Abstract: A method for selecting a design parameter for a drill bit is disclosed. The method includes entering a value of at least one property of an earth formation to be drilled into a trained neural network. The neural network is trained by selecting data from drilled wellbores. The data comprise values of the formation property for formations through which the drilled wellbores have penetrated. Corresponding to the values of formation property are values of at least one drilling operating parameter, the drill bit design parameter, and values of a rate of penetration and a rate of wear of a drill bit used on each of the formations. Data from the wellbores are entered into the neural network to train it, and the design parameter is then selected based on output of the trained neural network.

Abstract: A marine riser segment which includes a riser joint having a threaded coupling at each end and flanges disposed on an exterior of the joint. Each of the flanges is coupled to the joint by a bearing. The flanges including openings therein for auxiliary conduits, so that the conduit joint is connectible to another such joint by relative rotation of corresponding ones of the threaded couplings, while the flanges remain rotationally fixed.

Abstract: The delay signal generating apparatus according to the present invention for outputting a delay signal obtained by delaying a reference signal includes: a phase shift device capable of outputting a plurality of shift signals having phases shifted from a phase of the reference signal by different shift amounts, respectively; and a shift signal selector capable of selecting one of the shift signals that has a phase shifted by a predetermined shift amount and outputting the selected shift signal.

Abstract: A socket for receiving an electrical component, such as a semiconductor component, having an electrical terminal. The socket has a contact, to which the electric terminal is connected when the electrical component is fully inserted into the socket, and a driving mechanism that controls measurement of the contact toward the electric terminal when the semiconductor component is inserted into the socket. The driving mechanism has a movable separation member for keeping the contact away from the insertion position of the semiconductor component when the semiconductor component is not inserted in the socket. The socket also has a spring which is compressed as the semiconductor component is inserted into the socket. The spring pushes back the movable separation member toward the semiconductor component when the semiconductor component is removed.

Abstract: A calibration method for calibrating a semiconductor testing apparatus before mounting semiconductor devices for performing a testing of electric characteristics thereof, the testing apparatus having a driver which generates and outputs a signal, and a socket with a plurality of terminals for receiving pins and transferring signals therethrough. The calibration method includes mounting a test board having a plurality of pins onto the socket and connecting each of the pins of the test board with a respective terminal of the socket, transferring the signal of the driver to the terminals of the test board, detecting the signal of the driver that has reached the test board, and setting an output timing of the signal of the driver based on the signal detected.

Abstract: A fastener (1) comprises a core plate member made of metal (11) and a decorative member made of a wooden board (12) covering the core plate member (11). The decorative member (12) is formed of a hollow wooden board whose central portion is hollowed out. The fastener (1) is formed with little or no clearance between the core plate member (13) and the decorative member (12). Wooden furniture is fastened to the building using the fastener (1). The fastener (1) does not spoil the appearance of the wooden furniture, does not make flaws easily, and does not cause sliding easily in fastening the wooden furniture to the building.

Abstract: A roller cone drill bit is disclosed which includes a bit body having at least one leg depending from the bit body. The leg has a journal formed on it at a lower end. The bit body includes an air channel extending at least from an interior of the bit body to the seal area of the journal. A roller cone is sealingly, rotatably mounted on the journal. The cone has a plurality of cutting elements disposed on it. The bit includes a backflow valve disposed in the bit body, so that an intake end of the air channel is disposed upstream of the backflow valve. In one embodiment, the backflow valve is disposed in a connection end of the bit body, and the air channel includes a flow tube extending from the air passage in the bit body to the backflow valve so that its intake end is upstream of the backflow valve.

Abstract: During traveling of rolling stock on a route, running velocity of the rolling stock is detected. Vertical acceleration is also detected at a carbody above spring rigging of truck and a component is extracted in a predetermined frequency range from the vertical acceleration. When an absolute value of the vertical acceleration in the frequency range exceeds preset limit vertical acceleration corresponding to running velocity, the rolling stock is judged as being derailed. In another embodiment double integral of the vertical acceleration is carried out every predetermined evaluating time to calculate a vertical displacement amount. In the case that the vertical displacement amount is negative and an absolute value thereof is not less than a predetermined reference value, it is then determined that the rolling-stock is derailed.

Abstract: In an apparatus for opening and closing a working area of a machine tool (1) which comprises a front door (6) for opening and closing an operation opening (5a) formed in a cover (5) serving as a partition between the working area A and an operator, and a ceiling shutter (8) covering an upper part of the above working area A so as to be opened and closed, there is provided a detection switch for detecting a closed condition of the front door (6), and an interlocking mechanism (9) for blocking a closing operation of the front door (6) while the ceiling shutter is open.

Abstract: A waveform generator 30 for generating a desired waveform includes a plurality of rectangular wave generators (40a to 40n) for generating a plurality of rectangular waves and a waveform synthesizing unit 42 for synthesizing the rectangular waves to generate a multi-level synthesized wave, and generate the desired wave based on the synthesized wave.

Abstract: A semiconductor component mounting apparatus for mounting a semiconductor component to test the electric characteristics of the semiconductor component, comprising: a contactor 20 with which the semiconductor component contacts; a substrate 30 which supplies an electric signal to the contactor 20; a plurality of connection components 40, each of which has an electric terminal 48 for supplying the electric signal to the substrate 30 and which is fixed to the substrate 30; a plurality of connectors 50 which has a contact pin 70 including a contact part 74 for contacting with the electric terminal 48 of the connection component 40, a housing 68 for holding the contact pin 70, a pushing part 78 for pushing the contact pin 70 to the electric terminal 48, and which is freely-detachably connected to one of the plurality of the connection components 40; a holder 80 which holds the plurality of the connectors 50, and a fixing part 86 which fixes the holder 80 to the substrate 30, wherein the contact part 74 slides alo

Abstract: In one embodiment, a running toy is provided having a rear-end portion of a fore undercarriage with front wheels pivotally coupled with a fore-end portion of a rear undercarriage with rear wheels. Further, a fore toy body is attached to the fore undercarriage, and a rear toy body is attached to the rear undercarriage, where the fore toy body and rear toy body are sustained such that these car bodies move parallel toward or away from each other, and where a rear-wheel driving mechanism for driving at least either the front wheels or the rear wheels is disclosed herein.

Abstract: A method for a dynamic shut-in of a subsea mudlift drilling system. The method comprises detecting a kick, isolating a wellbore, and adjusting a subsea mudlift pump and a surface mud pump to provide a selected wellbore pressure. Selected well parameters are measured and used to calculate a kick intensity. The invention is also a method for a dynamic shut-in of a subsea mudlift drilling system including detecting a kick and isolating a wellbore. A first inlet pressure of a subsea mudlift pump and a first drill pipe pressure are measured. A rate of the subsea mudlift pump and a rate of a surface mud pump are adjusted to pre-kick circulation rates. A second inlet pressure of the subsea mudlift pump and a second drill pipe pressure are recorded. The measured values are used to calculate a kick intensity.

Abstract: A method which allows for a more efficient pre-emphasis of a high frequency inter-chip signal. The method uses a single predriver stage to equalize a signal when a transition in value of a digital signal is detected. The method equalizes the signal with decreased power and area requirements for greater efficiency.

Abstract: An automated hardfacing system useful for hardfacing roller cones is disclosed. The automated system includes a robot with an arm, a positioner, and a controller which co-ordinates the alignment of the robot and the positioner. The robot holds a hardfacing torch and is capable of movement in three axes of movement. These axes are the x, y, and z axes of the Cartesian co-ordinate system. The positioner holds a roller cone and is capable of movement in at least two axes of movement. The movement includes tilting and rotation about a Cartesian axis. The hardfacing coating produced by the automated system has improved quality and consistency as compared to the one obtained by a manual process.

Abstract: A power supply unit which supplies voltage to electric components, includes: a DC power supply (40) which supplies DC voltage to the electric components; at least one capacitor (C1), provided between the DC power supply (40) and the electric components, which charges the DC voltage; an input switch (SW1a) which connects or disconnects the capacitor (C1) and the DC power supply (40); and an output switch (SW1b) which connects or disconnects the capacitor (C1) and the electric components (semiconductor device under test); and a switching control unit (60) which charges the capacitor (C1) and supplies the DC voltage charged in the capacitor (C1) to the electric components. Thereby, the DC voltage to be supplied to the electric components or semiconductor device under test can be temporarily switched to low-noise DC voltage supplied from the charged-up capacitor (C1) during the test.