Abstract: There are disclosed several embodiments of an inflatable tool of the type comprising a mandrel adapted to be raised and lowered within a well bore and an inflatable element including a sleeve of elastomeric material surrounding a tubular section of the mandrel and anchored at its ends to upper and lower heads which are disposed about the tubular section and relatively movable longitudinally toward and away from one another, upon inflation of the sleeve, as well as substantially flat reinforcing strips of sheet metal or other relatively rigid but flexible material which are arranged about the sleeve with their side edges in overlapping relation and with their ends anchored to the heads so that the strips flex outwardly with the sleeve to cause the inflatable element to engage a wall of the well bore.

Abstract: There is disclosed a bi-directional sealing valve having a pair of ball type closure members mounted in the flowway through the body of the valve, one to control flow in one direction and the other to control flow in the opposite direction.

Abstract: A production plunger is disclosed that will automatically reciprocate in the production string of a producing oil well that is also producing some gas. The plunger includes a body having a passageway that allows fluid to bypass the packer cups carried by the body. A valve in the passageway is held open by a bellows filled with air under pressure. The valve is closed by the pressure of the liquid accumulated above the plunger at which time, the gas produced by the well will lift the plunger and the liquid above it to the surface.

Abstract: A combination medication mold and dispenser. The medication is poured into a multicompartment tray and solidifies into troches. The tray is made of a flexible plastic which can be bent to release the troches individually. The tray has a cover attached with a flexible hinge to protect the troches after preparation. The medication can be prepared and dispensed to the patient in the same container. The covered tray can be held in a sleeve to further protect the medication and hold the cover in place.

Abstract: There is disclosed a ball valve which includes a ball closure rotatably mounted within a cavity formed in a main portion of the valve body and spring pressed against a seat ring on one side of the ball closure, and an end portion of the valve body which is removably connected to the main portion to close an opening from the end of the cavity through which the ball closure, seat ring and spring may be removed.

Abstract: A neon sign circuit is disclosed having a neon tube forming the lighted portion of the sign, a source of electrical power, and a high voltage transformer between the electrical power source and the neon tube. The circuit also includes a neon sign circuit malfunction detector circuit. This circuit includes a ground fault detector connected in the circuit between the source of power and the transformer, to ground, and to the neutral load side of the primary windings of the transformer. A pair of adjustable spark gaps are each connected to one of the secondary windings of the transformer between the transformer and the neon tube. A light source is connected between each spark gap and ground and light sensitive resistors are positioned adjacent to each light source.

Abstract: A method is disclosed to provide optimal or near-optimal vertical stacking of seismic records within the constraints imposed by real time data acquisition procedures. This method is characterized by forming output seismic traces which are a sum of prorated input traces, such proration being performed by application of smoothly varying weight functions derived from estimated signal and noise power levels within each input trace. Each weight function is computed using frequency domain filtering techniques to obtain a well behaved bandlimited time series for each function. The method also includes a procedure for clipping grossly large noise spikes in the input traces before the stacking procedure is performed, thereby guarding the weight calculation procedure against aliasing effects induced by such spikes.

Abstract: The present invention teaches a method for uniformly flooding a nuclear imaging device with radiation from a radiation-emitting calibration source and for correcting for the non-uniformity in count density of nuclear imaging sources and apparatus for carrying out the method. The method includes the steps of positioning a nuclear imaging flood source beneath or adjacent a nuclear imaging device such as a gamma camera having a plurality of radiation sensing elements; moving the source in a controlled motion; thereby blurring or diminishing the effects of any non-uniformities in the source. Apparatus for moving the source includes a support for the source and a means for moving the source adjacent to or beneath a camera. Circular motion may be achieved by connecting the support to means for rotating it, such as a motor drive shaft, or by manually rotating it. Other simple motion may be achieved by means which move the source about a simple curve.

Abstract: A core sampling device comprising a drill bit assembly, a drive shoe arranged to house the drill bit, a core sampling tube and a retraction tube. The drill bit assembly includes a bit housing, which is drivingly engaged by the drive shoe, and a series of drill segments which are pivotally attached to the housing to be capable of pivoting between a drilling position and a retracted position. The segments are maintained in the drilling position by the core sampling tube when this is in a forward position, but are allowed to adopt the retracted position when the sampling tube is withdrawn. The core sampling tube engages the drill bit assembly via the retraction tube whereby continued withdrawal of the core sampling tube causes withdrawal of the drill bit assembly from within the drive shoe.

Abstract: A sample handling unit for centrifugation apparatus, especially for cytocentrifugation to produce cell monolayers is disclosed. The sample handling unit is adapted for automated protective processing, e.g. fixation, of matter deposited on a slide during the centrifugation operation. For this purpose the unit has a body defining a deposition chamber, and a treatment fluid reservoir communicating with the deposition chamber via a buffer chamber and a flow path including a weir so arranged that in the position for centrifugation, treatment fluid such as fixative placed in the reservoir is retained therein until centrifugation produces an artificial gravitational field that causes the fluid to flow to the buffer chamber in which it is then retained by the weir for so long as the artificial gravitational field is maintained. Upon decay of that field the fluid flows over the weir towards the deposition chamber.

Abstract: A hydrostreamer includes connectors for joining to depending housings enclosing geophone sensors. These sensors are coupled to the bottom of the sea via such housings by the housings being appropriately weighted and externally surface serrated. Thus, the geophones detect s-waves directly from the ground in single-mode conversion fashion while simultaneously, hydrophones in the hydrostreamers detect p-wave reflections in traditional fashion.

Abstract: A lighting fixture is disclosed for accommodating a bulb parallel to its opening and that has a reflector made from a thin metal sheet located behind the bulb. At each socket housing location, the reflector is slit and an arc piece is formed from the released metal segment. The arc piece forms an effective shield over the socket and related components. Thus, the reflector and shield or shields are formable in a single action stamping step by appropriate manufacturing equipment.

Abstract: A bucket with an auger rotatably mounted in the bottom for use with a construction vehicle for materials transport and distribution such as fill material for an excavation project. The bucket is fitted on one side with a dispensing pipe through which the auger extends so that the fill material moves from the bucket through the dispensing pipe by action of the auger. The fill material is delivered in a uniform manner through the dispensing pipe.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for preparation and delivery of an intravenous therapeutic agent with features that minimize the possibility of contamination, exposure and improper dosage level of the drug. One container is pre-filled with a diluent. Another container is pre-filled with a dry form drug. The containers are joined with a flow connector in between. When the drug is prescribed, the diluent is allowed to flow into the drug container for mixing and is administered.

Abstract: There is disclosed, for use as a drilling fluid additive, a mass of small particles of the shells of curstaceous animals selected from a class consisting of crab and crayfish.

Abstract: An improved process plant instrumentation design system is disclosed in which the amount of data that must be input is greatly reduced by using default information whenever possible. The system also automatically generates the instrumentation loop drawing using the imputted and default information and a program to create the loops. The loop is automatically drawn using a computer-aided design (CAD) program.

Abstract: There are disclosed two embodiments of a hard metal insert adapted to be installed on the face of a cutting tool, each insert comprising inner and outer bodies having particles of carbide or other highly abrasive material sintered in a binder of cobalt or other less abrasive, but tougher metal, and having wear surfaces of their outer ends configured to form a tip on the outer end of the inner body, and wherein the particle size and/or chemical composition of the bodies are such that the inner body is harder, but less tough, than the outer body.

Abstract: There is disclosed a well installation having an electrically responsive device a substantial distance beneath the wellhead and apparatus for supplying electrical current to the device from a source of alternating or time varying current outside the wellhead, which apparatus includes an electrical connector comprising a first coil on the outer side and a second coil on the inner side of a non-magnetic portion of a pressure containing wall of the well, whereby the supply of varying current from the source to the first coil forms an inductive coupling between it and the second coil of the connector.