Abstract: Communication with a measuring-while-drilling equipment sub, when the sub is at the surface, is established by placing a transmitter-receiver within transmitting range of the electrode/antenna array of the sub. The transmitter-receiver must be compatible with the sub equipment and be capable of transmitting to the sub instructions to dump the sub memory and/or add data to the sub memory.

Abstract: A baseball simulation game, in which two opponents actively participate to have a decisive effect on results of play, has a stadium defining a playing surface upon which is described a baseball diamond. Nine defensive player figures are movably positioned on the playing surface, each figure being formed to interrupt the flight of a ball. A tube extends from outside the stadium above centerfield down to a point above and between a pitcher's mound and home plate so that balls dropped in the upper end by the defensive opponent will fall from the lower end in a ballistic curve through a strike zone at home plate. The stadium provides controlled access for the offensive opponent to extend one hand over home plate to strike at balls with a scale bat, using wrist motion only. Play follows the rules of baseball with rolls of dice determining the outcome of action which cannot be simulated.

Abstract: A rotary drill bit comprises a bit body having a leading face and a gauge region, a number of blades on the leading face of the bit body, and a number of cutting elements mounted along each blade. A passage in the bit body supplies drilling fluid to nozzles in the leading face of the bit body for cooling and cleaning the cutting elements. Each nozzle is so oriented, and the surface of the bit body in the region in front of each blade is so shaped, as to promote a vortex flow of drilling fluid around said region, with part of the periphery of the vortex extending across the cutting elements on the blade, so that fluid in the periphery of the vortex passes across the cutting elements mounted on each blade before escaping through an exit channel in the gauge region.

Abstract: A system for controlling the direction of a drill bit in a borehole utilizes both a drill string model and a bit-rock directional interaction model to compare ideal predicted or expected moments with real time measured moments to arrive at correction data necessary to return the bit to its desired path. The magnitude and direction of moments generated near the bit are measured in a downhole equipment sub, containing a microprocessor and memory, so that the real time data can be collected and acted upon without undue delay thereby minimizing drilling time lost due to deviations from the desired path.

Abstract: A bucket brigade filter is disclosed having a feedback loop resulting in a tight comb structure filter response whereby a periodic noise and all its harmonics may be removed from a signal. Scalers featuring selectively variable scaler parameters permit prompt adaptation to changes in the noise period, rapid initialization of the filter to an operating condition and adjustable stopband widths of the filter frequency response. Sampling of the input data signal may be synchronized to the periodic variations of the noise to be eliminated from the signal.

Abstract: A rotary drill bit, for drilling wells in subsurface earth formations, and designed for rotation in a given direction, comprises a bit body having an internal passageway for drilling fluid. The bit body has an operating end face and at least one opening through that face communicating with the passageway. Cutters on the bit body form at least one elongate cutting region extending generally radially along a substantial portion of the operating end face. The cutters have cutting surfaces facing in the forward direction and generally continuous cutting edges at the outer extremity of the cutting surfaces. An elongate fence is carried on the bit body, extending generally parallel to the cutting region and spaced from the cutting region in a leading direction.

Abstract: A speed control valve is formed with a pair of cooperating inversely operating dashpots to control movement of a valve element in either direction so as to prevent sudden actuation upon change in fluid velocity or oscillation due to fluid flow changes. Bleeding of fluid into and out of the dashpots controls the speed of movement of the valve element.

Abstract: A down-hole signal transmitter includes an annular impeller mounted on a cylindrical casing and arranged to be driven by the mud flow passing along a drill string. Each of the impeller and the casing incorporates two sets of magnets with their poles arranged axially relative to one another such that axial movement of the impeller in one direction will tend to be resisted by a force of magnetic repulsion acting between the first set of casing magnets and the second set of impeller magnets and axial movement of the impeller in the opposite direction will tend to be resisted by a force of magnetic repulsion acting between the second set of casing magnets and the first set of impeller magnets. In this way the axial thrust due to the fluid flow is largely taken up. Furthermore the magnetic coupling between the magnet sets in such as to enable driving torque to be transmitted by the impeller to a rotary drive member on which the casing magnets are mounted.

Abstract: A transloader provides means and method for adjusting multiple chains in an array for uniform tensioning. The transloader is mounted adjacent a reference member with chain adjustment rods passing through respective spring assemblies in a spring block. The central adjustment rod is adjusted to position the spring block with respect to the reference member and the remaining adjustment rods adjusted to position respective spring followers relative to the spring block thereby providing uniform tension on all chains.

Abstract: An extrusion die assembly for a pelletizing apparatus including a die body, a die insert carried by the die body, the die insert having a die plate with a die plate face and a die plate back surface, there being a plurality of extrusion ports through the die plate face extending from the face to the back surface, the die insert further having a plurality of extrusion port formations such as tubes projecting from the die plate back surface and defining a plurality of extrusion passageways, each of said extrusion ports being in register with a respective one of said passageways, the tubes and the die plate comprising a monolithic structure formed from a unitary piece of material, and a heating jacket formed at least partially by the die body, at least a portion of the tubes being received in the heating jacket.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing by a powder metallurgy process a rotary drill bit including a bit body having an external surface on which cutting elements are mounted, and a passage for supplying drilling fluid to the surface of the bit. The method comprises forming a hollow mould for moulding at least a portion of the bit body, packing at least part of the mould with powdered matrix material, and infiltrating the material with a metal alloy in a furnace to form a matrix. Before the mould is packed with the powdered material, formers are positioned on the interior surface of the mould to project into the interior of the mould space and form sockets to receive nozzles, or studs on which the cutting elements are mounted. According to the invention, the formers are formed from material, such as austenitic stainless steel, having a coefficient of thermal expansion not less than that of the matrix material.

Abstract: A down-hole signal transmitter includes an annular impeller mounted on a cylindrical casing and arranged to be driven by the mud flow passing along a drill string, and an annular stator fixed to the casing upstream of the impeller. The stator has blades canted in one sense relative to the mud flow direction, whereas the impeller has blades parallel to the mud flow direction. The stator blades thereby cause the mud flow to impact on the impeller blades at such an angle that a small or negligible thrust results at the impeller bearings. It is therefore possible to insure a long service life for the bearings.

Abstract: A valve stem-valve element assembly wherein a valve element is provided with a valve stem bore, a valve stem being received in the valve stem bore, there being a bore transverse to the valve stem bore in the valve element which is in register with the hole in the valve stem, a threaded bolt being received in the bore through the threaded hole threadedly engaging the threaded hole, the threaded portion of the bolt also frictionally engaging the smooth walls of the transverse bore.

Abstract: The invention comprises a method of mounting a cutter, having a stud portion defining one end thereof and a cutting formation generally adjacent the other end, in a pocket in a drill bit body member. The method includes the steps of forming a channel extending into the pocket, inserting brazing material into the channel, inserting the stud portion of the cutter assembly into the pocket, then heating the bit body member to cause the brazing material to flow through the channel into the pocket, and finally re-cooling the bit body member. During the assembly of the various pieces required in the steps mentioned immediately above, a spring is used, cooperative between the cutter and the bit body member, to retain the stud portion in the pocket and also to displace the stud portion toward the trailing side of the pocket.

Abstract: In a method of assembling a roller cone type rock bit, on a body having a tool joint adjacent one end and at least one leg portion adjacent the other end, the leg portion is provided with a longitudinally outer surface which is inclined longitudinally inwardly from its radially outer extremity to its radially inner extremity; on a base for a cone assembly, an end surface is provided configured to mate with the outer surface of the leg portion of the body; a roller cone is rotatably mounted on the base distal the end surface to form a cone assembly, and the end surface of the base is mated with the outer surface of the leg portion; the base is then welded to the leg portion along the juncture of the mating surfaces to mount the cone assembly on the leg portion.

Abstract: The potential for failure of a formation is predicated by using standard logging apparatus and techniques to monitor the change in a formation characteristic over an extended time period. Changes in this characteristic are attributed to absorption of fluid by the formation which could lead to a possible breakdown of the structural integrity of the formation.

Abstract: Disclosed is a technique for packing an exchange chamber to facilitate interaction between two fluids. Corrugated packing plates are arranged with the corrugations of next corrugated plates running in different directions. The plates feature slots breaking the ridges of the plates and having corresponding tabs projecting into the corrugation grooves. The slots may provide drip points for liquid as one fluid moving through the slots in addition to permitting flow of the second fluid through the slots. A lip at the intersection of a slot and the ridge it breaks captures liquid bridging the slot to direct such liquid to the underside of the ridge.

Abstract: A system for determining the stuck point of pipe in a borehole including a wireline tool having an exciter coil and a receiver coil axially spaced from one another. The exciter coil is driven at a preselected low frequency and the voltage induced into the receiver coil is related to the magnetic permeability of a pipe through which the tool is run. A receiver coil voltage log is run of the section of pipe in the region of the stuck point first while that region is substantially free of mechanical stress. A second log of the same region is run with the pipe under mechanical stress. Comparison of the two logs determines the stuck point from the difference in magnetic permeability of the stressed pipe above the stuck point and the unstressed pipe below the stuck point.

Abstract: A cutter assembly, for a rotary drill bit, comprises a generally cylindrical stud to be received in a socket in the surface of the bit body, the stud being formed, adjacent one end thereof, with a plane surface inclined at an angle of less than 90.degree. to the longitudinal axis of the stud, and a preform cutting element mounted on the inclined surface. The dimensions of the cutting element, and its location on the inclined surface, are such that no part of the cutting element projects beyond the peripheral surface of the stud as viewed axially thereof. The cutting element may be so shaped and located that it initially projects beyond the peripheral surface of the stud, the projecting portions subsequently being removed, for example by grinding.