Abstract: A crawler system for an earth boring system comprises at least two expandable tools along a common axis and spaced apart from each other along the common axis by a piston cylinder device. The at least two expandable tools comprise a mandrel comprising a tubular body and an outer diameter, a plurality of blades, and a slidable sleeve capable of manipulating the plurality of blades into collapsed and expanded positions. The plurality of blades of one of the at least two expandable tools expand to an expanded position and engage a borehole wall. The piston cylinder device anchors against the engagement between the borehole wall and one of the at least two expandable tools to axially translate the other of the at least two expandable tools.

Abstract: In one aspect of the present invention, a downhole rotary steerable system comprises a fluid path defined by a bore formed within a drill string component. A valve located within a wall of the bore which hydraulically connects the bore with a fluid cavity. A steering nozzle disposed on the drill string component and in communication with the fluid cavity. The valve is configured to control flow from the bore to the fluid cavity with an azimuthal sensing mechanism configured to determine the azimuth of the steering nozzle and instrumentation configured to control the valve based off of input from the azimuthal sensing mechanism.

Abstract: In one aspect of the present invention, a steering assembly for downhole directional drilling comprises a drill bit comprising a cutting portion and an outer diameter. A steering ring disposed around the outer diameter, and at least one biasing mechanism disposed intermediate the outer diameter and the steering ring. The at least one biasing mechanism is configured to move the steering ring with respect to the outer diameter.

Abstract: In one aspect of the present invention, an inductive coupling comprises an inner and outer casing. The inner casing comprises an inner trough formed into an exterior surface with an inner electrical conductor disposed within the inner trough. The outer casing comprises an outer trough formed into the interior surface with an outer electrical conductor disposed within the outer trough. The outer casing is configured to encircle the inner casing such that the inner electrical conductor is in magnetic communication with the outer electrical conductor. A helical geometry is formed in at least one of the inner or outer troughs. The inner and outer casings are configured to move relative to each other.

Abstract: In one aspect of the present invention, a tool string component comprises at least one end that attaches to an adjacent component in a through bore. The invention also comprises a laterally extending member disposed along a length of the tool string component. A magnetic mechanism is configured to sense an extension depth of the laterally extending member.

Abstract: In one aspect of the present invention, a drill bit has a jack element that is substantially coaxial with an axis of rotation of the drill bit and the jack element has an asymmetrical distal end that extends beyond a working face of the drill bit. A turbine is located within a bore formed in the drill bit and a flow valve is actuated by the turbine. The flow valve is adapted to route a drilling fluid in the bore into a porting mechanism adapted to extend the jack element farther beyond the working surface of the drill bit. The turbine is also adapted to rotate the jack element at variable speeds.

Abstract: A hammer assembly comprises a jack element substantially coaxial with an axis of rotation of a drill bit. The jack element includes a distal end extending beyond a working face of the drill bit. A porting mechanism within the bore comprises a first and second disc substantially contacting along a flat interface that is substantially normal to the axis of rotation. The first disc is attached to a turbine which is adapted to rotate the first disc with respect to the second disc. The first disc comprises a first set of ports adapted to align and misalign with a second and third set of ports in the second disc. As the first disc rotates, the sets of ports are adapted to route a drilling fluid into a piston chamber where a porting mechanism causes the jack element to repeatedly extend further beyond the working surface of the drill bit and then retract at a constant frequency.

Abstract: In one aspect of the present invention an expandable tool for an earth boring system comprises a mandrel comprising a tubular body and an outer diameter, a plurality of blades disposed about the outer diameter, and a slidable sleeve positioned around the outer diameter and capable of manipulating the plurality of blades into collapsed and expanded positions.

Abstract: In one aspect of the present invention, a downhole rotary steerable system comprises a fluid path defined by a bore formed within a drill string component. A valve located within a wall of the bore which hydraulically connects the bore with a fluid cavity. A steering nozzle disposed on the drill string component and in communication with the fluid cavity. The valve is configured to control flow from the bore to the fluid cavity with an azimuthal sensing mechanism configured to determine the azimuth of the steering nozzle and instrumentation configured to control the valve based off of input from the azimuthal sensing mechanism.

Abstract: In one aspect of the present invention, a downhole rotary steerable system comprises a fluid path defined by a bore formed within a drill string component. A valve located within a wall of the bore which hydraulically connects the bore with a fluid cavity. A steering nozzle disposed on the drill string component and in communication with the fluid cavity. The valve is configured to control flow from the bore to the fluid cavity with an azimuthal sensing mechanism configured to determine the azimuth of the steering nozzle and instrumentation configured to control the valve based off of input from the azimuthal sensing mechanism.

Abstract: In one aspect of the present invention, a downhole drill string assembly comprises a bore there through to receive drilling fluid. A turbine may be disposed within the bore and exposed to the drilling fluid. At least one flow guide may be disposed within the bore and exposed to the drilling fluid wherein the flow guide acts to redirect the flow of the drilling fluid across the turbine. The flow guide may be adjusted by an actuator. Adjustments to the flow guide may be controlled by a downhole telemetry system, a processing unit, a control loop, or any combination thereof. In various embodiments the turbine may comprise rotatable turbine blades.

Abstract: A method for facilitating Web content aggregation initiated by a client is disclosed. A Web site aggregation list is created. At least one Web site in the aggregation list is spidered from a user-identified computer. At least one attribute of content of the at least one spidered Web site is merged with at least one attribute of content of another Web site. The merged attributes are displayed to a user.

Abstract: In one aspect of the invention, an expandable tool for an earth boring system comprises a through bore configured to accommodate drilling fluid. A blade is configured to extend and retract out of an outer surface of the tool. A secondary fluid pathway connects the bore with an interface between the outer surface of the tool and a surface of the blade. The secondary pathway directs drilling fluid through the interface.

Abstract: A downhole percussive tool is disclosed comprising an interior chamber and a piston element slidably sitting within the interior chamber forming two pressure chambers on either side. The piston element may slide back and forth within the interior chamber as drilling fluid is channeled into either pressure chamber. Input channels supply drilling fluid into the pressure chambers and exit orifices release that fluid from the same. An exhaust orifice allows additional drilling fluid to release from the interior chamber. The amount of pressure maintained in either pressure chamber may be controlled by the size of the exiting orifices and exhaust orifices. In various embodiments, the percussive tool may form a downhole jack hammer or vibrator tool.

Abstract: Methods or systems for identifying seismic or acoustic signals of interest originating with moving motorized vehicles or footstep movement or stationary or moving machinery. A related system for monitoring an area includes a plurality of sensing devices each comprising a frame and a piezo-electric sensor element. A monitoring device is coupled to receive information from each of the sensing devices. One method includes providing a processing chain coupled to receive signal data from a sensor device which receives the signals, including a detection stage, a Joint Time Frequency (JTF) domain stage, and a classification stage. The detection stage identifies presence of signals that emerge from the background. The JTF domain stage estimates the state of the signals of interest over time. The classification stage assesses the previously derived information to form a decision about source identity. In one embodiment, the detector stage performs detections on a single cycle basis.

Abstract: In one aspect of the present invention, a downhole tool string component has a first and second threaded end on a mandrel, the first threaded end attached to a first sleeve and the second threaded end attached to a second sleeve. An intermediate sleeve assembly is disposed circumferentially around the mandrel and intermediate the first and second threaded ends, and the intermediate sleeve assembly is primarily isolated from stress of the first or second sleeve.

Abstract: In one aspect of the present invention, an expandable tool for an earth boring system comprises a mandrel with a sleeve positioned around the outer surface and a blade disposed in a slot formed in the sleeve. The sleeve is also configured to slide along the tubular body. The blade comprises an interior slide groove located on an interior surface and an exterior slide groove located on an exterior surface. A sleeve protrusion is configured to extend into the interior slide groove, while a mandrel protrusion is configured to extend into the exterior slide groove. The blade is configured to shift laterally out of the slot as the sleeve slides axially, wherein the interior and exterior slide grooves are oriented at different angles and as the sleeve slides axially along the length of the mandrel, the slide grooves lock the blade in a pre-determined position through a wedging effect.

Abstract: In one aspect of the present invention, a system for a downhole string comprises a fluid path defined by a bore formed within a tubular component. A reciprocating valve is located within a wall of the bore hydraulically connecting the bore with a fluid passage. The valve comprises a substantially cylindrical shaped housing. First and second ports are disposed on a circumference of the housing, and a fluid pathway is disposed intermediate the first and second ports. The valve comprises an axially slidable spool disposed within and coaxial with the housing and comprises a blocker. The blocker is configured to slide axially so to block and unblock the fluid pathway to control a flow from the bore to the fluid passage. The valve comprises a plurality of seals. Each seal is disposed opposite of the blocker causing pressure to be equally applied to the blocker and the plurality of seals.

Abstract: In one aspect of the present invention, a system for a downhole string comprises a fluid path defined by a bore formed within a tubular component. A reciprocating valve is located within a wall of the bore hydraulically connecting the bore with a fluid passage. The valve comprises a substantially cylindrical shaped housing. First and second ports are disposed on a circumference of the housing, and a fluid pathway is disposed intermediate the first and second ports. The valve comprises an axially slidable spool disposed within and coaxial with the housing and comprises a blocker. The blocker is configured to slide axially so to block and unblock the fluid pathway to control a flow from the bore to the fluid passage. The valve comprises a plurality of seals. Each seal is disposed opposite of the blocker causing pressure to be equally applied to the blocker and the plurality of seals.

Abstract: In one aspect of the present invention, a steering assembly for downhole directional drilling comprises a drill bit comprising a cutting portion and an outer diameter. A steering ring disposed around the outer diameter, and at least one biasing mechanism disposed intermediate the outer diameter and the steering ring. The at least one biasing mechanism is configured to move the steering ring with respect to the outer diameter.