Baker Cac, Inc.

Other

Oil Stop, Inc.

Kip B Goans

Neil H Akkerman

Stephen R Foster

Richard J Lazes

Ruel R Gober, Jr

A float boom for retaining a floatable material, such as hydrocarbons, floating upon a liquid surface. This float boom consists of separate and sequentially arranged buoyancy chambers having depending channels that are interconnected via a passageway such that an inflating medium is sequentially supplied to the buoyancy chambers. An automatic sealing system blocks access to each buoyancy chamber by closing the depending channel whenever the internal pressure within the channel is less than the external pressure upon the channel.

Floating barrier method and apparatus

The present invention provides a pressure switch assembly for monitoring a source of fluid pressure. In one embodiment, the pressure switch assembly senses a variation of fluid pressure for actuation of a micro-switch to open or close an electric circuit. In another embodiment, the pressure switch assembly provides a self contained cluster of piston members which are selectively interengagable to permit a variety of pre-determined pressure ratings to act on the pressure switch assembly in response to a fluid pressure source, the cluster being manually reorganizable without adding or removing any parts to provide one valve assembly which may be responsive to a number of pre-selectable pressure ratings.

Pressure switch assembly

A boom for collecting material floating on the surface of a body of water comprising: a first collapsible tube which can be stored either as flat layers of folded material or by rolling it on a roller; transverse seals along the length of the first tube to create a longitudinal sequence of first compartments; and, a second tube within the first tube, the second tube having transverse seals to form a longitudinal sequence of second compartments, these second compartments being generally concentric with the first tube and the first compartments. Pressurized gas communicates with each of these separate compartments so as to provide pressurization thereof.

Floating barrier apparatus

A boom for collecting material floating on the surface of a body of water which, by its configuration, requires considerably less inflation air to achieve the required degree of buoyancy to float the boom than is normally required. One embodiment incorporates an elongated collapsible first tube compartmentalized into a series of sequential compartments. Within such compartments are located inflatable flotation tubing which expands the walls of these compartments thus displacing water, thereby increasing the buoyancy of the boom. Such inflatable floatation tubing may be configured as a longitudinal sequence of inflatable annular rings within these compartments; or, the inflatable floatation tubing may be configured as a spiral coil disposed along the length of the compartments biasing the walls of the compartments outwardly. The inflation tubing can be connected by a conduit to a tube secured to and extending the length of the first tube for providing inflation gas thereto.

A boom for collecting material floating on the surface of a body of water comprises a first collapsible tube which can be stored either as flat layers of folded material or by rolling it on a roller. Transverse seals are provided along the length of the tube to provide a longitudinal sequence of compartments. A reactant body is disposed in at least one compartment, and being capable of producing an inflating gas. The reactant body is disposed within a pouch which is frangible under pressures applied by rollers or the like during the deployment of the boom from its stored condition. In a modification, a small collapsable tube is provided in longitudinally secured relationship to the first tube and the interior of the small tube is provided with fluid connection to each of the successive compartments. Pressured air is then applied to the first off end of the small tube to supply pressured gas to all of the compartments, thus inflating any compartment that is underinflated by the gas produced by the reactant body.

A boom for collecting material floating on the surface of a body of water comprises a first collapsible tube which can be stored either as flat layers of folded material or by rolling it on a roller. Transverse seals are provided along the length of the tube to provide a longitudinal sequence of compartments. A reactant body is disposed in at least one compartment, and being capable of producing an inflating gas. The reactant body is disposed within a pouch which is frangible under pressures applied by rollers or the like during the deployment of the boom from its stored condition. In a modification, a small collapsible tube is provided in longitudinally secured relationship to the first tube and the interior of the small tube is provided with fluid connections to each of the successive compartments. Pressured air is then applied to the first off end of the small tube to supply pressured gas to all of the compartments, thus inflating any compartment that is underinflated by the gas produced by the reactant body.

An anti-extruding packer for pressurizing under fluid pressure a segment of pipe or the connection between a segment of pipe and a coupling comprising: a cylindrical body member having a central bore and a reduced diameter portion at one of its ends, thereby defining an annular shoulder, a plurality of spaced apart protrusions depending from the annular shoulder, an annular groove provided in the annular shoulder and ring segments mounted on the annular shoulder and matingly engaging the protrusions for preventing the extrusion of the packer in the direction of the flow of the fluid under pressure.

Anti-extrusion sealing means

A liquid level sensor connects a buoyancy device in a vessel to an end of one member of a two piece mechanical linkage projecting through a flexible pressure sealed opening in the closed end of the sensor body with the outer ends of the two members overlapping and connected by a pivot point. The second member is rigidly secured to a sensor body and defines a fluid pressure receiving passage which connects with a diametrically disposed bore within which a poppet valve is mounted. The poppet valve normally prevents the flow of pressure through the diametrical bore and outward through a radial outlet in the sensor body to actuate an alarm. Upon a deviation of the liquid level in the vessel from the desired level, the buoyancy device produces vertical pivotal movement of the one member of the two piece mechanical linkage which forces the poppet valve to a position permitting pressured fluid to flow therethrough and to energize an alarm.

Buoyancy operable liquid level sensor for controlling an alarm pressure

Three concentric hollow cylinders, with radii for slidably loose interfitting, are coaxially assembled against separation and partially sealed by a combination slotted seal and detent, for telescoping outwardly when actuated by exhaust pressure from a sensing device to expose a formerly hidden strip on one of the cylinder sides, and then to open a passage to prevent back pressure from affecting the sensing device. The partial sealing prevents slight leakage of exhaust pressure from outwardly telescoping the cylinders. The expansion of the slotted seal and detent when not compressed by telescoping cylinders engages resetting cylinder edges that are rounded. The detent is operable to prevent resetting but is overridable manually, the slotted seal and detent being recompressable by the rounded surfaces engagement without damage.

First trip indicator for sensing devices of production control and

A three-way normally closed relay valve is provided for selectively effecting a control action in response to pressure of a pilot fluid. A tubular valve body defines a central valve chamber for housing a valve member manually manipulatable into a relay open position for initiating service. A lower piston affixed to the end of the valve member is subjected to pilot fluid pressure, and moves the valve member axially for controlling the flow of fluid between inlet, outlet, and vent ports in the valve body. An orifice in the piston intermittently establishes communication between a pilot pressure inlet port and a chamber within the valve body. The restricted orifice cooperates with a fixed seal to trap pilot pressure above and below the piston as the movable piston passes the fixed seal toward the relay closed position, and thereby prevents the valve member from moving in response to pilot pressure. A subassembly having a threaded connection for sealing engagement with the pilot inlet port is provided for economically adding to or removing from the valve body a relay opening capability in response to a remote fluid pressure and irrespective of pilot fluid pressure. The desired features of a manually responsive, three-way normally closed relay are thus obtained, although the closed relay can be opened without manual intervention by the application of remote fluid pressure.

Manual relay valve

A heat activated device having a plurality of fusible elements for mounting in an aperture of a pressure fluid line which holds inactive safety fire control system which is actuated by loss of pressure in the pressure fluid line. The melting of any or all of the fusible elements at a preselected rise in temperature vents fluid pressure from the mounting aperture.

Fusible-elements holder bracket device

The invention provides a conduit blow out preventer utilizing movement of an annular piston to selectively effect the reduction of flow through the blowout preventer to a pre-determinable value or alternately, terminate flow therethrough altogether in response to the occurence of a pressure fluctuation in the fluid conduit to which the conduit is attached. An annular fluid conduit is defined between the interior bore of the annular piston and a support post. A discontinuous annular sealing element is provided in such fluid passage to provide an orifice, creating a pressure differential across the piston in the event of a biased flow surge. Axial movement of the annular piston results in closing of the outward fluid flow in the annular fluid passage and flow is then restricted to that permitted by a radially disposed orifice communicating with the annular fluid passage. A check valve in a fluid inlet is normally held off its seat by a connecting rod extending to the support post. The support post is movable by the annular piston at the end of the annular piston movement to shift the support post sufficiently to permit the check valve to come into close proximity to its mating seat. The connecting rod may incorporate a mass of eutectic material which will melt in response to the temperature generated by a fire to permit the check valve to contact this mating seat to effect shut off of a biased fluid flow.

Conduit blowout preventer

An automatic mechanism is provided for locking the piston rod of a multi-position fluid operated linear actuator in its existing extreme axial position and to maintain such piston rod's position against unbiased forces acting on the piston rod, in the event of a failure of, or significant decrease in, the fluid pressure applied on the piston. A lost motion connection is provided between a piston head and the piston rod opposite the locking mechanism, permitting a limited amount of axial movement of the piston head relative to the piston rod. A locking mechanism is provided to automatically engage the piston rod whenever it reaches one of its two extreme axial positions and to lock the piston rod at that position. The locking mechanism is releasable by a cam structure provided on the piston head. The initial movement of the piston head relative to the piston rod in a direction toward the other axial position of the piston rod effects the camming of the locking mechanism to an unlocked position. Means are provided to hold the locking mechanism in its unlocked position whenever the piston rod is located at its other axial position.

Locking mechanism for fluid operated actuator

A Bourdon tube apparatus is provided for monitoring the pressure of a fluid pressure source. The output of the Bourdon tube is translated into a curvilinear motion which is transmitted to a linearly movable actuator valve or indicator. To enhance the force output linear response or linear output of the Bourdon tube actuator, an abutment block is provided which contacts one or more turns of the Bourdon tube adjacent its closed end to prevent expansion movement of the Bourdon tube in a direction opposite to the desired linear output movement. The Bourdon tube is mounted for calibrational purposes by having its open end connected by a flexible pipe to a support post which is rotationally mounted for movement about its longitudinal axis and defines a fluid conduit connection between the pressure source being monitored and the open end of the Bourdon tube. Angular rotation of the support post will effect the stressing or unstressing of the turns of the Bourdon tube to permit calibration of the linear output movement to the fluid pressure being monitored.

Growing community of inventors

Harvey, LA, United States of America

Kip B Goans