Abstract: A bearing element for a rotary, earth boring drag bit effectively reduces an exposure of at least one adjacent cutting element by a readily predictable amount, as well as a depth-of-cut (DOC) of the cutter. The bearing element has a substantially uniform thickness across substantially an entire area thereof. The bearing element also limits the amount of unit force applied to a formation so that the formation does not fail. The bearing element may prevent damage to cutters associated therewith, as well as possibly limit problems associated with bit balling, motor stalling and related drilling difficulties. Bits including the bearing elements, molds for forming the bearing elements and portions of bodies of bits that carry the bearing elements, methods for designing and fabricating the bearing elements and bits including the same, and methods for drilling subterranean formations are also disclosed.

Abstract: A bearing element for a rotary, earth boring drag bit effectively reduces an exposure of at least one adjacent cutting element by a readily predictable amount, as well as a depth-of-cut (DOC) of the cutter. The bearing element has a substantially uniform thickness across substantially an entire area thereof. The bearing element also limits the amount of unit force applied to a formation so that the formation does not fail. The bearing element may prevent damage to cutters associated therewith, as well as possibly limit problems associated with bit balling, motor stalling and related drilling difficulties. Bits including the bearing elements, molds for forming the bearing elements and portions of bodies of bits that carry the bearing elements, methods for designing and fabricating the bearing elements and bits including the same, and methods for drilling subterranean formations are also disclosed.

Abstract: A bearing element for a rotary, earth boring drag bit effectively reduces an exposure of at least one adjacent cutting element by a readily predictable amount, as well as a depth-of-cut (DOC) of the cutter. The bearing element has a substantially uniform thickness across substantially an entire area thereof. The bearing element also limits the amount of unit force applied to a formation so that the formation does not fail. The bearing element may prevent damage to cutters associated therewith, as well as possibly limit problems associated with bit balling, motor stalling and related drilling difficulties. Bits including the bearing elements, molds for forming the bearing elements and portions of bodies of bits that carry the bearing elements, methods for designing and fabricating the bearing elements and bits including the same, and methods for drilling subterranean formations are also disclosed.

Abstract: Earth-boring tools comprise a bit body comprising a face and a plurality of blades extending radially outward over the face and forming gage regions. A shank is coupled to the bit body and includes a threaded portion for connecting to a drill string. A sleeve structure is positioned adjacent to the bit body and surrounds a portion of the shank, the sleeve structure extending from adjacent the bit body to proximate the threaded portion of the shank. An outer surface of the sleeve structure comprises a plurality of circumferentially spaced gage pads extending thereover and may comprise a plurality of breaker flats.

Abstract: A bearing element for a rotary, earth boring drag bit effectively reduces an exposure of at least one adjacent cutting element by a readily predictable amount, as well as a depth-of-cut (DOC) of the cutter. The bearing element has a substantially uniform thickness across substantially an entire area thereof The bearing element also limits the amount of unit force applied to a formation so that the formation does not fail. The bearing element may prevent damage to cutters associated therewith, as well as possibly limit problems associated with bit balling, motor stalling and related drilling difficulties. Bits including the bearing elements, molds for forming the bearing elements and portions of bodies of bits that carry the bearing elements, methods for designing and fabricating the bearing elements and bits including the same, and methods for drilling subterranean formations are also disclosed.

Abstract: A bearing element for a rotary, earth boring drag bit effectively reduces an exposure of at least one adjacent cutting element by a readily predictable amount, as well as a depth-of-cut (DOC) of the cutter. The bearing element has a substantially uniform thickness across substantially an entire area thereof. The bearing element also limits the amount of unit force applied to a formation so that the formation does not fail. The bearing element may prevent damage to cutters associated therewith, as well as possibly limit problems associated with bit balling, motor stalling and related drilling difficulties. Bits including the bearing elements, molds for forming the bearing elements and portions of bodies of bits that carry the bearing elements, methods for designing and fabricating the bearing elements and bits including the same, and methods for drilling subterranean formations are also disclosed.

Abstract: Cutter inserts for rotary drill bits include a cutter insert body having a cutter recess configured to receive a backup cutter therein. Rotary drill bits for drilling a subterranean formation include at least one such cutter insert affixed to a blade rotationally behind a cutter pocket for a primary cutter. Methods of manufacturing such drill bits include providing a bit body having a plurality of blades. A cutter insert is provided and secured within a cutter insert recess formed in the face of a blade. A backup cutter is secured within a cutter recess of the cutter insert.

Abstract: The invention relates to a wireless remote control system (100) for vehicle functions (13.1, 13.2), having a portable remote control unit (20) which comprises operator control elements for activating control signals which are exchanged with a vehicle mounted transmitter/receiver unit (11) in order to control the vehicle functions (13.1, 13.2). According to the invention, the remote control unit (20) comprises the following components: at least one first operator control element which has a predefined function of an electronic driving authorization and/or access authorization system (13.2) assigned to it, and at least one second operator control element and at least one display unit for menu prompted control of at least one ride level control system (13.1).

Abstract: Earth-boring tools comprise a bit body comprising a face and a plurality of blades extending radially outward over the face and forming gage regions. A shank is coupled to the bit body and includes a threaded portion for connecting to a drill string. A sleeve structure is positioned adjacent to the bit body and surrounds a portion of the shank, the sleeve structure extending from adjacent the bit body to proximate the threaded portion of the shank. An outer surface of the sleeve structure comprises a plurality of circumferentially spaced gage pads extending thereover and may comprise a plurality of breaker flats.

Abstract: Cutter inserts for rotary drill bits include a cutter insert body having a cutter recess configured to receive a backup cutter therein. Rotary drill bits for drilling a subterranean formation include at least one such cutter insert affixed to a blade rotationally behind a cutter pocket for a primary cutter. Methods of manufacturing such drill bits include providing a bit body having a plurality of blades. A cutter insert is provided and secured within a cutter insert recess formed in the face of a blade. A backup cutter is secured within a cutter recess of the cutter insert.

Abstract: A bearing element for a rotary, earth boring drag bit effectively reduces an exposure of at least one adjacent cutting element by a readily predictable amount, as well as a depth of cut (DOC) of the cutter. The bearing element has a substantially uniform thickness across substantially an entire area thereof. The bearing element also limits the amount of unit force applied to formation so that the formation does not fail. The bearing element may prevent damage to cutters associated therewith, as well as possibly limit problems associated with bit balling, motor stalling and related drilling difficulties. Bits including the bearing elements, molds for forming the bearing elements and portions of bodies of bits that carry the bearing elements, methods for designing and fabricating the bearing elements and bits including the same, and methods for drilling subterranean formations are also disclosed.

Abstract: A solar system for a motor vehicle has a solar generator and an energy storage for supplying power to at least one power consuming device, the solar generator being intended for charging of the energy storage, which is formed by at least one high-capacitance capacitor.

Abstract: A solar cover for a motor vehicle roof, which is provided with an outside transparent cover plate (12) and an inside cover (14) between which at least one solar cell (18) is embedded, an electrical contact (28) from which the solar current from the at least one solar cell is directed to the motor vehicle, and an electrical connector element which produces electrical contact between the at least one solar cell and the contact is embedded between the cover plate and the cover. The contact (28) is located in the horizontal direction outside of the area of the cover plate (12) which is covered by the cover (14) and the electrical connector (26) extends in the horizontal direction beyond the area covered by the cover to the contact.

Abstract: A motor vehicle roof with a roof opening which can be closed or at least partially exposed by a displaceable closure element (10) which has an electrical element (12), an displaceable headliner part (20) for concealing the closure element and at least one coupling element (18) which acts as a driver to entrain the headliner part in the displacement motion of the closure element. The coupling element furthermore provides for electrical contact between the electrical element of the closure element and a contact element (32) which is provided on the headliner part to establish electrical contact between the electrical element of the closure element and a vehicle-mounted electrical element.

Abstract: A solar system for a motor vehicle, which is provided with a solar generator and a DC/DC converter unit, the solar system being switchable for supplying a power consuming device in the motor vehicle or for recharging of the motor vehicle battery. The DC/DC converter unit is made with two poles on the output side and functionally comprises a first and a second DC/DC converter which are respectively optimized with respect to the supply function of the power consuming device and the recharging function, there being a changeover unit which acquires the voltage at the output of the DC/DC converter unit and switches the output depending on the acquired voltage to either the first DC/DC converter or the second DC/DC converter.

Abstract: A ventilation device for the seat (2, 3) of a motor vehicle (1) which has an electrically driven fan (3, 5), the vehicle (1) having a solar cell arrangement (8) which, with the vehicle (1) turned off, provides a supply of solar generated power for operation of the fan (3, 5).

Abstract: A motor vehicle roof with a solar generator which is securely attached on the outside on the solid roof skin for producing solar current for the vehicle. The solar generator can be adjusted between a first spatially compact configuration and a second, less spatially compact configuration in which its active solar surface projected onto the plane of the roof is larger than in the first configuration. The invention also relates to a motor vehicle roof with an attachment element which runs in the lengthwise direction of the roof and which is mounted externally on the solid roof skin and which is made such that a mobile flat solar generator can be pushed into the attachment element and is held in the working configuration by it to produce solar current.

Abstract: A solar module (10) for mounting on motor vehicles, which is provided with a top cover layer (12) and a bottom cover layer (14), between which a solar generator (18) is embedded which has a plurality of electrically interconnected solar cells (20), and with two electrical connections (28, 30) on a connection side for tapping of the solar current generated by the solar generator. There are connections (28, 30) on a connection socket (26) which is located on one side of the solar module (10), and of which the side (32) facing away from the connection side is embedded in a sealed manner between the two cover layers (12, 24).

Abstract: A solar system for a motor vehicle has a solar generator and an energy storage for supplying power to at least one power consuming device, the solar generator being intended for charging of the energy storage, which is formed by at least one high-capacitance capacitor.

Abstract: A solar system for a motor vehicle, which is provided with a solar generator and a DC/DC converter unit, the solar system being switchable for supplying a power consuming device in the motor vehicle or for recharging of the motor vehicle battery. The DC/DC converter unit is made with two poles on the output side and functionally comprises a first and a second DC/DC converter which are respectively optimized with respect to the supply function of the power consuming device and the recharging function, there being a changeover unit which acquires the voltage at the output of the DC/DC converter unit and switches the output depending on the acquired voltage to either the first DC/DC converter or the second DC/DC converter.