Abstract: A variable function voting solenoid-operated valve apparatus is provide, wherein the apparatus includes a first solenoid-operated valve, a second solenoid-operated valve and a bypass valve disposed in mutual fluid communication, wherein one or more of said first solenoid-operated valve, said second solenoid-operated valve and said bypass valve further comprises one or more air-to-move valve actuators; an air supply for delivering a supply of compressed air to said one or more air-to-move valve actuators; a plurality of pressure sensors, including a first pressure sensor disposed in fluid communication with said first solenoid-operated valve, a second pressure sensor in fluid communication with said second solenoid-operated valve, and a third pressure sensor disposed in fluid communication with said bypass valve; and an exhaust vent for venting pressure accumulated within one or more of said first solenoid-operated valve, said second solenoid-operated valve and said bypass valve to an external environment.

Abstract: A system and method of establishing an offshore exploration and production system is disclosed, in which a well casing is disposed in communication with an adjustable buoyancy chamber and a well hole bored into the floor of a body of water. A lower connecting member joins the well casing and the chamber, and an upper connecting member joins, the adjustable buoyancy chamber and a well terminal member. The chamber's adjustable buoyancy enables an operator to vary the height or depth of the well terminal member, and to vary the vertical tension imparted to drilling and production strings throughout exploration and production operations. Also disclosed is a system and method of adjusting the height or depth of a wellhead while associated vertical and lateral forces remain approximately constant. A variety of well isolation members, lateral stabilizers and anchoring means, as well as several methods of practicing the invention, are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of estimating geological location depths by converting horizon data from the time domain to the depth domain is provided wherein the method includes at least a data accumulation step and a data evaluation step, and wherein the data evaluation step further includes assignment of greater statistical weight to data derived from closer data acquisition points than to data derived from further data acquisition points using a weighted regression analysis, with distance being one of several weighting criteria. Layer-by-layer computation of geological formation depths is achieved by extracting values from horizon time data set at exact geographic locations in the next deeper horizon, thereby allowing interval computations to be carried out without the need for gridding.

Abstract: The instant disclosure relates to a system and method of constructing drilling and production platforms that are particularly useful in remote, inaccessible and/or environmentally sensitive operating environments. According to one aspect of the invention, an arctic drilling platform is provided wherein various methods and means of interlocking neighboring platform modules are provided. Methods and means for sealing the intersections formed between a plurality of interlocked platform modules are also disclosed. According to further aspects of the invention, improved platform floor plans are provided, and various wellhead cellar layouts and sealing means are also described. Methods and means of enhancing the usefulness of modular storage platforms are disclosed, and a number of support post installation and removal techniques are also provided.

Abstract: A disposable lint removal device that is a ring shape with a flat square, rectangular, circular or other shaped piece of adhesive mounted onto it. Any finger slides into the ring with the mount piece either on top or bottom of the hand. A protective layer is removed from the adhesive mount, and then the sticky piece of adhesive is repetitively brought in and out of contact with the article to remove any particulate matter. Messages may be stored on the device for later retrieval.

Abstract: A lumber drying system includes a drying compartment having an arched roof, a plurality of baffle boxes, wherein each baffle box further includes a main chamber, an air intake that forms an entrance into the chamber, an air outtake that forms an exit from the chamber, a plurality of interleaved plates disposed within the chamber between the air intake and the air outtake, and a water outlet disposed beneath and in communication with the plurality of interleaved plates. The plurality of baffle boxes are distributed on the sides of the roof, each air intake of the baffle boxes being in communication with an upper portion of the drying compartment.

Abstract: A child training system is provided, including a doll having a soft, hollow compressible leg reservoir; a hollow torso; a head formed with a mouth orifice into which liquid can be introduced; and a liquid discharge orifice containing a supply assembly of tubing and a check valve disposed so as to supply liquid to the leg reservoir.

Abstract: The invention consists of a new obstetrical vacuum extractor which includes a bell-shaped fetal contact cup made of flexible material, with a hollow and substantially rigid stem, a pull-sensing handle grip attached to the end of the stem, and a tube connected with one end to the cup stem and with the other to a vacuum source. The pull-sensing grip contains electronic hardware whose purpose is to reduce the risk of fetal trauma caused by frequent cup detachment (“pop-off”) and excessive traction force, during a vacuum-assisted delivery.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a sensor system for a cutting machine tool (300) with an energy supply unit (101), which inductively provides energy for the supply of at least one sensor arrangement (110) of the cutting machine tool (300) out of a magnetic alternating field (B), at least one sensor arrangement which measures a force, appearing within the cutting machine tool (300) and/or a torque and/or the body sound within the cutting machine tool, and a data transmitting unit (120), which wirelessly transmits data, which relate to a value, which is measured by the at least one sensor arrangement (110) of the cutting machine tool (300).

Abstract: A pipeline installation and maintenance method and system is disclosed in which a number of interconnectible platform modules are assembled into drilling platforms from which a segmented pipeline route is flexibly installed. Using modified push/pull rigs to carry out a transverse drilling process established between platforms, successive portions of the pipeline are installed such that equipment used to create completed segments is moved down line and re-used in subsequent drilling and installation stages. Further segments of the line are similarly constructed, using one or more of the modified directional drilling techniques and transverse reaming processes disclosed herein. Ultimately, a long series of adjacent pipeline segments are installed along a desired pipeline route, while only minimal and temporary disturbance is caused to associated ground surfaces during installation and maintenance operations.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for simply and economically detecting leaks in a isolation valve disposed in an on-line fluid transport system having at least an upstream pipe and a downstream pipe is provided, the apparatus comprising a isolation valve connected between the upstream pipe and downstream pipe for isolating fluid flow through the transport system; wherein the isolation valve includes at least one upstream seal, one downstream seal, and an inner cavity effectively isolated from the fluid flow by the seals.

Abstract: An electrochemical scale detection and control system, for on-line detection and control of nucleation and growth of inorganic scales. The system comprises sensitive microprocessor controlled electrochemical monitoring instrumentation for detecting electrochemical changes which occur as a consequence of scale nucleation, growth and removal, with subsequent processing to provide means of controlling scale inhibitor additions. The device takes measurements continuously and provides uninterrupted output of the scaling tendency. A three-element measurement probe consisting of material having little propensity for corrosion in the scaling medium of interest is used as the scale sensor.

Abstract: Data integration including extracting a first native record having a first native format from a first native repository through a first adapter, the first adapter loosely coupled for data integration to a data integration application, the first native format having a datatype; transforming the first native record having first native format to a first native record having dynamic common format, the dynamic common format being a subset of a dynamic common model, the dynamic common model comprising mappings to and from the dynamic common format for all native records in all datatypes; transforming the format of the first native record having dynamic common format to a first native record having second native format; and inserting through a second adapter, also loosely coupled to the application, the first native record the second native format into a second native repository.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for generating electrical power from the decay process of a radioactive material is disclosed, wherein a volume of radioactive material and a junction region are enclosed in a cell. The junction region is formed by appropriate construction of a number of p-type and n-type dopant sites. At least a portion of one of the junction regions is disposed within a porous region having an aspect ratio of greater than about 20:1, and disposed at an angle of greater than about 55° measured relative to the surface area in which it is formed. The dimensions and shapes of the macroporous regions and the improved junction region surface area available for collecting charged particles emitted during a radioactive decay series permit an improved current to be derived from the apparatus than would otherwise be expected given its external dimensions.

Abstract: A system for drilling wells includes a plurality of platform modules, which are interconnected to one another on site to form a unitary platform structure. The interconnected platform modules are elevated above a surface on plurality of legs coupled to at least some of the platform modules. The elevated interconnected platform modules support drilling and auxiliary equipment. The system is well adapted for use in arctic, inaccessible, shallow water or environmentally sensitive locations.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the invention, a captive propelled model is provided comprising a balancing member having a pivoting pin disposed between two ends of the balancing member. A figurine having an actuator and at least one actuable member is disposed near one end of the balancing member, and a counterweight is disposed near the opposite end. A platform for the device includes wiring for connecting a power supply to the actuator. In a further embodiment of the invention, a conductive member is disposed so as to receive the pivoting pin and thereby establish an axis of rotation about which the balancing member rotates when propelled by the actuable member. The conductive surface is also in contact with a drag-line or the like that is suspended from the balancing member to establish an electrical ground for the power supply circuit.

Abstract: A variable function voting solenoid-operated valve apparatus is provided having both high safety availability and high plant reliability that does not require a plant system to be bypassed during testing. Also provided is a variable function voting solenoid-operated valve apparatus wherein initiation of a safety action will occur only if each of a pair of operatively associated solenoid-operated valves in the apparatus are actuated, and wherein either of the solenoid valves can singly default to a pre-designated safety action without inadvertently actuating the process valve and isolating or venting the process fluid. Also provided is a variable function voting solenoid-operated valve apparatus wherein either a “1 out of 1 with hot stand-by” operational mode or a “2 out of 2 with high diagnostics” operational mode may be selected by an operator using a logic control system depending on the technical requirements of a given plant environment.

Abstract: A high-diagnostic, dual sensor pressure switch having a one-out-of-two voting architecture useful in commercial and industrial fluid transport systems is provided for determining whether process connections and isolation valves are plugged or closed, and whether pressure sensors are deformed, corroded or otherwise compromised. The dual pressure sensors functionally employ similar electronic technology, and are each disposed to provide variable electrical outputs to one of a plurality of discrete A/D converters. The dual pressure sensors' electrical outputs are compared prior to the A/D conversion process in order to immediately identify large pressure deviations between the sensors. Each of the A/D converters' digital signals are routed to one of a plurality of independent CPUs or data processors; the CPUs then generate digital output signals representing either a logical 0 (Low) or 1 (High).

Abstract: An apparatus and method for simply and economically detecting leaks in a isolation valve disposed in an on-line fluid transport system having at least an upstream pipe and a downstream pipe is provided, the apparatus comprising a isolation valve connected between the upstream pipe and downstream pipe for isolating fluid flow through the transport system; wherein the isolation valve includes at least one upstream seal, one downstream seal, and an inner cavity effectively isolated from the fluid flow by the seals.