Abstract: A screening or screen for use in classifying material. The screening includes a plurality of warp screening elements. Preferably, the plurality of warp screening elements is a plurality of warp wires. The plurality of warp screening elements includes a first warp screening element having a plurality of horizontal undulations. The plurality of warp screening elements further includes a second warp screening element. Preferably, one of the first warp screening element and the second warp screening element is a shaped wire having two substantially flat sidewalls. At least one retaining member is operably associated with the plurality of warp screening elements to form an integral screen segment having a plurality of openings for permitting material to be classified to pass through the openings. The first warp screening element has a cross-sectional height or shape different from the cross-sectional height or shape of the second warp screening element.

Abstract: A garment for absorbing fluid discharge in a male subject includes an open-topped pouch to receive the penis of the subject and an absorbent material lining at least a portion of the pouch. A strap attached to an upper edge of the front portion of the pouch is designed to encircle the waist of the subject and secure the pouch. The pouch is free to move with the penis through a wide range of positions. A system for absorbing fluid discharge in a male subject can include the garment and an absorbent pad that can be inserted into the pouch.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for containing an underwater gas or oil leak. The system and method may include a vortex device comprising a vortex chamber, a high pressure inlet tangentially engaging the vortex chamber, a low pressure inlet axially engaging the vortex chamber, and a low pressure outlet axially engaging the vortex chamber opposite the low pressure inlet. The vortex device may be positioned underwater proximate an underwater leak. A vortex may be generated within the vortex device. The vortex device may then collect a leak flow issuing from the underwater leak. The vortex device may collect the leak flow via the low pressure inlet, the high pressure inlet, or both.

Abstract: A screening having a plurality of warp elements. The plurality of warp elements includes first and second warp elements each having a plurality of undulations oriented in any desired manner including but not limited to horizontal or vertical. At least one retaining member is operably associated with the plurality of warp elements to form an integral screen segment having a plurality of openings. The first warp element has at least one characteristic different from the second warp element to prevent blinding of the screen segment. The at least one characteristic affecting movement of the first warp element and the second warp element when the screen segment is used to classify material such that at least one of amplitude and frequency of movement of the first warp screening element is different from that of the second warp element when subjected to the same operating condition.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for containing an underwater gas or oil leak. The system and method may include a vortex device comprising a vortex chamber, a high pressure inlet tangentially engaging the vortex chamber, a low pressure inlet axially engaging the vortex chamber, and a low pressure outlet axially engaging the vortex chamber opposite the low pressure inlet. The vortex device may be positioned underwater proximate an underwater leak. A vortex may be generated within the vortex device. The vortex device may then collect a leak flow issuing from the underwater leak. In certain embodiments, the vortex device may collect the leak flow via the low pressure inlet. In other embodiments, the vortex device may collect the leak from via the high pressure inlet.

Abstract: A screening or screen for use in classifying material. The screening includes a plurality of warp screening elements. Preferably, the plurality of warp screening elements is a plurality of warp wires. The plurality of warp screening elements includes a first warp screening element having a plurality of horizontal undulations. The plurality of warp screening elements further includes a second warp screening element. Preferably, one of the first warp screening element and the second warp screening element is a shaped wire having two substantially flat sidewalls. At least one retaining member is operably associated with the plurality of warp screening elements to form an integral screen segment having a plurality of openings for permitting material to be classified to pass through the openings. The first warp screening element has a cross-sectional height or shape different from the cross-sectional height or shape of the second warp screening element.

Abstract: A garment for absorbing fluid discharge in a male subject includes an open-topped pouch to receive the penis of the subject and an absorbent material lining at least a portion of the pouch. A strap attached to an upper edge of the front portion of the pouch is designed to encircle the waist of the subject and secure the pouch. The pouch is free to move with the penis through a wide range of positions. A system for absorbing fluid discharge in a male subject can include the garment and an absorbent pad that can be inserted into the pouch.

Abstract: A screening having a plurality of warp elements. The plurality of warp elements includes first and second warp elements each having a plurality of undulations oriented in any desired manner including but not limited to horizontal or vertical. At least one retaining member is operably associated with the plurality of warp elements to form an integral screen segment having a plurality of openings. The first warp element has at least one characteristic different from the second warp element to prevent blinding of the screen segment. The at least one characteristic affecting movement of the first warp element and the second warp element when the screen segment is used to classify material such that at least one of amplitude and frequency of movement of the first warp element is different from that of the second warp element when subjected to the same operating condition.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for containing an underwater gas or oil leak. The system and method may include a vortex device comprising a vortex chamber, a high pressure inlet tangentially engaging the vortex chamber, a low pressure inlet axially engaging the vortex chamber, and a low pressure outlet axially engaging the vortex chamber opposite the low pressure inlet. The vortex device may be positioned underwater proximate an underwater leak. A vortex may be generated within the vortex device. The vortex device may then collect a leak flow issuing from the underwater leak. In certain embodiments, the vortex device may collect the leak flow via the low pressure inlet. In other embodiments, the vortex device may collect the leak from via the high pressure inlet.

Abstract: A screen for a vibratory separator includes a woven wire cloth extending in a substantially flat plane. The woven wire cloth has a plurality of warp wires and a plurality of weft wires. Each of the warp wires and each of the weft wires have a cross-section with a height extending substantially perpendicular to the plane of the woven wire cloth and a width extending substantially parallel to the plane of the woven wire cloth. The warp wires are arranged substantially parallel to each other and define openings in the woven wire cloth for the passage of material there through. The height of each of the warp wires is larger than the width thereof. The weft wires extend substantially perpendicular to the warp wires and are woven through the warp wires in groups at spaced intervals. The height of each of the weft wires is smaller than the width thereof.

Abstract: A screen for a vibratory separator includes a woven wire cloth extending in a substantially flat plane. The woven wire cloth has a plurality of warp wires and a plurality of weft wires. Each of the warp wires and each of the weft wires have a cross-section with a height extending substantially perpendicular to the plane of the woven wire cloth and a width extending substantially parallel to the plane of the woven wire cloth. The warp wires are arranged substantially parallel to each other and define openings in the woven wire cloth for the passage of material there through. The height of each of the warp wires is larger than the width thereof. The weft wires extend substantially perpendicular to the warp wires and are woven through the warp wires in groups at spaced intervals. The height of each of the weft wires is smaller than the width thereof.

Abstract: A drilling method and apparatus for directional drilling of a borehole. The apparatus includes a retrievably mounted downhole monitor for sensing parameters of the drill rod to which a drill bit is attached. A bent-sub is connected with said drill rod behind the drill bit to position the drill bit to extend angularly with respect to the drill rod. An actuator such as a hydraulic ram is provided for exerting thrust along the axis of the drill rod on said drill bit. The drill rod and drill bit is not rotated with the use of a downhole motor. Based upon the signals received from the downhole monitor, the drill rod and bit are pulsed to effect the desired trajectory of the drilling.

Abstract: This invention describes an overflow system for a slurry storage chamber which chamber has a slurry input pipe tangentially mounted through a side wall of the tank to create a vortex. The overflow portion is designed to have a pressure confining top to the tank with the overflow pipe connected near the center of the top. A conically shaped baffle is inserted in the tank with its axis aligned with the axis of the overflow pipe and positioned immediately below the overflow pipe. The overflow configuration provides a means for separating the particles from the fluids passing out through the overflow pipe.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for classifying particles which essentially comprise a circular chamber with first and second ends. A high pressure inlet is mounted tangentially to the side of the circular chamber and a high pressure outlet is, likewise, mounted tangentially to the chamber. A low pressure inlet and outlet are mounted to the end of the chamber. The second end is adjustable toward or away from the first end. When a high pressure fluid is communicated to the high pressure inlet and high pressure fluid is removed from the high pressure outlet, a certain portion of the high pressure will be moving toward the low pressure outlet. The particles to be separated are injected axially into the chamber. If the particles are of sufficient weight, they will move by centrifugal force to the high pressure outlet. The remaining particles will move because of the drag created by the fluid moving from the high pressure inlet to the low pressure outlet to separate the heavy particles from the light particles.

Abstract: This is an improved apparatus used with a storage and reclamation apparatus which handles slurry formed of particulate matter and fluid. The reclaim apparatus includes a tank having a side wall and bottom. The slurry is added into the tank and is subsequently removed from the tank by a downwardly facing bell mouth coupled through a pipe to a pump. Fluidizing jets surround the bell mouth with a dilution control port mounted between the mouth and the pump. The dilution control port is connected to a second pump in series with a source of fluids. Process control apparatus measures the flow and density of the material being drawn into the mouth and adds or reduces dilution fluid in accordance with a set point so that a constant density is maintained at all times. The improved version accepts the overflow from the tank into a second tank which has a second bell mouth mounted at the bottom of the tank.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling the density from a reclamation slurry tank or silo includes apparatus for adding slurry to the tank, an overflow from the tank which communicates with a sump, and reclamation apparatus mounted toward the bottom of the tank. The reclamation apparatus essentially comprises a bell mouthed pipe directed downwardly and exiting horizontally from the tank. The pipe is connected to a pump for removing slurry accumulating at the bottom of the tank. The pipe also includes apparatus for measuring the density and/or flow through the pipe. The density from the tank is controlled by a fluid inlet mounted between the bell mouth and the pump which forces fluid into the pipe in accordance with the measured flow or density as compared to a predetermined flow or density. To facilitate the operation, various fluidizing jets are included around the bell mouth and around the bottom of the tank.

Abstract: A method for reducing the wear on the impeller and increasing the efficiency of a centrifugal pump when used to pump a slurry stream containing from large dimensioned to fine dimensioned material in a fluid by forming a vortex by injecting fluid tangentially into a circular chamber and removing a portion of said fluid tangentially from said chamber; injecting said slurry axially into said chamber, said vortex separating said large dimensioned material from the remainder of said slurry and fluid; removing said remainder of said slurry and fluid axially from said chamber and injecting same into the inlet of a centrifugal pump; and using the output from said centrifugal pump as the injected fluid for said vortex.

Abstract: An apparatus for multiple injection of slurry from a plurality of mine faces or other slurry sources into a slurry line comprises a unique method and apparatus for connecting each slurry injection point to the main slurry line by using a vortex junction apparatus. The vortex junction apparatus provides a means for passing the slurry from one junction point to the next junction point and at the same time provides a means for merging slurry from each injection point into the main slurry line. The junction apparatus also provides a source of water for each injection point, thus eliminating the need for a separate source of water. One embodiment provides for a junction where the main and branch slurry lines are at nearly the same pressure while a second embodiment provides for a junction where the branch slurry line is at a substantially lower pressure than the main slurry line.

Abstract: A vortex chamber is disclosed which has a circular elliptical or volute perimeter and end wall. High pressure fluid enters tangentially at the perimeter. Part of this high pressure fluid exits at an axial outlet, forming a vortex. The balance of the high pressure fluid exits at a second tangential outlet at the perimeter. Dry solids are fed into a hopper which is connected to a second axial inlet. The axial inlet should be smaller than the axial outlet, and the two may be concentric. Once the solids enter the vortex chamber, some of them move to the perimeter due to centrifugal force. Once at the perimeter, the solids exit at the tangential outlet.

Abstract: Apparatus for not only removing fluids from a slurry system but also for injecting fluid into the slurry system so that the concentration can be positively maintained. The apparatus provides for a uniform dilution of slurry so that the fluids will not segregate the slurry causing portions to have low concentration when fluids are added or portions which have high concentration when fluids are removed.