Abstract: An earth boring bit having a cantilevered bearing shaft and a compensator system to equalize the pressure of the lubricant with the hydrostatic pressure of the drilling fluid surrounding the bit. A rigid face seal assembly, positioned between the cutter and bearing shaft of the bit, moves axially in response to, and to compensate for, dynamic pressure changes in the lubricant adjacent the seal. The positioning of the seal groove and seal assembly in relation to the bearing surface is such that rigid face seal movement is decreased relative to axial cutter movement during drilling to enhance seal life. Preferably the ratio of rigid ring movement to axial cutter movement is substantially one half to one.

Abstract: An impacting nut cracker which utilizes an impacting plunger activated by a compression spring or electrical solenoid to deliver a sharp blow to an aligned adjustable anvil to provide a stroke of measured distance to a nut confined against a tailstock anvil, the position of which is determined by use of a sector gear and gear rack. A slidable and transparent guard over the impact area prevents excessive dispersion of the fractured shell. A concavity in the tailstock anvil and in the adjustable anvil causes a circular edge to engage each end of the nut to cause circular fractures beneficial in achieving greater uniformity in the fracture pattern of the shell.

Abstract: A method for hardening a selected region of a steel bearing surface of an earth boring bit using the steps of stretching a rubber protector over a seal region to be protected from treatment (the rubber being selected from the group consisting of silicone, neoprene and nitrile), exposing the bearing surface and protector to a medium (selected from the group consisting of carburizing, nitriding, carbonitriding, siliconizing, chromizing and boronizing) of the type for altering the chemical composition of the steel to be hardened, heating the medium and bearing surface, cooling the bearing and protector, and removing and cleaning the surface.

Abstract: A punch for setting a rivet has features to prevent swelling of the rivet between the two members being secured together. The punch has an elongated, solid blow transmitting member with a blow receiving surface and a shank. A sleeve is slidingly carried by the shank and movable from a position protruding past the lower end of the shank. The sleeve has a sidewall with at least one elongated slot extending therethrough. A pin is secured in the shank and extends laterally outward from the shank into the slot to retain the sleeve. A spring urges the sleeve downwardly.

Abstract: An earth boring bit of the "air cooled" type that includes an air passage access system, including a generally vertical passage with an opening on the exterior of the leg or in the shank cavity that forms part of the body of the bit. This vertical passage is accessible through the opening by removal of a core that expands or retracts by altering the pressure exerted against it by two plates and a threaded fastener.

Abstract: A downhole pressure fluctuating tool having an improved acoustical circuit using a fluid oscillator to generate out-of-phase pressure fluctuations in two output legs, one connected to an acoustical compliance inside the tool and the other connected to an acoustical compliance exterior of the tool in a cavity partially formed by the wall of the well. An acoustical inertance with a pressure node at its midregion connects the two acoustical compliances, and said midregion communicates with the annulus between the body of the tool and the wall of the well to discharge fluid from the body at the pressure node to minimize acoustical losses in the annulus.

Abstract: An earth boring bit with sealed and lubricated bearings and rotatable cutters, the seals being isolated from detritus in the borehole by a seal protector ring and groove. The ring, generally L shaped in cross-section, has radial and axial clearances from the registering groove to maintain a labyrinth path with selected values, irrespective of cone movement during drilling.

Abstract: An interference warning device for an oil well drilling rig having a derrick, traveling equipment, a racker arm, and a block retractor. Fluid activated sensors provide electric signals when the traveling equipment is within a selected vertical distance from the racker arm, when the racker arm is within a selected horizontal distance from the vertical axis of the derrick, or when the block retractor has extended the traveling equipment to within a selected distance from the fully extended position. The operator is informed when any one of the sensors is activated, cautioned when any two of the sensors are activated, and warned when all three sensors are activated. The drawworks may be braked when all three sensors are activated.

Abstract: A downhole drilling tool having a tubular stem connected to the drill string, and a tubular housing mounted concentrically and rotatably on the stem, forming an annular space between the housing and the stem. A plurality of bearings within the annular space support the housing against radial and longitudinal thrust loads. A plurality of seals within the annular space above and below the bearings form a lubricant chamber. The housing has a cylindrical lubricant passage extending between the lubricant chamber and the annular space outside of the lubricant chamber. A cylindrical piston is sealably slidable within the lubricant passage and responds to pressure of the drilling fluid entering the passage from the exterior of the housing to force lubricant out of the passage and into the lubricant chamber in order to replace lubricant which is lost therefrom. A downhole drilling motor is attached to the lower end of the housing.

Abstract: A warning device particularly for use in a coverall worn by a person in a controlled environment warns if the person has unfastened the garment. The garment has fasteners such as a zipper for opening and closing the garment. A pair of electrical contacts are mounted in the zipper track for contact by the zipper head as the zipper head moves along the zipper track. The zipper head establishes continuity through the contacts as it is drawn past. This provides a signal to a transmitter mounted to the coveralls. The transmitter provides a radio frequency signal to a receiver located in a monitoring area. The receiver provides a warning upon reception of the signal.

Abstract: An earth boring bit utilizing thermally stable polycrystalline diamond material having a row of closely spaced sharp cutting elements, following by a row of widely spaced, blunt or rounded cutting elements, each cutting element extending from a supporting matrix a predetermined amount to allow the sharp cutting elements to form small relief kerfs in a geological formation, after which the blunt or rounded cutting elements dislodge material between the kerfs. Additionally, cylindrical cutting elements are positioned near the gage or outermost portion of the matrix to enhance gage bore cutting.

Abstract: An earth boring bit having an improved two piece bearing construction using an internally tapered and threaded, cantilevered bearing lug extending obliquely inwardly and downwardly from a leg carried by the body of the bit. An internally tapered and threaded bearing sleeve is made up on the lug, and includes a mouth that engages a shoulder on a base region of the bearing lug. The mouth of the sleeve has a minimum radial thickness such that the sleeve may be made up to a selected minimum torque. The bearing sleeve has a length greater than that of the treaded portion to define a thick walled inner end region to receive a resilient retainer ring in a groove that provides a minimum section over the threads on the interior of the sleeve. The sleeve is boronized to achieve wear resistance in a manner that does not substantially reduce strength.

Abstract: A supporting connection system for a riser extending between a floating vessel and a subsea well utilizes a termination head that removably fits within a termination housing. The termination head and housing have radial ports that register with each other to transmit fluid between the vessel and the subsea well. A sliding sleeve is located in the radial port of the termination housing. The sleeve is reciprocated by hydraulic pressure between an open position removed from the termination head and a closed position with its forward end located inside the termination head radial passage. The forward end of the sliding sleeve seals within the termination head passage.

Abstract: A pressure compensator for a submersible pump has features to prevent damage while lowering the pump into the well. The pressure compensator includes a bellows located below the pump. A retainer will mechanically retain the bellows in a position other than its maximum lubricant volume position while lowering the pump assembly into the well. Once the motor begins operation, the retainer will release the bellows for normal movement. The retainer includes a linkage member that is connected to the top of the bellows and extends upwardly to the drive shaft. A latching device latches the linkage member to the drive shaft. A reverse threaded portion in the latching device unscrews the latching device from the linkage member once the motor begins to rotate.

Abstract: An electrical submersible well pump installation has a downhole secondary pump for pumping scale inhibiting chemicals below the downhole pumping assembly. The downhole pumping assembly includes a centrifugal primary pump driven by an electrical motor located below the pump and separated by a seal section for preventing well fluids from entering the motor. The secondary pump is also driven by the motor and is located between the seal section and the primary pump. The secondary pump has an intake connected to a tube that extends upwardly above the intake of the primary pump. The secondary pump has a discharge port connected to a discharge tube that extends downwardly to a point below the motor. Chemicals introduced at the surface into the annulus flow downwardly into the intake of the secondary pump and are discharged below the motor. The secondary pump has an inverted impeller and diffuser that have a discharge on the lower end for discharging fluids downwardly.

Abstract: A shear lock keeper ring is shown for maintaining the shank of a bit in contact with the retaining shoulder in the shank receiving opening of a bit mounting block of the type found on earth working machinery. The keeper ring is formed from a resilient material and has a ring-shaped inner portion which is received about the bit shank within a retaining groove on the shank. The keeper has a resilient outer portion which overlays the inner portion and which is joined to the inner portion at a shearable junction. The outer portion is deformable inwardly toward the inner portion during assembly of the shaft into the block opening. The outer portion is shearable upon opposite relative movement of the shaft in the block opening to disassemble the shaft from the block.

Abstract: A submersible well pump has a system for monitoring the pressure and temperature in the vicinity of the motor. The system includes a downhole assembly in the well that has a transmitter for generating a signal and superimposing the signal onto the power cable. Transducers in the downhole assembly sense physical parameters such as pressure and temperature and provide electrical responses corresponding to the physical parameters. The transducers are connected to a modulator which modulates the signal provided by the transmitter according to the electrical response of the transducers. The modulated carrier signal is converted at the surface into a readout signal proportional to the physical parameters.

Abstract: An elevator/spider having a series of slips in a tapered bowl and a yoke for pivotally setting the slips. A lock rod, having a hole, is connected to the yoke and extends downward into a locking mechanism. The locking mechanism has a lock plunger which can be moved into or out of the hole in the lock rod, to lock the lock rod in a downward position and the slips in an upward, retracted position. The lock plunger is moved by a key, cooperative with a key slot in the lock plunger. The key is attached to a cam, which is rotated by a handle. The cam also has a cam surface which can contact the lock rod to hold the lock rod and the slips down.

Abstract: A pressure operated test valve for use in a well test string in a well bore is shown. The test string has a packer arranged for sealing the well bore to isolate the annulus between the well bore and the test string above the packer from that portion of the well bore below the packer. The test valve includes a rotating ball valve which is movable between open and closed positions relative to the interior of the test string. A ball piston shifts the rotating ball between the open and closed positions. A coil spring normally urges the ball piston to its valve closing position. A power fluid reservoir contains a power fluid and an axially shiftable power valve is located within a power chamber which communicates with the power fluid reservoir. An axially slidable control valve is located within a control chamber and has a pressure responsive annular area which is exposed to the power fluid for shifting the control valve.

Abstract: A solid head earth boring bit has a central tungsten carbide core sealed at the lower end of a drilling fluid passage that extends through the bit to the face of the bit. The core has a nozzle passage extending through it that is offset from the axis of the drilling fluid passage. The core also has at least one cutting element secured to its face. The cutting elements are secured in holes in the core.