Abstract: A smoking pipe has a a combustion bowl, a mouthpiece, and an inhalation conduit. An inhalation check valve is connected to the inhalation conduit and positioned between the bowl and the mouthpiece, oriented to pass smoke of combustion in one direction from the bowl to the mouthpiece. An exhalation check valve is positioned between the mouthpiece and the atmosphere, and is oriented to pass exhalation in one direction from the mouthpiece to the atmosphere. A body is partially fillable to retain water, and the inhalation conduit passes from the bowl into the body and extends to an upper area inside the body, and then turns to extend towards a lower area inside the body, terminating in an open end. The inhalation conduit has a second portion that has an opening in the upper inner area and extends to the inhalation check valve.

Abstract: The present invention generally provides an inexpensive method for drilling a multilateral wellbore where the pressure exerted on a formation of interest by a column of drilling fluid may be controlled.

Abstract: A method and a brake disc with a composite insert member is disclosed. The method discloses the coupling of a carbon-carbon composite insert member with the brake disc to provide an interface for the brake disc.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for utilizing a downhole deployment valve (DDV) to isolate a pressure in a portion of a bore are disclosed. Any combination of fail safe features may be used with or incorporated into the DDV such as redundant valve members, an upward opening flapper valve or a metering flapper below a sealing valve. In one aspect, a barrier or diverter located in the bore above a valve member of the DDV permits passage through the bore when the valve member is open and actuates when the valve member is closed. Once actuated, the barrier or diverter either stops or diverts any dropped objects prior to the dropped object reaching and potentially damaging the valve member. In another aspect, the tool string tripped in above the DDV includes an acceleration actuated brake that anchors the tool string to a surrounding tubular if the tool string is dropped.

Abstract: A furnace spacer (10, 30, 50, 70) for spacing a first annular preform (22) from a second annular preform (22) in a furnace (100), each of the first and second annular preforms (22) having an outer periphery and a width and an inner opening having a periphery and a width, the spacer (10, 30, 50, 70) having an annular body (12, 32, 52, 72) having an inner diameter and an outer diameter. Also a method of alternately stacking spacers and preforms in a furnace.

Abstract: The present invention generally provides an inexpensive method for drilling a multilateral wellbore where the pressure exerted on a formation of interest by a column of drilling fluid may be controlled.

Abstract: Method of manufacturing a brake pad that has improved initial friction coefficient or “bite”. The method involves molding a carbon-carbon preform into the desired shape; carbonizing the preform by gradually heating it to 650-900° C. and holding it at that temperature for approximately one hour, heating the carbonized preform at 1950-2050° C. for approximately 4 hours, infiltrating the preform with colloidal silica to fill pores in the preform matrix with silicon carbide, heating the silica-containing preform at about 1800° C. for approximately 4 hours to convert the silica to silicon carbide, subjecting the preform to Carbon Vapor Deposition (CVD) for from 500-1000 hours, and heating the preform at 1600-2800° C. for approximately 4 hours to produce the brake pad material.

Abstract: A sheet material dispenser includes a controller for automatically controlling the lengths of sheet materials dispensed from a continuous roll by identifying the type of sheet materials on the roll and dispensing suitable lengths of the identified sheet material. The dispenser desirably has a support for rotatably supporting a roll of sheet material carrying identification relating to the type of sheet material on the roll, and an identifier positioned in or adjacent the dispenser for identifying the type of sheet material on the roll. A processor receives data from the identifier, processes the data and generates an output command, and a controller controls the lengths of sheet material dispensed from the roll in response to the output command. In this way, more absorbent products may be dispensed in shorter lengths and less absorbent products may be dispensed in longer lengths.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for utilizing a downhole deployment valve (DDV) to isolate a pressure in a portion of a bore are disclosed. Any combination of fail safe features may be used with or incorporated into the DDV such as redundant valve members, an upward opening flapper valve or a metering flapper below a sealing valve. In one aspect, a barrier or diverter located in the bore above a valve member of the DDV permits passage through the bore when the valve member is open and actuates when the valve member is closed. Once actuated, the barrier or diverter either stops or diverts any dropped objects prior to the dropped object reaching and potentially damaging the valve member. In another aspect, the tool string tripped in above the DDV includes an acceleration actuated brake that anchors the tool string to a surrounding tubular if the tool string is dropped.

Abstract: A connectionless signal detection device for conductive cables contains one or more bifurcated, wire-wrapped magnetic core assemblies positioned axially in an elongated alignment channel, allowing the device to accurately detect the transmission of signals or information on conductive cables using an inductive method. Each assembly section of the magnetic core assembly is wrapped with a conducting wire, with opposed assembly sections electrically connected in a bucking configuration, that is, the output side of one assembly section is connected to the output side of the opposing assembly section. The assembly sections either mate directly at their intersections or alternately operate with a dual gap. The elongated alignment channel opens and closes to allow positioning of the magnetic core assemblies concentrically about a conductive cable.

Abstract: Methods for producing an adherent diamond film on a cemented metal carbide substrate are disclosed. Particularly, the present invention discloses methods of preparing the surface of a cemented metal carbide surface such that an adherent polycrystalline diamond coating may be deposited thereon using CVD techniques. Cutting tool inserts produced from such adherent diamond film coated cemented metal carbide articles are also disclosed.

Abstract: Methods for producing an adherent diamond film on a cemented metal carbide substrate are disclosed. Particularly, the present invention discloses methods of preparing the surface of a cemented metal carbide surface such that an adherent polycrystalline diamond coating may be deposited thereon using CVD techniques. Cutting tool inserts produced from such adherent diamond film coated cemented metal carbide articles are also disclosed.