Abstract: A rotary drill bit for use in drilling or coring holes in subsurface formations comprises a bit body having a shank for connection to a drill string, a plurality of cutter assemblies mounted at the surface of the bit body, and a passage in the bit body for supplying drilling fluid to the surface of the bit body for cooling and cleaning the cutter assemblies. At least some of the cutter assemblies each comprise a cutting element on a stud which is recveived in a socket in the bit body, the centerline of the stud being disposed at an angle to the normal direction of forward movement of the cutter assembly in use of the bit. At least three of such cutter assemblies are disposed closely adjacent one another in a row, adjacent cutter assemblies in the row having their centerlines inclined at different angles to allow closer packing of the cutter assemblies.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a device which simply and efficiently compensates for changes in the volume of a fluid trapped in a fluid-filled cavity between two relatively immovable housings and an elastomeric seal ring. The present invention is particularly useful in an acoustic transducer pad assembly designed for installation on logging tools used in deep boreholes in the oil and gas industry where high temperatures and pressures are experienced at downhole locations. In a presently preferred embodiment, the device comprises a transducer unit housing fixedly secured to a metal wear pad housing with an elastomeric seal disposed therebetween to define a fluid-filled cavity between adjacent portions of the housings and the seal. The seal is disposed in a groove of sufficient size to permit the required lateral expansion and contraction by deformation or extrusion of the seal in order to compensate for the expected changes in the volume of the fluid-filled cavity.

Abstract: Improved methods and apparatus are provided for structurally interconnecting an instrument manifold with a differential pressure assembly having a pair of tapered NPT threaded outlet ports each adjoining an exterior body surface. First and second connector flanges are provided each having a through passageway for transmitting a pressure signal from the corresponding NPT outlet port in the differential pressure assembly to an inlet port in an instrument manifold. Each connector flange includes a tapered threaded end, a flange end, and a threaded portion fixed between the threaded end and the flange end. The apparatus also includes first and second stabilizer members, and first and second tensioning nuts for exerting a compressive force on the stabilizer members such that the stabilizer members will transmit substantially all radially-directed forces to the differential pressure assembly.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an apparatus and method for assembling, aligning and securing a sealed connection. The apparatus and method of the present invention advantageously employ the mechanical leverage of a threaded connection, preferably square threads, to overcome the high O-ring seal friction associated with large diameter, high pressure O-ring seals. The disadvantages of threads are eliminated by the use of thread relief grooves adjacent and interior to the threads. The thread relief grooves must be of sufficient length and annular dimensions to accommodate the disengaged upset threads therein to permit free rotation. The combined length of threaded engagement must be sufficient to move the O-ring seal into sealing engagement to fully achieve the advantageous ease of assembly of the present invention. Further, this connection is unlikely to separate during use in that disengagement of the threads into the thread relief grooves prevents back off where high make up torque is not employed.

Abstract: An apparatus for high shear mixing of material comprising a hub having a rotation axis, a flange attached to the hub and extending radially outwardly therefrom, an impeller operatively attached to the hub for rotation therewith and axially spaced from the flange and an annular skirt attached to the flange, the skirt having a plurality of openings spaced around the circumference, an annular chamber being formed by the hub, the flange, the impeller and the skirt, the impeller having blade formations adapted to pump the materials being mixed into the annular chamber and out through the openings as the apparatus is rotated about the rotation axis.

Abstract: An overlay for a valve disk of a butterfly or similar valve is formed from a strip of corrosion-resistant material. The strip is preferably profiled to conform to the edge of the disk and has an overall length less than the circumference of the disk. Both ends of the overlay are welded to the disk in closely spaced relation with the gap therebetween being filled by the weld metal. The disk also has a flow passage between the strip and its peripheral edge with first and second inlet ports leading from one disk face to intersect the flow passage. The inlet ports are closely spaced and lie on opposite sides of the weld. Sealant material introduced into one of the two ports flows in around the disk to form a complete seal between the disk and the overlay.

Abstract: A fishing hook includes a guard for preventing weeds from inadvertently snagging or contaminating the hook, while enabling the guard to flex toward the shank of the hook to catch a fish. The flexible sheet-like metallic guard is secured at one end to the hook adjacent the eye, and has an opposing free end normally positioned between the barbed tip of the hook and the eye. The guard lies within a plane substantially perpendicular to the hook plane, and has a width substantially greater than its thickness such that the end of the guard is prevented from moving in a direction perpendicular to the hook plane and out of alignment with the barbed tip, while the guard may freely flex toward the shank of the hook to catch fish.

Abstract: A cutting structure for a rotary drill bit includes a cutting element 30 having a front layer 32 formed of polycrystalline diamond, bonded to a backing layer 33 formed of tungsten carbide. The cutting element is bonded to a carrier 33 which is formed of a number of detachable individual elements having means holding them in position such that, upon wear of the cutting structure in use, the holding means of an element engaging the formation will eventually fail, causing detachment of that element from the carrier, and thereby reducing the area of the cutting structure in contact with the formation.

Abstract: A downhole tool is provided suitable for multiple setting and unsetting operations in a well bore during a single trip. The downhole tool is suspended in the wellbore from a tubing string, and is activated by dropping a metal ball which plugs the passageway through the tubing string, such that tubing pressure may thereafter be increased to activate the downhole tool. A sleeve is axially movable within a control sub from a ball stop position to a ball release position, and has a cylindrical-shaped interior surface with a diameter only slightly greater than the ball. Collet fingers carried on the sleeve are radially movable from an inward position to an outward position to stop or release the ball as a function of the axial position of the sleeve.

Abstract: Downhole measuring apparatus includes a gamma radiation source and at least two pairs of radiation detectors carried by a housing so that radiation may be emitted from the source and scattered by the environment of the housing and detected by the detectors. Each pair of detectors is arranged so that its detectors are positioned symmetrically on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis of the housing, and each pair of detectors, in combination with the radiation source, forms a different geometrical configuration so that, in general, the radiation counts obtained by the different pairs of detectors will not be redundant. The output signals from the detectors may be processed to provide data signals indicative of the radiation counts experienced by the detectors, and which may then be used to simultaneously obtain values for two or more downhole parameters. The addition of each new, independent pair of detectors permits the simultaneous solution of an additional downhole parameter.

Abstract: A toy vehicle that has a vehicle body, a spring or inertia wheel motor, driven and non-driven wheels, and a spring loaded flip-over device operable by a non-driven wheel of the vehicle. The flip-over device is movable from a first to a second position to cause the toy vehicle to flip-over. A latching device is provided for releasably holding the flip-over device in its first position and a release mechanism is operable by a non-driven wheel to release the latching device.

Abstract: A highly efficient distillation unit is provided for heating water and condensing the generated steam to remove the contaminants from the water. Efficiency is enhanced by providing a compact air cooled fin-and-tube heat exchanger which removes heat from the steam, with a powered blower passing air by the fins. A removable bowl which houses the evaporating water is suspended from a rod biased toward its upper position. Mechanical linkage interconnects the rod and a valve which controls incoming water flow to the bowl. The valve closure member is incrementally moved from an opened position to a closed position as a function of the weight of the water in the heating bowl. A low density electrical heating element is powered with from 40 to 55 watts per square inch of submerged heating element exterior surface. The bowl is configured to have a large surface area of heated water to heater input power, thereby further maximizing efficiency.

Abstract: A portable ladder assembly comprises a base, a supporting bracket, and a single rail ladder. The ladder assembly is particularly well suited for safely allowing human entry into a chamber with a confined area entry, such as a conventional manhole. The base member includes arms positionable on each side of the manhole entry for engaging a support surface, such as the ground, to prevent tipping of the ladder assembly. The bracket includes a rail receiving slot and a plurality of vertically spaced and downwardly directed rung receiving slots on opposing sides of the rail receiving slot. The ladder may be safely supported at various selected depths within the manhole by fitting the rail in selected rungs within their corresponding slots. The ladder assembly of the present invention does not significantly reduce the entry opening into the chamber, and may be safely used without being structurally dependent upon the manhole.

Abstract: A see-through calculator or memory device comprises a transparent base, a see-through printed circuit board and a transparent switch panel. Liquid is housed in a cavity in the base, formed by welding to the base a panel above a recess in the base.

Abstract: A rotary shear seal hydraulic valve which can be used in three- and four-way embodiments is formed by a housing and a body together defining therebetween a generally cylindrical stepped cavity in which a rotor is rotatably positioned. The housing contains at least two shear seal valve assemblies positioned to be aligned with ports in the rotor to establish communication between the shear seal means. The body contains at least one piston member including a rack portion engaging a profiled pinion portion of the rotor to effect the rotational drive of the rotor. The pistons can be driven in both directions by fluid means or in one direction by spring return means. The pistons can also be actuated by solenoid means and the positioning of the rotor can be strained by a lever providing a manual override. By selectively plugging the various ports, the four-way valve can be utilized in a three-way configuration, thereby providing a great degree of flexibility.

Abstract: A transportation and construction method utilizing construction components of the type comprising vertically spaced pairs of male and female lock assemblies, with vertically reciprocating female locks for locking horizontally extending pin members of the male lock assemblies into receiving sockets of the female assemblies, comprising the steps of transporting a plurality of construction components having such lock assemblies to a construction site in the manner of standard freight containers, emplacing a first such component at the site supported by an underlying earth formation, positioning a second such component adjacent the first component, placing at least some of the female locks in raised or release positions, mating pin members with the respective sockets of the raised female locks, and then lowering the female locks to lock the second component to the first component and support it thereon in cantilever fashion, then extending supports downwardly adjacent the second component into load bearing engage

Abstract: A rotary drill bit for use in drilling holes in subsurface earth formations comprises a bit body having a shank at one end for connection to a drill string and an operating end face at the other end. A plurality of first cutting structures, each comprising a preform cutting element, is mounted in the bit body at the end face thereof, and each has a superhard front cutting face. The bit body includes a plurality of protuberances projecting outwardly from the adjacent portions of the end face, the protuberances forming a plurality of second cutting structures disposed in generally trailing relation, respectively, to at least some of the first cutting structures. Each of the protuberances is impregnated with superhard particles through a significant depth measured from the outermost extremity of the protuberance.

Abstract: Improved techniques are provided for interfacing liquid chromatography with gas phase and solid phase detectors. Heated liquid effluent including sample solute of interest and solvent is sprayed into a desolvation chamber, where controlled vaporization of the solvent occurs while maintaining sample particles of interest. A carrier gas is added to the desolvation chamber, and the discharged aerosol is transmitted through a uniform cross-sectional flow path to a condenser, gas diffusion cell, or other solvent removal device. Substantially all transmitted solvent is thereby removed, with the carrier gas and substantially all of the sample particles of interest passing to the detector for analysis. The interface of the present invention is applicable to thermospray technology and other spraying techniques resulting in vaporization and nebulization of the LC effluent.

Abstract: A BOP subsea control system utilizes hydraulic control of non-critical functions, and electro-hydraulic control of selected critical functions, such as the closing mode of one or more shear ram BOPs, one or more pipe ram BOPs and one or more annular type BOPs. In an alternative embodiment, the use of a conductive fluid in a hydraulic hose enables electric signals and hydraulic signals to be transmitted in the same hose.

Abstract: A non-rotating drill string is formed from a plurality of independent, cylindrical sections pivotally connected together by a latch mechanism. The adjacent ends are partially beveled such that the sections can bend in a single direction. Means are disclosed for varying the effect of the beveled surfaces, thus controlling the angle of bend for a given one of the sections. A downhole mud motor (PDM) drives the drill bit through the use of a flexible drive shaft running through the center of a metal-lined, neoprene drilling fluid hose which runs through the interior of the independent cylindrical sections. The total curvature of the borehole drilled by the system equals the sum of the angles of bend between the individual sections.