Abstract: A method for cleaning a reactor, the method including circulating a fluid inside the reactor, pumping the fluid from the reactor into an inlet of a tank cleaner, and removing solids from the fluid to produce a clean fluid. The method further includes transferring the clean fluid to the reactor and transferring pneumatically the removed solids to a pressurized vessel. Also, a method for transferring spent granular material, the method including providing a vacuum system disposed at a hydrocarbon production site to remove spent material from a reactor, transferring the spent material through the vacuum system into a pressurized vessel, and conveying pneumatically the spent material from the pressurized vessel to a second pressurized vessel.

Abstract: A tamper conversion method includes providing a tamper including a ramming apparatus having a tamper foot and a gasoline-powered engine system to drive the ramming apparatus to reciprocate the tamper foot for tamping, removing the gasoline-powered engine system from the tamper exposing an engine mount, coupling a mounting plate to the engine mount, coupling an adapter plate to the mounting plate, coupling a pneumatic engine to the adapter plate operatively coupling the pneumatic engine to the ramming apparatus to drive the ramming apparatus to reciprocate the tamper foot for tamping, and coupling a conduit, formed with a pneumatic throttle, to the pneumatic engine, the conduit for applying pressurized air to the pneumatic engine to activate the pneumatic engine, and the pneumatic throttle operable for controlling the flow of pressurized air to the pneumatic engine to drive the ramming apparatus to reciprocate the tamper foot.

Abstract: An apparatus for recovery of solids from a vapor, the apparatus including: a vessel comprising a cylindrical portion on top of an angled portion; a vapor inlet located in the cylindrical portion for introducing a solid-vapor mixture tangentially to the cylindrical portion; at least one inlet nozzle disposed in a top of the vessel for spraying a hydrocarbon fluid into the vessel; an indirect heat exchange device disposed concentrically within the cylindrical portion, thereby providing an annulus for vapor and hydrocarbon flow; a heat exchange device disposed at an exterior of the angled portion; an outlet located at a bottom of the angled portion to recover the vapor having a reduced solids content and a solid-hydrocarbon mixture. Also disclosed are processes to clean an oil vapor using such an apparatus.

Abstract: A system for separating hydrocarbons from a solid source including a primary separation tank including a first hydrocarbon removing device to remove hydrocarbons from a slurry of water and solids. Further, the system including a transfer device between the primary separation tank and a secondary separation tank, wherein the transfer device is configured to transfer solids from the slurry to the secondary separation tank. Further still, the system including a second hydrocarbon removal device, a fine particle separation device to remove remaining solids in the secondary separation tank, and a product collection tank to receive hydrocarbons removed from the primary and secondary separation tanks.

Abstract: A system for separating hydrocarbons from a solid source including a primary separation tank including a first hydrocarbon removing device to remove hydrocarbons from a slurry of water and solids. Further, the system including a transfer device between the primary separation tank and a secondary separation tank, wherein the transfer device is configured to transfer solids from the slurry to the secondary separation tank. Further still, the system including a second hydrocarbon removal device, a fine particle separation device to remove remaining solids in the secondary separation tank, and a product collection tank to receive hydrocarbons removed from the primary and secondary separation tanks.

Abstract: A system for determining produced drill solids volume including a receiving vessel for receiving drill solids and a pressure vessel coupled to the receiving vessel. The receiving vessel has an isolation valve system to control the flow of drill solids between the receiving vessel and the pressure vessel, and the pressure vessel is adapted to allow a compressed gas to convey drill solids from the pressure vessel to a discharge line. The system also includes a skid having a plurality of weight sensors for weighing the drill solids in the pressure vessel, wherein the pressure vessel is disposed on the plurality of weight sensors and a programmable logic controller operatively couples to at least the plurality of weight sensors for calculating the weight of the drill solids in the pressure vessel.

Abstract: A method of cleaning a solids outlet assembly of a material dryer including attaching a plurality of pulse nozzles to at least one surface of the solids outlet assembly, accumulating a solid material onto the at least one surface thereby forming an accumulated solid, and actuating periodically the plurality of pulse nozzles to discharge air bursts that dislodge and remove the accumulated solid from the at least one surface is disclosed.

Abstract: A cleaning apparatus for a material dryer may include an air source, a pulse nozzle selectively in fluid communication with the air source and located within a section of the solids outlet assembly, and a controller for controlling an air flow from the air source periodically to the pulse nozzle, where the nozzle is actuated by the periodic air flow to provide a corresponding periodic burst of air to the section of the solids outlet assembly, and the burst of air is of sufficient force to dislodge material accumulated within the section.

Abstract: A method for mixing a drilling fluid formulation that includes establishing a flow path for a base fluid, adding drilling fluid additives to the base fluid to create a mixture, aerating the mixture of base fluid and drilling fluid additives, and injecting a compressible driving fluid into the mixture of base fluid and drilling fluid additives to form a mixed drilling fluid is disclosed.

Abstract: A system for separating hydrocarbons from a solid source including a primary separation tank including a first hydrocarbon removing device to remove hydrocarbons from a slurry of water and solids. Further, the system including a transfer device between the primary separation tank and a secondary separation tank, wherein the transfer device is configured to transfer solids from the slurry to the secondary separation tank. Further still, the system including a second hydrocarbon removal device, a fine particle separation device to remove remaining solids in the secondary separation tank, and a product collection tank to receive hydrocarbons removed from the primary and secondary separation tanks.

Abstract: A cleaning apparatus for a material dryer may include an air source, a pulse nozzle selectively in fluid communication with the air source and located within a section of the solids outlet assembly, and a controller for controlling an air flow from the air source periodically to the pulse nozzle, where the nozzle is actuated by the periodic air flow to provide a corresponding periodic burst of air to the section of the solids outlet assembly, and the burst of air is of sufficient force to dislodge material accumulated within the section.

Abstract: A method for evaluating projects for a product under development by generating a Project Traction Index based upon a market relevance criterion, a technical uniqueness criterion, and a plan for commercialization criterion. The Project Traction Index is functionally related to the numeric confidence level assigned to each factor considered. Each numeric confidence level is a measure of the level of confidence of the factor based upon the credibility or certainty of the sources of information used to predict the factor. The Project Traction Index may be used to prioritize respective projects or to evaluate a portfolio of projects. The numeric confidence level assigned to each factor may be used to identify problematic assumptions. A machine-readable storage medium containing a set of instructions for causing a computing device to implement the methods is also disclosed.

Abstract: A machine for abrading or polishing a workpiece comprises a holding surface holding the workpiece, a head member arranged along a rotation axis to rotate about the rotation axis, a working member having a surface for abrading or polishing the workpiece arranged on the head member on die rotational axis for rotation about the rotation axis with the head member, a first driving arrangement for driving a head member and the working member mounted thereon to rotate about the rotation axis, a head mounting arrangement for mounting the head member, a second driving arrangement for driving the head mounting arrangement to incline the rotation axis of the head member relative to a precession axis intersecting the rotation axis, and for moving the head member to inclined positions with the rotation axis processed about the precession axis, and a third driving arrangement for relatively moving the head mounting arrangement across the holding surface.

Abstract: A steering section for an endoscope or borescope employs a plurality of steering cables that pass through peripheral bores of axially aligned flat washers. Spacer beads are strung on the cables between the washers to define hinge points for the bending of the steering section. The spacer beads are tapered beads having a relatively wide base and relatively small, flat nose surface. A through-passage in the bead has a relatively narrow nose portion with a small clearance with respect to the steering cable, and a tapered or countersunk portion that expands basewards and prevents the spacer bead from binding the cable.

Abstract: A steering section for an endoscope or borescope employs a plurality of steering cables that pass through peripheral bores of axially aligned flat washers. Pairs of beads are strung on the cables between the washers to define hinge points for the bending of the steering section. Each pair of beads include a spherical-nose ball bead and a countersunk socket bead. A through-passage in the ball bead has a relatively narrow nose portion with a small clearance with respect to the steering cable, and a tapered or countersunk portion that expands basewards and prevents the spacer bead from binding the cable. The axial bores in the washers are tapered out fore and aft from a relatively narrow waist portion so that the cable touches the washer only at a single point. Limiter beads of about half the thickness of the spacing between washers limit the bending of the steering section.

Abstract: Lenses (10,11) , e.g. for a camera for a video conferencing system, have divergent optical axes and focus real images via prisms (20,21,22,23) on to a focal plane f. A prism (20) in one path introduces an additional reflection to invert the image while that (22) in the other path causes lateral inversion, so that the two images do not suffer either type of inversion relative to one another. The final reflecting surfaces 211,231 abut in the plane f so that the real images are closely juxtaposed.

Abstract: Covers for windshields, side windows, and rear windows of automobiles each comprising a covered sheet material resistant to snow, water, ice and sleet of size and shape to overlie the portion of the glass to be protected from accumulations of snow, ice, and sleet when the automobile is left standing outside in stormy and freezing weather, and a band or cord attached to the cover for holding the same in place and adapted to be horizontally disposed outside of the automobile over the area to be protected and having its two ends extending through a door or doors of the automobile with portions of the band or cord pinched between the adjacent door and door frame when said door is closed against said door frame whereby to hold the covers in place with ends of the band fastened in the interior of the automobile whereby when the doors are locked the ends of the holding band are protected against unwanted tampering.

Abstract: A collar of suitable material, such as rubber, plastic, wood, metal, or the like, placed in surrounding association with a locking handle of an automobile door, of the type which extend vertically upwardly from the inside of the window sill of the door and which has an enlargement or knob at its upper end, the collar serving to convert such handle, when it is in "locked-door" position, to one having a side wall configuration of substantially uniform diameter throughout its height, such collar having an inside diameter smaller than the diameter of the enlarged head or end knob of such handle, but sufficiently large to slidably accommodate the shank of such handle and having an upper annular surface shaped to conform to the underside of the enlarged head of such handle.