Abstract: The invention described herein is an apparatus and method for forming a wear-resistant metal composition. As a specific example, aluminum oxide powder is added to a magnesium alloy to provide a wear-resistant magnesium composition. The magnesium alloy, as the base metal, is placed in a crucible and melted with a burner positioned external to the crucible. A pump having a suction side and a discharge side is mounted on the crucible, with the pump head being suspended below the surface of the molten magnesium. The pump includes a feed tube connected to the suction side, and this tube has a suction opening therein which lies partly above and partly below the surface of the molten metal. The aluminum oxide is fed into the feed tube, and the suction action of the pump causes a vortex at the molten metal surface. The vortex pulls the molten magnesium through the suction opening where it mixes with the aluminum oxide powder.

Abstract: The invention is a valve assembly designed for relieving pressure on a process structure, such as a reactor vessel or a pipeline. The valve structure consists of two separate pressure relief units, and each unit includes a pressure relief valve that is positioned between an inlet valve and an outlet valve. A single mechanical actuator means is used to open and close both pairs of valves, so that when one pair of inlet and outlet valves is fully closed, the other pair of inlet and outlet valves is fully open.

Abstract: The invention disclosed herein includes a reducer coupling, a positioner tool for connecting the coupling to a conduit section, and a nut for securing the positioner tool to the coupling. The reducer coupling is useful in various operations, such as some oil field operations in which it is used to connect a smaller conduit (delivery line) into a larger conduit (production casing). In practice, the positioner tool is secured to the reducer coupling and the coupling is moved into its hook-up position above the production casing, by attaching a rig to the positioner tool. The coupling can then be threaded into the casing by turning the positioner tool with a wrench, or similar tool.

Abstract: In plunger-type pumps a packing assembly is installed around the plunger to prevent fluid from leaking past the moving plunger. The packing assembly includes male and female adaptor rings, which are in face-to-face contact with the packing rings, but provide only a "sloppy" fit. The practice of this invention involves shaping the adaptor ring faces to conform precisely to the shape of the packing ring faces against which they are seated.

Abstract: Disclosed is a differential temperature cell useful for measuring the difference in temperature between two environments. This dT cell comprises a first reservoir which is in fluid communication with a first chamber. Part of one wall of the first chamber defines a diaphragm, which also forms a part of the wall of a second chamber. The diaphragm provides a structure for measuring differences in pressure between the two chambers. The second chamber is also in fluid communication with a second reservoir.

Abstract: The transducer device disclosed herein is designed for measuring the pressure of a moving fluid stream. The device includes a body member with a lengthwise bore therein and a pressure orifice in communication with the bore. Positioned in the bore is a one-piece piston consisting of a rod segment, a first stem segment extending from one end of the rod, a base segment at the opposite end of the rod, and another stem segment which extends from the base. The base is slideable in the bore of the body and there is an annulus section between the rod segment and the bore. A linear spring means is fitted over the rod, such that it occupies the annulus section. Ahead of the first stem is a sensor unit, which connects into a pressure indicator, for visually indicating pressure values. In operation, the body is mounted on a structure, such as a transfer line, which carries a fluid under pressure.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for dissolving salt in an undersaturated brine to bring the brine up to saturation conditions. A salt slurry, specifically sodium chloride, is brought into a holding tank and recycled to keep the solids suspended in the liquid. Part of the recycling salt stream is diverted to a saturator unit consisting of an upright column and a slurry feed tube mounted inside and coaxial with the column. The slurry passes downwardly through the feed tube and mixes with an undersaturated brine stream entering through the bottom of the column. This mixture flows upwardly through an annulus section defined between the feed tube and saturator column, with the salt dissolving in the brine during the upward flow. Saturated brine is removed at the top of the column for ultimate use, such as in chlorine cells.

Abstract: Casing hardware, such as float collars and shoes, are used in oil well cementing operations. Some of the collars and shoes are constructed of a steel casing with a concrete core inside the casing. The casing structure of the collars and shoes now available places the core under a predominantly shearing force, so that it will fail at relatively low downhole differential pressures. The present invention provides a new design for the casing structure, which places the concrete core under a predominantly compressive force, and greatly increases the amount of pressure the core can withstand without failing.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for distributing a downflowing liquid uniformly across the packed bed of a vapor-liquid contact column. The apparatus consists of a distributor unit and a parting manifold. The distributor unit includes a plate with upstanding walls positioned crosswise and lengthwise on the plate to define separate, open-top compartments. Installed in each compartment are a number of drip tubes which extend above and below the plate. Gas riser openings are positioned between certain compartments and the distributor unit is mounted inside the column above the packed bed. The parting manifold is mounted above the distributor unit, and it includes a header circuit, crosswise end conduits, a crosswise lateral conduit, and a vertical standpipe conduit. The end conduits and lateral conduit have closed ends and each includes outlet ports therein.

Abstract: The invention disclosed herein is a method and apparatus for setting a cement plug in the wide-mouth shaft of an earth cavern. The apparatus includes a deflated balloon with a liquid fill pipe therein. In practice, the cavern is first filled with a liquid. Following this, the balloon is encased in a releasable girdle and lowered into the cavern through a casing, along with a cement fill pipe which remains above the balloon. When the balloon reaches a certain point in the cavern, below the casing, the girdle is released from the balloon and the balloon is filled with a liquid to inflate it. The inflated balloon seats against the cavern walls to provide an excellent support for the cement, which is pumped down the cement fill pipe.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an apparatus useful for blending solids with fluids. In a specific application of the blender, sand is mixed with a gel composition to obtain a fluid mixture suitable for stimulation treatments of oil and gas wells. Basic components of this blender are a slinger member and an impeller member, which are enclosed within a casing. The slinger and impeller are fastened together, with the impeller being positioned underneath the slinger. In addition, the slinger has a toroidal configuration and the impeller has a vortex configuration, and the slinger has a larger surface area than the impeller. The toroidal shape of the slinger, and its larger size, contribute to a good pressure balance within the fluid composition as it circulates inside the casing during the mixing operation. A more thorough mixing of the sand and gel composition is achieved by improving the pressure balance in the manner described.

Abstract: The invention disclosed herein is a "fail safe" apparatus for controlling the level of a liquid in a tank. The apparatus includes a holding tank for temporarily containing the liquid. There is an access opening along the top surface of the tank so that the tank is open to the atmosphere at all times. An outlet conduit, with a swivel joint therein, connects the bottom of the tank to an ultimate use point for the liquid. One end of a delivery conduit extends into the holding tank and the opposite end connects into a source for the liquid. A fill valve in the delivery conduit is linked to the holding tank by a mechanical valve operator and an air spring is fastened to the tank. When liquid is drawn out of the tank, the air spring expands and swivels the tank to a position which opens the fill valve. Filling the tank with liquid causes the air spring to compress and swivels the tank in the opposite direction to a position which closes the fill valve.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed which is useful for mixing ammonia, in a vapor-liquid phase, with an additive composition, in a liquid phase, to obtain a homogeneous vapor-liquid mixture of the anhydrous ammonia and the liquid additive compound. The apparatus described herein is particularly suitable for use in a field applicator, for applying the anhydrous ammonia to the soil, as a nitrogen fertilizer, in combination with an additive, such as a nitrogen stabilizer. In operation, the vapor-liquid ammonia stream is metered through a meter regulator and then passed downwardly into a mixing chamber. Below the meter regulator is a delivery tube through which the liquid additive is metered into the ammonia stream before entering the mixing chamber. Inside the mixing chamber the ammonia-additive stream is further mixed to obtain a homogeneous mixture, which is then passed downwardly into a distribution chamber. From this chamber the mixture is delivered to a use point, such as a row of soil knives in a field applicator.

Abstract: The accelerating rate calorimeter disclosed herein is an instrument designed for accurately determining the adiabatic thermal runaway characteristics of reactive chemicals. The mode of operation involves measuring the adiabatic self-heat rate of exothermic chemical reactions to determine the acceleration of the reaction rate as a function of temperature. The basic instrument includes a sample vessel which is positioned inside a reaction chamber. The environment surrounding the sample vessel is a gas, such as air, or an inert gas, or it can be a vacuum environment. Separate heater means are provided for heating the reaction chamber and the sample vessel.During the exothermic reaction of the chemical in the sample vessel, the temperature of the reaction chamber and the sample vessel are continuously monitored by separate temperature sensing means.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed which is useful for mixing a vapor phase stream of anhydrous ammonia with a liquid phase stream of anhydrous ammonia, to obtain a homogeneous, vapor-liquid mixture of the anhydrous ammonia. Basic components of the apparatus include a conventional meter regulator and flow equalizer manifold. In this invention the manifold is modified by adding a flow integrator ring which enhances mixing of the vapor phase and liquid phase streams of ammonia. The mixing apparatus described herein is particularly suitable for use in a field applicator, for applying anhydrous ammonia to the soil as a nitrogen fertilizer.

Abstract: A process and apparatus capable of cracking hydrocarbon to produce a reaction product containing a high proportion of ethylene. A hydrocarbon such as naphtha is vaporized and admixed with superheated steam at high temperature in a mixing device. The resulting hydrocarbon-steam mixture is passed through a reaction zone consisting of a reactor conduit which extends through a passageway defined in a radiation block structure. Heating gases at extremely high temperatures are directed through the passageway, co-currently with the hydrocarbon-steam mixture, to produce a desirable heat flux for the cracking reaction. A short residence time in the reactor conduit is maintained to prevent undesirable side reactions.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed which is useful for measuring the expansion properties of semi-solid materials which expand to a solid phase, upon curing, such as cement compositions. The apparatus includes a sleeve, preferably cylindrical, which has a vertical slit on one side, to allow the sleeve to expand. Mounted on the outside of the sleeve are several sets of pins, consisting of two pins each. The two pins in each set are located on opposite sides of the slit. In the test procedure, the sleeve is filled with wet cement, which is then cured to a solid. As the cement cures it causes the sleeve to expand. The actual expansion of the sleeve represents an expansion factor for the cement. This factor is calculated by measuring the distance across the pins of each set, when the sleeve is empty, and again after the cured cement expands the sleeve.

Abstract: A packer tool, and method for permanently setting the tool, in a packed off position, in a well casing, is disclosed. The tool includes lower slips which are slideable upwardly on a lower cone, and upper slips which are slideable downwardly on an upper cone. The lower slips are set against the casing wall first by applying downward force against the lower cone. After the lower slips have been set, additional downward force is applied against the packer tool to set the upper slips against the casing wall.

Abstract: A protective shield is disclosed for preventing materials which spray through the gap in an opened flange connection from striking the person who opens the connection. The shield is made up of an inner ring and outer ring, joined only at their ends. When the shield is placed over a flange connection, the ends of the rings are spaced apart slightly so that the flange gap is not completely covered. The shield is positioned so that the space between the rings is on the opposite side of the flanges from the person who is opening the connection. As the connection is opened, any material which might spray through the flange gap is confined by the inner ring, such that it will flow around the flange and discharge through the space between the rings.

Abstract: A cementing head is disclosed, which is particularly designed for injecting an omega-type cementing plug into a well casing. Prior to cementing, the plug is retained in a housing. Located above the plug is a movable plunger, actuated by an operating fluid, such as hydraulic fluid. Below the plug is a control valve. When the valve is closed, it prevents any accidental downward movement of the plug into the well casing. Following injection of the cement slurry into the casing, the valve is opened, and the plunger is moved down to push the plug through the valve and beyond the cement inlet. A fluid such as water is passed through the cement inlet, under pressure, to push the plug down the casing behind the cement slurry.