Abstract: The location of a section of drill pipe which has become stuck in a well some distance from the surface is first determined. The drill string above this location is unfastened from the drill string and removed from the well. A mechanical oscillator is connected to the bottom of the re-installed drill string through a sonic isolator section of drill pipe designed to minimize transfer of sonic energy to the sections of drill string above the oscillator. The oscillator is connected to the down hole stuck drill pipe section for transferring sonic energy thereto. A mud turbine is connected to the oscillator, this turbine being rotatably driven by a mud stream fed from the surface. The turbine rotates the oscillator to generate sonic energy typically in a torsional or quadrature mode of oscillation, this sonic energy being transferred to the stuck section of drill pipe to effect its freeing from the walls of the well.

Abstract: A bit and block assembly for use on an earthworking machine rotor including a bit, a block for receiving the bit, and elastomeric means for retaining the bit in the block. The bit has a first shank portion of irregular cross section and extending from one end of that shank portion is a second shank portion of smaller cross section. The longitudinal axes of the first and second shank portions are parallel. At the opposite end of the first shank portion is a forward working portion having an edge of wear resistant material for contacting the working medium. The block has a longitudinal bore of irregular cross section similar to the first shank portion.

Abstract: An improved retainer for a rotary cone rock bit and a method for inserting the same is disclosed. A cone cutter is mounted on a bearing pin of an arm of the rotary cone drill bit. Formed in the bearing pin and the inner wall of the cone cutter is an annular channel that is filled with discs through an insertion cavity and the insertion cavity is subsequently sealed. This enables the bearing surface and the bushing engaging the bearing pin to be substantially longer than heretofore possible and the wobble of the cone cutter about the bearing pin is reduced.

Abstract: A seal bore packer comprising a packer subassembly which can be employed with either wireline or tubing manipulatable packer setting subassemblies is disclosed. Packing elements and slips on a packer subassembly are expanded when relative axial forces are applied to the packer by wireline or mechanical setting forces. The packer has an inner mandrel and intermediate mandrel connected by a shear pin. A collapsible ring holds the outer packer assembly, including slips and packing elements, normally secured to the intermediate mandrel. Relative movement between the intermediate mandrel and the inner mandrel releases the packer.

Abstract: A casing hanger seal for a subsea well uses a seal ring having inner and outer walls spaced radially apart from each other. An energizing ring is moved from disengaged position to an engaged position between the walls, wedging them apart to form the metal seal. Vertical slots are formed in the walls to facilitate expansion. The slots ae located in a gripping section that engages wickers formed on the inner and outer tubular members of the well. Circumferential grooves are located in the sealing areas.

Abstract: A downhole motor and bearing assembly for high pressure operation has a tubular housing with an inlet and outlet for flow of drilling fluid. A stator is supported in the housing and a rotor is supported for rotary movement in the stator. An open tubular shaft is connected to the rotor for rotary movement in the housing. The bearing assembly has bearing members in the housing in fixed spaced relation for carrying downward and upward longitudinal thrust loads. Since the motor is designed for high pressure operation, conventional bearings tend to wear out rapidly. In this motor and bearing assembly, the pressure of drilling fluid passing through the motor is bled into the down hole side of the bearings where the pressure is applied against an upset on the bearings shaft having an exposed area on the lower side sufficient to produce an upward thrust partially or completely offsetting the downward thrust produced by the pressure drop across the drill bit.

Abstract: A rock breaker tool for use with earth working apparatus is disclosed. The tool includes a ripper tooth employed with a hammer and anvil arrangement located above the upper portion of the tooth. The present invention is so constructed as to minimize the transfer of force directly from the hammer to the hydraulic cylinders of the earth working apparatus. The invention may be employed with various types of earth working apparatus, including backhoes, bulldozers and ripper buckets.

Abstract: A mechanical well jar is disclosed having inner and outer tubular members movable longitudinally relative to each other a limited distance for connecting in a pipe string. Annular shoulders on the members engage to limit the relative longitudinal movement of the members. A plurality of laterally spaced, arcuate cam plates are attached to the inner surface of the outer member. Each plate has a laterally extending U-shaped notch opening into the space between the plates and formed with curved outwardly flaring sidewalls. Rollers are mounted on the outer surface of the inner member to extend into the spaces between the cam plates for movement into the U-shaped notches to hold the members from longitudinal movement relative to each other.

Abstract: An improved counterbalancing mechanism for an edge-of-dock dockboard. The dockboard comprises a frame mounted on a loading dock and one end of a center plate is pivotally connected to the frame. A lip is hinged to the opposite end of the center plate and is movable between a downwardly hanging pendant position and an extended position where the lip forms an extension to the center plate. A counterbalancing mechanism includes a first link pivotally connected to the center plate, and a second link pivotally connected to the lip. The opposite ends of the links are connected together, and a counterbalancing mechanism, such as a spring, interconnects the first link and the frame of the dockboard. The linkage is constructed and arranged so that when the center plate is in a horizontal storage position and the lip is pendant, the force of the counterbalancing spring will urge the lip in toward the dock.

Abstract: A direct acting subsurface safety valve. During normal well flowing conditions, an operator sleeve is spring biased to hold the valve closure mechanism in its open position. If the rate of change of fluid pressure flowing through the valve exceeds a preselected value, a pressure sensitive piston will shift the operator sleeve to close the valve. A latch mechanism is provided to prevent undesired closure of the safety valve by acceptable pressure transients resulting from normal changes in well operating conditions.

Abstract: A retrievable well packer includes a packer mandrel with an expandable packing element disposed about the mandrel. Upper and lower shoes are received about the mandrel above and below the expandable packing element for compressibly engaging the packing element. A slip assembly is received about the mandrel for anchoring the packer within the well bore. Upper and lower wedges are received about the mandrel above and below the slip assembly for wedging the slip assembly radially outward upon longitudinal compression of the packing element. The mandrel is nonrotatably connected to each of the upper and lower shoes and upper and lower wedges for preventing rotation of those components relative to the mandrel in the event the packer must be milled out of a well bore. The mandrel is initially releasably longitudinally locked relative to the lower wedge by a releasing collet attached to a lower end of the mandrel and having radially outward extending lugs received within a groove of the lower wedge.

Abstract: In drilling a well, sections of casing are run down a borehole, preferably with a float shoe at the lower end which is equipped with a double valve enabling the casing to fill with drilling mud both while the casing is moving down and also while it is stationary. Within the casing is a baffle collar which defines a socket for a latching dart carried by a plug. The plug and dart are driven down to the collar, when the pumping of cement into the casing has been completed, by a launching dart which also closes the passageway through the plug.

Abstract: A cribwall comprising(A) a skeletal wall structure made up of components such that there is(i) a plurality of tiers of headers each substantially normal to the general plane of the wall, each header having front and rear end rebates top and bottom, and with each header of one tier being above and/or below a header of an adjacent header,(ii) wall wise extending stretchers each of which spans at least two headers of a tier and the corresponding at least two headers of an adjacent tier and is located between the tiers by the said front end top and bottom rebates of the proximate headers,(iii) rear end header spacing means selected from wall-wise extending stretchers or keyblocks which are interposed between each pair of adjacent tiered headers and are located by said rear top and bottom rebates thereof, and(iv) header support blocks interposed between at least some of the tiered headers between a stretcher and the rear end header spacing means so as to enhance the load carrying capability of the resultant struct

Abstract: An efficient, narrow profile treadmill motor drive has a thin motor, a two-stage speed reduction using an intermediate countershaft between the motor and drive roller, a dual belt drive for the drive roller which reduces bearing stress, a support base of modular character facilitating removal and repair of the motor drive as a unit, and a motor-shaft mounted flywheel whose rotational inertia is effectively multiplied by the speed reduction ratio.

Abstract: A control system for a pump submersible in a well having a water pipe extending upwardly to a water source includes an isolation element that has one fluid chamber in communication with the water pipe and another chamber separated from the first by a flexible diaphragm. The second fluid chamber is filled with a non-toxic antifreeze control fluid and communicates with a fluid conduit which extends upwardly to a pressure switch. The pressure switch is mounted above-ground and monitors the pressure of the control fluid to activate and deactivate the pump. Since the diaphragm is flexible, the pressure of the control fluid corresponds to the water pressure in the water pipe. The isolation element is positioned in the well below the frost line so that all control parts in contact with water are located below the frost line, and all control parts located above the frost line contact only the antifreeze solution.

Abstract: An independent dockboard of the type adapted to be mounted in a pit in a loading dock, the dockboard including a main frame, a ramp pivotally mounted on the frame and including a tread plate assembly mounted for telescopic movement into and out of the ramp, the tread plate assembly including a tread plate mounted on a frame with a number of wheels for supporting the assembly for movement on the ramp, the tread plate assembly being pivoted about the axis of the wheels, a lift frame pivotally mounted on the main frame and operatively positioned to engage the ramp, a hydraulic piston and cylinder assembly operatively engaging the left frame and a second hydraulic piston and cylinder assembly operatively connected to move the tread plate assembly into and out of the ramp, and an over center toggle link assembly to lock the tread plate against the ramp.

Abstract: The invention proposes the use, in the manufacture of link belts, of helical coils wound from elongate synthetic plastics material of non-circular, and preferably generally rectangular, transverse cross-section, the major dimension of the said cross-section extending widthwise of the link belt.By using, for example, flat monofilament yarns of a given cross-section in the production of an oval coil of a related major dimension it is possible to increase the cross-section of the wire receiving tunnel formed by two interdigitated coils without prejudice to the capability of interdigitated coils to remain in mutual engagement, and thus facilitate the introduction of hinge wires by mechanical means.

Abstract: A double-acting power transmission belt having a plurality of elastomeric teeth positioned along both its inner and its outer peripheral surfaces, each such tooth possessing a certain spring rate, and inner and outer jackets, respectively, formed over the teeth and over the land portions between the teeth at each of the inner and outer peripheral surfaces, said inner jacket cooperating with the associated teeth such that the spring rate of each jacketed tooth on the inner one of the peripehral surfaces is from 1.2 times to 3 times the spring rate of a corresponding non-jacketed tooth.

Abstract: A cable stayed bridge is constructed as having approach deck spans and at least one cable stayed deck bridge section assembled as a unit by employing the deck surfaces of the approach spans as in situ work surfaces for erecting equal deck lengths of the unit. A bridge pylon is supported on a floatable support and extends through an open gap provided in an approach span deck, and cable stays are extended from the pylon for supporting the deck lengths. The completed unit is moved away from the work surfaces and into alignment with a last of the approach spans, and is permanently anchored in place.

Abstract: A composite cover 10 for a manhole or other opening comprises an upper 12 and lower 14 skin of glass reinforced plastics material. The upper and lower skins are bonded to one another about the edges 18 and spaced apart from one another therebetween to define a space 16 containing reinforcing walls 20 extending between the upper 12 and lower 14 skins. The reinforcing walls 20 are preferably formed from a corrugated sheet of glass fibre reinforced plastics material. The cover of the invention is as strong as conventional cast iron covers but is lighter and cheaper to manufacture.