Abstract: The process is used for making individual wood boards (52) from a plurality of wood pieces (10). In this process, wood pieces (10) of similar length and are joined side by side so as to form a panel (30). The panel (30) is then cut in a longitudinal direction with reference to the wood pieces (10) into panel sections (40) having a similar width. These panel sections (40) are jointed end to end to form a continuous wood board (50), which is then cut into individual wood boards (52). This process allows to manufacture wood boards (52) with a high degree of structural integrity and dimensional stability. It also allows to efficiently use small wood pieces (10) that could have been considered otherwise waste or low-grade materials, thereby increasing the yield of the sawmill.

Abstract: The present invention provides exemplary vehicle wheel assemblies for use with a wide range of wheeled vehicles and apparatus. In one embodiment, a wheel assembly (100) includes first and second rim portions (210, 212) having edges (220, 222). The wheel assembly includes a cartridge disposed in a trough portion between the rim edges. The cartridge includes a chamber portion (300) having a plurality of spaced protrusions (310), a resilient member (400) disposed over the plurality of spaced protrusions, an actuator (500) disposed over the resilient layer, and a traction layer (600) disposed over the actuator. The actuator is adapted to compress the resilient layer at least partially into the chamber portion when the wheel assembly is loaded with a weight. In this manner, the wheel assembly is capable of providing energy return to the wheel assembly during rotation thereof.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire comprises a tread portion, a pair of sidewall portions, a pair of bead portions, a carcass extending between the bead portions, and a tread reinforcement disposed radially outside the carcass in the tread portion. The tread reinforcement comprises a reinforcing rubber layer and a radially outer reinforcing cord layer. The radially outer reinforcing cord layer is made of cords disposed radially outside the reinforcing rubber layer. The reinforcing rubber layer extends across the substantially overall tread width and made of a rubber material having a hardness of not less than 70 degrees and a loss tangent of not more than 0.15. In a tire meridian section, the thickness of the reinforcing rubber layer being in a range of not less than 2 mm at the tire equator and gradually decreasing towards the axial edges of the reinforcing rubber layer.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire (10) incorporates a plurality of parallel-aligned, tread-stiffening support members (23) typically disposed laterally between the tread (12) and the ply structure (16). The support members (23) inhibit lateral and circumferential tread lift during runflat operation. Support members (23) can each be a monolithic rib (22) made of a fiber reinforced plastic material. An alternative layered rib (24) has two outer layers (40, 44) of a fiber reinforced plastic material while the central layer (42) is an elastomer.

Abstract: A pneumatic radial tire having an aspect ratio of no more than 60% comprises at least one carcass ply composed of a main body portion and a turn-up portion, a stiffener made of a soft rubber stock and a hard rubber stock, and a reinforcing member extending at an outside of the turn-up portion in a widthwise direction of the tire through a cushion rubber, wherein at an inflation state of the tire under a given air pressure, a height of an outer end of the turn-up portion in the radial direction is no more than 0.33 times a section height of the carcass ply, and a thickness ratio (d2/d1) is within a range of 1.2-1.8.

Abstract: Disclosed is a radial tire for an automobile, in which lyocell having a dry/wet tenacity ratio S1/S2 of 1.2 to 1.6, a tensile strength at high temperature/a tensile strength at room temperature ratio S3/S4 of more than 0.8, and a shrinkage E of less than 0.01 is applied to a carcass part, thereby a resistance to fatigue and dimensional stability in running of a tire are improved.

Abstract: The roll forming machine comprise a series of rollers 14, 20, 28 and 36 for shaping a fabric 13 such as a fabric impregnated with a curable matrix. A feed roller 36 is provided for feeding a length of material 37 such as a tow of fibres onto the fabric during or subsequent to the shaping process. The roll forming process is particularly useful in the manufacture of blade stiffeners for an aircraft wing.

Abstract: Disclosed is a hot air welder that consecutively joins sheets of synthetic resin material together to make a large-sized pavilion or a tent fabric, or welds and seals the seam lines of waterproof textiles or the like for waterproofing process. Instead of the conventional table-shaped body, there are provided an upright-standing drive body; hot-air welding means on an upper-side of the drive body; upper and lower drive rollers under the welding means, and wherein the welding work is performed by rotating and using alternatively the upper drive roller or the lower drive roller, according to the kind of fabrics to be welded and the work-substances. Therefore the heat welding and waterproofing process may be performed more easily for more various shaped work-substances, and that the troublesome work-substances such as sleeve or shoulder parts of waterproof clothes that have various positioned and shaped seam lines may be moved and rotated easily by the worker to be heat-welded and become waterproofed.

Abstract: A butt splicer lengthens a travel distance of a lap-spliced web by a predetermined distance. A pair of knives, spaced apart by the predetermined distance are fired when the lap splice is between them. The severed ends of the web are brought together on a vacuum roll for the application of a tape bridging the upstream and downstream ends. In one embodiment, a second tape is applied to the second side of the web to form a double butt splice.

Abstract: A tray sealing assembly includes a seal support frame for supporting a flange of a tray during sealing of a sealing film to the flange, a seal plate having a sealing surface provided with a raised bead, and a heater for heating the seal plate. The seal support frame is movable relative to the seal plate between a retracted position and a seal position in engagement with the seal plate. Preferably, the raised bead forms a continuous closed loop on the sealing surface. The raised bead produces a reliable seal between the sealing film and the tray flange, despite the presence of contaminants on the tray flange.

Abstract: A sliding screen frame for a closure assembly, the frame comprising framing sections assembled to form the screen frame, one of the frame sections being adapted to contain a roll out screen, the roll out screen being slidable between a fully extended position, whereat the screen is substantially payed out from the roll, and a fully retracted position; wherein the screen frame is free to slide in the closure assembly whether the roll screen is at the fully extended or the fully retracted position.

Abstract: A combination shade handle and light is provided comprising a handle body with a grip portion and a holder portion. The holder portion has a cavity for receiving and storing a security light. A plurality of holder members are provided which secure the security light in the cavity in a snap-fit fashion. The shade handle is attachable to an automobile shade roller assembly for covering an automobile storage compartment. In another aspect, a roller shade is provided having a handle with an integrated removable security light.

Abstract: An assembled and convertible decorating assembly includes at least three partition assemblies. Each partition assembly mainly includes several fixing elements, a pair of vertical rods, a pair of horizontal rods, a decorating element, and a pair of auxiliary horizontal rods. By several pivoting elements, this invention has the following three modes: a complete detached mode, a linear assembled mode that is a screen and an enclosed assembled mode that is an illuminating device. It is easy for storage or transportation. It can be assembled or re-arranged by the user. And, it has many functions such as a regular upright screen, an illuminating device, and an exhibition post, etc.

Abstract: The present invention provides improved heated manifolds, heaters and nozzles for injection molding, having a high strength metal skeleton infiltrated with a second phase metal having higher thermal conductivity. Also disclosed is method of forming a manifold, heater or nozzle preform and infiltrating the preform with a highly thermally conductive material. The invention also provides a method of simultaneously infiltrating and brazing injection molding components of similar or dissimilar materials together.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for pressure casting a battery part wherein an extendible piston includes sidewalls for shutting off the supply of molten lead and an impact surface that extends in a side-to-side condition to form an end surface of a battery part cavity so that when the extendible piston is brought into an intensifying condition the extendible piston shuts off further supply of molten metal while a heat source maintains the lead in a molten state as the impact surface of the piston forms a side-to-side mold cavity surface to complete the mold cavity surface thereby eliminating unevenness in the surface of the finished battery part by generating a force with the extendible piston which is sufficient to form a battery part so that upon removal from the mold the batter part is substantially free of tears and cracks as well as surface irregularities.

Abstract: A a process for producing slabs from steel, in which the strand leaves a permanent mold with liquid melt enclosed by the strand shell and, in a downstream strand guiding assembly, the gap between guide rollers mounted in stands is set infinitely variably by adjusting elements connecting lower and upper frames, characterized by the following steps: a) the gap(s) is changed by an oscillation about a predeteminable center line (c) of the gap in such a way that the dynamic influences on the guide rollers are negligible, and no plastic deformation of the strand shell occurs; b) the current gap (s) is recorded, c) at the same time, the actuating force (F) of the adjusting elements and the amplitude (A) of the actuating force are determined, and d) with increasing amplitude (A) of the actuating force (F), the gap (s) is set to a predeterminable value and/or is pressure-controlled by at least one adjusting element.

Abstract: A blower is provided for effectively cooling heat generating parts in a casing of a personal computer and so on, with a heat sink apparatus using the blower and an electronic equipment using the heat sink apparatus. The blower comprises a fan and an outer frame. The outer frame of the fan is made of a highly thermally conductive material such as aluminum. A radiation board is fixed to or formed integrally with a lower surface of the outer frame. Heat generated from a heat generating device is conveyed through the radiation board to the outer frame. The blower is provided with radiation fins so that the heat conveyed to the outer frame is transferred to the radiation fins as well.

Abstract: An improved apparatus and method for cooling integrated circuit assemblies uses a heat sink having a base and a displacement element having a size substantially similar to an area of heat concentration appropriately positioned on the integrated circuit. A compressive force placed upon the displacement element between the heat sink and the integrated circuit provides an optimum thermal resistance at an interface between the IC and the heat sink for efficient transfer of heat to the heat sink.

Abstract: The present invention provides a hydronic pump type heat radiator, which comprises an outer ring heat spreader, a plurality of outer heat-radiating fins, a plurality of inner heat-radiating fins, a cavity, and a pump. The outer ring heat spreader has an annular wall. The inside of the annular wall has a receiving space. The outer heat-radiating fins are disposed outside the outer ring heat spreader. The inner heat-radiating fins are disposed inside the receiving space of the outer ring heat spreader. The cavity is disposed between the inner heat-radiating fins and the outer ring heat spreader. The cavity is used to receive cooling liquid therein. The pump is properly connected to the cavity, and can drive the cooling liquid in the cavity to make circulative flow so as to quickly transfer heat source and have the heat-radiating function of compulsory flow of liquid.

Abstract: A three-phase heat transfer structure includes a heat conducting plate, a heat sink mounted on the heat conducting plate near one end, a thermal tube embedded in and extended through two distal ends of the heat conducting plate, and a phase change material filled in recessed receiving spaces in the heat conducting plate near one end remote from the heat sink and adapted to accumulate heat energy absorbed by the heat conducting plate from a heat source.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in a counter flow heat exchange assembly that provides increased heat exchange. The apparatus includes a plurality of adjacently spaced arrays, each array having a plurality of cooling conduits that are connected to one another through the utilization of connector portions. The adjacent vertical arrays have a centerline-to-centerline distance extending between them that is greater than the diameter of each of the conduits employed. In addition, the apparatus includes a vertical partition that extends between some or all conduits of each array.

Abstract: The present invention is a plate heat exchanger for heat transfer between two fluids, having several thin heat transfer plates (1) abutting towards each other and between the heat transfer plates (1) arranged sealing members (6), which in alternate plate interspaces delimit a flow space for a first fluid and in the remaining plate interspaces delimit flow spaces for a second fluid, each heat transfer plate (1) having a pressed corrugation pattern, which has two distribution portions (7, 8) and, arranged between these, a main heat transfer portion (9), which is divided in several areas (10a, 10b) with parallel ridges and valleys, and the plate heat exchanger having inlets and outlets for the fluids, arranged such that the fluids will have a flow direction between the heat transfer plates (1) essentially from one to the other of the distribution portions (7, 8) at each heat transfer plate.

Abstract: A plate pack for a plate heat exchanger has a number of heat transfer plates (100) having a number of through ports (110a-d, 120a-f), the plates interacting in such manner, that the plates (100) form between them a first flow duct and a second flow duct and that the ports form at least one inlet duct and at least one outlet duct for each of the flow ducts, that the inlet duct of at least the first flow duct has at least one primary duct and at least one secondary duct. The primary duct and the secondary duct comiunicate with each other via at least one flow passage portion spanning a plurality of plate interspaces. The extension of the flow passage portion along the primary duct is substantially smaller than the extension of the primary duct. There is substantially no flow passage between the primary and secondary ducts outside the flow passage portion. A plate heat exchanger can have at least one plate pack of the above type.

Abstract: A heat sink structure, having a heat sink and a thermal conductive block. The heat sink has a receiving slot recessed from a central portion of a bottom thereof. The thermal conductive block has a plurality of uneven surfaces thereon and a plurality of conical through holes therein. The thermal conductive block is pressed into the receiving slot while the heat sink is softened by heating, and the heat sink has a thermal expansion coefficient larger than the thermal conductive block, such that a wall of the receiving slot is partly extruded into or through the conical through holes, and the wall outside of the conical through holes is partly contracted into the conical holes in a cooling process after the thermal conductive block is pressed into the receiving slot. The conical through holes also provides the function of expelling gas, such that the thermal conductive block is firmly attached to the heat sink, and the heat dissipation effect is further enhanced.

Abstract: There are provided an air mixing door, a plurality of outlets for blowing air into respective portions in a vehicle compartment, outlet mode doors for switching a outlet mode by closing and opening the plurality of outlets, and one motor actuator for driving the air mixing door and the outlet mode doors. The outlet mode doors and the air-mixing door are alternately driven through a change of an operation angle of the motor actuator.

Abstract: A downhole chemical cutter (12) has first and second passages (124, 126) which extend parallel, in fluid communication with an interior passage (32). A first ignitor (210) in the first passage (124) ignites a propellant (34) in the interior passage (32) to dispense a cutting chemical (46). The second passage (126) extends from the interior passage (32) to an exterior of the chemical cutter (12), and is sealed by members (176, 156). After the first ignitor (210) is fired, the second ignitor (218) is fired to push the members (176, 156) from sealing the second ignitor passage (126), such that the interior passage (32) is in fluid communication with the exterior of the chemical cutter (12). A control circuit (252) has two diodes (106, 110) connected in parallel and configured for passing current of opposite polarity to respective ones of the first and second ignitors (210, 218).

Abstract: In an apparatus and method for actuating arms used on a borehole data-logging tool to deploy measuring instruments against a borehole wall, a mandrel is provided. At least one arm carried by the mandrel is mounted to the mandrel to move between an expanded position, in which a part of the arm projects from the mandrel, and a retracted position. A resilient biassing compression spring provides a resilient biassing force on each arm for biassing the arm towards its expanded position. A hydraulic piston and cylinder assembly associated with each arm restrains the arm against movement towards its expanded position. A drive piston and cylinder assembly acts upon the resilient biassing compression springs for adjusting the resilient biassing force acting upon each arm.

Abstract: A single tractor unit is provided for pulling a tractor, in which the tractor itself drives a plurality of hydraulic motors which control a crane unit, a coiled tubing injection unit, and the pumps and motors associated with a liquid nitrogen system which is used for injecting gaseous hydrogen into a workover well with coiled tubing. In an alternative mode, the liquid nitrogen system is replaced with one or more nitrogen generators which gather nitrogen from the earth's atmosphere to be pumped through the coiled tubing into the well being treated. Alternatively, the gaseous nitrogen source is one or more tanks of compressed nitrogen gas.

Abstract: The present invention generally provides a reduced downtime maintenance apparatus and method for replacing and/or repairing a subassembly in sealing equipment for oil field use. The invention allows the removal of rotating portions of a rotary drilling head without having to remove non-rotating portions. The reduction in weight and size allows a more efficient repair and/or replacement of a principal wear component such as a packer. Specifically, the packer in a rotary drilling head can be removed independent of bearings and other portions of the rotary drilling head. Furthermore, because of the relatively small size and light weight, the packer can be removed typically without having to use a crane to lift a rotary BOP and without disassembling portions of the drilling platform. In some embodiments, the packer can be removed with the drill pipe without additional equipment. Furthermore, the packer can be removed remotely without necessitating manual disengagement typically needed below the platform.

Abstract: A flow completion system comprises a tubing spool which is connected above a wellhead housing, a tubing hanger which is supported in the tubing spool and which includes an axial production bore and at least two conduits that each extend from the bottom of the tubing hanger to either the top or the outer diameter of the tubing hanger, and a gate valve assembly which includes an elongated body having a longitudinal bore extending therethrough, a plurality of gates slidably disposed in the longitudinal bore across respective flow passages which each extend laterally through the body between corresponding inlet and outlet ports, each gate being movable between an open position wherein an opening in the gate is aligned with its respective flow passage and a closed position wherein the opening is offset from its respective flow passage, an actuator for moving the gates simultaneously between a first position, wherein at least one of the gates is in its open position, and a second position, wherein the at least one

Abstract: A well bore deflector tool which is used primarily for deflecting tools, lining and the like through a window which has been milled in the side of a well bore casing includes a deflector face (3) at an upper end thereof and slips (9, 10) for selectively gripping and releasing a tie back receptacle (8) and/or a well bore casing (6) at a location below the deflector face (3). The slips are operable for gripping in response to engagement of the deflector tool (1) with a tie back receptacle (8). Accordingly, the invention provides a simple and automatic device for locking the deflector tool in a required angular position.

Abstract: A technique to facilitate deployment of power cable and at least one capillary tube through a wellbore tool, such as a packer. The technique allows both the power cable and the at least one capillary tube to extend through a single pass-through opening in the wellbore tool.

Abstract: A hydrocarbon containing formation may be treated using an in situ thermal process. A mixture of hydrocarbons, H2, and/or other formation fluids may be produced from the formation. Heat may be applied to the formation to raise a temperature of a portion of the formation to a pyrolysis temperature. Heat sources within a relatively thin layer of hydrocarbon material may be positioned in a staggered pattern near to edges of the layer so that superposition of heat from the heat sources allows a large percentage of the layer to reach a desired temperature.

Abstract: A well fluid sampling tool (5) having a sample chamber (315) at least partly contained within an at least partially evacuated jacket (160, 165, 170), the outermost wall (160) of the jacket (160, 165, 170) being adjacent to or forming an outermost wall of the tool (5). In such a tool (5) the evacuated jacket (160, 165, 170) acts to maintain the sample as originally retrieved, e.g. in single phase form (at original temperature).

Abstract: An apparatus and method for gravel packing an interval of a wellbore comprises an outer tubular (110), which forms a first annulus with the wellbore, and an inner tubular (114) disposed within the outer tubular (110) forming a second annulus therebetween. Within the second annulus is an axially extending production pathway (190) and an axially extending slurry passageway (194), which is defined between a channel (170) and the inner tubular (114). The outer tubular (110) has outlets (128) that are substantially aligned with outlets (178) of the channel (170). The portions of both the outer and inner tubulars (110, 114) adjacent the production pathway (190) have openings (122, 146). When a fluid slurry containing gravel is injected through the slurry passageway (194), the fluid slurry exits through the outlets (178, 128) leaving gravel in the first annulus, thereby gravel packing the interval.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for progressively treating an interval of a wellbore (32) is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a sand control screen (138) that is eccentrically positioned within the wellbore (32) and a fluid delivery tubular (140) that is disposed within the wellbore (32) adjacent to the sand control screen (138). During a treatment process when a treatment fluid is pumped into the fluid delivery tubular (140), the fluid delivery tubular (140) progressively allows the treatment fluid to exit from the interior of the fluid delivery tubular (140) to the exterior of the fluid delivery tubular (140) from a first end (46) of the interval (48) to a second end (44) of the interval (48) to progressively treat the interval (48) of the wellbore (32).

Abstract: A crossover tool is disclosed that permits access through to the wash pipe below after the conclusion of a known gravel packing operation. A ball is trapped to a sleeve after shifting it so as to allow flow through the crossover for acid treatment in the screen area and a reversing out procedure to remove excess acid. Alternatively, pressure delivered through the wash pipe can operate packers, as part of a gravel packing procedure as outlined in two steps in U.S. Pat. No. 6,311,772 is a single trip. The acid treating or other downhole operation through the wash pipe can also be accomplished in a single trip with the gravel packing assembly.

Abstract: The present invention provides improved well drilling fluids containing hardenable furan sealant compositions and methods of drilling well bores and sealing pipe strings therein utilizing the drilling fluids. The drilling fluids are basically comprised of a base fluid, a viscosity increasing material and a hardenable furan sealant composition which becomes part of the filter cake formed on the walls of the well bore and hardens therein.

Abstract: An oil well capsule to reduce the paraffin and asphaltene which accumulate on the walls of the pipes which are used to bring the oil up from underground deposits, and a method of using the oil well capsule. An oil well capsule having a shell encapsulating a chemically active mass wherein the chemically active mass consists essentially of alkaline or alkaline earth metal.

Abstract: A method for treating an underground reservoir, which method comprises introducing into the reservoir a treatment fluid comprising, dissolved or dispersed in water, an ester and a non-enzyme catalyst capable of increasing the rate of hydrolysis of the ester, such that the ester hydrolyses to produce an organic acid to dissolve acid soluble material present within the reservoir.

Abstract: A bi-directional seal assembly can be used in various types of cartridge valves including dirty fluid valves and a variety of other valves. The present seal assembly utilizes a seal spool, two O-rings and opposing seal cups. The O-rings are compressed during manufacture of the seal assembly and the valve more than typically recommended by O-ring manufacturers. Because of this compression, the O-rings serve a dual function. At lower pressures, the O-rings act as a spring causing the seal cups to contact the opposing seal plates and at higher pressures they act as seals between the seal assembly and the valve.

Abstract: A hydraulic control assembly (80) for actuating a hydraulically controllable downhole device (100) comprises a hydraulic fluid source (82) located on a surface installation that supplies a low pressure hydraulic fluid, an umbilical assembly (88) coupled to the hydraulic fluid source (82) that provides a supply fluid passageway for the low pressure hydraulic fluid and a subsea intensifier (90) operably associated with a subsea wellhead. The subsea intensifier (90) is operable to convert the low pressure hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic fluid source (82) into a high pressure hydraulic fluid for actuating the hydraulically controllable downhole device (100).

Abstract: Apparatus for controlling drag and vortex-induced vibration exerted onto a substantially cylindrical element of a fixed position subjected to a fluid flowing environment. Apparatus of the invention comprise a sleeve comprising an ultra-smooth surface. Methods for installing such apparatus onto cylindrical elements, and systems for controlling drag and vortex-induced vibrations in which a substantially cylindrical marine element has an ultra-smooth effective surface.

Abstract: A gas dissipation chamber, installed between the tubing crossover and the production tubing string, for a through tubing conveyed ESP pumping system prevents gas discharged from the gas separator from entering the pump intake and subsequently gas locking the pumping system. The gas dissipation chamber secures to a lower end of production tubing. An electrical motor assembly is suspended on the lower end of the chamber. The gas separator and the pump are lowered through the tubing and land in the chamber in operative engagement with the motor assembly. Well fluid flows into the chamber to the separator, and gas separated by the separator vents out of the chamber into the casing. Liquid separated from the well fluid by the separator is pumped by the pump into the production tubing.

Abstract: The main problem area this invention is solving, is concerning reservoirs containing gas with to low well-head pressure. It is therefore desirable to increase the well-head pressure by applying downhole pumps, however this is not possible if gas is present. The core idea in this present invention, is to place a pump (5) in a “bath” of oil (14), in which oil “bath” (14) makes a gas seal (11), assuring the pump only to be imposed to oil without gas. Oil and gas from the reservoir (1) flows trough perforations (2), into a ring-space (3). This creates a significantly pressure drop of the mixture, in which creates turbulence so the gas content will separate from the oil. The pressure drop is regulated by the gas pressure valve (4).

Abstract: A method of installing a liner in a drilled bore below a section of bore previously lined with casing comprises the steps of: running a length of liner into the bore such that at least an upper end of the liner is positioned in overlapping relation with at least a lower end of the casing; and plastically deforming a portion of the liner such that an external face of the portion forms an interference fit with an internal face of a portion of the casing.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for shaping pipes, tubes, liners, or casing at downhole locations in wells. Use is made of rollers bearing radially outwards against the inside wall of the pipe (etc.), the rollers being rolled around the pipe to cause outward plastic deformation which expands and shapes the pipe to a desired profile. Where one pipe is inside another, the two pipes can be joined without separate components (except optional seals). Landing nipples and liner hangers can be formed in situ. valves can be deployed to a selected downhole location and there sealed to the casing or liner without separate packers. Casing can be deployed downhole in reduced-diameter lengths and then expanded to case a well without requiring larger diameter bores and casing further uphole. The invention enables simplified downhole working, and enables a well to be drilled & produced with the minimum downhole bore throughout its depth, obviating the need for large bores.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for severing the mandrel of an anchor device such as a packer to release the packer and remove it from a well. A cutter locator profile above the packer assembly and a cutter locator element on the cutting tool are located so as to precisely position the cutting element at a desired location on the packer mandrel. Once the mandrel is severed, the packer assembly can elongate to release the expansion mechanism. Then, the packer assembly can be pulled upwardly to release the packer, and to remove it from the well. A cutting tool can be lowered through production tubing to sever the mandrel, followed by pulling the packer with the production tubing. Alternatively, a cutting tool can be lowered on a workstring and latched to the upper end of the packer assembly, followed by severing the mandrel and pulling the packer with the workstring.

Abstract: Ground fires are contained by an apparatus such as a brush cutter that creates a fuelbreak. The brush cutter (10) includes a rearwardly positioned tractor (11) and a forwardly positioned cutter assembly (12) for cutting fuelbreaks through brush. The brush cutter renders cut brush into smaller pieces that lay substantially on the ground after cutting and that smolder when ignited while lying on the ground. Outboard rectilinear cutting blades (49 and 51) rotate in their forward arcs toward each other so as to urge the cut brush inwardly toward the adjacent blades for re-cutting. The leading skirt (31) of the cutter deck (30) engages and bends the taller brush in the direction of movement of the brush cutter before the lower portions of the brush are cut, thereby inducing the brush to fall in the path of the brush cutter, so that it is overrun by the brush cutter and chopped. The chopped brush is disposed along the path of cut brush, thereby providing a pathway through the uncut vegetation.

Abstract: A discharge valve element seals the outlet of a fire extinguisher vessel holding a fire suppressant. A source of gas pressurizes the suppressant at least when the extinguisher vessel is in a discharging condition. When the pressure acting on the element exceeds the threshold, the force resisting opening the element is overcome and substantially eliminated, whereupon the suppressant discharges through the outlet.