Abstract: A formulation usable to produce plates and shaped bodies has a base slip, quartz glass particles and multicomponent glass particles that are crystallizable or at least partly crystallized. The base slip contains water as dispersion medium with a content between 30% and 50% by weight and ultrafine SiO2 particles distributed, preferably colloidally therein, with a proportion between 50% and 70% by weight. The proportion of quartz glass particles in the formulation is in the range from 40% to 70% by weight and the proportion the multicomponent glass particles in the formulation is in the range from 5% to 37% by weight. The formulation can be used in a composite material. Firing aids can be made from the composite material.

Abstract: A pipe running tool for use in an oil drilling system and the like comprises a lower drive shaft adapted to engage a drive shaft of a top drive assembly for rotation therewith. The pipe running tool further includes a lower pipe engagement assembly which is driven to rotate by the lower drive shaft, and is designed to releasably engage a pipe segment in such a manner to substantially prevent relative rotation between the two. Thus, when the lower pipe engagement assembly is actuated to securely hold a pipe segment, the top drive assembly may be actuated to rotate the top drive output shaft, which causes the lower drive shaft and lower pipe engagement assembly to rotate, which in turn rotates the pipe segment.

Abstract: A system for coupling a pipe segment to a pipe string is provided that includes a top drive assembly having a threaded output shaft; and a pipe running tool threadingly coupled to the threaded output shaft of the top drive assembly such that the primary load of the pipe running tool is supported by the threads of the output shaft of the top drive assembly, and wherein the pipe running tool is rotatable by the output shaft and further includes a pipe engaging portion for grippingly engaging the pipe segment sufficient to transmit a torque from the top drive output shaft to the pipe segment.

Abstract: A system for coupling a pipe segment to a pipe string is provided that includes a top drive assembly having an output shaft; and a pipe running tool coupled to the top drive assembly and rotatable by the output shaft of the top drive assembly. The pipe running tool includes an internal gripper for insertion within an internal diameter of the pipe segment and a tapered slip cone section, which slidably receives corresponding tapered surfaces of a plurality of slips, such that a vertical force on the slips causes the slips to move radially outwardly into gripping engagement with the internal diameter of the pipe segment, and wherein the vertical force applied to the slips is sufficient to allow the gripping engagement of the slips with the internal diameter of the pipe segment to transmit a torque from the top drive output shaft to the pipe segment.

Abstract: A system for coupling a pipe segment to a pipe string is provided that includes a top drive assembly having a threaded output shaft; and a pipe running tool threadingly coupled to the threaded output shaft of the top drive assembly such that the primary load of the pipe running tool is supported by the threads of the output shaft of the top drive assembly, and wherein the pipe running tool is rotatable by the output shaft and further includes a pipe engaging portion for grippingly engaging the pipe segment sufficient to transmit a torque from the top drive output shaft to the pipe segment.

Abstract: A system for coupling a pipe segment to a pipe string is provided that includes a top drive assembly having a threaded output shaft; and a pipe running tool threadingly coupled to the threaded output shaft of the top drive assembly such that the primary load of the pipe running tool is supported by the threads of the output shaft of the top drive assembly, and wherein the pipe running tool is rotatable by the output shaft and further includes a pipe engaging portion for grippingly engaging the pipe segment sufficient to transmit a torque from the top drive output shaft to the pipe segment.

Abstract: An oil and gas well drilling system is provided that includes a top drive assembly having an output shaft; and a pipe running tool having a top drive extension shaft connected to the top drive output shaft and engageable with a pipe string to transmit translational and rotational forces from the top drive assembly to the pipe string, wherein the pipe running tool further includes a cementing pipe connected to the top drive extension shaft and having a fluid passageway which receives cement during a cementing operation.

Abstract: An illumination apparatus which comprises a housing and a circuit board having illuminants, which can be mounted in the housing. In order to provide an illumination apparatus whose housing protects the functional components against hard environmental conditions and mechanical loads to be expected and which has a particularly compact design, the housing substantially comprises a base of annular shape, an intermediate part having a hat-like shape which accommodates the circuit board and has a guiding opening for the connection cables, and a lid part which allows a selective outlet of light.

Abstract: An illumination apparatus which comprises a housing and a circuit board having illuminants, which can be mounted in the housing. In order to provide an illumination apparatus whose housing protects the functional components against hard environmental conditions and mechanical loads to be expected and which has a particularly compact design, the housing substantially comprises a base of annular shape, an intermediate part having a hat-like shape which accommodates the circuit board and has a guiding opening for the connection cables, and a lid part which allows a selective outlet of light.

Abstract: Bondable fine gold coatings are obtained from electrolytic baths which contain 2 to 100 g/l gold as alkali or ammonium gold (I)-cyanide, 0.1 mg to 5 g/l of a soluble bismuth compound, 0 to 250 g/l of a phosphonic acid, its salts, esters or simple substitution products and/or 0 to 250 g/l phosphoric acid or its salts but at least 5 g/l of phosphoric acid compound or phosphonic acid compound, and which exhibit a pH of 6 to 10.