Abstract: Connector, particularly for use in underwater well installations, for securing members together under large clamping forces. The connector is characterized by two successive stages of actuation of a locking means, typically a split ring or set of arcuate segments, with the actuating force of the second stage being applied by camming surfaces via low friction means to establish a high compressive preload without use of especially large power devices.

Abstract: An apparatus for releasably supporting a guide post to an underwater well installation and a method for recovering such a guide post by remote operation from the surface. The apparatus comprises a support sleeve coupled to the well installation and receiving a lower end portion of the guide post therein, an outer actuating sleeve movably supported on the support sleeve, and a plurality of locking elements coupled to the support sleeve and moved radially inwardly into engagement with the guide post by means of the actuating sleeve. The locking elements have ring segments engageable by the actuating sleeve and radially inwardly directed pins which pass through bores in the support sleeve and are received in a locking groove in the guide post lower end portion.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for drilling and completing a subsea well located at the seabed using a retrievable piping deck. The apparatus includes a template supported on the seabed, the retrievable piping deck supported on the template, a plurality of wellheads supported on the template and a plurality of Christmas trees supported on the wellheads. The piping deck has preinstalled flow lines and hydraulic lines to conduct well fluid from the Christmas trees to the surface and to conduct hydraulic control fluid from the surface to the trees. In addition to the Christmas trees, a well fluid manifold and a gaseous-liquid component separator can be supported on the template. The fluid connections between the Christmas trees and the hydraulic and flow lines and between the manifold and separator and the hydraulic and flow lines are accomplished by vertically oriented stab-in connectors.

Abstract: An integral, one-piece bearing support to support a concealed fastener for anchoring pairs of rigid interlocked metal panels to spaced supporting members. The bearing support comprises a pair of coplanar portions and an intermediate lower planar portion or depressed portion lying below that of the coplanar portions, with the coplanar portions and the intermediate portion being joined by downwardly portions at lapped panels, the bearing support includes a plurality of coplanar portions, adjacent pairs of which are joined together by depressed lower portions and the downward portions.

Abstract: A roof supporting structure and method of erecting such structure, the structure comprising a series of spaced apart rafters lying in parallel relation with a series of V-truss units extending between the rafters in parallel relation at spaced apart intervals to define rows of V-truss units supported at their opposite ends on the rafters, the V-truss units in a given row lying in alternating relation with respect to the V-truss units in the next adjacent row, the ends of the V-truss units in one row being interconnected with the adjoining ends of the V-truss units in the next adjacent row so that horizontal forces will be transmitted jointly by the V-truss units in adjacent rows. Modified V-truss units may be provided at the ends of alternate rows to further enhance the horizontal load supporting capability of the structure, the modified V-truss units additionally serving to mount the wall panels of a building utilizing the roof supporting structure.

Abstract: The method and apparatus for preventing runaway lowering of a hook block in an oil drilling rig characterized by monitoring the instantaneous values of hook load and speed and using these values together with parameters associated with the rig drawworks to calculate an energy value which must be dissipated during a braking stop by the drawworks brake. The brake or an emergency brake associated with the drawworks is automatically actuated when the calculated energy value reaches a predetermined value representative of the maximum energy absorbing capability of the brake. The brake may also be automatically activated when the position of the hook block reaches predetermined upper and lower limits.

Abstract: Combination tension connector and flex joint for underwater tension elements, such as the tension elements of a leg of a tension leg platform. The flex joint is of generally ball and socket type, with the ball member connected to the lower end of the tension element and the socket member connected to an upwardly projecting annular portion of the male member of the connector.

Abstract: Set out herein is a seal arrangement for sealing an oil well rod string below ground surface. More specifically a polished cylinder is inserted into the casing of an oil well and is supported at the well head by a flange radially extending from the upper end thereof. Received in the cylinder is a piston assembly connected at the upper surface to a flexible string or chain articulated by a pump and supporting at the lower surface a polished rod sealably extending through a lower seal fitting received in the bottom end of the polished cylinder. The cavity formed between the piston and the polished cylinder is aspirated into the well casing through a one-way check valve on the upward stroke of the piston and any oil residue that may pass through the lower sealing assembly is forced back into the well casing by another check valve opened during the downward piston stroke.

Abstract: A remotely releasable connector for a pair of pipes including first and second sets of engageable threads on the first and second pipes, first and second aligned recesses on the exterior of the pipes, a latch received in both recesses to prevent relative rotation of the pipes, and a release ring supported around the exterior of the pipes and longitudinally movable therealong to engage the latch to remove it from the locking position.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for remotely establishing an underwater well under conditions of great water depth including a drilling guide structure located on the floor of the body of water; a single handling and guiding string extending upwardly from the drilling guide structure and maintained in tension by an elongated buoy; a series of drilling guide arm units, flowline guide arm units and wellhead guide arm units to be lowered down the string, oriented relative to desired well positions and then retrieved once the wells have been drilled and the wellheads and flowlines secured in place; and a production gathering assembly to be lowered down the string, oriented relative to the wellheads and flowlines, and then coupled to these wellheads and flowlines.

Abstract: A remotely operated valve, typically for use as a downhole safety valve, adapted to be connected in-line between two pieces of well pipe or other fluid-conducting members, the valve being rack-and-pinion operated and characterized by including a combined piston and rack member with the piston concentric with a through bore of the valve and with the rack eccentric with respect to the through bore, the eccentric disposition of the rack and associated support members making it possible to achieve a dependably operable valve of minimum transverse dimensions without increased complexity or cost of manufacture.

Abstract: A snubber device for preventing the uncontrolled fall of a column supporting an electrode and crosshead structure in an electric arc furnace upon failure of the hoisting mechanism or cable. Clamp plates containing serrated surfaces are positioned on either side of the electrode column and are joined by a number of parallel link arms to form a pantograph-like structure. A linkage is attached to the cable deadend which causes the plates to move in vertical relationship to each other, thereby causing a horizontal displacement of the plates and clamping the column between them to prevent downward movement. The column snubber is provided with a number of flanged rollers which ride on the outer surface of the column to permit rolling movement between the snubber and column. When the clamp plates are clamping the column, the rollers move out of contact with the outer surface. The column snubber automatically adjusts for wear in the electrode column assembly.

Abstract: A weight-set pack-off unit for sealing the annulus between inner and outer pipes, such as a mandrel casing hanger and a wellhead body in a well. The pack-off unit includes an expandable split ring receivable in a groove in the outer pipe to prevent upward movement of the pack-off unit relative to the outer pipe. The split ring is supported by a second ring which is shear-pinned to the pack-off unit and which moves the split ring into the locking position. The pack-off unit has a downwardly facing load-bearing shoulder in engagement with an upwardly facing load-bearing shoulder on the inner pipe, thereby increasing the unit's capacity to carry downward loads.

Abstract: The application discloses a method of terne coating, and a terne coated product, wherein the tin content of the terne is substantially lower than in conventional terne, without the need for other alloying elements in substitution for tin, such as zinc, antimony, silver, and phosphorus. The tin content of the terne bath is lowered below conventional percentages, to between about 2% and about 6.5% and the terne coated product, upon emerging from the coating bath, is jet finished. Such a terne coat has improved solderability and appearance with no change in pinhole frequency. Coating weight control is easier than with a terne coat having 7% or more tin in the bath.

Abstract: It is disclosed that the properties of epoxy resins may be improved by incorporating therein at least one metal selected from the group consisting of boron, molybdenum, rhenium, tungsten and zirconium. The selection of a particular metal atom for incorporation into the epoxy resin or a combination of these metals will depend on the specific resin properties desired.

Abstract: Alloy steel having particular utility for roll caster shells used in the direct casting of molten aluminum to sheet, consisting essentially of from 0.50% to 0.60% carbon, about 0.40% to about 1.0% manganese, 0.10% to 0.30% silicon, about 0.02% maximum phosphorus, about 0.02% maximum sulfur, 0.40% to 0.90% nickel, 1.50% to 3.00% chromium, 0.80% to 1.20% molybdenum, 0.30% to 0.50% vanadium, and balance essentially iron. Caster shells fabricated from the steel exhibit markedly longer service life.

Abstract: A roof construction having at least one roof slope is disclosed wherein at least four Z-purlins are laid across and secured to a number of rafters on the roof slope in a building and the roof deck is then secured on top of the Z-purlins. Tendencies toward Z-purlin roll over failure are counter balanced when at least two of the Z-purlins on the roof slope are oriented to face downwardly of the roof slope and at least two of the Z-purlins on the roof slope are oriented to face upwardly of the roof slope. The downwardly and upwardly oriented Z-purlins may be arranged in pairs of adjacent Z-purlins, each pair comprising one upwardly and one downwardly facing Z-purlin, or so that Z-purlins of one group face upwardly and Z-purlins of the other group face downwardly. The Z-purlins are stabilized by means of stiffeners secured to the purlins at bearing points and by means of tie straps extending between adjacent purlins.

Abstract: A system for levelling a template adjacent the floor of a body of water comprising a plurality of gripping assemblies pivotally coupled to the template and receiving the supporting piles therein, with portions of the piles extending above the template; and a jacking assembly capable of being lowered down each of the piles, releasably connected to the template adjacent the associated gripping assembly and raising or lowering the template in the area of each pile to level the template. The jacking assembly comprises an outer housing, and a double acting hydraulic piston slidably received in the housing, with a pile gripping assembly being coupled to the piston. The gripping assembly in the jacking assembly and those in the template are each formed from a plurality of ring segments that are serrated on the inside and have tapered ribs on the outside, these segments being received in a bowl having corresponding tapered ribs.

Abstract: A refractory shape having improved resistance to erosion in metal melting vessels and high modulus of rupture, comprising an anhydrous refractory material, an anhydrous organic binder, from 0.3% to about 30% finely divided elemental carbon having a particle size ranging from 0.01 to about 1 mm, and from 0.3% to about 10% particulate elemental magnesium, based on the weight of the refractory shape. Addition of both elemental carbon and elemental magnesium results in a synergistic improvement in slag erosion resistance.

Abstract: A template levelling system and method for levelling a drilling or production template adjacent the bottom of a body of water on a plurality of suspension joints implanted in the floor of the body of water. The template has a plurality of passageways therein receiving the suspension joints which extend upwardly above the template. The template carries a pair of pivotable guideposts on opposite sides of each passageway. The levelling system includes a jacking assembly lowered by a handling string and including a hydraulic jack with an inner member slidably received in an outer member, a tension beam pivotally coupled to the inner member, a pair of tension joints pivotally and releasably coupled to the tension beam and engageable with the template guideposts, and a support beam receiving the outer member therein and releasably coupled to the tension joints via a pair of hydraulic slips assemblies.