Abstract: A drill bit for drilling deep holes in subsurface formations comprises a bit body having a generally hemispherical leading face and a gauge region, and two blades each extending spirally outwardly across the leading face of the bit body away from the axis of rotation, a cavity of substantial peripheral and axial extent being formed in the bit body on the forward side of each blade, and communicating with an associated exit channel in the gauge region. A plurality of cutting elements are mounted along each blade, the cutting elements being mounted closely adjacent one another side-by-side along the blade so that their cutting edges together form a single long cutting edge without substantial discontinuities. A passage in the bit body supplies drilling fluid to nozzles in the cavities for cooling and cleaning the cutting elements, fluid from the nozzles sweeping past the cutting elements and out through the exit channels.

Abstract: A method is provided for generating an improved torque-drag model for at least the collar portion of the drill string in a directional oil or gas well. The technique of the present invention determine the stiffness of incremental portions of the drill string, and uses this information, the borehole clearance, and the borehole trajectory to determine the contact locations between the drill string and the sidewalls of the well. The contact force at these determined locations can be calculated, taking into consideration all significant kinematic, external, and internal forces acting on that incremental portion of the drill string. More acurate torque-drag analysis provided by the improved model of the present invention assists in well planning, prediction, and control, assists in avoiding drilling problems, and reduces total costs for the well.

Abstract: A transmission assembly for operating a double block and bleed valve system having a first block valve with a first valve shaft, a second block valve with a second valve shaft and a bleed valve disposed between the first and second block valves, the transmission assembly comprising a cam assembly having a cam plate journaled for rotation about a fixed axis, a first link member interconnecting the cam assembly and the first shaft for effecting rotation of the first shaft in response to rotation of the cam plate, a second link member interconnecting the cam assembly and the second shaft for effecting rotation of the second shaft in response to rotation of the cam plate, said first link member being operative to effect initial rotation of the first shaft from a first position in response to rotation of said cam plate, said second link member being operative to effect initial rotation of said second shaft from a first position in response to further rotation of said cam plate after said initial rotation of said f

Abstract: A bleed valve assembly for use in a double block and bleed valve system having first and second block valves comprising a body which is disposed between the block valves which forms a chamber, a flowway having a generally smooth flowway surface defined by the body and partially defining the chamber, the body having a cavity which is in open communication with the chamber and a drain outlet in open communication with the cavity, there being disposed a valve assembly in the cavity which has a rotatable valve element which can be moved between a first open position permitting flow through the drain outlet and a second closed position preventing flow through the drain outlet, the valve assembly having a portion which partially defines the flowway surface when the valve element is in the second or closed position.

Abstract: Improved methods and apparatus are provided for altering fabric finishes on a garment to give the garment a "lived-in" or worn appearance before the garment is actually worn by the user. According to the method of the present invention, a batch of garments is preferably stone-washed to generally fade and abrade the entire garment. The garment is then inflated by passing air through an inlet port in the garment and by substantially sealing one or more exit ports in the garment to create a greater than atmospheric pressure within the garment. The inflated garment is then sprayed with a low-strength bleaching solution on selected exterior portions to provide an additional fading or worn appearance on those portions of the garment. Thereafter, the garment is placed in a neutralizing liquid to chemically counteract the sprayed bleaching solution. A plurality of garments may be each suspended from a common air duct interconnected with a blower for providing air to inflate the garments.

Abstract: Improved techniques are provided for adjusting the axial position of a rotatable valve closure element carrying an elastomeric annular seal with respect to a metallic valve body. An adjustable nut is threaded to the valve body and includes a recess for receiving a lower stem of the valve closure member. One or more interference members are spaced radially between the nut and the lower stem, and permit axial movement of the lower stem and thus the annular seals with respect to the valve body, while enabling the valve closure member to freely rotate during normal use of the valve.

Abstract: An accelerometer has a housing defining a chamber, and a magnetizable fluid 11 within the chamber. A permanent magnet is magnetically suspended within the chamber by the magnetizable fluid with its poles oriented along a displacement axis so as to be displaceable from a null position along the displacement axis by an applied force. At least parts of the outer surface of the permanent magnet in the vicinity of its poles are provided with non-magnetizable end members. A sensing arrangement is provided for detecting displacement of the permanent magnet along the displacement axis and for supplying an electrical signal indicative of the applied force. Such an accelerometer is relatively immune to calibration drift and has high measurement accuracy.

Abstract: A rotary drill bit for use in drilling or coring deep holes in subsurface formations comprises a bit body having a leading face and a gauge region, cutting elements mounted at the leading face of the bit body, and a passage in the bit body communicating with nozzles in the leading face of the bit body for supplying drilling fluid to the face for cooling and cleaning the cutting elements. Certain of the cutting elements each comprise a preform cutting element having a superhard front cutting face providing a cutting edge, and others of the cutting elements each comprise particles of hard material embedded in a front layer of a less hard material to form a cutting layer having a cutting edge.

Abstract: An assembly for severing tubular piling used to support offshore platforms comprising a support or frame secured adjacent the open, upper end of the piling, a cutting string suspended from the support and comprised of a pipe string, a centralizer and an internal pipe cutter and a power swivel to rotate the cutting string to effect internal severing of the piling.

Abstract: An assembly of nonreactive material receives a sample of material to be analyzed which is then placed in an environmentally controlled pyrolysis chamber. As the sample is selectively heated, an inert carrier gas is admitted to the chamber to wash the gases from the sample through trap and splitter assemblies where a portion of the sample gas is tapped off by a capillary column. The temperature of the gas in the capillary column is controlled as known makeup gases are added prior to passing through a detector, such as a flame ionization detector, to determine the components of the sample gas. The capillary tube can also be coated with an apolar liquid phase separation material.

Abstract: A fishing lure member has an internal cavity having an opening through at least one external surface thereof. A fish attractant is disposed at least partially within the cavity. The attractant may be removably retained in the cavity by cooperation of the body member and an insert having at least a portion disposed within the cavity. Alternatively, the matter may be a web-like member having opposite broad surfaces bounded by relatively thin peripheral edges; the attractant can be disposed in a pocket extending along at least one of these broad surfaces.

Abstract: A process for preparing an alkoxylation catalyst in which the catalyst pre-mix is formed by admixing an alkoxylated alcohol with a calcium containing compound which is dispersible in the alkoxylated alcohol, an inorganic acid and an aluminum trialkoxide, the pre-mix being heated to a temperature and for a time sufficient to effect at least partial exchange reaction betweeen the alkoxide groups of the aluminum alkoxide and the hydroxyl groups of the alkoxylated alcohol. There is also disclosed and claimed an alkoxylation process utilizing the catalysts formed as described above.

Abstract: An improved hydraulic coupler suitable for interconnecting subsea fluid lines is provided with a radial seal between the male and female body portions. A C-shaped metallic seal is housed between the female body of the coupler and a retainer external of the female body. An elastomeric secondary seal is provided on the retainer, and sealingly engages the same diameter cylindrical surface of the male coupler which is engaged by the C-shaped seal. A wiper member also mounted on the retainer cleans this cylindrical suface as the body portions are brought together, thereby enhancing the reliability of both the elastomeric seal and the metallic seal. Coupler halves may typically be housed within either a latchable subsea control module mounting base or a junction plate conventionally used in surface petroleum recovery operations.

Abstract: An improved quick connector substantially simplifies string make-up by eliminating the need for a perfect longitudinal alignment between adjacent sections before engagement. An elongated recess in either the pin or box connector permits the pin to be inserted into the box at an angle. Interaction between the recess face and a surface on the opposite connector causes the pin to automatically align with the box. When the pin reaches its fully engaged position in the box, a spring tension snap lock ring having multiple annular teeth meshes with complementary grooves to lock the pin and box together.

Abstract: A gamma radiation logging system utilizes a single fixed gamma ray source spaced from a plurality of detector means arranged in banks so that the readings of the detectors can be utilized individually and in combination to derive the formation density, mud density and borehole diameter. The subject invention is capable of making the above determinations in a while-drilling condition without requiring physical contact with the formation nor making assumptions regarding composition of the formation or requiring further information from secondary sources. Each detector generates an output signal proportional to the photons reaching the detector with the signals being used to determine formation density, mud density and borehole diameter individually and collectively.

Abstract: An improved rotary valve assembly having a valve body, a valve element rotatably disposed in the body and having a first bore which is coaxial with the axis of rotation of the valve element and a shaft member rotatably mounted in the valve body and extending into the first bore into the valve element, the valve element further having a second bore which is transverse to and intersects the first bore, a threaded torque transmission member being threadedly received in the second bore and having an end face which abuts the shaft member whereby the torque transmission member can be compressively urged against the shaft member, the first bore in the valve element having an abutment surface which is generally opposite the second bore, the shaft member having an outer surface defining an engagement portion which is engageable with the abutment surface, either the abutment surface or the engagement portion of the outer surface of the shaft being provided with friction-inducing formations such that when the torque tra

Abstract: A crane or derrick for use on an offshore platform comprising a base, a boom operatively connected to the base, and a sectioned kingpole secured to said base, the kingpole including a first kingpole section secured to the base and at least one additional kingpole section removably secured to the first kingpole section. The sectioned kingpole permits the installation of a crane having a tall kingpole and thereby greater lifting capacity such that equipment necessary to carry out operations such as the driving of conductor pipe and piling can be erected on the deck of the platform without the necessity for utilizing a derrick barge.

Abstract: A vacuum painting apparatus has movable entry and exit ports which compensate for bending or twisting of the strip material being painted. The entry and exit port templates are connected together by four compression struts. A spring-loaded slidable seal is provided around the periphery of each of the entry and exit port templates, sealing the templates to the box structure of the vacuum painting apparatus. The templates use either "Z" or "C" shaped parts each having first and second ends and a web therebetween, with one end having larger dimensions than the other end. A first set of guide roller assemblies is positioned at the entry port on the exterior of the apparatus, while a second set of guide roller assemblies is positioned at the exist port on the interior of the apparatus.

Abstract: A rotary drill bit for use in drilling or coring deep holes in subsurface formations comprises a bit body having a shank for connection to a drill string and a plurality of cutting elements mounted at the surface of the bit body. Each cutting element is bonded to a stud which is received in a socket in the bit body. Spaced rearwardly of each cutting element is a separate abrasion element comprising a stud which is received in a socket in the bit body and is impregnated with particles of natural or synthetic diamond. The abrasion element provides a back-up in the event of failure or excessive wear of the cutting element and its spacing from the cutting element prevents the damaging transfer of heat from the abrasion element to the cutting element. The cooling may be enhanced by providing a channel for drilling fluid between the cutting element and abrasion element.

Abstract: A packer assembly is provided suitable for multiple setting and unsetting operations in a well bore during a single trip to seal the annulus between the interior walls of the well bore and a tubing string. Thge packer is set by dropping a metal ball which plugs the passageway through the tubing string, such that tubing pressure may thereafter be increased to inflate the packer. 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.