Abstract: A fluid delivery system includes a pump, a fluid conduit and a regulated gas inlet. The fluid conduit has an upper end connected to the pump and a lower end in communication with a fluid supply. The regulated gas inlet includes a gas supply at a first pressure; a pressure monitoring conduit in fluid communication with the fluid conduit between its upper and lower ends; a gas delivery conduit in communication with the fluid conduit; and a pressure-responsive valve. The valve is connected to the pressure monitoring conduit and moves between a closed position wherein gas flow into the fluid conduit is restricted, and at least one open position wherein gas is delivered to the fluid conduit through the gas supply conduit. The valve is normally biased toward the closed position but moves opens when pressure within the pressure monitoring conduit is below the first pressure by more than a predetermined level.

Abstract: A method of drilling in a stratum and a method of enhancing recovery of a hydrocarbon material from an existing well. The method of drilling generally includes providing a drilling apparatus having at least one laterally oriented nozzle. Part of the drilling apparatus is moved downwardly along an existing bore without drilling until the nozzle is in position and pressurized hydraulic fluid is delivered through the nozzle to define a first generally horizontally oriented secondary bore. The nozzle is reoriented the nozzle is used to bore a second generally horizontal oriented secondary bore. The method of enhancing recovery may employ a similar process to define a first generally horizontally oriented secondary bore. The drilling apparatus is removed and pressurized hydraulic fluid is delivered into the main bore and the secondary bore to fracture the stratum to assist in extracting the hydrocarbon material from the well.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system for cooling antenna assemblies, such as subterranean RF antennas used to heat geological formations. The invention generally includes a radio frequency (RF) generator, a waveguide operatively connected to the RF generator and to the antenna, a supply of cooling gas and a cooling gas delivery tube. In one embodiment, a housing encloses the antenna, with the antenna and the waveguide defining a gas enclosure. The supply of cooling gas in this embodiment includes a regulated gas supply, a desiccator and a heat exchanger through which the gas passes. The cooling gas delivery tube is in fluid communication with the supply of cooling gas and extends downwardly within the gas enclosure to deliver cooled, dried gas to the gas enclosure. An alternative embodiment employs a coaxial transmission line as the waveguide, with the coaxial line having an inner tubular member received within a lumen of an outer tubular member.

Abstract: A bond quality monitor and method for monitoring and analyzing the relative quality of bonding operations performed by ultrasonic bonding machines is disclosed. The bond quality monitor (40) includes an analog bond monitoring circuit (42) and a digital microcomputer (44). The bond monitoring circuit, which is placed in series between an ultrasonic signal generator (26) and its corresponding ultrasonic transducer (18), monitors the transducer power signal generated by the ultrasonic signal generator and performs a series of analog computations based on the logarithm of the impedance of the transducer in order to create a measure of bond quality. The microcomputer controls the operation of the bond monitoring circuit and performs comparisons to determine bond quality relative to previously monitored good quality bonds.

Abstract: A dryer in which fabrics are dryed quickly and at low temperature by subjecting them to microwave energy in an atmosphere of reduced pressure. The microwave energy elevates the temperature of the water within the fabric to its boiling point, which is quite low because of the reduced pressure, and the water vapor which is released from the fabric is condensed external to the microwave field at the same reduced pressure. In one embodiment the dryer is formed as a clothes dryer wherein the drying chamber is a spherical metallic vacuum vessel; the microwave energy is supplied by a solid state microwave array within the drying chamber; water vapor is condensed by a spray condenser external to the drying chamber; and reduced pressure is obtained by a water jet exhauster, which functions in part as a condenser. Drying time is accelerated by warming the lower surface of the drying chamber with hot water, and a jet of air fluffs the fabric after drying.