Abstract: This turret has a head 6 enabling, after the drilling of a hole 15, the injection of a resin cartridge without modifying the position of the turret 1. A movable member 8, displaced by a jack 14, has a first passage 11 traversed by the drilling rod 4, and a second passage 12 connected to the hose 13 for the injection of resin cartridges. After the drilling of the hole 15 and the retraction of the drilling apparatus 2, the movable member 8 is displaced such that the drilling rod 4 is laterally retracted by bending. The second passage 12 is simultaneously brought in line with the axis of the hole 15 so as to enable the injection of one or more resin cartridges.

Abstract: A nozzle system for a rotary drill bit comprising a plurality of elongate nozzle members detachably secured in drilling fluid exit bores in a drill bit body, each nozzle member having passaging therein, the lower portion of which is angled relative to the longitudinal axis of the nozzle member, and a projection and recess arrangement for holding each nozzle member in its bore in a predetermined angular position for directing the drilling fluid to flow in a stream along a line at a predetermined angle and in a predetermined position relative to an adjacent roller cutter of the drill bit for improved cleaning of the cutting elements and the formation.

Abstract: A rotary drill bit comprising a bit body adapted to be secured to a drill string and to receive drilling fluid under pressure therefrom, the body having a plurality of nozzles for exit of the drilling fluid, and a plurality of depending legs at its lower end. The bit further includes a plurality of roller cutters, one for each leg, each cutter comprising a generally conical cutter body rotatably mounted on the respective leg, and a plurality of cutting elements thereon. The cutter body at its conical surface is formed of a material resistant to erosion by high drilling fluid which may impinge it.

Abstract: A powder metallurgy composite material comprising grains of a relatively hard material and a binder for binding the grains together, the binder being metastable and transformable at ambient temperature by the application of mechanical force from an initial state in which the major phase of the binder is austentic to a second state in which the major phase of the binder is martensitic, whereby the binder, while undergoing this transformation, absorbs mechanical energy applied to the composite material for increasing its fracture toughness and resistance to fatigue crack nucleation and propagation. Also disclosed is a method of heat-treating the composite materials to improve their transformation-toughening characteristics. A heat-treatable composite material having such improved transformation-toughening properties is also disclosed.

Abstract: A rotary drill bit comprising a bit body having a plurality of drag cutting elements mounted on the bottom thereof. Each cutting element has a portion projecting down below the bit body and forward generally in the direction of rotation of the bit. This portion presents a leading face and a trailing face which converge at an acute angle to form a cutting edge. Each element is positioned on the bit body such that its leading and trailing faces present a positive rake angle and back clearance, respectively, to the surface of the well bore formation for improved cutting action. The bit body has an exit port at the bottom thereof for flow of drilling fluid under pressure, and sets of first and second generally parallel ridges defining watercourses extending from the exit port to the periphery of the bit. The cutting elements are mounted on the second or trailing ridge, and extend toward but stop short of the first or leading ridge.

Abstract: A froth flotation machine (40) having a rotary air-supply shaft (42) vertically disposed in a vessel (41) includes an impeller (50) comprising a series of interconnected blades (52,53). Extending radially and fixedly depending from a flat impeller plate (52) is a pumping blade extending over one-half the distance from the plate outer periphery to the shaft. Blade (53) is an air-inducing vane of lesser radial length which aids in inducing air from shaft (42) to pumping blades (52). The vane has a height less than 50% of the height of the pumping blade. The pumping blade has an L/H ratio of from 0.8 to 1.4 where L is its radial length and H is its vertical height. Slurry is pumped by the blades (52) from bottom of the vessel through a central aperture in a surrounding fixed stator base (56) having stator bars (55) extending upwardly and forming parallel-sided passageways (63,64) for pumped fluid.

Abstract: A drill bit comprising a bit body detachably secured to a drill string having a chamber therein to receive drilling fluid at a first pressure from the drill string, a nozzle for exit of the drilling fluid to the space between the bit body and the well bore at a second pressure lower than the first, and a depending leg; a roller cutter; a bearing assembly for rotatably mounting the roller cutter on the leg; a lubrication system in the bit body comprising a reservoir of lubricant, passaging for flow of lubricant from the reservoir to the bearing assembly, a seal member for blocking flow of lubricant out of the bit, an expansible chamber for pressurizing the lubricant to a third pressure greater than the second but less than the first, and a biased diaphragm for pressure compensation secured in a recess in the bit body in fluid communication at one side thereof with the lubricant and at the other side thereof with the drilling fluid in the space between the bit body and the well bore; and a sensor for sensing a

Abstract: A rotary drill bit for drilling a well bore comprising a bit body adapted to be detachably secured to a drill string and receive drilling fluid under pressure therefrom and having a plurality of depending legs and a nozzle system for exit of drilling fluid from the bit body. The drill bit further comprises a plurality of roller cutters, each cutter having a generally conical roller cutter body rotatably mounted on one of the legs and a plurality of cutting elements on the cutter body.

Abstract: A nozzle assembly for an earth boring drill bit of the type adapted to receive drilling fluid under pressure and having a nozzle bore in the bottom thereof positioned closely adjacent the well bore bottom when the bit is in engagement therewith with the bore having inner and outer portions. The nozzle assembly comprises a generally cylindrical nozzle member of abrasion and erosion resistant material, selected from a plurality of such members, each being of the same outer diameter but having passaging therein of different cross-sectional area. The nozzle member is adapted to be fitted in the inner portion of the nozzle bore in sealing relationship therewith for forming a first seal for the nozzle assembly. The nozzle assembly further comprises a locknut, separate from the nozzle member, for detachably securing the nozzle member in the nozzle bore, formed at least in part of an abrasion and erosion resistant material.

Abstract: An axle assembly has a longitudinal pivotal connection to a vehicle frame enabling it to rock about a longitudinal axis extending generally longitudinally of the direction of movement of the vehicle. One of the fore-and-aft ends of the axle assembly is hinged to the frame by a universal joint connection consisting of a ball and socket enabling completely unrestricted tilting, swinging and rocking movement of the axle assembly in all directions relative to the frame. At the opposite end, the axle assembly is freely tiltable up and down about a connection to the frame enabling free vertical movement of the tiltable end of the axle assembly while restraining horizontal movement. Springs support the vehicle frame at opposite sides of the axle assembly.

Abstract: A rotary drill bit comprising a bit body having a chamber therein adapted to receive drilling fluid under pressure, a plurality of nozzles in communication with the chamber for exit of the drilling fluid, and a plurality of depending legs at its lower end, each having a bearing journal. The bit further includes a plurality of roller cutters, one for each leg, each cutter comprising a generally conical cutter body rotatably mounted on the bearing journal of the respective leg, and a plurality of cutting elements thereon. Each nozzle has an orifice in a position below the top of an adjacent roller cutter but above the central axis of the respective bearing journal at its inner end with respect to the bit body.

Abstract: A lifting mechanism for a rake arm and rake structure employed to move sediments settling out from a solids-liquid slurry in a sedimentation tank, includes a fixed center column (27) in the tank and a concentric movable column (28) in telescoping relation to the fixed column. A first series of sheave assemblies (40) are attached to or fixed with respect to the fixed column and a second series of sheave assemblies (51-55) attached to the movable column at a vertically displaced distance from the first series. The respective sheave assemblies may extend in part in an annulus (34) between the fixed and movable columns and are positioned around the peripheries of the respective columns. A continuous cable (45) extends alternately between individual sheaves in each series and the ends of the cable are attached to a vertical take-up drum (38).

Abstract: A friction bearing assembly for a roller cutter drill bit, comprising a first bearing member of cylindrical configuration and a second bearing member having an opening of generally circular section therein receiving the first member for enabling relative rotation of the members. A bushing is fitted between the bearing members, the bushing being of annular configuration and having an inner and an outer diameter so related to the diameter of the first bearing member and the diameter of the opening in the second bearing member as to enable the bushing to rotate relative to both members. The bushing is of width substantially greater than its thickness, and comprises a plurality of relatively thin, narrow elongate metal members, each metal member being of generally circular configuration and constituting a ring.

Abstract: A bit breaker adapted to be fitted in the Kelly drive of a drill rig for detachably securing a rotary drill bit to the Kelly drive to enable the latter to rotate the bit relative to a drill string having an internally threaded lower end portion in one direction to effect a threaded connection between the threaded pin of the bit and the string, and in the other direction to disconnect the bit from the string. The bit breaker comprises a bottom engageable by the bottom of a drill bit for supporting the bit, a top having an opening therein through which the bit may be lowered into engagement with the bottom of the bit breaker and may be raised to remove the drill bit from the bit breaker, and a stop member for selectively securing the bit in fixed annular position in the said opening in the bit breaker.

Abstract: A seal assembly for a rotary drill bit of the type comprising a bearing journal constituting a first bearing member, and roller cutter having a blind end bore therein, constituting a second bearing member, receiving the journal and an annular recess at the open end of the bore, the annular recess and journal defining an annular cavity in the bit. The seal assembly is positioned in the cavity for holding lubricant in the bit and comprises a ring of relatively rigid material movable with respect to the journal and the roller cutter in the longitudinal axial direction thereof and having a sealing face. An elastomeric seal member sealingly engages the movable ring and one of the bearing members and biases the ring to a position in which the sealing face of the ring is in sealing engagement.