Abstract: The asphalt roofing material is delivered into a treatment chamber of a processor. Hot oil is passed through a jacket surrounding the treatment chamber. Heated asphalt forms a hot solid and/or a liquefied slurry. The hot solid and/or the liquefied slurry is then removed from the treatment chamber. The asphalt roofing material in the treatment chamber can be agitated to promote mixing. The asphalt is heated to a temperature in the range from 200 degrees Fahrenheit to 650 degrees Fahrenheit within the treatment chamber. The solid and/or liquefied slurry is milled after it has been removed from the treatment chamber. The solid and/or the liquefied slurry is cooled after it exits the treatment chamber, preferably to a temperature in the range of approximately 90 degrees Fahrenheit to 110 degrees Fahrenheit. The hot solid and/or the liquefied slurry is passed through a hammer mill after the hot solid and/or the liquefied slurry exits the treatment chamber to reduce the particle size of the solid particles.

Abstract: An electrical connector having no glass seals, while having a single electrical conductor embedded in a thermoplastic body, with a section of the electrical conductor also being enclosed within a insulating ceramic bushing, wherein the electrical conductor has an enlarged diameter portion sized to allow the enlarged portion to sealingly engage one end of the ceramic insulating bushing, wherein such engagement prevents the extrusion of the thermoplastic body along the electrical conductor through the interior of the insulating ceramic bushing. Alternative embodiments include electrical connectors having multiple pin electrical conductors and downhole sensors.

Abstract: An electrical connector adapted for mounting to an electrical apparatus used in either high pressure or high temperature, or both high temperature and high pressure, applications. A metal body is provided for mounting to the electrical apparatus with at least one conductor for carrying electricity to or from the electrical apparatus extending therethrough and a thermoplastic jacket is applied over the conductors to the end of the metal body that is subjected to either high pressure or high temperature, or both high temperature and high pressure, for sealing around the conductor. An insulative material is interposed between the metal body and the conductor for sealing around the conductor. In addition to providing two independent internal and two independent external seals, the glass-to-metal seal limits cold-flow (creep) of thermoplastic along the pin and through the metal body.

Abstract: The present invention is an improved power generation facility and method of construction. The improved power generation facility of the present invention provides a low impact implementation suitable for placement in or near a developed, populated area comprising ultimate consumers. The improved power generation facility comprises a foundation; a plurality of legs which form a support structure capable of supporting a plurality of condenser modules with cooling fans of predetermined size; and a housing for containing predetermined power generation equipment, the housing fitting inside the support structure and having a facade which can be made to blend into a surrounding environment's architecture. In a preferred mode, the legs are tricolumn legs that may be removably fastened to each other and to the foundation. Further, the housing may be suspended from the support structure and the plurality of cooling fans situated to minimize noise from the cooling fans.

Abstract: A universal ladder lock and method for locking a ladder to a vehicular rack utilizes a mounting frame that may be secured to existing vehicular racks. Affixed to the mounting frame is a lock housing which slidably and rotatably supports an elongate lock arm. A hook is provided on one end of the elongate lock arm for hooking around a portion of one or more ladders. One or more stop elements are secured to the elongate lock arm for limiting longitudinal movement of the elongate lock arm. The stop housing provides one or more lock member supports which may be utilized to receive a locking pin, or a padlock. The locking pin or padlock prevents movement of the stop element affixing the elongate lock arm in a position with the hook around the ladder to thereby lock the ladder with respect to the vehicular rack.

Abstract: A U-shaped elevator having no doors is provided with first and second latching mechanisms which when contacted by the tubular to be entrapped within the elevator move from a closed position to an open position and which then return to a closed position as soon as the tubular is entrapped within the elevator. The latching mechanisms have a safety catch which prevents the tubular from being inadvertently removed from the elevator. The safety latch mechanism can only be activated by a handle which is manipulated by hand by personnel working on the derrick utilizing the elevator. The elevator has an open throat to receive tubulars that have couplers or other features with a lower flange surface for lifting a pipe string. The throat access has blocking members that are movable to allow tubulars to move out of the gap unless the blocking members are locked to prevent such movement. The blocking members have latches biased toward a position to immobilize the members.

Abstract: A flexible bladder is enclosed within a plurality of overlapping plastic sheets, with the ends of the sheets being secured in place by the weight of the flexible bladder, when filled. The preferred plastic is an extruded, twin-walled, fluted plastic based upon a polypropylene copolymer. In a alternative embodiment, a pair of hexagonal, coaxial sleeves of the preferred plastic have an internal bladder for shipping materials. With both embodiments, hot chocolate is pumped into the bladder and cooled, in situ, to stop the chocolate from cooking further. The container is shipped, and then the chocolate is heated to facilitate pumping the chocolate out of the container. The cooling and heating processes involve the use of a heat exchange pad located between the bladder and the inner sleeve.

Abstract: A drillable, anti-rotation device for limiting the rotation of a downhole tool, such as a cement plug, when drilling out the down hole tool. The drillable, anti-rotation device comprises a drillable sleeve connected within a non-drillable outer tubular member connected within a pipe string. The sleeve has one or more grooves or other indentations, and/or one or more ribs or other protrusions extending inwardly within the interior of the device for gripping or otherwise retarding the rotation of such downhole tool.

Abstract: A method of making a rotary drill bit comprises forming a hollow mould for moulding at least a portion of the bit body, packing at least a part of the mould with powdered matrix material, and infiltrating the material with a metal alloy in a furnace to form a matrix, the alloy being a copper based alloy containing phosphorus and being selected to provide an infiltration temperature which is not greater than 850.degree. C. and preferably not greater than 750.degree. C.

Abstract: A magnetostrictive generator includes a magnetostrictive transducer having a vanadium permandur core and series connected primary and secondary windings, the secondary winding having more turns that the primary winding. A commutating capacitor is connected in parallel with the primary and secondary windings of the transducer and a switch is connected in series with the primary winding. A storage capacitor, which is connected in parallel with the switch and the primary winding of the inductive transducer, is charged by a remotely located low voltage power supply when the switch is open. When the switch is closed, the storage capacitor discharges through the primary winding of the transducer to charge the commutating capacitor until the transducer reaches saturation, the commutating capacitor discharging thereupon to drive the transducer into hard saturation to produce magnetostrictive action in the core and physically deform the transducer and produce an acoustic signal.

Abstract: A down-hole signal generator for a mud-pulse telemetry system comprises a flow constrictor defining a throttle orifice for the mud passing along a drill string, a throttling member displaceable with respect to a casing to modulate the mud pressure for the purpose of transmitting measurement data up the drill string, and a turbogenerator incorporating an electrical generator within the casing. The flow constrictor and casing form an integrated unit which is installed within a drill collar and is retrievable by drawing it up the inside of the drill string. The throttling member is displaced by a pump according to the torque required to drive the rotor of the generator which is dependent on the electrical load of the generator. The pump incorporates a rotary valve member which supplies the output of the pump to one or other side of a double-acting ram according as to whether the valve member is rotating with a first phase of rotation or a second phase of rotation.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing by a powder metallurgy process a rotary drill bit including a bit body having a plurality of cutting elements mounted on the outer surface thereof comprises the steps of forming a hollow mould for moulding at least a portion of the bit body, packing the mould with powdered matrix material, and infiltrating the material with a metal alloy in a furnace to form a matrix. Before packing the mould with powdered matrix material, there are positioned in spaced locations on the interior surface of the mould a plurality of cutting elements, each of which is formed of a material, such as a polycrystalline diamond material, which is thermally stable at the temperature necessary to form the matrix. Also positioned in the mould, adjacent the rearward side of each cutting element, is a support material such that, at least after formation of the matrix, the support material has a higher modulus of elasticity than the matrix.

Abstract: A nonconducting pipe thread lubricating composition for use in a drill string capable of transmitting electrical signals from a downhole location to the surface of the earth. The composition includes hard and soft moderately deforming materials such as polyphenylene sulfide and talc, and a lubricating solid such as polytetrafluoroethylene dispersed in a viscous lubricating base preferably a lithium based grease.

Abstract: A gamma ray density sub and method useful for measurement-while-drilling applications utilizing three pairs of gamma ray sources and detectors located symmetrically about the axis of the sub and computation of the product of the counting rates obtained from the three detectors to indicate the average density of a formation sample surrounding a borehole traversing an earth formation. The sub is able to measure the density of the sample, independent of the location of the sub within the borehole and the chemical composition of the interfering materials lying between the formation sample and the detectors.

Abstract: An external gauge carrier for use in tubing-conveyed drill stem testing comprises a protective housing for locating and securing the pressure measuring and recording system. The gauge carrier may be manufactured from drill collar bar stock but provides a 1--1 interface with ordinary drill pipe, other measurement subs, perforating guns and the like; i.e., to the complete system it "looks" like a drill collar. The gauge measures and records drill stem bore pressure while providing "full bore" testing capabilities, i.e., the gauge carrier allows unimpeded wireline operation therethrough and causes essentially no pressure drop throughout its length. Special machining and gauge placement is required in order to provide the above capabilities and features while still maintaining sufficient wall thickness to ensure structural integrity. A unique system for protecting the relatively delicate gauges from damage due to shocks from pressure surges is also disclosed.

Abstract: Determination of drilling mud thermal conductivity for estimation of earth formation temperature through a well bore thermal model. Borehole annulus and drill pipe bore temperature measurements are taken over a relatively short period of time when circulation of drilling mud is interrupted and temperature differentials maximized. The dynamic temperature response characteristics related to the heat transfer and storage parameters of the drill pipe, mud and bit are integrated into a mathematical borehole model incorporating the thermal resistance, heat capacity, and heat generation of the mud and drill pipe and the drill bit. The maximum temperature differential is then determined and the response characteristics used to establish the requisite parameters for the thermal conductivity and temperature calculations. In this manner, formation temperatures can be estimated to monitor downhole mud behaviour and geothermal gradients.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are provided for determining the formation pressure. The magnitude of formation pressure may be derived as a function of changes in bottomhole pressure following swabbing the borehole to draw formation fluids into the borehole, monitoring the borehole for influx of formation fluids, determining the reduced pressure due to swabbing, repeating the swabbing and monitoring steps until an influx of formation fluids is detected thereby determining the pressure of the formation.

Abstract: In a borehole telemetry system for acoustically transmitting data over a pipe suspended in a borehole, the level of noise in the data stream is inherently high due to the environment existing in a drilling operation and to the physical characteristics of a drill string. It has been discovered that certain discrete frequency passbands exist in a drill string which permit transmission of an acoustic signal with a minimum level of attenuation. In addition, it is now known that a fine structure exists within these frequency passbands which presents gaps or voids that attenuate the signal at a much higher rate. These gaps are on the order of 20 Hz.By generating an acoustic signal at a precise frequency spectrum within these passbands and then phase shifting the signal before its transmission, the energy spectrum of the transmitted signal is spread out over a sufficient frequency range to bridge these gaps.

Abstract: In accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention, a seal or bearing lubricating system adapted for use in a downhole tool such as a drilling motor includes chamber means packed with grease for lubricating said seal and/or bearing, and centrifugal separator means responsive to rotation of a shaft included in said tool for separating and trapping solid particles suspended in the well fluids to prevent contamination of the grease by such solid particles. Pressure equalization across a principal rotating shaft seal also is disclosed.