Abstract: A lock assembly for a mechanically set packer for deep deployments is described. The lock housing wall has at least one bore for a rod piston that is selectively actuated when wellbore hydrostatic is allowed to reach on side of the piston. Movement of the piston, after breaking a shear pin, allows a c-ring to spring outwardly and out of a locking groove in the mandrel so that the mandrel can be string manipulated with respect to the housing to set the packer. Once unlocked the lock assembly remains defeated. The piston can be optionally exposed to hydrostatic and will unlock at a given depth without manipulation of the wellbore annulus pressure. Other mechanisms to admit wellbore hydrostatic to move the piston or to move the piston in general by other techniques are described.

Abstract: A packer system including a packer and a setting mechanism. The setting mechanism has a setting piston that is actuatable in response to a fluid pressure in order to set the packer with the setting piston. The setting mechanism prevents actuation of the setting piston until the pressure is decreased below a threshold pressure from a value greater than the threshold pressure. A method of setting a packer is also included.

Abstract: A downhole tool includes, a body having a recess, a first seal bore, a second seal bore, and a tool disposed at the body that is responsive to differential pressure across a piston. The downhole tool is configured to allow a differential pressure to form across the piston in response to a first plug sealing to and located at the first seal bore by the recess and preventive of forming a pressure differential across the piston in response to a second plug sealing to and located at the second seal bore by the recess.

Abstract: The subject invention discloses a process for strengthening and obtaining the desired dimensions for a metal part comprising: (1) heating at least a portion of a preformed metal part to a temperature above about 1300° F. to transform the metal in at least said portion of the part to an austenitic state to produce an austenitized preformed metal part, (2) quenching the austenitized preformed metal part to a temperature of 300° F. to 650° F. to put the metal in the preformed part in a metastable austenitic state, (3) coining, drawing or extruding the preformed metal part while said metal of said preformed metal part is maintained in the metastable austenitic state at a temperature of 300° F. to 650° F., and (4) quenching the coined, drawn, or extruded metal part at a temperature which allows for the rapid transformation from austenite to martensite.

Abstract: A lock assembly for a mechanically set packer for deep deployments is described. The lock housing wall has at least one bore for a rod piston that is selectively actuated when wellbore hydrostatic is allowed to reach on side of the piston. Movement of the piston, after breaking a shear pin, allows a c-ring to spring outwardly and out of a locking groove in the mandrel so that the mandrel can be string manipulated with respect to the housing to set the packer. Once unlocked the lock assembly remains defeated. The piston can be optionally exposed to hydrostatic and will unlock at a given depth without manipulation of the wellbore annulus pressure. Other mechanisms to admit wellbore hydrostatic to move the piston or to move the piston in general by other techniques are described.

Abstract: A downhole tool includes, a body having a recess, a first seal bore, a second seal bore, and a tool disposed at the body that is responsive to differential pressure across a piston. The downhole tool is configured to allow a differential pressure to form across the piston in response to a first plug sealing to and located at the first seal bore by the recess and preventive of forming a pressure differential across the piston in response to a second plug sealing to and located at the second seal bore by the recess.

Abstract: An SNCR distribution grid for introducing a NOx reducing reactant into a flue gas flow. The grid is made of one or more elements which are formed by fluid-cooled tubes to which membrane pieces are attached, preferably by welding, to form conduits in between the tubes. The fluid-cooled tubes may be cooled by water and/or steam and the distribution grid is disposed in the flue gas flow. To admit the reactant into the flue gas, nozzles are provided in the membrane and the reactant is conveyed from a location external of the furnace or combustor enclosure, into the conduits so formed, and thence out into the Flue gas flow via the nozzles.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a low cost technique for manufacturing dual helical gears, such as herringbone gears, from powder metals. The dual helical gears made by this technique are of high density (greater than 92% of theoretical density) and offer superior strength. The present invention more specifically discloses a forged metal herringbone gear which is comprised of a body and a plurality of teeth wherein the metal has a density of greater than 92% of theoretical and wherein the grain in the teeth is one range higher on the ASTM E 112 grain size chart than the grain in the body of the gear.

Abstract: A slip system includes a set of drive slips having wickers thereon, substantially all of which being truncated in cross-section; a set of gripping slips operatively interengagable with the set of drive slips; a drive slip end ring in operable communication with the set of drive slips; and a gripping slip end ring in operable communication with the set of gripping slips, the end rings capable of transmitting a load applied in an axial direction of the system to the set of gripping slips and the set of drive slips to tangentially load the set of drive slips and the set of gripping slips against each other thereby increasing a radial dimension of the system and distributing stresses created in a target tubular and method.

Abstract: Methods and devices for retaining a packer element in a set condition within a wellbore and for preventing or minimizing extrusion of the packer element after setting. A packer device includes a plurality of deformable packer elements which radially surround a packer mandrel. One or more of the packer elements is contained against axial extrusion using a packer containment system. The packer containment system includes a flexible metal backup ring, which partially encases the packer element by substantially covering at least one axial side and a portion of the exterior radial surface of the packer element. The packer containment system also includes a plurality of annular support rings, or “petal rings” which have petal-shaped radial protuberances with slots between them.

Abstract: A slip system includes a set of drive slips having wickers thereon, substantially all of which being truncated in cross-section; a set of gripping slips operatively interengagable with the set of drive slips; a drive slip end ring in operable communication with the set of drive slips; and a gripping slip end ring in operable communication with the set of gripping slips, the end rings capable of transmitting a load applied in an axial direction of the system to the set of gripping slips and the set of drive slips to tangentially load the set of drive slips and the set of gripping slips against each other thereby increasing a radial dimension of the system and distributing stresses created in a target tubular and method.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a low cost technique for manufacturing dual helical gears, such as herringbone gears, from powder metals. The dual helical gears made by this technique are of high density (greater than 92% of theoretical density) and offer superior strength. The present invention more specifically discloses a forged metal herringbone gear which is comprised of a body and a plurality of teeth wherein the metal has a density of greater than 92% of theoretical and wherein the grain in the teeth is one range higher on the ASTM E 112 grain size chart than the grain in the body of the gear. The present invention also discloses a method for manufacturing a high density forged dual helical gear.

Abstract: A chinrest pad system designed to hold a standard chinrest used with a string instrument that minimizes dampening of vibration and prevents damage caused by the metal components touching the edges of the instrument. The system includes pads located under the support surface of the chinrest member and on top of the lower lip plate used on the lower clamping member. The pads are specifically designed to partially engage the instrument's upper and lower edges and match the curvature of instrument surface immediately adjacent to the edge. Each pad also includes a rear extending lip that bends slightly around the upper or lower edge and extends rearward to prevent the metal rods used with the turnbuckles from contacting the rear surface. During assembly, the pads are positioned over the upper and lower edges so that the compression forces exerted by the support surface and the lower lip plate are centrally located over the sidewall transverse axis, thereby minimizing dampening of vibration.

Abstract: A bubble cap assembly for use in fluidized bed boilers, furnaces, or reactors, has a bubble cap, a stem, and at least one pin. One end of the stem is inserted into the bubble cap. The bubble cap has outlet holes for delivering a fluidizing medium, typically into a bed of granulated material, but which prevent backsifting of the granulated material into the bubble cap. The bubble cap also has at least one insertion hole, through which a pin may be inserted. When the pin is inserted through the bubble cap insertion hole, it also occupies a groove or indentation on the stem thereby preventing separation or disassembly of the bubble cap and stem combination. An elastic gasket may be provided between the bubble cap and stem to form a fluid tight connection.

Abstract: Apparatus for separating solids from flue gas in a circulating fluidized bed (CFB) boiler comprises plural vertical, impact type particle separators made of a plurality of hung elements which are supported from at least one cooled support tube. The plurality of hung elements cooperate with one another at adjacent ends thereof to form a collecting channel which opens toward a flow of flue gas along the length of the support tube. Each hung element includes two mutually inverted U-shaped parts; the first U-shaped part opens towards the oncoming flow of flue gas, the second U-shaped part embraces the support tube, and the first U-shaped part is shifted relative to the second U-shaped part by some fraction of a height of the hung element. The hung elements may be made of metal or ceramic.

Abstract: Apparatus for separating solids from flue gas in a circulating fluidized bed (CFB) boiler comprises plural vertical, impact type particle separators made of a plurality of hung elements which are supported from at least one cooled support tube. The plurality of hung elements cooperate with one another at adjacent ends thereof to form a collecting channel which opens toward a flow of flue gas along the length of the support tube. Each hung element includes two mutually inverted U-shaped parts; the first U-shaped part opens towards the oncoming flow of flue gas, the second U-shaped part embraces the support tube, and the first U-shaped part is shifted relative to the second U-shaped part by some fraction of a height of the hung element. The hung elements may be made of metal or ceramic.

Abstract: A bubble cap assembly for use in fluidized bed boilers, furnaces, or reactors, has a bubble cap, a stem, and at least one pin. One end of the stem is inserted into the bubble cap. The bubble cap has outlet holes for delivering a fluidizing medium, typically into a bed of granulated material, but which prevent backsifting of the granulated material into the bubble cap. The bubble cap also has at least one insertion hole, through which a pin may be inserted. When the pin is inserted through the bubble cap insertion hole, it also occupies a groove or indentation on the stem thereby preventing separation or disassembly of the bubble cap and stem combination. An elastic gasket may be provided between the bubble cap and stem to form a fluid tight connection.

Abstract: A method of producing a gear from a metallurgical powder includes molding at least a portion of the powder to provide a gear preform. The gear preform is sintered and hot formed, and subsequently may be carburized. The gear preform is resintered and cooled at a cooling rate suitable to provide a bainitic microstructure in at least a surface region of the preform. The gear teeth of the preform may be shaved to, for example, adjust dimensions, and enhance dimensional uniformity.

Abstract: A chinrest pad system designed to hold a standard chinrest used with a string instrument that minimizes dampening of vibration and prevents damage caused by the metal components touching the edges of the instrument. The system includes pads located under the support surface of the chinrest member and on top of the lower lip plate used on the lower clamping member. The pads are specifically designed to partially engage the instrument's upper and lower edges and match the curvature of instrument surface immediately adjacent to the edge. Each pad also includes a rear extending lip that bends slightly around the upper or lower edge and extends rearward to prevent the metal rods used with the turnbuckles from contacting the rear surface. During assembly, the pads are positioned over the upper and lower edges so that the compression forces exerted by the support surface and the lower lip plate are centrally located over the sidewall transverse axis, thereby minimizing dampening of vibration.

Abstract: A slip system includes a set of drive slips having wickers thereon, substantially all of which being truncated in cross-section; a set of gripping slips operatively interengagable with the set of drive slips; a drive slip end ring in operable communication with the set of drive slips; and a gripping slip end ring in operable communication with the set of gripping slips, the end rings capable of transmitting a load applied in an axial direction of the system to the set of gripping slips and the set of drive slips to tangentially load the set of drive slips and the set of gripping slips against each other thereby increasing a radial dimension of the system and distributing stresses created in a target tubular and method.