Abstract: A replaceable point is disclosed for attaching to the nose of an adapter to provide a tooth for an earth digging and moving bucket. The point is made up of a plurality of flat-sided, rolled steel plates that are held in aligned side-by-side relationship. The plates have edges that are contoured to form a point of the desired shape.

Abstract: A method of successfully disposing of, or recycling, waste metals comprising placing the waste metals in an aluminum container, placing the container in a crucible containing a mixture of powdered aluminum and iron oxide, initiating a self-sustaining reaction between the oxide and the metal that oxidizes the aluminum and reduces the iron and heats the contents of the crucible to 4,000.degree. F. or higher to melt the waste metals and the iron and produce an ingot of the iron and the metal from the sharps and aluminum oxide slag, and trapping the heat and reaction products above the crucible with a hood of refractory material which covers the crucible and is sealed by partial immersion in loosely packed sand. The hood enables complete containment and incineration of the reaction products. The ingot and the slag can be recycled.

Abstract: A method of hard-facing is disclosed in which matrix metal is melted on the surface of a metal base member being hard-faced along with a portion of the metal base member by a non-consumable electrode moving over the matrix metal. The arc between the electrode and the matrix metal will produce a large pool of molten metal that moves along with the electrode. A constant stream of wear resistant particles, such as tungsten carbide that have been preheated to at least 400.degree. F. are continuously fed to the back side of the pool of molten metal. The heat of the arc causes the molten metal in the pool to swirl which results in the wear resistant particles being distributed more or less evenly throughout the matrix metal from the bottom to the top as it solidifies behind the electrode.

Abstract: A method of hard-facing is disclosed in which matrix metal is melted on the surface of a metal base member being hard-faced along with a portion of the metal base member by a non-consumable electrode moving over the matrix metal. The arc between the electrode and the matrix metal will produce a large pool of molten metal that moves along with the electrode. A constant stream of wear resistant particles, such as tungsten carbide, are continuously fed to the back side of the pool of molten metal. The heat of the arc causes the molten metal in the pool to swirl which results in the wear resistant particles being distributed more or less evenly throughout the matrix metal from the bottom to the top as it solidifies behind the electrode.

Abstract: A method of encircling the outside surface of a downhole tool joint with wear strips of cast, relatively brittle, drillable material in which the strips have notches in their abutting ends, and weld metal is puddled in openings formed by the notches. The weld metal is fused to the tool joint surface but not to the wear strips.

Abstract: A self releasing sling hoist is disclosed that includes a body for connecting to a hoist line for lifting a load. A sling such as a flexible line or cable has one end attached to one side of the body. The other end is provided with a loop or opening for attaching to a hook connected to the other side of the body after the sling has been passed under or otherwise arranged to support a load. A releasing arm is connected to the body to pivot toward the hook under the influence of the load as the weight of the load is transferred from the sling and the body is lowered toward the load. Continued downward movement of the body relative to the load will cause the release arm to pivot past the hook and force the end of the sling off the hook thereby automatically releasing the sling from the load.

Abstract: A curved section is provided for connecting in a conduit through which passes a fluid stream having solid material entrained therein. A plurality of wear strips are attached to the inside wall of the curved section. They are positioned for the solid material to impinge thereon as the fluid stream changes its direction of flow as it passes through the curved section. The wear strips are elongated members of wear resistant material positioned side-by-side along the inside wall against which the solid material impinges. The abutting sides of adjacent wear strips are beveled so that the outer edges of one adjacent strip extends over the inner edge of the other adjacent strip to provide a continuous surface of wear resistant material in the path of the entrained solid material.