Abstract: A marine riser system for offshore well installations having a plurality of satellite subsea wells wherein production flow is conducted to a composite manifold structure on the sea floor, is raised to a floating platform for processing and processed production fluid is then returned to the manifold for transfer to storage or other facility. A riser pipe system which extends between the manifold structure at the sea floor and a floating platform wherein unprocessed production fluid is transported under high pressure in the riser system by a plurality of satellite or perimeter riser pipes which are arranged in a circle about a central riser pipe and which are separately and independently supported and maintained. Processed production fluid is conducted under low pressure through the central riser pipe at the center of the arrangement of satellite pipes, the central riser pipe providing a main structural member for the riser system.

Abstract: A trash container lid system for placement on top of large industrial trash bins of the type utilized in hotels, apartment houses, etc., in which a lid section is rotatably coupled to a trash bin via lever arms rotatably coupled at one end to the sides of the trash bin and at another end to the back of the lid section. A pair of brace members are fixedly attached to the outer surfaces of the sides of the lid and extend downwardly, each being in physical abutment with one of the lever arms during the time when the lid is closed and when the lid is partially open. Stop extensions on the inside of the lid sections cooperate with the stop extensions rising above the back of the trash bin for stopping the lid in a partially open position, the back section of the lid being counterbalanced for stabilization in this position.

Abstract: The present tennis scoring system includes input devices for each player to indicate whether one player or the other has won a particular point. These input devices for each player may be in the form of transmitters each having two recessed pushbutton switches, one to indicate that one player has won the point and the other to indicate that the opposing player has won the particular point.The input device may take the form of a belt buckle size unit worn at the waist or on the wrist. Electronic scoring circuitry is provided which is responsive to the concurrent depressing of buttons by both players indicating who has won a particular point. Electronic scoring equipment keeps track of the points, games, sets and matches won by each player and each side. Suitable electronic equipment is provided to accommodate slight differences in the timing of the pressing of input switches by the two players. Special logic circuitry is provided for accommodating the tennis scoring situation involving deuce games.

Abstract: The invention relates to a ball-point writing instrument capable of writing with an intense colored or black line which is easily visible and readable and as permanent and eventually non-erasable as the best customary ball-pen ink traces, but which, in addition, is easily erasable by mechanical means for an initial period of about two to four hours as a normal graphite pencil trace, without the use of bleaches or chemicals. These properties are attained by the provision of a novel ink composition containing stated rubbers and volatile solvents which control erasability.

Abstract: A reentry system for a subsea apparatus or station including a normally retracted guide post, which is extendable above the well apparatus for connection to a single guide line. A frame structure lowered along the single guide line includes a gimbal mounted guide funnel assembly which provides self-adjustment of the funnel assembly during a non-axial approach into axial alignment with the guide post means. The guide posts means and funnel assembly are provided with orientation and positioning means for the frame structure so that well equipment carried by the frame structure is positioned in alignment with its cooperable part on the well apparatus. A retractable, extendable guide post which is non-rotatable and which is recoverable for maintenance and service. A method of making such a reentry to a subsea well apparatus.

Abstract: A suspension system for a track driven vehicle such as a snowmobile, comprising a generally rectangular rigid suspension frame having longitudinal rails slidably supported on the inner surface of the track, and front and rear suspension assemblies for resiliently supporting the vehicle body. The front support assembly includes a weldment pivotally attached at its rear end to the frame, its front end being resiliently biased upwardly to support the body. The rear suspension assembly includes a transverse shaft carried by the body and a centrally disposed longitudinal compression spring for resiliently biasing the shaft upwardly relative to the suspension frame through a linkage effectively providing an increasing spring rate as the parts approach maximum excursion.

Abstract: A manually controlled device for lowering people or objects safely from tall buildings having two spaced pulley assemblies, held in place by a cylindrical frame. One end of the frame holding one pulley assembly is rotatable with respect to the other end of the frame. A rope threaded between the two pulley assemblies binds against itself when one pulley assembly is rotated with respect to the other pulley assembly. The rate of descent of a person or object connected to one end of a rope threaded through the device is controlled by the degree of rotation between the two pulley assemblies.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for decoding and duplicating a key wherein the notches in the shank of the key are coded to a predetermined coded depth and spacing therebetween. An index card having a sequential index thereon corresponding to the predetermined coded depth is inserted into a housing and the key to be duplicated is inserted into a slot in the housing where it engages an indexing member which enters one of the notches on the key and indicates on the card the coded depth of that notch. The angle of cut of the same notch may also be determined. The remaining notches of the key may be decoded in like manner. The same index card is then inserted into a housing which includes an indexing drum having notches therein with spacing therebetween corresponding to the predetermined coded spacing of the key to be duplicated. A blank key is firmly secured in a predetermined position on the housing and movable in a direction toward a grinding wheel.

Abstract: A plurality of glass slides having specimens such as blood smears disposed thereon are prepared for microscopic viewing by an apparatus which automatically applies preparation solutions to the slides such as stains and buffers and thereafter automatically drys the completed slides. The staining and buffering solutions are deposited evenly over the surfaces of the slides carrying the specimens by a timed operation of one or more electro-mechanically actuated aerosol dispensers which produce fine sprays of the desired preparation solutions. Simultaneously with the generated spray, the plurality of slides are rotated at a relatively slow rate to cause a uniform distribution of the spray particles on the slide surfaces. Following the staining and buffering mode, an automatic drying mode is initiated in which the plurality of slides are rotated at a relatively higher speed for a timed interval after which the apparatus automatically turns off and the completed slides may be removed from the apparatus.

Abstract: An adaptor means for aligning two members to be connected in coaxial, sealed relationship in which the adaptor means includes an adaptor body member having an inner central portion with a throughbore and of preselected length, at least two-part cylindrical or arcuate segments spaced radially outwardly of said inner portion and in concentric relation thereto, said arcuate segments having a length greater than the length of the inner portion; and tubular nipple members carried in passageways in said body member, said tubular members having a length not greater than the length of the inner portion or the segments and lying on a radian between a segment and the inner portion. The arcuate segments each subtend a different angle and are slidably, precisely received in corresponding arcuate recesses provided on a mandrel end of a well tool for precise alignment of the tubular nipple member with a passageway in the well tool.

Abstract: An adjustable blade knife is made by extruding a continuous strip of extrudable hardenable material with the strip having a planer web between thicker marginal portions and opposing slots in the marginal portions, individual knife handle bodies are stamped from the strip and a knife blade is assembled to each body by inserting the blade in the opposed slots of the body. The blade is preferably preassembled to a slide plate with the slide plate and blade positioned together in the handle body slots to slide along the web portion of the handle body which is provided with a longitudinally extending slot having at least one side wall of an irregular surface configuration to co-operate with positioning means provided on the slide plate to facilitate locating the blade-plate sub-assembly in adjustable positions of use.

Abstract: A mold for casting bullets comprising a plurality of adjacent mold blocks having paired opposing cavity portions within opposing lateral surfaces of adjacent blocks for forming casting cavities when the mold is closed and the opposing lateral surfaces are in contact has interlocking means at least partially integral of the adjacent blocks for providing a sliding surface contact for the block during pivotal movement thereof and for limiting relative movement between the blocks to arcuate separation and closure of the adjacent blocks in a plane which is perpendicular to the opposing lateral surfaces of the blocks. Means integral of the opposing lateral surfaces of adjacent blocks provide at least one pivot center of arcuate separation and closure between the adjacent blocks and means are provided for retaining at least a portion of the opposing lateral surfaces of adjacent blocks in contact during the arcuate separation and closure of the blocks.

Abstract: A prefuel composition which can be used as a fuel and which is easily mixed with water and when mixed with water and petroleum oil is an excellent fuel. A method for making such a prefuel composition which includes the steps of forming a non-homogenous mixture of carbon, water and petroleum oil and heating said mixture for a period of time and separating the resulting liquid from the solid in the mixture and burning said liquid in the presence of air for a period of time and then removing the source of air to extinguish the flame. There is also described a fuel composition which includes a solution of the preferred composition, water and petroleum oil.

Abstract: A method for making a fuel which comprises adding to an oxidation resistant tank from 80% to 60%, by volume, of an aqueous solution of potassium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, or sodium bicarbonate, and also adding a lower alkyl alcohol to said tank and transferring a prefuel composition (as defined herein) from a separate container to said tank so that said prefuel composition mixes with said lower alkyl alcohol and aqueous solution and continuing to add said prefuel composition to said tank until the tank overflows, and recovering the thus obtained liquid fuel composition which has overflowed from the top of the tank.

Abstract: An emergency locking safety belt retractor having a safety belt wound upon a reel has a dual tension single spring retraction means including reduction gear means interposed between the reel and retractor spring which is selectively operated to reduce the force of the spring means upon the reel when the safety belt is protracted to a position of use and then slightly retracted for a limited amount of retraction movement during which the safety belt is in a "low tension zone" condition until the limited retraction movement allowed is exceeded and the full force of the spring is reapplied through the gear means to the reel.

Abstract: A circuit for interfacing a digital to analog converter with input signals from three different logic systems, whereby appropriate threshold switching signals compatible with each logic system are presented to the converter when the proper logic control signal is applied to the circuit. The first logic system is characterized by logic control signals within a first voltage range, and switching thresholds which differ from the logic control signals by a fixed increment; the second system by logic control signals within a second voltage range higher than the first range, and switching thresholds equal to a fixed proportion of the logic control signal; and the third system by a substantially constant switching threshold for a predetermined positive supply voltage level.

Abstract: A lock means for one end of a tension line for securing said tension line to a subsea installation and particularly for securing one end of an umbilical line carrying hydraulical and electrical control circuits to a subsea installation. A lock means cooperable with a guide and locking cylindrical member secured to the subsea installation, the cylindrical member having a lock dog receiving recess, and a cylindrical locking device receivable within the cylindrical member and secured to the end of the tension line. The locking device includes a cylindrical housing having a lock dog port and a cylindrical chamber, an elongated annular or sleeve-like piston member within the housing and longitudinally slidable relative to the tension line.

Abstract: The use of high voltage relays in variable pulse width magnetron type triggering circuits are avoided by the use of two separate pulse-forming networks. In addition, two separate banks of charging capacitors and switching transformers are employed. Separate SCR's are employed to apply charging current to either the first or the second bank of storage capacitors. Additional SCR's are employed to initiate the triggering sequence for the selected pulse-forming network and associated circuitry. The selected pulse length might be microsecond or one-quarter microsecond, with pulse repetition rates of 1,000 to 2,000 pulses per second. Accordingly, the duty cycle could be in the order of 0.001%, or less, but the output pulse power during the "on" time for the circuit might be in the order of several hundred kilowatts. During each cycle of operation, the two switching transformers and the output pulse transformer, which are both of the square or rectangular hysteresis loop type, are reset.

Abstract: A center pivot irrigation system has a plurality of self-propelled articulated span units mounting interconnected sections of water carrying conduit, each span unit has motor means and motor control means for regulating the operation of the associated motor means to maintain the span units in a pre-determined relative alignment in a vertical plane revolving about a vertical line at the center pivot of the system; the control means has angularity sensor means which is connected between span units for sensing in a substantially horizontal plane changes in angularity between the span units relative to the desired revolving vertical plane.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method for containing water having a high concentration of water-soluble industrial waste which, when in contact with bentonite, disintegrates the bentonite thereby allowing seepage of water through soil containing said water which comprises intimately admixing with said soil a soil sealant composition consisting essentially of bentonite, a water-soluble dispersing agent, and a water-soluble polymer selected from the group consisting of polyacrylic acid, water-soluble salts of polyacrylic acid, hydrolyzed polyacrylonitrile, polyvinyl acetate, polyvinyl alcohol, copolymers of the foregoing, and a copolymer of acrylic acid and maleic anhydride, the amount of water-soluble polymer being from 0.1 to 3.0%, by weight, and the amount of water-soluble dispersent being from 0.1 to 3.0%, by weight, the weight ratio of water-soluble dispersent to water-soluble polymer being from 6.