Abstract: A vibrator yoke assembly (Y) for drill stems is moveably mounted on a drilling rig (R). A guide rail (10) is mounted to a support section (22) of the drill rig (R). Traveling along the guide rail (10) along the direction of travel for the drill string while boring the hole is a carriage (28) supporting the yoke assembly (Y). Activation of a motor moves the carriage (28) along the guide rail (10) as desired by the operator. Affixed to the carriage (28) above the upper end (12u) of the upper section (12) of the drill string (14) is the yoke assembly (Y). The yoke assembly (Y) has an upper hydraulic motor (40) coupled to an upper end (42) of a quill body (44). The quill body extends through the yoke assembly (Y) and a lower end (48) of the quill body engages the upper pipe end (12u). A pair of vibrators (52a and 52b) are attached to the yoke assembly (Y).

Abstract: A plurality of computers or buses share a common memory system having a common memory, a plurality of front end circuits corresponding to the plurality of computers or buses, an internal logic circuit and internal address and memory buses. The plurality of computers or buses use certain locations in common memory to lock other computers or buses and to determine priority. The internal logic circuit generates hardware interrupts and synchronizes signals coming in through the front end circuits with the internal clock.

Abstract: A drill bit (10) for drilling geophysical exploratory holes using a non-rotating dill approach is disclosed. The bit (10) comprises a tubular body (12) threaded at one end for engagement with a pipe stem. The elements (16a-b) of a divided conical tip (14) are hinged to a second end (20) of the bit body (12). The wall thickness of the bit body (12) gradually increases from the first end (18) to the second end (20) to create, when the divided elements (16a-b) of the tip are closed, a generally diamond-shaped cross section facilitating burrowing when forced in to the soil. An O-ring (36) installed in a groove (34) about the outer circumference of the tip (14) biases divided elements (16a-b) closed until a selected tool is loaded through the interior of the bit body (12), whereupon the divided elements (16a-b) are forced to rotate radially outward. The bit (10) can then be raised and removed from the borehole as desired.

Abstract: An improved bowling alley bumper system for selectively guarding against the throwing of gutter balls. Comprising the system is a gutter formed of transversely divided elongated sections of which at least one is pivotally displaceable by underside actuator apparatus from a first position cooperating with the remaining section to form a conventional unguarded gutter to a second position extending above the adjacent lane bed to afford a bumper bowling effect.

Abstract: A paddle, including a surface for hitting a ball or other object, a transducer coupled to the hitting surface for detecting when the hitting surface hits the object, a counter for counting the number of hits and a display is disclosed. In one arrangement, the counter is a processor from a microcontroller. A timer is coupled to the transducer and to the counter for determining the time elapsed from the last hit. The timer stops the counter when the time elapsed since the most recent hit exceeds a predetermined length of time, indicating a miss of the ball. An audio amplifier drives a speaker so that the speaker makes a first predetermined sound whenever the hitting surface hits the object. The speaker emits a second predetermined sound when there is a miss, as indicated by the timer. A manual reset is coupled to the processor. A push button resets the counter to zero. A source of electric power, such as batteries, is located inside the handle.