Abstract: A printed circuit mother board, for interconnecting the respective edge connectors of a plurality of other printed circuit boards having digital circuitry thereon, has a set of generally straight, approximately parallel tracks on each side. Each set of tracks comprises alternate signal tracks and ground tracks, and the ground tracks of each set are interconnected with each other to approximate to a ground plane. Additionally, the tracks on one side of the board are slightly laterally displaced with respect to the tracks on the other side, so that each signal track on either side is opposite a ground track on the other side. The possibility of interference between signals carried by the signal tracks is thus reduced, and the board has transmission line characteristics.

Abstract: In the representative embodiment of the new and improved apparatus disclosed herein, a so-called "stuck-point indicator" or "freepoint-indicator" tool includes a deformation-responsive sensor tandemly supported between upper and lower selectively-operated tool anchors of a unique arrangement which, in the preferred embodiment of the tool, are cooperatively arranged to be sequentially engaged with longitudinally-spaced wall portions of a string of well pipe believed to be stuck in a well bore. In the disclosed embodiment of the tool, each tool anchor respectively includes a set of pivoted anchor members and actuating links adapted to swing the anchor members outwardly into anchoring engagement with the pipe wall for securing the tool against longitudinal movement in the pipe string.

Abstract: A partial response QAM Modem is provided wherein a transmit signal is generated by modulating band limited, multilevel, partial response precoded data with inphase and quadrature carriers in inphase and quadrature phase channels, respectively, and summing the modulated outputs. The received signal is processed by a passband automatic complex equalizer. The equalized signal is delayed and then demodulated with recovered inphase and quadrature carriers to recover the inphase and quadrature phase baseband signals. The recovered baseband signals are sampled at appropriate instants to produce estimates of the transmitted symbols. These symbols are partial response decoded and processed by error correctors to improve the overall system performance. The error corrector outputs are decoded to convert the multilevel estimated data to binary data and the binary data of the two channels is summed to obtain estimates of the binary data transmitted.

Abstract: In accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention, apparatus for use in measuring weight-on-bit downhole during a drilling operation includes tubular telescoping members having resilient means reacting therebetween whereby relative longitudinal movement of the members is functionally relative to axial loading of a drill bit, sensor means mounted on one member and connected by linkage means to the other member for sensing the amount of relative movement, and means providing an elastic discontinuity in said linkage means for substantially isolating said sensor means from vibratory movement of said other member due to the cutting action of the bit.

Abstract: The disclosure is directed to a non-contacting gage apparatus and method of the type wherein radiation attenuation is measured to obtain thickness information. A first function is developed and is representative of the thickness of standard pieces versus measurement values. A second function is developed and is representative of the Absorption Index of alloy material (to be measured) versus thickness. Calibration can then be effected using the two functions and the nominal thickness of material to be measured.

Abstract: A digital voltmeter for measuring an input voltage which can lie in any one of M successive ranges comprises an input scaling device which scales the input voltage to produce a voltage lying in a single predetermined range, and which also produces a range signal indicative of the range in which the input voltage lies. An analogue-to-digital conversion circuit then converts the scaled voltage to a corresponding digital signal which has up to N significant decade figures of resolution, where N<M. The voltmeter has a display unit with M decades, each of which represents a fixed order of magnitude of the input voltage, and control means responsive to the range signal to direct the digital signal to the group of N adjacent decades of the display means appropriate to the magnitude of the input voltage.

Abstract: An uninsulated contact array of resilient electrically conducting metal with bridging strips at each end to hold multiple conductors in predetermined spaced relation to each other. The bridging strips permit terminal tips at one end of the conductors to be stabbed into a circuit board simultaneously, for subsequent soldering. The other ends of the conductors, having contact ends, are maintained in spaced apart relation by a second bridging strip, the conductors and contacts permitting threading the contact ends simultaneously into multiple recesses of a display holder socket. The display holder socket is so arranged, that curving the resilient conductors increases the contact pressure of the contacts by bowing them. Resilient mounting arms of the contact holder provide for shock proof mounting of the contact holder in a casing by clamping the resilient arms between the casing and cover of an instrument housing.

Abstract: A casing pressured operated, variable orifice valve is employed as the operating valve in a single point injection well assembly with tubing pressure (fluid) operated unloading valves acting above the operating valve to provide a continuous flow system. The operating valve includes a throttling range which extends between optimum injection gas pressure levels based on the amount of injection gas pressure available at the well head to thereby increase the overall efficiency of the system. The variable orifice valve includes a pressure charged bellows and a coil spring in series to produce a linear resultant load rate which in turn cooperates with contoured closure surfaces in the valve to produce a linear relationship between orifice size and injection gas pressure. Gas is thus injected into the production column or tubing at a rate which is linearly related primarily to the casing pressure with the throttling range of the operating valve producing a broad response in the gas injection rate.

Abstract: A programmable electronic door chime is disclosed. The door chime includes programming means to select any desired sequence of notes up to a given maximum which are sounded after momentarily closing a normally open push-button switch. The note sequence is truncated when a different normally open push-button switch is momentarily closed so that the particular switch actuating the chimes may be identified by the length of the note sequence. Tone adjustments are provided to vary the frequency, duration and beat of each note to produce a pleasing sound.

Abstract: In accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention, a hollow mandrel mounted in a production string has an eccentrically disposed, lateral recess adapted to receive a measuring instrument. A plug-in contact assembly is located at the lower end of the recess and is connected to an electric cable which is fixed to the outside of the production string. The measuring instrument includes a receptacle assembly on its lower end which is fitted onto the contact assembly during emplacement of the instrument in the recess, thereby to provide in combination with the cable an insulated electric connection between the measuring instrument and the surface. The measuring instrument can be placed into, or removed from, the recess as desired, for example by means of conventional running and pulling tools that are lowered into the production string at the end of a wireline.

Abstract: In the representative embodiment of the new and improved apparatus disclosed herein, a so-called "stuck-point indicator" or "freepoint-indicator" tool includes a deformation-responsive sensor tandemly supported between upper and lower hydraulically-operated tool anchors cooperatively arranged to be sequentially engaged with longitudinally-spaced wall portions of a string of well pipe believed to be stuck in a well bore. In the preferred embodiment of the tool, each tool anchor respectively includes a piston actuator which, upon application of a predetermined pressure as developed by a hydraulic-control system on the tool, operates to retract a set of movable anchoring elements and, upon a reduction in that hydraulic pressure, is biased by a spring to extend the anchoring elements.

Abstract: In the representative manner of practicing the new and improved method disclosed herein, a so-called "stuck-point indicator" or "freepoint-indicator" tool including a unique deformation-responsive sensor tandemly arranged between unique upper and lower tool anchors is positioned in a string of well pipe believed to be stuck in a well bore. The tool is then moved to a selected depth location in the pipe string and, in keeping with the principles of the present invention, operated so that the upper anchor is engaged with the pipe string wall before the lower anchor is engaged. Thereafter, upon application of forces to the upper end of the pipe string, independent measurements are produced by the sensor which are respectively representative of tensional forces and torsional forces acting on that portion of the pipe string between the upper and lower anchors.

Abstract: In the representative embodiment of the new and improved apparatus disclosed herein, a so-called "stuck-point indicator" or "freepoint-indicator" tool includes a unique deformation-responsive sensor tandemly arranged between upper and lower hydraulically-operated tool anchors which, in the preferred embodiment of the tool, are cooperatively arranged to be sequentially engaged with longitudinally-spaced wall portions of a string of well pipe believed to be stuck in a well bore. In the disclosed embodiment of the tool, the new and improved sensor is arranged as an elongated body tandemly interconnecting the tool anchors and having upper and lower portions thereof cooperatively arranged for being preferentially deformed in response to tensional forces and torsional forces acting on the body.

Abstract: In accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention, a valve apparatus adapted to be incorporated in a string of tubing to permit pressure testing thereof in a well bore includes inner and outer members telescopically disposed and movable between extended and contracted relative positions, main valve means for closing the axial flow passage through said members to downward flow in response to extension of the members, and equalizing passage and valve means for equalizing pressures across the main valve prior to reopening thereof in response to contraction of the members.

Abstract: A displacement transducer comprises a charge coupled device having a plurality of light sensitive stages arranged in a line. An obturating member connected to a member whose displacement is to be transduced is disposed between the charge coupled device and a light source. As the obturating member is moved, it varies the amount of light received by the respective stages of the charge coupled device, so that the charge distribution in the charge coupled device is representative of the position of the obturating member and therefore of the member whose displacement is to be transduced.

Abstract: A measuring-while-drilling system has a digitally implemented motor speed control circuit for controlling a downhole, motor-driven acoustic signal generator. The acoustic generator is motor driven at speeds for imparting to well fluid an acoustic signal having phase states representative of encoded data derived from measured downhole conditions. The digital motor control circuit drives the motor at a substantially constant, carrier frequency producing speed in the absence of data of one logic state and temporarily changes the speed of the motor to effect a predetermined phase change in the carrier signal upon data of the predetermined logic state.

Abstract: A correction circuit for correcting the frequency of the output pulses produced by a gas flowmeter in dependence on the temperature of the gas comprises a control input for receiving a voltage representative of the difference between the temperature of the gas and a reference temperature. A voltage-controlled oscillator, operative during fixed short periods initiated by each flowmeter pulse, produces auxiliary pulses at a rate dependent on the voltage at the control input, and the auxiliary pulses are counted in a counter. Each time the counter counts a predetermined number of auxiliary pulses, it produces a signal which either blocks one flowmeter pulse or adds an additional pulse to the flowmeter pulses, in dependence on the polarity of the temperature difference.

Abstract: An electrical device such as a panel meter with a body including an abutment, is inserted through an opening in a panel with the abutment on one side of the panel, and is secured to the panel with a nut plate on the other side of the panel. The body of the meter has plural teeth, discontinuous around the periphery of the body and the teeth extend from opposite sides of the body. The nut plate has an opening with flexible sides to enable snapping the nut plate over the body and teeth to a position abutting the panel to clamp the meter to the panel. Portions of the opening in the nut plate are enlarged so that moving the nut plate to a position in which the body teeth are adjacent the enlarged portions of the opening releases the nut to permit immediate and rapid removal of the meter from the panel. There are several teeth at each side of the body to enable mounting and securing the meter in panels of substantially different thicknesses.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for performing a drill stem test of an offshore well utilizing a pressure controlled test valve. The test valve includes a valve element having a transverse pressure area with the high pressure side exposed to the pressure of fluids in the well annulus and the low pressure side subject to the pressure of a compressible fluid medium contained within a chamber in the test valve. The pressure in the chamber is equalized with the hydrostatic head of the well fluids so that at test depth the same pressure is acting on both sides of the transverse pressure area, whereupon this pressure is confined within the chamber. Then a fluid pressure in excess of the hydrostatic head is applied to the well fluids externally of the test valve to develop a pressure difference across the valve element which causes it to shift from closed to open position.

Abstract: In the representative embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention disclosed herein, a first ported or grooved cylindrical member is coaxially disposed within a drill string for directing drilling fluids flowing through the apparatus along one or more selected flow paths .[.through.]. .Iadd.and .Iaddend.a second ported or grooved cylindrical member .[.which.]. is coaxially arranged in the drill string adjacent to the first member for rotation in a transverse plane cutting the flow paths to cyclically obstruct these flow paths. An electric motor is cooperatively coupled by a shaft to the rotatable member for driving this member at a selected speed for developing an acoustic signal of a desired frequency as the flow paths are momentarily obstructed at periodic intervals.