Abstract: A pump apparatus for moving fluid, such as drilling mud. The pump has a special designed fluid end of a configuration that reduces stress riser and therefore reduces the frequency of broken pumps. The pump has a cylindrical liner within which a special piston reciprocates. A stationary discharge valve of special design is connected to discharge fluid from the pump working chamber. A traveling valve is included in the piston and supplies fluid to the working chamber of the pump. The traveling and stationary valves each have a seal that also forms part of a valve seat. Each of the valve elements is a hollow ball and each ball is sealingly seated against the seat. The pump liner, piston, and discharge valve assembly are all axially aligned and can be easily removed from the discharge end of the pump.

Abstract: A swivel apparatus of the type having a main body for supporting a rotatable member, wherein the member supports a load therefrom and is journaled to the main body by a thrust bearing assembly that transfers the load from the rotatable member into the main body. The speed of rotation of the thrust bearing assembly is reduced to a value which is less than the speed of rotation of the rotatable member. This is achieved by rotatably driving a gear means by the rotatable member; and, arranging a first and a second thrust bearing and a middle race member adjacent to one another with the middle race member separating the first and second thrust bearings from one another. This enables the load carried by the rotatable member to be transferred into the first thrust bearing, into the middle race member, into the second thrust bearing, and into the main body.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for joining two elongated members, such as rails, together by holding the rail ends in fixed relationship respective to one another while ramming powder metal between the confronting ends of the rails. Current flow occurs across the confronting faces of the rail and across the compacted powder, thereby elevating the temperature of the marginal rail ends and the compacted metal powder. The rams forge the hot metal powder and hot rail ends into a continuous mass. The method and apparatus can be used for building railroads, repairing defective rail lengths, and welding other elongated members together.

Abstract: A helicopter transportable mud pump made into three stages, each of which are separable from one another. Each pump stage is a light weight sub-assembly which can be lifted by a helicopter into inaccessible locations. The adjacent crankshaft ends of the assembled pump stages are series connected in axially aligned relationship respective to one another by a special coupling means. The coupling means is comprised of two coacting coupling members, each of which have confronting faces connected together in a manner that also causes the adjacent shaft ends of the multi-stage pump to be connected 120.degree. out of phase respective to one another. The coupling halves are identical in design so that only one member must be duplicated during fabrication of the device.

Abstract: A hydrodynamic brake apparatus having multiple stage rotor and stator assemblies housed within a main body. A shaft is journaled to the main body and connected to the rotors, so that power input to the shaft is dissipated by the reaction of the hydraulic fluid contained within the main body. An impeller connected to the shaft forces fluid to flow outwardly to the outer marginal end thereof where the fluid is directed across a stator. From the stator the fluid is forced against the turbine which also is affixed to the shaft in spaced relation respective to the impeller. The turbine forces fluid to flow against a housing stator. The fluid returns through the main body to the impeller, or through a cooler and then back into the main body.

Abstract: A wind turbine has axially aligned, spaced, rotatable support flanges with a plurality of vertically aligned air foils having opposed ends journaled thereto. The air foils are pivoted respective to the wind by a pitch flange mounted eccentrically respective to the support flanges. The pitch flange moves the air foils into an aligned relationship respective to the wind to optimize the energy derived from the blowing wind.