Abstract: A multiple stage drag and dynamic pump is provided for pumping fluid. The pump comprises a housing and a shaft positioned in the housing, the shaft rotating about the longitudinal axis of the housing. A rotor assembly has a plurality of pump stages mounted on the shaft for rotation therewith, each pump stage including a plurality of blades fixed to the shaft. The pump also includes a stator assembly having a plurality of flow directing stator elements, each of the stator elements being positioned between adjacent pump stages. Each of the stator elements has a wall and a diverter, wherein the wall is perpendicular to the axis of the shaft and the diverter is at an angle of less than 90.degree. with respect to the axis of the shaft.

Abstract: A multistage turbine is provided for driving a downhole motor, which is driven by the flow of a fluid therethrough. The turbine comprises a housing and a shaft positioned in the housing, the shaft rotating about the longitudinal axis thereof. A plurality of turbine stages are mounted on the shaft for rotation therewith, each turbine stage including a rim coaxial with the shaft and a plurality of turbine blades fixed to the rim. A plurality of flow directing stators are positioned between adjacent turbine stages, each of the stators having a wall portion and diverter portion, wherein the wall portions are perpendicular to the axis of the shaft and the diverter portions are at an angle of less than 90.degree. with respect to the axis of the shaft.

Abstract: A multistage drag turbine assembly is provided for use in a downhole motor, the drag turbine assembly comprising an outer sleeve and a central shaft positioned within the outer sleeve, the central shaft having a hollow center and a divider means extending longitudinally in the hollow center for forming first and second longitudinal channels therein. A stator is mounted on the shaft. The stator has a hub surrounding the shaft and a seal member fixed to the hub, wherein the hub and the shaft each have first and second slot openings therein. A rotor comprising a rotor rim and a plurality of turbine blades mounted on the rotor rim is positioned within the outer sleeve for rotation therewith with respect to the stator such that a flow channel is formed in the outer sleeve between the turbine blades and the stator.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a cutting head for use in a rotary drill bit in which the cutting head comprises a stem and a base integrally formed with the stem. The base has a first cutting surface defined by a frustrum of a cone or other shape and a second cutting surface defined a cone or other shape, wherein the first and second cutting surfaces are coaxial with the axis of the cutting head. The cutting head is adapted to be attached to a drill bit such that the axis of the cutting head is oriented at an angle with respect to the axis of the drill bit.

Abstract: An automatic wear compensating seal device is provided for forming a seal between first and second members. An elastic sealing member is positioned between the first and second members such as that the elastic force of the sealing member holds the sealing member against at least one of the first and second members. An inclined surface is provided on the first member, the surface being inclined at acute angle with respect to the plane of sealing member. The inner peripheral surface of the sealing member contacts the first member on the inclined surface thereof to form a seal therebetween and the reaction force caused by the elastic force of the sealing member on the inclined surface holds the sealing member in contact with the second member to form a seal therebetween. Further a rotary drill bit is provided which includes the improvement of an automatic compensating seal device.

Abstract: An automatic depth compensating device is provided for controlling pressure in a volume in response to pressure changes in an environment adjacent to the volume. The compensating device comprises a cylinder which includes a first bore having a first cross-sectional area and a second bore having a second cross-sectional area, the first and second bores being axially aligned with one another. A first piston having a first surface area is slidably positioned in the first bore and a second piston having a second surface area is slidably positioned in the second bore. The first and second surface areas are different from one another. A coupling rigidly couples the first and second pistons together so that the first and second pistons move together. Another aspect of the present invention is the incorporation of the above-described automatic depth compensating device as an improvement in a rotary drill.

Abstract: A rotary drill for drilling a well in the surface of the earth the drill comprising a drill bit including an upper portion for connection to a drill string, duct means for carrying fluid to extract detritus and clear the bottom of the well and receiving means; a solid cutting head comprising a conical head portion and a stem portion, the conical head portion including holes therein and cutting elements inserted in the holes, the stem portion being received in the receiving means of the drill bit, wherein the stem and the receiving means include holding means for rotatably holding the cutting head in the drill bit; bearing means between the drill bit and the conical head; and a lubrication system interconnected between the drill bit and the cutting head.