Abstract: A machine and method of operation are disclosed for continuously molding solid pellets from a mud composition. In a specific application, the machine is useful for producing an oxidation catalyst in pellet form. The machine includes a rotatable disk having small openings therein, which provide mold cavities. As the disk is rotated, the mud composition is injected into the mold openings through an injection head, which rides against the front face of the disk. The mud is retained in each mold opening by a backing plate, which rides against the back face of the disk. Ambient air is passed through a heater located at the top of a housing which partially encloses the disk. The heated air is circulated downwardly on both sides of the disk to dry the mud in the mold openings. An ejection head is positioned such that it rides against the front face of the rotating disk at a point behind the injection head. Pressurized air is forced through air passages in the ejection head, which register with the mold openings.

Abstract: A tool is disclosed for shifting the sleeve of a port collar in a well casing, to open and close the ports in the collar. The basic tool is made up of a housing having a double piston assembly mounted slideably in a transverse bore in the housing. The transverse bore is intersected by a lengthwise bore in the housing. Fluid is carried into the housing from a tubing string connected into the lengthwise bore. The double piston assembly has an outside face in contact with fluid in the well casing, and an inside face in contact with fluid inside the housing bore. In addition, the outside face has a larger surface area than the inside face. This differential in the piston surface area allows the piston assembly to be held in a "retract" position by applying fluid pressure to the outside face. Alternatively, the piston assembly can be moved laterally to engage the port collar sleeve by applying fluid pressure to the inside face.

Abstract: A bridge plug tool is disclosed, for temporarily plugging off a well casing to perform a downhole operation, such as cementing, or acidizing. The tool includes a mandrel having separate thread segments thereon. During running in of the tool, one thread segment engages a set of control members, to keep the mandrel in place and to prevent it from shifting longitudinally. In the set position the control members are disengaged from the mandrel, and the other thread segment engages a set of lock members. Setting weight on the mandrel after engagement with the lock members causes a set of slips and packing elements to engage the casing wall. When the downhole job is finished, the mandrel is rotated to disengage from the lock members and to re-engage the control members. This sequence releases the slips so the tool can be retrieved from the casing, or re-set at another point in the casing.

Abstract: The present sampling system provides a means for continuous vapor phase analysis of an indefinite number of process streams in a single operation. The process being sampled is connected into a single analyzing instrument by more than one delivery conduit. Each delivery conduit is heated between the process and the analyzer to a temperature sufficient to maintain the selected sample in its vapor state. During the sampling only one delivery conduit is carrying the sample into the analyzer. At the same time, a purge fluid is being backflushed into the process through each remaining delivery conduit. The backflushing sequence clears out polymerizable materials or other substances which tend to collect inside the conduit.

Abstract: The cementing collar described herein is designed primarily for cementing operations in oil or gas wells. The basic assembly includes a collar, an outer sleeve slidable in the collar, and an inner sleeve slidable in the outer sleeve. The collar and outer sleeve each have cementing ports therein. When the assembly is being run into the well casing, the collar and both sleeves are secured by shear pins in a position such that the cementing ports are closed. To open the cementing ports a trip bomb is dropped into the casing to engage a seat inside the outer sleeve. This causes the pins to shear and permits the outer sleeve to move down to a position in which the sleeve ports line up with the collar port. After cementing has been completed, a plug is flowed down the casing to engage the inner sleeve. Fluid pressure is applied behind the plug to shear the pins a second time. This moves the outer sleeve further down to a position in which the cementing ports are again closed.

Abstract: A tool is disclosed for controlling flow of treating fluid from a tubing string into an earth formation, in which the bottom hole pressure is less than the hydrostatic pressure of the fluid in the string. In another application, the tool is used in conjunction with a wash tool to wash sediment out of casing perforations and slotted liners. Before the downhole operation is commenced, a slidable piston in this tool closes off fluid outlet ports, to prevent the fluid from "gravity flowing" out of the tubing string. The piston is held in the closed position by the co-action of an adjusting bolt and a compression spring. The fluid is released from the tubing string by applying sufficient fluid pressure against the piston to overcome the spring load and thus move the piston downwardly past the fluid outlet port.

Abstract: The apparatus disclosed herein is designed for removing solid deposits, which interfere with heat transfer, from the surface of the basket section in an air preheater. In one type of regenerative air preheater, the basket sections rotate around a hub inside a chamber. An I-beam and threaded rod are installed in the chamber parallel to the basket section, at a distance sufficient to allow clearance of the carriage assembly and jet nozzle, or nozzles. The carriage assembly is attached to the rod by a threaded drive block and the carriage straddles the I-beam. A motor drive, which is controlled by an electronic programmer, rotates the threaded rod, to drive the carriage incrementally along the rod and beam. The carriage also includs roller type bearings which aid movement of the carriage along the beam. As the basket section rotates parallel to the moving carriage, a high pressure water jet, or jets, is directed through the nozzle to wash the solid deposits off of the basket section.

Abstract: The diesel engine of this invention is designed to operate on more than one fuel composition. The auto ignition temperature of each fuel composition can be the same, or it can be different. As a typical example, the engine can be operated using diesel fuel oil, as the primary fuel, and a chlorinated hydrocarbon waste liquid, as the secondary fuel. The waste liquid, which has a higher auto ignition temperature than the diesel fuel, is injected into the combustion chamber of the engine an instant before injection of the diesel fuel. Because of its lower auto ignition temperature, the diesel fuel will ignite first and thus provide a "spark" for igniting the secondary fuel.

Abstract: The electromagnet tool described herein is useful for retrieving magnetic objects lost in earth caverns. The tool includes a magnet face that combines at least one flat surface with another surface that conforms to the general shape of the lost object. For example, in one embodiment, the magnet face is defined by two flat surfaces with a semicircular groove between the flat surfaces. This configuration enables the tool to readily locate and attach itself to a cylindrical object. The tool can also be equipped with a rudder assembly, or a "beaver tail" guide, to improve its ability to fish around for a magnetic object lost in a cavern filled with liquid.

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: The tool of this invention is designed primarily for removing unconsolidated sand and other debris from the well casing perforations and adjacent earth formation in an oil or gas recovery operation. The basic tool includes an upper valve unit and lower valve unit, which are coupled together by a surge chamber. In a typical cleaning operation the tool is lowered into the well casing on a tubing string, which includes a by-pass and a retrievable packer. When the tool is at the desired position in the casing, the packer is set and the by-pass is closed. Fluid under pressure is pumped down the casing annulus to trip a mandrel in the lower valve and open a flapper disk. Bottom hole pressure causes fluid in the formation to fill the surge chamber and the sand and debris falls to the bottom of the hole. The packer is then unset and fluid pressure down the tubing string trips a piston in the upper valve and allows a stationary mandrel to open another flapper disk.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for producing hydrohalic acids, using a Diesel engine for a reactor. In a typical operation for producing hydrochloric acid, the engine fuel is a liquid phase mixture containing a hydrocarbon, such as Diesel fuel oil, and one or more halogenated organic compounds, such as carbon tetrachloride and propylene dichloride. The liquid phase fuel is injected into the combustion chamber of the engine, where it is vaporized, ignited and burned. In the resulting combustion reaction, hydrochloric acid is formed as a vapor phase. The acid can then be recovered as a vapor phase or an aqueous solution.

Abstract: The valve assembly disclosed herein is used primarily in oil or gas well servicing to prevent contamination of fluids used to treat the formation. The valve is coupled into a tubing string, and it includes a slidable hollow mandrel, with a hingable flapper disk positioned below the mandrel. The valve is generally used in cooperation with a packer tool and bridge plug. When treating fluid is pumped down the tubing string it pushes the flapper disk open and holds it open, so the fluid can reach the formation interval being treated. To treat the next higher interval the packer is unset to raise the tubing string. Releasing the packer allows residual fluids to backflow from the well casing annulus into the tubing string. In this tool the backflowing fluid closes the flapper, so that it acts as a check valve to prevent contamination of the treating fluid. Before the valve is pulled out of the casing the mandrel is slid downwardly, to push the flapper open and hold it in open position.

Abstract: The apparatus of this invention is designed for making foamed liquid solutions. In a specific application the foamed liquid is used for removing scale deposits from the interior surfaces of vessels, such as heat exchangers. The apparatus includes a foam chamber with a gas disperser section positioned inside the chamber. Ahead of the foam chamber is a final mixing section with a static mixer installed therein. A liquid concentrate, such as an acid solution, and a diluent liquid, such as water, are passed into the foam chamber. The liquids are mixed in the foam chamber and gas is bubbled into the liquid phase through the disperser section. The flow of gas and liquid into the foam chamber is controlled by flow regulators to achieve a continuous and uniform blending of the gas and liquid phases. From the foam chamber the foamed solution is carried into the final mixing section and passed through the static mixer to obtain a homogeneous cleaning solution, which is discharged into the vessel to be cleaned.

Abstract: The adiabatic calorimeter apparatus disclosed herein is designed for chemical hazard research, particularly the study of self-heating reactions, which can result in a runaway situation. The reaction vessel and associated components in this apparatus closely simulate the structure and operation of a typical chemical plant reactor. The reaction vessel is fitted into a metal shell and the entire unit is suspended in an insulated oven. During the exothermic reaction the adiabatic temperature rise and pressure rise is simultaneously monitored and recorded as a function of time. A first stage control system maintains the temperature of the reaction vessel in equilibrium with the reaction mix and utilizes electrical energy to compensate out the heat capacity effect of the reactor. A second stage control keeps the temperature of the oven and the reaction vessel at the same level, to insure that the reaction is taking place in an adiabatic environment.

Abstract: A mixing apparatus for the continuous mixing of a dry bulk material with a liquid to form a slurry. The dry material is introduced through an elongated vertical tube while the liquid is brought into an elongated cylindrical chamber around that tube in a rotary motion under pressure. The liquid with its rotary motion and being under pressure exits from an adjustable annular orifice at the same point that the dry bulk material is added to the slurry whereby the jetted liquid effects the initial mixing process while deflecting the material into a reservoir. The slurry thus formed is circulated by a suitable pumping system from the reservoir for use. The unused slurry is pumped back into the reservoir by way of a voluted shroud which envelopes the mixing portion of the initial mixing device. Centrifugal force resulting from this rotary motion of the slurry tends to pull the newly mixed slurry out into the reservoir for a continuous intimate mixing process.

Abstract: Disclosed is a portable electronic probe device, including a memory system, which is useful for measuring the pH and temperature of a liquid. The pH sensor consists of a glass electrode-reference electrode combination. The temperature sensor is made up of a thermistor fitted into a well enclosure at the bottom of the probe. A display box attached to the probe contains a memory system. The pH and temperature value is received by the memory system as an electrical signal. The signals are amplified, converted from analog to digital data, and stored in a digital memory.The pH and temperature data, and the precise location at which the measurement is taken, appear continuously as digital displays in a transparent panel on the display box. When the memory is full the probe device is placed in a charger stand to re-charge a battery in the memory system by a magnetic "coupling" sequence.

Abstract: It is common practice to discharge waste vapors from certain chemical processes into the atmosphere. Many of these vapors, usually referred to as "vent gases", contain compounds which are considered to be pollutants in the atmosphere. In this invention the vent gases are oxidized in the combustion chamber of a Diesel engine before release to the atmosphere. The oxidation step reduces the concentration of noxious compounds in the vapor to a level acceptable for atmospheric discharge.

Abstract: The apparatus of this invention is a vertical shaft kiln designed for firing aggregate materials. In a specific application the kiln is used to fire limestone aggregate (crushed limestone) to produce lime. The kiln chamber in this apparatus is defined by an annular space between an outer vertical shaft and an inner vertical shaft. An outwardly sloping cone member defines the bottom end of the inner shaft. The bottom end of the outer shaft is defined by an inwardly sloping cone. A space between the cone members provides an outlet for the kiln chamber.

Abstract: A novel adiabatic reaction calorimeter useful for measuring the energy change in a chemical reaction is disclosed. In a specific application, the calorimeter is used to measure the heat energy derived in a chemical reaction. The device includes a reaction vessel which is thermally isolated in the geometric center of a sealed spherical chamber. The chamber, which is filled with a gas atmosphere, is defined within a box structure fabricated of a ceramic foam or plastic foam. An auxiliary vessel is positioned in the chamber adjacent to the reaction vessel and is connected to the reaction vessel by a transfer conduit.In a typical operation, prior to initiating the reaction, one reactant is contained in the reaction vessel and another reactant in the auxiliary vessel. The vessels and the gas atmosphere are heated to a predetermined temperature by electrical power units, with regulation by a temperature control unit.