Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for improving plunger seal life on a casing swab system. The apparatus includes a diameter adapter disposed between an upper end of a wellbore casing and a lubricator adapted to receive a plunger therein. The diameter adapter is configured to provide a substantially constant internal diameter between the lubricator and the upper end of the casing. A method is also disclosed which includes retaining a casing swab plunger in a lubricator adapted to receive it for at least an amount of time sufficient to enable entrapped gas and fluids substantially to escape from the plunger seal material.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for improving plunger seal life on a casing swab system. The apparatus includes a diameter adapter disposed between an upper end of a wellbore casing and a lubricator adapted to receive a plunger therein. The diameter adapter is configured to provide a substantially constant internal diameter between the lubricator and the upper end of the casing. A method is also disclosed which includes retaining a casing swab plunger in a lubricator adapted to receive it for at least an amount of time sufficient to enable entrapped gas and fluids substantially to escape from the plunger seal material.

Abstract: An optical tape cartridge is disclosed that is suitable for playing by an optical tape player. The tape player provides the cartridge with a voltage supply capable of supplying the optical tape with a relatively high voltage. The tape cartridge includes a sealed cartridge housing and first and second tape reels that are disposed within and freely rotatable in either direction within the housing. The reels act as tape supply and tape take up reels. Also included in the cartridge is an optical tape that has a first surface on an optically recordable side. The tape is wound on and couples the two reels with a tape segment. The tape segment is positioned with the optically recordable side facing outwardly from each of the reels. The tape includes a conductive layer that extends substantially the length of the optical tape. The conductive layer is grounded at least one end. The housing includes a sealed window positioned on a housing surface that is located across a portion of the tape segment.

Abstract: An optical tape duplicator is disclosed for making multiple copies of recorded optical tape by continuous contact recording. An information-bearing master tape held in intimate contact with an optical tape are passed through a recording zone exposed to a beam of radiant energy for recording information stored by the master tape to the optical tape. The master tape contains transmissive and non-transmissive portions that represent the information stored by the master tape. The optical tape is sensitive to the beam of radiant energy. The beam of radiant energy passes through the transmissive portions of the master tape while making contact with the optical tape in the recording zone, causing information stored by the master tape to be recorded by the optical tape as indicia where the optical tape was exposed to the beam of radiant energy.

Abstract: A pick-up device for optical recording and playback includes two linear actuators coupled to an optical module and lying in a plane normal to the surface of an optical recording medium. The actuators are obliquely inclined to the optical axis of the optical module. Proportional differential actuation of the linear actuators moves the optical module bi-axially, i.e., normal or parallel to the recording medium surface, permitting control of both focus and tracking of information bits on the surface. The preferred embodiment employs two bi-directional linear actuators, each comprising a pair of back-to-back uni-directional actuators, each of which includes a flexible tubular housing enclosing a stack of thin, perforated disc-shaped electrodes separated by a dielectric fluid. Conductive elastomeric spacer rods support the disks in a parallel, longitudinally, spaced apart arrangement.

Abstract: A novel method and apparatus utilizing conventional photo-reactive and reflective layers of a recording medium for optically recording and reading both digital and variable length, analog pulses of data, in an exacting manner to eliminate excess energy absorption by the medium and for reducing latent recording errors due to defects in the recording medium as well as due to the recording process itself. With this precise recording and reading technique, analog variable-length pulse recording, with its inherent wide bandwidth, as well as coded digital pulse recording, with its inherent narrow bandwidth, can be accommodated. The system monitors the optical transmissivity and reflectivity of the recording medium during the recording process in real time to accurately determine initial and terminal inflection points denoting inception and end of a recorded pulse in an exacting manner and to pinpoint and make allowances for recording defects which may yet yield errors on playback.

Abstract: A pick-up device for optical recording and playback includes two linear actuators coupled to an optical module and lying in a plane normal to the surface of an optical recording medium. The actuators are obliquely inclined to the optical axis of the optical module. Proportional differential actuation of the linear actuators moves the optical module bi-axially, i.e., normal or parallel to the recording medium surface, permitting control of both focus and tracking of information bits on the surface. The preferred embodiment employs two bi-directional linear actuators, each comprising a pair of back-to-back uni-directional actuators, each of which includes a flexible tubular housing enclosing a stack of thin, perforated disc-shaped electrodes separated by a dielectric fluid. Conductive elastomeric spacer rods support the disks in a parallel, longitudinally, spaced apart arrangement.

Abstract: An interface tool freely slidable within a production pipe or conduit of an oil or gas well capable of creating a positive seal in order to lift liquids and particulates above the device to the surface where they are collected. An internal bypass valve permits the free flow of the particulates and liquids through an internal chamber of the tool during its return descent toward the producing formation. To efficiently utilize the pressure forces of gases trapped below the tool for lifting liquids to the surface when the bypass valve is closed, an elastomeric and expansible cylindrical sleeve is provided encircling a central region of the tool. Both the bypass valve and the elastomeric sleeve are operated by a slidable mechanical push rod received longitudinally within the tool body. The rod is actuated at extreme ends of the production pipe or conduit and detents provide for positive positioning of the rod during ascent and descent of the tool during well operation.

Abstract: The invention is a sealed optical tape cassette. Sealed means is employed to pull optical tape across a mobile recording bridge situated behind a transparent window. Bridge is operated upon by a pair of sealed internal/external pins to control tape tilt, focus and tracking of a light beam from a spinning optical head in a recorder/player to a desired point on the optical tape.

Abstract: A method for large scale and economical manufacture of a second surface optical recording disk is disclosed. An optically transparent disk cover with tracking grooves and data etched on a mating side thereof is mated and embossed into an optically reactive layer of a first surface optical recording laminate web or sheet having an optically active layer, a reflective layer and a web support layer. The second surface optical recording device thereby created is then cut from the laminate web to yield a very inexpensive second surface optical recording disk.

Abstract: A process for manufacture of a second surface optically recordable disc having ultraviolet (UV) inhibiting characteristics is disclosed. A reflective lamina of aluminum, superimposed on a glass lamina substratum, is flow process produced by pyrolysis and precipitation of a lamina of aluminum from gasified triisobutyl aluminum onto a lamina web of silicate (amorphous glass) which is concomitantly pyrolized from tetraethoxy silane, with or without alkoxide additives, and precipitated upon a flowing body of molten tin to form a composite lamination sheet. To complete the process, an optically active lamina which is applied over the reflective lamina is embossed with optically transparent ultraviolet (UV) inhibiting polycarbonate, protective covers, the mating surface of which, may be, pregrooved and coded to form second surface optically active media. Covers with bonded lamination are then successively severed from the laminated sheet to yield independent second surface optically recordable media.

Abstract: A process for manufacture of a second surface optically recordable disk is disclosed. A reflective sheet of aluminum, flow process produced by precipitation of a layer of aluminum from gasified triisobutyl aluminum onto a layer of molten indium, is mated with a polymer substratum sheet. In completion of the process, an optically active layer which is applied over the reflective layer is embossed with an optically transparent polycarbonate, protective cover, the mating surface of which, may be, pregrooved and coded with data relative to address and sector codes. Covers with bonded laminae are then successively severed from the lamina sheet to yield independent second surface optically recordable media.

Abstract: A system for optically recording information on a recording medium, such as a video disk, by pulse-code modulation (PCM). The medium includes a reflective and radiation-sensitive recordable stratum which changes optically in accordance with the signal being recorded. The signal is recorded on the medium by a slaved coherent light light beam whose intensity is controlled by the recording medium itself. The recording medium controls the recording beam power in a manner to reduce dropouts to a minimum and to assure fidelity in the recorded signal throughout a predetermined range of surface speeds of the medium despite irregularities in the recording stratum.

Abstract: A transparent record disc is provided which may appropriately have video signals optically recorded thereon, the record is composed of a lamination, for example, of pliant transparent plastic on a base of hard transparent plastic. The base provides strength for the record and the pliant plastic permits the video recording to be impressed into the record by simple embossing means, rather than by stamping or molding by which the surface of the record is actually raised above its melting point and caused to flow. An improved process for forming the video recordings on the disc record is also provided.

Abstract: A transparent record disc is provided which may appropriately have video signals optically recorded thereon, the record is composed of a lamination, for example, of pliant transparent plastic on a base of hard transparent plastic. The base provides strength for the record and the pliant plastic permits the video recording to be impressed into the record by simple embossing means, rather than by stamping or molding by which the surface of the record is actually raised above its melting point and caused to flow. An improved process for forming the video recordings on the disc record is also provided.

Abstract: A transparent record disc is provided which may appropriately have video signals optically recorded thereon, the record is composed of a lamination, for example, of pliant transparent plastic on a base of hard transparent plastic. The base provides strength for the record and the pliant plastic permits the video recording to be impressed into the record by simple embossing means, rather than by stamping or molding by which the surface of the record is actually raised above its melting point and caused to flow. An improved process for forming the video recordings on the disc record is also provided.

Abstract: A transparent record disc is provided which may appropriately have video signals optically recorded thereon, the record is composed of a lamination, for example, of pliant transparent plastic on a base of hard transparent plastic. The base provides strength for the record and the pliant plastic permits the video recording to be impressed into the record by simple embossing means, rather than by stamping or molding by which the surface of the record is actually raised above its melting point and caused to flow. An improved process for forming the video recordings on the disc record is also provided.

Abstract: A process whereby the reflective coating of a video disc is applied to the disc directly in the press in which the disc is stamped by the use of fluid organometallic compounds.

Abstract: 6. In combination in a system for reproducing .Iadd.video .Iaddend.information from a rotatable medium where the medium has characteristics at progressive positions along a spiral path for modifying energy directed at the medium in representation of .Iadd.video .Iaddend.information previously recorded on the medium where the information recorded on the medium at each successive position along the spiral path represents substantially less than a complete visual image,means operatively coupled to the medium for producing a continuous rotation of the medium,pickup means disposed relative to the medium including,means for directing .[.energy.]. .Iadd.a beam of energy having a radius not greater than approximately one micron to enable the reproduction of the video information .Iaddend.