Abstract: A method and apparatus for causing pressure variations in a wellbore. A valve mechanism and a sealing device are provided in the wellbore. The valve mechanism is part of a valve device which may be actuated between an open position and a closed position. The valve device is actuated to the closed position to allow an increase in pressure below the sealing device and is actuated to the open position to allow a fluid to pass through the valve device up the wellbore. The valve device is alternately actuated between the closed position and the open position to cause cyclical pressure variations in the wellbore below the sealing device. The valve device includes the valve mechanism, a fluid passage, a control mechanism for controlling the valve mechanism, and a delay mechanism for delaying the actuation of the valve device from the open position to the closed position.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for causing pressure variations in a wellbore. A valve mechanism and a sealing device are provided in the wellbore. The valve mechanism is part of a valve device which may be actuated between an open position and a closed position. The valve device is actuated to the closed position to allow an increase in pressure below the sealing device and is actuated to the open position to allow a fluid to pass through the valve device up the wellbore. The valve device is alternately actuated between the closed position and the open position to cause cyclical pressure variations in the wellbore below the sealing device. The valve device includes the valve mechanism, a fluid passage, a control mechanism for controlling the valve mechanism, and a delay mechanism for delaying the actuation of the valve device from the open position to the closed position.

Abstract: An actuation system for a clamping assembly for use in a pipe clamping apparatus, including a shaft and an actuator defining an actuator chamber having a peripheral chamber wall. The actuator is movably mounted about the shaft such that the shaft extends through the actuator chamber and the actuator is longitudinally reciprocable thereon. A piston is fixedly mounted about the shaft and positioned within the actuator chamber. The piston has first and second sides and an outer perimeter sealingly engaging the peripheral chamber wall to create first and second chambers such that the actuator reciprocates along the shaft in response to a differential force applied within the first and second chambers. The clamping assembly is associated with the actuator such that reciprocation of the actuator along the shaft causes the clamping assembly to move radially relative to a longitudinal axis of the shaft.

Abstract: An actuation system preferably for mounting between front and rear clamping mechanisms in a pipe clamping apparatus as part of an internal backup ring system. The system includes a guide, a cam plate positioned adjacent to the guide and rotatable relative thereto, a drive mechanism coupling the guide and the cam plate such that actuation of the drive mechanism causes the cam plate to rotate relative to the guide about an axis of rotation, and a power source for driving the drive mechanism. A backup ring assembly, having a plurality of backup shoe units, may be associated with the cam plate such that rotation of the cam plate relative to the guide plate causes the backup ring assembly to move radially relative to the axis of rotation of the cam plate in order to engage or disengage the inner wall of a pipe. The system may also include auxiliary means for dislodging the backup ring assembly when at least one of the backup shoe units is stuck to the inner wall of the pipe.

Abstract: A jarring and bumping tool is provided, having a mandrel telescopically received within a barrel for relative longitudinal movement. Upper and lower seals form an oil-containing annular space therebetween. The mandrel carries a free-floating annular primary piston which sealably engages a reduced-diameter piston fitting section of the barrel when passing therethrough. The mandrel also carries a secondary cylinder assembly with a transverse top wall and a downwardly extending annular secondary cylinder beneath the primary piston, forming a piston chamber between the mandrel and secondary cylinder assembly. The mandrel also carries a spring which biases a free-floating annular secondary piston upwards into the piston chamber. A port through the top wall of the cylindrical member provides fluid communication between the annular space and the piston chamber.

Abstract: A biomedical electrode which generally comprises an insulator construction and a conductor member. The conductor member is preferably a thin flat, flexible member having a pad portion and a tab portion. The insulator construction is arranged such that the conductor member pad portion is positioned on one side of the insulator construction and the tab portion is generally positioned on and accessible to an opposite side. Preferred arrangements having a field of conductive adhesive associated with the pad portion of the conductor member, completely surrounded by a border of insulator construction and skin adhesive, are described. A method of assembling a strip of biomedical electrodes is also disclosed.

Abstract: A downhole pump is actuated by a reciprocating unit comprising a tubular rod string, a valve assembly, and a tubular plunger rod. A flow passage extends through the reciprocating unit when the valve assembly is in an "open" position, whereby liquid may be injected into the pump barrel chamber to ensure the presence of incompressible fluid in the chamber from the beginning of the up stroke, to thereby reduce or eliminate gas locking of the pump. The valve assembly, which moves together with the reciprocating unit of which it is part, is adapted to interact with a stop member on the stationary pump barrel, to initiate opening of the valve as the rod string approaches the bottom of its stroke. The valve assembly is further adapted to automatically close when lifted away from the stop shortly after the beginning of the up stroke. The valve thus remains open only during the bottoming out phase of the stroke, when only limited travel of the reciprocating unit occurs.

Abstract: The separator accepts both the casing annulus and tubing production streams issuing from an in situ combustion project production well. Most of the gas in the flow is first separated from the liquid and solids, by centrifugal action. This gas is removed from the separator. The remaining mixture is accumulated until a pre-determined weight is in hand, at which point the accumulated batch is dumped. The time taken to accumulate the batch is noted. Computational elements then determine the mass flow rate of the dumped mixture.The separator comprises an upright cylindrical vessel having tangential inlet means at its upper end and a dump outlet at its base. The gas-liquid-solids production mixture enters the vessel chamber through the inlet means and is spun, to form a central gas vortex and an outer, downwardly descending liquid-solids mixture. The separated gas leaves the chamber through an outlet line at the upper end of the vessel.

Abstract: A gel pad has impregnated in a porous matrix or held within a cavity, an electrically conductive hydrogel capable of transferring electrical signals between the human body and an electrode of an electrical sensing device when the hydrogel is in contact with the body surface. The hydrogel is lightly adherent to the body surface but sufficiently cohesive so that no residue remains when the pad is removed therefrom.

Abstract: A cask has an inner rectangular enclosure of stainless steel fitting, with a slight clearance in the similarly shaped interior of a generally rectangular body of depleted uranium serving as a gamma ray shield. A cylindrical shell surrounds the generally rectangular gamma ray shield and copper partitions divide the annular space therebetween into a plurality of compartments for a neutron absorbing liquid. Flow paths between compartments are provided without removing copper from the partitions or interrupting any radial heat conduction path of any partition. Transverse partitions in certain of the compartments provide for holding the radial thickness of the liquid generally uniform throughout the circumference of the cask.