Abstract: In a resilient chamber sampling apparatus incorporating a resilient body having a dished cavity area which is squeezed to pressure fluid trapped in the dished area, an improved form preferably incorporates an alternate anvil. It has a facing plate member at the end of the probe over a solid anvil. The cap or plate has a small hole in the center and telescopes with a small peripheral skirt aligning the cap with the resilient plug. On closure, high pressure is formed to force fluid from the cavity in the resilient body. When the probe is pulled away from the resilient body, the vacuum breaker slides in telescoping movement, and opens an external passage to fill the chamber where the fluid was pumped from, and the chamber is restored to its full size without pulling a vacuum, to avoid damage which might occur otherwise.

Abstract: In the preferred and illustrated embodiment, a sample collection system is set forth which includes a free water volume analyzer. Sample from a producing well or pipeline is collected in this apparatus. The sample is stored under pressure. As the sample is collected, there is some risk that water will be collected with it. The sample collection apparatus is demounted after the full sample has been collected and moved to a laboratory for analysis. The value of the flow is gauged by the sample or specimen stored in this apparatus. At the time of testing, it is necessary to check for water content, water having no sale value. This apparatus includes a bottom located water collection chamber with a piston plugging that chamber. The piston is forced down in a controlled fashion and the water is viewed through a sight glass. The sight glass enables the test personnel to determine by sight whether or not there is water in the sample.

Abstract: For use in a crude oil sampling system which delivers samples in pumped pulse fashion, a volumetric analyzer accumulating the sample is disclosed. In the preferred and illustrated embodiment, the device incorporates a valve which is selectively closed to direct the pumped pulsed sample into the apparatus. It includes a cylinder head attached to a cylinder. In the cylinder, there is a reducer sleeve. The reducer sleeve encloses a piston of selected size. The piston is forced upwardly by sample introduced beneath it. The piston connects with a push rod which in turn extends from the apparatus and which supports a piston follower having a marker cooperative with a scale to indicate the volumetric accumulation below the piston. The piston and reducer sleeve calibrate the apparatus to selected maximum capacities.

Abstract: A reinforced expandable resilient plug for a flow regulator is disclosed, and the preferred and illustrated embodiment thereof incorporates a multiply wrap, each ply being independent of the other plies and coextensive with the outer surface of the plug to provide strength. Each ply is formed of lengthwise, nonyieldable fibers, and the several fibers which form a ply are collectively joined together into a sheath of yieldable, stretchable material. Each ply is, therefore, able to stretch in a dimension enabling the plug to expand while lengthwise elongation of each fiber prevents expansion in that dimension. This assists in maintaining the shape of the inner plug.

Abstract: A crude oil sampling apparatus having a purge system as set forth in the preferred and illustrated embodiment. The sampling system includes an elongate probe which is driven by a diaphragm motor. This probe extends through a fixed housing and terminates at a sample collection head. The probe is provided with two passages through it. One passage is to remove the sample. As the probe is reciprocated, it captures sample and the sample is forced into the probe and along a passage therein past a check valve. The system includes a second passage opening into the first passage through a check valve. This is included to purge the probe and thereby empty or void the passage whereby all vestiges of a sample can be delivered from the equipment into a collection container or the like.

Abstract: An improved sampler is enclosed. In the preferred and illustrated embodiment, the sampler comprises a compressable sample collection head formed of a resilient material having a dished area therein which head is pushed by a push rod against a mating or facing surface of harder material. The collection head is encased in a shield. The improved apparatus includes a projecting mounting post extending into the collection head and which is bonded thereto, further including an undercut portion having an enlarged overhanging shoulder to secure the collection head. This prevents separation of the collection head from the push rod.

Abstract: Sample collection apparatus is disclosed wherein the preferred and illustrated embodiment includes a cylinder enclosing a piston which defines a storage chamber below the piston. The storage chamber is provided with an inlet in a cylinder head at the lower end of the cylinder. The storage chamber is maintained under pressure by pressurizing the opposite side of the piston. A stirring disc is located in the storage chamber. The stirring disc is in the form of a plate, and it is agitated by a rod connected to it. This stirs the sample to prevent separation into strata of different ingredients. The rod connected to the stirring disc passes through the head at one end of the cylinder and extends from it. In one embodiment, the rod is attached to a small piston which is pressurized in a cylinder to be driven in one direction or the other to stir the sample.

Abstract: For use in an axial flow regulator which has an expandable sleeve changing the annular flow space around a central plug barrier to thereby moderate flow, a restricter which is installed to limit capacity. In the preferred and illustrated embodiment, the restricter defines a maximum flow through the apparatus which is calculated relative to the 100% capacity, and wherein the restricter comprises a means which fit next the flow regulator with an encircling cylindrical shoulder for anchoring purposes. It includes a transverse solid wall member. The transverse member is contoured to match cooperative equipment and to bolt to it. Moreover, the restricter is drilled with holes which regulate the flow capacity of the restricter and hence the axial flow regulator.

Abstract: For use with a turbine meter or other gauging device to be inserted into a pipeline, the preferred and illustrated embodiment of the present invention discloses a probe insertion apparatus adapted to selectively insert and selectively remove such a probe. This apparatus is adapted to be attached to the end of a tee, mounted on a flange plate, at right angles to a pipeline, and supports a probe of specified dimensions to insert the probe to the center of the pipeline. The apparatus includes a lower flange of specified dimensions connecting to a set of tie bolts extending to a header plate. The header plate is the lower head of a power cylinder. The power cylinder encloses a piston and protruding piston rod which rod in turn connects with elongate tubular housing affixed to the test instrument.

Abstract: In a flow regulator, the illustrated and preferred embodiment incorporates an expandable inner valve structure formed of a resilient material which expands radially outwardly to controllably choke flow through the valve, the flow regulator positioned immediately adjacent to the encircling tubular sleeve. The tubular sleeve controllably passes gas flowing through the regulator at a rate dependent on the radial expansion of the inner valve. Moreover, the improved version disclosed herein incorporates a transverse support plate for the tubular sleeve and the inner valve structure centered thereon. The support plate is drilled with a number of passages which distribute the gas flowing through the tubular sleeve across the cross-section of the downstream connected pipe thereby spreading the flowing gas to reduce downstream turbulence.

Abstract: A flow regulator assembly is disclosed. In the preferred and illustrated embodiment, the flow regulator assembly incorporates a clamped transverse disk having an alignment lip thereabout, the disk supporting on the upstream side a centralized projection. The projection supports a resilient body which is expanded by axially compressing the body. It expands to regulate the gas flow in the annular space through the apparatus. Radial expansion narrows an annular flow space between the resilient body and the surrounding housing. A surrounding housing is obtained from the flange terminated pipeline immediately adjacent to the flow regulator.

Abstract: An insertion regulator for insertion into and retraction from a pressurized pipeline and the like includes a sensor probe housing structure that is adapted for sealed connection at an aperture formed in the pipeline. The probe housing defines a probe receptacle opening into the pipeline. A sensor probe extends through the probe housing with an inner portion thereof in communication with the pressurized fluid medium within the pipeline. The inner extremity of the sensor probe is inserted into the pipeline against the influence of pressure contained therein by means of an actuator system employing a piston actuator that is movable responsive to pressure communicated thereto from the pipeline. The inner extremity of the probe is positionable at a preselected position within the pipeline for optimum sample taking and is retractable to a protected, noninterfering position within the probe receptacle to permit the passage of pigs and other objects through the pipeline.

Abstract: This disclosure is directed to a dump valve. In the preferred and illustrated embodiment, the dump valve incorporates a valve operator and comprises a valve body having a side located port for admission of high pressure fluid and an axial outlet. The valve operator powers an elongate push rod which passes through an axial passage in the body and supports a hard metal valve element at the tip which is profiled to fit against a valve seat, blocking flow in the axially located passage. Additionally, it incorporates a second seat which is formed of a shaped inner valve of resilient material. This comprises a second valve element. The two valve elements collectively seal the passage. This is particularly helpful in that a hard trimmed, primary shutoff mechanism is first provided incorporating the hard trimmed valve element and seat, and a second soft trimmed valve element and seat cooperates with it. The hard trim valve must seat first before the rubber plug is expanded.

Abstract: For use in recording data on chart paper mounted on a timer driven and operated, rotatable clock mechanism, improved chart paper is disclosed which incorporates a disk of paper having a writing surface thereon adapted to receive markings indicative of a measurement dependent on time, the disk incorporating a central opening. The disk further includes a pair of opposing, facing shoulders separated by a cut in the disk which shoulders include reinforcing means to thereby enable a rotating cutter to separate a single disk from adjacent stacked duplicate disks. The shoulder reinforcing means has alternate forms including a plastic wrap adjacent to both faces and the edge of one shoulder and another form comprising a tongue affixed to one shoulder and lapped beyond the opposing shoulder.

Abstract: A meter mounting mechanism which is hydraulically operated is disclosed. It is particularly adapted to insert and position a meter transducer in a high pressure environment. The illustrated embodiment discloses a flange-mounted mechanism for positioning a sensor in a pipeline against extremely high pressures. The apparatus utilizes a flange-mounted, correctly oriented, bottom plate which secures an elongate cylinder. The cylinder encloses a piston on a piston rod. The piston rod extends above and below the cylinder. The piston rod is hollow to permit transducer connections can extend through it. The piston rod carries a transducer at the lower end. The transducer is able to be retracted on the rod into a shield to protect it.

Abstract: A liquid sample collector is disclosed. It incorporates a cylinder having a piston therein to define a storage chamber. There is an inlet to the storage chamber. In the storage chamber, a stirring plate mounted on a rod agitates the sample to prevent stratification of the sample. It is mounted on a stirring rod which extends all the way through the chamber, the rod passing through a cylinder head at one end of the cylinder and through the piston. It is stirred by reciprocating the stirring rod. The piston is mounted on a piston rod and moves as controlled by a hydraulic system wherein it maintains a desired back pressure on the sample to avoid vaporization. An alternate embodiment is disclosed where both ends of the stirring rod are exposed to pressures which are reduced and equalized to prevent placing a force differential on the piston rod in the stirring device.

Abstract: A glass pattern breaking apparatus having a press roll which is rollably movable across a prescored glass bracket supported upon an aligned template for breaking out the prescored pattern. The press roll is provided with an elongated rigid core shaft covered by a pliable resilient body, and its ends are journalled in freely vertically movable slide mechanisms so that its weight may freely bear against the glass bracket. The core shaft may be hollow so that it can be filled with water or granular material whereby its weight can be changed to break out patterns from glass brackets of different thicknesses.

Abstract: A high pressure pumping apparatus which incorporates a chamber adapted to be filled with a fluid to be pumped, a solid, nonyieldable reciprocating member and an opposing nonyieldable member. A resilient plug having a dished out portion is captured between the two members. The dished out portion is contacted and seals to define a closed chamber at the dished portion which chamber reduces in size as the nonyieldable members are relatively moved. A small passage communicates with the dished out chamber in the resilient member to draw fluid therefrom through a check valve mechanism. The apparatus is particularly able to pump extremely small controlled volumes of fluid at very high pressures. A first version thereof supports the resilient member on a solid piston rod which moves toward a fixed metal member. A second version utilizes a diaphragm motor and also discloses an exposed push rod which gives an external indication of operation of the equipment.