Abstract: A packer element for a blow-out protector comprising a body of an elastomeric packing material interposed between a pair of opposed reinforcing plates wherein a slight pre-load compression is imparted to the working surface with which the packer element seals off the annular space around a drill pipe. The pre-load compression is achieved by forming the packing body with top and bottom surfaces which diverge in the direction of the working surface and compressing the packing body between the reinforcing plates such that in the blow-out protector the reinforcing plates sit in substantially planar parallel relation. By building pre-load compression into the packer element, it has been found that the useful life of the element is enhanced.

Abstract: A well blowout preventer packer unit is characterized by long life, and induced back to front (radial) rubber feeding between metallic inserts to close on well pipe or on a well tool for producing a pressure gradient against the pipe or tool which is greatest at the bottom of the packer extent engaging the pipe, and lowest at the top of the packer extent engaging the pipe. The preventer piston has at least three, and typically four, frusto-conical surfaces to progressively and sequentially penetrate the packer rubber to effect controlled and enhanced rubber displacement for sealing against the pipe or tool.

Abstract: A flexible cap, made of soft vinyl or rubber, slides over the ramp of the bleeder valve hex and grips tightly on the bleeder valve threads. The cap has matching threads molded into the cap inner wall. The cap is pushed over the bleeder valve and then screwed tightly against the brake housing face. Serrations on the cap sealing face may be filled with liquid sealant compressing against the casting. Vertical serrations are formed on the outer surface of the cap to provide a hand grip for screwing the cap in place.

Abstract: An adjustable valve handle is disclosed which permits wide variation in location of a recessed plumbing fixture relative to the wall behind which it is placed. This wide range of adjustment is accomplished utilizing a stem over which a handle with an elongated bore is placed. Securing means in the handle permits placement of the handle at numerous locations along the stem without the necessity of cutting, breaking off or otherwise altering the stem.

Abstract: An extracorporeal medication infusion device provides a precise infusion rate of a liquid medication into a human or animal body. The infusion device includes a permanent portion which has a case, a battery, a programmable electronic controller, and an electromagnetic solenoid core and solenoid coil for providing an actuation force. The infusion device also includes a disposable portion which includes a reservoir filled with a liquid medication that is to be dispensed and a pump for pumping the medication from the reservoir into the user's body. The pump includes a pump chamber and a piston connected to an electromagnetic armature for altering the volume of the pump chamber in response to the actuation force.

Abstract: Improvements in the rotating head assembly of a rotating blowout preventor. The rotating head assembly includes a stripper rubber which has an upper annular area attached to the lower annular end of a metal support member. The support member extends upwardly into fixed relationship respective to part of the rotating head. The stripper rubber downwardly depends into concentrically arranged, spaced annular body members. The inner annular body has an axial passageway formed therethrough for telescopingly receiving a rotating member in sealed relationship therewith. The outer annular member has an outer circumferentially extending wall surface which rotatably engages the lower marginal end of a fixed washpipe. The inner and outer annular members are made integral respective to the upper annular area of the stripper rubber, and are separated from one another by a downwardly opening annular recess.

Abstract: An improved blowout preventer having a body with a vertical bore and opposed aligned guideways extending out from the bore, a pair of studs secured to the body, one at each side of each guideway and extending into the bonnets closing the guideways, a cylinder in each bonnet, a piston in each cylinder, a rod extending from each piston and connecting to a ram in its guideway, pressure responsive means connecting between the body and each bonnet for urging the bonnets toward and away from the body, nuts rotatable and captured in the bonnets and threaded onto the studs to retain the bonnets in position on the body and means for supplying hydraulic pressure to the cylinders to move the rams and to the pressure responsive means to move the bonnets. In one form of the invention, the studs coact as a part of the pressure responsive means for urging the bonnets toward the body and are hydarulically tensioned thereby.

Abstract: There is disclosed a pinch valve of greatly improved performance. The pinch valve has a housing with end plates having apertures forming a through passageway to receive a flexible conduit. The housing is split through the apertures of the end plates, into two halves, forming upper and lower saddles that are detachably interconnected to permit assembly of the housing about a flexible conduit, thereby eliminating cutting or breaking of the flexible conduit to insert or to relocate the pinch valve. The upper half of the housing carries a stationary bar or anvil and a circular cam actuator moves the valve member through a complete, 360 degree, rotation in a sinusoidal action movement. This action gives the valve a great mechanical advantage at shutoff position, permitting use of a small, lightweight valve structure.

Abstract: A slide clamp for flexible medical tubing is disclosed that includes a slot having receiving and crimping portions. A stabilizer projects into the receiving portion so that the slide clamp may be kept at any selected elevation along the tubing length when the tubing is in the receiving portion of the slide clamp. In the preferred embodiment, the slide clamp includes a channel extending from a first end of the clamp through the stabilizer, thereby forming stabilizer halves, each being capable of flexure toward and away from each other when the tubing is disposed within the receiving portion.

Abstract: A needle valve comprises a valve body including a conduit portion through which a flow passage is formed and a bonnet portion which screws into a cylindrical well formed in one side of the conduit portion to intersect the flow passage and form a valve chamber within the valve body. The bonnet portion is bored through to support a valve stem upon which is mounted a frusto-conical member, the valve stem and the bore through the bonnet portion being threaded for movement of the frusto-conical member transversly across the flow passage via turning the valve stem. A tubular liner, formed of a flexible material, extends around the periphery of the valve chamber and is split into two semi-cylindrical sections which receive the frusto-conical member and are spread thereby against portions of the valve chamber wall pierced by the flow passage as the frusto-conical member is seated in the liner.

Abstract: An expansible, resilient receptacle positionable about a standpipe installed for the relief of subsurface water pressure occasioned specifically by sewer backup. The receptacle surrounds the standpipe and communicates with the inner portion thereof through strategically located openings in the walls of the standpipe. The water introduced to the receptacle bulges its walls and urges a watertight engagement between the walls and floor about the base of the standpipe. The seal contains any water leaking upwardly around the base of the standpipe and prevents the floor from failing. In the event the excessive subsurface water pressure is encountered, the water is permitted to escape into the room to avoid possible rupture of the floor surface. The water is releaseable from the receptacle when the subsurface pressure diminishes.

Abstract: Self-closing fluid dispensing valves particularly for use with soft flexible fluid containers. The valves include a tubular outer housing having one end attached to the fluid container and an inner coaxial tubular barrel which may be rotated to align fluid dispensing holes in both housing and barrel. Tabs extending from both housing and barrel permit "two-finger" opening of the valves against spring forces that operate to automatically close the valves.

Abstract: In a safety valve for a hermetically sealed container, which valve includes a carrier plate having a lateral edge flange for fastening the carrier plate to the container and presenting a shallow recess having a base provided with a central opening, a flexible diaphragm inserted in the recess and covering the central opening, and a viscous sealing agent interposed between the base of the recess and the diaphragm, a clamping member is disposed in the recess and provided with pressing jaws positioned to clamp an edge region of the diaphragm against the base of the recess.

Abstract: The plug valve comprises a valve body presenting a cylindrical extension provided with inner angularly equispaced longitudinal cogs. Into the cylindrical extension there is inserted a connector sleeve provided on its outer surface with angularly equispaced longitudinal cogs, so that the connector member can be shifted axially but cannot rotate at the interior of the cylindrical extension. The connector sleeve thus inserted is axially blocked by means of a ring nut which is screwed onto an external threading of the cylindrical extension. The connector sleeve carries at its inner end an annular packing which is caused to adhere in a tight manner against the spherical plug of the valve, while another similar annular packing is housed in the valve body, on the opposite side of the spherical plug.

Abstract: Ram bodies mounted in transverse bores of a blowout preventer body with a longitudinal bore therethrough are operable by operating means extending through closures on one end of the transverse bores to move the rams to close off fluid communication through the longitudinal bore in the body and to retract the rams from the longitudinal bore. Removable seal means are provided on each ram body to seal with the transverse bore in which each ram body is mounted. Removable seal means extend diametrically across the front of each ram for sealingly engaging an elongate member in the longitudinal bore when the rams are closed. The removable seal means is retained in position by non-torquing means during use but may be readily replaced when necessary. Self energizing seal means on the ram body sealingly engage the transverse bores.

Abstract: A feed-control valve for use in a pipe for pneumatically conveying a granular material or transporting a sticky liquid comprises a tubular valve housing, a valve ring having the same inside diameter as that of the tubular valve housing and angularly movably disposed therein, a plurality of flexible, strong and highly stretch resistant and cord spans connected between the valve housing and the valve ring at substantially equally spaced angular positions along their inner surfaces and each span having a length which is substantially the same as the inside diameter of the valve housing or valve ring, and a flexible and strong inner tube mounted in the valve housing and the valve ring and disposed radially inwardly of the plurality of cord spans. The inner tube can be contracted or squeezed radially inwardly by the cord spans from a fully-open position to a fully-closed position in response to angular movement of the valve ring with respect to the valve housing.

Abstract: A butterfly valve comprises a closure member 8 having a warped curve periphery pivotably disposed within a tubular body 1. An elastic seal and a cooperating seat are provided on the closure member and tubular body, respectively, or vice versa. At each point of a mean line of seat, a plane T tangent to the seat forms a roughly constant acute angle x of 20.degree. to 30.degree. with a tangent t to the path of the corresponding point of the closure member at the point of contact of the seal and seat.