Abstract: A sorting machine for separating substandard items from a continuous flow of fungible items is disclosed wherein the ejector means for removing the detected substandard items includes an air blast nozzle having a built-in end means for creating a pressure differential in the blast to keep particle dust from rising and quickly causing the optical window in front of the detector sensor or sensors to coat and become opaque. The pressure means is preferably a tab or other surface at a right angle to the nozzle or parallel to the product flow, its direction being on the opposite side of the nozzle from the window. By minimizing dust build-up on the window, down time of the sorting machine for window cleaning is minimized.

Abstract: A high efficiency, electronic ballast is taught for high pressure sodium (HPS) lamps. The ballast is powered by AC line current which is rectified so that 160 volts of direct current lights the lamp. The ballast maintains constant wattage to the lamp and constant line wattage. A striker circuit develops a high voltage, short duration pulse to strike the lamp.

Abstract: A dispensing apparatus for attaching to the bottleneck of a bottle filled with a carbonated drink. The apparatus includes an adapter ring with angled surfaces for sealing onto the bottleneck and a valve housing attached to the adapter ring. The valve housing having a valve closure member that diverges away from sloping walls of an entry chamber to provide a range of control for flow control, and soft contours at every juncture to minimize turbulence.

Abstract: There is disclosed an offshore well installation wherein a shoulder of a casing hanger body supported within a casing head on a platform at the water surface has been lowered onto a seat in the head so as to support a casing string anchored at its lower end to a mudline hanger in tension, the lower end of the hanger body being connected to the upper end of the string by an adjustable sub which is manpulated by a tool lowered through the hanger body and into the sub so as to adjust it from an extended position in which its shoulder is above the seat in the head to a retracted position in which the shoulder is seated on the head and the casing string is placed in tension.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for detecting the presence or absence of anisotropy in a subterranean geological formation and for determining its orientation. In a first preferred embodiment, the method utilizes a seismic source which generates circularly polarized shear waves and directs them to a target formation. These waves undergo wave splitting on encountering anisotropic conditions and the resulting components are linearly polarized and are reflected to the surface or to a bore hole where they are detected by receivers. The reflected arrivals are then analyzed to detect the presence and orientation of the linearly polarized arrivals as is known in the prior art. In an alternative preferred embodiment, the use of a circularly polarized source is simulated by generating two orthogonal waves linearly polarized 90.degree. out of phase with respect to each other.

Abstract: A marine seismic cable network including cables towed parallel to the surface of the sea at at least two depths for providing time analysis of reflected seismic data to dimensionally clarify characteristics of reflecting surfaces.

Abstract: There is provided a heater which includes a vessel in which liquid is contained, and a heater to heat the liquid, the vessel having an inlet by which liquid can be fed into the vessel, and an outlet through which liquid may flow to a point of delivery. The inlet comprises a supply conduit connected to a liquid supply, and liquid flowing along the supply conduit is mixed with a gas. A gas trap is provided to collect gas passing with the liquid from the supply conduit within the vessel, and includes an opening to release collected gas into the vessel, whereby at least when the liquid flow along the supply conduit is stemmed, the released gas provides an expansion space in the vessel into which liquid can expand during subsequent heating, the expansion space being vented from the vessel. An air control valve restricts the amount of gas available for mixing with the liquid as the liquid flow rate through the supply conduit increases, thereby preventing aeration of the liquid.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for use in drilling an offshore well wherein a drill string suspended from a drill ship for extension within a riser pipe, lower marine riser package and subsea wellhead including a blowout preventer stack may be sheared at a location intermediate the lower end of the riser pipe and a flex or ball joint of the riser package.

Abstract: A polymeric tape intended for use underground near service lines with a biocide incorporated into the polymer. The biocide's presence in the tape after burial discourages vegetative, fungal or other biological growth near the tape. Specifically tree root growth destructive to pipes is prevented. The biocide is incorporated into the plastic tape or the plastic coating on the metallic layer of a detectable tape. The biocide is incorporated in an effective amount to have biocidal activity on the surface of the tape or in increased amounts which leach form the tape.

Abstract: A rugged self-contained tool for performing golf ball retrieval from remote and otherwise inaccessible areas of a water hazard comprising a plurality of rigidly mounted, ball-pinching, spaced, resilient discs upon an axle supported rotatably by and between the ends of a one-half rectangular cooperating ball-confining frame. The tool can be deployed by casting same into remote or otherwise inaccessible areas retaining control thereof by means of a cord attached to an eyelet centrally located on the frame, which cord, when pulled steadily, rolls the tool upon the bottom of the water hazard returning the tool and its retained contents to the user. The frame of the tool provides hydroplaning downward pressure on the tool and the discs have multiple straight sides at their outer peripheries to provide traction with the bottom.

Abstract: A tissue or like processing method involving application of liquids to carrier-mounted material, e.g. a thin tissue section mounted on a microscope slide (10), is characterized by disposing a channel-defining element (1) adjacent to the carrier (10) to form an assembly providing an enclosure (11) for the material on the carrier. The enclosure (11) has an inlet (13) and an outlet (14) and has capillary dimensions. The assembly is disposed with the inlet (13) above the outlet (14) and liquid introduced into the inlet fills the enclosure and is retained in contact with the material on the carrier by surface tension effect. Further liquid introduced to the inlet (13) displaces the first liquid progressively to the outlet (14). A sequence of liquids can thus be brought successively into contact with the material with minimum wastage, by feeding the liquids successively to the inlet (13) of an assembly.

Abstract: Concrete panels for making concrete decks or floors for spanning between structural supports; parts of such panels including shear connectors, thread formers, and resilient grout seals; tools for manipulating grout-seals; co-acting forms for making panels; interior and overhang panels and apparatuses and methods for fabricating and using such panels. The panels have a seal member device connected to a body member for sealing off a space between the panel and a structural support on which the panel rests.

Abstract: Hydraulic wing actuator for turning movement of a spindle, especially a rudder stock (3), comprising a lower part (2) fixed to the ship hull and an upper part (1) secured to the lower part and which together define a substantially torus shaped guiding path for wings (8, 7) connected with the lower part and the rudder stock respectively, where a ball shaped hub (4) being secured to the rudder stock (3) and journalled slideably in the lower and upper parts, creating the radially inward facing, concave limitation of the guiding path, which remaining torus shaped part being formed by the upper and lower parts, at least one fixed partition wall (5) being connected with the lower part and the upper part and comprising to both sides protruding wings (8) abutting tightly to the guiding path, whereby one fluid conduit leads to each side of each fixed partition wall (5) for alternatively pressurizing or depressing the two spaces on both sides of the partition walls, and at least one carrier (6) being fixedly connected

Abstract: A method of deterministically computer generating a model of a response voltage waveform of a seismic receiver employed in a seismic, particularly marine, data gathering system, the model incorporating factors that have been identified as significant contributions to amplitude, such as directivity, divergence, attenuation, interbed multiples, and transmissivity. The model is generated from the mathematical manipulation of well log data and data gathering system characteristics into a seismic range equation, namely: ##EQU1## where E.sub.r (f)=received energy densityE(f)=radiated energy densityD(l.theta..sub.s, .phi..sub.s,f)=source directivity along .theta..sub.s,.phi..sub.s direction at the sourceA.sub.c (.theta..sub.H,.phi..sub.H,f)=Capture area along .theta..sub.H,.phi..sub.H direction at the hydrophone arrayR.sub.T =target reflection coefficientD.sub.

Abstract: There is disclosed apparatus which comprises a corneal topographer including a video camera or charge-coupled-device camera system for sensing images of rings of light reflected from the cornea, and means for processing the image rings to produce data useful in determining the contour of the cornea of a human eye.

Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicular apparatus for use in handling recycleable material which includes a pair of end-to-end first containers supported on each side of the vehicle and each having a side opening into which such material may be loaded at a place of connection, and a pair of second and larger containers supported on the vehicle above and intermediate the pairs of first containers and each having a top opening to receive material from a first container. Each pair of first containers are adapted to be moved together between their loading positions and unloading positions in which the side opening in each is arranged to dump material therefrom into the top opening in a second container, and each of the second containers is adapted to be moved independently of the other between its loading position and an unloading position in which its top opening is arranged to dump material therefrom onto a place of disposal at the side of the vehicle.

Abstract: A pressure relief valve is disclosed that includes a ball valve and an electrically powered valve operator for opening and closing the valve in response to electrical signals. A conduit connects a piezoelectric pressure gauge to upstream pressure. The gauge sends opening and closing electrical signals to the operator when the pressure in the conduit reaches preselected amounts.

Abstract: There are disclosed several embodiments of a flow diverter each of which includes a housing installed beneath the floor of a drilling rig on the upper end of a conductor pipe through which a well is to be drilled, a thrust plate sealably supported within a bore through the housing above a side outlet in the housing through which well fluid may be diverted, and a sealing element carried within the bore of the thrust plate for sealably engaging about a pipe string extending into the conductor pipe.

Abstract: There is disclosed a reciprocating rod type downhole pump for an oil well wherein a filter on the lower end of the barrel of the pump includes a solid body of filtering media having small tortuous passageways connecting its inner and outer sides and decreasing in size from its outer to its inner side.