Abstract: An actuator for moving a valve or other controlled part in correspondence with variations in an input signal and including a piston movable in opposite directions within a cylinder and having a smaller effective area exposed to fluid in a first chamber at one side of the piston than to fluid in a second chamber at the opposite side of the piston, a pressure fluid source delivering pressurized fluid to the first of these chambers and delivering pressurized fluid to the second chamber through a three way valve having a body containing inlet and outlet openings and a valve element movable relative thereto in a manner varying the pressure delivered to the second chamber of the cylinder.

Abstract: A building structure and method provides a cast floor supported on columns, the floor including a bottom surface having a dome-shaped region supported by at least three of the columns, the floor having a thickness that gradually increases in all directions outwardly from a crown in the dome-shaped region. The floor is reinforced by post-tensioning members that sag from near a top surface at polygonal cell region boundaries, the corners of which are at the columns supporting the dome-shaped region, to near the bottom surface for compressively stressing the cast material and upwardly biasing the floor. The floor is economically constructred using modern fly-form modules equipped with dome-shaped formwork.

Abstract: A well pipe handling machine for removing a series of stands of pipe from the upper end of a well pipe string and storing the stands in a rack offset to a side of the well axis and/or returning the stands sequentially from the rack for reconnection to the string. The machine includes a support which carries units for holding a pipe in vertical condition and is movable between a position in which the pipe is in alignment with the well axis and a location near the storage rack, and which preferably takes the form of a vertically extending column structure movable horizontally by two synchronized drive mechanisms at the top and bottom of the column structure. The pipe holding units are desirably shiftable upwardly and downwardly relative to the support and also generally horizontally toward and away from the support for placement of the pipe stands in the rack and removal therefrom.

Abstract: A well pipe handling machine for removing a series of stands of pipe from the upper end of a well pipe string and storing the stands in a rack offset to a side of the well axis and/or returning the stands sequentially from the rack for reconnection to the string. The machine includes a support which carries means for holding a pipe in vertical condition and is movable between a position in which the pipe is in alignment with the well axis and a location near the storage rack, and which preferably takes the form of a vertically extending column structure movable horizontally by two synchronized drive mechanisms at the top and bottom of the column structure. The pipe holding means are desirably shiftable upwardly and downwardly relative to the support and also generally horizontally toward and away from the support for placement of the pipe stands in the rack and removal therefrom.

Abstract: A racquet having interwoven longitudinal and transverse strings, with most of the transverse strings being arranged in pairs in a pattern locating the two transverse strings of each pair in close proximity to one another, and with successive pairs being spaced apart a distance greater than the individual strings of a pair. The two strings of each pair of transverse strings are interwoven with the longitudinal strings in phase with one another, so that both of the strings of the pair are received at the same side of each longitudinal string. In conjunction with this stringing pattern, there is provided at least one elongated positioning element associated with and closely adjacent one of the pairs of transverse strings and extending therewith past a series of longitudinal strings and having locating surfaces acting to block lateral deflection of the longitudinal strings.

Abstract: A portable abrading tool including a body which is adapted to be held by a user and which carries a motor, a head adapted to carry a sheet of sandpaper or other element for abrading a work surface, a drive connection for transmitting power from the motor to the head to power actuate the head relative to the body, preferably orbitally, and a flexible boot or other structure extending essentially about the drive connection and enclosing a space at the back of the head. The tool preferably contains suction passages which direct a vacuum induced flow of air and particles abraded from the work surface from a location near the work surface to a dust collection bag or discharge location without flow of the abraded particles through the mentioned enclosed space at the back of the head. The passages also direct a vacuum induced flow of air free of abraded particles from that enclosed space.

Abstract: A power driven sanding tool having a resiliently deformable backing pad to which a sheet of sandpaper is attached and by which the sandpaper is actuated to abrade a workpiece, with the pad containing internal passages through which a flow of air and abraded particles are drawn by suction from a location near the workpiece to a dust collection bag or the like, and with the pad containing an element more rigid than the deformable cushioning material of the pad and adapted to prevent deformation of the cushioning material by the force of the suction to thus avoid constriction of the air-flow passages by the force of the suction.

Abstract: A carburetor including a fuel inlet and first air inlet delivering fuel and air to a location at which they are intermixed, and from which they flow toward an outlet of the device, with additional air being introduced into the stream through a second air inlet at a location downstream of the fuel inlet and the first air inlet. A fuel metering valve may deliver fuel to the fuel inlet in precisely measured fashion, with the fuel being supplied to the metering valve by a pressure regulator. The second air inlet may include an air valve assembly having sleeves with apertured side walls which are relatively rotatable to vary the rate of delivery of air through that valve assembly. Full vaporization of the fuel may be enhanced by introduction of air into the stream or streams of intermixed fuel and air at other locations along a circuitous path or paths followed by the fuel air mixture.

Abstract: A portable abrading or polishing tool including a motor which drives orbitally a head carrying a working pad to which sandpaper or the like may be attached, with the motor of the device driving a carrier about a first axis, and with the carrier mounting the head to turn relative thereto about a second axis. The head and carrier are connected together by bearings, preferably including a large bearing near the head and a smaller bearing offset toward the motor. A counterweight structure is connected to the carrier and located near the axially outer end of the bearings for close coupling with the head and reduction of vibration in use. Fasteners attaching the counterweight to the carrier may serve a secondary purpose of forceably pulling the head and bearings from the carrier during disassembly. An elastomeric handle extending over the motor prevents transmission of low temperatures to a user's hand, and cushions engagement with the motor.

Abstract: A building material is produced by forming a moldable aqueous composition including intermixed portland cement, gypsum, sodium hydroxide, sodium silicate, water, particles of a metal or metals selected from the group consisting of aluminum and zinc, and preferably also sodium thiosulfate, shaping the composition to a desired configuration, and then drying it to a hardened porous condition.

Abstract: A biophysiometer having two seat sections which support the right and left sides respectively of a person's body, and are adapted for relative vertical movement and relative tilting movement to positions displacing the two sides of the body relative to one another in a manner tending to correct an abnormal posture condition or otherwise attain a desired treatment effect. The two seat sections are preferably supported by a balancing connection operatively interconnecting them in a relation in which downward movement of one of the sections causes upward movement of the other section, and vice-a-versa. Desirably, the apparatus includes automatic control means which respond to displacement of the two seat sections relative to one another by the weight or positioning of a person's body, and then automatically actuate the seat sections to changed relative positions tending to correct the posture or other abnormal condition sensed by the device.

Abstract: A device for retaining two cords, which may be opposite ends of a single cord, against longitudinal movement in a predetermined direction, and including an actuating member connected to a body for pivotal movement between locking and released positions, and two separate locking members carried by the actuating member for pivotal movement therewith and engaging the two cords respectively to retain them against movement. Each of the locking members is also free for pivotal movement relative to the actuating member and relative to the other locking member in a manner automatically tightening the grip on the corresponding cord in response to the application of longitudinal pulling force to the cord. The actuating member and locking members are connected to the body of the device by a pivot pin which extends between two side walls of the body and through a tubular mounting portion of the actuating member and is preferably retained in assembled position by a snap detent arrangement.

Abstract: A magnetic sensing device for determining the presence of a non-magnetic portion of an otherwise magnetic metal workpiece, including a body which is adapted to be brought into close proximity to a surface of the workpiece and to be moved along that surface and which carries a magnet movable relative to the body between an active position near the workpiece surface and a retracted position farther away from that surface, with the magnet being retained in its active position near the surface when received opposite a portion of the workpiece which is formed of magnetic metal and being spring urged away from the surface of the workpiece and from the active position of the magnet to its retracted position when the magnet is received opposite a non-magnetic portion of the workpiece, and a manual actuator which is movably carried by the body and has a portion exposed for manual actuation when the body is in its position of use closely proximate the workpiece surface, and which is adapted upon manual actuation to dis

Abstract: Apparatus for use during connection of a length of pipe to the upper end of a drill string, preferably in a top drive drilling arrangement, and including a back-up tool for retaining the upper end of the drill string against rotation as the added length of pipe is connected threadedly thereto. This back-up tool is mounted for movement between an active position for engaging and holding the upper end of the drill string and a laterally retracted position.

Abstract: A camera mount for supporting a camera at the outside of a vehicle, including two vertical guides along which two slides are movable upwardly and downwardly to differently adjusted levels and which carry a platform on which a camera can be mounted, with the platform being adjustable horizontally relative to the slides and having pivotal connections with the slides to facilitate adjustment of the platform without the possibility of a binding action. The device may be connected to a vehicle by two upper connector elements adapted to rest on the upper edge of a door frame, and two lower elements attached to vertically adjustable lower portions or structures of the device and engageable with the vehicle at a lower level.

Abstract: A rigid connection for joining together two successive sections of a string of piling or the like includes a tubular box member, a pin member having a portion which projects into the box member, a locking member operable to releasably hold the pin and box members against separation, and a retaining element for holding the locking member in its active locking position. The locking member may take the form of a split ring having an interruption within which the retaining element is receivable to hold the locking member in an expanded locking condition. The locking member is preferably initially actuated to its locking condition by fluid pressure actuated means.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for facilitating the drilling of a well with a top drive unit having a motor which is connected to the upper end of the drill string and moves upwardly and downwardly therewith. The methods and apparatus of the invention enable the drill string to be pulled upwardly off of the bottom of the well each time an additional length of drill pipe is added to the string, with the connection between that added length and the upper end of the string being made at an elevated location spaced above the rig floor. In one form of the invention, an elevated platform is provided on which a person may move to a location near the raised upper end of the string for assisting in making the connection, with that platform preferably being mounted to swing between a retracted position in which it remains during the drilling operation and an active position in which it projects to a point near the top of the string during the connecting process.

Abstract: A device adapted to be actuated by seismic forces or other shock forces, to operate a valve or other controlled unit automatically when the device senses such forces. The device includes a support structure on which a weight is supported in a predetermined position relative to which the weight is displaceable laterally by shock forces in a manner causing a coacting element to be moved by the weight and actuate the controlled unit. Releasable holding means actuated by the weight function to retain the specified coacting element against movement in a direction to actuate the controlled unit so long as the weight remains in its predetermined normal position, to thereby prevent undesired actuation of the element and controlled unit by transitory forces which do not displace the weight laterally.

Abstract: A gun conversion assembly for application to the receiver of an automatic pistol having a handle containing a recess into which a magazine holding a series of rounds of ammunition is insertible, the conversion assembly including a barrel to be secured to the receiver, and a connector structure having a portion which is adapted to be located within the magazine recess in the receiver handle and which acts to secure the barrel rigidly to the receiver. The connector structure may extend downwardly through the recess to the bottom of the receiver handle and have elements at the lower end of the handle tightenable to progressively pull the receiver downwardly into tightly contacting engagement with the upper end of the receiver.

Abstract: A casing jacking mechanism is positionable in the rotary table opening of a well drilling rig to lower casing into the well, and is preferably formed sectionally of a number of components adapted to be assembled temporarily on the rig and subsequently dismantled after the casing has been lowered. The jacking machanism may include a first support structure to be located above the upper end of the well, two piston and cylinder mechanisms adapted to be lowered at different sides of the axis of the well to positions in which their cylinders are connected by the support structure, a second support structure connectable to and actuable vertically by the pistons of the piston and cylinder mechanisms a spider unit adapted to be placed on the first support structure and releasably engageable with the well pipe, and an elevator to be positioned on the second support structure for movement vertically therewith and also releasably engageable with the well pipe.