Abstract: The disclosure provides a system and methods of use pertaining to long-range fishing applications. One embodiment provides a long-range fishing-device delivery system that relies on a mounting shaft, a buoyancy module, and a fishing or payload module to house a variety of fishing devices such as a baited hook, an artificial lure, or a fishing accessory such as a depth sensor, temperature sensor, or fish finder. The delivery system leverages a launch force from an external launching apparatus such as a bow or slingshot to deploy the system and enclosed fishing device to a desired long-range location and depth within a body of water. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a system and methods of use pertaining to long-range fishing applications. One embodiment provides a long-range fishing-device delivery system that relies on a mounting shaft, a buoyancy module, and a fishing or payload module to house a variety of fishing devices such as a baited hook, an artificial lure, or a fishing accessory such as a depth sensor, temperature sensor, or fish finder. The delivery system leverages a launch force from an external launching apparatus such as a bow or slingshot to deploy the system and enclosed fishing device to a desired long-range location and depth within a body of water. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus for mechanically handling drilling equipment comprising at least drill pipes and a drill bit and drill guide bushing has a carrier. A clamp on the carrier clamps a first drill pipe unrotatably relative to the carrier in a drill-pipe position. An opener is spaced from the clamping axially of the first drill pipe when the first drill pipe is clamped in the drill-pipe position, the opener being pivoted on a first pivot that is spaced from and parallel to the first drill pipe when the first drill pipe is clamped in the drill-pipe for pivoting to an opener position at a second drill pipe that is axially thread-connected onto the first drill pipe and withdrawal therefrom. A first power device so pivots the opener.

Abstract: A hydraulic in-the-hole type percussion tool including an elongated piston-hammer which is disposed for delivering percussion blows to an impact receiving bit or shank member and is adapted to reset an elongated tubular sleeve type distributing valve disposed in the tool cylinder rearwardly of the piston-hammer. The distributing valve is moved in one direction by the piston-hammer and is urged in the opposite direction by pressure fluid which is transferred to a chamber to act on a pressure surface of the distributing valve when the piston-hammer uncovers a fluid transfer port. An in-line hydraulic accumulator is disposed between the percussion mechanism and a source of working fluid and includes an annular piston forming an accumulator chamber and biased by a series of conical washer type springs. The tool is adapted to use high pressure water or drilling mud as the working fluid and which is conducted to and from opposed expansible chambers formed in an inner cylinder member.

Abstract: A well pumping unit comprising a double acting hydraulic cylinder actuator supported on a mast above a wellhead and having a piston rod connected directly to the polish rod of an elongated subsurface pump rod string. A generally cylindrical annular counterweight is disposed around the mast and is interconnected with the cylinder actuator by flexible chains trained over crown sheaves and travelling sheaves connected to the upper piston rod offsetting the weight of the pump rod string and at least a portion of the weight of the fluid column in the well. The pumping unit is controlled by a hydraulic control system including a directional control valve and flow control valves for selectively controlling the strokes of the cylinder actuator. A hydraulic pressure load sensing system measures total load on the rod string and provides for automatic shutdown of the actuator if the fluid level in the well is pumped below a predetermined level.

Abstract: A pilot pressure fluid operated spool type power fluid distributing valve for operating a hydraulically powered reciprocating piston pump includes a spool closure member with opposed unequal diameter bores formed in the spool ends. Pilot actuator pistons project into the bores and include pilot pressure fluid passages opening into the bores from sources of pilot control fluid. The bore of smaller diameter includes an enlarged annular chamber which may be closed by a cooperating ridge on the associated piston and a reentrant edge of the bore so that the closure member may be biased in one position if already in that position until a predetermined pilot fluid pressure is present in the opposite bore.

Abstract: In a pivotally mounted rock drill boom and feed bar apparatus, the pivots of the boom and the feed bar positioner include angle sensors comprising cam actuated fluid pressure regulating valves. The pressure regulating valves are disposed in a control circuit which includes a pilot pressure fluid actuated control valve which senses an unbalanced pressure signal generated by the sensor connected to the boom pivot in response to movement of the boom about said pivot. The control valve responds to the unbalanced pressure condition by valving fluid to the feed bar positioner actuator to maintain the feed bar in a predetermined directional attitude. The angle sensor mounted on the boom pivot may be adjusted independent of movement of the boom to cause a change in the directional attitude of the feed bar as desired.

Abstract: A hydraulically actuated multi-cylinder reciprocating piston pump includes two double acting cylinder and piston type hydraulic actuators each connected to a working fluid piston and hydraulically interconnected by a control circuit to provide alternate delivery and suction strokes to the respective working fluid pistons. The piston rod chambers of the hydraulic power actuators are interconnected to transfer operating fluid therebetween to drive the actuating pistons on their return strokes. Each cylinder actuator is provided with a sleeve type pilot valve interposed in a hydraulic circuit including a main spool type control or distributing valve for operating the cylinder actuators in timed relation to each other. The hydraulic circuit includes a main high pressure source of actuator operating fluid and a lower pressure source of pilot actuator and leakage make up fluid for the actuator piston transfer circuit.

Abstract: A mobile rock drill unit (10) is disclosed which automatically adds and removes drill string sections (26) from the drill string (24) of the drill unit. The drill unit includes a conventional drill motor (20) and a centralizer (40). A cylindrical storage rack (34) is both rotatably and pivotally mounted to the mast (14) of the drill unit and has upper and lower rack members (62,64) with aligned fingers (116,118,176,178) to define a number of drill string section storage positions to store drill string sections therebetween. A roller clamp assembly (36) is provided which clamps the coupling (28). The coupling is clamped between rotatably mounted driven and idler rollers (296,322) and the axis of rotation of each of the rollers is canted relative to the drill string axis so that rotation of the driven rollers in a first direction will rotate the coupling and move it downwardly at a rate synchronized with the threads interconnecting the coupling and adjacent drill string section.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for controlling the thickness of a blanket of batch floating on a body of molten glass in a glass melting furnace comprising feeding batch to the surface of the blanket of batch, sensing the radiation reflected from a sidewall of the furnace above the blanket of batch and controlling the feed rate of the batch in response to the sensed radiation to maintain the blanket of batch at a predetermined thickness.

Abstract: A rotary actuator is pivotally mounted on the end of a drill boom and supports a rock drill feed bar for rotation about a longitudinal axis of the actuator. The rotary actuator includes a piston with a piston rod portion having external and internal helical splines engaged with cooperating splines on the actuator housing and a rotating shaft, respectively. The shaft is connected to the feed bar and is operable to rotate the feed bar in response to axial movement of the piston. The axis of rotation of the shaft may be coincident with the longitudinal axis of the drill boom. The drill boom is mounted on a rotary actuator for swinging movement about a vertical axis.

Abstract: In a pivotally mounted rock drill boom and feed bar apparatus the boom and the feed bar positioner include angle sensors comprising cam actuated fluid pressure regulating valves. The pressure regulating valves are disposed in a control circuit which includes a pilot pressure fluid actuated control valve which senses an unbalanced pressure signal generated by one of the sensors in response to pivotal movement of the boom. The control valve responds to the unbalanced pressure condition by valving pressure fluid to the feed bar positioner actuator to maintain the feed bar in a predetermined directional attitude. The angle sensor responsive to pivotal movement of the boom may be adjusted independent of movement of the boom to cause a change in the directional attitude of the feed bar as desired.

Abstract: A control system for a hydraulic percussion rock drill and feed mechanism including a single constant power hydraulic pump for supplying pressure fluid to operate the feed mechanism, drill stem rotation motor, and the percussion hammer. The drill feed, rotation and percussion functions are controlled by individual manually actuated pressure compensated valves. Fluid pressure to the feed mechanism is controllable at one of two selectable pressures and is automatically reduced if fluid pressure to the drill stem rotation motor exceeds a predetermined limit. The drill percussion blow intensity and frequency is controlled by a mechanism responsive to a fluid pressure signal which is automatically operated to provide for a high blow frequency and low blow intensity operating mode when the drill is retracted away from the workface. The constant power hydraulic pump is provided with a control which will adjust the pump output to a partial displacement setting when the drill is being retracted away from the workface.

Abstract: A hydraulic percussion tool for developing repeated impact blows for rock drilling and other high force applications is characterized by a piston hammer reciprocably disposed in a cylinder bore and a tubular valve member coaxial with and actuated by the hammer for controlling the flow of pressurized hydraulic fluid to and from portions of the cylinder bore. The valve member is actuated by the hammer on the return stroke thereof through a column of fluid trapped in an annular chamber formed between a transverse surface on the hammer and an end face of the valve member. Valving mechanism is operable to effect controlled venting of the trapped fluid from the annular chamber to change the position of the valve member with respect to the hammer and thereby control the hammer stroke length, impact blow, and blow frequency.

Abstract: In a hydraulic percussion rock drill the operation of the working fluid distributing valve is controlled to effect a variation in percussive blow energy and blow frequency by varying the piston hammer stroke. Actuation of the distributing valve is controlled by a remote controlled hydraulically actuated pressure control valve interposed in a fluid passage which conducts hydraulic fluid from the hammer bore to actuate the distributing valve. Substantially infinite variation of hammer impact blow energy between high and low limits provides for selecting the maximum penetration rate of the drill for any type of rock conditions. The hydraulic rock drill is connected to a source of hydraulic fluid supplied to the drill at substantially constant fluid power by a variable displacement constant power hydraulic pump.

Abstract: A flexible diaphragm for a hydraulic fluid accumulator is provided with a plurality of concentric circular ridges for engagement with the wall surface of the accumulator housing between concentric circular rows of fluid discharge openings formed in the housing. The ridges maintain the diaphragm in spaced relation to the discharge openings to prevent extrusion of the diaphragm into the discharge openings.