Abstract: A rifle scope alignment device includes a telescopic sight and a mount to position and align a crosshair reticule in a repeatable manner. The device includes a mounting rail, a pair of clamping brackets, and a scope. The mounting rail is coupled to a barrel of a firearm, preferably a rifle, and provides attachment of the clamping brackets. At least one lower clamping bracket has a spring-loaded ball bearing designed to engage a corresponding slot machined into an exterior of the scope. This interaction establishes an accurate and repeatable alignment of the scope and an internal crosshair reticule.

Abstract: An apparatus, and a method which uses the apparatus, for raising a fluid from a lower region to a higher region of an at least partially cased well. The apparatus includes: a tubing string; a contacting structure at the upper end of the tubing string for engaging a stop structure in the well casing such that the tubing string is held in suspension; an exterior sealing element for sealing against the casing wall; and an internal check valve.

Abstract: An apparatus, and a method which uses the apparatus, for raising a fluid from a lower region to a higher region of an at least partially cased well. The apparatus includes: a tubing string; a contacting structure at the upper end of the tubing string for engaging a stop structure in the well casing such that the tubing string is held in suspension; an exterior sealing element for sealing against the casing wall; and an internal check valve.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for raising a fluid from a lower region to a higher region of an at least partially cased well, the apparatus comprising: a tubing string; a contacting structure at the upper end of the tubing string for engaging a stop structure in the well casing such that the tubing string is held in suspension; an exterior sealing element for sealing against the casing wall; and an internal check valve.

Abstract: Techniques are described for determining the quality of software using fuzzy logic. The techniques include using linguistic variables to translate a numeric value of a quality attribute into a linguistic value of a quality attribute. The linguistic values of multiple quality attributes are aggregated into a quality rating of the software. The quality rating then is used to predict a performance attribute for the software. Techniques are described that may help improve the accuracy of the prediction, including refining software quality parameters based on a comparison of the parameters with software quality of the developed software. The techniques also include the ability to modify the quality attributes used based on the computing environment, the organizational environment or other characteristics.

Abstract: An improved lubricator assembly for receiving a well plunger or other downhole tool wherein a hinge is connected between a lower portion and an upper riser of the lubricator assembly and a power lifting device is included for moving the upper riser off of and onto the lower portion of the lubricator assembly.

Abstract: A plunger for well casings and tubulars comprising: an upper valve rod segment slideably positioned within the plunger body; a valve rod tube slideably positioned in the lower end of the plunger body; a lower valve rod segment slideably positioned in the valve rod tube; a spring positioned between the upper and lower valve rod segments; and a valve element on the upper valve rod segment for closing the plunger flow passage when the upper valve rod segment moves to a closing position. The plunger preferably also comprises an exterior flexible sealing member and a sealing member actuator operated by the valve rod tube. A shield is also preferably provided in the plunger body to prevent premature closure of the valve element.

Abstract: A plunger for well casings and other tubulars comprising: An elongate body having a flow passage with a lower inlet port and an upper outlet port; an internal valve positioned between the ports; at least one first flexible sealing member positioned around the body below the outlet port; an actuator which urges the first sealing member against the interior wall of the casing when the valve is closed; at least one second flexible sealing member positioned around the body and providing an outwardly expandable sealing chamber; and at least one flow port positioned below the valve and providing fluid communication between the flow passage and the sealed chamber. The second flexible sealing member(s) being outwardly expandable by increasing pressure in the sealed chamber.

Abstract: A dual-frequency antenna (100) includes a transmit element (110) that is substantially planar and that is formed from a conductive material, such as aluminum, having a loaded slot (140) formed therethrough for transmission of first radio frequencies. The antenna (100) also includes a receive element (115) that is substantially planar and that is also formed from a conductive material having a loaded slot (155) formed therethrough for reception of second radio frequencies. The transmit and receive elements (110, 115) are mounted in a single plane adjacent to a ground plane (105) that is held only a small distance from the transmit and receive elements (110, 115). Preferably, the height of the antenna (100), i.e., the distance between the transmit and receive elements (110, 115), and the ground plane (105) is equal to or less than about 1.4 centimeters for low-profile mounting on truck-drawn trailers.

Abstract: Surface mined lands are reseeded by dispensing grass, forb and shrub seed from a seed drill with seed-dispensing boxes connected to plural dispensing tubes which drop seed on the earth's surface and wherein at least one seed box is operable to dispense cool season grass seed through conventional opener assemblies into furrows formed thereby. An English tine harrow drag is pulled behind the seed drill to cover and distribute seed to provide improved species diversity and desired shrub density on the seeded area. Fine seed shrubs are broadcast by the drill during traversal of the seeded area in a direction generally perpendicular to the first seeding operation. Companion crops of annual grain are seeded with native grass, forb and shrub seed and mowed prior to seedhead maturity to prevent reseeding and to provide cover and protection for native seedlings. Improved species diversity, shrub density and overall revegetation success is provided for semi-arid lands, in particular.

Abstract: A recreational water sled and method for carrying a rider while being towed behind a boat includes a sled member and a downwardly-extending rudder, with a vertical steering pole extending approximately to chest height for a standing rider, and with a three point tow rope system, including a tow rope section attached to the upper extremity of the steering pole.

Abstract: A belt is provided for horizontally encircling and support from a human body portion and the belt is constructed of water impervious material and includes relatively insulated longitudinally extending internal first and second relatively insulated conductors. First and second sets of electrical contact members are provided and are electrically connected to the first and second conductors, respectively, and the contact members include portions thereof exposed relative to the outer side of the belt. The outer side of the belt includes downwardly opening housing portions of water impervious material disposed over the exposed portions of the contact members and each housing portion includes a vent opening therein for venting trapped air therefrom.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus are provided for fabricating an electrical harness including a connector and a plurality of conductors. The connector has a plurality of terminals preloaded partially into a housing with a conductor-receiving terminal portion outside of the housing. One or more connectors are manually positioned within a frame of the electrical harness fabricating apparatus. An operational cycle of the electrical harness apparatus begins when a conductor is detected at a predetermined position within a conductor-guide channel. The conductors are sequentially terminated into the terminals outside of the housing and the previously terminated terminals are fully inserted into the housing.

Abstract: A three dimensional reinforced structural beam and a blank from which it is made is disclosed. It has a rectangular bottom (2), parallel wall portions (4) and (8), rectangular top portions (12) and (16), and two parallel rectangular rib portions (20) and (24). The beams may be provided with notches (32) and (34), and a tab 50 and slot 54 to facilitate assembly.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method of selectively metallizing a ceramic substrate provided with a metallization pattern according by photoresist processing. A first layer of photoresist is blanket deposited over the substrate exposed through a coarse block out mask, and developed in order to protect those areas of the metallization pattern not to be covered with metal. A blanket metal layer is then formed over the entire substrate surface. A second layer of photoresist is deposited, exposed through a customized mask of the metallization pattern, and developed. The exposed metal is etched and the remaining first and second photoresist layers are removed, leaving a coating of metal only at desired locations.The method may be used for the heavy gold deposition over the Engineering change pads used as a standard in multilayer ceramic substrates.

Abstract: An apparatus for cooking or otherwise heating food held in a container which includes upper and lower housing portions. Heating elements are located in the respective housing portions, and the opposed inner walls of the housing portions are adapted to be moved into contact with the food container. The heating elements are positioned immediately adjacent these walls, and these elements are substantially insulated from other portions of the housing. The intimate contact between the inner walls and the associated heating elements causes the food to act as a heat sink whereby the food is rapidly heated in a highly effective manner. The apparatus is particularly useful for the cooking of frozen food located in an appropriate container. Means are provided for retaining the upper housing in spaced apart relationship with the lower housing to permit baking and similar heating.

Abstract: A wood handling machine for handling stacked layers of board lumber to facilitate marking the boards comprising essentially a support bed for supporting a stack of boards in layers, a fluid pressure operated clamping device to clamp the stack and hold it in alignment, a pushing device at one end of the stack for pushing at least one layer at a time of the boards a predetermined distance to expose the surface of the next layer of boards for marking, and a stop bar at the other end of the stack to prohibit the movement of the next adjacent layer of boards during the operation of the pushing bar. The pushing bar is provided with an indexing means which automatically controls the incremental movement of the push bar a distance comparable to the thickness of the layer of boards. Fluid pressure cylinder and piston devices are used in combination with valves in a fluid pressure circuit for controlling and operating the pushing bar and stop bar and raising and lowering them into the predetermined desired position.

Abstract: An apparatus for cooking or otherwise heating food held in a container which includes upper and lower housing portions. Heating elements are located in the respective housing portions, and the opposed inner walls of the housing portions are adapted to be moved into contact with the food container. The heating elements are positioned immediately adjacent these walls, and these elements are substantially insulated from other portions of the housing. The intimate contact between the inner walls and the associated heating elements causes the food to act as a heat sink whereby the food is rapidly heated in a highly effective manner. The apparatus is particularly useful for the cooking of frozen food located in an appropriate container. Means are provided for retaining the upper housing in spaced apart relationship with the lower housing to permit baking and similar heating.

Abstract: A clamp assembly for fixedly supporting a tube is disclosed herein and includes a main body member, a secondary body member and a locking member, the latter maintaining the two body members in an interlocked tube supporting position. The locking member is integrally formed to include a shaft, an enlarged head at one end of the shaft and a crossbar at the other end of the shaft. This integral member is interlocked with the secondary body member of the clamp assembly regardless of its position with respect to the main body member, as provided by a special hand tool.