Abstract: A drill bit is coupled at its upper end to an orbiting mass oscillator. The oscillator is mounted and connected to the bit such that the oscillator describes a conical orbiting path. The drill bit follows this conical orbiting path of the oscillator which results in a rolling nutating action of the bit cutters on the work material.

Abstract: A vibratory drive system for use in spalling a road surface, cutting rock, etc. Vibratory energy is generated by means of an orbiting mass oscillator, the output of which is rectified by means of a rectifier to provide unidirectional pulses to a cutting tool. In the interests of making the system compact and providing controlled operational parameters, non-resonant operation is employed, optimum drive to the tool being achieved by biasing the oscillator against the tool and by providing a shoulder which fixes the uppermost position of the tool when it is being biased against a load. The tool position and the design of the oscillator are such that the oscillator housing contacts the tool near the mid-down stroke (90.degree.) of the oscillatory vibration cycle, this being the point of highest vibratory velocity and kinetic energy. In this manner, the highest possible delivery of energy to the tool is provided.

Abstract: A roller cone drill bit which is supported for rotation on a bearing pin by means of a journal bearing is sonically driven, preferably by means of a resonant vibration system formed in an elastic column which receives vibratory energy from an orbiting mass oscillator. The roller cone also is mechanically rotated by virtue of conventional rotary motion of the drilling string. Enough clearance is provided at the journal bearing between the bearing pin and the roller cone to provide a thick film of lubricating oil at this bearing.

Abstract: Shale having kerogen deposits therein is exposed to a liquid carrier medium such as water or distillate. High level vibratory energy is applied to the kerogen carrying shale and the liquid to cause the oil shale to comminute so as to release the kerogen therefrom, the kerogen itself being comminuted and suspended in the carrier liquid, which liquid is then removed and the oil separated therefrom.

Abstract: A column of elastic material such as steel is lowered into an oil well by means of a derrick to a position such that the end portion thereof is within a liner to be removed. The end portion of the column has clamping means thereon which are employed to tightly clamp the column to the liner. High level and variable resonant sonic energy is then applied to the column from the surface and transmitted along the column to the liner. The sonic energy operates to loosen the liner from the surrounding earthen material which usually has an adhesive tarry substance which tightly holds the liner. Vertical bias force, which may be varied from time to time to apply variable bias both upwardly and downwardly, as well as torsional bias in some instances are employed to aid in loosening the liner, the sonic energy operating to hysteresis heat the tarry adhesive until it softens and the liner can be removed by drawing the column upwardly with the derrick.

Abstract: A drilling bit for drilling earthen material such as an oil well rotary cone drilling bit, which includes means for preventing foreign particles such as sand, rock cuttings, etc., from reaching the rotational bearings of the bit cones. This end result is principally achieved by means of a centrifugal slinger disc or wall which is positioned in external concentricity with the drill bit cone bearing, and operates to drive granular particles away from the bearings, thereby preventing such particles from reaching these bearing surfaces. The granular particles are driven by the slinger action through a series of apertures forming a channel running out to a peripheral region of the bit cones. A channel continuation is also provided for lubricating fluid, which may comprise ambient water or oil placed in chambers surrounding the bearings, this channel providing access for such lubricating fluid inwardly to the bit cone bearings.

Abstract: One or more elongated members, such as bars or tubes of an elastic material are sonically vibrated, by means of a mechanical oscillator coupled thereto, at a frequency such as to set up resonant elastic standing wave vibration in the elastic resonators. A conduit or chamber is provided in which material to be treated or parts to be polished along with an appropriate fluid treatment material are placed, the parts and material either being flowed through the conduit or retained therein for a predetermined treatment time. Sonic energy is coupled from the resonator member or members to the treatment conduit at selected positions along the standing waves generated in the resonators, this coupling being made adjacent the node and anti-node of such vibration in one embodiment; at two anti-nodes in a second embodiment, and a single anti-node in a third embodiment, to obtain various types of vibratory motion in the treatment conduit or chamber for various effects on the parts or other material being treated.

Abstract: A drum (or disc) having a filtering membrane formed on the surface thereof is rotated continually into and out of a bath containing particulate material to be filtered and de-watered, such that a filter cake is formed on the outside of the membrane. A vacuum is provided at the center of the drum or disc structure to suck moisture from the filter cake during the portion of the cycle when this filter cake is out of the bath (the drum or disc being rotated at a very slow speed). A vibrator member having a surface in the form of a long narrow strip is placed against the drum or disc across a limited longitudinal slice thereof in a region of the filter cake, such that the sucking pressure has a substantial non-vibrating region to work on each side of the vibrated strip. The vibrational energy delivers vibration to the filter cake in such a manner as to upset the capillary equilibrium and thus facilitate the separation of the liquid from the filter cake.

Abstract: A drilling bit for drilling earthen material such as an oil well rotary cone drilling bit, which includes means for preventing foreign particles such as sand, rock cuttings, etc., from reaching the rotational bearings of the bit cones. This end result is principally achieved by means of a centrifugal slinger disc or wall which is positioned in external concentricity with the drill bit cone bearing, and operates to drive granular particles away from the bearings, thereby preventing such particles from reaching these bearing surfaces. The granular particles are driven by the slinger action through a series of apertures forming a channel running out to a peripheral region of the bit cones. A channel continuation is also provided for lubricating fluid, which many comprise ambient water or oil placed in chambers surrounding the bearings, this channel providing access for such lubricating fluid inwardly to the bit cone bearings.

Abstract: Paired unbalanced weight oscillator rotors are mounted in a drill stem or the like arranged in tandem and in symmetrical relationship, equally and oppositely off-centered from the longitudinal axis of the stem. The upper element is connected to a rotary drive shaft by means of a universal joint, the rotors being connected to each other by a similar such universal joint. In this manner, the rotors are synchronously driven to provide torsional vibration of the drill stem in which they are mounted without the need for gears and without the size limitations imposed on the oscillator rotors as in prior art systems where such units are arranged side by side.

Abstract: A centrifugal trap for preventing solid particles such as sand from reaching water lubricated bearings. The ambient water which is used for lubricating a bearing is passed through a maze structure which includes a first longitudinal annular channel which is substantially concentric with the shaft supported by the bearing, and a second lateral annular channel which is also concentric with the shaft, into a longitudinal annular separating chamber. A centrifugal force is generated in the liquid by rotating a cylindrical member forming one of the walls of the channels and the chamber, which causes sand particles and the like to be driven outwardly against the longitudinal portions of the walls. The liquid, the particles having been separated therefrom, is passed from the centrifugal separating chamber through an inner longitudinal annular channel, which is concentric with the shaft, to the shaft bearing.

Abstract: Means are provided to rotatably drive a cutter blade device about a central point so as to bore a circular hole in the ground. Elastic bar means is vibrationally excited at a sonic frequency by means of an orbital mechanical oscillator, the frequency of the oscillator being adjusted to provide resonant standing wave vibration of the bar means. Vibrational energy is transferred from the bar means to the cutter device in unidirectional (rectified) pulses, the vibrational energy aiding the rotary torque action of the cutter device and causing the earthen material to be broken into small size cuttings. The vibrational energy is applied to the cutter device at a location thereon away from the rotational axis of the cutter device, therefore maximizing the availability of the sonic energy in the cutting action and providing a substantial lever arm at the central portions of the device.

Abstract: A compressing device which may be utilized for such purposes as crushing rock or compacting material, has a pair of oppositely positioned jaws. Each jaw has a plurality of longitudinal bars attached thereto, which bars are resonant in a gyratory lateral mode, these bars being spaced from each other along the material flow path extent of their associated jaws. Means are provided to resonantly vibrate each of the jaws in a gyratory vibration mode with the bars for each jaw vibrating in a manner such as to cause a unified jaw vibration. In the preferred embodiment, the resonant bars are hollow with the oscillator means for each bar comprising a plurality of eccentric weights attached to the ends of the bars and mounted for rotation on an axis parallel to the axis of the bar.

Abstract: Torsional sonic energy is generated by means of a sonic generator and coupled to an elastic member to cause torsional resonant vibration thereof. The output of the torsional resonant member is coupled through an acoustic rectifier device to a drilling bit to simultaneously provide both torsional and vertical drive components to the bit to effect a spiral "screw" type driving action thereof. The rectifier action results in unidirectional high level pulses of the resonant sonic energy to the bit, causing the bit to be driven both rotatably and downwardly in a pulsating manner.

Abstract: High level sonic energy is introduced at the head of an oil well casing and transmitted through the gaseous column formed in the casing down to oil bearing strata from which oil is being extracted. The sonic energy is transmitted into this strata either through the opening in the bottom of the casing and/or apertures in the casing wall, the sonic energy operating to heat the oil particles so as to reduce their viscosity and to induce the migration of oil particles from the oil bearing strata, as well as to clear the interstices of the formation of flow impeding particles, thereby augmenting the flow of oil in the well. The basic process is enhanced by heating the gas within the casing and/or pressurizing the gas.