Abstract: A drain plug for a recreational boat includes a position sensor and an alarm to detect the operating condition of the drain plug and provide a signal indicating that the plug is in an open position. The drain plug includes a drain plug body and a cap. The cap is connected to the drain plug body in such a manner as to be inseparable from the drain plug body.

Abstract: A drain plug for a recreational boat includes a position sensor and an alarm to detect the operating condition of the drain plug and provide a signal indicating that the plug is in an open position. The drain plug includes a drain plug body and a cap. The cap is connected to the drain plug body in such a manner as to be inseparable from the drain plug body.

Abstract: A drain plug for a recreational boat includes a position sensor and an alarm to detect the operating condition of the drain plug and provide a signal indicating that the plug is in an open position. The drain plug includes a drain plug body and a cap. The cap is connected to the drain plug body in such a manner as to be inseparable from the drain plug body.

Abstract: A drain plug for a recreational boat includes a position sensor and an alarm to detect the operating condition of the drain plug and provide a signal indicating that the plug is in an open position. The drain plug includes a drain plug body and a cap. The cap is connected to the drain plug body in such a manner as to be inseparable from the drain plug body.

Abstract: A drill bit includes a bit body defining a plurality of blades extending from a selected distance from an axis of rotation of the bit body to a gage face. A plurality of only gouging cutters is mounted on the bit body. At least one of the plurality of blades has a blade top surface longitudinally behind the tips of the gouging cutters at a selected distance from the tips of the gouging cutters.

Abstract: A mill includes a mill body defining a plurality of blades extending in a direction from a center or rotation of the mill body to a gauge surface. The blades define a cutting profile having a minimum diameter at a longitudinal endmost position. The minimum diameter is smaller than a diameter of a drop ball. The cutting profile has an intermediate diameter at most equal to the diameter of the drop ball at a longitudinal distance from the endmost position greater than the diameter of the drop ball. Shear cutters are mounted on at least one of the plurality of blades, mounted such that at least one shear cutter is mounted closer to a center of rotation of the mill body with respect to other cutters mounted to the blades. At least one insert is mounted to the at least one of the plurality of blades rotationally ahead of the shear cutters.

Abstract: A fixed cutter drill bit includes a bit body and at least one primary blade formed in the bit body and defining a surface profile on the bit body. The at least one primary blade extends from a first selected radial distance from a center or rotation of the bit body to a gage portion. At least one shear cutter affixed to the at least one blade. At least one gouging cutter affixed to the bit body rotationally ahead of the at least one blade. At least one nozzle is disposed in the bit body in a rotational position between the at least one primary blade and the at least one gouging cutter.

Abstract: A mill includes a mill body defining a plurality of blades extending in a direction from a center or rotation of the mill body to a gauge surface. The blades define a cutting profile having a minimum diameter at a longitudinal endmost position. The minimum diameter is smaller than a diameter of a drop ball. The cutting profile has an intermediate diameter at most equal to the diameter of the drop ball at a longitudinal distance from the endmost position greater than the diameter of the drop ball. Shear cutters are mounted on at least one of the plurality of blades, mounted such that at least one shear cutter is mounted closer to a center of rotation of the mill body with respect to other cutters mounted to the blades. At least one insert is mounted to the at least one of the plurality of blades rotationally ahead of the shear cutters.

Abstract: A drill bit includes a bit body defining a plurality of blades extending from a selected distance from an axis of rotation of the bit body to a gage face. A plurality of only gouging cutters is mounted on the bit body. At least one of the plurality of blades has a blade top surface longitudinally behind the tips of the gouging cutters at a selected distance from the tips of the gouging cutters.

Abstract: A gouging cutter, includes a cutting element having a cutting end and a mounting feature displaced from the cutting end a cutter body affixable to a drill bit body. The cutter body has a corresponding mounting feature arranged to cooperate with the mounting feature on the cutting element to retain the cutting element to the cutter body so as to enable rotation of the cutting element therein. A drill bit may include a bit body having features to enable connection to a drill string and at least one of the foregoing gouging cutters mounted to the bit body.

Abstract: A cutter for a fixed cutter drill bit includes a substrate and a cutting material surface affixed to one end of the substrate. The substrate comprises tungsten carbide having at least six percent by weight and at most ten percent by weight of cobalt. An overall length of the cutter is at most 10 millimeters. In one embodiment an overall length of the cutter is at most 8 millimeters.

Abstract: A drill bit includes a bit body defining a plurality of blades extending from a selected distance from an axis of rotation of the bit body to a gage face. A plurality of only gouging cutters is mounted on the bit body. At least one of the plurality of blades has a blade top surface longitudinally behind the tips of the gouging cutters at a selected distance from the tips of the gouging cutters.

Abstract: In one aspect, a cutting structure for a drill bit includes cutters arranged to form a cutter profile. Substantially all of the cutters in a shoulder section of the cutter profile are positioned at a profile angle of at most 65°. In another aspect, substantially all of the shoulder cutters are arranged so that the longitudinal force exerted by each shoulder cutter onto an earthen formation is at least 25 percent of the normal force exerted by the shoulder cutter onto the earthen formation.

Abstract: A cutting structure for a drill bit includes a diamond table affixed to one end of a first substrate. A second substrate is affixed to the other end of the first substrate. The second substrate is made from a different material than the first substrate. The first and second substrates are substantially coaxial.

Abstract: A down hole motor assembly with a locking mechanism, and methods for operating said down hole motor assembly. The down hole motor has a housing operatively connectable at an upper end to a drill string. A shaft is disposed within the housing and operatively connected to a motor portion of the down hole motor. A locking mechanism is configured to selectively transmit torque from the housing to the shaft when engaged.

Abstract: A shear cutter drill bit for drilling a subterranean formation is provided having a bit body; a bit face on the bit body having at least a center zone, an efficiency zone, and an outer zone, the efficiency zone being located between the center zone and the outer zone; and a plurality of cutters having a backrake angle located on the bit face; wherein a majority of the cutters located in the efficiency zone of the bit face have a more aggressive backrake angle than a majority of the cutters located in the center zone of the bit face and a majority of the cutter located in the outer zone of the bit face.

Abstract: An expandable downhole tool comprises a tubular body, at least one moveable arm disposed within the tubular body and being radially translatable between a retracted position and a wellbore engaging position, and at least one piston operable to mechanically support the at least one moveable arm in the wellbore engaging position when an opposing force is exerted. A method of reaming a formation to form an enlarged borehole in a wellbore comprising disposing an expandable reamer in a retracted position in the wellbore, expanding at least one movable arm of the expandable reamer radially outwardly into engagement with the formation, reaming the formation with the at least one moveable arm to form the enlarged borehole; and mechanically supporting the at least one moveable arm in the radially outward direction during reaming.

Abstract: An expandable reaming tool including at least two reamer pads connected to a tool body. The reamer pads are adapted to be displaced between a retracted position and an expanded position. At least one spiral blade is formed on at least one reamer pad. A plurality of cutting elements are disposed on the at least one spiral blade. An expandable reaming tool including at least two reamer pads connected to a tool body. The reamer pads are adapted to be displaced between a retracted position and an expanded position. At least one blade is formed on the at least two reamer pads. A plurality of cutting elements are disposed on the at least one blade and at least one gage protection element is disposed on a gage surface of the at least one blade. The plurality of cutting elements are arranged so as to enable the expandable reaming tool to backream a formation in a wellbore.

Abstract: An expandable reaming tool including at least two reamer pads connected to a tool body. The reamer pads are adapted to be displaced between a retracted position and an expanded position. At least one spiral blade is formed on at least one reamer pad. A plurality of cutting elements are disposed on the at least one spiral blade. An expandable reaming tool including at least two reamer pads connected to a tool body. The reamer pads are adapted to be displaced between a retracted position and an expanded position. At least one spiral blade is formed on at least one reamer pad. A plurality of cutting elements are disposed on the at least one blade and at least one gage protection element is disposed on a gage surface of the at least one blade. The plurality of cutting elements are arranged so as to enable the expandable reaming tool to backream a formation in a wellbore.

Abstract: A turbodrill has rotor vanes and stator vanes that are asymmetric with respect to each other. The rotor blade on which the rotor vanes are disposed has a reaction of less than about 0.5. A method of designing a turbodrill comprises optimizing a first design of stator vanes and optimizing a second design of rotor vanes using computational fluid analysis.