Abstract: A structural configuration for rapidly assembling walls and linings of insulating firebricks and prefabricated insulating modules that aligns the bricks or modules during assembly with grooves and inserts, minimizes the amount of through joints in the completed structure, and allows the full height of each brick or module to be utilized in the completed structure is provided.

Abstract: A module, a wall made from said block, and a method of constructing a wall using such blocks, wherein the block has the general shape of a plus sign. The block is made from a first rectangular piece and a second rectangular piece joined perpendicular to said first rectangular piece. The blocks are assembled in a parquet fashion to construct a wall.

Abstract: A drive for a hedge trimmer, or the like, stores energy in a clock spring during a part of each cycle of sickle-bar operation. When enough energy is stored in the clock spring, it is released to drive a sickle-bar with a strong chopping action.

Abstract: A ferrite transformer is coupled between a two-wire array of geophones or other suitable vibration detectors (such as hydrophones). An oscillator is coupled across the secondary of the transformer in order to provide a carrier on which the output of the array may be modulated. A low level leakage current appears in the array so that a continuity test may be conducted to monitor the line for opens and shorts and to detect the operativeness of system components. The modulated output of the transformer is connected to a signal processing system.

Abstract: An L-shaped insulating module for use on outside and inside corners as well as on door jambs in a high temperature furnace. A module of refractory fibers is constructed of one blanket folded in accordance with a particular sequence to produce a first region with a first number of layers and a second region with a second lesser number of layers which is generally half as many as the first number. One-half of each of the second layers is removed to produce an L-shaped component. A second component member is interleaved with the layers of the second region to produce an L-shaped module of uniform thickness. Mounting hardware is attached to two faces of the module for attachment to their respective wall faces. The attachment is such that it retains the two components in assembled condition.

Abstract: A radio locator system uses transceivers located in a mobile and at least two stationary stations. Each stationary station serves as one end of a surveyor's baseline. Therefore, since the transceivers are located at opposite ends of a line having a known length, their broadcast signals provide direct distance measurements of two other lines extending between the individual stationary stations and the mobile unit, thereby cooperating with the known line to complete a trilateralization. Each station in the system is identified by a uniquely encoded stream of pulse bursts, each burst encompassing a wide, preprogrammed change of frequency for eliminating interference between the signals used in the locator system and the signals of other users of the same frequency band. An inversion of the preprogrammed frequency change is used for the return of the ranging system signal in order to substantially eliminate or suppress echo returns to the mobile or interrogator station.

Abstract: A pair of inverted, concentrically mounted cups are lowered into a pool of liquid at the bottom of a well. The outer cup is a housing connected to atmospheric pressure via a capillary tube extending upwardly to the top of the well. The inner cup is a closed dome. Liquid passes through a check valve in the bottom of the housing and rises in the outer cup, since the capillary tube is open to the atmosphere and bleeds off the air inside the outer cup. Since the inner cup is closed, air is entrapped therein to limit the rise of liquid in it. When the capillary tube and, therefore, the two cups are pressurized, the check valve closes to prevent escape of liquid from the housing. The liquid rises in the dome to compress the air entrapped therein. When the capillary tube is suddenly opened again to atmospheric pressure, the compressed air entrapped in the closed dome of the inner cup drives the liquid violently up the capillary tube.

Abstract: A disaster valve for downhole use in a gas or oil well is built into a unitary housing having a wireline running tool connector at one end and a control package at the other end. In the center of the housing, a ball valve (in one embodiment) or a piston and cylinder valve (in another embodiment) is arranged to be operated by a new and improved mandrel driven by a motor for rotating a feed screw. The housing includes passages and parts configured so that the lower end of the housing lies along the axis of the tubing to enable a peripheral fluid flow, coaxially around the housing. Near the valve, the fluid is diverted from the peripheral flow into an axial flow. The valve controls the fluid flow at the point where the peripheral flow converts into the axial flow. During catastrophic conditions, a quick release feature enables the valve to be driven to a closed position under spring tension.

Abstract: A wireline running tool enables a module to be lowered into or removed from a production tubing or pipe line, especially one extending downhole in an oil or gas well. A kickover arm in the tool deflects the module into a side pocket in the tubing or pipe. The power for so deflecting such module comes from a pressurized pneumatic cylinder. If something goes wrong and the tool or module becomes stuck in the tubing or pipe, the gas slowly leaks from the pneumatic cylinder, after which the tool or module becomes unstuck.

Abstract: An acoustically controlled system includes means for transmitting any of several different forms of sonic energy signals through the walls of a tubing extending down into a gas or oil well. There, any of several functions may be performed, such as a control of a disaster valve located at the lower end of the tubing. Depending upon the function selected, the valve may hold itself open irrespective of the continuity of the sonic signal, or may slam shut if the sonic energy ends. Preferably, the selection control depends upon the pulse repetition rate of the sonic energy pulses.

Abstract: A sonic energy signal is transmitted continuously through the walls of tubing extending down into an oil or gas well, in order to control a disaster valve at the lower end of the tubing. If the signal disappears, the valve shuts automatically. In one embodiment, the tubing functions as the core of a transformer. In another embodiment, the tubing conducts an acoustic signal. The sonic energy may be transmitted by either a hydraulic ram or a tuned hammer, which transmits energy vertically into the tubing walls.

Abstract: A signal is transmitted through the walls of tubing extending down into an oil well in order to control a disaster valve at the lower end of the tubing. If the signal disappears, the valve shuts. In one embodiment, the tubing functions as the core of a transformer. In another embodiment, the tubing conducts an acoustic signal.