Abstract: There is disclosed a blowout preventer having rams with cutting edges for shearing a pipe within the vertical bore through the preventer housing which rams carry means for gripping opposite sides of the pipe above the cutting edges of the rams, as the rams move toward one another to shear the pipe, and lifting the upper sheared end of the gripped pipe out of the path of means for sealing between the inner ends of the rams, as the rams continue to move toward one another.

Abstract: There are disclosed alternative embodiments of a downstream sealing gate valve of the type in which a pair of seats are carried within the body of the valve for sealing between the body and either side of the gate.

Abstract: There are disclosed several embodiments of a device for use in removing a cork or other resilient stopper from the neck of a bottle, wherein each such device comprises helical spring including at least one helical spring adapted to fit closely within the bottle neck and having a handle at one end by which the spring may be rotated in one directional sense, as it is inserted and forced axially inwardly between the cork and neck, and then pulled axially outwardly so as to remove the cork and spring from the neck.

Abstract: A composition for use in geothermal or high temperature and steam applications of ethylene-propylene copolymer with peroxide generated carbon to carbon crosslinkage. Effective amounts of antioxidants, carbon black, lubricant, thermal stabilizer and aid to peroxide crosslinkage is added. An antioxidant and thermal stabilizer system is used to produce a product with unusual thermal stability characteristics. The composition also has a mixture of high and low particle size carbon black which act as an antioxidant and reinforcing system. The composition can be used for rubber components in geothermal drilling for pipe protectors, valve seals and other products which are exposed to a high temperature and steam saturated environment.

Abstract: There is disclosed apparatus for use in pressing liquids from cloth goods, which apparatus includes a support having a porous surface upon which a batch of goods may be received, a concave pressure vessel having a flexible membrane across its open end to form a pressure chamber therein, and means supporting the vessel with the membrane facing the surface and for movement toward and away from the surface, so that, when the vessel and membrane have been moved to and locked in a position over the batch, water under pressure may be supplied from pump means and through conduit means connecting with the vessel to press liquid from a batch of goods on the surface, and, following pressing of the first mentioned batch into a cake and as the vessel and membrane are raised to permit removal of the cake from the surface, suction may be applied to the pressure vessel to remove water therefrom and withdraw the membrane to a position in which it is adapted to fit over another batch of goods on the surface.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for hydrostatically testing threaded pipe is disclosed that moves the pipe into position to have a first end cap made up on one end, moves the pipe into position to have a second end cap made up on the other end, and lowers a shield onto the pipe before it is tested. The apparatus includes a mandrel that is attached to the first end cap. The mandrel is supported and rotated by a socket but can move out of the socket to travel with the pipe as the pipe is moved to receive the second end cap.

Abstract: A chemical injection valve, for use with either an outside mount or side pocket mount gas lift mandrel for injecting chemicals, hot oil and the like into production tubing. The valve has a tubular housing with fluid inlet ports and fluid outlet means with a longitudinal bore connecting the inlet ports and the fluid outlet means. A biased valve metering member is positioned in the bore between the fluid entry port and the fluid outlet means to regulate the flow of fluids therebetween. A fluid by-pass is provided in the housing which is opened and closed by the biased valve metering member in response to the greater to the pressure of fluid entering the fluid entry port or biasing means acting on said valve metering member. When opened, the by-pass provides fluid communication between the fluid entry ports and the fluid outlet means. The biasing means is a spring having a predetermined spring force. Means are provided for adjusting the spring force.

Abstract: A special control circuit for a golf cart or like vehicle powered by a plurality of storage batteries. The batteries are connected circuitwise to a DC motor by speed control contactors to select battery connections in parallel, parallel/series and series for motor speed control. The speed control contactors are arranged so that their solenoids are de-energized at series battery connection and in parallel battery connection charges are normalized across the batteries. Moreover, the circuit provides different sets of parallel/series batteries for intermediate speed to equalize battery change levels. A safety circuit feature prevents the motor in reverse directional operation from being shifted from the low speed settings. Discharge of any battery below minimum operating voltage de-energizes the solenoids of the contactors to stop the vehicle.

Abstract: Liquid differential pressure measurement apparatus using at each of two separate vertical locations a manifold with a pair of voids, each pair being covered with a thin, non-elastomer membrane pressing tightly against a horizontal fence line therebetween. A first void of each pair is gas pressurized from the external side of the manifold to move the membrane on the internal side of the manifold outwardly against the pressure head of liquid on the membrane at the location of the fence line, the gas escaping via the second void, which is vented. A meter connection to the first void of each pair is supplied to a differential pressure meter and/or a device that converts a differential pressure to an electrical signal for remote readout or the like.

Abstract: There is disclosed a prefabricated, multi-story building, such as a garage, comprising two groups of sector-shaped floors which have adjacent ends providing a zone of access from one floor to another.

Abstract: The invention disclosed includes a method of and apparatus for measuring the subsurface bearing strength of soil and the frictional resistance of the soil to movement of a pile through the soil. A probe is used for this purpose that includes two relatively movable members, an inner plunger with a flat face, and an outer tubular member. By measuring the forces imposed by the soil at different locations on the probe as the relatively movable members of the probe are moved through the soil the bearing capacity and the skin friction of the soil can be calculated.

Abstract: There are disclosed several alternate embodiments of wellhead apparatus of the type in which hydraulic fluid may be transmitted to and/or from a subsurface safety valve or other hydraulically operable device within the well through an annular space formed between the production tubing.

Abstract: A phantom for an NMR machine is disclosed that includes a plurality of containers each filled with a material having a known spin density, T1, or T2 characteristic that differs a preselected amount from the spin density, T1, or T2 characteristics of the material in at least a portion of the other containers.

Abstract: There are disclosed several embodiments of a fuel injector for injecting fuel into the combustion chamber of an internal combustion engine in response to the pressure of the fuel. In each embodiment, a nozzle of the injector which extends into the combustion chamber is opened and closed by means of a valve member which is yieldably urged into tight engagement with a seat in the lower end of the nozzle and which is rotated in response to increasing and decreasing fuel pressure, respectively, to move the outlets in the valve member and nozzle into and out of register.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for continually monitoring for the presence of suspended or dissolved gas within a viscous material, such as in the material accumulated in the mud reservoir of a mud system used in an oil or gas drilling operation. Pressurized air is injected into the liquid to agitate and dislodge the gas. The dislodged gas is captured within a sealed chamber upon emerging from the liquid. A sample of the gas is continuously vented from the chamber through an outlet tube under the influence of the pressurized air. A gas sensor is mounted with the outlet tube so as to continually and accurately detect the presence of the gas within the liquid.

Abstract: There is disclosed an actuator which enables the intake valves which control the induction of a combustible fuel-air mixture into the combustion chambers of a spark-ignited or dual-fuel internal combustion engine to be opened for time intervals proportional to load or demand on the engine.

Abstract: A surgical retractor, which includes a frame conformed to fit the surface contour of the portion of the body to be operated on and at least one stay which includes an elastic member and tissue holding means. The frame has a plurality of notches spaced about its periphery and the elastic member of the stay is adapted to be inserted into one of the notches and held in place by friction to retract the tissue.