Abstract: A tester includes: an inlet, connectable to an aspirator tube; an outlet connectable to a vacuum source; and a chamber between the inlet and the outlet, the chamber including: a first tester arranged such that fluids drawn into the chamber by the vacuum source come into contact therewith; a second tester arranged such that fluids drawn into the chamber by the vacuum source pass through it; and a reservoir between the first tester and the second tester; where the first tester includes a first substance adapted to change color in the presence of a target substance, and where the second tester includes colorimetric capnometer, which exhibits a color change in the presence of carbon dioxide, the in-line tester further including a liquid-stop device which, when dry, permits passage of gas from inlet to outlet, but when wetted by liquid, inhibits or prevents the passage of fluids from inlet to outlet.

Abstract: A transmission assembly includes a cavity in a female U-joint having a groove that extends radially outward from an inner diameter thereof and bounded by three planar drive surfaces. A male U-joint member includes a drive end includes a longitudinal rectangular extension protruding radially outward from a periphery and positioned within the groove of the cavity. The drive end includes a longitudinal rectangular insert has a portion forming the extension positioned within the groove and retained within the drive end. The extension includes (1) opposing longitudinal sides, each forming a side crest disposed between a pair of angular side surfaces that extend axially from the side crest inward toward a center of the extension, and (2) a top side forming a top crest disposed between a pair of angular top surfaces that extend axially from the top crest downward toward the center of the extension.

Abstract: A universal joint (U-joint) assembly transmits torque from a drive component to a driven component across an articulating joint. The U-joint assembly includes male and female U-joint members, a central ball joint, and a retaining device configured to secure the assembly in an assembled configuration. The female U-joint member includes a cavity extending into a receptacle end thereof. The cavity terminates in a circular receptacle and includes a plurality of rectangular channels extending radially outward from the cavity at equal intervals, each channel defined by three planar drive surfaces. The male U-joint member has a drive end with a plurality of corresponding rectangular extensions protruding from an outer periphery of the drive end, each extension including a plurality of axial angular surfaces. When assembled, each of the angular surfaces of the drive end opposes a corresponding one of the drive surfaces of the cavity. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Abstract: A universal joint (U-joint) assembly transmits torque from a drive component to a driven component across an articulating joint. The U-joint assembly includes male and female U-joint members, a central ball joint, and a retaining device configured to secure the assembly in an assembled configuration. The female U-joint member includes a cavity extending into a receptacle end thereof. The cavity terminates in a circular receptacle and includes a plurality of rectangular channels extending radially outward from the cavity at equal intervals, each channel defined by three planar drive surfaces. The male U-joint member has a drive end with a plurality of corresponding rectangular extensions protruding from an outer periphery of the drive end, each extension including a plurality of axial angular surfaces. When assembled, each of the angular surfaces of the drive end opposes a corresponding one of the drive surfaces of the cavity. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Abstract: A universal joint (U-joint) assembly transmits torque from a drive component to a driven component across an articulating joint. The U-joint assembly includes male and female U-joint members, a central ball joint, and a retaining device configured to secure the assembly in an assembled configuration. The female U-joint member includes a cavity extending into a receptacle end thereof. The cavity terminates in a circular receptacle and includes four flat surfaces extending longitudinally therefrom at 90-degree intervals. The male U-joint member has a drive end with four multi-angled surfaces extending longitudinally from the drive end at 90-degree intervals about a periphery of the drive end. When in an assembled configuration, each of the multi-angled surfaces of the drive end of the male U-joint member opposes a corresponding one of the four flat surfaces of cavity of the female U-joint member. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Abstract: A rotatable bearing assembly transfers a weight of a drill string to a mud motor output shaft extending therethrough. The bearing assembly includes an outer bearing housing, an upper radial bearing assembly providing an upper radial bearing between the outer bearing housing and the output shaft, a balance piston that fluidly seals an upper end of the outer bearing housing and balances a pressure within the outer bearing housing, a lower radial bearing/seal assembly configured to both fluidly seal a lower end of the outer bearing housing and provide a lower radial bearing between the outer bearing housing and the output shaft, and a thrust bearing assembly received within the sealed interior of the outer bearing housing such that the bearing assembly initially operates in a sealed, lubricated mode and then a mud lube mode in the event of one or more seal failures. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Abstract: A rotatable bearing assembly transfers a weight of a drill string to a mud motor output shaft extending therethrough. The bearing assembly includes an outer bearing housing, an upper radial bearing assembly providing an upper radial bearing between the outer bearing housing and the output shaft, a balance piston that fluidly seals an upper end of the outer bearing housing and balances a pressure within the outer bearing housing, a lower radial bearing/seal assembly configured to both fluidly seal a lower end of the outer bearing housing and provide a lower radial bearing between the outer bearing housing and the output shaft, and a thrust bearing assembly received within the sealed interior of the outer bearing housing such that the bearing assembly initially operates in a sealed, lubricated mode and then a mud lube mode in the event of one or more seal failures. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Abstract: A universal joint (U-joint) assembly transmits torque from a drive component to a driven component across an articulating joint. The U-joint assembly includes male and female U-joint members, a central ball joint, and a retaining device configured to secure the assembly in an assembled configuration. The female U-joint member includes a cavity extending into a receptacle end thereof. The cavity terminates in a circular receptacle and includes four flat surfaces extending longitudinally therefrom at 90-degree intervals. The male U-joint member has a drive end with four multi-angled surfaces extending longitudinally from the drive end at 90-degree intervals about a periphery of the drive end. When in an assembled configuration, each of the multi-angled surfaces of the drive end of the male U-joint member opposes a corresponding one of the four flat surfaces of cavity of the female U-joint member. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Abstract: A universal joint (U-joint) assembly transmits torque from a drive component to a driven component across an articulating joint. The U-joint assembly includes male and female U-joint members, a central ball joint, and a retaining device configured to secure the assembly in an assembled configuration. The female U-joint member includes a cavity extending into a receptacle end thereof. The cavity terminates in a circular receptacle and includes a plurality of rectangular channels extending radially outward from the cavity at equal intervals, each channel defined by three planar drive surfaces. The male U-joint member has a drive end with a plurality of corresponding rectangular extensions protruding from an outer periphery of the drive end, each extension including a plurality of axial angular surfaces. When assembled, each of the angular surfaces of the drive end opposes a corresponding one of the drive surfaces of the cavity. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of recycling plastic e-waste material and products made from recycled e-waste involves one or more separate streams of different plastic waste which are reduced to small granular form, blended together or separately or used separately before insertion into a compounder which reduces the small sized plastic particles to a semi-molten emulsion. The emulsion is placed in a press and molded to a final product shape. The final product is finished and inspected. The products from the recycled plastic e-waste can be used as substrates on road signs.

Abstract: A method of recycling plastic e-waste material and products made from recycled e-waste involves one or more separate streams of different plastic waste which are reduced to small granular form, blended together or separately or used separately before insertion into a compounder which reduces the small sized plastic particles to a semi-molten emulsion. The emulsion is placed in a press and molded to a final product shape. The final product is finished and inspected. The products from the recycled plastic e-waste can be used as substrates on road signs.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for grasping an object using a re-closable bag with integrated finger sleeves. The re-closable bag includes a flexible side panel, an opening on a top end of the bag, and at least two flexible finger sleeves connected to the side panel. The opening includes a closure adapted, when closed, to seal the bag. The at least two flexible finger sleeves, when in a first position, are disposed between a first portion and a second portion of the side panel. Each finger sleeve in the two or more finger sleeves is adapted to accept at least a portion of a human finger. In some aspects, an object grasped using the finger sleeves can be retracted into the re-closable bag with integrated finger sleeves and stored within the bag.