Abstract: The present invention pertains to a filter press which includes a plurality of filter units arranged in tandem. Each unit has a filter plate and filter elements in the form of sheets at either side. Adjacent filter elements of adjacent units form pairs of elements. A working fluid containing liquid and solid components to be separated is charged at positions in between pairs of elements. The liquid filters through the elements into the plates to be exhausted. The solids build up in cakes intermediate the elements of the respective pairs. Each pair of elements is resiliently suspended from an eccentric rotor or shaft. When the cakes are to be dislodged, the press is opened, the units being parted. Rotation of the shaft cyclically slackens the filter elements and snaps them taut, thereby dislodging the cakes.

Abstract: A pump comprises a pump superstructure, a housing having a longitudinal axis, and mounting elements for pivotably mounting the housing on the superstructure for enabling a swinging of the housing between a vertical operational orientation and a horizontal maintenance orientation. The longitudinal axis of the housing is substantially vertical in the operational orientation of the housing and substantially horizontal in the maintenance orientation. An impeller is rotatably disposed in the housing for rotation about the longitudinal axis in the operational orientation of the housing, while a drive is fixed to the superstructure in a stationary location for rotatably driving the impeller.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a universal, adjustable pipe joint which permits a wide variety of possible adjustments with simple means in well drilling technology. In principle, the joint disclosed in this invention can be readily used for joining articles of all types which included tubular, pipe-like, projections.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an apparatus and method for directing drilling fluid to the cutting tip of a downhole drilling bit cutter by one or more flow channels formed in the upper section of the cutter's front surface, thereby maximizing the cleaning and cooling effect of the fluid flow on the actual cutting surface. Another embodiment of the present invention discloses an apparatus and method for helping to peel a rock chip from the face of a downhole drilling bit cutter while simultaneously cleaning and cooling the drill bit cutter cutting tip.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a device and method for drilling a secondary or deflection hole from a cased drill hole in underground rock or geologic formations. The device disclosed herein includes a deflection wedge unit mountable via a packer in the drill hole and a pilot cutting tool, all mountable to a drill string. A deflection guide actuated by deflection ramp on the deflection wedge unit initiates the deflection drilling process.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a universal, adjustable angle, pipe joint which permits a wide variety of possible adjustments with simple means in deep well drilling technology. In principle, the pipe joint disclosed in this invention can be readily used for joining articles of all types which include tubular, pipe-like, projections.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a novel method and apparatus for sinking drill holes in underground rock formations while generating drill cores as rock samples. More particularly, the present invention discloses a method and apparatus which allows for an expanded analysis of ground formations over a larger area through the extraction of drill cores as rock samples. The method and apparatus herein disclosed allows one to drill a number of core shaft sections from the base of a main shaft section in various directions in order to obtain a number of sample cores.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel horizontal well bore system. More particularly, the invention relates to the setting of a conductor casing, drilling a well bore to a horizontal position, drilling and screening the horizontal/lateral section of the well, filter packing the well screen, and installing any necessary pumping equipment. The resulting lateral well bore and the method disclosed for forming the same are particularly useful in environmental applications.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a double guided slide valve apparatus for producing pressure pulses in drilling mud medium flowing through a drill string casing.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a drilling tool including a retractable pilot drilling unit driven by a fluid operated motor, the motor comprising a stator mounted on the interior of a tubular outer housing and a rotor mounted on the exterior of a tubular inner housing axially supported in said outer housing and rotationally free with respect thereto. The pilot drilling unit is rotationally fixed within the inner housing, but axially moveable therewithin so that pressure of drilling fluid used to drive the motor will also act on reaction surfaces of the pilot drilling unit to urge it axially forward. The top of the pilot drilling unit includes a fishing head for retracting the pilot drilling unit from the drilling tool, and reinserting it therein.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a novel method and apparatus for forming a perimeter lined, generally horizontally directed drill hole in a variety of soil formations. More particularly, the present invention discloses a method and apparatus for horizontal drilling which allows for the preparation of reinforced drill holes of a small diameter and precise heading by the use of a directed drilling tool seated within a mantle tube and the simultaneous advancement into various soil formations of this combination.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a novel method and apparatus for sinking drill holes in underground rock formations while generating drill cores as rock samples. More particularly, the present invention discloses a method and apparatus which allows for an expanded analysis of ground formations over a larger area through the extraction of drill cores as rock samples. The method and apparatus herein disclosed allowed one to drill a number of core shaft sections from the base of a main shaft section in various directions in order to obtain a number of sample cores.

Abstract: Drill bits may include cutting members which have cutting faces formed of segments of differing cutting materials. The faces of the cutting members may include two or more segments, with the segments formed from at least two different materials. For example, a first segment could be formed of a polycrystalline diamond compact surface while a second segment could be formed of a thermally stable diamond product material.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a rotary drill bit including a cutting structure comprising an array of cutting elements oriented and arranged to facilitate concentration of the load on bit on groups of cutting elements until the elements become dulled or worn, at which point fresh cutting elements are exposed to engage the formation and tube the concentrated bit loading. Preferably, the cutting elements are configured and/or supported to break away from the cutting structure when worn to a certain extent, thereby facilitating exposure of fresh cutting elements to engage the formation.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a novel core drilling tool system which allows for less stressful extended axial settings and adjustments in a core barrel environment. More particularly, the present invention discloses the formation of the setting device as a separate spacer apparatus which provides a setting method independent of the suspension of the inner unit in the outer housing of a core drilling tool thereby allowing for axial settings over a long adjustment path which are generally free of stress due to the weight of the inner unit.

Abstract: In a wireline data transmission system for passing data between downhole and surface locations in a wellbore, a system for transmitting data at a frequency above the relatively low roll of frequency of a wireline permits higher data rates to be transmitted over the wireline than would be possible using standard digital data formats. The present system utilizes short duration pulses which are placed on the wireline in conformity to the transition edge between voltage levels in a typical digital data format, and thus transmits the digital data over the wireline in a manner which is not adversely affected by the phase shifting which normally occurs when bi-level voltage data formats are used for data transmission over a wireline.

Abstract: The flow rate of the drilling mud within a drill string is measured by measuring the doppler frequency shift in an acoustic signal propagated from a first acoustic transducer to a second acoustic transducer laterally separated from the first acoustic transducer. Each of the transducers are disposed within the principal flow of the drilling mud. The degree of doppler shift is a measure of the flow rate of the drilling mud between the two transducers. Variations in the flow rate of the drilling mud as measured by the transducers downhole are used to transmit information or commands from the well surface to a downhole microprocessor coupled to the output of the transducers.

Abstract: The present invention comprises an improved method and apparatus for taking core samples, wherein a core drilling assembly driven by a downhole fluid motor is retrievably housed within a drilling tool of larger diameter, and wherein a plurality of cores may be cut and retrieved to the surface by withdrawal of the core drilling assembly by including an extender in the core drilling assembly each time it is brought to the surface and returned to the drilling tool, and sequentially cutting another core without postdrilling the previously cored formation section. The extenders may be included either above or below the motor used to drive the core drilling assembly, and are preferably of tubular configuration with screw-threaded connectors at their ends for rapid insertion in and removal from the core drilling assembly.