Abstract: Apparatus for use in calibrating a meter having an outer tubular housing closed at each end, a reduced diameter and reduced length inner tubular barrel supported within the outer house providing an annular space between the exterior of the barrel and the interior of the housings, two spaced apart ports in the housing communicating with the annular area, an annular flange secured to the interior wall of the housing having an opening therein receiving the barrel and an annular flange between the exterior of the barrel and the interior of the housing--dividing the annular space into two portions, the annular flange being arranged so that the barrel may be easily and expeditiously removed while ensuring that no leakage occurs past the flange, a free piston in the barrel and piston detection switches spaced apart on the barrel providing means of indicating passage of precise amount of gas or liquid through the barrel.

Abstract: A sampler for communicating with the interior of a vessel containing a relatively viscous liquid under pressure extracts a liquid sample of predetermined volumetric displacement from the vessel and conveys the same to a point of collection. The sampler includes a body having a bore in communication with the interior of the vessel, a plunger reciprocable within the bore and a slider reciprocable within the bore rearwardly of the plunger. To obtain a liquid sample, the plunger is moved at least partially into the vessel to establish a sample chamber between the slider and plunger into which liquid flows. The plunger is then moved back into the bore with the sample captured between the plunger and slider until the sample is exposed to a discharge port in the bore, at which point further rearward movement of the sleeve is inhibited, so that continued rearward movement of the plunger forces the liquid out of the sample chamber and through the port.

Abstract: A method and a gage for time-resolved skin-friction measurements. The gage is a composite structure comprised of a heated, flush-mounted, guard film and a hot wire mounted to an electrically insulated very low thermal conductivity material plug in the vicinity of the film and raised slightly above the plug surface. When the so constructed gage is calibrated in a laminar flow environment, it then has the ability to provide accurate readings of skin-friction in turbulent flow conditions.

Abstract: An environmentally acceptable gas is provided, under pressure, in the annulus of a casing arrangement which connects a wellhead to an underground storage zone containing stored product. Monitoring of the gas permits detection of leaks that might occur through casing leakage to an unsealed overburden. Leak detection and product loss prevention can be conducted without deleterious environmental impact.

Abstract: The invention relates to improved methods of proving the calibration of meters, such as oil and water meters used in measuring fluid output of a producing oil well prior to the fluid reaching a stock tank. The method generally involves connecting a prover vessel, having an accurate volume reading sight glass, downstream of the meter to be tested, introducing a first volume of fluid into the prover vessel, degassing the fluid and pressurizing the vessel so as to establish a baseline reading. A preselected volume of fluid as registered by the meter is then introduced into the vessel, degassing and pressurizing are repeated and a second volume reading is obtained. The volume represented by the difference between the second and first volumes read at the prover vessel is divided by the volume registered by the meter to obtain a factor by which a meter reading may be multiplied to derive the true volume of fluid passing thereby. The volumes recorded may be temperature corrected to 15.degree. C.

Abstract: A calibrating gas generator comprises two series connected solution tanks filled with an aqueous ethanol solution which are connected together so that a pump may direct air so that it successively bubbles through the ethanol solution in each tank and exit through a test nozzle connected to the last tank. Means are provided for maintaining a temperature in the first tank of 37.degree. C. and in the second solution tank of 34.degree. C. In accordance with the method of the invention, the testing reliability of the calibrating gas is extended by directing a gas such as air so that it successively bubbles through ethanol solutions in first and second tanks and by maintaining the solution in the first tank at 37.degree. C. and the solution in the second tank at 34.degree. C.

Abstract: A support device suitable for flying a pennant, flag or burgee from an elongated support element. The pennant support of this invention is characterized by its provision of elements for removably attaching the pennant support to the support element in a fashion whereby the pennant support is free to pivot, or rotate, about the support element. Thus, when a pennant, flag or burgee is connected to the pennant support there is virtually no chance of the connected indicia becoming tangled or twisted around the support element. Alternative embodiments of the pennant support are also disclosed whereby it may be used for attaching such indicia to shrouds, stays or halyards as the support element so that the indicia may be raised and lowered with respect to the support element.

Abstract: A testing apparatus for measuring gas flow through a test sample bed of foundry cupola coke incidental to determining the hydraulic radius of the sample, the apparatus comprising a hollow cylindrical walled container where the internal wall has an elastomeric foam layer that is penetrated by the adjacent coke particles to minimize wall effects due to high porosity at the wall. In an optional feature, the coke may be introduced into the bed through a shatter tower that simulates breakup of the coke in an operating cupola.

Abstract: A valve containing a central recess is rotatable in a housing 180.degree. in opposite directions to cause its recess to register selectively with identically shaped inlet and outlet ports that are formed in opposite ends, respectively, of the housing. One of a pair of circular end plates, which are secured over opposite ends, respectively, of the housing by a pair of conventional coupling members, has an axial bore that communicates at one end with the inlet port, and at its opposite end with an integral pipe that extends exteriorly of the housing, and which has an externally-threaded outer end that is adapted to be threaded into the outlet side of a conventional tee fitting, the run of which is connected in a pipe through which fluid flows under pressure. The other end plate contains a first opening connected to a drainage tube, and a second opening which is used as a vent for admitting atmospheric air to the outlet port.

Abstract: A leak detector for detecting the presence of a leak in a vacuum vessel exposed on its exterior to a test gas, comprising, a turbo vacuum pump having an inlet connected to a gas sensor for sensing the presence of a test gas and an outlet, a forepump connected to the outlet for receiving gas from the outlet and an intermediate inlet in the turbo vacuum pump connected to the test vessel. When test gas is supplied to the intermediate inlet from the test vessel, indicative of a leak, the test gas flows in counter-current flow to the operating direction of the turbo vacuum pump, to the gas detector, where the test gas is detected.

Abstract: A cigarette testing apparatus wherein each end of the wrapper of a cigarette advancing with a rotary conveyor past a testing station receives a stream of gaseous testing fluid from a conduit which is connected with a source of testing fluid, and wherein a further conduit connects the interior of the wrapper at the testing station with an electropneumatic transducer which generates signals denoting the condition of successively tested wrappers.

Abstract: A horizontally movable sampling probe, for insertion into and retraction from a blast furnace, is supported in an aperture in the furnace wall. The support mechanism for the probe includes a fluid cooled guide block attached to the furnace shell and having a support portion extending toward the furnace interior at least part way through the refractory furnace wall lining.

Abstract: Apparatus for measuring the total mass of the fluid in a container, having pressure responsive, density determination means adapted to determine the localized density of the fluid as a function of pressure differential between two closely spaced, vertically separated measuring points in the fluid, means enabling the density determination means to determine the localized density values throughout the depth of the fluid, storage means for storing predetermined horizontal cross-sectional area values of the container as a function of depth, and computational circuitry responsive to the density determination means and the storage means for providing a total mass signal corresponding to the integral, over the depth of the fluid, of the product of localized density values times the corresponding area values.

Abstract: In shot peening apparatus, a device is provided for sensing shot peening intensity and the uniformity of shot flow. It is basically comprised of a detector plate mounted on a cantilevered arm; torque created at the arm mounting due to the impact of shot is measured with a transducer. The detector is mounted on a structure adapted to translate the detector through a large shot peening zone. The invention is especially suited for assuring consistency in a process wherein uniform spherical shot is gravity accelerated to impact a workpiece with uniform velocity.

Abstract: An apparatus for introducing tubes automatically into a gas pathway between a gas source and a gas chromatograph when the apparatus is in use, the apparatus comprisinga gravity feed magazine for storing tubes,means for introducing a tube horizontally from the magazine to a gas pathway whereby, when the apparatus is in use, gas is introduced through a first pipe from a gas source to one end of the tube and is passed through the tube to a second pipe for introducing the gas into a gas chromatograph, one end of the tube and one end of the first pipe abutting opposite sides of a first resilient ring and the other end of the tube and one end of the second pipe abutting opposite sides of a second resilient ring the rings sealing the first pipe, tube and second pipe in the gas pathway while allowing gas to flow from the first pipe to the tube and from the tube to the second pipe.means for heating the tube when in the gas pathway andmeans for ejecting the tube from the pathway.

Abstract: Tubular goods, such as drill pipe and production tubing, are measured while going into and coming out of a borehole. An electronic beam is directed from a transmitter and is detected by a distance measuring receiver. The beam commences at a known station relative to one end of a pipe suspended in the derrick; and is received at a second station which is indexed respective to the traveling block of the drilling rig. Another beam measures the position of the other end of the pipe respective to the traveling block. These measurements enable the length of each stand of pipe to be accurately ascertained while the pipe is held suspended within the derrick at a location above the derrick floor. Electronic circuitry, including a digital instrument, automatically computes the length, displays the length in feet and tenths on a digital readout, records the length on a print-out tape, and incorporates an accumulative memory register.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring the temperature in a subsurface earth formation that is being heated in situ by subjection to a radio frequency electromagnetic field. It includes lowering a maximum registering thermometer into the formation on a non-conductive flexible line, and holding it there long enough to reach the ambient temperature at that location. Then, the thermometer is raised to the surface fast enough to avoid any significant change on the way up to read that registered maximum.

Abstract: A gas sampling device whose operation is activated by the blast whose gas to be sampled. This blast activates a switch which in turn starts the operation of a control box which thereafter sequentially outputs pneumatic signals at preset time intervals. These signals are received by a sampling unit assembly which functions in response thereto to receive and retain a gas sample from the blast.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a torsion tube apparatus for making on-line measurements of the viscosity and elasticity of a fluid. The apparatus includes a housing member, an outer cylinder having one end rotatably mounted with respect to the housing member, and a motor for rotating this outer cylinder. An elongated torsion tube is mounted concentrically within and spaced from the outer cylinder and has one end fixed to the housing member, with its other end freely disposed within the cylinder for torsional movement with respect to the fixed end. Therefore, an annular void is defined between the tube and cylinder. Fluid may be introduced through a conduit into the interior of the cylinder for flow therethrough and discharge therefrom, such that rotating motion of the fluid caused by rotation of the cylinder exerts a torsional force directly on the outer surface of the tube. A torsion indicating shaft extends concentrically through the tube, having its one end fixed to the free end of the tube.

Abstract: A device is provided for determining the density or concentration of solid contaminants suspended in a fluid, having an orifice or narrow passage through which the fluid carrying suspended solid contaminants is passed, and monitoring the rate of build-up of the contaminants at the orifice or narrow passage as a function of the density or concentration of the contaminants in the fluid.