Abstract: Disclosed is a plug valve adapted to be placed in a chamber or vessel containing fluidized particles to control flow of the fluidized particles between the chamber or vessel and the open end of a conduit which has a contained purging system in a sealed space between the valve stem and guide tube effective to keep the fluidized particles out of the space. A purging medium is provided under pressure to the sealed space as a backup and only purges the space of fluidized particles which enter it due to leakage of one or both of the stuffing boxes. Other features of the plug valve are described.

Abstract: Disclosed are iron based, austenitic alloys of substantially reduced cobalt content compared to current cobalt based alloys, such as Stellite 1 and 6, which are substantially less expensive than current cobalt based alloys, which are machinable using standard machine processes and procedures, which can be deposited as a hard surface with a tight crack pattern or a smooth surface, which does not stress crack upon cooling, which provides substantially reduced radiation exposure by plant maintenance workers in nuclear power plants, and which has a superior hardness, lower friction coefficiency, metal to metal wear loss and erosion loss than cobalt based alloys, such as Stellite 1 and Stellite 6. The alloying content comprises from about 38.0 to 62.0 percent by weight, and has a cobalt content of from about 3.00 to 9.00 percent by weight.

Abstract: There is disclosed a line blind assembly having a pair of tubular members adapted to be connected in a flowline and connected to one another by bolts having nuts on their ends to permit sealing faces on the inner ends of the tubular members to be tightly engaged with sealing faces on the opposite sides of either a disc or a spacer ring upon removal of the other from within the space. A series of circumferentially spaced, hydraulically operable, extendable and retractable actuators are connected at one end to one tubular member and the other end to the other tubular member, so that the sealing faces may be moved toward and away from one another independently of the bolts and nuts.

Abstract: A line blind assembly having a pair of tubular members adapted to be connected in a flowline and connected to one another by bolts having nuts on their ends to permit sealing faces on the inner ends of the tubular members to be tightly engaged with sealing faces on the opposite sides of either a disc or a spacer ring upon removal of the other from within the space. A series of circumferentially spaced, hydraulically operable, extendable and retractable actuators are connected at one end to one tubular member and the other end to the other tubular member, so that the sealing faces may be moved toward and away from one another independently of the bolts and nuts.

Abstract: There is disclosed a butterfly valve having a body forming a continuation of the flowway in which it is installed, bearing housings mounted on the body to connect with side openings from the flowway, a stem rotatable in the bearing housings and extending into the flowway, and a disc rotatable with the stem within the flowway. The periphery of the disc is spaced from the flowway and engages stops about the flowway when the disc is transverse to the flowway. The inner ends of the bearing housings extend into annular recesses in the ends of the disc, and wear-resistant sleeves are received over the inner ends of the bearing housings to span the gaps between the disc and flowway adjacent the ends of the stops.

Abstract: There is disclosed a gate valve wherein each of the gate, a plate having an orifice over which the gate is movable to control flow through the valve, and rails for guidably receiving the parallel opposite side edges of the gate as it is so moved is cooled by water circulating through a passageway thereof.

Abstract: There is disclosed a diverter valve having a gate for closing one or the other side-by-side seats aligned with outlets from a valve body wherein the body is made of carbon steel or other relatively low heat resistant but inexpensive metal, and the seats and other internal parts are made of stainless steel or low heat resistant metal.

Abstract: There are disclosed two embodiments of a stuffing box for a movable stem of a valve, wherein each stuffing box includes first and second primary packing assemblies at its inner and outer ends, respectively, a third packing assembly intermediate the first and second packing assemblies and including axially spaced inner and outer packing sections between which sealant may be injected, as well as a bleed ring intermediate the first and second packing sections and surrounding the stem with small clearance, whereby purge fluid may be introduced into the small clearance for flow past the inner primary packing assembly in the event it fails.

Abstract: A self-aligning top drive device and gimballing apparatus therefor. The gimballing apparatus provides horizontal and tilting movement to maintain alignment between a top drive and a tubular or tubulars suspended in a derrick, the gimballing provided by pivot pins extending from the sides of the top drive into a portion of a gimbal frame and by a pivot pin extending from the gimbal frame into a gimbal frame support. The gimbal frame support can be movably mounted on a top drive dolly to provide displacement of the top drive with respect to the dolly.

Abstract: A plug valve and a sealing assembly for a plug valve. A plug valve having a plug closure member for sealing off the open end of a conduit and thereby preventing flow of a first fluid through the conduit, the plug closure member connected to a hollow stem tube, a channel for the flow of a second fluid, (a lift medium), extending through the hollow stem tube and plug closure member, the plug closure member and stem movable in a guide tube toward and away from the open end of the conduit, the plug closure member seatable in the open end of the conduit, and a sealing assembly disposed between the stem tube and guide tube for preventing the flow of fluid, fluidized catalysts, or purge medium downward past the sealing assembly and for preventing the flow of lift medium or feedstock upward past the sealing assembly. A spacer for a purge channel is provided for even distribution of a purge medium.

Abstract: Well apparatus including a top drive assembly having a hollow drive stem driven through a gear assembly by a plurality, two or more, of hydraulic motors, the drive stem adapted to be attached to a well swivel at upper end and an intermediate sub or a string at the lower end, the rotary motion of the drive stem to power the string during operations. A shut off valve to shut off well fluid and a link adapter can be located between the lower end of the hollow drive stem and the upper end of the drill string. The vertical axis of the drive stem can be aligned coaxially with the vertical axis of the wellbore and with the vertical axis of the drill string. The top drive can be mounted to a wheeled support frame contained within two elongated members mounted in a derrick. Pivotably mounted to the support frame is a manipulator arm adapted on one end to grasp and support a tubular member and pivotable in a horizontal plane.

Abstract: A plug valve, a check valve for a plug valve, a pressure regulator for a plug valve, and a check valve for a conduit. A plug valve having a plug closure member for sealing off the open end of a conduit and thereby preventing flow of a first fluid through the conduit, the plug closure member connected to a hollow stem, a channel for the flow of a second fluid extending through the hollow stem and plug closure member, the plug closure member and stem movable in a guide tube toward and away from the open end of the conduit, the plug closure member seatable in the open end of the conduit. In one embodiment the plug valve may have a pressure regulating member in the channel through which the second fluid flows. In another embodiment a check valve may be disposed within the channel to prevent flow of the first fluid down the hollow stem. The pressure regulating member and check valve may be combined in one embodiment. A conduit for use with a plug valve, the conduit having a check valve.

Abstract: An elevator bail with elongated slots, an elevator tilting assembly and indexing apparatus, and a top drive drilling unit in combination with such devices that are connected to the upper end of a drill string and movable upwardly and downwardly with the drill string along a guide apparatus and that can be provided with a pipe handling mechanism for lifting and positioning the drill string which can can be swung about a vertical axis to a more advantageous attitude for loading or unloading drill pipe. Movement about the vertical axis can be achieved through the use of an air or hydraulic cylinder. Fitted about the top drive central shaft can be a rotable air conducting sealing gland and about its perimeter an annular ring containing a target material that is sensitive to a proximity switching device. The annular ring is rotable through an infinite angular travel and is able to be secured against unwanted rotation.

Abstract: An hydraulic top drive apparatus and tubular handling device mounted beneath a conventional crown block, traveling block, bail, and swivel, and including an hydraulically powered top drive pipe rotating device having a single hollow shaft with threads at each end for mating on one end with the drill string or tubular to be worked and on the other with a drilling swivel. The top drive rotating device is attached to a wheeled support frame which moves on guide rails which are mounted to a derrick. The top drive apparatus can be pivoted in a horizontal plane away from the vertical axis of the drill string or other tubulars. Motive force is applied directly to the drill string or other tubular being worked. A pivotable pipe lifting and positioning device is mounted beneath the top drive on the wheeled support frame for picking up pipe and positioning it so that the pipe threads can mate precisely with the threads of the top drive shaft.

Abstract: Control valve for controlling the flow of material, the valve including a body with an inlet and an outlet, a disc mounted in the body for closing and opening the valve, the disc mounted on a guide which is secured to the body, the guide mounted on a support, and slots extending through the guide and support for the flow of material therethrough. The valve is particularly useful for controlling the flow of erosive and corrosive material.

Abstract: A bulk hot coke cooler with a vessel for holding the coolant material and a drum rotatably supported within the vessel so that when the drum rotates, it moves through the coolant, the drum having a plurality of hollow cooling pockets going from one side of the drum to the other which directly contact the hot coke in the drum through which pockets coolant can flow as the drum rotates to enhance the cooling effect of the coolant on the hot coke inside the drum, the pockets having end walls which close off the pockets forming an inlet and an outlet for the coolant, the drum wall not overlapping the pocket end wall. Transfer bars formed integrally of the pockets can be used to facilitate coke movement.

Abstract: A bulk hot coke cooler with a vessel for holding the coolant material and a drum rotatably supported within the vessel so that when the drum rotates, it moves through the coolant, the drum having a plurality of hollow cooling pockets going from one side of the drum to the other which directly contact the hot coke in the drum through which pockets coolant can flow as the drum rotates to enhance the cooling effect of the coolant on the hot coke inside the drum, wear sleeves provided on the edges of selected pockets to protect the lead surfaces of the pockets which come in contact with the hot coke, the wear sleeves being shaped to match the shape of the pocket surface where they are attached, and transfer bars connected to the wear sleeves which move and push the coke through the drum. The various parts of the cooler can be fabricated from hardfaced plate.

Abstract: Disclosed is a plug valve adapted to be placed in a chamber or vessel containing fluidized particles to control flow of the fluidized particles between the chamber or vessel and the open end of a conduit which has a contained purging system in a sealed space between the valve stem and guide tube effective to keep the fluidized particles out of the space. A purging medium is provided under pressure to the sealed space as a backup and only purges the space of fluidized particles which enter it due to leakage of one or both of the stuffing boxes. Other features of the plug valve are described.