Abstract: A valve and method of use wherein the valve includes a housing having an axial flowbore defined along its length. A lateral fluid flow port is disposed through the housing. A piston sleeve is disposed within the flowbore and is selectively moveable to block flow through the lateral flow port. The valve can be moved between operating positions wherein flow through the lateral flow port is blocked or allowed and axial flow through the flowbore is blocked or permitted.

Abstract: A valve and method of use wherein the valve includes a housing having an axial flowbore defined along its length. A lateral fluid flow port is disposed through the housing. A piston sleeve is disposed within the flowbore and is selectively moveable to block flow through the lateral flow port. The valve can be moved between operating positions wherein flow through the lateral flow port is blocked or allowed and axial flow through the flowbore is blocked or permitted.

Abstract: An assembly for milling a window in a tubular features a layout that keeps a restorative force normal to the whipstock slope acting on the window mill to help it track the whipstock ramp long enough for making an exit at the desired location. A string mill assembly is made long enough to allow such a restorative force to be created on the window mill as it advances down the ramp. The bearing or cutting structures on the string mill are positioned with respect to the window mill so that either the top of the string mill or at least the first bearing structure above the window mill presents at the top of the window as the window mill arrives at the position where it is desired that it make an exit. The lower bearing structure of the string mill also preferably has a rounded profile to facilitate its entrance on to the whipstock ramp without getting in a bind on the tubular wall adjacent the top of the window.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for running a whipstock into a well bore attached to a combination mill and drill bit, releasing the mill/bit from the whipstock, milling a window in the casing, and drilling a lateral well bore, all in one trip. The mill/bit is provided with a primary cutting structure better suited for milling through the casing, and a secondary cutting structure, better suited for drilling through the earth formation. The secondary cutting structure is initially smaller in diameter than the primary cutting structure. The whipstock can be attached to the mill/bit with a shear bolt supported by a boss on the whipstock, with the boss designed to arrest axial motion of the mill/bit after shearing of the bolt.

Abstract: A composite confectionary comprising a fat-based portion bonded to a cooked sugar-based portion. The portions are bonded by placing a contact surface of the cooked sugar-based portion in contact with a contact surface of the fat-based portion while the temperature of at least one of the fat-based portion contact surface and the cooked sugar-based portion contact surface is sufficient to at least partially melt the contact surface of the fat-based portion.

Abstract: A freight railroad car equipped with a plurality of spaced apart reflector apparatus which can be easily and readily installed on the freight railroad car in shorter time periods than the previously known adhesive backed reflective tape. One embodiment of the freight railroad car reflector apparatus includes a mounting member, a reflector material attached to the mounting member and a plurality of fasteners or attachment mechanisms used to attach the mounting member to the freight railroad car.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method for managing and monitoring agricultural produce inventories from harvest forward in the supply chain, including obtaining data points relating to activity and activity locations that bear on the produce as it moves along the supply chain, and further includes methods for tracing inventory histories. The invention includes three component parts; (1) management of variables that impact the crop prior to the farm gate, (2) tracking, tracing, and monitoring functions for the crop as it moves through the supply chain, and finally (3) crop-specific integration of the system and it's requisite control points into a wide variety of entities within the fresh produce supply chain with minimal impact on existing operations. Also included is a system and method for assigning a non-unique identifier to the segregated crop batch or product and associating a global location identifier indicating a point of origin of said crop batch with said non-unique identifier.

Abstract: A splicing device is disclosed for splicing a first material to a second material in order to continuously feed the materials into a processing line. The apparatus includes a first roll letoff for unwinding a material into a processing line and a second roll letoff for holding a new material that is to replace the first material. The apparatus includes at least one sensor that indicates the position of one of the materials in the cross machine direction. A controller is used to compare the position of one material to the position of another material. If the materials are out of alignment in the cross machine direction, a shifting device shifts one of the materials until the materials are in alignment. The shifting device, for instance, may shift the splicing assembly itself while one of the materials is anchored to the splicing assembly.

Abstract: A cutting insert for use on a metal cutting tool downhole in an oil or gas well, with at least one land on a leading edge of the insert, and at least one bevel surface angled relative to the axis of the insert and rising above the adjacent land in the direction of travel of the insert. Multiple bevels and lands can be used on each insert, and multiple inserts can be used on each tool.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for running a whipstock into a well bore attached to a combination mill and drill bit, releasing the mill/bit from the whipstock, milling a window in the casing, and drilling a lateral well bore, all in one trip. The mill/bit is provided with a primary cutting structure better suited for milling through the casing, and a secondary cutting structure, better suited for drilling through the earth formation. The secondary cutting structure is initially smaller in diameter than the primary cutting structure. The whipstock can be attached to the mill/bit with a shear bolt supported by a boss on the whipstock, with the boss designed to arrest axial motion of the mill/bit after shearing of the bolt.

Abstract: Provided is a dispensing system, including a container configured with one or more apertures, and configured to house items, a faceplate configured with one or more dispensing apertures, rotationally coupled to the container, such that the items may be dispensed from the container, and one or more novelties coupled to the container, configured to move when the faceplate rotates with respect to the container.