Abstract: Arrangements are provided for assembling multiple substrates for coating within a fluidized bed coater so as to deposit a coating of uniform thickness across the entire exterior surface thereof. One embodiment includes a method for coating orthopedic implants having convex and concave surfaces with pyrocarbon by pyrolytic decomposition of a hydrocarbon.

Abstract: Arrangements are provided for assembling multiple substrates for coating within a fluidized bed coater so as to deposit a coating of uniform thickness across the entire exterior surface thereof. One embodiment includes a method for coating orthopedic implants having convex and concave surfaces with pyrocarbon by pyrolytic decomposition of a hydrocarbon.

Abstract: Arrangements are provided for assembling multiple substrates for coating within a fluidized bed coater so as to deposit a coating of uniform thickness across the entire exterior surface thereof. One embodiment includes a method for coating orthopedic implants having convex and concave surfaces with pyrocarbon by pyrolytic decomposition of a hydrocarbon.

Abstract: Arrangements are provided for assembling multiple substrates for coating within a fluidized bed coater so as to deposit a coating of uniform thickness across the entire exterior surface thereof. One embodiment includes a method for coating orthopedic implants having convex and concave surfaces with pyrocarbon by pyrolytic decomposition of a hydrocarbon.

Abstract: Arrangements are provided for assembling multiple substrates for coating within a fluidized bed coater so as to deposit a coating of uniform thickness across the entire exterior surface thereof. One embodiment includes a method for coating orthopedic implants having convex and concave surfaces with pyrocarbon by pyrolytic decomposition of a hydrocarbon.

Abstract: A drill collar formed substantially entirely from a metal matrix material and one or more metal alloys, the drill collar being produced through a molding process. The metal matrix material of the drill collar minimizes lateral movement and vibration during drilling operations, while providing a weight greater than that of conventional drill collar materials, thereby enabling construction of drill collars and bottom hole assemblies having a reduced length.

Abstract: A drill bit is described herein, having a first bit face with a first plurality of cutters oriented to bore in a first direction, and a second bit face with a second plurality of cutters oriented to bore in one or more second directions. The pluralities of cutters enable functional articulation of the drill bit, such that the drill bit can change direction within a borehole without requiring removal of the drill bit. The drill bit can thereby drill in a downhole direction and lateral directions, can back ream through the borehole, and can provide the borehole with one or more oversized regions, as desired.

Abstract: Arrangements are provided for assembling multiple substrates for coating within a fluidized bed coater so as to deposit a coating of uniform thickness across the entire exterior surface thereof. One embodiment includes a method for coating orthopedic implants having convex and concave surfaces with pyrocarbon by pyrolytic decomposition of a hydrocarbon.

Abstract: A drill collar formed substantially entirely from a metal matrix material and one or more metal alloys is provided, the drill collar being produced through a molding process. The metal matrix material of the drill collar minimizes lateral movement and vibration during drilling operations, while providing a weight greater than that of conventional drill collar materials, thereby enabling construction of drill collars and bottom hole assemblies having a reduced length.

Abstract: A drilling stabilizer having a body and a plurality of blades integrally cast from tungsten carbide particles bound together with a heated metal binder, for use in drilling oil and gas wells, has a first box end and a second pin end at the distal end of the stabilizer. A plurality a PDC cutters are mounted on the top end of the stabilizer to allow the stabilizer to be used as a reamer when pulling the stabilizer out of the borehole. A steel tube is formed within the interior of the stabilizer in the molding process and which allows the pin end to have steel threads and the box end to also have steel threads to facilitate the makeup of the stabilizer with either the steel threads of a drill bit or the steel threads of joints of drill pipe.

Abstract: A drill bit having a plurality of cutters on its lower surface, each of which can having a plurality of PDC cutter elements disposed thereon. The cutting surface on each of the cutters is mounted in in an orientation that allows drilling of oversize boreholes which enables the drill bit to be turned more easily to facilitate the boreholes being drilled on a smaller radius. The placement of the cutters on each of the blades enables the drill bit to drill both vertically and laterally.

Abstract: A drilling stabilizer having a body and a plurality of blades integrally cast from tungsten carbide particles bound together with a heated metal binder, for use in drilling oil and gas wells, has a first box end and a second pin end at the distal end of the stabilizer. A plurality of PDC cutters are mounted on the top end of the stabilizer to allow the stabilizer to be used as a reamer when pulling the stabilizer out of the borehole. A steel tube is formed within the interior of the stabilizer in the molding process and which allows the pin end to have steel threads and the box end to also have steel threads to facilitate the makeup of the stabilizer with either the steel threads of a drill bit or the steel threads of joints of drill pipe.

Abstract: A drill bit is described herein, having a first bit face with a first plurality of cutters oriented to bore in a first direction, and a second bit face with a second plurality of cutters oriented to bore in one or more second directions. The pluralities of cutters enable functional articulation of the drill bit, such that the drill bit can change direction within a borehole without requiring removal of the drill bit. The drill bit can thereby drill in a downhole direction and lateral directions, can back ream through the borehole, and can provide the borehole with one or more oversized regions, as desired.

Abstract: A drill bit having a plurality of cutters on its lower surface, each of which can having a plurality of PDC cutter elements disposed thereon. The cutting surface on each of the cutters is mounted in in an orientation that allows drilling of oversize boreholes which enables the drill bit to be turned more easily to facilitate the boreholes being drilled on a smaller radius. The placement of the cutters on each of the blades enables the drill bit to drill both vertically and laterally.

Abstract: The combination of watering apparatus and a plastics bag containing a growing medium (hereinafter referred to as “grow bag”). The watering apparatus comprises an open topped vessel (1) formed with an opening (2) positioned towards its base through which water present in the vessel (1) can leave. The grow bag (4) is formed with a lengthwise extending sleeve (6) of generally inverted channel shape and is closed at each end. The sleeve (6) overlies a substantially linear array of holes (5) formed in the upper surface of the grow bag (4). In use, the opening (2) of the vessel (1) is positioned adjacent to a pierced end of the sleeve (6) so that water leaving the vessel opening (2) enters the sleeve (6) and passes through the holes (5) formed in the bag surface to water the growing medium of the grow bag (4).

Abstract: A method for determining failure modes of a transceiver (100) includes applying a control signal (121) to a transmitter (130) of transceiver (100). The power level of a transmit signal (131) is proportional to a predetermined voltage level of control signal (121), and is detected by a detector (132) which correspondingly produces a transmit power level indicator (133). A portion of transmit signal (131) is coupled to produce a coupled transmit signal (111) which is received by a receiver (110) of transceiver (100). Receiver (111) produces a receive signal strength indicator (112) corresponding to the power level of coupled transmit signal (111). Voltage levels of received signal strength indicator (112), transmit power level indicator (133) and predetermined voltage level of control signal (121) are stored in a memory means 125, and compared in a controller 126 to determine failure modes of receiver (110) and transmitter (130).

Abstract: An apparatus for setting a golf ball on a tee including: a base having attached supports to provide a framework around which the apparatus is constructed; a tee coupled with the base; a holder for holding a plurality of golf balls; a dislodger to free balls that are lodged within the holder; a rocker arm for individually releasing the balls onto a ramp; and a lever for controlling the rocker arm and ramp, wherein the ball is delivered and placed on the tee.