Abstract: System for vapor recovery without formation of fluid blockages includes a vapor source, a fluid collection tank for collecting vapor, and a vapor recovery pipe extending between and fluidly collecting the vapor source and the fluid collection tank. The vapor recovery pipe slopes vertically downwardly from the vapor source to the fluid collection tank so that vapor flows into the fluid collection tank. The vapor recovery pipe has an elongated cross section, and a direction of elongation of the cross section extends substantially vertically. The vapor recovery pipe is engineered and is installed in such a manner that the vapor recovery pipe resists bending in a substantially vertical plane and allows bending in a substantially horizontal plane. Accordingly, the vapor recovery pipe according to the invention can be installed without surveying equipment, overcomes surface irregularities, and by resisting bending in a vertical direction ensures that no fluid blockages are formed along the length thereof.

Abstract: A brake system for off-road vehicles of the type including an operator seat, a brake pedal and a hydraulic brake responsive to operator actuation on the brake pedal. The brake system includes a tank for hydraulic fluid, an electric pump hydraulically connected to the tank, a pressure modulating valve actuated by the brake pedal and a flow control valve for controlling the flow of pressurized hydraulic fluid between the pump, pressure modulating valve and brake. During normal braking operation, a switch responsive to operator actuation of the brake pedal causes to provide pressurized hydraulic fluid to the brake through the flow control valve. The return flow of pressurized fluid to the tank is modulated by the pressure modulating valve in response to operator actuation of the brake pedal to control the braking pressure. The flow control valve is responsive to the presence of an operator in the operator compartment, and is coupled to a switch.

Abstract: In a fluidized catalytic cracking (FLC) type unit for contacting of a hydrocarbon feedstock with hot solid particles in a fluidized bed in an upright tubular-type upflow hydrocarbon conversion reactor, there is provided, between the means for fluidization and the means for injection of the feedstock, a means for causing the fluidized phase at the periphery of the reactor to rotate about the axis of the reactor.

Abstract: A composite material comprising at least two elastomer layers, the first layer having a first composition comprising from 40 to 80 percent by weight of silicone rubber, the second layer having a second composition comprising from 50 to 100 percent by weight of rubber of the ethylene-propylene copolymer and/or terpolymer type, wherein the first composition further contains from 20 to 60 percent by weight of rubber of the ethylene-propylene copolymer and/or terpolymer type, and each of the two compositions contains more than 5 percent, and preferably from 5 to 60 percent, by weight of silica.

Abstract: A hydraulic braking system for a towed vehicle provides actuation of the hydraulic pump motor of the towed vehicle responsive to an electrical switch which is closed upon application of the brake pedal of the towing vehicle. However, even after actuation of the hydraulic pump, the towed vehicle brakes are only able to be applied in response to sensed relative movement of the towing and towed vehicle toward each other. A break-away switch sets the trailer brakes in the event of accidental separation of the towed vehicle from the towing vehicle. The control valve may be used in other situations to control a hydraulic pump and associated hydraulic braking system.

Abstract: A process for the substantial homogenization of the mixture of hot solid particles and of the hydrocarbon vapors to be treated within a tubular reactor (preferably an FCC unit) for the cracking of hydrocarbons in a fluidized bed of hot solid particles. Directly downstream of the zone of injection, in the reaction zone of the feedstock to be or being treated, usually where at least 75 percent of the droplets of the feedstock are vaporized, there is injected into the reactor a fluid in the gaseous state at one or more points on the interior surface of the side wall of the reactor.

Abstract: A pipeline system is provided for a pumping system for fluid products, such as gasoline, diesel fuel and chemicals, and including a pump for pumping such products from a storage tank through through the primary pipeline of the pipeline system to a product dispenser. The pipeline system includes a secondary containment system for the primary pipeline between the tank and dispenser which includes telescoping pipe sections of different diameters. The telescoping piping is installed around the primary pipeline and the pipe sections are, prior to final installation, movable between intermediate and final positions, for enabling completion, testing and inspection of the primary pipeline prior to final completion of the secondary containment system. One section of the telescoping piping is a flexible corrugated pipe which is able to bend around elbows. Compression seals and ring clamps are used to connect the components together.

Abstract: Self-shaping disk-shaped cutting edge of a drilling tool, comprising an outer diamond-impregnated polycrystalline layer (22) applied onto a tungsten carbide layer (24), each cutting edge being mounted on a support (18) which is integral with the body (12) of the drilling tool. The cutting edge and/or its support (18) have areas (26) of least resistance, such as grooves, which are likely to cause successive fractures, thereby forming an acute relief angle (.alpha.) with the rock to be drilled (28).

Abstract: A drilling fluid nozzle 12 mounted in the end of an earth drilling tool 10 has a flow channel defined by a surrounding wall 16 which diverges at an angle of 30.degree. or less, such that the exiting fluid "adheres" to the wall in a laminar manner due to the Coanda effect. This configuration minimizes clogging, and implements ready unclogging.

Abstract: A drilling tool with rotating conical rollers, such as a bicone, a tricone, etc. wherein each roller is fitted with several circular rows of teeth 22 made of tungsten carbide or the like. Each tooth has at its end, successively in the direction where it rolls on the rock, a rear or impact zone 24, a central zone 28 with a rounded shape, and a forward zone 30 which is last to come into contact with the rock. The teeth are fitted with diamond-charged elements 32, 34 on the forward zone and optionally on the central zone, but not on the rear zone.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the conversion of petroleum hydrocarbons in the presence of catalyst particles in a fluidized phase in an essentially upflow or downflow tubular reaction zone, said process comprising at least one stage of steam cracking of at least one light hydrocarbon fraction and a stage of catalytic cracking of at least one heavy hydrocarbon fraction.The steam cracking is carried out by contacting the light hydrocarbons and a quantity of steam equal to at least 20 percent by weight in a fluidized bed of the catalyst particles, the resulting temperature ranging from 650.degree. to 850.degree. C.The catalytic cracking of the heavy hydrocarbons is carried out by contacting them with the effluents from the upstream section of the reaction zone and the catalyst suspension in such a way that the temperature of the mixture ranges from 500.degree. to 650.degree. C. and is then reduced to a temperature ranging from 475.degree. to 550.degree. C.

Abstract: Fluid collection system for installation underground includes a first housing having a top, a wall extending downwardly from the top, and a first pipe-receiving opening in the wall at a predetermined vertical distance from the top. There is a second housing spaced apart from the first housing that has a top, a wall, and a second pipe-receiving opening in the wall. A number of interconnected segments is defined in the wall of the second housing. A pipe extends between the first and second pipe-receiving openings that has a slope great enough to cause fluids to flow along the pipe from the second housing to the first housing. The slope of the pipe is determined by a ratio defined by the length of the pipe and the difference between the predetermined vertical distance of the first housing and the variably fixed vertical distance of the second housing.

Abstract: A rectifier for establishing a flat fluid flow velocity profile in a pipe 16 is composed of a bundle of cylindrical tubes 12 of the same diameter and length, assembled to form a cylindrical block 10 having a diameter equal to the interior diameter of the pipe and having a honeycomb section. The interstices 18 remaining between the tubes of a median ring r.sub.2 are filled with a suitable filling material, while those 20 between the tubes of an outer ring r.sub.1 and those in a central zone r.sub.3 of the rectifier are left open.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process and a device for measuring the gelling of paraffin petroleum products, in particular, crude oil. The process involves: measuring, with respect to the temperature and over a given thickness, the propagation velocity and the amplitude of an ultrasonic wave in the crude oil being analysed; then determining the transition temperature T.sub.t, at which a sudden change in the thermal variation in the inverse of the propagation velocity is observed; determining the ratio of the slopes for the propagation velocity inverse obtained between the linear parts of the thermal variation of said propagation velocity, around said brake point corresponding to T.sub.t, above and below, respectively, the determined temperature T.sub.t ; determining the ultrasonic signal amplitude difference .DELTA.A between the temperature T.sub.t and a given lower reference temperature, for example T.sub.t -5.degree. C.

Abstract: An emulsifying agent according to formula (I) having a molecular weight of between 3000 and 10000: ##STR1## where A represents a terminal group for polyacrylates R.sub.1 represents an oleyl group containing up to 20 mol % stearyl groups: R.sub.2 is a residue with the formula --(CH.sub.2 H.sub.4 O).sub.x (C.sub.3 H.sub.16 0).sub.y --CH.sub.3, where x is between 8 and 24 and y is between 0.75 and 2.25; l is between 1 and 3 is between 0.85 and 3.5; and n is between 0.12 and 0.5. A method of forming a reverse emulsion using this emulsifying agent. A heavy reverse emulsion, without solids comprising: 10 to 70% by volume of a dispersed brine phase having a density of between 1.20 and 2.77; 90 to 30% by volume of a continuous oil phase, and 15 to 60 g/liter of this emulsifying agent.

Abstract: A drilling bit having an irrigation system which uses an irrigating fluid. The bit comprises a hollow drill head 14 housing at least one fluidic oscillator 23, 23' which includes an accelerator nozzle 26, 26' supplied by said fluid and opening into a cavity 46, 46' in which a dividing element 34, 34' is mounted which is provided with a ridge 36, 36' located slightly downstream from the nozzle. Said dividing element defines in said cavity two passages 42, 44, 42', 44' towards which the fluid is alternately directed in pulsed jets. Said passages are linked respectively to two series of channels 16 to 22 which open onto the outer surface of the head 14 through a plurality of outlet openings 21 which are oriented so that the pulsed jets they give out are directed to selected portions of the head that need to be cleaned, cooled or lubricated.

Abstract: Catalytic conversion of a hydrocarbon feedstock comprising a stage of catalytic cracking of a hydrocarbon feedstock, a stage of separation of the products of cracking from the catalytic mass, and a stage of regeneration and recycling of the catalytic mass and between the stage of regeneration of the catalytic mass and the stage of separation of the products of cracking there is injected continuously or intermittently, at one or more points, in admixture with at least one hydrocarbon to be treated, at least one diorganophosphite of the general formula ##STR1## where R.sub.1 and R.sub.2, which may be alike or different, are selected from the group consisting of alkyl, aryl or aralkyl groups having from 1 to 30 carbon atoms.

Abstract: This invention relates to a lightened gas-impermeable cement grout which comprises hydraulic cement, water, silica fumes in an amount of from about 5 to about 65 weight % based on the weight of the cement, and at least one polyethylene imine having a molecular weight of between about 600,000 and about 1,000,000 in an amount of from about 1 to about 25% weight % based on the weight of the water.