Abstract: A gas separator for a well pump for pumping well fluid. The gas separator includes a plurality of upwardly opening retention cups which are disposed in vertical spaced relationship one above the other above a reservoir chamber. Each retention cup has a retention chamber which provides a fluid retaining capacity sufficient to momentarily retain well fluid flowing from the well so as to permit gas to escape from the fluid so retained and returned to the well. The difference in specific gravity between gassy well fluid and well fluid with gas removed creases circulation of well fluid through the retention cups and into the reservoir chamber, with each retention cup catching down falling well fluid that has been partially freed of entrained gas. Second stage separation of gas from well fluid is achieved by providing at least one opening or passageway from the reservoir chamber adapted to provide a gas exit between the well and the reservoir chamber.

Abstract: Automatic defect detecting inspection apparatus for detecting defects or imperfections contained in or on a moving slab or strip. The defect detection apparatus utilizes a linear light source for illuminating a selected portion of the slab or sheet surface and an array of optically sensitive elements arranged in side-by-side relationship to scan the surface of the sheet or slab in a direction transverse to the direction of movement to produce an output video signals corresponding to the optical intensity of the area scanned. An anamorphic optical system comprising spaced cylindrical lenses forming a Galilean telescope positioned between the moving material and the optically sensitive elements increases the sensitivity of the optically sensitive elements in the direction of the material movement while maintaining the sensitivity of the optical elements substantially unchanged in the direction transverse to the material movement.

Abstract: Means and a method for reclaiming galvanizing quality zinc alloy from the top dross of a continuous galvanizing line. A dross furnace is provided having front, rear and side walls and a hearth sloping from the rear wall toward the front wall. The front wall is provided with one or more tap holes or a full width slot so sized as to permit the passage of molten zinc alloy therethrough while retaining the resulting sponge or slag. The dross furnace is located with its front wall overhanging the coating pot of the continuous galvanizing line. The dross furnace is maintained at a temperature of from about 460.degree. C. to about 850.degree. C. and is charged with the top dross from the coating pot. The top dross has a residence time in the dross furnace of up to about two hours. The reclaimed galvanizing quality zinc alloy, at yields from about 50% to about 70% based upon the top dross treated, flows directly back into the coating pot.

Abstract: An austenitic stainless steel which is wrought or cast, and annealed, condition exhibits excellent galling resistance, excellent stress corrosion resistance in chloride-containing environments, good resistance against intergranular corrosion, good high temperature oxidation resistance, and a high work hardening rate. The broad composition range is, in weight percent, about 13% to about 19% chromium, about 13% to about 19% nickel, 0.5% to about 4% manganese, 3.5% to about 7% silicon, up to about 0.15% carbon, less than 0.04% nitrogen, about 0.05% maximum phoshorus, about 0.05% maximum sulfur, and balance essentially iron except for incidental impurities. The steel can be readily worked with conventional equipment and has particular utility for applications in which moving metal-to-metal contact, corrosive attack and/or elevated temperature are encountered in combination. The steel can also be cast into articles of ultimate use, or utilized in powder metallurgy techniques.

Abstract: A subsea production system for handling produced well fluids from a number of individual deep water wells drilled in different parts of a field and providing the produced well fluids to a surface production platform through a central riser. The apparatus includes a manifold section on a multi-faceted central manifold base. A plurality of booms are articulated to the manifold base at the periphery thereof, with a single boom being articulated to each facet. Each boom extends radially outward from the manifold base and has a temporary guide base and subsea tree mounted to the outer end. Extending along each boom from the manifold base is a pre-installed flow line which terminates in a connection to the tree. The lengths of the booms are alternated to provide a predetermined minimum spacing from the center of each well site to any other well site or the manifold base.

Abstract: In a line for coating a ferrous base metal strip with a molten coating metal, the line being of the type having a preparation furnace for the strip comprising a direct fired furnace, a controlled atmosphere heating furnace, one or more cooling chambers and a snout leading beneath the surface of the molten coating metal bath, all in sealed relationship to each other, the improvement comprising a method and means for maintaining a non-oxidizing atmosphere at positive pressure within the entire preparation furnace during line stops. To this end, a retractable, refractory lined door means is provided in the conduit between the direct fired furnace and its exhaust fan to seal off the direct fired furnace from its exhaust fan and an air dilution opening in that conduit. Additionally, means are provided to add excess nitrogen flow to the preparation furnace to maintain a positive pressure therein.

Abstract: For large diameter tubular goods, especially pipe strings installed in underwater wells, the invention provides an improved quick make-and-break coupling of the type in which part of one rotation causes axial engagement between coupling lugs. Back-angled surfaces are provided in a fashion achieving radial forces, under both compression and tension, which oppose radial separation of telescopically engaged male and female connector members.

Abstract: The formation of a composite formed by spreading a liquid thermosetting resin over a continuously moving plastic film or sheet is disclosed. Chopped fiber is added and a fabric or veil, such as a dacron polyester cloth, is continuously laid over the top to form a reinforced composite. This continuously produced thermosetting resin composite is rolled into a coil. After a maturation period, the plastic film or sheet may be removed from the SMC composite and sections of appropriate size and weight are cut from the coil and placed over the die of a compression molding machine, veil side down, up or both. The material is then compression molded at a pressure of 500-3000 p.s.i (35 to 210 kg. per sq. cm.) and a temperature of 100.degree.-165.degree. C., and cured into an article. In another embodiment, the fabric or veil may be first placed on one of the die elements, e.g., the bottom die. SMC is then placed over the fabric to make up the total charge.

Abstract: A process for producing grain oriented silicon iron from strand cast slabs having uniformly high permeability and low core loss, comprising the steps of melting and refining a ferrous charge to obtain a melt containing critical ranges of carbon, manganese, sulfur and/or selenium and critically low levels of nitrogen, aluminum, and titanium, casting to a slab thickness of about 125 to about 225 mm, reheating the slabs to about 1330.degree. to about 1400.degree. C., hot rolling, annealing at about 925.degree. to about 1050.degree. C., cold rolling in two stages with an intermediate anneal to final thickness, decarburizing, and subjecting the material to a final anneal in a hydrogen-containing reducing atmosphere to effect secondary recrystallization.

Abstract: A well riser support for supporting and guiding an assembly of well riser pipe through a rotary table to facilitate coupling or uncoupling joints of riser pipe to the riser assembly. The support includes a spider assembly containing a plurality of hydraulically actuated dogs for supporting the riser and a plurality of resilient bearings supporting the spider assembly. Each bearing is configured to absorb and distribute loads applied parallel to and transversely of the riser axis, and comprises alternating layers of elastomeric and non-elastomeric materials with the compression axis of the bearing being inclined with respect to the riser axis.

Abstract: A steel refining furnace and refractories therefor having improved thermal conductivity may be achieved by the use of refractory bricks containing 31/2 to 51/2% residual carbon and having metal plates and the like associated therewith externally and, in many instances, internally. The cold face of the brick should be protected by a metal shell. Such a brick will have high thermal conductivity to achieve a cooler hot face of the basic oxygen furnace lining whereby to improve and decrease the rate of slag erosion in the furnace and to improve the thermal shock resistance of the refractory lining. An improved furnace is realized by utilizing the novel brick in specific areas thereof such as under the lip ring and in the trunion areas.

Abstract: A modular multiple well drilling and production template structure is combined with a production riser base module to provide an underwater apparatus which allows a plurality of wells to be drilled, completed and produced by operations carried out from a single vessel or platform without remote installation of flowlines.

Abstract: A covering and sealing assembly for concealing and sealing the gap between a pair of edge adjoining wall panels which are disposed at an angle to each other, such as at a corner. The assembly includes an exterior trim piece, a supporting member for the exterior trim piece, fastening means to tighten the supporting and clamping members together to squeeze the edges of the panels at the corner and to thus provide a structural tie therebetween, and an interior trim piece which snaps over the free vertical edges of the clamping member and hides the fastening means and the clamping member. The structural tie between the two corner panels is effected by the squeezing action of the legs of the supporting member and of the clamping member upon the faces of the adjoining wall panels at the points of contact between the faces and the supporting and clamping members.

Abstract: A waste water filtration and sludge removal system for filtering and removing sludge materials suspended in water resulting from steel pickling and cleaning operations and the like. The system includes a trough-like filtering tank having weep holes along the lower edge draining into an inclined channel for capturing filtered water for reuse, and also includes a multiple layer filter bed containing an upper layer of fine jagged surfaced particles for capturing filtered sludge. The sludge layer deposited on the surface of the upper filter layer is periodically moved by means of an adjustable screed blade toward an elevated discharge station for removal from the tank without significantly disturbing the filter bed. The screed blade may be automatically raised out of contact with the sludge layer when operated in the reverse direction.

Abstract: In hanger apparatus of the type comprising a hanger mandrel carried by an inner pipe, an outer body which can be carried by an outer pipe, and a resiliently contractable annular locking device carried by the mandrel for locking the mandrel to the hanger body to suspend the inner pipe, the locking device comprises two independent annular resilient means, the upper one of which constitutes a locking means to cooperate with a locking groove in the hanger body and the lower one of which constitutes a catching means to cooperate with a catching groove in the hanger body below the locking groove. The two annular means are disposed in an outwardly opening annular recess presented by the mandrel. The invention has the advantage that the locking means, which may be a split ring, can be wholly within the mandrel recess as the mandrel is run down to the hanger body, the active outer surfaces of the locking ring thus being protected from being damaged during the trip down to the hanger body.

Abstract: A substantially fully ferritic stainless steel having improved hot rolling and cold drawing properties, consisting essentially of from 0.010% to 0.17% carbon, 0.05% to 1.0% manganese, 0.05% to 1.0% silicon, 20.0% to 30.0% chromium, 0.05% to 0.35% nitrogen, 0.15% to 1.0% columbium, up to 0.50% vanadium, up to 0.75% molybdenum, 0.040% maximum phosphorus, 0.030% maximum sulfur, and remainder essentially iron. Columbium carbo-nitrides are distributed as dispersoids in a ferritic matrix and provide a strenghtening effect which prevents scratches, seams and longitudinal folds in hot rolled material and galling and scratches in cold drawn material. Preferably columbium plus vanadium is not more than 4 times carbon plus nitrogen.

Abstract: Improved coupling means for pipe to provide a leak tight joint between abutting pipe sections. Each pipe section is provided with at least one annular, circumferentially continuous depression at each end thereof, the outside of the exterior surface in which said depression is formed providing continuous surface-to-surface seal with the coupling means about the entire circumference of the abutting pipe sections to be joined. The coupling means includes a first band encircling the adjacent ends of the pipe sections with the free ends thereof overlapping. A second band overlies and encircles the first band and means are provided for tensioning the ends of the second band together.