Abstract: A device for retaining a cord or other elongated flexible element against relative longitudinal movement including a first member to which an actuating member is mounted for relative pivotal movement between locking and released positions, and a locking member carried by the actuating member for swinging movement therewith, and for swinging movement relative thereto, to clamp a cord or cords against the first member, with the latter preferably containing a recess having an essentially curving wall against which the locking member presses the elongated element in locking condition, and with the curving wall preferably being defined by a series of teeth following a curving pattern. The device may lock two spaced cords or cord ends, which may be directed to properly located positions between the gripping members by reception within spaced locating recesses in the locking member and by reception at opposite sides of a locating projection carried by the first mentioned member.

Abstract: A spinner for turning a well drilling kelly or the like and including a member connectible to the kelly to drive it rotatively, a reversible motor, and a drive between the rotor of the motor and said member including two gears for driving the member in opposite directions respectively, with the two gears being mounted by threaded connections for axial movement between active driving positions and retracted non-driving positions. Rotation of the motor acts by virtue of a threaded connection or connections to shift one of the gears to its active driving position to turn the driven member in a first direction, while retaining the second of the gears in its retracted position. Rotation of the motor in the opposite direction acts to shift the second of the gears to active position driving the member in its second direction while retracting the first of the gears to its inactive position.

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 well drilling rig having a rotary table for driving a drill string rotatively and having jacking mechanism for lowering casing into the well after drilling, with the jacking mechanism including fluid pressure actuated piston and cylinder means which may be left in the rig during drilling and which are positioned low enough in the rig to avoid interference with operation of the rotary table. The jacking mechanism also includes a structure which is adapted to be connected to the piston and cylinder means when the casing or other well pipe is to be lowered and which is actuable upwardly and downwardly and carries one of two pipe gripping units for progressively jacking the pipe downwardly by vertical reciprocation of that structure. The reciprocating structure may take the form of a beam extending between two pistons and actuable thereby, with a second beam being connected to cylinders within which the pistons are contained and being utilized to support the second gripping element.

Abstract: The diameter of a thread is measured by screwing two gauge elements into simultaneous engagement with the thread to be measured, then turning the two gauge elements relative to one another to a setting in which their similar threads bear in opposite axial directions against the thread to be measured and confine that thread in a manner holding it against axial movement relative to the gauge elements, after which the diameter of the measured thread is determined by noting the relative rotary position of the two gauge elements, as indicated by relative positions of coacting markings on those parts.

Abstract: A jack usable for leveling a marine platform jacket by lifting a tubular leg or pile guide relative to a pile extending upwardly therethrough includes a gripping unit having slips which engage and grip the pile and which in a predetermined elevated condition of the tubular member are engaged by that member and urged axially thereby in a grip tightening direction acting to positively lock the gripping unit against movement either upwardly or downwardly relative to the pile.

Abstract: A cushioning pad adapted to be connected to the lower end of a gun cartridge clip and including a body of elastomeric material to be engaged by a user's hand in pressing the clip upwardly into the handle of the gun, and a reinforcing plate embedded within the elastomeric material and through which screws extend upwardly for connection into the bottom wall of the clip body, with the screws having heads applying upward force to the reinforcing element in a manner securing the pad on the clip. If the clip is of a type having a horizontally slidably removable bottom wall, the pad may be secured to that wall and contain a passage through which a tool is insertable upwardly to a position for engaging and releasing a latch element normally holding the bottom wall against detaching movement.

Abstract: A slip unit for releasably supporting a well pipe, including a support structure to be positioned on and turn with a rotary table and preferably taking the form of a slip bowl, and a vertically movable slip carrier structure suspending a number of pipe-gripping slips and adapted to be releasably retained by latch means in a lower active position, with the carrier and slips being yieldingly urged upwardly to inactive positions when the latch means are released. The support structure and carrier structure are both desirably formed of complementary sections hinged for relative swinging movement between closed positions about the pipe and open positions permitting movement of the unit laterally relative to the pipe, and with an additional latch being provided for retaining the structures in their closed positions.

Abstract: An eye treatment device including a unit adapted to be placed against a user's eye and forming a chamber which contains a fluid maintained under a fluctuating pressure, with the chamber having a flexible wall to be received adjacent the eye and communicate the fluctuating pressure thereto in a manner exerting a fluctuating massaging force against the eye through the flexible wall. To correct a user's vision, the eye may first be massaged by the described device, or otherwise, to soften the eye, following which a shaping element may be placed against the eye to deform it slightly to a changed contour improving the vision in a desired respect.

Abstract: A cushioned gun grip includes two elastomeric grip bodies receivable at opposite sides of a gun handle and containing reinforcing plates stiffer than the elastomeric material and having forward portions extending inwardly toward one another in front of the gun handle and within inwardly turned forward flanges formed by the elastomeric material, with the rear edges of the elastomeric bodies and contained reinforcing plates desirably being spaced apart for reception at opposite sides of a rear surface of the handle in a manner leaving that rear surface exposed.

Abstract: A device for gripping an elongated flexible element, such as a flexible belt, and including a first member, an actuating member mounted to swing relative to the first member between locking and released positions, and a locking member connected to the actuating member for swinging movement therewith and acting in the locking position to clamp the elongated element against a gripping portion of the first member in a relation retaining the elongated element against longitudinal movement, with said locking member being free for limited pivotal movement relative to the actuating member in a relation acting to progressively tighten the grip on said elongated element as a result of said pivotal movement of the locking member relative to the actuating member when the latter is in its locking position.

Abstract: A sub for connection into a drill string which has a cable extending along the outside of the string to the location of the sub and then extending downwardly within the string beyond the sub. The sub includes two members which are connectable to upper and lower portions of the drill string and are detachably connectable to one another, preferably by a surrounding threaded sleeve, with the cable extending between the two members in sealed relation from the exterior of the first member to the interior of the second.

Abstract: A jacking mechanism for leveling a marine platform and a jacket supporting the platform by elevating a tubular leg or member of the platform relative to a pile extending through that member, with the jacking mechanism including a first gripping unit adapted to extend about and releasably grip the tubular member, a second gripping unit adapted to extend about and releasably grip the pile at a location beyond the tubular member and at a diameter smaller than the diameter at which the first gripping unit engages the tubular member, and power actuated means for moving the two gripping units axially relative to one another to cause the desired relative displacement of the leg and pile.

Abstract: A hole is drilled laterally from a main well bore by lowering a drilling unit into the bore in a position of extension essentially longitudinally thereof, and then swinging the unit to a position of extension transversely of the well bore to drill the lateral hole. The drilling unit is desirably held by a carrier as the drilling unit and carrier are lowered into the well, and preferably is of a self-propelling character adapted to move entirely out of the carrier and grip the wall of the lateral hole in a manner transmitting the reactive forces of the drilling operation directly to the earth formation.

Abstract: A fatigue resistant self-locking fastener is formed by screwing two threaded elements into engagement with a part having a thread which is slightly off-size with respect to the threads of those elements, locating the two elements just in contact with one another while in engagement with said part but without tightening them against one another sufficiently to develop any substantial stress in the threads, and then securing the elements together in that relative position, preferably by welding.

Abstract: A gun grip including two sections to be received at opposite sides of the handle of a gun, with the sections including elastomeric bodies forming two side panels having flanges projecting inwardly toward one another at the rear of the handle, and desirably also at the front of the handle, and reinforcing plates embedded within the elastomeric bodies and having edge portions projecting inwardly toward one another within the elastomeric flanges at locations behind the handle and preferably also in front of the handle.

Abstract: Apparatus for retaining a load on a truck or other vehicle and including a belt connectable to one side of the vehicle bed and extending upwardly over the load to a location near the other side, a chain connectable at one end to the second side of the vehicle and carrying at its other end a buckle adjustably connectable to the belt to secure it through the chain to the second side of the vehicle, and a load binder connectable to different links of the chain and actuable to pull those links toward one another and thereby take up slack in the chain and tighten the belt on the load.

Abstract: A device for preparing a beaten product and including a beater assembly driven rotatively about a generally vertical axis, with the beater assembly including a rotor body having vertically spaced upper and lower portions containing recesses, and a blade unit having upper and lower projections receivable within said recesses to connect the blade unit to the body, and with the blade unit being adapted for connection to the body by insertion of an upper one of the projections into an upper recess followed by swinging movement of the lower portion of the blade unit from a position in which a lower one of the projections is offset horizontally from a corresponding one of the recesses to a position in which the lower projection is above and can be moved downwardly into the lower recess.