upper interior surface and wherein the gas pressure is taken from a rearward portion of the pig.

Abstract: An improved jack for supporting and moving a horizontally extending trailer tongue above the earth's surface having a longitudinally extending support shaft, a bracket rotatably attaching the support shaft to a trailer tongue by which the support shaft may be pivoted between a horizontal position and a vertical position, a wheel housing affixed to the support, a ground engaging wheel rotatably supported adjacent the wheel housing and having a wheel gear affixed thereto; a crank arm rotatably supported by the wheel housing adjacent an upper end thereof at a height closer to the trailer tongue than the earth's surface, and a rotation transfer system coupling the crank arm to the wheel for moving the trailer tongue, the elevation of the crank arm requiring reduced bending over by an operator standing on the earth's surface.

Abstract: A machine for planting grass sprigs having a superstructure supported on wheels for moving over the earth's surface a sprig storage bin supported by the superstructure, a distributor for moving grass sprigs contained within the storage bin towards an opening in the floor surface, a plurality of paralleled discharge troughs each having a wide upper open end for receiving grass sprigs therein from the sprig storage bin and a reduced width lower opening providing a relatively narrow discharge slot through which grass sprigs are deposited in an in-line pattern on the earth's surface, trenching disc in alignment with each discharge trough for forming a narrow trench in the earth's surface upon which grass sprigs are deposited, and a planting disc in alignment with and rearwardly of each discharge trough for forcing grass sprigs into the narrow trenches.

Abstract: A system for separating a mixed phase stream into gas and liquid includes an elongated sloped vessel having a vortex tube cluster therein through which the mixed phase process stream is introduced and by which liquid is extracted from the gas, the vessel having a gas outlet adjacent an upper end of the sloped vessel, a liquid outlet adjacent a lower end of the slope vessel and a weir within the vessel establishing a liquid level above which gas accumulates, the cross-sectional area within the vessel above the liquid level increasing in the direction towards the gas outlet, and the cross-sectional area within the vessel below the liquid level increasing in the direction towards the liquid (oil and water) outlets.

Abstract: A high voltage splice box formed of non-conductive material having a back wall and an integral side and end walls around the full periphery of the back wall and providing an enclosed area within open front having a front peripheral edge. A post is formed of electrically non-conductive material extending from the back wall and spaced from the side wall and has a top attachment surface at a height less than the depth of the side wall, the attachment surface providing a place where multiple conductors can be interconnected. A cover has a circumferential lip sealably attached to the box front peripheral edge. The post attachment surface is spaced from the box back wall, side walls, end walls and cover at distances to prevent arching between a conductor secured to the post attachment surface and conductive objects exterior of the box.

Abstract: A system and a method for separating interdispersed gas and liquid components of an inlet stream includes introducing the inlet steam into a vessel having a dry gas outlet and a liquid outlet, passing the inlet stream into at least one vortex tube supported within the vessel, the vortex tube having a gas outlet and a liquid outlet, rapidly rotating the inlet stream within the vortex tube to separate entrained liquid and passing reduced moisture outlet gas from the vortex tube into the interior of the vessel and passing the outlet gas through a mist eliminator within the vessel to provide gas that is passed out the vessel dry gas outlet.

Abstract: An underground watering system including a reservoir having a water inlet and a water outlet, a float control connected to the water inlet for maintaining a water level in the reservoir, a fertilizer container supported on the reservoir having an opening therein communicating with reservoir by which fertilizer may be added to water within the reservoir, and at least one water soaking hose connected to the reservoir water outlet.

Abstract: Apparatus for tapping a hole in a pipeline adapted to be attached to a support assembly having sealed communication with the exterior of a pipeline and having a tapping machine body with a boring bar rotatably supported therein with a circular cutter at the lower end thereof, a feed screw rotatably supported by the tapping machine body for axially positioning the boring bar, a hydraulically powered boring bar drive assembly within the tapping machine body driving the boring bar, a hydraulically powered feed screw drive assembly within the tapping machine body driving the feed screw and an auxiliary drive shaft affixed to rotate the feed screw drive assembly extending exteriorly of the tapping machine body and adapted to receive supplementary mechanical rotary energy for rotation of the feed screw so the boring bar can be retracted if hydraulic power is lost. A pressure compensation system permits the apparatus to be operated in a subsea environment.

Abstract: A method and system for treating crude oil to improve its flowability includes operating an internal combustion engine to produce exhaust gas, reducing the temperature of the exhaust gas, injecting cooled exhaust gas into a separator in which water is extracted to provide dry exhaust gas, pumping crude oil at an elevated pressure into a treatment vessel, compressing the dry exhaust gas to provide pressurized exhaust gas that is introduced into the treatment vessel and intimately mixing the crude oil and the pressurized exhaust gas in the treatment vessel to provide treated crude oil having a substantial portion of the exhaust gas absorbed therein to thereby provide crude oil having improved flowability.

Abstract: A method of filing an endodontically prepared root canal includes the steps of applying filler material to a distal portion of an elongated shaft formed of heat conducting material, inserting the proximal portion of the shaft having the filler material thereon into the root canal, heating the shaft to decrease the surface tension of the filler material and removing the shaft leaving the filler material in the root canal. An obturator system for practicing the method of filling an endodontically prepared root canal employs an elongated heat conductible shaft having proximal and distal portions with filler material on the distal portion, the distal portion of the shaft with the filler material thereon being insertable into a tooth root canal and a heat source serving to selectably heat the shaft allowing it to be removed while leaving the filler material in the root canal.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a container formed of five rectangular metal panels including a bottom panel, opposed side panels and opposed end panels, each panel having peripheral edges there around, including the steps of forming spaced apart notches leaving interpositioned tab portions in peripheral edges of the panels, positioning the bottom panel horizontally, positioning the two side panels and two end panels vertically around the periphery edges of the bottom panel forming four vertical and four horizontal panel intersections with tab portions aligned with mating notches at each of the panel intersections and welding the four vertical and four horizontal panel intersections to physically interconnect the five panels to provide an open top rectangular container.

Abstract: An improved jack for horizontally extending trailer tongue including a bracket attached to the trailer tongue, a longitudinal shaft pivotally supported to the bracket and pivotal between a substantially vertical position and a substantially horizontal position, a wheel housing supported at a lower end of the shaft, a wheel rotatably supported by the housing, a lower portion of the shaft being rotatable about a shaft longitudinal axis, a crank arm rotatably extending from said wheel housing and having a drive gear thereon, and a driven gear affixed to the wheel, the driven gear being coupled for rotation when the drive gear is rotated to cause the wheel to rotate for moving the trailer when the wheel is in contact with the earth's surface.

Abstract: An adjustable depth fishing bobber having a hollow bobber housing for upright floatation having a top and a bottom opening, an elongated stem extending displaceably through said housing openings and having provision for the attachment of a fishing line to an upper end and a fishing leader to a lower end, a top cap affixed to the stem above the housing that normally engages the housing to sealably close the top opening, and a coiled spring surrounding the stem within the housing urging the stem downwardly with respect to the housing to normally close the top opening, the stem being upwardly displaceable relative to the housing whereby a quantity of water can be admitted into or drained from the housing to vary the buoyancy of the bobber.

Abstract: A system for separating an entrained immiscible liquid component from a gas stream employing a vessel having a wet gas inlet, a gas outlet and a liquid outlet. At least one vortex tube is supported within the vessel and has a liquid outlet end and a wet gas inlet tangential to its sidewall and arranged so that wet gas rotates within the vortex tube to cause the liquid components to be forced against the interior wall surface by centrifugal action. An orifice plate closes the vortex tube first end and has a concentric gas outlet opening therein. A vortex finder tube is affixed to the orifice plate in communication with the gas outlet opening and extends concentrically within the vortex tube, the vortex finder tube providing an annular area between itself and the vortex tube internal wall. A gas deflector positioned within the annular area, the gas deflector having a downwardly spiraled surface that diverts wet gas downwardly away from the wet gas inlet.

Abstract: An indexer system for a plastic pipe butt-fusion machine of the type having a machine super-structure, parallel horizontal support shafts affixed to the super-structure, a first clamp system for removably grasping an end portion of a first length of plastic pipe, a second clamp system for removably grasping an end portion of a second length of plastic pipe and an actuator system for moving the plastic pipes toward and away from each other, the indexing system having an indexer shaft mounted on the super-structure spaced from and parallel to the support shafts, an indexer carriage slidable on the indexer shaft, a facer and a heater pivotally secured to the indexer carriage, a translation mechanism for laterally positioning the indexer carriage to thereby locate the facer and heater between lengths of plastic pipe and a structural beam secured to the super-structure and parallel to the indexer shaft, the indexer carriage being slidably secured to the structural beam so that it is retained in predetermined orien

Abstract: A highly flexible instrument particularly useful in medical applications is elongated and formed of a plurality of flexible metallic strands, at least one strand being spirally wound and having a scraping edge thereon.