Abstract: A method for non-intrusive pipeline testing involves constructing the pipeline at a construction location that is above ground, affixing an optical fiber along a surface of a length of the pipeline that is at the construction location, measuring dynamic strain experienced by the length of the pipeline by performing optical interferometry using the optical fiber, and moving the length of the pipeline from the construction location to a different installation location. The optical fiber includes at least one pair of fiber Bragg gratings (“FBGs”) tuned to reflect substantially identical wavelengths with a segment of the optical fiber extending between the FBGs.

Abstract: A clamp for clamping optical fiber to a tube. The clamp has a body portion coupled at one end to a first arm and at an opposing end to a second arm, and a resilient portion to permit the clamp to elastically deform from a closed state in which the clamp is fastened around the tube to an open state in which the clamp is radially moveable off the tube. At least one of the body portion, the first arm and the second arm has a clamping surface to clamp a portion of the optical fiber against the tube when the clamp is fastened around the tube, and a clamping mechanism operable to extend at least part of the clamping surface towards the tube when the clamp is secured to the tube to increase a clamping force applied by the clamping surface.

Abstract: A method for non-intrusive pipeline testing involves constructing the pipeline at a construction location that is above ground, affixing an optical fiber along a surface of a length of the pipeline that is at the construction location, measuring dynamic strain experienced by the length of the pipeline by performing optical interferometry using the optical fiber, and moving the length of the pipeline from the construction location to a different installation location. The optical fiber includes at least one pair of fiber Bragg gratings (“FBGs”) tuned to reflect substantially identical wavelengths with a segment of the optical fiber extending between the FBGs.

Abstract: A clamp for clamping optical fiber to a tube. The clamp has a body portion coupled at one end to a first arm and at an opposing end to a second arm, and a resilient portion to permit the clamp to elastically deform from a closed state in which the clamp is fastened around the tube to an open state in which the clamp is radially moveable off the tube. At least one of the body portion, the first arm and the second arm has a clamping surface to clamp a portion of the optical fiber against the tube when the clamp is fastened around the tube, and a clamping mechanism operable to extend at least part of the clamping surface towards the tube when the clamp is secured to the tube to increase a clamping force applied by the clamping surface.

Abstract: A drill bit assembly having an electrically isolated gap joint for electromagnetic telemetry comprises a drill bit, a pin body, an electrically insulating gap joint therebetween, and an electrical conductor extending across the gap joint. The bit head has a cutting end and an opposite connecting end with an engagement section. The pin body has a tubular body with an axial bore therethrough, and comprises a connecting end with an engagement section. The pin body connecting end is connected to the bit head connecting end such that the engagement sections overlap. The electrically insulating gap joint fills an annular gap between the bit head and pin body engagement sections such that the bit head and pin body are mechanically connected together at the connecting ends but are electrically separated. The electrical conductor has one end electrically contacting one of the bit head and pin body, and the other end communicable with electronics equipment.

Abstract: A drill bit assembly has a bit head and a pin body. The bit head comprises a cutting end, an opposite connecting end with an engagement section, and a feature facing the connecting end. The pin body comprises a tubular body with an axial bore therethrough, a connecting end with an engagement section and a feature facing the connecting end. The drill bit assembly is manufactured by positioning the pin body connecting end with the bit head connecting end such that the pin body and bit head engagement sections overlap with a gap therebetween, and the pin body and bit head features are aligned; injecting a thermoplastic or other connecting material in liquid form between the bit head and pin body engagement sections and into the gap; and solidifying the thermoplastic or other connecting material such that the bit head and pin body are mechanically coupled together at their connecting ends and their features are securely aligned.

Abstract: Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for granting and revoking supplemental memory allocation requests. Supplemental memory allocations of memory resources are granted to applications following initial memory allocations of the memory resources to the applications. In response to determining that available memory resources have fallen below an availability threshold, determining a weighting factor for each supplemental memory allocation based on at least one of an amount of the memory resources allocated to the supplemental memory allocation and a measured duration during which the memory resources have been allocated. At least one of the supplemental memory allocations is selected to revoke based on the determined weighting factors of the supplemental memory allocations.

Abstract: Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for granting and revoking supplemental memory allocation requests. Supplemental memory allocations of memory resources are granted to applications following initial memory allocations of the memory resources to the applications. In response to determining that available memory resources have fallen below an availability threshold, determining a weighting factor for each supplemental memory allocation based on at least one of an amount of the memory resources allocated to the supplemental memory allocation and a measured duration during which the memory resources have been allocated. At least one of the supplemental memory allocations is selected to revoke based on the determined weighting factors of the supplemental memory allocations.

Abstract: LED-based lighting apparatus and assembly methods in which mechanical and/or thermal coupling between respective components is accomplished via a transfer of force from one component to another. In one example, a multiple-LED assembly is disposed in thermal communication with a heat sink that forms part of a housing. A primary optical element situated within a pressure-transfer member is disposed above and optically aligned with each LED. A shared secondary optical facility forming another part of the housing is disposed above and compressively coupled to the pressure-transfer members. A force exerted by the second optical facility is transferred via the pressure-transfer members so as to press the LED assembly toward the heat sink, thereby facilitating heat transfer. In one aspect, the LED assembly is secured in the housing without the need for adhesives. In another aspect, the secondary optical facility does not directly exert pressure onto any primary optical element, thereby reducing optical misalignment.

Abstract: LED-based lighting apparatus and assembly methods in which mechanical and/or thermal coupling between respective components is accomplished via a transfer of force from one component to another. In one example, a multiple-LED assembly is disposed in thermal communication with a heat sink that forms part of a housing. A primary optical element situated within a pressure-transfer member is disposed above and optically aligned with each LED. A shared secondary optical facility forming another part of the housing is disposed above and compressively coupled to the pressure-transfer members. A force exerted by the second optical facility is transferred via the pressure-transfer members so as to press the LED assembly toward the heat sink, thereby facilitating heat transfer. In one aspect, the LED assembly is secured in the housing without the need for adhesives. In another aspect, the secondary optical facility does not directly exert pressure onto any primary optical element, thereby reducing optical misalignment.

Abstract: A drill bit assembly having an electrically isolated gap joint for electromagnetic telemetry comprises a drill bit, a pin body, an electrically insulating gap joint therebetween, and an electrical conductor extending across the gap joint. The bit head has a cutting end and an opposite connecting end with an engagement section. The pin body has a tubular body with an axial bore therethrough, and comprises a connecting end with an engagement section. The pin body connecting end is connected to the bit head connecting end such that the engagement sections overlap. The electrically insulating gap joint fills an annular gap between the bit head and pin body engagement sections such that the bit head and pin body are mechanically connected together at the connecting ends but are electrically separated. The electrical conductor has one end electrically contacting one of the bit head and pin body, and the other end communicable with electronics equipment.

Abstract: LED-based lighting apparatus and assembly methods in which mechanical and/or thermal coupling between respective components is accomplished via a transfer of force from one component to another. In one example, a multiple-LED assembly is disposed in thermal communication with a heat sink that forms part of a housing. A primary optical element situated within a pressure-transfer member is disposed above and optically aligned with each LED. A shared secondary optical facility forming another part of the housing is disposed above and compressively coupled to the pressure-transfer members. A force exerted by the second optical facility is transferred via the pressure-transfer members so as to press the LED assembly toward the heat sink, thereby facilitating heat transfer. In one aspect, the LED assembly is secured in the housing without the need for adhesives. In another aspect, the secondary optical facility does not directly exert pressure onto any primary optical element, thereby reducing optical misalignment.

Abstract: A lighting fixture, and methods for powering and operating same. The fixture comprises a housing having multiple portions. One or more power and control circuit boards are disposed in a first portion of the housing, comprising one or more switching power supplies for receiving an A.C. line voltage and providing a D.C. output voltage, and a communication protocol converter for receiving first lighting instructions formatted according to a first communication protocol and converting at least some of the first lighting instructions to second lighting instructions formatted according to a second communication protocol. A plurality of modular circuit boards are disposed in the second portion of the housing and coupled to the power and control circuit board(s). Each modular circuit board comprises a plurality of LED-based lighting units coupled to the D.C. output voltage and responsive to the second lighting instructions formatted according to the second communication protocol.

Abstract: LED-based lighting apparatus and assembly methods in which mechanical and/or thermal coupling between respective components is accomplished via a transfer of force from one component to another. In one example, a multiple-LED assembly is disposed in thermal communication with a heat sink that forms part of a housing. A primary optical element situated within a pressure-transfer member is disposed above and optically aligned with each LED. A shared secondary optical facility forming another part of the housing is disposed above and compressively coupled to the pressure-transfer members. A force exerted by the second optical facility is transferred via the pressure-transfer members so as to press the LED assembly toward the heat sink, thereby facilitating heat transfer. In one aspect, the LED assembly is secured in the housing without the need for adhesives. In another aspect, the secondary optical facility does not directly exert pressure onto any primary optical element, thereby reducing optical misalignment.

Abstract: LED-based lighting apparatus and assembly methods in which mechanical and/or thermal coupling between respective components is accomplished via a transfer of force from one component to another. In one example, a multiple-LED assembly is disposed in thermal communication with a heat sink that forms part of a housing. A primary optical element situated within a pressure-transfer member is disposed above and optically aligned with each LED. A shared secondary optical facility forming another part of the housing is disposed above and compressively coupled to the pressure-transfer members. A force exerted by the second optical facility is transferred via the pressure-transfer members so as to press the LED assembly toward the heat sink, thereby facilitating heat transfer. In one aspect, the LED assembly is secured in the housing without the need for adhesives. In another aspect, the secondary optical facility does not directly exert pressure onto any primary optical element, thereby reducing optical misalignment.

Abstract: A shaft protection washer to protect a rotating shaft in a “measurement while drilling” (MWD) tool. Use of the shaft protection washer renders the rotating shaft less susceptible to erosion from the drilling fluid flowing between the rotating component and the stationary component.

Abstract: A shaft protection washer to protect a rotating shaft in a “measurement while drilling” (MWD) tool. Use of the shaft protection washer renders the rotating shaft less susceptible to erosion from the drilling fluid flowing between the rotating component and the stationary component.

Abstract: A shaft protection washer to protect a rotating shaft in a “measurement while drilling” (MWD) tool. Use of the shaft protection washer renders the rotating shaft less susceptible to erosion from the drilling fluid flowing between the rotating component and the stationary component.

Abstract: LED-based lighting apparatus and assembly methods in which mechanical and/or thermal coupling between respective components is accomplished via a transfer of force from one component to another. In one example, a multiple-LED assembly is disposed in thermal communication with a heat sink that forms part of a housing. A primary optical element situated within a pressure-transfer member is disposed above and optically aligned with each LED. A shared secondary optical facility forming another part of the housing is disposed above and compressively coupled to the pressure-transfer members. A force exerted by the second optical facility is transferred via the pressure-transfer members so as to press the LED assembly toward the heat sink, thereby facilitating heat transfer. In one aspect, the LED assembly is secured in the housing without the need for adhesives. In another aspect, the secondary optical facility does not directly exert pressure onto any primary optical element, thereby reducing optical misalignment.

Abstract: A lighting fixture, and methods for powering and operating same. The fixture comprises a housing having multiple portions. One or more power and control circuit boards are disposed in a first portion of the housing, comprising one or more switching power supplies for receiving an A.C. line voltage and providing a D.C. output voltage, and a communication protocol converter for receiving first lighting instructions formatted according to a first communication protocol and converting at least some of the first lighting instructions to second lighting instructions formatted according to a second communication protocol. A plurality of modular circuit boards are disposed in the second portion of the housing and coupled to the power and control circuit board(s). Each modular circuit board comprises a plurality of LED-based lighting units coupled to the D.C. output voltage and responsive to the second lighting instructions formatted according to the second communication protocol.