Abstract: A method is disclosed for producing hydrocarbon fluids through a well having a well casing string with a casing section which is surrounded by an annular space which comprises a sensor assembly for measuring electromagnetic and/or other physical properties of solid and fluid materials within the annular space, in an underground formation surrounding the annular space and/or within the interior of the section of the casing string, wherein the sensor assembly is mounted on a body of swellable material, such as a swellable rubber or other elastomeric material, which is secured to the outer surface of said casing section and presses the sensor assembly against the inner surface of the surrounding underground formation after the casing string has been lowered into the wellbore.

Abstract: A pressure sensor assembly comprises a sensor housing having a flexible wall that is configured to deform in response to a pressure difference between the interior and exterior of the sensor housing; —a first fiber optical cable section that is bonded to the flexible wall of the sensor housing such that the length of the first fiber optical cable section changes in response to deformation of the wall in response to the said pressure difference; a second fiber optical cable section which is bonded to a thermal reference body, which body is connected to the sensor housing by a strain decoupled connection mechanism, such as a tack weld or flexible glue, and is configured to deform substantially solely in response to thermal deformation, such that the length of the second fiber optical cable section solely changes in response to thermal deformation of the thermal reference body.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for producing hydrocarbons through an instrumented smart well containing a well tubular (6,29-32) and an assembly of power, DTS and/or other sensing and/or signal transmission cables (13,40-44) comprising at least one power and/or signal transmission cable, which is bonded along at least part of its length to an outer surface of the well tubular (6,29-32) by an adhesive, which preferably is reusable and/or has a thermal conductive of at least 3 W/mK or at most 0.2 W/mK.

Abstract: A electrochemical sensor comprising a mounting having screen printed array of electrodes located thereon, the array comprising a reference electrode, a counter electrode and a plurality of working electrodes, wherein the working electrodes are each overlaid with an insulating layer of insulating material, the insulating layer having an array of apertures, exposing a respective array of working regions of the working electrodes, and a method of making same by applying screen printing technic, and a method of using same for chlorine determination.

Abstract: A cylinder valve includes: a single valve member in the form of a spring loaded shuttle, the spring exerting a pressure on the shuttle in a valve-closing direction; a valve seat against which the valve member bears in its valve-closing position; a guide defining a channel in which the shuttle is able to travel; a stop member able to be translated in the channel into and out of a position in which the stop member holds the valve member in its valve-closing position; and a valve body which is engaged by the guide, the guide being able to be translated into a position in which the shuttle cannot be brought to bear against the valve seat.

Abstract: A valve guard assembly for a gas cylinder has a mounting collar 2 which is adapted to fit around and to engage the neck of the gas cylinder. The mounting collar 2 has an outer surface 6 in which there is an endless first coupling member in the form of a circumferential slot 8. A valve guard 10 has an integral coupling ring 12 with a second coupling member in the form of an endless inward projection 14 engageable with the circumferential slot 8. A means for acting against disengagement of the first and second coupling members is provided. This means takes the form of a locking band 30.

Abstract: A blade is made of a heat-treat-able and corrosion resistant steel, preferably 440C stainless, that has one or two sharp edges for resurfacing ice, such as at an ice rink with an ice resurfacing machine, such as a Zamboni® resurfacing machine. It uses at least one attached mounting bolt; and may have a removable safety cover mounted to it. The method of producing the blade includes: selecting a corrosion resistant metal; forming it to have one or two sharp edges; defining a receiver hole for receiving a threaded mounting bolt; heat-treating to a hardness of about 55; machining; and securing a mounting bolt through the blade to align with a mounting location. The blade may contain stiffening inserts. The blade may contain a bushing to secure and precisely locate the mounting bolt.

Abstract: Methods for temporarily protecting a surface of a glass article by coating the surface are provided. The methods include forming a stable, hydrophobic, removable film on the surface at the end of the glass manufacturing process while the glass is still at an elevated temperature (e.g., above 175° C.). The film reduces chip adhesion to the surface as a result of cutting and grinding. After cutting and grinding, the film is removed allowing the glass to be used in such processes as the manufacture of liquid crystal displays (LCDs).

Abstract: A valve for use with an ultra high purity gas comprising a valve body defining a valve chamber having a valve outlet through which gas is discharged and containing a reciprocable sealing member, characterized in that the valve chamber is in fluid communication with a source of the gas and in that the sealing member is reciprocable along an axis substantially parallel to the direction of flow of gas discharged from the valve outlet and into and out of sealing contact with a sealing face located within the valve chamber and circumscribing the inlet end of a valve outlet pipe, the opposite, outlet end of which pipe forms the valve outlet. The valve has a low wetted area and is thus easy to purge, and the valve design both reduces wear and restricts it to a single component which is easily replaced when necessary.

Abstract: The invention relates to the transfer and distribution, notably in a biological or chemical analysis, of a small amount of liquid. The invention relates notably to a method which consists of providing a transfer tool (18) having at least one rod (10) whose lower surface (12) of pre-determined cross section is wettable and of which at least one side surface (14) is non-wettable; immersing the rod (10) into a reservoir containing a liquid, for a pre-determined period of time and at a pre-determined depth; removing the rod (10) from the reservoir so that a liquid drop is retained on the lower surface (12) of the rod (10); positioning the rod (10) over a receptor medium; and placing the drop in contact with a surface of a receptor medium. The invention also relates to the transfer tool (18) which has in its structure at least one rod (10) and to a method for making the transfer tool (18).

Abstract: The invention relates to the transfer and distribution, notably in a biological or chemical analysis, of a small amount of liquid. The invention relates notably to a method which consists of providing a transfer tool (18) having at least one rod (10) whose lower surface (12) of pre-determined cross section is wettable and of which at least one side surface (14) is non-wettable; immersing the rod (10) into a reservoir containing a liquid, for a pre-determined period of time and at a pre-determined depth; removing the rod (10) from the reservoir so that a liquid drop is retained on the lower surface (12) of the rod (10); positioning the rod (10) over a receptor medium; and placing the drop in contact with a surface of a receptor medium. The invention also relates to the transfer tool (18) which has in its structure at least one rod (10) and to a method for making the transfer tool (18).

Abstract: The invention relates in particular to a process for modifying the properties of a hydroxylated surface of a three-dimensional substrate containing exposed zones and recessed zones, according to which a compound, such as a silane containing (a) reactive group(s), is selectively dry-transferred onto the exposed zones of said surface using a a flat stamping pad impregnated with said compound. The substrate may be made of glass and the compound may be a thiol or an alkyl- or aryl-tri(chloro or alkoxy) silane, inter alia. Use, in particular, for the production of microwell plates for biological cultures and printing plates.

Abstract: A pressure reduction valve 2 includes a piston 12, a pressure regulating sub-chamber 50 and a movable means, preferably in the form of a second piston 12', which is activated by a filling nozzle 70 to prevent the flow of fluid between an inlet 8 and the regulating sub-chamber 50 thereby to allow the flow of fluid through the valve between an outlet 10 and an inlet 8. This allows a cylinder to be filled whilst the pressure reduction valve 2 is in situ.

Abstract: A flip-flop is provided having a data gate circuit for receiving input data and generating therefrom first and second complementary internal data signals representative of the input data. A master circuit is coupled to the data gate circuit for receiving a clock pulse and for latching the internal data signals during a predetermined portion of the clock pulse. A slave circuit is coupled to the master circuit for storing the internal data signals. A reset circuit supplies a synchronous reset signal to the master circuit for resetting the first and second complementary internal data signals on the occurrence of the next clock pulse.

Abstract: A master slave flip-flop includes a data gate for receiving the input data and generating therefrom first and second internal data signals, and a master section for latching the internal data signals and for transmitting such signals to a slave section during predetermined portions of a clock signal. In order to render the internal data signals symmetrical with respect to each other and therefore substantially reduce the possibility of transmitting incorrect data to the slave as a result of a race condition in the master section, a Schottky diode is coupled within the data gate to complete a discharge path for one of the internal data lines and thus prevent it from exceeding a predetermined voltage.

Abstract: A transistor-transistor-logic circuit includes a discharge circuit coupled between the base of an output transistor and a reference potential. The discharge circuit includes a transistor whose base and collector terminals are resistively coupled to the base of the output transistor and whose collector terminal is resistively coupled to a reference potential. The emitter of the transistor is also coupled to the reference potential. The transistor in the discharge circuit appears as a finite impedance when the output transistor is on and provides a path for discharging the base-emitter charge storage while the output transistor is turned off. The resistor coupled between the collector of the bypass transistor and the reference potential provides a large but finite impedance path for leakage current in said output transistor. This prevents the output transistor from being turned on by the leakage current.

Abstract: A transistor-transistor logic circuit includes an output stage comprising a pull-up and pull-down transistor and an input stage for receiving one or more binary logic signals. First and second current drive transistors regulate base drive to the pull-up and pull-down transistors respectively. A first switching transistor turns said first current drive transistor off when the binary signals reach a first logic level. A second switching transistor turns the second current drive transistor on when the binary logic signals reach the first logic level. In this manner, negative reflections at the output of the circuit will not result in the pull-up transistor and its associated current drive transistor being turned off.

Abstract: A metallic wall clad with thermal insulation has a layer of insulating blocks spaced from the wall, the blocks being spaced apart and each block being individually and rigidly secured to the wall, the interspaces being substantially closed against convectional flow of liquid by resilient closure members, and a membrane covering for the layer of blocks, the covering having venting means to allow liquid from the vessel to penetrate between the covering and the wall.

Abstract: A nasal insufflator for powdered medicaments comprises a tubular body having a longitudinal air passageway. One end of the body has an end suitable for insertion into a nostril, the other end is provided with a squeeze bulb by which a stream of air is driven through the passageway and into the nostril of a user. Wholly within the body and intermediate its ends is a chamber into which can be placed a capsule of powdered medicament. The device is characterised by having a piercing means, eg a needle, which is reciprocable along the axis of the passageway by having its non-operative end mounted upon the inner wall of the bulb. Longitudinal depression of the bulb drives the piercing end of the piercing means through the end walls of a capsule mounted in the chamber. Release of the bulb draws the piercing end back to its non-operative position, thus leaving the capsule pierced and ready to be emptied by transverse depression of the bulb.