Abstract: There is disclosed a tool for enhancing the impact of a jar delivered to an object stuck in a well bore during both upward and downward jars to the stuck object. The tool includes a first tubular member having an lower end connectible to the tubular member of the jar on which the hammer is mounted and a second tubular member connectible to a well pipe string above it and arranged for reciprocation with respect to the first member to form an annular space between them. The space is divided into upper and lower chambers by means of seal rings disposed between the members and the spaces are filled with a compressible fluid which is compressed as the second tubular member is moved in either upward or downward directions.

Abstract: This invention relates to a capacitor with cells of a double electric layer comprising of a case of dielectric material for accommodating a stack of capacitor cells having a double electric layer with electrolyte therein and having been compressed together in a stack, and further having at least two current collector plates connected to the stack of capacitor cells for collecting current, and; at least two current feeders connected to the at least two current collector plates for feeding current there through, at least two platens of dielectric material for insulation of said stack of capacitor cells and for providing impermeability to an electrolyte and are inert thereto, at least two strength plates having the stack of capacitor cells therebetween, and a flexible brace member connected between said at least two strength plates for retaining and holding said stack of capacitor cells in a compressed stack.

Abstract: There is disclosed a surface controlled, subsurface tubing safety valve having a tubular body with a bore therethrough disposable in a tubing string, and a flapper which is movable within-the body between open and closed positions and yieldably urged toward its closed position. The flapper is adapted to be opened by a flow tube which is vertically reciprocable within the body between upper and lower positions. The flow tube is yieldably urged to its upper position to permit the flapper to close, and is lowered to open the flapper by a flexible bellows which has a well pressure on one side and a pressure chamber on one side containing hydraulic fluid which is displaced to cause the bellows to move between expanded and contracted positions in response to the exhaust or supply of control fluid from a source at the surface, the bellows being connected to the flow tube to lower it as the bellows is moved to one position and to permit it to rise as the bellows moves to the other position.

Abstract: In a bichromatic sorting machine, a polygon pattern of trip level boundaries is established for a master channel programmable memory that is representative of orthogonally plotting detected products in each of two reflectivity spectral bands. The rate of products passing through the master channel that is rejected as being non-acceptable by producing a reflectivity value outside of the polygon pattern compared to total products sorted is used as the basis for normalizing all channel results. When the actual rate in the master channel varies from the desired rate, the boundaries of its polygon are concentrically adjusted back to the desired rate, thereby also adjusting the similar polygon patterns for each of the other or slave channels. Multiple machines can also be normalized to the same rate in similar fashion. The master channel or the master machine can be selectable, a concept that is also applicable to monochromatic sorting machines, as well.

Abstract: A ram of a ram-type blowout preventer is enclosed within an enclosure so that the piston driving the ram is placed parallel to a stationary magnetizable waveguide tube. A transverse ring-like magnet assembly surrounds the tube and is attached to a carrier that, in turn, is attached to the tail of the piston. The magnet assembly longitudinally magnetizes an area of the tube where it is located. A wire running through the tube is periodically interrogated with an electrical current pulse, which produces a toroidal magnetic field about the wire. When the toroidal field intersects with the longitudinally magnetized area, a magnetostrictive acoustical return pulse is reflected back up the tube for detection by a transducer located outside of the enclosure. The time that the acoustical pulse travels from the magnetic field intersection compared to the timing of the electrical pulse on the wire is a measure of distance since the pulse time essentially travels at the speed of light.

Abstract: A combination of a rubber or other elastomer part and a plastic or metal part is bonded by both chemical and mechanical means. The mechanical means is in the form of molded rivets integrally manufactured in the molding process as part of the elastomer. Appropriate mating holes are made in the plastic or metal parts to receive the rivets during the molding process or at least before the rivets are cured. Conventional chemical bonding materials for the circumstance are employed with the rivet bonding to provide dual bonding strength. The parts of a blowout preventer, such as at the T-seal and the upper seal, are disclosed as preferred examples of locations that are subject to high pressure and temperature where an elastomer part is bonded to a plastic or a metal part.

Abstract: The invention is a method for entraining gas in a liquid solution and an apparatus for practicing the method. In the method of the invention, gas is introduced into a liquid solution being pumped through a conduit at the point of lowest absolute pressure in the system upstream of the pumping means. The gas is introduced into the liquid as bubbles or gas pockets with as small a diameter as is mechanically possible at the narrowest point of a venturi in the conduit and the increasing liquid pressure in the system downstream of the venturi is utilized to compress the bubbles still further. The bubbles or pockets of gas are prevented from coalescing as they pass through the pumping means and exit the apparatus by the pumping means itself. The apparatus comprises a conduit having a passageway therethrough in which a venturi is formed. An annular chamber is provided in the body of the conduit at the narrowest point of the venturi where the gas is introduced into the liquid.

Abstract: Disclosed is an air-applied, mechanically-held brake assembly and a vehicle air brake system employing the same. The brake assembly applies and releases the brake upon the supply and exhaust, respectively, of air from a first pressure chamber. The brake assembly locks and unlocks the brake in an applied position by the exhaust and supply, respectively, of air from a second pressure chamber. The locking mechanism of the brake assembly is designed to compound the force of the fluid pressure in the first pressure chamber with the force of the fluid pressure supplied to the second pressure chamber when unlocking the brake to compensate for back pressure.

Abstract: In a multi-pass system for purifying oil or other liquids, an improved apparatus and method for mixing air with the contaminated liquid for separation after a phase change from liquid to gas. The contaminated liquid is drawn from a reservoir by a pump, filtered, and heated, and atmospheric air is induced into the contaminated liquid downstream of the heater by an eductor, which promotes the phase change from liquid to vapor. The liquid/contaminant mix, which now includes entrained air, is passed immediately through a second eductor, the compressibility of the air in the mix, followed by expansion of the compressed air as the mix exits the second eductor, causing intimate contact of air and contaminant, thereby promoting the stripping of the contaminant from the liquid. The air/liquid/contaminant mix is then routed to a level controlled separation tank, water vapor, contaminants, and condensate being released from the tank in the space above the pooled liquid.

Abstract: A lighter and faster bullet with a copper jacket and an aluminum core which is formed by first folding or rolling sheets of a thin metal such as aluminum foil into a cylinder and then inserting the cylinder into the jacket. The cylinder is then compressed within the bullet jacket without damaging the jacket by means of a bullet press. To increase the weight of the projectile, lead or other metals of different specific gravities are added to the jacket prior to insertion of the cylinder and compression.

Abstract: A sewage treatment apparatus is disclosed comprising a tank (11) for receiving sewage effluent to be treated defining an inlet port (1) and an outlet port (8), compartmentalised so as to define a first sewage effluent settlement zone (3) below the level of the inlet port (1), a second sewage effluent settlement zone (7) below the level of the outlet port (8) and a trough compartment (14) such that the first sewage effluent settlement zone (3) is in communication with the trough compartment (14), and the trough compartment (14) is in communication with the second sewage effluent settlement zone (7); a first arrangement of substantially parallel baffle plates (16) disposed in the first sewage effluent settlement zone (3) between the inlet port (1) and the trough compartment (14); a rotating biological contactor (4) mounted for rotation in the trough compartment (14); a second arrangement of substantially parallel baffle plates (20) disposed in the second sewage effluent settlement zone (7) between the trough co

Abstract: Artificial disk implant and methods for implanting same, the implant having a member (32, 34, 36, 77, 92, 94) for adapting in size and shape to the anatomical space between vertebrae, and apparatus (25, 42, 60, 112) for expanding the implant in the middle portion thereof to conform to the space. In one embodiment, there is provided an artificial intervertebral disk implant having a cylindrical body (20, 41, 56, 88) comprised of cylindrical subunits (32, 34, 36, 92, 94) capable of expansion. In another embodiment, rectangular members (34, 36) or elongate ribs (77) capable of expansion are provided. The implant can be used alone or in various combinations for the purpose of spinal fusion.

Abstract: Method and system for reducing illiteracy of individuals accompanied by improvements in functionality utilizing computer technology to integrate multi-sensory stimuli for synthesis of individualized instruction, evaluation, and prescription for advancement of communications skills. The method is employed to, for instance, advance a learner from status as a nonreader to being a skilled user of a language to express ideas and concepts.

Abstract: There is disclosed an improved battery backed-up explosion proof, safety lighting fixture for illuminating an area containing ignitable materials. The lighting fixture is portable and can be converted to an exit light.

Abstract: There is disclosed an apparatus for facilitating the wrapping of tape by a first individual about the ankle of a second individual, wherein the second individual is seated upon a first seating surface of an upright stand with the calf of the second individual supported on another surface forwardly of the front surface to dispose the ankle in position to be wrapped by the first individual while standing in front of the stand.

Abstract: The invention in its preferred embodiment is a portable life support system for use in warm water diving providing temperature regulation and breathable atmosphere through cryogenic technology while maintaining neutral buoyancy and trim throughout zero-gravity simulation. The portable life support system comprises: a liquid cooled garment; an externally charged, positive expulsion dewar for storing and delivering liquid cryogen; means for circulating liquid cryogen from said dewar in heat exchange relation with the cooling liquid so as to cool the wearer of the garment and vaporize the liquid cryogen; and means forming a semi-closed breathing loop for delivering breathable gas obtained from the vaporized cryogen from said circulating means to the wearer of said garment for breathing purposes.

Abstract: A by-product of corn is utilized in the drilling fluid while drilling boreholes to reduce friction and to reduce the normal adverse effects inherent in each drilling fluid.

Abstract: A cord clasp is disclosed for holding together several loops or folds of an appliance cord in order to keep the cord tidy. The clasp includes two complementary facing jaw members, each having a cord surrounding portion and a handle portion separated by a pivoting ridge. A bias means keeps the jaws or cord surrounding portions together. The jaw members are farther apart at the handle portions than at the closure point of the cord surrounding portions. The jaw members are quite wide and have complementary shaped front edges. The shape of the clasp enables the cords to be grasped or held securely when only a small number of cord loops are gathered or when a large number of cord loops are gathered. The cords will also be held even if the cord surrounding portions do not come completely together.

Abstract: A satellite-based navigation system providing improved accuracy and reliability over wide geographical areas, including remote regions, is disclosed. Ranging-type signals transmitted through two or more commercial geostationary telecommunication satellites are received at known reference locations where navigation and correction information is generated and transmitted back to remote users. At the same time, the reference stations receive signals from the Global Positioning System (GPS), generate corrections for the GPS measurements, then transmit these corrections to the remote user. The remote user receives all of this information plus direct measurements from both the GPS and the geostationary satellites and, using conditional error processing techniques, provides a position solution whose accuracy and reliability exceeds that of GPS alone.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for continuously monitoring the volume of liquid in an underground storage tank and producing data for reconciling volume with throughput. This invention provides a set of algorithms and hardware which allows the loss of product caused by equipment failure or pilferage to be determined in one day or less. In order to accomplish this task this system requires a mechanism in each tank which is capable of indicating liquid depth and temperature to a very high degree of accuracy, a water table indicator, data collection equipment for the dispenser metering system, a local computer system for calculating several algorithms and a second computer, either local or remote, which calculates the daily reconciliation and finds the source of any indicated errors. This second computer also provides reports to the tank operator and activates an alarm system in case there is a loss due to a leak in any part of the tank system.