Abstract: An electro-hydraulic high-pressure oilfield pumping system includes a fracturing (frac) pump and a primary electric motor as a prime mover that delivers power to the frac pump. The primary electric motor may be a constant speed AC (alternating current) motor. A hydraulic starting motor may rotate a shaft of the primary electric motor to achieve or approximate its fixed rated speed before the primary electric motor is energized. A slow frac hydraulic motor may rotate the shaft of the primary electric motor as a passive torque transmission device that delivers power in a downstream direction through a transmission and to the frac pump.

Abstract: An electrically driven oilfield pumping system may include a compound electro-hydraulic fracturing (frac) pump system that has a primary electric motor that selectively delivers power to one or more of at least two fracturing (frac) pumps. The primary electric motor may be a constant speed alternative current (AC) motor with a fixed rated speed.

Abstract: An oilfield pressure pumping system is configured to perform a preliminary fracturing stage or operation at a high pressure but slow speed before initiating normal fracturing. The oilfield pressure pumping system includes an auxiliary underdrive system that can drive the transmission at a slower input speed that can be provided by an idle speed of the power unit's engine to facilitate different fracturing modes, including a preliminary fracturing mode during a slow speed high pressure preliminary fracturing stage. The auxiliary underdrive system may include a hydrostatic transmission driven by the engine and which drives the transmission at an underdrive speed that would correspond to a sub-idle engine speed driving the transmission.

Abstract: A method of producing subterranean fractures in geologic formations having a significant amount of water present (a wet well) and/or at deep locations (1.5-2 miles or more) for the extraction of hydrocarbons therefrom includes flowing an explosive hydrophobic emulsion mixture to protect the air and fuel mixture subsequently flowed into a well hole. The build-up of pressure using a multiple plate restriction orifice assembly eventually causes auto-ignition of the air and fuel mixture which fractures the formation for recovery of the hyrdrocarbons.

Abstract: A method of producing subterranean fractures in geologic formations having a significant amount of water present (a wet well) for the extraction of hydrocarbons therefrom includes flowing an explosive hydrophobic emulsion mixture to protect the air and fuel mixture subsequently flowed into a well hole. The well hole may then be sealed with a packer plug creating a compression chamber with the air and fuel mixture. A liquid, such as water, may be pumped into the well hole to create pressure in the compression chamber. The build-up of pressure eventually causes auto-ignition of the air and fuel mixture which fractures the formation. The water may then rush into the compression chamber which thermally shocks the area causing additional fractures. The water may vaporize to steam and thoroughly disinfect the well hole eliminating the need for added biocides.

Abstract: A power transmission device with a clutch plate wear sensor system includes a power transmission shaft configured to transmit torque and a clutch configured to selectively deliver power into or out of the power transmission shaft. The clutch includes a clutch stack and clutch piston that moves to selectively actuate the clutch stack between an engaged state to deliver power through the clutch and a disengaged state to not deliver power through the clutch. The clutch stack wear sensor system includes at least one detectable element arranged for movement in unison with the clutch piston and a sensor arranged to detect the detectable element and provide a signal indicative of a wear characteristic of the clutch stack.

Abstract: A power transmission device with a clutch plate wear sensor system includes a power transmission shaft configured to transmit torque and a clutch configured to selectively deliver power into or out of the power transmission shaft. The clutch includes a clutch stack and clutch piston that moves to selectively actuate the clutch stack between an engaged state to deliver power through the clutch and a disengaged state to not deliver power through the clutch. The clutch stack wear sensor system includes at least one detectable element arranged for movement in unison with the clutch piston and a sensor arranged to detect the detectable element and provide a signal indicative of a wear characteristic of the clutch stack.

Abstract: A system of producing subterranean fractures in geologic formations for the extraction of hydrocarbons includes flowing an air and fuel mixture into a well hole. The well hole may then be sealed with a packer plug creating a compression chamber with the air and fuel mixture. A liquid, such as water, may be pumped into the well hole to create pressure in the compression chamber. The build-up of pressure eventually causes auto-ignition of the air and fuel mixture which fractures the formation. The water may then rush into the compression chamber which thermally shocks the area causing additional fractures. The water may vaporize to steam and thoroughly disinfect the well hole eliminating the need for added biocides.

Abstract: A heavy-duty industrial transmission is provided that can be implemented in a frac pump system with planetary gearsets with straightforward shift methodologies, slow back-driven speeds, and no recirculating torque in any of the ranges. The heavy-duty transmission has a high number of ranges and may be configured with no reverse range, no countershaft, no overdrive range(s), small and consistent steps of ratios between ranges, and a deep or large reduction ratio of the lowest range, such as at least about a 5:1 reduction. The heavy-duty industrial transmission may have a four-stage planetary arrangement that is configured to provide nine (9) ranges for the transmission that only requires two double pack shifts, with the remaining shifts being single pack shifts.

Abstract: A method of producing subterranean fractures in geologic formations for the extraction of hydrocarbons includes flowing an air and fuel mixture into a well hole. The well hole may then be sealed with a packer plug creating a compression chamber with the air and fuel mixture. A liquid, such as water, may be pumped into the well hole to create pressure in the compression chamber. The build-up of pressure eventually causes auto-ignition of the air and fuel mixture which fractures the formation. The water may then rush into the compression chamber which thermally shocks the area causing additional fractures. The water may vaporize to steam and thoroughly disinfect the well hole eliminating the need for added biocides.

Abstract: A hydraulic power take-off is provided for use with industrial drives that deliver power to industrial equipment. The hydraulic power take-off has a brake disconnect system that can manually release a brake assembly to allow low-effort rotating of the industrial equipment components to facilitate servicing.

Abstract: A hydraulic power take-off is provided for use with industrial drives. The hydraulic power take-off has a multiple-force brake system that facilitates actively slowing large inertial loads associated with a heavy rotating mass of an industrial machine. The multiple-force brake system applies different braking forces at different times to control deceleration of the heavy rotating mass in the industrial machine to reduce its stopping time. The multiple-force brake system may include a clutch assembly and a brake assembly. A control system may control the clutch and brake assemblies to provide the multiple-force brake system a relatively higher energy brake engagement state and a relatively lower energy brake engagement. This may include alternating between the higher and lower energy brake engagement states to pulse between high and low pressure braking to facilitate cooling of the system while slowing the large inertial loads.

Abstract: A hydraulic power take-off, PTO, is provided for use with industrial drives. The hydraulic power take-off has a multi-position adapter that allows the PTO to be attached to a prime mover in a multitude of angularly indexed positions while maintaining a gravity-assisted drain and sump for the hydraulic fluid. The multi-position adapter is indexable to selectively block and allow for passage of oil from a tower housing to a clutch housing thus ensuring the hydraulic oil properly drains. As a result, the tower housing is also indexable which allows the PTO unit to be installed in a number of different configurations to meet the demands of the prime mover and the final application of the industrial machine.

Abstract: A trimmable rudder system for a marine vessel such as a planing power boat, the system including a pair of rudder assemblies, each of which includes a rudder blade movably coupled to the hull by way of a ball-and-socket joint. Each rudder assembly includes a rudder shaft that extends from the rudder blade through the ball-and-socket joint and can be rotated for rotating the rudder blade to steer the power boat. Each rudder shaft may be operably coupled to a pair of actuators configured to control trim and camber positions of the rudder blade so that the pair of rudder blades can collectively achieve a desired hull trim change, including listing control and planing control of the power boat. Steering position, trim position, and camber position of the rudder blades may be simultaneously changed.

Abstract: A hollow double-acting cylinder assembly may be mounted over a shaft and to a housing. A moveable piston of the cylinder assembly connects to a sliding sleeve of an over-center mechanism and the sliding sleeve with a thrust bearing allowing it to push and pull the sleeve mechanism with cylinder action. A toggle action of the over-center mechanism locks clutch without the need to sustain pressure on the cylinder after engagement/disengagement motion. As the clutch is typically engaged for sustained periods of time, this prevents constant hydraulic pressure applied to the over-center mechanism and significantly reduces wear. Hydraulic/pneumatic hoses may pass through the housing and connect to engage and disengage bores of the cylinder via remotely actuated control valve(s).

Abstract: In order to reduce torsional vibrations in a drive including a torque converter with a turbine and impeller, clutch slip speed of the drive is adjusted by manipulation of clutch pressure. This may be done in either closed loop mode or open loop mode by setting the clutch pressure to a predetermined value or continuously adjusting clutch pressure. Pressure is adjusted to produce a positively sloped function of sensed total torque of the clutch and turbine over the clutch slip speed. This produces extended service life of the drive train components, greater efficiency of the torque converter, and smoother operation of the drive.

Abstract: A trimmable rudder system for a marine vessel such as a planing power boat, the system including a pair of rudder assemblies, each of which includes a rudder blade movably coupled to the hull by way of a ball-and-socket joint. Each rudder assembly includes a rudder shaft that extends from the rudder blade through the ball-and-socket joint and can be rotated for rotating the rudder blade to steer the power boat. Each rudder shaft may be operably coupled to a pair of actuators configured to control trim and camber positions of the rudder blade so that the pair of rudder blades can collectively achieve a desired hull trim change, including listing control and planing control of the power boat. Steering position, trim position, and camber position of the rudder blades may be simultaneously changed.

Abstract: In order to reduce torsional vibrations in a drive including a torque converter with a turbine and impeller, clutch slip speed of the drive is adjusted by manipulation of clutch pressure. This may be done in either closed loop mode or open loop mode by setting the clutch pressure to a predetermined value or continuously adjusting clutch pressure. Pressure is adjusted to produce a positively sloped function of sensed total torque of the clutch and turbine over the clutch slip speed. This produces extended service life of the drive train components, greater efficiency of the torque converter, and smoother operation of the drive.

Abstract: A drive for a marine vessel may include a fully wetted propeller with a fixed drive shaft configuring the propeller in a tractor mode wherein the propeller pulls the water rearwardly relative to a bow of the marine vessel when traveling in a forward direction. The propeller is preferably mounted in a range of 10% to 60% of a length of the marine vessel toward the how from a transom and operates cavitation-free.

Abstract: A modifier may be used to prevent formation of a rooster tail when surface drive propellers are used with marine vessels. The modifier may be retractable by attaching it to the transom of the marine vessel or fixed-mounted by attaching it to the drive housing. The modifier changes the direction of the rooster tail so it flows substantially parallel to the surface of the water and hull of the marine vessel.