Abstract: A downhole turbine assembly may comprise a tangential turbine disposed within a section of drill pipe. A portion of a fluid flowing through the drill pipe may be diverted to the tangential turbine generally perpendicular to the turbine's axis of rotation. After rotating the tangential turbine, the diverted portion may be discharged to an exterior of the drill pipe.

Abstract: A drilling apparatus may alter a direction of travel of a drill bit as it forms a borehole in the earth by furnishing the borehole with a cross-sectional shape that urges the drill bit in a radial direction. Such a cross-sectional shape may comprise two circular arcs, one larger than the apparatus and one smaller. The apparatus may be urged away from the smaller circular arc and into the open space provided by the larger circular arc. Such an apparatus may comprise an axial body and a cutting element extendable in a single radial direction from an exterior of the axial body. Extension of the cutting element may allow it to engage and degrade an inner wall of the borehole. An abrasion-resistant gauge pad protruding from the exterior of the body may ride against the borehole wall and urge the body radially.

Abstract: A downhole drilling assembly may comprise a sub secured between a drill string and a drill bit. The sub may comprise a cavity with a chassis housed therein. The drill bit may also comprise a cavity with an extender housed therein. This extender may provide access for various types of communication to reach into the drill bit's cavity. Several pairs of interfacing exchange surfaces may allow for communication (e.g. passing electrical, hydraulic, optical or electromagnetic signals) between these various elements. One pair of interfacing exchange surfaces, between the drill string and the chassis, may allow for communication regardless of relative rotational orientation. Two other pairs of interfacing exchange surfaces, one between the chassis and the extender and another between the extender and the drill bit, may require a specific rotational orientation for communication.

Abstract: A steerable downhole tool may alter a direction of travel of a drilling operation while drilling into the earth. The tool may accomplish this by extending a rod from openings disposed in a side of the tool. The rod may slide within a cavity passing from one of the openings to another. The rod may degrade material from an internal surface of a borehole in which the tool is traveling, by engaging the surface with cutter elements exposed on opposing tips of the rod. The tool may also push off of the borehole wall opposite from the area of degradation.

Abstract: A high-pressure pump comprising an elongated casing and a hollow interior formed along a central axis thereof. At least one partition may be axially fixed within the elongated casing such that it divides the hollow interior. First and second pressure differential devices may be disposed on opposite sides of the at least one partition and each have a rotary shaft extending there through. A first rotary shaft extending through the first pressure differential device may be axially fixed by the at least one partition and rotationally fixed to a second rotary shaft extending through the second pressure differential device. The high-pressure pump may be driven by a servomotor and used in a high-pressure press.

Abstract: A drill bit assembly, of a type useful for forming a borehole in the earth, may comprise a chassis, separate from a drill bit, housed within a cavity of the drill bit. A drill string may be secured to the drill bit and retain the chassis within the cavity. This chassis may comprise two pairs of interfacing exchange surfaces, a first pair disposed between the chassis and the drill string and a second pair disposed between the chassis and the drill bit. Both of the first pair are annular in shape and fixed together independent of rotational orientation. The second pair are fixed together in a specific rotational orientation. These pairs of interfacing exchange surfaces may allow for various types of signals, such as electrical, hydraulic, optical or electromagnetic for example, to be exchanged and passed through the chassis or to electronics disposed on the chassis.

Abstract: A downhole drill pipe may comprise a transducer disposed therein, capable of converting energy from flowing fluid into electrical energy. A portion of a fluid flowing through the drill pipe may be diverted to the transducer. After passing the transducer, the diverted portion of the fluid may be discharged to an exterior of the drill pipe. To generate electrical energy while not obstructing the main fluid flow from passing through the drill pipe, the transducer may be disposed within a lateral sidewall of the drill pipe with an outlet for discharging fluid exposed on an exterior of the lateral sidewall.

Abstract: A gearless transmission may provide a similar outcome to a gear train, without meshing teeth. Such a gearless transmission may comprise an input shaft comprising a plurality of lobes disposed thereon. The lobes may extend radially from the input shaft in opposite directions from one another. Each of the lobes may comprise a plurality of connecting rods freely rotatable thereabout. Each of the connecting rods may be slidably attached to a hollow body disposed around the input shaft. The hollow body may be formed from a plurality of rings fixed together and secured to an output shaft.

Abstract: A downhole turbine assembly may comprise a tangential turbine disposed within a section of drill pipe. A portion of a fluid flowing through the drill pipe may be diverted to the tangential turbine generally perpendicular to the turbine's axis of rotation. After rotating the tangential turbine, the diverted portion may be discharged to an exterior of the drill pipe.

Abstract: A subsurface detection system may be capable of sensing a buried feature and providing an estimate of the feature's depth. Such a subsurface detection system may comprise a signal generator transmitting at least one signal toward a buried feature and at least one signal along a plurality of various length paths. Each of a plurality of correlators may be associated with one of the various length paths and receive both a signal reflected by the feature and a signal transmitted along one of the various length paths. Each of the correlators may correspond to a distance to the buried feature. As the reflected signal reaches each correlator it may identify a time offset between the arrival of the reflected signal and the signal transmitted along one of the various length paths. By so doing, a distance to the buried feature may be estimated by detecting the correlator with the shortest time offset.

Abstract: A degradation pick of the type used in such fields as road milling, mining, and trenching to engage and degrade tough materials such as asphalt, concrete, and rock may comprise a body attached at one end to a substantially cylindrical shaft. A hardened tip may also be attached to the body opposite the shaft. The hardened tip may comprise an axis offset from a central axis of the shaft. Such a degradation pick may be secured to an exterior of a rotatable drum or continuous chain so as to be repeatedly brought into contact with a surface of a material to be degraded. The body may comprise a protruding spine adjacent the hardened tip and opposite a direction of travel of the hardened tip when transported by a rotating drum or continuous chain.

Abstract: In such fields as road milling, mining and trenching it is often desirable to engage and degrade tough materials such as asphalt, concrete and rock. To do so, degradation picks comprising hardened tips may be secured to an exterior of a rotatable drum so as to be repeatedly brought into contact with a surface of a material to be degraded. To secure such degradation picks to the rotatable drum, a toroidal body comprising an interior surface rigidly attachable to the rotatable body and an exterior surface comprising a plurality of bore holes disposed there around may receive a plurality of degradation picks secured within the bore holes.

Abstract: In such fields as road milling, mining and trenching it is often desirable to engage and degrade tough materials such as asphalt, concrete and rock. To do so, degradation picks comprising hardened distal tips may be secured to an exterior of a movable support such as a rotatable drum or continuous chain so as to be repeatedly brought into contact with a material to be degraded. To secure such degradation picks to the movable support, a block comprising a body with a base surface rigidly attachable to a movable support is disclosed. A first receptacle with a first central axis may be disposed on an external surface of the body and formed to receive a first removable degradation pick. A second receptacle with a second central axis may also be disposed on the external surface and formed to receive a second removable degradation pick where the first and second central axes are nonparallel.

Abstract: A body of a degradation pick may comprise a substantially conical frustum. A hammer element may be integrally formed with the substantially conical frustum and extend there from in one radial direction. A shank may protrude from the body opposite a narrow end of the substantially conical frustum.