Abstract: A method is disclosed comprising the steps of locating, on a surface of a downhole component, a plurality of thermally stable polycrystalline diamond (TSP) bearing elements, and then applying to the surface a settable facing material which bonds to the surface between the bearing elements and embraces the elements to hold them in place. A method in which bearing elements each comprising a body of TSP at least partly surrounded by a layer of less hard material are secured to the surface by welding or brazing part of the surface of each bearing element which comprises said less hard material to said component is also described.

Abstract: An apparatus is configured to control at least one function of a bed located in a room from a remote location outside of the room. The apparatus includes a controller configured to control the at least one bed function, an interface device coupled to the controller, and an input device located at the remote location. The input device is configured to generate a message signal to control the at least one bed function. The message signal is transmitted from the input device to the interface device and from the interface device to the controller to control the at least one bed function from the remote location.

Abstract: An apparatus is configured to control at least one function of a bed located in a room from a remote location outside of the room. The apparatus includes a controller configured to control the at least one bed function, an interface device coupled to the controller, and an input device located at the remote location. The input device is configured to generate a message signal to control the at least one bed function. The message signal is transmitted from the input device to the interface device and from the interface device to the controller to control the at least one bed function from the remote location.

Abstract: A method is disclosed comprising the steps of locating, on a surface of a downhole component, a plurality of thermally stable polycrystalline diamond (TSP) bearing elements, and then applying to the surface a settable facing material which bonds to the surface between the bearing elements and embraces the elements to hold them in place. A method in which bearing elements each comprising a body of TSP at least partly surrounded by a layer of less hard material are secured to the surface by welding or brazing part of the surface of each bearing element which comprises said less hard material to said component is also described.

Abstract: A method of applying a wear-resistant material to a surface of a downhole component for use in subsurface drilling comprises forming a plurality of bearing elements, applying a layer of an electrically conductive, less hard material to each bearing element, and then bonding each bearing element to the surface of the component by welding or brazing to the surface of the component a part of the surface of the bearing element which comprises said less hard material, wherein the layer is of thickness greater than 0.05mm.

Abstract: A method is disclosed comprising the steps of locating, on a surface of a downhole component, a plurality of thermally stable polycrystalline diamond (TSP) bearing elements, and then applying to the surface a settable facing material which bonds to the surface between the bearing elements and embraces the elements to hold them in place. A method in which bearing elements each comprising a body of TSP at least partly surrounded by a layer of less hard material are secured to the surface by welding or brazing part of the surface of each bearing element which comprises said less hard material to said component is also described.

Abstract: A bed status information system for indicating to attending personnel the status of a patient bed includes bed condition input signal generators carried by the bed and coupled to operational elements on the bed, which have one or more monitorable conditions. The signal generators are operable to monitor a bed element condition and input signal indicative of the status of the monitored condition. An interface board on the bed processes the bed condition input signal and generates bed condition messages, which indicate the status of the monitored condition. A processing station remote from the bed is electrically coupled via a datalink to the interface board and is operable to receive the bed condition messages and indicate the status of the patient bed and its operational elements to attending personnel at a location remote from the bed, thereby eliminating the need for constant personnel attendance at the bed.

Abstract: A rotary drill bit comprises a bit body having a leading face and a gauge region, cutting elements mounted on the bit body, fluid channels extending outwardly across the leading face towards the gauge region, and nozzles for supplying fluid to the channels. At the outer end of each alternate channel, in the gauge region, is an outwardly facing junk slot which extends across only a part of the width of the channel, and a bearing surface which extends across the other part of the channel and bears against a wall of the borehole being drilled. In the channel, inwardly of the bearing surface, is an opening into an enclosed passage which passes internally through the bit body to an outlet. The bearing surfaces at the end of the channels increase the peripheral bearing surface area of the drill bit, thus improving stability, but fluid can still escape from all parts of each channel.

Abstract: A rotary drill bit for use in drilling holes in subsurface formations comprises a bit body having a leading face and a gauge region, a number of blades formed on the leading face of the bit and extending outwardly away from the axis of the bit so as to define between the blades a number of fluid channels leading towards the gauge region, a number of cutting elements mounted side-by-side along each blade, and a number of nozzles in the bit body for supplying drilling fluid to the fluid channels for cleaning and cooling the cutting elements. In each of the fluid channels, adjacent the gauge region, is an opening into an enclosed passage which passes internally through the bit body to an outlet which, in use, communicates with the annulus between the drill string and the wall of the borehole being drilled. The gauge region of the drill bit comprises a substantially continuous bearing surface which extends around the whole of the gauge region.

Abstract: A preform cutting element for a rotary drag-type drill bit comprises a front facing table of superhard material having a front surface, a peripheral surface, a rear surface bonded to a substrate of less hard material, and a cutting edge formed by at least part of the junction between the front surface and the peripheral surface. The front surface of the facing table is formed with a chip-breaking formation which is located adjacent the cutting edge and is shaped to deflect transversely of the front surface of the facing table cuttings which, in use, are removed by the cutting edge from the formation being drilled. The chip-breaking formation may comprise a peripheral groove or rebate, or an upstanding ridge or insert.

Abstract: A rotary drill bit for use in drilling holes in subsurface formations comprises a bit body having a leading face and a gauge region, a number of blades formed on the leading face of the bit and extending outwardly away from the axis of the bit so as to define between the blades a number of fluid channels leading towards the gauge region, a number of cutting elements mounted side-by-side along each blade, and a number of nozzles in the bit body for supplying drilling fluid to the fluid channels for cleaning and cooling the cutting elements. In each of the fluid channels, adjacent the gauge region, is an opening into an enclosed passage which passes internally through the bit body to an outlet which, in use, communicates with the annulus between the drill string and the wall of the borehole being drilled. The gauge region of the drill bit comprises a substantially continuous bearing surface which extends around the whole of the gauge region.

Abstract: A rotary drill bit for use in drilling holes in subsurface formations comprises a bit body having a leading face and a gauge region, a number of blades formed on the leading face of the bit and extending outwardly away from the axis of the bit so as to define between the blades a number of fluid channels leading towards the gauge region, a number of cutting elements mounted side-by-side along each blade, and a number of nozzles in the bit body for supplying drilling fluid to the fluid channels for cleaning and cooling the cutting elements. In each of the fluid channels, adjacent the gauge region, is an opening into an enclosed passage which passes internally through the bit body to an outlet which, in use, communicates with the annulus between the drill string and the wall of the borehole being drilled. The gauge region of the drill bit comprises a substantially continuous bearing surface which extends around the whole of the gauge region.

Abstract: A rotary drill bit for use in drilling holes in subsurface formations comprises a bit body having a leading face and a gauge region, a number of blades formed on the leading face of the bit and extending outwardly away from the axis of the bit so as to define between the blades a number of fluid channels leading towards the gauge region, a number of cutting elements mounted side-by-side along each blade, and a number of nozzles in the bit body for supplying drilling fluid to the fluid channels for cleaning and cooling the cutting elements. In each of the fluid channels, adjacent the gauge region, is an opening into an enclosed passage which passes internally through the bit body to an outlet which, in use, communicates with the annulus between the drill string and the wall of the borehole being drilled. The gauge region of the drill bit comprises a substantially continuous bearing surface which extends around the whole of the gauge region.

Abstract: A bed status information system for indicating to attending personnel the status of a patient bed includes bed condition input signal generators carried by the bed and coupled to operational elements on the bed, which have one or more monitorable conditions. The signal generators are operable to monitor a bed element condition and input signal indicative of the status of the monitored condition. An interface board on the bed processes the bed condition input signal and generates bed condition messages, which indicate the status of the monitored condition. A processing station remote from the bed is electrically coupled via a datalink to the interface board and is operable to receive the bed condition messages and indicate the status of the patient bed and its operational elements to attending personnel at a location remote from the bed, thereby eliminating the need for constant personnel attendance at the bed.