Abstract: The present invention is directed toward a process for laser alloying of a workpiece and an apparatus for carrying out said process. The method embodiment of the present invention is directed toward a process for forming an alloy in the surface of a metal substrate comprising the steps of applying an alloy precursor material at a controlled rate to the surface of the substrate and then melting the surface and the precursor alloy material by the application of a laser beam in order to form an alloy of the precursor alloy material and the substrate. The method embodiment of the present invention further comprises the steps of measuring one or more parameters indicative of alloying depth, controlling the rate of precursor application in response to at least one of the measured parameters, and allowing the allow to solidify.

Abstract: A valve actuator preferably driven by an electric motor is disclosed. The valve actuator is useful with surface safety valves and uses power input from an electric motor to position the valve in its normal position. A mechanism is provided to allow the valve to shift positions to a failsafe position upon failure of electrical power to the motor connected to the actuator. A screw drive is provided with the motor, with a latch mechanism holding a nut against rotation. The nut can advance longitudinally upon rotation of the drive to move a valve stem. Upon failure of electrical power, the latch mechanism releases the nut from a coupling in the actuator which is connected to the valve stem, and the main return springs in the actuator allow the nut to rotate with respect to the screw drive so that the valve can assume its failed position. Normal applications allow the valve to fail closed; however, the valve can be configured so that failure results in opening of the valve if the application requires it.

Abstract: A filter is provided which combines a woven wire mesh over a supporting body. The supporting body is typically a metal perforated tube which provides fluid communication between the well bore and the production equipment string. The woven wire mesh acts as a filter to prevent the influx of sand particles, provides openings oriented at various angles relative to its surface, so that some area is available for fluid entry even when particulate matter is lodged on the surface above an opening, provides interior channels that allow fluid to travel from one location on the mesh surface to another location over an opening into the supporting body, and does not provide "straight-through" openings, thus forcing the fluid to make multiple turns to pass through the mesh, thereby dissipating the fluid's energy and increases the mesh's erosion resistance. When particulate matter accumulates on the mesh's surface, the resulting particle cake remains porous, heightening the filter's resistance to plugging.

Abstract: A butterfly valve having a valve body with a seat therein and a valve disc carried on a rotatable shaft such that the valve disc can be moved into and away from sealing engagement with the valve body seat is provided with a removable and replaceable seat member forming the valve body seat and a removable and replaceable sealing surface member is mounted on the valve disc which is sealingly engageable with the seat member when the valve disc is moved into sealing engagement with the valve body seat. The valve body seat preferably is sized to be press fit into a recess in the valve body and retained therein without additional fasteners. This butterfly valve can be used in a single, double or triple offset valve and the valve can be attached to a pipe in any conventional manner. The valve seat material and the sealing surface material may be solid metal, a resistant material such as nylon or Teflon.RTM., may have a metal insert or may have a high temperature insert such as graphite.

Abstract: A casing fill and circulator assembly is disclosed. The fill valve is constructed so that the valve member moves out of the main flowpath when the valve is in the open position. The valve is constructed so that flow opens it and the majority of the pressure drop is taken in an area other than the interface between the valve member and the seat. For circulation, the apparatus is advanced further into the casing until a cup seal closes off the top of the casing. Once flow is initiated in that condition, internal pressure in the casing, at very low applied pressures, opens a circulation valve and closes the fill valve so that circulation through the casing is accomplished through the circulation valve while bypassing the fill valve. Erosive effects from flow on the fill valve are thus eliminated during circulation. An alternative dual-function valve in a circulator/filling apparatus is also disclosed where a control system senses applied pressure in the apparatus and opens the valve.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for detecting lubricant reservoir levels, particularly in bearing sections for downhole mud motors, is revealed. This allows rig personnel to more exactly ascertain the remaining bearing life of the assembly. In one embodiment, the assembly is pulled out of the hole and comprises of a signal source. A hand-held device is placed next to the bearing housing and the location of the strongest signal is a direct measurement of the position of the floating piston in the lubricant reservoir. The rig personnel can then readily obtain a level reading on the fluid level in the reservoir. An alternative design is also revealed where the position of the floating piston is sensed in real-time by receivers mounted at spaced locations in the lubricant reservoir.

Abstract: This invention is directed toward a hand fracture, burn and contraction treatment device that is capable of imparting the desired amount of long term force and moment to the interphalangeal and metacarpalphalangeal joints so as to effectively combat deformity due to burn scar or trauma, to prevent and/or correct contractures, and to reduce and immobilize fractures. The invention comprises two axial members slidably mounted within respective housings and joined by a spherical joint (with a slot to provide a selectable axis of increased range of motion). The invention permits movement of one axial member with respect to the other axial member in up to five degrees of freedom. The invention further provides for the adjustable mobilization of each axial member.

Abstract: A compact tensioner/stopper device includes a fairlead which may or may not be part of the device. A set of inboard and outboard pawls are provided. The pawls are spaced and operate in a manner that at least one pari of pawls grabs the chain at any given time. This prevents accidental loss of the chain overboard. The chain is tensioned as the inboard pawls are engaged to the chain and actuated hydraulically to pull the chain inboard. Pulling inboard allows the outboard pawls to slide over at least one link and lock into place behind that link. The inboard pawls are stroked outboard over the next link to be grabbed, with the outboard pawls engaging the chain, the inboard pawls slide outboard to obtain another grip on a subsequent link and the process is repeated to conclude the tensioning. For deployment, the outboard pawls are retracted while the chain is retained by the inboard pawls. The inboard pawls are stroked outboard to pay out the chain.

Abstract: The invention relates to a pair of matched surfaces usable in sealing a downhole subsurface safety valve. The continuous seat and the matching flapper profile feature a surface that is around its periphery transverse to the longitudinal axis of the seat and the flapper. The seating surface, if extended in a two-dimensional plane, defines an undulating shape which can be a sinusoidal shape in the preferred embodiment. The result is an improvement in the performance of the metal-to-metal contact between the seat and the flapper, coupled with a self-centering effect when the seating surface on the flapper, which is formed adjacent a shoulder, is presented in opposition to the seat. Additionally, the transverse undulating seat can have an embedded groove which accommodates a resilient seal, preferably PTFE or Teflon.RTM..

Abstract: A pedestal structure for a boat seat is disclosed which is a push-together design. The pedestal is made of at least two components, one of which has a male end insertable into a bushing. The bushing has an opening adjacent its lower end to receive the male end in an interference fit. The bushing has sufficient flexibility to allow the male end to pass whereupon a recess shoulder on the male end is trapped by the bushing. The pedestal can still swivel but a pull-apart force of a predetermined value is required in order to assemble or pull apart the seat pedestal assembly.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system for direct injection of chemicals or other additives in a liquid solution into a spray nozzle. The injection system of the present invention may be mounted adjacent, or in close proximity, to the spray nozzles of a sprayer. The present invention comprises a variable speed/stroke diaphragm pump capable of providing a double pumping action such that a liquid solution may be continuously pumped at a controllable rate to one or more spray nozzles of a sprayer.

Abstract: A mechanism for arients and maintains a key in a sub for guiding directional measurement equipment of a directional drilling assembly with respect to the drillbit. The orienting sub has an outer sleeve which is supported on an inner shoulder in the orienting sub. An inner sleeve which holds the key has an outer wedged profile which follows the shape of the outer sleeve. The outer sleeve can be longitudinally, obliquely, or spirally segmented and has a thread on one end so that a jam nut can be installed to advance the inner sleeve with the key until a wedging action occurs between the inner and outer sleeves and the sub. At that point, the key is oriented without any bores through the wall of the sub. Provisions can be made in the assembly to provide a biasing force on the inner sleeve which holds the key to compensate for vibrational loads on the assembly.

Abstract: A casing/drillpipe protector is disclosed that has a composite structure made up of two separate parts. Both parts have cages to secure skeleton functions. The inner part is nested within the outer part such that the open ends of both cages form loops which can be aligned for insertion of a pin to secure the protector to the pipe. The cage of the inner part is smaller but stronger than the cage of the outer part and provides the significant portion of the hoop stress, and therefore radial force of the protector which is used to retain it to the drillpipe.

Abstract: A non-rotating drill pipe/casing protector is disclosed. The protector has a bi-directional thrust bearing which can be mounted uphole or downhole from the protector. The bi-directional thrust bearing comprises a female and male part where the female is fixed to the tube and the male can relatively rotate with respect to the pipe. The protector has an insert which extends longitudinally out of the sleeve and is used as the male component in the thrust bearing. Thrust loads are absorbed by metallic component contact, thereby eliminating edge wear of the non-rotating sleeve. The thrust bearing components may have wear pads that are replaceable. Roller bearings can also be used to facilitate the relative rotation between the drillpipe and the sleeve. Wear pads can also be employed on the outside of the sleeve to increase its life.

Abstract: A casing patch is disclosed which uses one or more fins which elastically flex to accept a casing stub. The casing stub is prepared with a dressing tool containing a special mill to obtain the requisite finish on its outer surface prior to insertion of the casing patch. The flexible fin or fins provide a metal-to-metal seal to the outer surface of the casing patch and a grip assembly holds the joint together. In certain applications, the fins can be combined with a resilient seal where the fins preferably provide a complete extrusion barrier to the resilient seals. Using the fins which preferably are integral to the body, alone or in combination with a resilient seal or seals, the wall thickness of the joint can be maintained at thicker values for a given size as compared to prior designs, thus, ensuring a sufficient pressure rating for the joint which is at least equal to the rating of the casing stub.

Abstract: A flexible stent is disclosed that can be constructed in a variety of ways. It can be made from a continuous wire formed into discrete rings of undulating bends where the end rings are closed up on themselves, and the continuous wire which forms the rings between the end rings defines longitudinal gaps in each of the internal rings, which gaps are in turn straddled by crossties which, in the preferred embodiment, extend in a perpendicular plane to the longitudinal axis of the stent, while being disposed in alignment with the cylindrical surface defined by the stent. The crossties act to keep the opening in the inner rings constrained during expansion of the stent. The presence of the longitudinal openings in the internal rings adds to the flexibility of the stent to ease delivery to the desired location. Alternatively, the flexible stent can be etched from a tube. In this preferred embodiment, alternating rings of an undulating wire-type element, etched from a tube, are presented.

Abstract: In an internal combustion engine having a butterfly valve driven by an electric motor and located within an inlet pipe made at least in part of a plastic material, electrostatic charges forming in the area of the inlet pipe are diverted away by a connection, containing a resistor, located between the butterfly valve section and the terminals of the electric motor used to control the butterfly valve's regulating flap.

Abstract: A wireline-set retrievable packer with the flow plug on top is disclosed which uses a conventional setting tool. After setting the packer, picking up on the wireline allows the adapter assembly to disengage from the on/off seal nipple/packer so that the setting tool and adapter assembly can be removed.

Abstract: This invention relates to a device and system for cleaning the interior of conduits, gun barrels, or pipes, including drain pipes. The pipe cleaning device of the present invention is capable of (a) penetrating and removing restrictions that block flow, (b) scouring the interior wall of conduits or pipes to remove the buildup of undesirable solids that result in flow restriction, and (c) coating the wall of the pipe with a suitable substance. The present invention comprises a connecting member housed within a bendable or flexible conduit, a retraction handle attached to one end of the connecting member, and elastic or flexible strands attached to the opposite end of said connecting member. The strands are outwardly expandable in a radial dimension when said connecting member is retracted. The system of the present invention further comprises a pressure/suction source coupled to the conduit.

Abstract: A multipurpose tool is disclosed which has as one of its purposes anchoring coiled tubing during certain downhole operations such as milling. In the anchor format the tool is run in in the retracted position and then expanded to get a grip on the casing or tubing in the wellbore prior to actuation of a downhole tool such as a mill, which is generally driven by a downhole motor. A flushing mechanism keeps the anchoring assembly free of debris so that it functions properly. The anchoring assembly employs a linkage of two or more links depending on the size of the tubing against which the coil tubing is to be anchored and the amount of anchoring force required. The same tool through a switchout of linkage components can serve a multitude of other functions on separate runs in the well or on the same run with one tool body. The tool can serve as a sleeve shifting tool, a centralizer, or a tubing end locator. The tool can expand to a ratio of greater than 1.