Abstract: A downhole drilling tractor for moving within a borehole comprises a tractor body, two packerfeet, two aft propulsion cylinders, and two forward propulsion cylinders. The body comprises aft and forward shafts and a central control assembly. The packerfeet and propulsion cylinders are slidably engaged with the tractor body. Drilling fluid can be delivered to the packerfeet to cause the packerfeet to grip onto the borehole wall. Drilling fluid can be delivered to the propulsion cylinders to selectively provide downhole or uphole hydraulic thrust to the tractor body. The tractor receives drilling fluid from a drill string extending to the surface. A system of spool valves in the control assembly controls the distribution of drilling fluid to the packerfeet and cylinders. The valve positions are controlled by motors. A programmable electronic logic component on the tractor receives control signals from the surface and feedback signals from various sensors on the tool.

Abstract: A mower includes a propelling vehicle and a mower deck having at least one mower blade and positioned adjacent the front end of the vehicle. A lift shaft is rotatably supported by the mower deck and extends transversely across the deck. At least one hitch arm is fixedly coupled on one end to the lift shaft and attached to the front end of the propelling vehicle on its other end. A rotatable joint is located adjacent the lift shaft and allows the deck to be rotated from a horizontal position to a raised position to allow access to the mower blade.

Abstract: A roller bit is provided having super-abrasive inserts on cutting portions to assure that the bit will maintain cutting efficiency. In the described exemplary bits, the axes of the roller cones are also offset by a significant or “high offset” amount from the central longitudinal axis of the bit, thereby providing for increased shearing and grinding action by the bit. The use of high offset in combination with super-abrasive inserts provides for optimal bit cutting designs which provide increases in ROP while preserving the bit's ability to hold gage and remain durable to achieve acceptable footage. Minimum high offsets and preferred high offsets are described for various bit sizes, designs and nomenclatures, including milled tooth bits and insert-type bits designed for use in soft-through-medium formation hardnesses as well as formations with greater hardnesses.

Abstract: A seed tube for an agricultural implement having a seed metering mechanism for uniformly dispensing seeds. The seed tube defined an enclosed curved seed pathway extending between opposite ends of the tube. To promote control over the seeds passing through the tube, the tube has a smooth but decreasing cross-sectional configuration between the ingress and egress ends of the tube. The tube generally includes a front wall, a rear wall and a pair of side walls. The front wall is generally separated into an upper and lower portion. An opening in the front wall, which is provided to receive a monitoring device, is associated with the lower front wall portion. In addition, the lower front wall portion is stepped forward relative to the upper front wall portion. The enclosed seed pathway further includes a narrowed front edge extending in an upward direction from the egress end of the tube along some section of the front wall.

Abstract: A magazine for holding a plurality of pipes, and a drive head including a drive member adapted to be coupled to a pipe. The drive member is aligned along a drive axis. The drilling apparatus includes a first drive mechanism for rotating the drive member about the drive axis, and a second drive mechanism for moving the drive member axially along the drive axis. The drilling apparatus also includes a pipe transfer member for transferring pipes between the magazine and the drive head. The pipe transfer member defines a pipe receiving region for receiving a pipe. The pipe transfer member is movable between a first orientation in which the pipe receiving region is located adjacent to the magazine, and a second orientation in which the pipe receiving region is located adjacent to the drive axis of the drive head.

Abstract: A lifting force is applied to a wheel rake arm through a spring assembly wherein a coil spring is placed in compression rather than tension. In the preferred embodiment a rod is connected at one end to a rake wheel arm and the free end of the rod extends through a sleeve and then a coil spring which engages a stop at the opposite end of the rod. The sleeve is connected by linkages to an actuating rod.

Abstract: A baler pick-up reel includes a reel shaft to which is fixed a center toothbar support. A first set of toothbars are located to one side of the center toothbar support and respectively have stub shafts at first ends which are respectively received in a first set of equi-angularly spaced bosses forming part of the toothbar support and projecting in a direction opposite to the first set of toothbars. Similarly, a second set of toothbars are located on an opposite side of the center toothbar support and respectively include stub shafts at first ends that are respectively received in a second set of equi-angularly spaced bosses forming part of the toothbar support and projecting in a direction opposite to the second set of toothbars. A plurality of teeth are mounted to each toothbar and have tines which are evenly spaced across the working width of the reel.

Abstract: The invention concerns a self-propelled lawn mower and a method adapted for using said machine. The machine comprises: a mobile frame (1) including at least one drive wheel (6) and at its lower surface at least two juxtaposed cutters (3), associated each with an electric motor; an electronic system for controlling the forward movement of the machine; an on-board computer; an electric power supply; means for measuring the force supplied by each cutter, said measurement being transmitted to the on-board computer; a memorized algorithm for seeking the grass surfaces to be mowed by the interaction of the machine forward movement system, said force measurements and the on-board computer; means for detecting the limits of the surface to be mowed by a magnetic field measurement or the variation of a magnetic field emitted or caused by a set or buried wire, located at said limits.

Abstract: A material handling vehicle is provided which includes a lower truck chassis and an upper material handling structure pivotally supported by the lower chassis, all functions of which vehicle are driven by a single engine. The material handling vehicle is controllable from a main truck cab on the truck chassis or from an upper operator's cab mounted on the upper structure. The single engine provides highway travel power and power to all excavator functions, while the vehicle, including remote travel and implement manipulation capabilities, may be controlled from the upper operator cab. The main engine, when used for over-the-highway travel, powers the driven wheels through a manual transmission in a conventional manner.

Abstract: A cutting blade is removably attachable to an adjustable height string trimmer assembly for a string trimmer machine. The line holder disc is modified by forming a large diameter concentric flange or shoulder about the central passage thereof, with the cutting blade being modified by forming a central passage therethrough having an essentially equal diameter to the shoulder of the line holder disc. A series of matched bolt holes are also formed through the blade and the line holder disc.

Abstract: A planting system with the special planter to dig uniform holes, puck type plant feeders to go in the holes and plastic dual planting trays. These can be used independently or in any combination. Features include a protective shroud, pulverizing the dirt by circulating it in an enclosed area, a tapered spiral ramp to help pile the dirt and pulverize it, a root cutter, ground clearing with spinning shroud, a friction plate to power ground clearing, pointed feet at the bottom of the shroud to stop the spinning when excavation starts, a rock sifter including a ramped face on the internal louvers, a rock catcher ring with flexible fingers, piling the dirt around the perimeter, hole depth measurement rings on the shaft, a slidable ring to select gap between the bottom of the shroud and the ground and an optional locking stop ring to guarantee uniform hole depth.

Abstract: A drilling system utilizing the drilling fluid in a borehole to drive an apparatus to generate a high-pressure jet of fluid to facilitate the drilling operation. A pressure intensifier disposed between a drilling motor and the drill bit generates high pressure fluid jet. The drilling motor rotates the pressure intensifier. Fluid enters a high pressure chamber in the pressure intensifier at selected location during each rotation. A piston in the pressure intensifier discharges the fluid from the high pressure chamber to the drill bit bottom at a high pressure. An electrically-operated pulse frequency control device generates fluid pulses of at least two frequencies, each such frequency defining a bit of a binary system.

Abstract: A crop divider is mounted in front of a ground wheel of an agricultural vehicle to divide the crop to pass on either side of the wheel. The divided includes two diverging divider sheets with two trailing side sheets. Each divider sheet carries a free rolling tine wheel parallel to the sheet and having a hub mounted on the divider sheet for rotation about an axis at a right angle to the sheet and a plurality of flexible tines extending outwardly from the hub for rotation with the hub about the axis. The tine wheel is thus mounted in front of the ground wheel and behind the divider sheet with the hub and top tines prevented from engaging the crop by the divider sheet and the tines extending downwardly below a bottom edge of the divider sheet for rolling on the ground and engaging the crop to comb the crop toward one side of the ground wheel.

Abstract: A preformed frame for a harvesting machine header having a main beam that is constructed of a single piece tube extending from end to end of the header. The single piece tube is preformed by vertically cutting the tube at a location intermediate the two ends and bending the tube to raise the ends upward and forward. A cap covers the top, front and rear walls of the beam and a gusset plate is placed on the bottom of the single piece tube at the location of the cut. The gusset plate, cap and single piece tube are welded together to hold the preformed shaped of the tube. When the header is supported above ground, the deflection brings the cutterbar, not the main beam, to a substantially straight and horizontal position.

Abstract: A motor protector for use in protecting an electric motor in a subterranean environment. The motor protector utilizes a dual, flexible bladder system. One of the expandable bladders provides for the expansion and contraction of motor oil. The other expandable bladder contains a supply of neutralizing solution. The bladder filled with neutralizing solution cooperates with the bladder filled with motor oil to maintain the expandable bladder bathed in neutralizing solution. This prevents migration of corrosive agents into the motor oil.

Abstract: An agricultural apparatus is disclosed herein for the harvesting of a low-density crop such as cotton. The agricultural apparatus includes a frame, a crop acquiring device associated with the frame; a crop collecting bin, or basket, which is supported by the frame, adjustable in position with respect to the frame, and provided with an opening in a wall of the basket for conveying of crop into the basket; a conveying device for conveying of crop from the acquiring device to the basket and having a first end associated with the acquiring device and a second end associated with the basket opening; and a hood pivotally attached to the basket for selectively covering the basket opening and for engaging the second end of the conveying device. The hood may include one or more latching apparatus for securing the hood in an opened position and in a closed position. The latching apparatus may be of the barrel, bolt, and keeper type, and may be disposed at a first end, a second end, or first and second ends of the hood.

Abstract: The present invention provides a fluid flow measurement system for an oil well drilling system that includes a supply of drilling fluid to a wellbore under pressure and a return line carrying fluid leaving the wellbore during drilling of the wellbore. The system includes at least one floating sensor in the return line that provides a measure of the velocity of the fluid in the return line. The sensor may be a thermal sensor, an electromagnetic sensor or an ultrasonic sensor. A height sensor provides the fluid level in the return line and a density sensor provides the density of the returning fluid. A controller determines the inflow rate and out flow rate of the drilling fluid and further determines the presence of a kick and wash out from the flow rates. The system also determines the operating condition of the pumps supplying fluid to the wellbore.

Abstract: Apparatus and corresponding methods are disclosed for controlling operation of well tools within a subterranean well. In a described embodiment, a remotely controllable actuator includes a pressurized fluid source and a chamber containing gas at a relatively low pressure. The actuator is operated by alternately connecting each of two chambers of the actuator to one of the low pressure chamber and the pressurized fluid source. In another described embodiment, a fluid containing chamber is connected to a low pressure chamber of an actuator to thereby bias one member to displace relative to another member.

Abstract: A seed metering system includes a first metering member having a first bearing surface and a second metering member having a plurality of seed engaging surfaces adapted to engage seeds and a second bearing surface positioned against the first bearing surface. The second metering member moves relative to the first metering member. At least one depression extends into the second bearing surface opposite the first bearing surface.

Abstract: An MWD method and apparatus for determining parameters of interest in a formation has a sensor assembly mounted on a slidable sleeve slidably coupled to a longitudinal member, such as a section of drill pipe. When the sensor assembly is held in a non-rotating position, for instance for obtaining the measurements, the longitudinal member is free to rotate and continue drilling the borehole, wherein downhole measurements can be obtained with substantially no sensor movement or vibration. This is particularly useful in making NMR measurements due to their susceptibility to errors due caused by tool vibration. In addition, the substantially non-rotating arrangement of sensors makes it possible to efficiently carry out VSPs, reverse VSPs and looking ahead of the drill bit. A clamping device is used, for instance, to hold the sensor assembly is held in the non-rotating position.