Abstract: The invention provides a modular pipe handling system comprising a lift arm assembly including a base member and a lift arm mounted on the base member. The lift arm is pivotable between a horizontal and vertical position. The lift arm further comprises at least one clamping system for clamping a length of pipe to the lift arm, to allow movement of the pipe between the horizontal and vertical positions. The base member includes a leveling system associated therewith for independent leveling of the base member and corresponding lift arm relative to a drilling rig with which the pipe handling system is used. The base member may also include a positioning system for positioning of the base member a predetermined distance from the drilling axis of a predetermined drilling rig, wherein the positioning system is adaptable to vary the distance from the drilling axis.

Abstract: A power supply device for providing uninterrupted power for a period of time is disclosed. The power supply device has a controller and a flywheel device. The flywheel device has a housing that contains a flywheel rotor and a motor/generator rotor. The flywheel rotor and the motor/generator rotor are mounted on a common shaft. An active axial magnetic bearing is located to support the shaft for frictionless rotation. The bearing provides support for the shaft, the flywheel rotor and motor/generator rotor. The axial magnetic bearing is attached to the housing and provides, in combination with the motor/generator rotor, a flux path and magnetic field to exert a magnetic force to lift the motor/generator rotor and the shaft on which it is mounted.

Abstract: An optimum efficiency control system for a variable torque/speed rotary a.c.

Abstract: A power conversion system for converting between electrical power at different frequencies, including a rotary electrical machine including a rotor, a stator, first and second independently controllable field windings, and at least one armature winding for each phase; a switching circuit including a plurality of switching devices and having first terminal means interconnected with the armature winding which carries a high frequency signal established by the machine, and a second terminal for interconnection with an impedance establishing a lower frequency signal; the first field control circuit for monitoring the machine to sense phase difference between the optimum zero crossings and actual zero crossings of the higher frequency signal for driving the first field winding to adjust the phase of the higher frequency signal to minimize the phase difference; a second field control circuit for modulating the higher frequency signal carried by the armature winding with the lower frequency signal and for monitoring

Abstract: A saturable reactor device for limiting alternating and direct current in an external electric circuit. In one form, the required magneto-motive force (mmf) bias for the saturable reactor is provided by a controllable flux bias element in order to minimize the required bias power. A current sensor provides a control signal representative of the alternating or direct current passing between the source and the load. This signal is used to control the magnitude of the bias so that the mmf provided by the bias element is a function of the current driving the load, permitting a current limiting threshold at a predetermined percentage of the current applied to the load. In an alternate form, the device may be adapted to limit bipolar current in the external circuit. In this form, the device includes an input circuit and an associated direct current saturable reactor limiter.