Abstract: Apparatus for forming threads of varying pitch on a work piece, by first producing a partial thread and groove whose pitch does not vary in accordance with a pattern of pitch variation desired for the final product, and then reshaping the partial thread and groove to a final form whose pitch does vary in accordance with the desired pattern. The two steps may be performed by a single tool having a series of thread cutting projections which form the partial thread, and having one or two additional projections which then reshape the partial thread to its final form.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for enhancing production from a well by lowering a tubular conductor into the well to a position in which the conductor extends downwardly from near the surface of the earth to a zone beneath the surface, and advancing a drilling unit past a whipstock held by the tubular conductor at the predetermined zone, and thereby deflecting the drilling unit in a lateral direction through an opening in a side wall of the conductor into the earth formation about the conductor. The whipstock may initially be attached to the drilling unit by a shear connection. An anchor may lock the lower end of the tubular conductor in place in the well, with a rotatively adjustable connection enabling rotation of the tubular conductor to different rotary positions for producing holes in the formation in different directions. A second whipstock may be lowerable into the tubular conductor to direct liners from within the conductor into the holes formed in the formation.

Abstract: A portable abrading or polishing tool including a tool body carrying an air motor which drives an abrading or polishing head relative to the tool body, with the tool including an aspirator energized by pressurized air for inducing a flow of water to a work surface, and with air being delivered from a source to the motor and the aspirator separately, so that the air passing through the aspirator and to the work surface does not first pass through the motor. A check valve prevents reverse flow of water from the aspirator to the motor when the supply of pressurized air is shut off, to thus prevent damage to the motor by the water. Means are provided for holding the check valve in closed condition even when air is supplied to the motor, to enable lubrication of the tool by air containing entrained lubricant without delivery of the lubricant to the aspirator or work surface.

Abstract: A portable abrading tool including a tool body and a head which is movable relative to the tool body by a motor and is adapted to carry a sheet of sandpaper or other element for abrading or polishing a work surface, with the head containing a first passage or passages for conducting a flow of incoming water through the interior of the head to the work surface, and an additional passage or passages for conducting a suction induced flow of intermixed air, water and abraded particles from the work surface through the interior of the head in isolation from the incoming water and without flow of the intermixed air, water and particles through the first passage or passages.

Abstract: A self locking cord lock including a cage containing a passage through which a cord or cords can extend, a slide body movable within the cage between a locking position for retaining the cord or cords against movement in a predetermined first direction and a released position permitting such movement, and a spring yieldingly urging the slide body in that direction relative to the cage and toward locking position, with the slide body having a handle portion projecting in the opposite direction beyond the spring and to the exterior of the cage and which is adapted to be pulled by a user to move the slide body in that opposite direction to released position. The spring is preferably molded integrally with the slide body, having a first end attached to the slide body and a second free end bearing yieldingly against a shoulder on the cage. The spring arm may be bowed laterally through an opening in a wall of the cage and then back into the cage and into an opening formed in the slide body.

Abstract: A grip assembly for a gun having a downwardly projecting handle, which assembly includes two body panels to be received at opposite sides of the handle, and a grip unit having two side panels at outer sides of the body panels and a forward portion connecting the grip panels in front of the handle. The grip panels are preferably connected to the body panels by two screws and nuts. A third screw extends through an opening in one of the body panels, to hold it in place, and is desirably at a location to be covered by the corresponding grip panel. The third screw may be engageable with a third nut which is carried by the other body panel and is at a location to be covered by the other grip panel.

Abstract: A method of forming a threading tool for producing a thread of varying pitch in a work piece by relative rotary and axial movement between the tool and work piece. The tool is constructed to have a series of threading projections including a first series of pre-forming projections for initially producing a partial thread and groove in the work piece, and one or two final projections for reshaping the partial thread to have the varying pitch.

Abstract: A gun sight assembly including a body to be held against a surface of a gun, a sight carried by the body, an anchoring part received within a dovetail groove in the gun, and a threaded fastener extending through an opening in the body and threadedly connected to the anchoring part and operable to pull the anchoring part toward the body in a manner tightening the anchoring part against converging side walls of the dovetail groove and tightening the body against the surface of the gun.

Abstract: A gun grip assembly including two body panels to be received at the opposite sides of a gun handle, and two outer grip panels to be received at the outer sides of the two body panels respectively and preferably forming side portions of a grip unit having a connecting portion extending between and interconnecting the two side portions. The side portions of the grip unit are attached to the two body panels respectively, and the body panels contain openings at locations offset from/the side portions of the grip unit to receive threaded fasteners which extend through the body panels but not through the side portions of the grip unit and which tighten the body panels against the opposite sides of the handle.

Abstract: A portable abrading tool including a cylinder body containing a piston which is reciprocable relative to the body under the control of a valve mechanism, a shoe for carrying sandpaper or another abrading element which is reciprocated in a straight line by the piston but oppositely from the reciprocating movement of the piston, a counterweight which is reciprocated essentially in unison with the piston but oppositely from the shoe, and means yieldingly urging the piston and counterweight in a predetermined axial direction and yieldingly urging the shoe in the opposite direction relative to the body to assure that when the operation of the tool is stopped the moving parts of the tool will automatically return to a position in which the valve mechanism is able to deliver fluid to the piston and cylinder structure in a manner recommencing the reciprocating movement.

Abstract: A pipe handling machine for moving well pipes arranged essentially horizontally and essentially parallel to one another on a deck, and including a carriage which may contain an operator's control cabin and is mounted by tracks for movement transversely of the pipes, with an arm projecting from the carriage and adapted to support a pipe from one of its ends as a cantilever, and with the arm being power actuable upwardly and downwardly to raise and lower a pipe and in its elevated position shift the pipe laterally with the carriage. The arm may deliver the pipe to or receive it from an inclined conveyor leading to the rig floor. Preferably, two such machines are provided for shifting pipes on two storage decks at different levels, and for delivering pipes to or from an intermediate conveyor system extending between the two decks.

Abstract: A wet sanding tool including a tool body carrying a motor which drives a head carrying a sheet of sandpaper or other abrading element, with the tool being adapted to deliver water to the work surface during a sanding operation, and preferably also to conduct a suction induced flow of air, water and abraded particles from the work surface. The tool desirably includes a shroud disposed about the power driven sanding head for confining the flow of air, water and abraded particles from the work surface, and having a seal element carried by the periphery of the shroud and engageable with the work surface about the head. Water may be delivered to the work surface through a space within the interior of the shroud and through passages in the driven head. Two seal elements between the shroud and head may isolate the flow of incoming water from the outgoing flow of air, water and abraded particles.

Abstract: A cord lock including a body of resiliently deformable elastomeric material containing a passage through which one or more cords extend, with the passage having walls urged by the resilience of the elastomeric material against opposite sides of a cord or cords in the passage to resist movement of the cord or cords longitudinally relative to the body, and with the body being manually compressible by a user in a manner spreading the walls of the passage apart against the resilience of the elastomeric material and thereby releasing the cord or cords for movement longitudinally relative to the body. The cords may be of a type having outer essentially smooth and essentially continuous preferably cylindrical surfaces for frictionally contacting the walls of the passage. Flexible resinous plastic tubing is the preferred material for the cords. The elastomeric body of the lock device has projections at its opposite sides to be engaged by the thumb and forefinger of a user's hand in squeezing the body of the device.

Abstract: An elevator for supporting a string of pipe in a well rig is actuable between a closed condition for gripping of the pipe and an open condition, and includes a safety device for preventing opening of the elevator when a string of pipe is positioned in and supported by the elevator, to thus prevent accidental dropping of the string into a well. The elevator may be opened and closed by air pressure, with the safety device preferably including a sensing element positioned to respond to the presence of a well pipe in the elevator at a location to be supported thereby, and a valve actuable by the sensing element to control the delivery of pressure fluid to the elevator.

Abstract: A machine for filling fruit or other items into containers, and including a conveyor for feeding items to a location from which they are dropped into a container, with a member being provided near the discharge end of the conveyor for contacting the items as they fall downwardly from the conveyor and preventing or reducing damage thereto. The member may be actuable between an active position for contacting the falling items and a retracted position. The member may be inclined to deflect the falling items along an inclined path into the container, and is preferably cushioned. The mentioned conveyor fills the container up to a predetermined partially filled condition, with the final few items being delivered to the container by a second conveyor. The second conveyor is adjacent the first, and delivers items to the container at a second location along its path of movement, and is driven at two speeds to deliver items first at a relatively fast pace and then at a slower rate.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for forming threads of varying pitch on a work piece, by first producing a partial thread and groove whose pitch does not vary in accordance with a pattern of pitch variation desired for the final product, and then reshaping the partial thread and groove to a final form whose pitch does vary in accordance with the desired pattern. The two steps may be performed by a single tool having a series of thread cutting projections which form the partial thread, and having one or two additional projections which then reshape the partial thread to its final form.

Abstract: A device for power actuating a valve or other controlled unit, including a member operable by movement in opposite directions to move the controlled unit to different positions, a spring yieldingly urging the member in one of those directions, and a latching mechanism which is urged by the pressure of a body of fluid to a condition releasably retaining the member against movement by the spring. The latching mechanism is constructed to have a mechanical advantage enabling a relatively small force exerted by the body of fluid to resist a much greater force exerted by the spring. The latching mechanism includes two latching elements which are interengageable to releasably retain the member against movement by the spring, with one of the elements being shiftable in opposite directions by a manual operating member to manually actuate the member and also to vary the position in which the latching mechanism retains the member.

Abstract: A roofing tile including a tile body having an upper surface covered with a fire resistant coating including an acrylic or asphaltic adhesive, usually the former, containing a wire mesh and intermixed with fire retardant particles formed of a material or materials selected from the group consisting of sodium carbonate, ammonium phosphate and a light weight portland cement concrete, with decorative and heat resistant particles adhered to the upper surface of the adhesive, and desirably including a top layer of sodium silicate covering the last mentioned particles.