Abstract: A ram-type blowout preventer for use in the drilling of onshore and offshore wells, having secondary plastic injection sealing means whereby, on failure of the conventional ram seal, a well closure may still be ensured for protection of human life, equipment and the environment.

Abstract: This invention describes an inexpensive solar energy collector protective device that controls the flow of hot collector air within a pre-selected range. The device permits automatic opening of a vent, accomplished by a bi-metallic release or by rupturing of a separator. As a result of this construction, power failures, and the resultant failure of fluid pumping apparatus will not cause damage to the solar energy collector components. This protective device comprehends selection of inexpensive materials for internal components.

Abstract: A pressure fitting formed of fire resistant material, preferably stainless steel, contains a chamber communicating through an opening with a pressure responsive switch or other assembly formed at least in part of a less fire resistant material, such as aluminum, with a movable seal member being provided for transmitting force to a movable part of the assembly, and with a valve member which is also high temperature resistant being provided to automatically close off fluid flow from the chamber through the opening in the event of fire. The temperature response may be obtained by release of the valve resulting from melting down of part of the pressure responsive assembly, or by melting of a fusible element retaining the valve in open condition, or by both of these effects.

Abstract: A recreational vehicle safety system includes two independently operable automatic shutoff valve assemblies. One valve assembly is attached directly to the recreational vehicle's appliance high-pressure fuel tank in such a manner as to be operable in all conceivable crash situations, and the other is connected downstream from the appliance fuel line's high-pressure regulator and is designed to close off the fuel flow when a fuel line breaks or small gas leaks are present, such as when an appliance pilot light goes out. Provided also with these valve assemblies are a gas sensor and warning light and audible alarms located about the recreational vehicle to alert campers to potentially dangerous malfunctions. Electrical and manual resets are provided for the safety system, so that the recreational vehicle's appliances can be made operable again if a malfunction occurs in the wilderness, remote from needed tools and expert mechanical assistance.

Abstract: A wedge-type gate valve with a one-piece gate or wedge movable longitudinally of itself in the valve chamber and transversely of the flow passage between open and closed positions. The gate is a one-piece structure having longitudinal V-shaped guide grooves in opposite edges thereof into which extend aligned, conical guide pins carried by the valve body. The edges of the wedge are also provided with inclined cam grooves engageable by the guide pins to cam the wedge against one of its seats in the open position of the wedge. The wedge is provided with a lubricant annulus communicating with one or both valve seats in the closed position of the wedge, the lubricant annulus being provided with a suitable lubricant through a threaded actuating stem. The inner end of the actuating stem has a doubly-tapered radially-outwardly-convergent head disposed in a complementary socket in the wedge, with seals between the wedge and such head, on both sides of the head.

Abstract: A valve adapted for installation in a pipe system which carries liquid or paste foodstuffs has a housing enclosing a cylindrical bore. At least one opening in the side of the housing provides a radial pipe connection. Two closure members of segmented cross-section are rotatably disposed in the bore for rotation into open and closed positions with respect to openings in the side of the housing. Cover plates close the opposite ends of the bore and a spindle extends through each plate into the bore. One spindle is connected to one closure member and the other spindle is connected to the other closure member so that the closure members can be rotated independently of each other. The closure member is provided above and below the openings for pipe connections in the side of the housing with conical wedge surfaces each coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the bore and diverging away from the opening. The housing is provided with wedge surfaces for cooperating with those on the closure members.

Abstract: A thermal fuse device for deflating a pneumatic tire in the event of high temperature has an outlet for the molten eutectic plug which is separated from the air outlet so that venting air will not tend to re-solidfy the eutectic. The eutectic plug abuts a step or shoulder to prevent "creep".

Abstract: A fluid operated valve device which effects a time delay in the shifting of a main valve spool. Pressurized pilot fluid is metered at a controlled rate through an air filter and a spiral groove which is restricted in size to delay the pressure build up of the fluid. When the pressure builds up sufficiently, a timer piston is shifted to break its seal with the main valve spool so that fluid can pass through the piston into a pressure chamber. The fluid pressure in the chamber shifts the main valve spool to control application of fluid to the load. When the pilot pressure is relieved, fluid flows at a high speed along a return path that passes the base of the air filter to create a suction effect which extracts dirt from the filter and purges it from the system. The pressure reduction allows springs to return the main valve spool and the timer piston into sealing position.

Abstract: A safety valve for use with a beverage dispensing system having a pressurized source connected through a conduit to a container of beverage. The safety valve includes a housing having an inlet for connecting said valve to the pressure source and an outlet for connecting the valve to the beverage container through the conduit. A chamber in the housing is divided into at least two subchambers by a rupture disc which ruptures at a predetermined pressure in one of the subchambers. The other side of the disc is exposed to a subchamber which is vented to the atmosphere. Where the pressure in the one subchamber reaches the predetermined level, the rupture disc will burst allowing the pressurized gas to flow out through a vented chamber into the atmosphere, thereby preventing the container from being over-pressurized.

Abstract: A novel locking clip is disclosed for use with either fire or smoke dampers, which locking clip normally does not interfere with the operation of those dampers but, which under activation conditions, allows the blades of the damper to move into the desired position, but effectively prevents the blades from moving out of that position until fire conditions have passed.

Abstract: A matric potential sensor comprises(a) a housing including a porous wall adapted to be located underground,(b) spaced metal plates carried in the housing to be coupled to a source of electrical current, and(c) granular material located to pass electrical current within the housing and between the plates so that the current flow will vary as a function of the moisture content of the granular material, said content adapted to vary as a function of the matric potential of the soil surrounding the housing in response to moisture transmission through the porous housing into the surrounding soil.Special circuitry adapts the sensor for use with a solenoid type irrigation valve controller.

Abstract: The present control valve is intended to handle highly viscous material such as concrete mixes. For this purpose two valve plates are arranged in a valve housing in such a manner that in one position of the two valve plates relative to each other, one valve plate closes a suction inlet port and opens a pressure outlet port while the other valve plate opens a suction inlet port and closes a pressure outlet port. When the positions of the valve plates change, their respective operation is reversed. The valve plates are supported by drive rods which in turn are supported at both ends of the valve housing in respective slide bearings. One end of each drive rod is operatively connected to a hydraulic drive. The opposite end of each drive rod carries a piston movable in a cylinder, the far end of which is operatively connected to a rinsing liquid container. The rinsing liquid conduits extend through grooves in the slide bearings of each drive rod, whereby these rods are cleaned to protect the rod bearings.

Abstract: A blowout preventer with an aligning apparatus having a housing with a vertical bore therethrough and a blowout preventer in one portion of the housing with guideways extending outward from the bore, aligning guideways in the housing spaced from and parallel to the blowout preventer guideways, an aligning ram in each of the aligning guideways with a piston for extending and retracting the aligning ram, each aligning ram having a carrier slidable in the aligning guideway with a cam surface and a jaw having a mating cam surface and mounted on the carrier with the respective cam surfaces being in engagement, the outer surface of the jaw being substantially perpendicular to the axis of the aligning guideways and adapted to engage tubing within the housing bore, the cam surfaces of opposing aligning rams being angled to cause the opposing jaws to move transversely in the aligning guideways when they come into engagement with tubing to cause the tubing to be moved with the jaws into the preferred position for closi

Abstract: The invention provides improvements in continuous ring furnaces which have sequentially arranged and communicating chambers and which are used for baking and rebaking carbon articles, wherein a movable bridge member is employed to connect a common smoke channel with a first chamber, so as to draw a portion of smoke flowing through said smoke channel and recycle the same through the furnace.

Abstract: Disclosed is an hydraulic actuator for a wireline blowout preventer. The actuator uses well pressure to effect closure of the blowout preventer and hydraulic control fluid to open the blowout preventer.

Abstract: A control apparatus has a single control handle, first and second work elements, and first and second ramps each contacting a respective work element. Apparatus is further provided for selectively, progressively pivoting only one of the ramps in response to controllably moving the single control handle. One of the ramps pivotally moves in response to moving the handle in a first plane to a first position and in a different second plane from a first toward a second position. The other ramp pivotally moves in response to moving the handle in the first plane to a second position and in a different third plane from a first toward a second position. Respective work elements are thereby moved between a plurality of positions for controlling an operation such as the flow of fluid through associated, respective valves.

Abstract: A non-fragmenting, low burst pressure rupture device assembly is provided for mounting between opposed flange members which define a relief orifice for a pressurized line or vessel. The assembly includes a relatively thin, flexible, fluid impervious sealing element adapted to be carried by the flange members in fluid blocking relationship to the orifice, along with a support member adapted to be mounted in supporting relationship to the element downstream of the pressure line or vessel. The support member has a series of relieved areas therein defining a closed loop pattern presenting a section which gives way or opens under a pre-determined pressure thereon applied through the sealing element from the pressurized area. The element has an integral bulge defining part overlying the perimeter of the section which allows the section of the support member to sense the pressure in the line or vessel through the sealing element independent of the burst pressure characteristics of the sealing element.

Abstract: In oil and gas well pumping apparatus, a polish rod reciprocates through a stuffing box and connects to a submersible pump through a tubing string or the like. When servicing, it is desirable to close off the gas or oil pressure from below and hydraulic fluid is routed from a remote location to the blow out preventer. The blow out preventer consists of a cylindrical casing with a cap screw threadably engaged to the upper end thereof and containing a cylindrical spool or the like formed from elastomeric material having an annular channel around the outer perimeter which is operatively connected to the source of hydraulic fluid. When it is desired to close off the blow out preventer, hydraulic fluid is pumped under pressure to the channel thus forcing the center of the spool inwardly and clamping same around the polish rod thereby closing off the passageway around the polish rod. O rings surround the spool above and below the channel and assist in sealing.

Abstract: An adjustable clamp for controlling the flow of fluid through a flexible tubing having deformable walls has an elongated, externally threaded body having an axial bore through which the tubing passes. One end of the body contains one or more longitudinally slots communicating with the bore, in which slot is located an elongated arm or wing hinged at one of its ends to the body, the other end of the arm being free to move radially within the slot. The radial height of the arm tapers, being a maximum at its free end and a minimum at its hinged end. A threaded nut engaging the thread on the body is provided with a bearing surface which contacts the tapered surface of the arm. As the nut is turned in a direction to move it towards the slotted end of the body, the arm is progressively forced into the slot, deforming the enclosed tubing to an increasing degree, thereby permitting control of the flow of fluid through the tubing.

Abstract: Linkage which extends between right and left brake pedals and a valve construction provided with an outwardly extending shiftable shaft and a pair of valves disposed to either side of the shaft. A bolt assembly passes through one end of the shaft and mounts a yoke for rocking movement, the yoke having ends equally offset from the valves. Right and left substantially identical linkages are employed, each linkage including a push rod mounted for limited adjustable sliding movement in a trunnion carried by a bifurcated arm of a bell crank. The other bell crank arm is connected to an end of the yoke by a ball joint assembly, one end of a tubular intermediate portion being adapted to bear against a valve.