Abstract: Apparatus for extracting a cork from a bottle comprising a corkscrew rotatably mounted on a carrier, the carrier in turn being mounted for longitudinal reciprocation on a frame. The apparatus further includes a control nut having a screw passage positioned to receive the corkscrew and configured to mate with the configuration of the corkscrew whereby, upon longitudinal movement of the corkscrew in the screw passage, rotational movement will be imparted to the corkscrew. A latch, engageable and releasable independently of the force of gravity is provided for releasably latching the control nut to the frame to restrain relative longitudinal movement therebetween. Relative rotation between the control nut and the frame is also prevented. A bottle-engaging assembly is connected to the frame for positioning a bottle with respect to the frame in longitudinal alignment with the screw passage.

Abstract: There is disclosed a convertible bag assembly comprising a bag body and a carrier in the form of a closed loop. The carrier includes a pair of handle segments and a pair of flexible support segments adjoining the handle segments in alternating end-to-end relation. The support segments are slidably carried by the bag body for movement of the carrier member between a first position in which the handle segments are retained in relatively close proximity to the bag body and a second position in which the handle segments may be extended upwardly from the first position.

Abstract: There is disclosed an annular blowout preventer having a packer which is surrounded by an annulus of resilient material, and an operating system which includes means for longitudinally compressing the outer annulus in order to constrict its inner circumference and thereby move the packer from an expanded position, in which it opens the bore through a housing in which the packer and outer annulus are received, to a constricted position in which it closes the bore by sealing about a pipe in the bore or upon itself.

Abstract: There is disclosed an annular blowout preventer having a packer comprising an annulus of resilient material which is movable from an open bore position to a constricted, closed bore position by means which include links arranged to exert a force on the packer having a radially inwardly directed component which increases with the force required to seal the packer about successively smaller pipes.

Abstract: There is disclosed a valve having means for providing a secondary stem seal in the event the primary packing for the stem is destroyed by heat.

Abstract: A lubricated valve in which both seal rings which seal between a seat body and a wall of a recess in the flowway through the valve body to form a lubricant chamber between them are preloaded into sealing engagement by means including at least one washer type spring arranged within the lubricant chamber.