Abstract: An apparatus including a shaft, with a first and a second angular contact bearing axially disposed along the shaft to provide support for the shaft in a first and a second axial direction, respectively. The second axial direction is substantially opposite the first axial direction. A preload device exerts a preload force onto the angular contact bearings, which place the angular contact bearings into a maximum preload condition. An actuator device, acting in opposition to the preload device, reduces preload from the maximum preload condition to a desired preload condition. The preload device and the actuator device act directly through an axial displaceable race of the angular contact bearing, instead of through the rolling elements of the bearing.

Abstract: A continuous feed system for a drill comprising a down-hole drill assembly having a support end and a drilling bit. Rotation is imported to the down-hole drill assembly between the support end and the drilling bit, which results in a torque being applied to the support end. A vertically disposed support chain has two ends, one end of the chain is connected to the support end. The chain resists the torque with limited torsional flexibility. A drive interacts with the chain at a point between the two ends for positively providing axial extension of a length of the chain.

Abstract: In a waterjet cutting system utilizing abrasives added to the cutting liquid, a liquid purifier is provided to remove the abrasives from the liquid before the liquid is disposed of including a disposable reservoir with a removable end plate sealingly engaged with the end of the reservoir. A baffle plate is rigidly connected to the end plate such that when the end plate is in position, the baffle plate will divide the interior of the reservoir into two compartments. An inlet nozzle is attached to the end plate to feed the liquid into one of the compartments on one side of the baffle plate, and an outlet nozzle is attached to the end plate on the other side of the baffle plate, such that the liquid must change directions when it travels from the inlet to the outlet nozzle to assist in the separation process.