Abstract: A method for producing a shaft-hub connection in which a shaft component and a hub component are placed into a joined state in the form of a frictional shaft-hub connection. The shaft component has a toothed region having teeth with a height H, and the hub component has a mating toothed region having a mating region internal diameter d. The hub component is pushed onto the shaft component in a longitudinal direction to produce the frictional shaft-hub connection and in the process geometrically reproduces the toothed region in the mating toothed region. The mating toothed region passes over a cylindrical centering region with an outer diameter D before coming into contact with the toothed region. The outer diameter D is at most 0.2 mm and at least 0.005 mm smaller than the mating region inner diameter d. The centering region has a length L greater than 1 mm.

Abstract: A labelled methane, such as LNG, has methane and a tracer, in the form of a slush of liquids and solids. The invention especially relates to LNG having a tracer. The labelled methane may comprise, in addition to the tracer, an odorant, and a carrier for the odorant. The odorant is ethyl acetate and/or ethyl mercaptan. The carrier for the odorant is propane, n-butane, iso-butane, or a mixture of two or more thereof. A process for preparing the liquid or slush involves liquefying a gas comprising methane and tracer.

Abstract: An odorized methane comprising fluid has an odorant and a carrier. The odorant is ethyl acrylate and/or ethyl mercaptan. The carrier is propane, n-butane, iso-butane, or a mixture of two or more thereof. The odorized methane-comprising fluid may be prepared by adding the odorant and the carrier separately or pre-mixed to a methane comprising liquid or slush.

Abstract: A parking brake and anti-theft apparatus as described herein may include a brake assembly, a linear actuator and a plurality of locking pins. The brake assembly may include a rotor plate. The rotor plate may include a plurality of openings in and/or through the rotor plate. The plurality of locking pins may be extendable by the linear actuator. The pins may be aligned perpendicular to a face of the rotor plate such that, as at least one of the pins is disposed over one of the plurality of openings and the actuator extends the plurality of locking pins, the pin disposed over the one of the plurality of openings passes into the one of the plurality of openings. In various embodiments, the plurality of pins may comprise a length equal to or greater than a length between two adjacent openings of the plurality of openings.

Abstract: An acoustic apparatus includes a threaded stud having an end and a hole in the end, an acorn nut having a hole therein, and an acoustic sensor received in the hole of the stud and secured to the stud and acorn nut when the acorn nut is screwed onto the stud, thereby sandwiching the acoustic sensor between the stud and the acorn nut. This apparatus can be included in an acoustic sensor assembly, such as an acoustic monitor field unit or a remote acoustic sensor assembly.

Abstract: A method for forming a joint between a fiber reinforced composite component and a metallic component and a joint are provided. The metallic component and the composite component each define a joint surface for mating with the joint surface of the other to join the two components together and the composite component defines a free surface opposed to the joint surface thereof. The joint surface of the metallic component defines an array of pins extending therefrom with each pin defining a pin head at an end distal from the joint surface. The method includes the steps of pressing together the joint surfaces of the two components whereby to cause the array of pins to penetrate through the fiber reinforcing material, and modifying the effective cross sectional shape of the pin heads whereby to increase the constraint applied to the composite component against peeling of the composite component from the joint surface of the metallic component.

Abstract: A valve pin insert has a body for insertion into a valve plate and a stud integrally formed with the body and extending from one end of the body above the valve plate. The body has a lower shank at an end of the body that is opposite from the end at which the stud is positioned, and an upper shank at the end of the body adjacent to the end of the body at which the stud is positioned. The lower shank is of a lesser diameter than the upper shank and an undercut shoulder between the shanks forms a recess opening in the direction toward the lower shank and forms a tooth which shears material of the valve plate as the pin is inserted into a hole in the valve plate.

Abstract: A clamp with liner and mounting base are provided for the attachment of control lines to a subsea riser. The clamp comprises an upper clamp half and a lower clamp half. Each clamp half is hingedly connected along a hinge edge of each clamp half to the other clamp half and latchably connected along a latch edge of each clamp half to the other clamp half by latch structure carried by each clamp half. The latch structure carried by the upper clamp half comprises a pair of parallel ears protruding transversely away from the latch edge of the upper clamp half and defining a pair of aligned boreholes, a pivot pin having a transverse borehole carried by the aligned boreholes through the ears, a bolt carried in the transverse borehole through the pivot pin, and a toggle bar having a threaded transverse borehole therethrough threadably mounted on the bolt.

Abstract: A cylindrical joining member is fitted into a member to be joined that is made of a material different from the joining member. Plastic deformation is effected in a soft material of the member to be joined to hermetically join the two members together. Joining faces are provided to the two members that face and are joined to each other by the plastic deformation and with an elastic deformation pressure in an axial direction. The soft material of the member to be joined, which is located in a circumferential direction of the member, bites into a joining portion of the joining member by the plastic deformation and with the elastic deformation pressure.

Abstract: A flanged cover assembly includes a cover having a wall portion, a lateral attachment flange surrounding the wall portion extending outwardly therefrom and a plurality of spaced flange bores extending through the flange from a upper surface to a lower surface. The bores are adapted to receive a corresponding plurality of fasteners which are adapted to be inserted through the bores and secure the cover to a base. The invention also includes a spring retainer which is adapted to extend along at least a portion of the outer surface of the lateral attachment flange. The spring retainer has a plurality of spaced retainer bores corresponding to at least two of the spaced flange bores and at least one shaped spring portion that is adapted to contact the upper surface of the lateral attachment flange mediate the spaced flange bores. The assembly may also include a cover gasket having a plurality of bores corresponding to the plurality of spaced flange bores and spaced retainer bores.

Abstract: A clamp system is provided for clamping one tubular to another, such as control lines to a marine choke and kill riser line. The riser clamp comprises a saddle and U-bolt arrangement. The upper surface of the saddle defines a track configured to receive a shoe attached to either the control line clamp or an extension leg attached to the control line clamp. The control line clamp comprises an upper clamp half, a lower clamp half, a hinge pin connecting the halves, a fastener latching the halves, and a support leg having a shoe for receipt by either the saddle structure or the extension leg. The control line clamp preferably contains an elastomeric liner. The elastomeric liner is preferably provided in two halves. The inner surface of each liner half preferably is provided with a non-skid layer to more firmly position the control line.

Abstract: A carriage which can be towed by a person during jogging or walking, and for receiving a child to be taken along during the person'exercise, comprises a foldable frame supported on a pair of rotatably mounted wheels. A tow bar is connected to the frame and extends forwardly to a suspension bar which is connected to the frame by flexible cords. A belt is connected to opposite ends of the suspension bars to be worn by the person. The suspension bar avoids the transmission of erratic movements from the person to the carriage.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for remotely attaching one object to another object comprising: (a) a target consisting of layers of contrasting hardness attached to one object, wherein the outer layer is a relatively soft composition and the underlying base is a relatively hard composition, and (b) a projectile of intermediate hardness attached to the other object. By propelling the projectile against the target, the projectile penetrates the softer outer layer and expands upon impact with the inner layer, thus securely anchoring the two objects together. Such a method and apparatus are useful in outer space and underwater applications.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an assembly-type tire protector comprising a plurality of annular members disposed substantially parallel to the tire surface and a plurality of link members disposed substantially perpendicular to the tire surface, said annular members being connected together by said link members to form a net, each of said link members comprising a body which is provided at both of its ends with opposing hook-like arm means for interconnecting said annular members, said opposing hook-like arm means defining an opening, a pin disposed upright in said body, said pin having a head portion and a base portion, said head portion substantially occupying said opening, said body of the link member containing a blind hole for receiving said base portion of the pin, and means disposed in said hole for expanding said base portion of the pin within said hole for locking said pin in position in said hole.

Abstract: An expanding fixture for securing an element to a wall or ceiling by securing the element to a bore in the wall or ceiling. The element includes a hollow end portion and an expanding piece adapted to fit within the hollow end for expansion thereof after insertion into the bore. The expanding piece includes at one end thereof two oppositely extending end sections which do not enter the bore and rest on the surface of the wall or ceiling and at the other end of the expanding piece, there is provided an expansion member to press the walls of the hollow section against the wall of the bore. A hammering device which is adapted to fit over the element away from the portion thereof which enters the bore to press the extension member and hollow section when in the bore together to provide a tight fitting engagement between the wall of the bore and the outer wall of the hollow section.

Abstract: An enterostomy retainer comprising a rigid cylindrical base portion and a flexible tubular portion extending from a first end of the base portion. The second end of the base portion and the free end of the tubular portion have interconnecting means to facilitate connection of the tubular portion free end to the cylindrical portion second end to form a closed loop.