Abstract: An improved jaw apparatus is provided for making or breaking a tubular pipe connection. The jaw includes a head adapted to receive a hook having a threaded shank end. The threaded shank end is engaged at the head end opposite the hook end by a hydraulic powered nut adjustment assembly. The adjustment assembly may be operated by a control unit to allow for the automatic opening and closing of the jaw for receiving pipes of varying diameters.

Abstract: An improved jaw apparatus is provided for making or breaking a tubular pipe connection. The jaw includes a head adapted to receive a hook having a threaded shank end. The threaded shank end is engaged at the head end opposite the hook end by a hydraulic powered nut adjustment assembly. The adjustment assembly may be operated by a control unit to allow for the automatic opening and closing of the jaw for receiving pipes of varying diameters.

Abstract: A golf swing practice apparatus including a golf ball simulation target and anchor for securing the target to a support surface. The anchor may be a ground stake when the surface is the ground and, alternatively, a mat anchor when the surface is a golf training mat. A connector arm horizontally offsets the anchor out of the way from the target, and can be adjustably positioned relative to the target to raise or lower the position of the target above the support surface as desired. A marker is supported by the target for leaving a mark on the golf club head during a practice swing. The location of the mark relative to the “sweet spot” on the golf club head can be used to adjust the golf swing. The mark can be two marks whose relative sizes indicate whether the target was hit with an open or close face impact.

Abstract: A cam-operated, rack-on-rack adjustment assembly on a drill pipe spinner allows the user to easily and in small increments (distances) (three-eighths inch, one-quarter inch or less, or more) adjust the effective pipe engaging length of the drive chain. In other words, the effective length of chain wrap (the amount that grips the pipe) given the pipe size can be adjusted.

Abstract: A pipe making and breaking apparatus having top, middle and bottom wrenches connected to a frame. A torquing cylinder operatively extends between the middle wrench and the frame and when actuated through one or more torquing cycles causes an upper pipe to make (top and middle wrenches) or break (middle and bottom wrenches) relative to a lower pipe. A grip hold actuator maintains the middle wrench in the gripping position continuously during the making torquing cycles. A continuous chain spinner above the top wrench spins the top pipe to make a position or away from a make position. The spinner can be a stand alone unit or can hang freely in the derrick or can be part of the make/break apparatus. A spinner drive chain motor when pressurized and when an oiler button is actuated causes lubricant to be sprayed out a nozzle on the (moving) chain. Windows (guide gates) and/or guide posts direct the chain so as to not bunch up against the casing sprockets.

Abstract: A pipe making and breaking apparatus having top, middle and bottom wrenches connected to a frame. A torquing cylinder operatively extends between the middle wrench and the frame and when actuated through one or more torquing cycles causes an upper pipe to make (top and middle wrenches) or break (middle and bottom wrenches) relative to a lower pipe. A grip hold actuator maintains the middle wrench in the gripping position continuously during the making torquing cycles. A continuous chain spinner above the top wrench spins the top pipe to make a position or away from a make position. The spinner can be a stand alone unit or can hang freely in the derrick or can be part of the make/break apparatus. A spinner drive chain motor when pressurized and when an oiler button is actuated causes lubricant to be sprayed out a nozzle on the (moving) chain. Windows (guide gates) and/or guide posts direct the chain so as to not bunch up against the casing sprockets.

Abstract: A pipe making and breaking apparatus having top, middle and bottom wrenches connected to a frame. A torquing cylinder operatively extends between the middle wrench and the frame and when actuated through one or more torquing cycles causes an upper pipe to make (top and middle wrenches) or break (middle and bottom wrenches) relative to a lower pipe. A grip hold actuator maintains the middle wrench in the gripping position continuously during the making torquing cycles. A continuous chain spinner above the top wrench spins the top pipe to make a position or away from a make position. The spinner can be a stand alone unit or can hang freely in the derrick or can be part of the make/break apparatus. A spinner drive chain motor when pressurized and when an oiler button is actuated causes lubricant to be sprayed out a nozzle on the (moving) chain. Windows (guide gates) and/or guide posts direct the chain so as to not bunch up against the casing sprockets.

Abstract: A pipe making and breaking apparatus having top, middle and bottom wrenches connected to a frame. A torquing cylinder operatively extends between the middle wrench and the frame and when actuated through one or more torquing cycles causes an upper pipe to make (top and middle wrenches) or break (middle and bottom wrenches) relative to a lower pipe. A grip hold actuator maintains the middle wrench in the gripping position continuously during the making torquing cycles. A continuous chain spinner above the top wrench spins the top pipe to make a position or away from a make position. The spinner can be a stand alone unit or can hang freely in the derrick or can be part of the make/break apparatus. A spinner drive chain motor when pressurized and when an oiler button is actuated causes lubricant to be sprayed out a nozzle on the (moving) chain. Windows (guide gates) and/or guide posts direct the chain so as to not bunch up against the casing sprockets.

Abstract: Apparatus for making and breaking joints in drill pipe strings has three jaws each of which is adjustable to an infinite number of settings. The jaw-adjustment means are symmetrical about a central plane, and incorporate a spherical section. Different portions of the spherical section operate relative to closing and self-energizing of each jaw, the particular operative portion depending upon the exact set or adjusted position of the jaw. Each jaw is constructed for stable clamping of a drill type portion, with only one side of each jaw having a die element that is rotatably mounted. The jaw-adjustment mechanism effects both opening and closing of the jaw, there being no necessity to manually pull on a jaw portion at any time.

Abstract: Apparatus for making and breaking joints in drill pipe strings has three jaws each of which is adjustable to an infinite number of settings. The jaw-adjustment means are symmetrical about a central plane, and incorporate a spherical section. Different portions of the spherical section operate relative to closing and self-energizing of each jaw, the particular operative portion depending upon the exact set or adjusted position of the jaw. Each jaw is constructed for stable clamping of a drill type portion, with only one side of each jaw having a die element that is rotatably mounted. The jaw-adjustment mechanism effects both opening and closing of the jaw, there being no necessity to manually pull on a jaw portion at any time.

Abstract: A power apparatus and method for making and breaking joints in drill pipe strings in oil wells, in which a single torquing cylinder, that always moves in a single direction while torquing, both makes and breaks the joints. Three levels of jaw elements are employed, the top and bottom jaw levels being identical to each other, all jaw elements being interconnected as by a frame. Other cylinders close the jaws at each level. The apparatus is moved vertically; two levels of jaw elements are employed for making and another combination of two levels is employed for breaking. Special die and cam means are provided to grip the drill pipe. Means are provided to position the jaws in the middle level at the proper location after each use, for different sizes of pipe. Special bearing, pivot and adjustment means are provided in the jaw elements. The jaw elements operate in only one direction, and are self energizing.

Abstract: Apparatus for rotating a tubular well element about its longitudinal axis. There are first and second elongate casing sections pivotally connected to each other at a pivot. First and second driven sprockets are mounted, respectively, on the casing sections at locations remote from the pivot. A drive sprocket, mounted on the first casing section, is driven by a motor-gear assembly. A continuous chain is mounted around the drive sprocket, and around the first and second driven sprockets, having an inverse internal portion adapted to receive and directly contact the tubular well element to be rotated. Cylinders are connected between the casing sections to pivot them toward and away from each other and thus alternately clamp the inverse internal portion around the wall element, and release such element from the inverse internal portion. One end of each cylinder is pivotally connected to the first casing section at a point between the pivot and the first driven sprocket.

Abstract: A plant watering system and method including a container for providing a reservoir of fluid, which may include liquid nutrients as well as water, the container being attachable to a plant receptacle adjacent the upper end thereof. A first absorbent wick member communicates with the fluid within the reservoir, and exits the upper end of the container and angularly downwardly into a control trough where it terminates at a point above the soil or other potting material. The control receptacle is provided, at the opposite side thereof, with a generally vertically extending plate-shaped wick retention member pivotally connected to the trough housing at the lower end thereof, the upper portion being provided with a member detentably engaging side edges of the receptacle. A spring member beneath the absorbent member biases the absorbent member toward the plate-shaped member.

Abstract: To apply a selectively variable tensioning force to the toothed traction wheels of an automatic wallboard joint taper, and to preclude reverse wheel rotation, an adjustable pawl mechanism is attached to the taper head behind the wheels. The mechanism includes a mounting plate extending transversely between the head assembly side plates, a pawl arm pivoted at one end to a lower portion of the mounting plate, a pawl connected to the plates and positioned behind one of the wheels. A spring connected at one end to a point along the length of the pawl arm, and at its other end to one of a series of apertures in an upper mounting plate lip, exerts a pivotal force on the arm. This biases the pawl into wedging engagement with the wheel and the stop. The biasing force, and thus the tensioning force exerted on the wheel by the pawl, may be selectively varied simply by connecting the tensioning spring between a different point on the pawl arm and a different aperture in the mounting plate lip.

Abstract: The present method and apparatus are believed to be the first to achieve, at least in a practical manner susceptible of widespread use on large numbers of joints, both proper engagement and proper makeup torque between tapered threaded members such as sections of pipe in an oil well or pipeline. In accordance with one embodiment, presently preferred, gage means are employed to determine the actual hand tight plane of each tapered threaded member, and a mark is made on each such member in predetermined relationship to the hand tight plane. Such marks are then employed for field inspection of joints which have been made up to a predetermined, measured, desired makeup torque. In accordance with another embodiment, the members (for example, casing and tubing sections and collars) are made up until the marks on the collar and the pipe are at a predetermined axial distance from each other at a predetermined makeup torque or predetermined desired range of makeup torques.

Abstract: An external tester defines a sealed chamber around a pipe joint, such chamber then being filled with fluid under very high pressure. After introduction of fluid into the test chamber is terminated, a determination is made as to whether or not the pressure is reducing, any such reduction indicating that a leak is present in the pipe joint. To define a test chamber which is perfectly sealed so that fluid will not escape otherwise than through a leak in the pipe joint there are provided longitudinal sealing elements and arcuate sealing elements interrelated with each other and with an insert of the longitudinal elements. The inserts stiffen and mount the longitudinal elements, provide indexing of the casing sections, and prevent extrusion of the seal rubber, all in such a manner that no cracks remain through which the fluid may escape.

Abstract: The present method and apparatus are believed to be the first to achieve, at least in a practical manner susceptible of widespread use on large numbers of joints, both proper engagement and proper makeup torque between tapered threaded members such as sections of pipe in an oil well or pipeline. In accordance with one embodiment, presently preferred, gage means are employed to determine the actual hand tight plane of each tapered threaded member, and a mark is made on each such member in predetermined relationship to the hand tight plane. Such marks are then employed for field inspection of joints which have been made up to a predetermined, measured, desired makeup torque. In accordance with another embodiment, the members (for example, casing and tubing sections and collars) are made up until the marks on the collar and the pipe are at a predetermined axial distance from each other at a predetermined makeup torque or predetermined desired range of makeup torques.

Abstract: The present apparatus, method and seals relate to an external tester for defining a sealed chamber around a pipe joint, such chamber then being filled with fluid under very high pressure. After introduction of fluid into the test chamber is terminated, a determination is made as to whether or not the pressure is reducing --any such reduction indicating that a leak is present in the pipe joint. To define a test chamber which is perfectly sealed so that fluid will not escape otherwise than through a leak in the pipe joint, there are provided longitudinal sealing elements and arcuate seal segments of special construction. The longitudinal and arcuate sealing elements interrelate with each other and with extrusion-prevention and index elements in such manner that no cracks remain through which the fluid may escape.

Abstract: A joint-taping tool for wallboard (drywall), wherein there is almost no possibility that the cable will break after the piston reaches the top of its stroke, and wherein the operator is immediately and unquestionably informed when adhesive flow ceases. Furthermore, mechanism is provided by which--with minimized action on the part of the operator--the rollers are prevented from spinning and "throwing" adhesive (cement) during filling of the barrel.The tool will not only apply tape and adhesive simultaneously, but is rapidly convertible to deposit adhesive over previously-applied tape. This same conversion spacing option makes it possible to eliminate tape jams quickly and easily. In addition, means are provided for thoroughly cleaning the tool at the end of each day.

Abstract: A pneumatically-operated thread protector for casing pipe, etc., has a thick rubber bladder which extends on (a) the outside, (b) the inside, and (c) the extreme end of the pipe, such bladder being generally U-sectioned or hairpin-sectioned. Provided around and within the bladder is a shock-resistant and wear-resistant metal housing which is also U-sectioned or hairpin-sectioned generally correspondingly to the bladder. Means are provided to seal the lips of the bladder to the housing, and to prevent the housing from shifting off the inflated bladder, in such manner as to permit substitution of new bladders yet to (a) maintain effective air seals, and (b) maintain the parts in assembled condition despite the effects of tremendous loads and shocks. Means are provided to inflate the bladder so that it will grip or grasp tightly the exterior and interior cylindrical surfaces of the pipe end, thus minimizing the possibility of accidental demounting of the protector from the pipe.