Abstract: A telescoping boom assembly supported articulated well service pipeline for the transfer of pressurized fluids from service vehicles to petroleum wellheads for the treatment and stimulation of production oil wells. The boom assembly is mounted on a truck, trailer, or other suitable mobile transport, and the articulated pipeline comprises a plurality of long straight pipeline sections interconnected by a plurality of shorter pipe sections and by swivel joints. The inboard end of the pipeline is connected to a supply line by an inboard pipe and a pair of swivel joints. The pipeline can be folded into a cluster and tilted for storage adjacent the inboard end of the boom assembly and the clustered pipeline moved away from the service vehicle before unfolding the pipeline from the cluster.

Abstract: An improved adjustment means for Operator controls in a crane having a sub-floor having a plurality of fore and aft slots with both extending therethrough to engage the floor and support the sub-floor. A pair of inner pedals are mounted on the sub-floor and operate valves carried by the sub-floor. A pair of outer pedals are also mounted on the floor and are connected by bowden cables to a control shaft mounted on the floor.

Abstract: A retainer for preventing a conveyor drive chain from jumping off its sprocket is presented. The retainer comprises a shoe having a lining with an arcuate working surface of anti-friction material disposed over a lower run portion of the chain that is disposed over a drive sprocket. Coils springs bias the lining into engagement with the drive chain. Means are provided for maintaining the center of the working surface of the lining substantially concentric with the center of rotation of the drive sprocket.

Abstract: A fire-safe seal for use in a swivel joint in a pressurized fluid system subject to fire risk, the seal having both a metal anti-extrusion ring and an annular resilient non-metallic seal member to provide essentially zero fluid linkage at normal operating temperatures, and the anti-extrusion ring to provide an extremely low rate of leakage in the event high temperature should destroy the resilient seal member. A curved spring or other metal anti-cocking device biases the anti-extrusion ring tightly against the junction of a male and a female joint to ensure that the ring remains in position after the resilient seal member is destroyed to prevent leakage through the junction.

Abstract: A driving and braking system having solid state switches for use with an electric motor. A first switch in series with a motor armature carries current from a power supply to the motor during the driving operation. A second switch couples a voltage from the motor armature to the first switch to render the first switch nonconductive and place the motor in a braking mode in response to a braking signal. The first switch provides armature current and couples a voltage from the motor armature to the second switch to render the second switch nonconductive and place the motor in a driving mode in response to a driving signal. The motor can be switched between the braking mode and the driving mode without bringing the motor to a stop.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for detecting fluid pound in a sucker-rod oil well, using maximum and minimum values of sucker-rod position and of sucker-rod load to calculate a reference position and a selected load value. The apparatus automatically calculates the reference position and the selected load value according to the characteristics of the well and of the well pumping equipment. When the sucker-rod moves downward to the reference position, the actual load value is checked against the selected value and in one embodiment of the invention a warning signal develops when the amount of the load exceeds the previously selected load quantity. In another embodiment a warning signal develops when the rate of change of the load is at a maximum below the reference position. In a third embodiment a warning signal develops when a minimum rate of change of the load occurs below the reference position.

Abstract: Apparatus for filling beverage tanks comprising a liquid manifold and a gas manifold for counter-pressurizing the liquid as it fills the tank. Supply conduits connect the tank with the manifolds. The gas supply conduit contains a coupling device for connection to a fill-height tube on the container. This coupling device includes an optical sensor embodying a prism which reflects light from a light source when the tank has liquid below a predetermined level and directs light onto a photo-conductor. When the liquid reaches a predetermined upper level in the tank and is forced into the coupling device through the fill-height tube, the prism changes its reflective characteristics, and light passes through the prism without reflection. The change in reflective conditions is brought about by the liquid covering adjacent sides of the prism. The photo-conductor correspondingly changes an electrical signal that is utilized to operate a solenoid valve for shutting off the liquid to the tank.

Abstract: A fluid pressure seal comprising the combination of a metallic sleeve-like member having one or more annular grooves around its outer periphery and two or more annular grooves on its inner surface, the grooves located to establish an accordion-like area in the member intermediate its ends, and flexible non-metallic sealing material within and filling the grooves. When the seal is installed between two adjacent metallic surfaces, such as around a valve stem and within a chamber in a valve bonnet, axial compression of the seal causes radial expansion of the accordion-like area into fluid-tight contact with those surfaces to produce a metal-to-metal static and dynamic seal therebetween.

Abstract: A rotary irrigation system comprises a continuous length of irrigation pipe having sprinkler heads spaced along the length thereof with an inboard end of the irrigation pipe connected to a fixed upstanding water supply pipe and with an outboard end of the irrigation pipe connected to power apparatus for rotating the outboard end of the pipe about the axis of the irrigation pipe. The inboard end of the irrigation pipe is connected so it cannot rotate about the axis of the irrigation pipe, but can move about the water supply pipe. The irrigation pipe is supported at uniformly spaced intervals along its length by a plurality of wheels with the wheels having hubs which receive the irrigation pipe and allow the wheels to rotate in one direction only. The power apparatus applies a torque to rotate the outboard end of the irrigation pipe in a first direction to wind up the pipe.

Abstract: A muzzle velocimeter comprising a pair of sensors positioned adjacent to the path of a projectile containing magnetic material wherein each of the sensors includes a permanent magnet having a wire coil wound thereon. The magnets provide magnetic fields which are disturbed by magnetic materials in a passing projectile causing each of the sensor coils to develop signal pulses. The distance between the sensor coils and the amount of time between the sensor coil pulses are used to calculate the velocity of the passing projectile. In an alternate embodiment a single sensor coil is used to sense the leading and trailing edges of a passing projectile, and the projectile velocity calculated by using projectile length and passing time of the projectile.

Abstract: A turret is movable in azimuth within a turret support structure and a large caliber cannon is movable in elevation within the turret. A turret ammunition handling system includes an automatic loading mechanism for fixed ammunition cartridges configured with stub cases. The system is configured to move the ammunition cartridges between a turret mounted magazine and the cannon breech at the existing elevation of the cannon. The magazine is movable within the turret and has a plurality of cartridge storage cells therein. A stub case ejection container is movable between a position behind the breech opening, where it accepts ejected cartridge stub cases from the breech, and a position extending through a hatch in the gun mantlet, whereupon the stub case is discharged from the turret. Misfired rounds may be removed from the turret and cartridges may be on-loaded and off-loaded from the turret by the automatic loading mechanism.

Abstract: A folding boom assembly supported articulated well service pipeline for the transfer of pressurized fluids from service vehicles to petroleum wellheads for the treatment and stimulation of production oil wells. The boom assembly is mounted on a truck, trailer or other suitable mobile support and the articulated pipeline comprises a plurality of long straight pipe sections interconnected by a plurality of pipe elbows and by swivel joints. Each of the pipe sections is supported by a corresponding boom section aligned generally parallel to the pipe section. The boom sections and their corresponding pipe sections are folded onto the service vehicle for transportation and are extended for connection to a wellhead. Supports between the ground and the boom sections reduce the loads transmitted to the service vehicle and allow the use of lighter and less costly boom assemblies.

Abstract: A transom missile launching system is configured to mount rigidly above the water line on the stern of ships designated to carry missile type ordnance. The missile launcher consists of two symmetrical modules containing eight missile cells each. Missiles are launched in the normal mode from a "all up round" canister at a fixed angle of about 60.degree. from a line athwartship both to port and to starboard. At this angle the probability of launch into a wave in heavy seas due to ship roll is eliminated. The missiles propulsion motor exhaust gases are vented directly overboard at launch without being directed either within the ship or across the weather deck. At ignition a water tight cover at the base of the launching chamber is blown directly overboard into the water by the exhaust gas pressure and a path is therefore provided for the exhaust gas to be discharged directly into the sea.

Abstract: A multi-purpose metal-to-metal seal system providing fluid-tight integrity at the area of contact between the seal element and the surface against which it bears, throughout wide variations in pressure and temperature, and especially during and following exposure to a fire atmosphere.

Abstract: A telescoping boom assembly having novel and inexpensive apparatus for extending and retracting the boom assembly and for extending and retracting an articulated pipeline mounted on the boom assembly. A total of three winches can be used to move a multiple section boom assembly between a retracted position and an extended position regardless of the number of movable boom sections, and the same three winches can independently move the articulated pipeline between a folded and an extended position.

Abstract: Articles such as fruit on a conveyor are spray coated with liquid wax from a transverse row of sequentially pulsed spray nozzles controlled by microcomputer signals to solenoid nozzle valves. The computer is programmed to receive inputs from operator controlled panel switches which can be set to select the number of nozzles in the row; an excursion time during which all nozzles in a row spray and a pulse time during which one nozzle sprays. The computer limits the nozzle pulse time to dwell time equal to the quotient of the number of nozzles and the pulse time. The nozzles are automatically cleaned out by compressed air if the supply of fruit to the conveyor is interrupted for a predetermined period of time.

Abstract: A diverless subsea tubular connector with male and female elements that can be remotely connected and disconnected using only axial movement of one of the elements with respect to the other. The connector elements are secured together by a snap spring that prevents their disengagement so long as an axial tension tending to pull them apart is maintained. A release of that axial tension facilitates unlocking the two elements so that they can be pulled apart without requiring hydraulic, manual, or rotational manipulation.

Abstract: A mechanical override is provided for use with electromechanical linear actuators used in the control of lever operated valves. A pair of telescoping tubes are supported in a fixed relationship to the valve. One tube provides a mounting location for the linear actuator while the other tube is stationary. A lead screw will be manually rotated to move one tube relative to the other. The linear actuator will travel with the moving tube to adjust the valve position.

Abstract: Apparatus for orienting and sorting mushrooms includes an inclined plate along which the mushrooms move, a tunnel for erecting an air dam in the path of movement of the mushrooms to singulate the mushrooms, and a photoelectric mechanism for sorting the mushrooms according to size.

Abstract: A telescoping boom assembly supported articulated well service pipeline for the transfer of pressurized fluids from service vehicles to petroleum wellheads for the treatment and stimulation of production oil wells. The boom assembly is mounted on a truck, trailer, or other suitable mobile transport, and the articulated pipeline comprises a pair of long straight end pipe sections interconnected by a plurality of shorter intermediate pipe sections and by swivel joints. The two end pipe sections are aligned generally parallel with the telescoping boom and the intermediate pipe sections flip-flop to change their direction of alignment as the pipeline is extended and retracted. The flip-flop feature provides a maximum change in length of the pipeline between the extended and the retracted positions with a minimum number of pipe swivel joints.