Abstract: Ground piercing attachment for a tractor comprising a bracket which is adapted to be mounted to the lower end of the bucket of a tractor, an elongated bar and connector means for mounting the bar on the bracket so that the longitudinal axis of the bar assumes a vertical position irrespective of the orientation of the tractor so that raising of the bucket enables the bottom end of the bar to be positioned above the ground and subsequent lowering of the bucket causes the bar to be driven into the ground.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for the production of circular boreholes in soil, of the type incorporating a pair of bits driven in rotation in opposite directions, the said bits being equipped with teeth or similar members for breaking up the soil.It comprises a first pair of bits (6) which are equipped with teeth, rotating in opposite directions around two parallel axes, each of these bits having the external shape of a volume of revolution the generatrix of which consists of a circular arc corresponding to the circular cross-section of the borehole which it is intended to dig, and a second pair of bits (7) situated above the first, and the bits (14a,14b) of which have the same structural characteristics as the bits of the first pair but whose axes of rotation are offset relative to the latter.

Abstract: A method for drilling a hole in a hard material such as rock. According to this method, the rock is fragmented by impact along spaced-apart, parallel paths while it is simultaneous fragmented by shear between these paths. An apparatus for carrying out this method is also disclosed.

Abstract: Conductor guides for use in drilling wells in an offshore body of water wherein the wells are positioned in close proximity one to the other. A first clamping member is removably attached to a well which includes a conductor or well head protruding therefrom. A conductor guide is spaced a predetermined distance from the clamping by means of a connecting beam that extends therebetween. The connecting beam is adjusted to properly position the conductor guide on the ocean floor at a fixed distance and directional relationship with the first conductor.

Abstract: As an article of manufacture, a construction element typically in a square configuration for its exposed face, or multiples thereof, suitable as a load bearing or decorative member or a facing or tile for a wall, floor, ceiling and the like, wherein at least one face of the element has a combination of five exposed surfaces, which surfaces interrelate and give varied visual effects by the interplay of light with the five exposed surfaces.

Abstract: A side entry sub for use in a drill pipe string which permits continuous injection and/or removal of a wireline equipped with analitical instruments within the hollow of the pipe without interrupting the connection or resulting communication between the wireline and tool apparatus. The operation is performed with the top power device connected to the drill pipe string and may be used during pressure application of drilling mud. Such a device permits location of a stuck pipe without disassembly of the top power drive.

Abstract: A tie-back connector for a subsea well allows the tie-back connection to be made without rotation. A set of threads is located on an inner wall of the outer conduit into which the tie-back connection is to be made. An annular latch is carried by the inner conduit which is being tied back from the surface to the outer conduit. The latch has threads on its exterior which ratchet past the threads on the inner wall as the inner conduit is lowered into the outer conduit. After the threads of the latch are ratcheted fully into alignment with the threads in the outer conduit, the inner conduit is pulled upwardly relative to the latch to secure it in tension. A retainer is actuated when the inner conduit is in the upper position to prevent the inner conduit from moving downwardly again relative to the latch. The inner conduit can be removed by rotation relative to the outer conduit.

Abstract: In the method of manufacturing case hardened rock bits formed of a previously known conical profile for containing spaced apart cutter inserts in a common circumferential row about the cone, carburizing is applied uniformly over the entire conical surface of the cutter blank. Without removing any of the applied carburizing composition elsewhere, the compact lands are counterbored of diameter slightly larger than the socket cavity to be drilled, and to a depth below the carburized case so as to remove the carburized case thereat. The cutter blank is then hardened after which the insert cavities are drilled concentrically through the previous counterbores followed by a pressing of the individual inserts in an interference fit into the cavities. This results in continuous uninterrupted case hardening in the land areas between adjacent inserts. Also disclosed is a rock bit formed in accordance with the aforesaid method.

Abstract: A low-cost retrievable light-weight high-speed thin-kerf reversible electrically-driven core-sampling method and apparatus that is independent of the weight of any drill pipe, drill collars, or any other heavy cylindrical or tubular conduit associated with the coring operation. The flow direction of electric current to the direct-current electric motor of the core-sampling assembly is automatically reversed at frequent intervals so as to cause corresponding reversals in the direction of rotation of its core bit, resulting in the cancellation of any lateral forces on the core bit produced by reactive torque created during the coring operation, since such forces are alternately applied in opposite directions, thus, eliminating any corehole deviation that, otherwise, might occur from the lateral force created by the reactive torque of a down-hole motor that is rotated in just one direction.

Abstract: A self-advancing roof support for the face roof support in underground mining operations, having a plurality of supporting frames with self-advancing mechanisms acting perpendicular to the breast of the working, which mechanisms advance the supporting frames in the direction of the breast of the working. In order to facilitate the relocation of a winning face equipped with such a self-advancing roof support, these supporting frames have a plurality of self-advancing gears acting parallel to the breast of the working, to successively shift the supporting frames in the lateral direction parallel to the breast of the working, so as to produce a cut or road for the installation of a new winning face at a head side of the face equipment and to advance the self-advancing roof support sideways into the road together with the complete face equipment while maintaining the formation.

Abstract: A downhole motor has a rotor and a stator, of the progressive cavity type, inside a housing. A bearing shaft is mounted within the housing, with a bearing between the housing and the bearing shaft, and the bearing shaft is rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the bearing shaft and the housing. A flexible rod, with a connection on each end, extends between the rotor and the bearing shaft, for translating the rotation and gyration of the rotor to the true rotation of the bearing shaft. A cylindrical overload sub is located concentrically around the rod. A plurality of splines and slots on the connections engage a plurality of splines and slots on the sub to allow the connections to rotate axially a limited amount in relation to one another. Teeth may be used instead of splines and slots.

Abstract: A drill string is made flexible near the lower marginal end thereof, and a pneumatic turbine motor is located at the lower terminal end thereof. The pneumatic turbine is connected to a planetary gear reduction system for rotating a drill bit. The diameter and the length of the pneumatic turbine motor, gear reduction system, and bit is of a size which enables the entire assembly to negotiate a sharp bend in the borehole, so that the borehole can be formed to extend downwardly along a relatively straight vertical line towards a payzone, where the borehole then sharply bends laterally towards the payzone, and then continues in another relatively straight line horizontally through the payzone. The pneumatic turbine motor includes reaction ports arranged to force the drill bit against the formation being penetrated, and to counteract the bit torque.

Abstract: In the representative embodiments of the new and improved methods and apparatus disclosed herein, a full-bore valve is cooperatively arranged to be tandemly coupled in a typical production string including a string of production pipe that is coupled to a packer isolating a lower well bore interval. A wireline measuring tool is lowered into the production string to land the tool in a measuring station defined therein above the valve. An anchor on the tool is extended to secure the testing tool in the measuring station. A mechanism is also provided on the testing tool for releasably engaging the actuator for the full-opening valve to open and close the valve by successive upward and downward movements of the tool suspension cable. A fluid-testing device is arranged on the testing tool for making successive measurements of one of more characteristics of the connate fluids in the well bore as the valve is successively opened and closed by the upward and downward movements of the cable.

Abstract: An inertia controlled loading system for an exercise apparatus or the like. The system includes a rotatable member mounted on a frame together with a mechanism for rotating the rotatable member through a drive pulley operatively associated with the rotating mechanism and a driven pulley operatively associated with the rotatable member. It also includes an endless belt member drivingly interconnecting the pulleys such that the belt member imparts rotation of the rotating mechanism to the rotatable member through the drive and driven pulleys which occurs because of the fact that the belt member has a surface in driving engagement with the pulleys. The system further includes a non-rotating frictional surface member in engagement with the belt member intermediate the drive and driven pulleys. With this construction, the inertia controlled loading system is suitable for an exercise apparatus or the like.

Abstract: A stud for use in a mining pick is disclosed which has a tip consisting of a polycrystalline diamond composite and a body having a carrying surface on which the tip is mounted, the carrying surface being inclined to the axis of the body by an angle of between 45.degree. and 65.degree.. In an embodiment of the invention, the stud is received within a pocket and the head of a mining pick, the axis of the pocket in the head axis of the mining pick being substantially coincident, and the mining pick having a shank adapted to be received within the box of a mining machine. The stud may be provided with side extensions adjacent to the composite to protect the material of the mining pick body.

Abstract: The present invention is used to separate gas from liquid while being placed downhole in a hydrocarbon producing well. It essentially comprises a means to divert hydrocarbon production fluid from within a tubing string into the annulus of the well. This diversion turbulently mixes the fluid and releases free gas from the liquid. Thereafter, the liquid migrates downward while the free gas migrates upward to a gas collection apparatus. The liquid is reuptaken at an intake spot below the point at which it was diverted. It travels upward through a concentric chamber and subsequently reenters the tubing string at a point above that which it was diverted.

Abstract: A pavement patching vehicle includes an asphalt supply hopper and a distribution hopper mounted to the front of the vehicle at the end of a remotely controlled articulated arm. Asphalt is deposited into a pothole from the distribution hopper for compaction by a tamper, which is mounted to the distribution hopper by a combination tamper positioner and vibration isolator. The combination uses a specially adapted gas over hydraulic liquid in a piston and cylinder arrangement for this purpose. The articulated segments are moved through piston and cylinder drives mounted within the hollow arm segments and coupled to pivot shafts at the joints. The distribution hopper can be secured to the front of the vehicle by a support bracket on the vehicle and a pivotal support latch on the distribution hopper. An actuator bar extends from the tamper and engages a latch actuator, which extends from the support latch, when the tamper is raised.

Abstract: A concrete troweling machine is illustrated as having two sets of troweling blades with a mechanism for setting the tilt of individual blades in a rotor assembly and a separate mechanism controlled by the handle position for progressively changing the tilt of individual blades during each rotation of each set of blades to generate blade reactive forces for propelling the machine in selected direction.

Abstract: Gangway assembly with a movable bridge part resting on a first surface, extending to a second surface, and connected between the two ends by at least one wire cable gripping the top end of a gantry carried by the first surface, the support of the first end being achieved via a carriage which can be moved over the first surface, the cable being guided over a first fixed pulley on the gantry and a second fixed pulley on the first surface, and with its other end being connected to the first end of the bridge.

Abstract: Down-hole information from rotary well drilling operations is transmitted to a surface or remote location by the venting of drilling fluid from the interior of the drill stem into the bore hole annulus in a binary coded decimal format. A valve is caused to operate by the digital output of one or more down-hole transducers thus releasing and restoring the drilling fluid pressure in the desired sequence. A "sub" contains the necessary electronics, power supply and a motorized valve assembly. Commands from the surface to transmit information from any one of the transducers are transmitted by means of sequential pulses in a binary coded decimal format, in the drilling fluid pressure are provided by the operator by deliberately decreasing and then increasing the surface pump pressure in a sequence to which the applicable down-hole actuating means is responsive.