Abstract: A method for testing a hydrocarbon sample. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a sheath disposed about the hydrocarbon sample. The apparatus further comprises at least one set of acoustic sensors, wherein the at least one set of acoustic sensors is secured to the sheath, and further wherein at least one set of acoustic sensors produces an acoustic signal having a velocity through the hydrocarbon sample. In addition, the velocity is measured to provide information about the hydrocarbon sample. In other embodiments, the at least one set of acoustic sensors is disposed radially about the hydrocarbon sample.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for testing a hydrocarbon sample. The apparatus includes a sheath disposed about the hydrocarbon sample container and at least one set of acoustic sensors, wherein the at least one set of acoustic sensors is secured to the sheath, and further wherein at least one set of acoustic sensors produces an acoustic signal having a velocity through the hydrocarbon sample. In addition, the velocity is measured to provide information about the hydrocarbon sample. In other embodiments, the at least one set of acoustic sensors is disposed radially about the hydrocarbon sample.

Abstract: A pecan processing method and system is described that increases the efficiency of pecan processing. In particular, pecan parts that fall beneath the cracker, secondary cracker product, are conveyed to an air separation device which removes dust and shells for disposal, and the remaining portion of the secondary cracker product is conveyed to width separation devices. In a second aspect, a largest width range of the cracker product after width separation is shelled by parallel, rubber-coated cylinders and then thickness separated into uncracked nuts and substantially whole cracked nuts. The uncracked nuts and the substantially whole cracked nuts are then separated, and only the uncracked nuts are returned to the cracker. The substantially whole cracked nuts are returned to the width separation device.

Abstract: A system and related method for obtaining electromagnetic resistivity logs of a formation having fixed depths of investigation that differ from the actual depths of investigation for the tool. The system and related method comprises calculating actual invaded zone and formation resistivities, and then using least-squares curve fitting techniques to find a function that models the relationship between the physical spacing of the transmitters and the depths of investigation. Using the function, it is possible to find a transmitter-to-receive spacing that, though not actually wed, would give the desired depth of investigation. This transmitter-to-receiver spacing is then used in combination with a second function, determined using least-squares curve fitting methods, which models the relationship between the transmitter-to-receiver physical spacing and the measured resistivity to obtain the resistivity reading at a fixed depth of investigation.

Abstract: The patent discloses a signal processing technique for determining the fast and slow shear wave polarizations, and their orientation, for acoustic waves in an anisotropic earth formation. The signal processing method decomposes composite received waveforms a number of times using a number of different strike angles. The decomposed signals are used to create estimated source signals. The estimated source signals are compared in some way to obtain an objective function. Locations in a plot where the objective function reaches minimum values are indicative of the acoustic velocity of the fast and slow polarizations within the formation.

Abstract: A mud pulse telemetry technique that uses a number of bits per interval based on parameters of the pulse position modulation system in order to reduce data transfer time in a pulse position modulation system. More particularly, depending on parameters of the pulse position modulation such as the minimum-time and the bit-width, it may be possible to decrease overall transmission time by splitting values having a larger number of bits into multiple transmissions with each transmission having a smaller number of bits.

Abstract: The specification discloses a controller housing that utilizes card guides that may be installed and removed without the use of tools. Various arrangements of the controller housing with and without the card guides allows for the controller housing to accept electronic circuit cards of varying sizes. Thus, if a manufacturer desires to increase the number of points on an input/output card, for example, those additional points need not necessarily be contained in a card having the same form factor. Instead, the manufacturer may provide a larger form factor card and that card may be inserted into the controller housing by appropriately adjusting the location of the card guide within the particular opening into which the new card is to be inserted.

Abstract: The patent discloses a signal processing technique for determining the fast and slow shear wave polarizations, and their orientation, for acoustic waves in an anisotropic earth formation. The signal processing method decomposes composite received waveforms a number of times using a number of different strike angles. The decomposed signals are used to create estimated source signals. The estimated source signals are compared in some way to obtain an objective function. Locations in a plot where the objective function reaches minimum values are indicative of the acoustic velocity of the fast and slow polarizations within the formation.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for reducing crosstalk and other noise sources in downhole tools is disclosed. Due to confined space in the downhole tool environment and the fact that the transmit path utilizes significantly more electrical power than the receive path, electromagnetic noise easily couples between adjacent circuitry. The specification discloses a phase-reversal element that can selectively allow the received signal to pass unaffected, or which can cause a phase reversal of the received signal. A digital signal processor samples the received signal, which after receipt but before sampling has noise induced thereon. Thereafter, the digital signal processor samples the phase reversed received signal, which likewise has the noise induced thereon after receipt but before sampling. Subtracting the first sampled signal from the second produces a resultant signal in which the noise is substantially reduced.

Abstract: The specification discloses a signal processing technique applicable in acoustic logging devices. The method involves receiving a set of acoustic signals and converting those received signals to their frequency domain representation. Values of the frequency domain representations along constant frequencies are correlated to produce a correlation matrix. Eigenvectors and eigenvalues of the correlation matrix are determined, and the eigenvectors corresponding to signals of interest are removed to create a subspace. Thereafter, a series of test vectors, which test vectors embody a series of estimated slowness values, are applied to the subspace vector. If the test vector maps to or may be represented by the subspace, then the estimated slowness embodied in the test vector maps to noise of the system and is not the correct value for the formation. If, however, the test vector does not map to the subspace, then the slowness embodied in the test vector approximates the actual formation slowness.

Abstract: The specification discloses a cap for sealing the terminal end of a power cord, such as a marine power cord, against dirt and moisture. The specification also discloses that the cap actively prevents corrosion of the electrical contacts covered by the cap by the inclusion of corrosion-inhibiting compounds dispersed within the plastic of the cap. The corrosion-inhibiting compound are released in gaseous form within the cap, thereby inhibiting corrosion of the electrical contacts.

Abstract: The specification describes a system and related method for determining the orientation of acoustic vector sensors installed in well bores that utilizes acoustic signals of known orientation in the casing to determine the orientation of the acoustic vector sensors. The acoustic vector sensors may be part of a string of acoustic sensors for acoustic or seismic surveys of subsurface formations, or may also be coupled to downhole devices for which orientations need to be know.

Abstract: A mobile cattle hospital that is adapted to be located near a pen of cattle for treatment operations. A gooseneck trailer forms a platform upon which various gates, fence panels, a squeeze chute, a squeeze pen and supplies are located for the treatment, or working, operations. The trailer is further configured to selectively raise and lower, sitting on the ground during working operations to make easier the movement of the cattle on and off the trailer.

Abstract: A method and related apparatus for high speed digital data conmunications from multiple distributed modems to a single central modem or a common transmission medium. In one embodiment, multiple downhole modems, with each modem associated with a geophone, transmit data to a surface modem over a single transmission medium. In a second embodiment, multiple transmission mediums are used and a plurality of downhole modems associated with geophones communicate to the surface modem over the downhole modem's respective transmission medium.

Abstract: The present invention is a power distribution assembly for distributing power about a rack mounted server system. In particular, each chassis of a rack mounted server system is provided power through a power distribution assembly that is hinged to a back of the rack of the server system. Each of the power distribution assemblies may be in either an open position or a closed position. In a closed position, each of the power distribution assemblies is rotated to lie very close to a backplane board of a chassis of the server system. In an open position, each of the power distribution assemblies is swung around so that full access may be had to the backplane boards of the chassis in the server system.

Abstract: The present invention is related to a cable coupling system for supplying DC power in rack-mounted server systems. The cable coupling system involves grouping related power supply and power return cables and placing ends of those cables in a cable-end housing. Electrically contacting the ends of the cables takes place through apertures in the back surface of the cable-end housing and corresponding electrical contact pins on a connection area of the rack-mounted system. The system also includes a connection guide having a lip that insures that the cable-end housing only connects to the electrical contact pins in one direction, thereby insuring that the polarity is not reversed in the supply of DC power. Further, the lip portion of the connection guide, in combination with a pry aperture on the top of the cable-end housing, assists removal of the cable-end housing by providing locations whereby a screw driver or other mechanism can be used to pry the cable-end housing.

Abstract: A computer system has a ROM device containing two separately flashed areas. Each area contains a firmware image. From the factory, the two firmware images are identical. Each image also contains the executable code to flash an image area. The ROM also contains a “boot block” sector that makes decisions as to which of the firmware images is the “active” image and which is the “inactive” image. The active image is copied from the ROM to a RAM device and executed from RAM during normal system operation. The inactive image normally is not executed. The boot block sector also contains code that performs a checksum verification on the active image during initialization and, if the checksum fails, switches the active/inactive status of the two firmware images to make the previously inactive image the active image. With two firmware images, the system can recover from a power failure occurring while flashing the ROM because the other firmware image is still available.

Abstract: A method and related system for detecting mud pulse telemetry by measuring pressure fluctuations in drilling fluid by measuring mud pressure pulses at two locations. A first location is somewhat downstream of the mud pump and desurger and a second location is proximate to the mud pump and desurger. Given these two pressure signals they are subtracted to create a difference signal where the presence or absence of mud pressure pulses is determined by pressure spikes caused by the interaction of mud pressure pulses. A second method measures the mud pressure pulse at only one location.

Abstract: A structure and related method for generating phase enable signals for a multi-phase switching power supply with the characteristic that each signal has the same frequency, but each differs in phase relationship. The structure includes a clock circuit coupled to a shift register and clocking the shift register. The shift register has one of its outputs coupled to its shift input signal line. Clocking of the shift register with the clock circuit produces a series of phase enable signals, at the shift register's shift output signal lines, to be coupled to switching phases of a multi-phase switching power supply. The circuit easily adapts to varying number of phases of the multi-phase switching power supply by changing which of the several shift output signals couples back to the shift input signal.

Abstract: The method and structure of a moisture measuring device that creates an electric field and then determines a moisture content of a specimen based on the effect the moisture of the specimen has on the electric field.