Abstract: An electronic tracking tag 10 may be attached to various types of physical assets to assist in asset identification. The plastic material tag body 12 includes a receiving cavity 60 therein so that a drawer 14 and an RFID transponder 16 may be slid into the receiving cavity and mechanically locked in the inserted position within the receiving cavity. A visual display cavity 54 is provided on the tag body, and a display label 56 may be selectively positioned on the tag body. The tag body with the electronic transponder therein may be secured to the physical asset by screws or other conventional securing members 46 positioned in respective securing holes 42, 44 provided in the tag body. Alternatively, one or more flexible straps 18, 19 may extend through a respective tie down hole 46, 48 in the tag body for strapping the tag body to the physical asset.

Abstract: A hydrocyclone separator (10) has an outer housing (12) including an upper housing portion (14) and a lower housing portion (16). Upper housing portion (14) has a cylindrical chamber (22) and an involuted entrance (20) to cylindrical chamber (22). A vortex finder tube (24) has a flaring lower end portion (29). A solid core (34) is mounted within finder tube (24) and extends downwardly from finder tube (24) a distance at least equal to 11/2% times the inner diameter of the entrance orifice or opening (30) of finder tube (24). The outer peripheral surface (40) of solid core (34) tapers downwardly and is generally parallel to the inner peripheral surface (44) of lower tapered chamber (46). A strong interface (48) is formed between the downwardly extending outer vortex and the upwardly extending inner vortex with minimal turbulence and intermingling of particles between the inner and outer vortices.

Abstract: A mechanical seal assembly having multiple compression spring assemblies that are used to bias a stationary seal into sealing engagement with a rotating seal, the springs in the spring assemblies being supported on their internal diameter and having their outside diameter visible for their entire length, each spring assembly further including a releasable, expendable clip that serves to preload the two seal faces against one another, limits relative axial movement between the stationary and rotating seal assemblies, and coaxially aligns the stationary and rotating seal assemblies.

Abstract: A swivel jet assembly 20 for a fluid distribution system delivers high pressure fluid from a pressurized fluid source to an object to be cleaned. A bearing housing 46 is removably affixed to a swivel body 32 having an inlet port 34 and a fluid transmission passageway 36 therethrough. A hollow shaft 40 has an upstream end positioned within the swivel body and a downstream end extending outward for engagement with a nozzle assembly 30. One or more nozzle jets 116, 118 are supported directly within a nozzle housing, and are angled for causing a torque in response to the high pressure discharged from the nozzle jets. A speed control device within the swivel housing includes a plurality of pins 58 each movable radially outward in response to centrifugal force for engagement with the swivel housing. The swivel is of the in line design, and a thrust bearing 66 is provided within the swivel housing upstream from the swivel speed control device.

Abstract: An electromagnetic wave propagation well logging system for measuring dielectric constant and/or formation resistivity (conductivity) includes three transmitters and a pair of receivers. The receiver pair is connected to circuitry that measures the amplitude ratio between the receivers, as well as the phase angle difference between the receivers. Signals representative of the detected amplitude ratio and of the detected phase angle difference are combined in such a manner as to make the depth of investigation controllable. Methods are also disclosed for maintaining a common depth of investigation as the well logging instrument traverses the earth borehole.

Abstract: An inflatable packer is provided for setting downhole in an oil or gas well to prevent fluid flow past the packer. The packer is of the type which includes an upper and lower packer head, an inflatable elastomer bladder, a radially outward tubular packer cover, and a plurality of overlapping metal reinforcing members positioned in the annulus between the bladder sleeve and the tubular packer cover. Each reinforcing member is slidably movable relative to another reinforcing member during setting of the packer, and includes a stop member between the packer heads for limiting to a preselected amount the relative sliding movement, such that gaps between reinforcing members are minimized or eliminated. These stop members on the reinforcing members may be formed by a stamping operation, wherein a recess stamped in one reinforcing member is adapted to receive a lip stamped in an adjacent reinforcing member.

Abstract: Disclosed is releasable plugging apparatus for selectively closing a tubular member to permit fluid pressure buildup therein. When the fluid pressure is then decreased, a sealing device of the apparatus may be released, and the tubular member subsequently opened. Holding apparatus secures the sealing device in place until a compressed spring is permitted to move a piston so as to permit the holding apparatus to release the sealing device. A locking device prevents such movement by the piston until the pressure buildup first moves the piston in the opposite direction to release the locking device and to further compress the spring. The tubular member is thus not unplugged until the fluid pressure is decreased, thereby avoiding a large pressure pulse which might result if the sealing device were released with the fluid pressure at a high value. The embodiments described are particularly applicable for use with hydraulically-operated well tools, such as well packers.