Abstract: This redesigned suspender clasp alleviates the problem of suspender clasps coming unfastened when the wearer slides across a surface such as a vehicle seat by extending the middle toothed plate upward beyond the top (lever) plate.

Abstract: An aerodynamically optimized mid-span snubber for combustion turbine blades provides sufficient stiffness to ameliorate vibratory stress but does so with minimal degradation of aerodynamic performance. The snubber has an optimized aerodynamic cross-sectional shape that forms when two snubber portions attached to adjacent rotor blades come into contact upon rotation of the rotor at an operational velocity.

Abstract: A system for testing and installing a blow out preventer on a floating vessel and offshore drilling rigs, although the system may be used on other rotary drilling rigs, is disclosed. Retractable rotary table supporting beams are disposed over the moon pool and the rotary table is releasably connected to them. Retractable sub-structure beams are provided below the rotary table so that means provided to move the assembled blow out preventer can move it through an opening in the derrick and over the moon pool when the rotary beams are retracted. Retractable moon pool skid beams are provided which support the blow out preventer when skidded through the moon pool opening in the sub-structure.In one aspect of the invention, the means connecting the rotary table to its support beams are self-aligning to that once the rotary table is aligned it can be removed and replaced without any further alignment.

Abstract: A casing handling system is disclosed which includes a pair of spaced davits provided with a gear type track upon which a traveling crane assembly is movably mounted. The crane assembly includes a trolley movably disposed on each davit, a motor driven sprocket carried by each trolley meshing with the gear track operable to move the trolleys on the davits, spaced carrying members carried by the crane assembly for load carrying engagement with and disengagement from the casing, and a means to engage and disengage them to and from the casing so that the casing can be engaged and moved from a loading station to a delivery station. Preferably, the casing carrying members are casing hooks and piston and cylinder means are carried by the crane assembly which move the hooks into and out of opposite ends of the casing.

Abstract: A system for testing and installing a blow out preventer on a floating vessel and offshore drilling rigs, although the system may be used on other rotary drlling rigs, is disclosed. Retractable rotary table supporting beams are disposed over the moon pool and the rotary table is releasably connected to them. Retractable sub-structure beams are provided below the rotary table so that means provided to move the assembled blow out preventer can move it through an opening in the derrick and over the moon pool when the rotary beams are retracted. Retractable moon pool skid beams are provided which support the blow out preventer when skidded through the moon pool opening in the sub-structure.

Abstract: The rat hole assembly includes a rat hole comprised of a casing large enough to receive a kelly used in drilling of a well. The casing is perforated to permit passage of fluid when inserting or withdrawing the kelly, thus avoiding a piston effect. The rat hole is free at its upper end and includes a releasable pivot connection and support or anchor assembly at its lower end so that the upper portion of the rat hole can be swung adjacent to the rotary table used for drilling for insertion of the kelly into the rat hole and withdrawal of the kelly from the rat hole in normal drilling operations, and the rat hole, either with or without the kelly in it, can be swung over to an out of the way position when not in use.The releasable pivot connection and support or anchor assembly preferably includes a "J" slot assembly having a pair of protective outer plates connected to a structural member and includes inner "J" slot plates.

Abstract: A mooring system is disclosed for maintaining a ship shape drilling vessel within alignment limits and for warping it into the sea while drilling a well from the vessel in the sub-surface ground below it. The mooring system absorbs all of the forces on the vessel, such as wind, current, wave, swell, roll, pitch, heave, surge and sway. These forces are measured by sensing load on a motor, electric, hydraulic, and the like, driving the anchor chain wildcat while hauling it in, by sensing load on the brake bands for the windlass wildcats, and by sensing load on the chain stopper, which sensed loads are transmitted to a display device which provides sufficient information to maintain the drilling vessel within the alignment limits and to warp it into the sea to minimize forces and motions of the vessel and to avoid beam sea forces.

Abstract: A releasable and retrievable mooring system for vessels is disclosed which includes anchors and anchor chains each having an explosive link arranged to separate the anchor upon detonation, a transponder operable from the vessel to send acoustic signals and receivers secured to the links to detonate them, a marker buoy having a line to either or both the anchor or anchor chain downstream but adjacent to the link, and a stopper upstream but adjacent to the link to prevent the link end of the anchor chain from falling into its locker when reeled in. The marker buoys either float on the water's surface or are submerged and releasable to the surface. Each includes retrieving lines extending to the anchor chain adjacent but downstream of the link or to the link. When using floating buoys, the retrieving lines are attached to strippers slidable on the anchor chains which includes stripper stoppers to limit travel of the strippers.