Abstract: The arrangement for covering over a gap in a roadway has bars running across the roadway. The bars are supported by transverse beams spanning the gap obliquely and which are supported at their ends in joint gap edge structures in such a way that the ends of the beams are able to slide and swivel in relation to the edge structures. The bars are carried on the beams by friction-reducing bearing parts so that sliding of the bars is possible. The bars have openings through the structure thereof (as for example holes in the bar itself or in a frame fixed thereto) to take up the beams and the bearing parts are adapted to allow sliding without swiveling between each bearing part and the associated beam and to allow swiveling between the bearing part and a bar joined thereto. The bearings are made of elastically yielding material and each have at least one bearing body.

Abstract: A sealing system for a valve disposed downhole in a subterranean well and subject to a high-temperature and high-pressure environment, comprises an annular valve seat defining a primary annular metallic seating surface surrounded by a groove within which is mounted a nonresilient, nonmetallic sealing element which is spring urged to project axially beyond the end of the primary sealing surface. The valve head is provided by a primary metallic sealing surface which, as the valve head moves toward engagement with the valve seat first engages the nonresilient, nonmetallic sealing element and deflects same axially and concurrently expands it radially outwardly so that the nonmetallic, nonresilient sealing element ends up engaging a cylindrical surface surrounding the primary sealing surface formed on the valve head.

Abstract: A stage cementing tool comprising a substantially tubular mandrel having a single interior unitary sleeve maintained at a first or closed position in said mandrel and adapted to move to a second or open position and subsequently to a third or closed position in said mandrel. The movable unitary sleeve is maintained by interior shear pins adapted to be sheared in two steps by separate forces applied at different points of the assembly of the unitary sleeve and respective opening and closing seats secured thereto. Positive locking means are located in the sleeve which act to maintain it at each successive position and to prevent regression when the moving force is removed. The mandrel and assembly is adapted to fit in a string of casing pipe for location at a site to be cemented. In operation the unitary sleeve is first actuated to open position for cement flow and placing and thereafter to fully closed position to stop such flow and is positively locked in such closed condition.

Abstract: A front bicycle derailleur for shifting a drive chain on a front gear including a smallest sprocket, an intermediate sprocket, and a largest sprocket, comprising a pair of parallel inner and outer guide plates opposed to each other with the drive chain interposed therebetween at a part positioned in a path of movement of the drive chain toward the front gear, and a control mechanism for laterally translating the guide plates to shift up and down the drive chain on the front gear, wherein the inner guide plate provides a first portion pressing the chain for shifting it from the smallest sprocket to the intermediate sprocket and a second portion pressing the chain for shifting it from the intermediate sprocket to the largest sprocket, the second chain pressing portion being positioned outside of an arc of an imaginary circle concentric with the sprockets of the gear and which arc passes through the first chain pressing portion.

Abstract: A hydraulic control apparatus for controlling a line pressure utilized in a continuously variable transmission. The apparatus controls the amount of line pressure supplied to be as small as possible without resulting in any slippage between a belt member which spans the pulleys. The apparatus monitors torque on the input shaft and output shaft to determine if any slippage is occurring.

Abstract: A side pocket mandrel having deflectors provided by external indentations formed in the wall of the mandrel body and providing corresponding internal protrusions located just above the upper end of the receptacle bore, such protrusions being shaped generally like deflectors and serving the same purposes as deflectors.

Abstract: An idler roller consists of a roller body which comprises a plastic core having a bore to accommodate an idler shaft and a shell of polyurethane located around the core to provide a tubular load-bearing wall. Bearing assemblies are located within the roller body at each end thereof for receiving the idler shaft. A channel-shaped metallic insert is embedded in the shell, the insert spiralling around the whole length of the core. An electrically conductive clip or the like connects the metallic insert to a bearing assembly to drain any electrostatic charge formed on the surface of the polyurethane shell away from the shell via the bearing assembly to the idler shaft.

Abstract: A through tubing bridge plug is disclosed. In the preferred and illustrated embodiment, a central hollow tube having a passage therein supports the external parts. The central passage terminates top and bottom with openings or passages. At the top end, a sleeve valve mechanism originally pinned in an open position is installed. When the installation is completed, the sleeve valve is closed by a sequence of operations to permanently close the flow path. The device is set and anchored by applying a relative downward force to an external sleeve thereby deploying slips to lock the device in location, additionally deploying an upwardly facing petal basket to receive a charge of sand and cement to form a plug, and also deploying a centralizer.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a method and apparatus especially suitable for hydraulically releasing from a screen on a circulation-type gravel pack job. The releasing tool of the present invention comprises a tubular case by which the tool is secured to a gravel packer thereabove, and a gravel screen is secured thereto therebelow, the case having disposed within a collet sleeve assembly shouldering on the top of the case and including a plurality of collets extending downwardly into the case, the collets being radially outwardly biased into engagement with the case by the lower end of a releasing mandrel disposed within the collet sleeve. A ball seat at the top of an axial bore extending through the releasing mandrel permits the seating of a ball and downward movement of the releasing mandrel inside the collet sleeve, removing the outward bias against the collets and permitting withdrawal of the collet sleeve and releasing mandrel from the case and attached screen therebelow.

Abstract: Apparatus for releasing a cementing plug. A first cylinder mounted on a plug container includes a plunger received therein which is longitudinally moveable into the plug container for supporting a cementing plug. A second cylinder received over the first cylinder defines an annular chamber between the cylinders. An annular sleeve is sealingly and slidingly received within the chamber and is slidable between a first position toward the plug container and a second position away from the plug container. The first cylinder includes a slot formed in one side thereof and the plunger includes a recess formed on the radially outer surface thereof. A lock dog is received in the slot and is urged into the plunger recess when the annular sleeve is in the first sleeve position and is withdrawn from the recess when the annular sleeve is in the second sleeve position.

Abstract: A drilling attachment for a utility truck designed for digging pole holes for ordinary utility and telephone poles is disclosed herein. The attachment is intended to replace the auger portion of a conventional auger digger when it is necessary to drill through rock or other hard materials. The excavating method contemplated employs a three step process. First, a deep kerf is cut into the rock by a plurality of drill bits that are independently driven in a rotary/percussive manner while being rotated about the circumference of the kerf. The dust and rock fragments generated by this process are removed from the kerf by an air flushing/vacuum system, that also serves to cool the drill bits. Second, a hydraulic piston is inserted into the kerf and expanded, thereby applying a lateral force to the base of the resultant core causing it to break away from the surrounding rock. Finally an expandable plug is inserted into a pilot hole located at the center of the core.

Abstract: A wash tool for stimulating oil wells having brushes and/or blades mounted to retractable tool blocks, whereby the brushes or blades can be introduced in the well out of contact with the well liner, and thereafter extended into contact with the liner.

Abstract: A subsurface safety valve for controlling the fluid flow through a well conduit having an improved fluid actuator with a ceramic piston connected to and actuating the valve and movable in a ceramic sleeve. The actuator metal valve seats and metal valve elements for seating on the valve seats for providing positive seals.

Abstract: A top head drive well drilling apparatus having a drive unit for rotating a drill string about the longitudinal axis of the drill string. The drive unit is mounted on a carriage, which is guided along a guide track. A stem extends downward from the drive unit to transmit torque from the drive unit to the drill string. A wrench assembly is mounted on the drive unit for making and breaking connections between the stem and the drill string. The wrench assembly can be moved vertically and horizontally in relation to the stem. A stabbing guide is mounted on the wrench assembly for aligning the stem and the drill string. The stabbing guide can be moved vertically relative to the wrench assembly, and has a gripping head having a pair of pivotal latch arms for closing around the drill string. A trigger and a limit switch automatically close the latch arms around the drill string when the stabbing guide is moved onto the drill string.

Abstract: A fluid pressure activated firing head for a perforating gun disposed in a subterranean well by a packer is provided with a column of clean fluid overlying and filling the bore of the firing head but communicating with the casing annulus above the set packer. A fluid passage is provided at the top of the conduit extending the clean fluid column through the packer, and the downwardly facing leg of the annular fluid passage is provided with a pressure transmitting seal to permit the entire fluid passage to be filled with clean fluid of a lighter density than the casing annulus fluids, thus insuring that casing annulus fluid can never enter the interior of the pressure activated firing head.

Abstract: A variable speed drive pulley, especially for automobile vehicles, comprises coaxial first and second pulley flanges which rotate with a hub and are in axial face-to-face relationship to receive a belt between them. At least the first pulley flange is a mobile pulley flange slidably mounted on the hub with radial clearance. It is thus movable along the hub between two extreme configurations, in at least one of which a primary bearing surface on the mobile pulley flange is in axial face-to-face relationship with a secondary bearing surface. An anti-friction member is disposed axially between the primary and secondary bearing surfaces.

Abstract: An off-the-road landfill compactor has large wheels with two piece cutting cleats the inner portion of which are attached to the outer surface of the wheels. The outer, replaceable portion of the cleat is secured to the inner portion by bolts which are directed toward each other but at an incline toward the center of the wheel so that tightening the bolts wedges the outer cleat portion into tighter contact with the inner portion. The bolts engage fastening means retained in recesses provided in the inner portion of the cleat.

Abstract: A pilot valve system for a subsurface safety valve operated by control fluid pressure from the surface including a pilot valve connected with the control fluid line to the subsurface safety valve and into the well production string immediately above the safety valve to bypass the control fluid pressure directly into the tubing string and dump the control fluid pressure from the subsurface safety valve into the tubing string directly above the valve to minimize the time delay between control fluid pressure reduction and the safety valve closure. Three embodiments of the pilot valve are disclosed. One embodiment is operable by electrical energy from the surface. The other embodiments are operable by acoustic energy and radio waves, respectively. Also disclosed is a minimum backlash latch assembly for releasably locking the pilot valve, or other well tools, along a well bore in a receptacle such as a side pocket mandrel.

Abstract: A vibratory earth penetrator employing a high pressure air distributor and an oscillating mechanism has the ability to dig down to underground utilities and contact those utilities without damaging them. The invention includes a hollow elongated tube having a plurality of air lances at the bottom end thereof. The air is preferably distributed to the air lances by an air distributor in a criss-cross sequence. An oscillating eccentric weight is synchronized with the air distributor to enhance the digging effect of the device. The penetrator is supported by a boom which includes an automatic tension device for providing sufficient upward force to keep the penetrator in the vertical attitude while allowing the weight of the penetrator to provide enough force to permit the device to dig into the ground. Since the digging action is accompanied by very little downward force, it is possible to contact underground utilities without hurting them.

Abstract: An improved side pocket mandrel having a body comprising a one-piece main body section in which a main bore and a receptacle bore extend longitudinally therein and an upper body section having space therein for operating a kickover tool, welded together with a circumferential weld. In another embodiment, the machined main body section is welded by circumferential welds between upper and lower body sections. Additional embodiments are further disclosed having means therein for orienting kickover tools which are run and manipulated by wire line or pump down techniques and also having deflectors therein for deflecting regular well tools back into the main passage when approaching the receptacle from above and yet guiding flow control devices into the receptacle when such device is moved laterally into alignment with the receptacle by a kickover tool. Some disclosed embodiments have check valve means controlling flow between the exterior and the interior thereof.