An apparatus is disclosed for inspecting, cleaning and/or performing other tasks in connection with a welded joint between intersecting tubular members of an offshore platform a substantial distance beneath the water surface. The apparatus includes a support body adapted to be moved onto and removed from one of the tubular members, and a carrier rotatable about the body, when clasped about the one tubular member, and having the task performing devices thereon for traversing the joint as the carr...

Method and apparatus for quickly establishing a seal between two flange members, not in perfect alignment. A floating annular seal ring may be provided in a recess of one of the flange members. A resilient sealing means may be mounted in a groove on the face of the sealing ring towards the other flange member. A sliding resilient sealing means may be provided between the seal ring and the flange member in which the seal ring is mounted. The surface of the seal ring adjacent at least one of the r...

An underwater camera housing having a casing for the receipt of a camera with a closure plate to seal the camera in the casing. The casing has suitable camera operating external levers and handles for operating the camera within the casing from outside thereof. The casing is affixed to the housing which has a diffuser plate in displaced relationship from where the camera casing is attached thereto. Interiorly of the housing are a pair of lighting capsules to light the area which is to be photogr...

An anti-extrusion apparatus for a seal sealing on the outside diameter of a conduit. The anti-extrusion device is positioned at each end of the seal and includes a metal ring engaging an end of the seal in which the ring has a wedge shaped inside. A plurality of arcuate ring segments form a close ring having inner diameter equal to the outside diameter of the conduit. The segments have a wedge shaped outside coacting with the metal ring and are wedged inwardly against the conduit prior to compre...

A small and light weight microconical interface fitting may be attached to the surface of a space vehicle or equipment to provide an attachment device for an astronaut or robot to capture the space vehicle or equipment. The microconical interface fitting of the present invention has an axisymmetrical conical body having a base portion with a torque reaction surface for preventing rotation of the interface grasping tool; a cavitated, sunken or hollowed out intermediate locking portion which has a...

The present invention is directed to the method and apparatus for the cytoplasmic loading of macromolecules into living cells by an impact-mediated procedure that impacts the cells with a predetermined number of solid particles in a blast of propellant gas. More specifically, the present invention is directed to an impact-mediated procedure that is altered by gravitational conditions and is preferably carried out under hypergravity conditions. Further, the present invention is directed to an IML...

There is disclosed an article for use in cooling body temperature which comprises a garment having a coat and pant, with each having a body section adapted to receive a portion of the torso of the wearer and extensions from the body section to receive the wearer's limbs. The garment includes a system for circulating temperature controlling fluid from a suitable source through patches removably received in pockets in each of body section and extensions.

The present invention is directed to the method and apparatus for the robotic harvesting of solids from liquids as exemplified by harvesting protein crystals. Further, the present invention is directed to a fluid/solid management system in a chamber that automates the task of solid harvesting. The fluid/solid management system includes two supporting structures for at least one pipette on one structure and a second pipette on the other structure, the two pipettes in tip-to-tip alignment. The pip...

The present invention is directed to a x-y-axis device and a x-y-z-axis device for micro-manipulating or positioning a crystal for x-ray diffraction. More specifically, the devices which may be placed on the head on a goniometer have small footprints (small in size). The sample may be moved and recorded in step resolutions of 1 micron over an extended range of motion.

The present inventions relate generally to a shackle assembly and a method for installing and/or releasing the shackle assembly subsea. The shackle assembly of the present invention comprises first and second plates mounted on either side of a shackle body eyelet and a shackle pin mounting assembly for use in mounting a shackle pin using a shackle pin pulling tool.