Abstract: A retainer and guide ring includes a first ring half and a second ring half that when placed adjacent to one another forms a complete ring. The retainer and guide ring also includes a kerf that is formed between ends of each of the first and second ring halves, which ranges from about zero inches to about 0.010 inches. In some exemplary embodiments, the retainer and guide ring is formed by obtaining two identical rings and making a cut along an edge of the diameter on each ring thereby forming a larger ring arc and a smaller ring arc for each of the rings. The two larger ring arcs are used to form the retainer and guide ring. In another exemplary embodiment, the retainer and guide ring is formed by obtaining a single ring and making a cut along the diameter.

Abstract: A retainer and guide ring includes a first ring half and a second ring half that when placed adjacent to one another forms a complete ring. The retainer and guide ring also includes a kerf that is formed between ends of each of the first and second ring halves, which ranges from about zero inches to about 0.010 inches. In some exemplary embodiments, the retainer and guide ring is formed by obtaining two identical rings and making a cut along an edge of the diameter on each ring thereby forming a larger ring arc and a smaller ring arc for each of the rings. The two larger ring arcs are used to form the retainer and guide ring. In another exemplary embodiment, the retainer and guide ring is formed by obtaining a single ring and making a cut along the diameter.

Abstract: A retainer and guide ring includes a first ring half and a second ring half that when placed adjacent to one another forms a complete ring. The retainer and guide ring also includes a kerf that is formed between ends of each of the first and second ring halves, which ranges from about zero inches to about 0.010 inches. In some exemplary embodiments, the retainer and guide ring is formed by obtaining two identical rings and making a cut along an edge of the diameter on each ring thereby forming a larger ring arc and a smaller ring arc for each of the rings. The two larger ring arcs are used to form the retainer and guide ring. In another exemplary embodiment, the retainer and guide ring is formed by obtaining a single ring and making a cut along the diameter.

Abstract: Provided is an actuator and method for operating an actuator. For example, the actuator may have first and second operating phases, a housing having an opening receiving pressure, a piston inside the housing for moving along inside the housing and positioned therein for creating a first chamber between one end of the piston and the housing and a second chamber between the other end of the piston and the housing, first and second ports each capable of communicating with the pressure source during a different one of the first and second phases, an extra area chamber between the piston and the housing. In the first phase the first port may be communicating with the opening for providing pressure to the first and extra area chambers. In the second phase the second port may be communicating with the opening for providing pressure to the second chamber.

Abstract: A pressure fluid actuated downhole percussion tool includes a reciprocating piston hammer with differential transverse pressure surfaces cooperable with a cylinder housing, a guide sleeve and a bit carried exhaust tube to form opposed pressure fluid chambers to which pressure fluid may be conducted to deliver repeated impact blows to a bit having circumferentially spaced bosses and replaceable cutting inserts. The bit is drivenly connected to the tool by plural drive pins supported in circumferentially spaced grooves in the bit shank and in a removable sub supported by the tool housing. Improved earth penetration performance is realized utilizing a claw bit with a pressure fluid actuated percussion tool providing rotation as well as selective deliverance of impact blows through the bit.

Abstract: A pressure fluid actuated downhole percussion tool includes a reciprocating piston hammer with differential transverse pressure surfaces cooperable with a cylinder housing, a guide sleeve and a bit carried exhaust tube to form opposed pressure fluid chambers to which pressure fluid may be conducted to deliver repeated impact blows to a bit having circumferentially spaced bosses and replaceable cutting inserts. The bit is drivenly connected to the tool by plural drive pins supported in circumferentially spaced grooves in the bit shank and in a removable sub supported by the tool housing. Improved earth penetration performance is realized utilizing a claw bit with a pressure fluid actuated percussion tool providing rotation as well as selective deliverance of impact blows through the bit.

Abstract: Stuffing boxes for use with reciprocating or rotating pump rods for downhole pumps include a lower housing adapted to be mounted on a wellhead and provided with internal bores for receiving the pump rod and a packing housing engaged with the lower housing and including a central bore for receiving a packing assembly and a packing gland. The packing gland may include an annular flange for supporting circumferentially spaced bolts engageable with cooperating bores in the packing housing to adjust compression on the packing and to provide for rotatably indexing the gland to minimize uneven wear. An axially slidable bushing mounted in the packing housing or lower housing is engageable with the opposite end of the packing assembly and is provided with a transverse annular shoulder engaged by a bias spring for exerting compression forces on the packing assembly. The bushing includes a transverse end face exposed to pressure fluid to also urge the bushing into engagement with the packing assembly.

Abstract: A stuffing box and guide bushing assembly, particularly adapted for use with a reciprocating pump rod connected to a downhole well pump and to a pumping unit on the Earth's surface. The stuffing box includes a frame comprising a lower plate member with a floor surface, an upper plate member spaced from the lower plate member and including an opposed and generally parallel roof surface, the upper plate member being supported by circumferentially spaced longitudinally extending column members. The upper plate member includes an internal threaded bore centered at the longitudinal central axis of the stuffing box assembly, which axis is also the central axis of the well and the desired central axis of reciprocation of the pump rod. A guide bushing includes a bore for receiving the pump rod and an externally threaded hub portion for engagement with the bore of the upper plate member.

Abstract: A rotary stuffing box assembly, particularly adapted to form a rotary shaft seal for a downhole well pump includes a housing mountable on the upper end of the well tubing or other support structure and a cover threadedly connected to the housing and forming a closed chamber in the housing for holding a quantity of seal lubricant and/or coolant fluid. A resilient rotary shaft seal element is retained in a seal holder within the housing by an axially split seal retainer which is mountable in a bore in the seal holder. The retainer and the seal holder are retained between opposed transverse faces on the cover and on the housing and the seal holder engages a retaining pin on a threaded plug which closes a fluid drain port of the housing. The seal holder and retainer are operable to undergo limited radial excursion to accommodate eccentricity or excursion of the shaft.

Abstract: A self aligning stuffing box for a pumpjack unit of the type having a polished rod reciprocatingly extending therethrough and downhole to a pump located at the lower end of a borehole. The stuffing box has a main body that terminates in a tubing adaptor at the lower end thereof by which it can be mounted to the upper end of the tubing of a wellhead. The main body has an annular seal assembly that includes a pressure set seal pack for sealingly engaging the polished rod. The polished rod reciprocatingly extends through the seal assembly and main body. The seal assembly moves within the main body radially of the passageway to align the polished rod with the production tubing of the wellhead. A lower end of the seal assembly includes a compression piston which is moved in proportion to the well tubing pressure, and thereby compresses the seal of the seal pack so that the seal pack is always properly adjusted.

Abstract: A self aligning stuffing box for a pumpjack unit of the type having a polished rod reciprocatingly extending therethrough and downhole to a pump located at the lower end of a borehole. The stuffing box has a main body that terminates in a tubing adaptor at the lower end thereof by which it can be mounted to the upper end of a wellhead. The main body forms an upward opening chamber within which an annular seal assembly for sealingly engaging the polished rod is received. The polished rod reciprocatingly extends through the seal assembly and main body. The seal assembly and chamber together form a lubrication chamber that extends outwardly about the seal assembly. The seal assembly moves within the chamber radially of the passageway to align the polished rod with the production tubing of the wellhead. The adaptor forms a pack-off that isolates the seal from the wellbore, and provision is made by which the seal assembly can be replaced without removing the polished rod from the pumpjack unit.

Abstract: A self aligning stuffing box for a pumpjack unit of the type having a polished rod reciprocatingly extending therethrough and downhole to a pump located at the lower end of the borehole. The stuffing box is an annular main body having a tubing adaptor at the lower end by which it can be mounted to the upper end of a well bore. A spool receiving cavity is located within the main body concentrically respective to the polished rod, and an annular spool is received within the cavity. The polished rod reciprocatingly extends through the spool and main body. A seal assembly is mounted to the inner surface of the spool for sealingly engaging the polished rod. The spool cooperates with the cavity to form a lubrication chamber that extends outwardly and about the spool. The spool moves within the spool receiving cavity radially of the passageway to align the polished rod with the wellbore.

Abstract: A drill string is rotated by a top drive system and includes a floating sub which interconnects the upper end thereof with the drill pipe, and a bit at the lower end thereof. The bit is connected to the lower end of the drill pipe by means of a shock absorber. The floating sub prevents vibrational energy from the drill string from damaging the top drive system while the shock absorber prevents vibrational energy from damaging the bit and vice versa.

Abstract: A roller reamer assembly for mounting in a longitudinally extending undercut groove in a reamer body and having longitudinally slidable bearing blocks with cooperating locking members for securing the bearing blocks in the groove upon longitudinal movement of the bearing blocks to prevent undesired longitudinal and radial movement of the bearing blocks and an automatic lubricating system for the bearing blocks.

Abstract: Earth drilling hydraulic shock absorber having an anvil reciprocally mounted in a casing and operatively connected with a plurality of independently operating pistons, the anvil being reciprocally mounted within the casing through a spline connection with unidirectional sealing means for equalizing pressure across the sealing means with the hydrostatic pressure in a borehole for retaining a lubricating fluid around the spline connection and to prevent abrasive matter in drilling fluid from coming in contact with the spline connection. The anvil of the shock absorber may include a reduced effective pressure area so that the anvil engages the first piston at a lower downweight.

Abstract: A roller reamer assembly for mounting in a longitudinally extending undercut groove in a reamer body and having longitudinally slidable bearing blocks with cooperating locking members for securing the bearing blocks in the groove upon longitudinal movement of the bearing blocks to prevent undesired longitudinal and radial movement of the bearing blocks and an automatic lubricating system for the bearing blocks.

Abstract: A hydraulic shock absorbing method for protecting the drill bit and drill pipe in rotary earth drilling comprising the steps of slidably moving an anvil connected to a drilling bit in a casing in response to increased down weight on the drill bit and sequentially transmitting further increases in the down weight and shocks from the anvil to a plurality of independently operating hydraulic pistons slidably mounted within the casing when down weight on the drill bit exceeds increasing predetermined amounts to activate the pistons in sequence. The drilling fluid within the casing is transmitted to first pressure areas on the anvil and the plurality of pistons and the drilling fluid is passed through the drilling bit to provide a pressure drop and then communicated to second pressure areas on the plurality of pistons.

Abstract: A borehole wall contacting apparatus on a bottom hole assembly of a drill string for contacting the borehole wall including a plurality of dovetail grooves having outwardly converging opposed sidewalls formed in the apparatus body for receiving at least one pair of coacting stabilizer wear blades, each blade having opposed contact and camming sidewalls with relative longitudinal engagement of the camming walls of the coacting wear blades wedging the opposed sidewalls into engagement with the opposed converging dovetail walls to removably secure the wear blades into position.

Abstract: An hydraulic shock absorber for protecting the drill bit and drill pipe in rotary earth drilling consists of a casing with an upper sub mounted in its one end for connection to a string of drill pipe. An anvil is slidably mounted on the other end. A plurality of hollow pistons are slidably mounted inside the casing. The pistons each have a hollow sleeve portion extending in sealing relationship through seating rings mounted on the inside of said casing. The pistons also have a radial flange portion at their upper end slidably sealing with the walls of the casing and a fluid passage extends through the wall of the casing between the flange portion and the seating ring.

Abstract: An impact drilling tool for rotary drilling which includes a reciprocating hammer inside a casing for striking the top of an anvil. A drilling bit is connected to the opposite end of the anvil for cutting into the earth's formations. The casing is connected in a string of drilling pipe through which a high pressure fluid flows for operating the hammer and removing cuttings. A feeder means extends through the hammer for alternately directing the high pressure fluid above and below the hammer which high pressure fluid causes the reciprocating motion of the hammer. A shuttle valve located around the feeder maintains communication of the high pressure fluid above the hammer for increased effective stroke to insure a harder driving action of the hammer against the anvil. Also the shuttle valve insures a more complete exhaust above the hammer which reduces the force needed to raise the hammer. In alternative embodiments, the shuttle may control only one of the exhaust or pressurization functions.