Abstract: A flow cell for use in highly corrosive environments is constructed from a cross union and contains opposing probes each with an external sapphire window which is sealed into a metal tube contained in each probe with melted glass and an optional plastic seal over the melted glass. Each portion of the cross union containing a probe has a right angle shoulder which abuts the end of the tube containing the sapphire window. An O-ring gasket is positioned between the right angle shoulder and tube end to form a tight cover over the glass seal when the probes are assembled in the flow cell, thereby protecting the glass seal and plastic seal from the corrosive environment.

Abstract: A tie retaining device that is attached to the left and right side rear fold members of a tie. The device has an elongated wire-like member having pointed tips on each of its ends for penetrating the rear fold members of the tie. A tethering chain has its one end attached to the wire-like member and its other end attached to a button-hole anchor bar that is detachably inserted into the button hole of a shirt. The wire-like member may take various configurations.

Abstract: A pump assembly (10) including a piston (12) connected to a rotating wheel (30) by a pin (32) radially offset from the axis of rotation of the wheel and a cylinder (14) in reciprocating telescoping relationship with the piston (12) and supported by a hollow shaft (26) for rotation in a housing member (24) so that the piston (12) rotates about the axis of a supporting shaft (22) extending transversely to the reciprocating movement while the cylinder (14) rotates about another axis transverse to the reciprocating movement with the distance between the two axes being adjustable to vary the displacement of the pumping chamber (16) between zero when the two axes coincide to a maximum degree when the two axes are spaced the maximum amount. The housing (24) rotatably supporting the hollow shaft (26) of the cylinder (14) includes two fixed fluid ports (50, 52) which alternately communicate with an axially aligned radial port (48) in the hollow shaft (26).

Abstract: A boat dolly has a wheel supported carrier. The carrier has spaced abutment plates, which support a boat tipped on its side. One of the abutment plates engages the bottom of the boat. The other abutment plate engages the lower side gunwale of the boat. The abutment plate that engages the bottom of the boat is adjustably secured to the carrier or regulating the distance between the abutment plates.

Abstract: The method and apparatus enables a terminal to access a computer located at a distance therefrom by an uncomplicated, easy-to-understand, log-on procedure. The system includes a group of terminals which are each able to access a host computer. If desired, the host computer is, in turn, adapted to extend the communication path from the terminal, through the host computer, to the remotely located service computer. The user can establish the communication path to the host computer by a single activation of a terminal key. By activating a single other key, the path is then extended from the host computer to the service computer. The activation of a single further key causes the execution of a selected program.

Abstract: A locking device for firearms that allows the firearms to be openly displayed, yet safe from the hands of inquisitive children. The device is formed from an elongated rod member that has been formed into an open loop configuration whose free ends are directed toward each other and have a predetermined open space between their tips. The rod member is inserted into the eyelet portion of an eyebolt that has been threaded into a corner stud of a room. Two portions of the open loop configuration of the rod member are oriented at 90 degree angles to each other and these aligned horizontally and in mating relationship to the respective corner walls to which the eyebolt has been secured. Either of the free ends of the rod member is threaded through the trigger guard of a rifle or revolver to secure the firearm to the locking device.

Abstract: A curable resinous composition is made comprising an anaerobically polymerizable liquid material, and a curing agent comprising: a complex of a free radical initiator, and an accelerator, said accelerator comprising a complex of a tertiary amine and sulfur dioxide.

Abstract: A mechanism for controlling the rate of discharge of material from the feed pan of a material feeder includes an eccentric drive mechanism operatively connected to the pan to reciprocate it, and a linkage connected to the pan-reciprocating mechanism to vary the effective throw of the drive mechanism.

Abstract: Apparatus for preventing segregation of aggregate includes a plurality of vertically disposed chutes at the discharge end of a conveyor, each chute being arranged to intercept a portion of aggregate leaving the conveyor, and direct it downwardly onto a common pile.

Abstract: A variable bearing assembly (40) for a jack-up platform having a hull (12), at least one support leg (14) and jack means (16) to effect relative vertical movement between the hull and support leg wherein the variable bearing assembly (40) includes; a bearing pad or foot (42) surrounding the distal end of the support leg (14) and a lost motion assembly (62, 68) interconnecting the bearing pad and support leg such that the support leg may vertically penetrate the seabed to refusal while the bearing pad is essentially supported on the surface of the seabed.

Abstract: A jack-up platform apparatus operable for effecting relative vertical motion between a leg chord of a platform and a deck of the platform.The jack-up apparatus includes at least one generally rectangular reaction member operable to be connected at one end thereof to the platform deck in a posture contiguous to but spaced from a leg chord of the platform. An abutment member is connected to the other end of the reaction member and first and second leg chord engaging members are mounted for selective translation along the reaction member between the abutment member and the platform deck. A jack asembly is mounted between the first and second leg engaging members for translating the members along the reaction member wherein selective actuation of the first and second leg engaging members and the jack assembly will function to effect relative vertical motion between the platform leg chord and the platform deck while the reaction member reacts bending moments across the width thereof.

Abstract: A tacky substance such as a chewing gum base is formed into a compact body. The tacky substance is first comminuted within a bed consisting of a powdered solid, such as a bulking agent, turbulently suspended within a gaseous medium at room temperature. The tacky substance is subjected to repeated mechanical impact within the powdered solid to pulverize it into particles which are then immediately coated by the powdered solid in order to prevent cohesion between the particles. The coated particles are classified to identify those suitable for tableting and the suitable particles are then fed into a tablet press to form a compact body.

Abstract: In the manufacture of chewing grum, the viscosity of a chewing gum base is first reduced by heating. Thereafter, a major portion of a bulking agent, such as a carbohydrate, is added to the gum base while homogeneously mixing the ingredients. The mixture is cooled in order to increase its viscosity and to form granules thereof. The balance of the bulking agent is then added, preferably in increments, to form layers around the granules. The overall effect of the resultant chewing gum product is an improved initial taste impact due to the superficially positioned, typically sweet, bulking agent and a subsequent, long-lasting taste development due to the internal mixture of the bulking agent with the base.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for tension mooring an offshore platform having a deck and a plurality of buoyancy columns. An anchor system is initially installed upon the bed of a body of water. Permanent mooring lines are then connected to the anchor system and extend upwardly for support by a buoyancy system located below a lowest portion of the offshore platform and a zone of high oxygen content water adjacent the surface of the body of water. Sacrificial mooring lines are connected to an upper portion of the buoyancy system and extend upwardly through internal conduits with the plurality of bouyancy columns of the floating platform. In the event one of the sacrificial mooring lines becomes damaged the line may be selectively released from the buoyancy system, drawn up through a corresponding interior column and replaced from the deck of the platform.

Abstract: A tension mooring system for a floating structure such as a drilling or production platform having a plurality of permanent mooring lines extending upwardly from a plurality of bottom anchors and terminating below the water level and having buoys connected to the upper ends thereof with sufficient buoyancy to maintain the upper end of the mooring lines in a generally vertical posture, replaceable mooring lines connecting from the buoys to the floating structure, the upper position of the permanent mooring lines being preselected to be below a highly corrosive area of the air-sea interface, and a pulling mechanism on the replaceable mooring lines to impart a preselected tension to the mooring lines, the bottom anchors being pre-positioned by drilling and cementing or driving piling through templates.

Abstract: The invention relates to an offshore, gravity base, jack-up platform comprising a deck, a gravity base and one or more legs interconnecting the deck and base. The gravity base comprises a generally polygonal shaped, monolithic hull structure with reaction members extending downwardly from the hull to penetrate the waterbed and react to vertical and lateral loads imposed upon the platform while maintaining the gravity hull in a posture elevated above the surface of the waterbed.A method aspect of the invention includes the steps of towing a gravity base, jack-up platform, as a unit, to a preselected offshore site floating upon the gravity hull. During the towing operation, the deck is mounted adjacent the gravity base with a leg or legs projecting through the deck. At a preselected offshore station ballast is added to the gravity base and the platform descends slightly to a posture where the platform is buoyantly supported by the deck.

Abstract: A riser for production of oil and gas in a marine location with the riser connected to the casing supported at the mud line of a body of water and extending upward in the water to a tension moored floating structure. The riser includes a flexible joint near its connection to the casing and is supported at its upper end from the floating structure and is also supported from the floating structure at a point between 50 and 175 feet below the water level. A production string extends upwardly from the producing zone through the casing, the flexible joint and the riser to the floating structure and wellhead equipment is supported on such riser. Centralizers are provided for the production string with the centralizer immediately above the flexible joint being between 35 to 65% of the total distance between such centralizer and the centralizer positioned immediately below the flexible joint.

Abstract: A blowout prevention system for an offshore structure positioned on the underwater bottom in a body of water which contains moving ice masses that could force the structure off location wherein a surface blowout preventer stack for conventional well control is connected to the upper end of a riser with the lower end of the riser being disconnectably connected to a subsurface blowout preventer stack which provides the necessary well control should the structure be forced off location. The subsurface stack is positioned on a wellhead located in a chamber in the subsea bottom and is disconnectably connected to the riser so that the riser may be quickly removed from the subsea bottom should the structure be forced off location.

Abstract: A pharmaceutical suspension of titanium dioxide for use in admixing with gelatin solutions for the manufacture of empty opaque gelatin capsules is provided which comprises: titanium dioxide, glycerin, sodium lauryl sulfate, simethicone, sodium citrate and water. A process is also provided which entails the requirement for adding the sodium citrate as the final ingredient in the suspension.