Abstract: A packing element for an annular blowout preventer includes an annular elastomeric body disposed about a longitudinal axis that is adapted to be compressively displaced inwardly towards the axis. A plurality of the metallic inserts are embedded in the body in generally circular fashion spaced apart in respective radial planes extending from the axis for reinforcing the body. Each of the inserts include upper and lower flanges, and a web element extending between the flanges. The web element includes leading and trailing edges, each having outer arcuate surfaces that are substantially semicircular in cross-section for distributing the loads applied to a bond line between the insert and the elastomeric body during the operation of the packing element. A central rib extends between the leading and trailing edges.

Abstract: A high pressure seal material, such as for a lateral "T" seal of a shear ram blowout preventer, is disclosed wherein the seal material is preferably nitrile rubber and includes uniformly dispersed synthetic, non-cellulosic fibers in parallel alignment to resist rollover action occurring transverse to the applied compressive force by orienting the aligned fibers parallel to the axis of the applied force. The material is made in a milling process that aligns and maintains the alignment of the fibers. The milled sheet is then cut into appropriately shaped pieces. The pieces are rotated 90.degree., plied and cured to make the final material, which curing can be done in a suitable mold so that the final product is in its desired final shape.

Abstract: A lamp processing machine for separating glass, powder and metal lamp components placed within the machine. The machine may include two generally cylindrical, concentrically mounted screens and a tube concentrically mounted between the screens. The screens may be mounted within an enclosure having separate outlets for the powder, glass and metal.

Abstract: A pump device includes a motor, a pump body having a first body portion and a second body portion, a shaft connected to the motor and extending into the pump body and an impeller mounted on the shaft between the first and second body portions. A four valve assembly is provided in the pump body. The first and second valves are provided in the first body portion, and the third and fourth valves are provided in the second body portion. This pump device may be used to move an attached gate through fluid. When the gate door is to be moved through the fluid in a first direction, the first valve and the fourth valve are opened (and the second and third valves are closed) so that the fluid moves through the pump body from the fourth valve to the first valve. When the gate door is to be moved in a second direction, the second valve and the third valve are opened (and the first and fourth valves are closed) so that the fluid moves through the pump body from the third valve to the second valve.

Abstract: A blow out preventer is described including a housing with a first annular wedge member fixed to an interior sidewall of the housing. A second annular wedge assembly is provided which includes a plurality of wedge segments disposed within an interior of the housing. The contact face of each of the wedge segments in the second annular wedge assembly is in sliding face to face contact with the contact face of the first annular wedge member. The second annular wedge assembly is movable between an open position spaced from central drill pipe receiving bore and a closed position in sealing engagement with a drill pipe disposed within the central drill pipe receiving bore. An annular piston seal is disposed within the interior at the second end of the housing. The piston has a first contact face and a second contact face. The first contact face engages the second annular wedge assembly.

Abstract: A system that provides assistance in opening the main valve in a hydrocarbon dispenser nozzle. The external control member for opening the main valve acts on a pilot valve of small flow section, with the main valve being opened by fluid pressure applied to it as a result of the pilot valve being opened. The seat of the pilot valve is formed in the main valve member.

Abstract: A rotary blowout preventer is provided having a resilient sealing body which is deformed about a drill string or sealing by means of a tapered actuator cone. The actuator cone is driven by a piston which is responsive to annulus pressure and which is also selectively responsive to opening and closing pressures such as for test cycling. A bearing box assembly is interposed between the piston and the actuator cone, thus enabling the actuator cone and resilient primary packing to rotate along with the drill string. The primary packing incorporates a replaceable, tubular central resilient secondary packing section which is supported in place by a releasable hanger assembly. The primary packing is rotatably driven by a bearing supported drive assembly incorporating drive dogs which establish driving relation with the sealing rubber thereof. The blowout preventer also incorporates an internal packing which may be controllably hydraulically energized in the event the packing should develop a leak during use.

Abstract: A diverter for a riser string between subsea well and offshore drilling rig utilizes a rotatable ball element. The ball element mounts in a tubular housing. The ball element has a passage through it which is coaxial with the riser when the ball element is in one position. A drive motor will rotate the ball element 90 degrees to place the ball element passage perpendicular to the riser passage to block flow. A pipe sealing member locates in the passage of the ball element. Hydraulic fluid pressure applied to the pipe sealing element will causes the pipe sealing element to seal around pipe.

Abstract: An improved annular sealing element for oil well blowout preventers includes a plurality of curved metal segments spaced apart at regular circumferential angles and imbedded in a resilient matrix forming a generally lenticular-shaped body with a hollow central bore. Each segment has a tooth-like upper plate section having a downwardly depending web which is pivotably joined to the upper surface of a wedge-shaped base plate. Pivotability in a vertical plane of the upper plate section relative to the base plate limits the force exertable by the sealing element on a drill string component within the bore of the element. A cylindrical pivot bar formed in the lower surface of the base plate of each segment is adapted to roll or self-pivot on the annular head of a driver piston, thus allowing the sealing element to be installed in existing blowout preventers without modification of the driver piston.

Abstract: A new and improved ram locking apparatus for blowout preventer rams which allows the rams to be locked in the closed position and compensates for wear on the sealing elements of the rams. The device consists of a tubular cross containing a rod extension with a tapered end attached to the ram, a hydraulically reciprocal piston with a wedging surface to coact with the tapered end of the rod extensions and hydraulic fluid ports. The tapered end of the rod and the wedge surface of the piston have serrated surfaces to increase friction between the wedging surfaces and provide a self-locking engagement and thereby provide a small compact apparatus.

Abstract: An improved annular sealing element for oil well blowout preventers includes a plurality of curved metal segments spaced apart at regular circumferential angles and imbedded in a resilient matrix forming a generally lenticular-shaped body with a hollow central bore. Each segment has a tooth-like upper plate section which has a convex upper, outer surface adapted to slide upwards on the concavely curved inner wall surface of a blowout preventer cavity. Each upper tooth-like plate section has a downwardly depending web which is vertically pivotably supported within a groove formed in the upper surface of a wedge-shaped base plate at the bottom of the lenticular body. The inner toe portion of each base plate is imbedded in the resilient matrix, while the rear, heel portion of each base plate, which has a convexly curved lower surface, protrudes through the matrix. Pivotability of the upper portion of each segment relative to the base plate limits the force exertable by the element on a drill string component.

Abstract: An improved sealing element for variable bore ram blowout preventers of the type using two semicircular ram blocks to urge a resilient sealing member into sealing circumferential contact with the circumferential surface of a tubular drill string component includes a generally uniform thickness member having in plan view the shape of a semi-circular arch with bar-shaped legs extending laterally outwards from opposite base ends of the arch. A plurality of metal inserts forms a skeletal structure around which is molded a rubber matrix to form the sealing member. Each insert has a pair of generally flat and parallel upper and lower plates joined together by a pedestal and interleaved with and slidable with respect to the plates of an adjacent insert. Two outer generally rectangular plan-view end inserts have inner lateral edges which slidably interleave with the two outer elongated rectangular lateral ends of each of two intermediate corner inserts.

Abstract: A blowout preventer, particularly for use in drilling bore hole sections near the sea bed, is adapted to prevent blowout of shallow gas in the bore hole. It comprises at least one annular, preferably flexibly expansible and contractible packing element (59, 59'), which by radially directed expansion is adapted to rest sealingly against the wall of the bore hole and close the passage through the annular space of the bore hole. The blowout preventer comprises an inner sleeve element (1) being limited telescopingly displaceable in relation to the outer housing (8) of the blowout preventer and being spring loaded (9) towards extended telescopic position when it is not subjected to extra weight loading, and means which in the relative contracted telescopic position of the sleeve element (1) and outer housing (8) is adapted to close the passage through the inner cavity (48) of the blowout preventer and establish liquid connection to the packing element or elements (59, 59') for inflation thereof.

Abstract: An oil well blowout preventer has a housing with axially aligned entrance and exit pipe casing bores and a coaxially aligned hemispherical cavity in the upper portion of the housing. A ring-shaped, convex upper surface sealing member fits conformally within the hemispherical cavity and is drivable upwards by a hollow, hydraulically actuated piston coaxially encompassing the lower exit bore of the housing. The upper annular surface of the piston is beveled downwards and inwards to mate with the bottom annular surface of the sealing member. The sealing member is comprised of incompressible, tooth-like elements imbedded in a resilient matrix. Force limiting means in the sealing member prevent damagingly large radial impact forces of the teeth-like elements with drill string components disposed longitudinally within the device. In one embodiment, resilient material is interposed between the actuating piston and the incompressible element to limit impact force.

Abstract: A normally closed fluid switching logic element has a plurality of radial ports to a first chamber. A poppet, connected to a piston within the element, moves between an open position off its poppet seat and a closed position. In the open position another port is provided to the first chamber permitting fluid flow. The poppet is biased to the closed position by a spring, but also by fluid pressure at either or both ports. The poppet may be displaced only by pressure in a second chamber behind the piston. In one configuration this opening pressure is provided from an external source. In other configurations, the opening pressure is derived from the first chamber, from the pressure outside the poppet and from either of these.

Abstract: A rotating blowout preventor is comprised of a rotating head assembly which is removably received at the upper end of a main housing. The rotating parts of the head assembly are held fastened together by the provision of a unique locking plate arrangement. An internal bearing chamber is formed within the head assembly and is protected from contamination by an unobvious arrangement of the coacting parts which form the rotating head. The head assembly can rapidly be disassembled without the use of special tools, thereby making field repair of the apparatus possible. The main housing has a replaceable washpipe and seat that likewise is easily field replaceable.

Abstract: Surface packer and method for using the same. An annular body is mounted on the upper end of a string of casing which extends above a drilling rig platform. An annular seal is received within the body at the upper end thereof and may be sealed against the radially outer surface of a string of drill pipe which is lowered therethrough into the casing. A radial circulation port is formed in the body beneath the annular seal. In a cementing operation, a string of drill pipe is lowered in the casing to the lower end thereof and the annular seal is sealed thereagainst. The pipe-casing annulus is pressurized and cement is pumped into the drill pipe for cementing the casing into the well bore. In one embodiment, the annular seal is of the inflatable type which permits vertical and rotational manipulation of the pipe string while maintaining the seal thereagainst.

Abstract: A blanking cover for a pipe comprises a plate able to close the pipe by tilting or rocking under the action of gravity, about a pivot pin to which it is fixed. A part is fixed to the pin, and an electromagnet able to retract the part and fixed to another part rotates on the pin and a jack is provided for actuating the other part. When excited, by attracting the part, the electromagnet makes it possible to keep the pipe open. Its deexcitation leads to the tilting of the plate and consequently to the closing of the pipe. If a tilting or rocking problem occurs, the action of the jack on the other part brings about the tilting by displacing the part. In order to reopen the pipe, the jack is actuated so as to press the excited electromagnet against the part and is then actuated in the opposite direction.

Abstract: A pressure-operated valve is disclosed including a choke positioned between one or more inlet ports to the valve and a flow port within the valve defined by a seat to which a valve element may be sealed to close the valve. The choke includes one or more orifices to provide a constricted flow path such that control fluid, entering the inlet port, experiences a pressure drop before reaching the flow port, whereby fluid pressure downstream of the flow port may effectively control the configuration of the seat-and-valve element combination. The choke, which is sealed within the valve to prevent fluid flow around the choke, may be positioned at the inlet port to receive fluid flow into the valve.

Abstract: A control valve system and method are disclosed for blowout preventers having an actuating piston for actuating the closing of the blowout preventer whereby the piston has an opening side and a closing side. The control valve system and method include a means for selectively directing fluid from the opening side of the actuating piston to the closing side of the actuating piston in order to reduce the fluid requirements for closing the blowout preventer and reduce installed horsepower requirements thereby.

Abstract: A gas supply device contains a pressurized gas container having a plurality of inserted pressure-resistant gas flasks. The gas flasks are partially filled with liquid gas, such as carbon dioxide or nitrous oxide, before being inserted and are closed by an openable closure component. Each closure component of the gas flasks has associated with it an opening device effective at initiation of operational readiness of the gas supply device, at least one of which opening devices opens its associated closure component under the influence of an external force. It is possible to actuate the opening devices associated with the second gas flask and with further gas flasks by the gas escaping from the first opened gas flask. This gas supply device is especially suitable for applications where a large storage capacity is desired.

Abstract: An annular blowout preventer packer unit is disclosed having an annulus of elastomeric material in which is embedded metallic drive inserts provided in an outward circle about the axis. Metallic lead inserts are provided in an inward circle about the axis. The top and bottom plates of the drive inserts have two angled longitudinal forward surfaces which interface with reverse angled adjacent longitudinal rearward surfaces of the top and bottom plates of the lead inserts, respectively. When the BOP piston is closed, the drive inserts cause the lead inserts to advance inwardly a greater radial distance than the advance of the drive inserts. The result is that less stroke may be required to close the blowout preventer, and a controlled, predictable, uniform movement of the lead inserts is achieved. The drive inserts top plates are broad across their rearward longitudinal surface operably covering the area behind the lead inserts on closure of the packer unit.

Abstract: An annular blowout preventer for use on an oil or gas well rig having a lower housing, an upper housing, a resilient sealing means, a vertical bore coaxially positioned through the housing and a vertically acting piston for actuating the sealing means in which the inner surface of the upper housing and the inner surface of the lower housing are concentric spherical surfaces extending to the bore. The resilient sealing means includes steel segments extending between the top and bottom of the sealing means and the top and bottom of the sealing means and the steel segments have spherical surfaces coacting with the spherical surfaces on the upper and lower housings. The upper and lower housings each include a vertical wall extending downwardly from the spherical surfaces on the upper and lower housing and the vertical moving piston sealingly engages the vertical walls.

Abstract: In a double-tube vibration damper the working chamber adjacent the piston rod guide member is connected to the compensation chamber surrounding the cylinder through a by-pass valve. The by-pass valve is mounted in the cylinder or in a structural member stationary with respect to the cylinder. The by-pass valve has a cross-sectional area variable in dependency on a pressure signal or an electric signal. The damping characteristics of the vibration damper can be varied e.g. in dependency on the load charged onto the vehicle of which the vibration damper is a part.

Abstract: An annular blowout preventer having a body with a central bore therethrough and a packer recess surrounding and opening on said recess, an annular packer which is a complete ring or a split ring in said recess, means for actuating said packer to closed position, an opening through the side of said body into said packer recess of sufficient size to remove said packer therethrough, a plug sealed in said opening and a sleeve around said body to engage the exterior of said plug and retain it in sealing position in said opening.

Abstract: A vent line system is disclosed which is adapted for connection to a flow diverter attached to a drilling rig. The system assures that the vent line is always open for discharge of pressurized drilling fluid away from the drilling rig in one of two directions.

Abstract: A multi-port, fluid-activated valve mechanism in which positive pressures of control fluids are used to sequentially actuate fluids which seal respective valve ports sequentially. Fritted glass and liquid metals impervious to fritted glass are used as valving means.

Abstract: A poppet-type check valve utilizing an integral detachable flow control assembly for insertion into a cooperating housing. The checking poppet is oriented with its actuating stem, concentric guide, and concentric force bias spring downstream of the check flow controlled orifice. In a preferred embodiment, the flow control assembly is located internal of a housing having a first flow length adjacent the controlled flow orifice and seat, and a second converging flow length abutting said first flow length, and a terminating flow outlet adjacent the valve outlet port. When mounted internal of the preferred housing, the valve poppet assembly lies partially within the first flow area and extends a predetermined distance into the converging section, thereby greatly reducing turbulence and having a demonstrated reduction in medium flow pressure drop over presently used units.

Abstract: Improvements in the operation of a rotating blowout preventor. The rotating head assembly of a rotating blowout preventor includes a stripper rubber which has an upper annular member attached to the lower annular end of a metal support member. The support member extends upwardly into fixed relationship respective to part of the rotating head. The stripper rubber is in the form of an annular body which has an axial passageway formed therethrough for telescopingly receiving a rotating member in sealed relationship therewith. The outer circumferentially extending lower wall surface of the rubber rotatably engages the lower marginal inside wall surface of a fixed washpipe. The present invention provides a positive pressure of drilling media, or drilling media admixed with lubricant, at the interface formed between the outer rubber surface and the inner surface of the washpipe.

Abstract: Apparatus for draining a liquid which has been inadvertently freed from a primary storage container and captured in a containment space comprising a drain conduit extending from the containment space to a remote location, with said drain conduit having an opening in a lower part of the containment space into which captured liquid can flow by gravity when not closed; a valve, in the drain conduit, outside of the containment space; a pressurization line, containing a valve, communicating with the drain conduit between the drain conduit valve and the conduit opening; a closure in the drain conduit opening adapted to bar flow of captured liquid into the drain conduit; and a closure retainer releasably securing the closure in the drain conduit opening; whereby when it is desired to remove captured liquid from the containment space the pressurization line valve can be opened and fluid under pressure can be fed to the pressurization line to deliver it to the drain conduit with the drain conduit valve closed so that

Abstract: A well test apparatus in which a by-pass sleeve valve lands in a previously set packer. A lock mandrel assembly lands in the sleeve valve and carries a transducer fitting. A transducer is releasably carried in the fitting. Well conditions such as pressure may be sensed by the transducer and recorded or transmitted to the surface. By manipulation of casing pressure, the by-pass valve may be opened and closed to flow the well at high production rates with the transducer in place.

Abstract: Improved apparatus for use in distributing anhydrous ammonia for agricultural applications, including a compact, convenient assembly combining in a single portable unit a flow meter, a control valve, a rotary fluid motor, an ammonia input, and means for mounting the assembly on any available application implement for connection to the ammonia source, the ammonia applicators, and the power fluid from a towing tractor.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for controlling the passage of air, smoke and noxious fumes through the heating and ventilating ducts of a building by means of a normally-collapsed, leak-proof bag which expands upon activation by smoke detection means to completely seal the duct from the passage of air and smoke.