Abstract: Sand is filtered from an oil flow from a sand-containing oil producing formation or interval of an oil well by passing the oil flow with entrained sand through a filter assembly containing filtering media in the form of a body of juxtaposed composite particles. Each composite particle has an iron-containing core surrounded by a continuous chromium cladding, the composite particles having a size to permit passage of the oil flow through the body of the composite particles while substantially preventing flow of sand therethrough.

Abstract: An advanced dynamic impact extension module, used to protect occupants of vehicles from the adverse effects of instantaneous deacceleration of a vehicle when the vehicle impacts an end of a concrete barrier wall is disclosed. According to the invention, a composite barrier is provided which has an upper, low density, crushable component and a lower, substantially non-crushable, base component. The height of the base component will increase from the front of the barrier to the back of the barrier, located proximate the end of the concrete barrier wall, so that a vehicle impacting the barrier will first crush the upper, low-density, crushable material. If a vehicle has sufficient impact force or velocity to crush the upper crushable front component of the barrier, the undercarriage of the vehicle will coact with raised non-crushable base components of the barrier in order to bring the vehicle safely to rest before it impacts the end of a concrete barrier wall.

Abstract: An automated inspection system for identifying objects by their geometrical shapes includes an orientation device wherein objects are conveyed one-by-one at constant velocity to abut at least one stationary member which urges the objects to an orientation common to other conveyed objects. After objects reach a stable common orientation, an inspection device is operated to detect waves which interact with the conveyed objects against the stationary background.

Abstract: A screed assembly has two screed sections hingedly connected together at meeting beveled ends. The hing between the screed sections maintains a hinge axis at the soles thereof as one of the screed sections is swung upwardly to define a sloped face for a berm alongside a paving mat as a paving machine with the screed assembly progresses to form the berm and paving mat simultaneously.

Abstract: A terrorist vehicle arresting system includes a rigid immovable crash barrier positioned at one side of a driveway and a turnstile having a circular sector positioned at the other side of the driveway in such a manner that upon entrance of an unauthorized vehicle through a corresponding gate across the entrance of the driveway, means are provided to rotate the turnstile such that the turnstile deflects the vehicle into the crash barrier. In a further embodiment, two opposing turnstiles are used to wedge an oncoming vehicle therebetween. In one embodiment, the terrorist vehicle arresting system includes a rope-barrier attached to an elevating and lowering mechanism on one side of the driveway and is attached at its other end to the turnstile, such that upon the unauthorized attempted entrance and the striking of the rope-barrier, the turnstile is rotated by the rope-barrier into the driveway, diverting the vehicle into the crash-barrier.

Abstract: A highway marker for attachment to a roadbed to signal the location of a lane extending longitudinally of the roadbed and to signal the proper direction of movement in a traffic lane while defining the boundaries of the traffic lane. The marker has a bottom surface for attachment to a roadbed, a base and adjacent sides are perpendicularly arranged to the base and describe the boundaries of a triangle. A triangular floor in the form of a triangle has a base coincident with the perpendicular base and sides spaced inwardly from the perpendicular sides with there being a peeked boundary formed between the perpendicular adjacent sides and the adjacent sides of the floor. A reflective surface on the perpendicular adjacent sides form an arrow indicating a direction of travel while another reflective surface on the floor indicates an opposite direction of travel respective to the first arrow and can be of various colors.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for delivering asphalt-aggregate material from a plurality of supply trucks to a finishing machine. In a preferred form of the invention the hopper of the finishing machine is modified to have a capacity substantially equal to the capacity of one of the supply trucks. The apparatus is a self-propelled storage vehicle including a hopper having a capacity substantially equal to the capacity of one of the supply trucks, a high capacity loading conveyor, and a high capacity unloading conveyor system. A transversely disposed screw auger is provided for remixing the asphalt-aggregate material in the hopper prior to its discharge to the finishing machine. In the first method of operation the storage vehicle shuttles between the finishing machine and a remote location of the supply trucks and in the second method of operation the storage vehicle travels in tandem with the finishing machine as the paving operation is performed.

Abstract: A lane barrier system comprises a plurality of pivotally interconnected modules adapted to be transferred on a roadway. Each adjacent pair of modules are pivotally connected together by hinge connections to permit the modules to pivot relative to each other about a vertical pivot axis. A pivot control connected to at least one of the hinge connections permits the pivot axis to move between the modules whereby the modules are capable of elongating or contracting to assume a composite varied length. The pivot control further functions to fix the position of the pivot axis between the modules to rigidify the lane barrier system longitudinally and to place it in tension when lateral loads are imposed thereon, such as when impacted by a road vehicle. The ability of the lane barrier system to elongate or contract is advantageous when the system is picked-up by a transfer vehicle for relocation on a roadway and when the system is positioned at various radii on a curved roadway.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a prefabricated composite pavement device comprising a shaped pavement mixture portion bonded to a support portion and a method and apparatus for making the same.

Abstract: A levelling device for producing a smooth surface on a sett paving bed is constructed, with a view to easy handling and neat working, so that the rule can lift the excess material with a cutting action by a projecting cutting edge and a rising ramp surface. With a collecting trough and with rollers to support the levelling rule, a transport truck for excess material can be provided at the same time.

Abstract: An improved simplified compacting apparatus for mounting on the tool-support boom of a backhoe or other tractor. The apparatus includes a lower member with a convex cylindrical compacting surface which extends through an arc of less than about 180 degrees, preferably less than about 90 degrees, and terminates in front and rear edges. At least one and preferably two upright members are secured to the lower member, preferably to a top concave surface thereof, and pivot mounts are on the upright member to allow pivoting attachment to a tool-support boom. The apparatus is easy to operate and easily reaches edges not reached by many prior devices.

Abstract: An improved tubing hanger having an annulus passageway therethrough and with an improved annulus control valve therein including an annular hanger body having an annulus passageway extending therethrough with a chamber interrupting said passageway and a valve ball positioned within said chamber for rotation responsive to rotation of gear means associated with said valve ball, a sleeve slidably positioned within said hanger body and having a rack secured thereto and engaging said gear means so that movement of said sleeve controls the position of said valve ball to open and close flow through said annulus passageway.

Abstract: A construction apparatus with a trimmer connected by a three-point suspension wherein each of the three points is independently adjustable for adjusting the angle of the trimmer relative to the main frame in accordance with the desired slope or grade of the ground surface and to raise and lower the trimmer. The trimmer is also provided with an improved carriage for permitting the trimmer to be moved laterally outwardly of the construction apparatus to grade the ground surface alongside the construction apparatus. The construction apparatus preferably molds a paving material onto the ground immediately behind the trimmer so that concurrent grading and molding is accomplished in one pass of the construction apparatus.

Abstract: A vertical drainage element is constructed and laid in position while at the same time forming a narrow vertical channel in the ground by means of an excavating machine or trencher by performing the following successive operations:a strip of filtering material is unwound from a rotating roll of strip behind the trencher;the strip is introdued within the channel formed in the ground while being shaped in the form of a trough, the bottom of the trough being placed at the bottom of the channel while the side walls of the trough are placed against the channel walls;the top edges of the trough are held in position one against the other while filling the trough with bulk material in granular form which subsequently constitutes a vertical filtration block;the top edges of the trough of filtering material are closed on top of the completed block and are fastened together so as to form a closed jacket around the block.

Abstract: The present invention includes a concrete screed frame having a first screed blade, a second screed blade and a camber top member arranged in a triangular cross section. A plurality of frame supports are transversely mounted between the first and second screed blades. A plurality of braces are mounted between the top camber member and the first and second screed blades. A telescoping tube assembly having a first tube and a second tube is mounted transversely between the first and second screed blades at the approximate midpoint of the length of the frame. A pin selectively fixes the relative position of the first and second tubes. Elongated structural means illustrated as a chain assembly is mounted to a screed blade and a tube to stiffen the screed frame and provides a chain-formed truss with the screed frame.

Abstract: A lane barrier system comprises a plurality of pivotally interconnected modules adapted to be transferred on a roadway. Each module has sidewalls that taper upwardly and inwardly to intersect a T-shaped upper portion having undercut surfaces extending laterally outwardly from a central vertical axis of the module and past critical impact points on the module. The sidewalls and undercut surfaces are configured to aid in the precise deflection, guidance and "capturing" of the bumper of a passenger vehicle or light duty truck when the bumper impacts the module to prevent the vehicle from catapulting over the system. A reinforcement assembly is encased within a concrete casting of each module. Each adjacent pair of modules are pivotally connected together to permit them to elongate or contract to assume a composite varied length different than a normal, nominal length when a load is imposed thereon and to automatically return to their nominal length when the load is removed.

Abstract: A control apparatus for a pavement breaker which includes a carriage, a lifting means for raising and lowering an impact arm which impact arm includes a tool for impacting a surface, mounted on one end and an oscillating member mounted on the other end. The control apparatus basically includes electrical apparatus for measuring the total weight being applied through the lifting means to the tool when it is in contact with the surface to be impacted and apparatus for limiting the amount of horizontal force that can be applied to the impact arm during the process of impacting the surface of the earth. A processor receives an electrical signal from the electrical apparatus which is applied to the lift control apparatus in a manner to stabilize the lifting force. A signal output is generated by the horizontal force limiting apparatus when a predetermined amount of horizontal force is received by the electrical device.

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: A device for cutting slots of varying lengths and shapes in pavement to receive a reflector, the cutting blades for cutting the slot always being at right angles to the tangent to that portion of the surface of the pavement where the slot is being cut and means permitting the cutting blades to be maintained at an optimal rotational speed regardless of the density of the type of pavement encountered.

Abstract: A pavement slot cutter has a mobile support adapted to advance on the pavement in a predetermined direction. A drum is mounted on the support to rotate about a horizontal, transverse axis. A motor within a hub fast on the support rotates the drums. A transversely extending casing on the drum holds a transversely extending tooth structure for reciprocation therein toward and away from the support. An undulatory cam track is formed in the hub and is engaged by a cam follower on the tooth.