Abstract: An annular seal of the cup packing type having a first annular section formed from a generally non-flexible, generally non-resilient material and having an annular, radially projecting flange portion and a first axially extending skirt portion, and a second annular section having a second axially extending annular skirt portion defining a sealing surface and comprised of a generally flexible, generally resilient material, the second section being generally axially displaced from the flange portion, said first and second skirt portions being adjoined, preferably by bonding to one another.

Abstract: A rotary drill bit, for use in subsurface formations, comprises a bit body, a passageway for drilling fluid within the body, communicating with nozzles in the external surface of the body, preform cutting elements mounted on the body for cutting or abrading the formation, and a number of elongate fences upstanding from the external surface of the body to control the flow of fluid from the nozzles and past cutting elements. Each fence is resiliently deformable, for example being in the form of a brush having metal bristles, so that, in use, the free elongate edge of the fence is urged resiliently into contact with the surface of the formation being cut or abraded by the cutting elements. Since each fence is resiliently deformable it will at all times firmly engage the formation to provide an effective seal, regardless of variations in depth of cut of the cutting elements.

Abstract: A drill bit comprises a bit body having an operating end face. A plurality of self-sharpening cutters are mounted in the bit body and extend through the operating end face. The cutters have cutting faces adapted to engage an earth formation and cut the earth formation to a desired three-dimensional profile. The cutting faces define surfaces have back rake angles which decrease with distance from the profile. The individual cutting faces may be inwardly concave in a plane parallel to the intended direction of motion of the cutter in use. Each of the cutting members has a stud portion disposed in a respective recess in the bit body and defining the inner end of the cutting member, the cutting face being generally adjacent the outer end and having an outer cutting edge. The centerline of the stud portion is rearwardly inclined, from the outer end to the inner end, with respect to the direction of movement in use, taken at the midpoint of the cutting edge, at a first angle from 80.degree. to 30.degree. inclusive.

Abstract: Catalysts comprising mixtures of HF and metal alkoxides and mixed metal alkoxides produce a sharply peaked alkoxylation distribution during the alkoxylation of organic materials.

Abstract: Disclosed is a tubing valve which may be used for selectively closing passages through tubular members and the like. The valve includes first and second housing members which may be mutually moved and which carry a latch assembly for limiting such movement between a first configuration and a second configuration. Each of the housing members further includes a valve member wherein the two valve members may be in mutual sealing engagement with the housing members in the first configuration. The valve members are not in sealing engagement with the housing members in the second configuration, thereby permitting fluid communication, for example, through the tubular passage. At least one of the valve members comprises a piston in sliding, sealing engagement with the corresponding housing member whereby fluid pressure within the tubular passage urges sealing engagement between the first and second valve members when the housing members are in the first configuration.

Abstract: The invention pertains to an electrical communication system for a well conduit. The system includes annular male and female electrical coupler assemblies, holders for releasably mounting the coupler assemblies generally coaxially in opposite ends of a section of well conduit, and a cable assembly connected to the coupler assemblies for conducting electric current therebetween.

Abstract: An electronic noise filtration system for use in improving the signal to noise ratio of acoustic data transmitted from a downhole transducer in a measurement while drilling system. Signals from a pair of receiving acoustic transducers located in the mud flow path directed downhole are input to a differencing amplifier. The RMS output of the amplifier is converted from an analog to a digital signal and then processed by a computer programmed with a least mean squares technique for minimizing the signal. The input from one receiving transducer is routed through a delay line wherein a programmable clock controls the timing of the signal delay. The delay time is controlled and adjusted by the computer's calculation of the frequency with which the clock should drive the delay line to minimize the difference between the two received transducer signals. This function minimizes ambient noise in the acoustic transmission line formed by the column of drilling fluids when no data transmissions are being made.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to improved apparatus for incorporation in buildings and structures particularly useful in converting the energy of the wind to other usable energy forms. A rotor comprising a plurality of successively longer wind wheels interconnected along a common axis of rotation is disclosed. More particularly, an improved wind wheel construction useful in wind-driven rotors comprising a plurality of wind wheels is disclosed. Maximum power is developed by a wind wheel comprising some vanes located substantially parallel to the axis of rotation for maximum power development and other vanes located substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation for both power development and stress reduction. A rotor comprising a plurality of wind wheels characterized by rotationally misaligned vanes reduces fluctuations in the rotational velocity of the rotor. Further, apparatus useful in providing both improved structural strength and support for exterior protective glazing is disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a monitoring system and method for detecting the presence or absence of material at a location. The apparatus may generally be constructed to include a sensing unit, including an antenna probe for positioning at the location wherein material is to be detected, and a control unit for responding to signals from the sensing unit indicating the presence of material at the antenna probe. The control unit may include an indicator to inform an operator of the presence or absence of material at the antenna probe, and also an output which enables peripheral equipment to operate only under selected conditions at the antenna probe. The sensing signal from the sensing unit is dc, with fluctuations indicating the presence of material at the antenna probe.

Abstract: A polymeric composition useful in the thickening of aqueous brines comprising hydroxyethyl cellulose, a water miscible organic liquid and an aqueous liquid.

Abstract: Disclosed is a support structure, such as a liner hanger, for use in a well, including an assembly of slips for wedging to the interior surface of the surrounding well, but maintained off of wedging surfaces in a running in configuration by a drag assembly and latch mechanism connected to the hanger body carrying the wedges. As the latch is configured to permit setting of the support structure, a lost motion coupling joining the slip assembly with the drag and latch assembly permits rotational and limited longitudinal movement therebetween as the slip system moves rotationally, and possibly longitudinally to a limited extent, with the hanger body relative to the drag assembly.

Abstract: A rotary bit for use in subsurface formations comprises a bit body having a central bore (4), the body having a leading face (1) and a trailing gauge region (2), walls (7) on the bit dividing the face into fluid channels, cutting elements C being present on at least some of the walls, and passageways (5) connecting the bore (4) to openings (6) in the fluid channels. At least two wall portions (7) are arranged relative to each openings (6) so that the fluid emerging from the opening is directed to travel first inwardly towards the central axis of the bit before travelling outwardly to the gauge region (2).

Abstract: Disclosed is a lifting tool for applying vertical forces to loads. A body carries a catch device for engaging such a load, and therebelow a support mechanism for receiving the load and limiting rotational movement of the load about the point of engagement with the catch mechanism. A handle is provided above the load whereby vertical forces may be applied. The handle and the support mechanism are collapsible relative to the body for storage purposes, for example.

Abstract: Novel, ethoxylated lignites which exhibit excellent water solubility as well as solubility in organic liquids are obtained by ethoxylating lignite at elevated temperatures using various weight ratios of ethylene oxide to lignite, the ethoxylation being conducted using an alkali metal alkylate catalyst in a solvent which is generally inert under reaction conditions.

Abstract: A fishing lure comprises a flexible lure body having a preformed cavity therein. The cavity has a leading end and a trailing end, and the lure body has an insert opening through the exterior thereof into the cavity. An insert mounted in the cavity is selectively removable therefrom through the insert opening. The insert has a leading end disposed adjacent the leading end of the cavity and a trailing end disposed adjacent the trailing end of the cavity. The insert is either preformed with or forcibly malleable to assume a configuration differing from that assumed by the cavity in a relaxed condition without said insert therein. The insertion of the insert into the cavity will thus cause deflection of the lure body in a direction from the leading end to the trailing end and alter the external configuration of the lure body.

Abstract: The invention comprises an improved rethreading die, a method of making the die, and a method of rethreading an in situ stud member. The workpiece from which the die is formed has oppositely directed front and rear faces and laterally outwardly facing side surfaces about the periphery of the front and rear faces. Recesses are formed in said workpiece for receipt of a hinge and its retaining pins. The hinge and pins are fitted in the recesses in the workpiece. The hinge and pins are removed, and the workpiece is divided, generally transversely with respect to the front and rear faces, into a pair of die members. The hinge and pins are then replaced in their recesses in engagement with positioning reference surfaces formed by those recesses. The die members thus formed and hingedly connected each have a first end, the first ends being disposed generally adjacent each other to one side of an inner opening formed prior to splitting of the workpiece.

Abstract: A check valve in which one half of the valve body has a number of integral guide fins extending radially into the flowway. The guide fins are discontinuous from one another at their radially inner ends. A liner on the interior of the valve body follows the contour of the guide fins so that the portions of the liner which cover respective guide fins are likewise discontinuous from one another at their radially inner ends. The thermal properties of the liner differ from those of the guide fins. Each of the guide fins has a transverse bore through which extends an anchoring plug, the plug in turn interconnecting portions of the liner on opposite sides of the guide fins. A valve element longitudinally reciprocable in the flowway includes a closure portion for engagement with a valve seat and an elongate valve stem extending longitudinally from the closure portion and surrounded by and slidably engaged with the lined inner ends of the guide fins.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an apparatus and method for measuring the viscosity of a fluid. This apparatus and method is particularly useful for the measurement of the viscosity of a liquid in a harsh environment characterized by high temperature and the presence of corrosive or deleterious gases and vapors which adversely affect conventional ball or roller bearings. The apparatus and method of the present invention employ one or more flexural or torsional bearings to suspend a bob capable of limited angular motion within a rotatable sleeve suspended from a stationary frame.

Abstract: The invention comprises a cutter for a drag-type drill bit, the cutter having a stud portion defining one end thereof and a cutting formation generally adjacent the other end, said stud portion having external side walls which, throughout a major part of the length of said stud portion and in transverse cross section, define a circle interrupted by at least one section of greater radius of curvature.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for measuring fluid characteristics, particularly useful in performing measurements in remote and severe environments is disclosed. The probe employs an ultrasonic transmitter and receiver, preferably a unitary ultrasonic transducer to both transmit and receive the ultrasonic signal. Further, the probe includes an internal reference reflecting surface hermetically sealed from contact with the fluid and one or more solid/fluid reflecting surfaces as are required. Preferably, two solid/fluid reflecting surfaces are located on opposite sides of a fluid receiving gap. The apparatus and method are useful in measuring fluid characteristics both at remote surface and in downhole drilling locations.