Abstract: A tool to be used as an aid in assembling an automatic pistol and including an elongated body of resinous plastic material having a handle at one end and a projection at the opposite end usable for retaining the safety detent plunger and slide stop detent plunger in depressed condition during attachment of the safety and slide stop to the receiver of the gun, with the projection having a thickness dimension which is not over about 0.115 of an inch through a length of at least about 0.700 of an inch from an end edge of the projection, and having a width dimension greater than the thickness but not over about 0.415 of an inch through the specified length from the end edge.

Abstract: A wheeled baby walker is adapted to be rendered immobile by positioning a base panel at a location to be received beneath the feet of a baby supported by the walker, with the panel being supported on a floor or ground surface independently of the wheels of the walker, and with the panel engaging the walker in a manner preventing the walker from moving horizontally relative to the panel.

Abstract: A jack for lowering casing from a drilling rig into a well, including a plurality of piston and cylinder mechanisms extending vertically at different sides of the well axis and supported at their lower ends from a base, a first structure extending between upper ends of the cylinders of those mechanisms and supported from the base through the cylinders, a second structure supported by and movable with the pistons, and gripping units carried by the two structures and releasably engageable with the casing to lower it in steps by relative vertical actuation of the two structures by the piston and cylinder mechanisms.

Abstract: A well pipe spinner includes two body parts carrying rollers and mounted by two pivotal connections for swinging movement between a closed position in which the rollers grip and drive a well pipe and an open position releasing the pipe. A structure extends between and interconnects the two pivotal connections in a relation permitting relative adjustment of their pivotal axes toward and away from one another for gripping different sizes of pipe. The tool is supported by a structure which is adapted to be suspended from a line or other element and which suspends the two body parts and pivotal connections at essentially the locations of the two pivotal axes.

Abstract: Jacking mechanism for moving a string of casing or other well pipe vertically within a well and including two units operable to releasably engage and support the pipe, power actuated mechanism for moving one of the units upwardly and downwardly relative to the other to jack the pipe vertically through a wellhead structure, and apparatus for supporting the power actuated mechanism and units at least in part from that wellhead structure.

Abstract: Apparatus including a weight formed at least partially of magnetic material and positioned on a support and adapted to be displaced horizontally relative to the support by earthquake or other shock forces, mechanism operable upon such shock induced horizontal displacement of the weight relative to the support to actuate a valve or other controlled device, and means near and essentially opposite the weight acting to produce a magnetic field applying a force magnetically to the weight displacing it horizontally relative to the support in a relation actuating the controlled device without subjection to shock forces.

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 mechanism 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.

Abstract: A vise including two jaws at least one of which has a gripping element with a plurality of different gripping faces, with that gripping element being adapted to be turned to different positions in which different ones of those faces are engageable in gripping relation with a workpiece. The gripping element is desirably square in cross-section to present four different work contacting faces, and preferably is retained by connections at opposite ends of the gripping element including clamps for releasably holding the gripping element in active condition.

Abstract: Well drilling apparatus including a powered drilling unit connectable to the upper end of a drill string and adapted to rotate it to drill a well, and a vertically extending guide track structure which guides the drilling unit for movement along the axis of the well, with a portion of the guide track structure being mounted for swinging movement between a drilling position in which the drilling unit is aligned with the axis of the well and a slightly inclined position in which the track structure guides the drilling unit for movement along an inclined axis in alignment with a mousehole, and with the drilling unit also preferably being mounted for movement to a laterally retracted position at a side of the well in which it leaves an area along the axis of the well unobstructed for use of conventional hoisting equipment in making a `round trip` of the drill string out of and then back into the well.

Abstract: A racquet having two sets of strings crossing one another and preferably interwoven, and having at least one string positioning element engaging and extending along a string of one of the sets and contacting a plurality of strings of the second set in a relation preventing lateral deflection thereof at the points at which the strings cross one another, while permitting deflection of the strings of the second set at locations between those cross points. This enables the application of spin forces to a ball by such deflection while at the same time minimizing wear by virtue of retention of the strings against relative motion at the crossing points. The positioning elements are preferably tubular and desirably disposed about the transverse strings of a racquet, and may contain notches for receiving successive longitudinal strings in locating relation.

Abstract: A rack structure is disclosed having a clip adapted for connecting a supported member, preferably forming part of a shelf, from an adjacent upright which is of a type having two opposite side walls and a wall extending transversely therebetween and joining the side walls at corners of the upright which contain openings. The clip extends along an inner side of the transverse wall and has opposite end portions projecting into the openings in the corners of the upright, with at least one end of the clip engaging a member supported thereby at a location laterally beyond the upright.

Abstract: A manual actuator which enables manual operation of a valve, damper or other controlled element upon loss of hydraulic pressure in an associated electrohydraulic actuator assembly. The apparatus preferably includes nut segments which are automatically moved into engagement with a coacting threaded shaft upon loss of hydraulic pressure in the electrohydraulic device and which function when so engaged with the shaft to render a manual operating element effective to move the controlled part.

Abstract: Well drilling apparatus including a top drive drilling assembly having a motor driven stem adapted to be attached to the upper end of a drill string and drive it during a drilling operation, a torque wrench carried by the top drive assembly and movable upwardly and downwardly therewith and operable to break a threaded connection between the drill string and the stem, and an elevator carried by and suspended from the top drive assembly and adapted to engage a section of drill pipe beneath the torque wrench in suspending relation. The torque wrench and elevator are preferably retained against rotation with the rotary element which drives the drill string, but may be movable vertically relative to that rotary element and relative to one another in a manner actuating the apparatus between various different operating conditions.

Abstract: A well pipe spinner having two body parts carrying rollers adpated to engage a pipe at different locations about its periphery and grip and spin the pipe by rotation of one or more of the rollers, with the two body parts being mounted by pivotal connections for swinging movement about two spaced axes respectively to grip and release the pipe, and with an adjustable connection attaching the two pivotal connections together for relative lateral adjusting movement to shift their pivotal axes toward and away from one another for gripping different sizes of pipe.

Abstract: Connections for attaching together successive sections of an axially driveable pile, including pin and box ends having engaging threads which are tapered and which as viewed in axial section have opposite side faces both disposed at a very small angle of not over about 5.5 degrees with respect to a line extending perpendicular to and intersecting the axis of the threaded connection, preferably between about 4.5 and 5.5 degrees, so that the threads can take very high axial driving and rebounding forces. Each thread desirably has an axial thickness at its pitch line at least about one and one-half times the height of the thread from its root to its crest. The pin and box elements preferably do not have shoulders engageable to limit the extent to which the parts can be screwed together in the fully made-up condition of the joint.

Abstract: A radiation collector includes a flexible inflatable unit having a portion constructed to concentrate radiation at generally a predetermined location when the unit is inflated, and including a structure positioned to absorb or receive the concentrated radiation. The inflatable unit is preferably a bag of circular cross-section having a front wall transparent to the radiation and a rear concave reflective wall acting to reflect the radiation to the absorbing or receiving structure at the center of the bag. The entire collector may be actuated to follow the sun for reception of solar energy therefrom, and may have photosensing means desirably mounted to the central light-collecting structure for responding to incoming radiation in a manner maintaining the overall assembly in alignment with the sun.

Abstract: A well drilling system designed to eliminate the usual rotary table, kelly and kelly bushing, and including a drilling unit having a tubular part connectible to the upper end of the drill string and a motor for driving that tubular part rotatively, with the drilling unit being mounted by a guide structure for vertical movement, and in addition being mounted for movement transversely of the axis of the well from the normal drilling position to at least one laterally offset position. Preferably, the drilling unit is movable to two different laterally offset positions, in one of which the drilling unit is above a mousehole location to pick up or release a pipe section, and in the other of which the drilling unit is at an inactive location at which it may remain during a trip of the drill string into or out of the well.

Abstract: A jacking mechanism for lowering a string of casing or other well pipe into a well includes two structures which extend generally vertically beneath the floor of a drilling rig and which have portions functioning as power operated actuating units for moving one of two pipe supporting units upwardly and downwardly relative to the other, with the two specified generally vertical structures being offset circularly about the well axis from the location of a tubular mousehole element, and with one or more blowout preventers beneath the rig floor having a portion projecting outwardly away from the well axis at a location circularly between one of the generally vertical structures of the jacking mechanism and the mousehole.

Abstract: A device for turning a valve stem or the like between two positions in response to earthquake forces or other shock forces, and including a member which is spring urged rotatively in a predetermined direction relative to a body structure and which has a lost motion connection with the valve stem or other element to be turned in order to enable initial movement of the member by the spring to develop momentum before applying force to the stem, a latch element releasably retaining the member against spring induced movement, and inertia actuated weight means responsive to shock forces to release the latch element and permit movement of the member to turn the valve stem.

Abstract: A pipe spinner is provided which includes two parts carrying rollers and mounted by two pivotal connections for swinging movement between a closed position in which the rollers grip and drive a well pipe or the like and an open position releasing the pipe, with an adjustable connection attaching the two pivotal connections together for relative lateral movement to shift the two pivotal axes toward and away from one another for gripping different sizes of pipe, and with the spinner including a hanger or support structure attached to the mentioned adjustable connection and adapted to be suspended by a line or other element in a manner suspending the entire tool through the adjustable connection.