Abstract: A downhole tool including a body coupled to a stabilizer and an underreamer. The stabilizer may include a blade that moves from a retracted position to an expanded position. The underreamer may include a cutter block that moves from a retracted position to an expanded position. The underreamer is positioned above the stabilizer, and a distance between an outer surface of the cutter block and a central longitudinal axis of the body may be greater than a distance between an outer surface of the blade and the central longitudinal axis when the blade and cutter block are in the expanded positions.

Abstract: A downhole tool including a body coupled to a stabilizer and an underreamer. The stabilizer may include a blade that moves from a retracted position to an expanded position. The underreamer may include a cutter block that moves from a retracted position to an expanded position. The underreamer is positioned above the stabilizer, and a distance between an outer surface of the cutter block and a central longitudinal axis of the body may be greater than a distance between an outer surface of the blade and the central longitudinal axis when the blade and cutter block are in the expanded positions.

Abstract: A pin conveyor for pasty materials such as animal waste including a housing with a cylindrical inner surface extending along and about an axis. Within the housing surface, a shaft is mounted for rotation about the axis and has a plurality of pins attached to it in a substantially helical pattern. The pins have sleeve members slidably mounted about them wherein in operation, the sleeve members are centrifugally impelled outwardly of the pins to contact and scrape clean the housing surface as the shaft is rotated about the axis. The cylindrical outer surfaces of the sleeve members preferably overlap or are at least tangent to one another when viewed in a plane perpendicular to the rotational axis so as to effectively contact and scrape clean the entire housing surface surrounding them.

Abstract: A cabinet drawer (12-20) for storing information modules (22) of selectively different widths in rows extending front to back of the drawer has row dividers (24) which are removably end mounted within slots (50,52) at any desirable width spacing. The dividers each have a flexible center portion (54) terminating in pedestals (56,58) for receipt within the slots (50,52). When dividers are so-mounted within a drawer (12-20) they are secured in place by inherent spring characteristics of the divider (24).

Abstract: A diaphragm-type sensor arrangement to measure the flow pressure in a main pipe. The arrangement includes a connecting line in fluid communication with the main line and a housing with a chamber. The chamber is isolated from fluid communication with the connecting line by a flexible diaphragm and filled with a second fluid. In use, the diaphragm is displaced by pressure changes in the connecting line which in turn displaces the second fluid in the housing chamber to activate a pressure reading device. The sensor arrangement is particularly adapted for use with slurry flows of particulate solids in a liquid carrier and further includes a reaming member to breakup any consolidated plugs or clogs of solid particles in the connecting line.

Abstract: An inventive protocol for communicating between a management processor and host processors allows for the cooperative management of resources among host processors within a partition and also among a set of partitions in a computer system, wherein each partition may function under an instantiation of an operating system with a group of host processors. The protocol employs a message passing system using mailbox pairs in fixed but moveable or relocatable locations within the computer system shared memory. The messages share a format having specific codes or descriptors that act as codes for coordination of message interpretation. These codes include at least a validity flag and a sequence enumerator, and in a response message of a request/response message pair, a status indicator. Additionally, routing codes and function codes and code modifiers may be provided. Specific implementation details and messages are described to enable the smooth functioning of complex multiprocessor systems.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for initiating execution of selected application processors in a clustered multiprocessor system without disrupting the addressing mode of the processors. In one embodiment, this is accomplished by initializing the processors in a conventional way, setting the addressing mode, and then leaving each of the processors in an active mode spinning on a designated Startup Address Location. To start an application processor, the OS simply write a target processor ID and a desired start-up address into the Startup Address Location. The application processor with the matching processor ID reads the Startup Address Location, jumps to the address specified in the Start-Up Address code section, and begins execution at that location. In another embodiment, a processor is provided that does not switch addressing modes when switched from a halt state.

Abstract: A cabinet drawer (12-20) for storing information modules (22) of selectively different widths in rows extending front to back of the drawer has row dividers (24) which are removably end mounted within slots (50,52) at any desirable width spacing. The dividers each have a flexible center portion (54) terminating in pedestals (56,58) for receipt within the slots (50,52). When dividers are so-mounted within a drawer (12-20) they are secured in place by inherent spring characteristics of the divider (24).

Abstract: A continuous feed, solid bowl centrifuge with intermittent rim discharge. The centrifuge has first and second members mounted in fixed positions relative to each other for rotation about a common axis. Each member has a peripheral edge portion extending about the common rotational axis with the portions being spaced from each other to create an annular gap therebetween. A third or rim member is mounted for rotation with the first and second members about the common rotational axis. The rim member has a cylindrical surface extending between the peripheral edge portions of the first and second members and is dimensioned to close the gap therebetween. The rim member is supported with its cylindrical surface substantially parallel to the rotational axis of the centrifuge; and, an opening-closing mechanism is provided that maintains the cylindrical surface substantially parallel to the rotational axis as it is moved to open and close the gap.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for monitoring density fluctuations in a spiralling flow within a hydrocyclone. The invention involves the use of a nuclear density gauge which directs a beam of radiation asymmetrically across the hydrocyclone away from the centrally located air column. This air column within the hydrocyclone is created by the spiralling or cyclonic action of the flow and exists when the hydrocyclone is in operation. In a preferred embodiment, the flow is particulate solids in a carrier liquid such as water which has a substantially constant specific gravity so that the fluctuations in the intensity of the radiation received at the detector are inversely proportional to the amount of particulate solids in the flow. In one embodiment, the radiation is directed along a path substantially perpendicular to the axis of symmetry of the hydrocyclone and in another embodiment, the radiation is directed along a path at an inclined angle to the axis.

Abstract: A valve assembly for controlling the flow of material in a duct such as a pipeline, outlet of a cyclone, nozzle and the like. The assembly is particularly suitable for controlling spiralling flows and includes a plurality of elongated valve members pivotally mounted at a first end to a support. Each valve member has at least two elongated and substantially planar sides extending from the first end to a second end. The two planar sides are joined to form a leading edge. The valve members are supported in an overlapping relationship and a mechanism closes the valve assembly by moving the second ends of the valve members toward each other. As the valve assembly closes, the leading edge of each valve member pivots about an axis and moves in a path along a plane extending radially from the axis of the valve assembly.