Abstract: A support construction including a supporting bowl to receive a plurality of circumferentially disposed slips to engage and support a tubular member. The slips include at least one pair of slip inserts that are carried in axial grooves provided on the innermost surfaces of the slips, the inserts provided as a pair of cooperating, interengaging members, the innermost slip insert relative to the tube having inwardly extending teeth to engage the tube outer surface. The inner and outer slip inserts are made from materials having a different modulus of elasticity, the modulus of elasticity of the innermost slip insert, relative to the tube axis, having a modulus of elasticity from about 3 to about 7 times greater than that of the outer slip insert, relative to the tube axis.

Abstract: An apparatus for supporting pipe includes a support member defining an inner bowl surface in which is received a plurality of layers of arcuate slip segments. Preferably, the slip segments of each layer are staggered relative to the slip segments of adjacent layers.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the cyclone separator includes an adjustable sidearm conduit which selectively receives different strata of particles passing through the radially outer sectors of the cylindrical region defined within the cyclone body. The cyclone separator may further include a traveling cone valve to restrict the size of the lower outlet. The vortex finder of the cyclone may include a vortex side port to extract the heavier particles entrained in the forced vortex received by the intake of the vortex finder. An inner vortex finder tube is further disposed in the passage through the vortex finder. In another embodiment, the traveling cone is replaced by a lower outlet head spaced from the lower outlet and the lower portion of the housing defining the apex of the frustoconical region.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the cyclone separator includes an adjustable sidearm conduit which selectively receives different strata of particles passing through the radially outer sectors of the cylindrical region defined within the cyclone body. The cyclone separator may further include a traveling cone valve to restrict the size of the lower outlet. The vortex finder of the cyclone may include a vortex side port to extract the heavier particles entrained in the forced vortex received by the intake of the vortex finder. A control system may be combined with the cyclone separator to analyze the particles extracted from the various outlets from the cyclone and effect a change of the controllable features of the cyclone such as the position of the sidearm conduit and affecting the size of the lower outlet.