Abstract: A trigger mechanism is provided for a passive rotating jointed tubing injector having gripper blocks for moving connected, segmented oilfield tubulars axially into or out of horizontal, extended-reach oil and natural gas wells that may contain pressurized fluid or gas to complete for production, work over and service the wells, utilizing an operation commonly known as snubbing. The trigger mechanism can open the gripper blocks when a tapered upset section of increasing diameter on the tubulars is encountered that would not otherwise fully open and operate the gripper blocks.

Abstract: A method of providing sushi for consumption. The method includes preparing the sushi; placing the sushi in a humidified refrigerated storage unit at an ambient humidity level over 65% and under 99% and at a temperature between about 0° C. and about 7° C.; preserving for a period under fifteen hours the sushi in the humidified refrigerated storage unit to reduce loss of moisture of the sushi rice of the sushi during the preservation period; and removing the sushi from the humidified refrigerated storage unit prior to being served.

Abstract: A trigger mechanism is provided for a passive rotating jointed tubing injector having gripper blocks for moving connected, segmented oilfield tubulars axially into or out of horizontal, extended-reach oil and natural gas wells that may contain pressurized fluid or gas to complete for production, work over and service the wells, utilizing an operation commonly known as snubbing. The trigger mechanism can open the gripper blocks when a tapered upset section of increasing diameter on the tubulars is encountered that would not otherwise fully open and operate the gripper blocks.

Abstract: A passive rotating jointed tubular continuous snubbing injector is provided for moving connected, segmented oilfield tubulars axially into or out of horizontal, extended-reach oil and natural gas wells that may contain pressurized fluid or gas to complete for production, work over and service the wells, utilizing an operation commonly known as snubbing. The injector can include variable diameter gripping mechanisms that, in combination with linear drive mechanisms, can apply radial force onto and over a certain length of the tubular, of the tubular string, and onto and over a coupling or tool joint connecting tubulars together while moving the tubular string axially into or out of the well. Further, the injector may rotate in response to the rotation of tubulars while the injector is moving the tubular string into or out of the well.

Abstract: A method of providing sushi for consumption. The method includes preparing the sushi; placing the sushi in a humidified refrigerated storage unit at an ambient humidity level over 65% and under 99% and at a temperature between about 0° C. and about 7° C.; preserving for a period under fifteen hours the sushi in the humidified refrigerated storage unit to reduce loss of moisture of the sushi rice of the sushi during the preservation period; and removing the sushi from the humidified refrigerated storage unit prior to being served.

Abstract: A passive rotating jointed tubular continuous snubbing injector is provided for moving connected, segmented oilfield tubulars axially into or out of horizontal, extended-reach oil and natural gas wells that may contain pressurized fluid or gas to complete for production, work over and service the wells, utilizing an operation commonly known as snubbing. The injector can include variable diameter gripping mechanisms that, in combination with linear drive mechanisms, can apply radial force onto and over a certain length of the tubular, of the tubular string, and onto and over a coupling or tool joint connecting tubulars together while moving the tubular string axially into or out of the well. Further, the injector may rotate in response to the rotation of tubulars while the injector is moving the tubular string into or out of the well.

Abstract: A system and method for distributed solitaire gaming. Selections are received from multiple users to participate in a shared game of solitaire. Wagering information for the shared game is received from the multiple users. The shared game is synchronized between the multiple users for playing the shared game against one another. The results of the shared game are distributed to the multiple users.

Abstract: An apparatus for handling pipes in a derrick and racking the pipes on a pipe racking assembly mounted on the derrick is provided to improve the stability of transferring pipes during a round trip operation.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for handling pipes in a derrick and racking the pipes on a pipe racking assembly mounted on the derrick. The apparatus includes a rotatable gate assembly rotatably mounted on the pipe racking assembly. The rotatable gate assembly includes a collar rotatably mounted to a first end of a rotatable pipe support. A pipe manipulator arm is pivotably mounted on a second end of the rotatable gate assembly. The collar defines a gate for securing an upper portion of the pipe stand. A pipe mount is mounted to a distal end of the arm for holding the pipe stand for transport between the derrick and the gate, and between the gate and the pipe rack. After the arm secures the pipe stand into the gate from the derrick, a drive mechanism rotates the rotatable gate assembly to a rack facing position from the derrick facing position such that the arm may transport the pipe between the gate and the pipe rack.

Abstract: An apparatus for handling pipes in a derrick and racking the pipes on a pipe racking assembly mounted on the derrick is provided to improve the stability of transferring pipes during a round trip operation.

Abstract: An apparatus for handling pipes in a derrick and racking the pipes on a pipe racking assembly mounted on the derrick is provided to improve the stability of transferring pipes during a round trip operation. The apparatus includes a rotatable gate assembly mounted on the pipe racking assembly. The rotatable gate assembly includes a collar rotatably mounted to a first end of a shaft and an arm pivotably and rotatably mounted on a second end of the shaft. The collar defines a gate for securing an upper portion of the pipe stand. A first securing means mounted to a second end of the arm secures the mid-portion of the pipe stand and a second securing means mounted to the first securing means secures the lower portion of the pipe stand. After the arm secures the pipe stand from the derrick, a drive mechanism mounted to the shaft rotates the rotatable gate assembly such that the arm may rack the pipe on the pipe racking assembly.

Abstract: A radiation detection device, system, and method for use in homeland security is disclosed. The device is portable and includes a photomultiplier tube (PMT) connected to an end of a substantially rigid thin-walled aluminum tube. Inside the aluminum tube, a substantially straight scintillating fiber is disposed (so as to be shielded from ambient light), and an end of the scintillating fiber is optically coupled to the PMT. A voltage output signal from the PMT is signal-processed with a filter to remove high-frequency noise (which may arise from solar radiation spikes) and fed to a voltage-responsive alarm or signalling device. The portable device is employed, for example, by responders to nuclear incidents and is packaged as a small wearable hands-free and eyes-free unit with a continuous in-use self-testing feature.

Abstract: The explosion-safe wall includes a canvas wall structure and a wall support frame fixedly anchored to the ground. The canvas wall structure defines opposite first and second sides facing in respective opposite first and second tangential directions and comprises a brace assembly including a number of braces each having a convex brace wall oriented towards the first tangential direction. The canvas wall structure also comprises brackets fixedly attaching the brace assembly to the wall support frame, at least one canvas panel, and a number of yieldingly releasable attachment joints releasably attaching the canvas panel to corresponding braces, with the attachment joints defining a yielding resistance threshold.

Abstract: A carrier elevates a boat from water where it is floating to above an open box and roof of a pickup truck where it can be transported. The carrier also elevates a light vehicle that travels on land from the ground to above a truck for transport. The carrier has a frame which is mounted on the truck, a carriage adapted to carry the boat or light vehicle and a bed having a track on which the carriage slides. The bed is pivotal from a carrying position to a loading/unloading position. In the carrying position, the bed is above the truck and the track is in a generally horizontal position. In the loading/unloading position, the track is tilted downwardly toward the rear of the truck such that the carriage may slide downwardly on the track toward the rear of the truck to allow a boat or light vehicle to be loaded onto the carriage or discharged from it should the boat or light vehicle already be on the carriage.

Abstract: A method of making a shaped article and composite therefor which includes of a shaped tool, such as a mold and providing a composite of a quartz fabric disposed within a polysilazane which is moldable at a temperature below the curing temperature of the polysilazane and cured by catalyst. The polysilazane can be optionally filled with particulate material. A compaction pressure is applied to the composite to insure contact of the composite and the tool and prevent loss of less reactive polysilazane components. The composite is then cured to hardness by increasing the temperature applied to the composite at a rate of about 10.degree. C./minute to a temperature of about 150.degree. C. and holding that temperature of about 150.degree. C. up to about 4 hours to provide a cured polymer. The cured composite is removed from the tool. The polymer can then be converted to a preceramic by heating the cured polymer to a temperature sufficiently high in an inert atmosphere or ammonia gas for a sufficient time.

Abstract: A method of making a shaped article and composite therefor which comprises of a shaped tool, such as a mold and providing a composite of a quartz fabric disposed within a resin taken from the class consisting of inorganic silicon-based polymers, preferably polycarbosilanes having predominantly hydrogen and/or methyl groupings attached thereto and polysilanes having hydrogen and/or methyl grouping attached thereto, polycarbosilazanes, polyborosilazanes, polyborosilanes and certain polysiloxanes with attached groupings as noted for the similar materials as set forth above, which is moldable at a temperature below the curing temperature of the resin and cured by catalyst. The resin can be optionally filled with particulate material. A compaction pressure is applied to the composite to insure contact of the composite and the tool and prevent loss of less reactive resin components. The composite is then cured to hardness by increasing the temperature applied to the composite at a rate of about 10.degree. C.

Abstract: A mounting apparatus for mounting a mounting post in a preselected position. The apparatus includes a primary casing having a side wall and an end wall which define an interior space within the primary casing. A mounting post having a frictional retention member disposed thereon is mounted through the primary casing such that the frictional retention member is disposed within the interior space defined within the primary casing. The mounting apparatus further includes a second end wall constructed to be secured to the primary casing. Securement of the second end wall to the primary casing causes the frictional retention member to be frictionally retained between the first end wall and the second end wall.

Abstract: A write head for an X-Y plotter comprises a write head body (10) movably mounted in a horizontal direction relative to a write medium (14) and a pen (30) movably mounted in a vertical direction with respect to the head body (10) between pen-up and pen-down positions. The mounting for the pen (30) allows movement with respect to the head body and (10) comprises a parallelogram-shaped deformable element (20) made out of molded plastic material. This deformable element has a first side portion (21) attached to the head body, a second side portion (22) supporting the pen and two parallel arms (23, 24) pivotally linking the first and second side portions through horizontal hinge portions of reduced thickness (23a, 23b, 24a, 24b). An actuator (40) has a permanent magnet (44) fixed to the head body and a coil (42) fixed to the second side portion and moves the pen between pen-up and pen-down positions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for obtaining a metal-plastics composite tube. A layer of grafted polyethylene which comes directly into contact with the metal and a layer of cross-linkable polyethylene are extruded simultaneously at least inside this tube, with the aid of an extrusion nozzle having an annular conduit with two distinct coaxial inlets and a single outlet. The invention results in a composite tube having the malleability of lead, the rigidity of copper and a total inertia with respect to the aggressive agents flowing therein.

Abstract: A device for automatically selectively watering plants in a predetermined order for predetermined times comprises a casing which is connectable to a source of water under pressure and which houses a turbine wheel arranged to be driven by the water and to drive a set of gears which form a speed reducer the output shaft of which extends out of the casing and carries a plurality of cams spaced apart along the shaft and each arranged to operate a valve of the pilot-operated type, the valves being identical, juxtaposed in a straight line, and connectable to pipes provided with watering nozzles.