Abstract: Method of erecting a minimal structure offshore platform around an existing caisson or drive pipe without any bolted, grouted, or underwater welded connections. This method involves the welding of a stop ring onto the caisson at a point just above the water line. A template having two sleeves for receiving piles and a sleeve for receiving a caisson is lowered over the caisson until the template rests on the stop ring. The template is concentrically aligned by a shim mounted to the top of the caisson sleeve. The caisson sleeve is centered around the caisson by inserting shims between the caisson and the caisson sleeve, and then the caisson sleeve is welded to the caisson and the stop ring. Piles are driven through the pile sleeves to grade using shims on the high point of the pile sleeve to align the pile with the axis of the sleeve as the pile sections are welded together. Once the piles are driven, the pile sleeves are centered around the piles by inserting shims between the piles and the piles sleeves.

Abstract: There are disclosed two embodiments of a renovated ceiling system of the type in which acoustical tiles are suspended in side-by-side relation by a grid of inverted tee-shaped hangers, each such embodiment including a lower level of acoustical tiles suspended from the hangers of the existing ceiling system by means of parts which are snapped into releasable attachment to the hangers as well as to one another merely in response to lifting of the parts from below.

Abstract: A cleaning composition for surfaces which contains a disappearing dye which can include a germicide. The composition is packaged airtight. The dye is pH sensitive so that upon exposure to air the dye disappears. The delivery of the cleaner gives a visual check as to the surface contacted.

Abstract: A method for seismic trace interpolation by dip range analysis is disclosed. In the preferred embodiment, a series of dip ranges are defined by a plurality of dips. A trace estimate for each of the dip ranges is generated by filtering with a mathematically integrated time shift in each frequency component of each seismic trace appearing in the dip range. These filtered frequency components are then passed through a low pass filter. The sum of the filtered frequency components is the trace estimate. The seismic traces are then demodulated to obtain the trace envelopes whose values along the above mentioned dips are examined for continuity. A continuity factor is developed for each dip and then each of the continuity factors is summed and the sum divided by the number of continuity factors to obtain a weighting function. The weighting functions are multiplied with the trace estimates, and the results summed to obtain the interpolated trace.

Abstract: A kit for converting a hand-powered wheelchair to an electric motor-powered wheelchair is disclosed. The kit includes a pair of DC electric motors, each motor being connected to a drive wheel for rotating the drive wheel. The motors are mounted on the supporting frame of the chair for pivotal movement relative to the frame between a first position with the drive wheel adjacent to but spaced from the rim of one of the large diameter rear wheels of the chair and a second position with the drive wheels in engagement with the wheels so that rotation of the drive wheels will rotate the large wheels and move the chair. Levers are mounted on the frame for moving the motors between the first and second positions. A battery supplies power to the motors through switches that control the flow of electricity to the motors.

Abstract: An isolator and method of using it for providing a contamination-free atmosphere in which a surgical procedure can be performed or equipment that is sensitive to environmental contamination can be assembled. The isolator includes an inflatable bag of flexible material through which filtered air is circulated. For use in surgery, a portion of the lower side is made of an elastic surgical drape material to allow a body member upon which a surgical procedure is to be performed to be pulled into the work space of the bag. A portion of the top side of the bag is made of a relatively stiff, optically transparent, material through which the surgeon or the assembly worker can view the work area. A plurality of open-ended sleeves are attached to the bag through which the hands and arms of the surgeon and his assistants or the worker can extend into the work space.

Abstract: A fluid control valve having a discharge port controlled by an obturator is characterised by the discharge port being shaped to cause a marked drop in back pressure at a small critical opening distance of the obturator from the port, thereby to provide impetus to initiating discharge. The discharge port has effectively a concave surrounding surface for this purpose. To achieve good sealing with light loading, the port preferably also has a convex surface immediately surrounding its orifice. The preferred configuration is a convex surface bounded by a wall. The obturator may be resiliently loaded to enable its response to dynamic effects of fluid flow to enhance opening "lift". The obturator may be, e.g. a lever, a diaphragm or the armature of a solenoid.

Abstract: There are disclosed two embodiments of a pipeline padding machine which comprises a first rearwardly inclined conveyor mounted on a vehicle adapted to be moved along a ditch in which a pipeline has been laid and over a row of spoil which has been removed from the ditch, and a scoop on the forward end of the first conveyor for removing a layer of the spoil and deliverying it onto the first conveyor as the vehicle moves over the row of spoil. The first conveyor is arranged to move the spoil rearwardly and thus onto a second screen at its rearward end having means for moving that portion of the spoil which does not pass it in a rearward direction. A second conveyor mounted on the vehicle beneath the screen for receiving spoil which passes it and moving the spoil toward one end of the second conveyor, and a third conveyor is mounted on the vehicle for receiving spoil from the end of the second conveyor and extending laterally of the vehicle for moving that spoil into the ditch and over the pipeline.

Abstract: An epicardial multifunctional probe has been designed to measure blood flow velocity and muscle thickening with two sensors. The probe is implantable and remains inside the patient after surgery. The probe is removable through a small opening in the patient's chest.

Abstract: A combination circulating valve and fluid unloader adapted for connecting in a tubing string disposed within the well bore of a producing well which is closed to downward flow of fluids therethrough. The valve includes a tubular member with ports through the wall thereof having a sliding sleeve disposed around the outside surface which is also provided with ports through the wall thereof for passage of fluid into the annulus. Opening and closing of the valve is accomplished by shifting the sliding sleeve between three positions by changing the pressure of the fluids contained in the tubing string to overcome the force exerted by a spring biasing the sliding sleeve toward a first, closed position. When the pressure of the fluid is increased to a first selected pressure, the sliding sleeve is shifted with respect to the tubular member to a second, circulating position in which the ports of the tubular member are in fluid communication with the ports of the sliding sleeve.

Abstract: A tieback connector for use in connecting the lower end of a well conductor to the upper end of a tubular wellhead member by a radially movable split locking ring carried by the tieback connector for locking engagement within grooves formed in the bore of the wellhead member.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for surgically implanting a contour nasal implant into a nose of a patient to elevate the nasal tip and to augment and to improve the frontal and profile views of the patient's nose.

Abstract: A tool for repairing out-of-round coupling members on a garden hose. A pair of essentially identical levers are pivoted together. Each of the levers is configured as a partially cylindrical nose, a curved jaw and an elongated handle. The noses can be inserted in the coupling swivel (female coupling member) or the nipple (male coupling member) can be inserted in openings in the jaws when the handles are moved apart. The coupling swivel or nipple, as applicable, can be partially reshaped with the tool by moving the handles together.

Abstract: A book clip made from a single piece of wire and having two rear legs that protrude downwardly to be inserted behind several pages respectively on the left and right side behind open, facing pages of a book being read and a front horizontal or transverse piece pinched rearwardly by an arch piece attached to the rear legs and to the front transverse piece to keep the top of the pages open while causing the bottom of the book to flare open to form a base for providing for the book to stand upright by itself.

Abstract: A bi-level ballast network is disclosed for operating an HID lamp at either a low power or standby level and at a high power or full light level. The network includes an unswitched capacitor connected to the transformer ballast coil and a switched capacitor connected to a solid state relay (SSR) circuit, the electronic components providing the switching therein being back-to-back SCR's. When the SSR is operated the contacts connected to the switched capacitor open or close at the next subsequent zero crossing of the applied ac source voltage. This changes the capacitance of the network to increase the power to the lamp or decrease the power thereto depending on the operating condition prior to the SSR being operated. Current, voltage and dvdt protection devices are also provided.

Abstract: A tubular connection comprising a pin end and a box end of adjacent joints having a conical metal-to-metal seal located with respect to the pin end forward thread set and its nose, the improvement of a circumferential groove in the pin end forward of the metal-to-metal seal which carries an elastomeric sealing ring radially extending beyond the limits of the groove. The metal-to-metal makeup of the connection causes by conical deformation a slight wedge shape opening to form forward of the metal-to-metal seal. The elastomeric material extrudes to fill this wedge shape opening to thereby form a compound seal forward of the metal-to-metal seal.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for measuring binding release torque. In one embodiment the apparatus (10) has a foot member (12) having a movable toe member (14) connected thereto which can, upon insertion into footwear (46), accommodate footwear of different sizes and types. A leg bar (16) extends upwardly from the foot member (12) and is secured thereto for bearing lateral and vertical torques for testing bindings. The leg bar (16) is provided with a recess (22) for receiving a torque measuring apparatus such as a torque wrench and a strap or connector (42) attached to the leg bar (16) encompasses the sole of the footwear (46) emplaced in the bindings (48, 50) to be tested. The methods and apparatus are also suitable for testing ski boot bindings.

Abstract: An axial fan is disclosed that includes a hub supported for rotation around the longitudinal axis of the fan, a plurality of impeller blades attached to the hub and extending radially from the axis of rotation, a shroud assembly including a band encircling the blades and spaced from the tips of the blades a sufficient distance to provide ample clearance to avoid contact between the blades and the band during shipment and operation of the fan, the shroud further including an orifice positioned upstream of the blades for preventing air from flowing between the orifice and the band, the orifice having a downstream end located adjacent to but spaced from the impeller blades and having a diameter such that the impeller blades extend outwardly from the hub beyond the orifice so that the flow of air over the tips of the impeller blades is substantially reduced, which increases the efficiency of the fan.

Abstract: This invention is an implantable, extractable probe for biological sensors which has a stable attachment to different sizes of vessels or organs and is safety and easily removed from the patient. The body of the probe is made up of a biocompatible flexible material. The probe encircles the vessel or organ to be monitored by suture attachment of the probe body to itself. A release wire within the probe body holds the suture in place until time for the removal of the probe from the body. The probe is then extracted without a surgical procedure.