Abstract: Spinners for spinning drill pipe to rotary drill wells wherein the spinners have one or more drive rollers wherein one embodiment the drive rollers have an upper section that is a metal core with an upper flanged area and a lower section comprised of an elastomeric material. In a second embodiment the surface areas of the drive rollers that contact the drill pipe are all metallic and the drive rollers have an upper cylindrical section and one or more conical sections below the upper cylindrical section that are progressively smaller in diameter moving downward from the upper cylindrical section. In a third embodiment the surface areas of the drive rollers that contact the drill pipe are all metallic and are comprised of a cylindrical section and a predominately spherical section below the cylindrical section. In a fourth embodiment the surface area of the drive rollers that contacts the drill pipe is all metallic and has a predominately spherical section.

Abstract: Drilling apparatus for receiving, moving and aligning pipe sections as they are added to a string of pipe on a drilling rig when using an iron roughneck. After the iron roughneck is moved to well centerline and engaged with the box connection of the pipe suspended in the well bore, a hydraulically controlled pipe engagement mechanism is extended radially away from the iron roughneck and in the general direction of the pipe rack. The pipe engaging mechanism receives the lower end of the next stand of pipe to be added and is hydraulically retracted to lock around the pipe stand and bring the pipe stand into alignment with the pipe string suspended in the well bore.

Abstract: Drilling apparatus for receiving, moving and aligning pipe sections as they are added to a string of pipe on a drilling rig when using an iron roughneck. After the iron roughneck is moved to well centerline and engaged with the box connection of the pipe suspended in the well bore, a hydraulically controlled pipe engagement mechanism is extended radially away from the iron roughneck and in the general direction of the pipe rack. Said pipe engaging mechanism receives the lower end of the next stand of pipe to be added and is the hydraulically retracted to lock around said pipe stand and bring said pipe stand into alignment with the pipe string suspended in the well bore.

Abstract: An apparatus for manipulating a power tong to various positions on the rig floor. A boom of fixed length is mounted to a drilling rig either directly or indirectly by means of a bearing housing. The bearing housing is slewable about a vertical axis and the boom is axially drivable with respect to the bearing housing, these motions together or individually causing lateral motion to the power tong. In one embodiment, the bearing housing and thereby the boom is tilted by use of hydraulic cylinders mounted between the bearing housing and slewing housing, allowing the elevation of the power tong to be changed. In a second embodiment, the end of the boom at the power tong is supported by a hydraulic cylinder and hanging cable. In a third embodiment, the power tong is supported directly by a hanging cable and hydraulic cylinder arrangement and the end of the boom pushes and slews to impart lateral motion indirectly to the power tong by way of the hanging cable or cylinder or tong itself.

Abstract: Drilling rig apparatus for connecting and disconnecting well pipe at a drilling rig. A remotely controlled power wrench assembly is mounted on a remotely controlled lifting mechanism attached to a base spaced about the well axis on the rig floor. The wrench assembly includes upper and lower wrenches carried by the lifting mechanism. The wrench assembly includes a lower wrench for gripping a lower box coupling of a drill pipe section at the well center. An upper wrench is provided for torquing and spinning an upper pin coupling into or out of threaded engagement with the lower box coupling. A manipulator is pivotably carried on a rod supported from the wrench assembly. The manipulator captures a drill pipe section and transfers the drill pipe section between the well axis and a position at the side of the wrench assembly. A slot is provided between frame members of the base for placement of a power slip manipulator for setting and releasing slips in the rotary table.

Abstract: An automated motorcycle saddlebag including a storage tub for stowing items on the motorcycle. A lid is pivotally connected to the storage tub for covering the interior storage space of the storage tub. A powered lid actuator is carried by the storage tub for pivoting the lid between a closed condition covering the storage tub and an open condition allowing access to the storage tub. An elongated actuator arm of the lid actuator interconnects the lid actuator with the lid. A drive unit is connected with the actuator arm for reciprocating the arm to open and close the lid. A control unit is in communication with the drive unit for controlling power to the drive unit. A remote switch is in communication with the control unit for signaling the control unit to deliver power to the drive unit to operate the lid actuator to open and close the lid.

Abstract: An automated motorcycle saddlebag including a storage tub for stowing items on the motorcycle. A lid is pivotally connected to the storage tub for covering the interior storage space of the storage tub. A powered lid actuator is carried by the storage tub for pivoting the lid between a closed condition covering the storage tub and an open condition allowing access to the storage tub. An elongated actuator arm of the lid actuator interconnects the lid actuator with the lid. A drive unit is connected with the actuator arm for reciprocating the arm to open and close the lid. A control unit is in communication with the drive unit for controlling power to the drive unit. A remote switch is in communication with the control unit for signaling the control unit to deliver power to the drive unit to operate the lid actuator to open and close the lid.

Abstract: Drilling rig apparatus for connecting and disconnecting well pipe at a drilling rig. A remotely controlled power wrench assembly is mounted on a remotely controlled lifting mechanism attached to a base spaced about the well axis on the rig floor. The wrench assembly includes upper and lower wrenches carried by the lifting mechanism. The wrench assembly includes a lower wrench for gripping a lower box coupling of a drill pipe section at the well center. An upper wrench is provided for spinning an upper pin coupling into or out of threaded engagement with the lower box coupling. The upper wrench has two opposed spinner-roller pairs which translate between open and closed positions for spinning the upper pin coupling when in a closed position. The upper wrench also has two opposed jaw blocks which translate between open and closed positions for gripping the pin coupling in a closed position.

Abstract: A craft which removes debris and chemicals from water having a wire conveyor that carries trash and other debris to a trash receptable as the conveyor moves through the water. The craft includes debris deflectors that channel the trash to a wire rope conveyor which is positioned between two large sponson floats which support the craft in water. The front of the conveyor system is submerged and the rear is above the water. The front of the conveyor system may be raised or lowered out of the water. A chemical pickup head system carries chemicals to a debris receptacle as the roller rotates in the water. A special surface is provided on the pick up head that collects the material by adhesion or absorption and carries it for removal by a rubber squeegee. A system for removing water from chemicals and redepositing water in the environment.

Abstract: A drill pipe spinner having a body with an open throat for receiving a drill pipe. A pair of cylindrical driven rollers are mounted on the body for rotation about a vertical axis. A pair of pressure arms are pivotally mounted on the body for rotation about a primary pivot pin. A pair of secondary pressure arms are mounted on the primary pressure arms, for rotation relative to the primary pressure arm about a secondary pivot pin. A pair of cylindrical pressure rollers are mounted on the secondary pressure arms, for holding the drill pipe against the driven roller. A pair of piston and cylinder assemblies exert force on the secondary pressure arms, to cause the secondary pressure arms to rotate. The moment arms between the piston and cylinder assemblies and the primary pivot pins are shorter than the moment arms between the piston and cylinder assemblies and the secondary pivot pins.

Abstract: A wrench assembly for making and breaking connections between tubular members, such as a drill string and a top drive sub. The wrench assembly consists of a lower wrench and an upper wrench. The lower wrench has a curved gate arm and a curved latch arm, pivotable between an open position and a closed position. The gate arm has a plurality of teeth on its outer surface, and the latch arm has a plurality of teeth on its inner surface, for locking engagement with the teeth on the gate arm. The lower wrench also has a clamping cylinder and a die block for forcing the tubular member against the gate arm. The upper wrench, mounted above the lower wrench, has a semicircular plate. A plurality of splines are mounted on the interior surface of the semicircular plate for engagement with splines on the top drive sub. A fluid cylinder is provided for applying torque to the wrenches to rotate one of the wrenches with respect to the other wrenches.

Abstract: A top head drive well drilling apparatus having a drive unit for rotating a drill string about the longitudinal axis of the drill string. The drive unit is mounted on a carriage, which is guided along a guide track. A stem extends downward from the drive unit to transmit torque from the drive unit to the drill string. A wrench assembly is mounted on the drive unit for making and breaking connections between the stem and the drill string. The wrench assembly can be moved vertically and horizontally in relation to the stem. A stabbing guide is mounted on the wrench assembly for aligning the stem and the drill string. The stabbing guide can be moved vertically relative to the wrench assembly, and has a gripping head having a pair of pivotal latch arms for closing around the drill string. A trigger and a limit switch automatically close the latch arms around the drill string when the stabbing guide is moved onto the drill string.

Abstract: A lifting head having a gate arm, and a latch arm, pivotally secured to a frame. A clamping block, also mounted on the frame, is movable between a retracted position away from the drill collar and an extended position against the drill collar. A plurality of gripping inserts are located on the clamping block and on the gate arm. Each insert has a body and a plurality of teeth. The bodies of the inserts may be vertical or angled, but the teeth of the inserts are mounted in a spiral. This allows the inserts to grip the drill collar, even if the lifting head grips the collar at a place having a spiral groove.

Abstract: A downhole drilling tool having a tubular stem connected to the drill string, and a tubular housing mounted concentrically and rotatably on the stem, forming an annular space between the housing and the stem. A plurality of bearings within the annular space support the housing against radial and longitudinal thrust loads. A plurality of seals within the annular space above and below the bearings form a lubricant chamber. The housing has a cylindrical lubricant passage extending between the lubricant chamber and the annular space outside of the lubricant chamber. A cylindrical piston is sealably slidable within the lubricant passage and responds to pressure of the drilling fluid entering the passage from the exterior of the housing to force lubricant out of the passage and into the lubricant chamber in order to replace lubricant which is lost therefrom. A downhole drilling motor is attached to the lower end of the housing.

Abstract: A link engaging pipe elevator is shown having link engaging arms and an automatic locking mechanism. Spring tension in the locking mechanism is overcome when the elevator body is rested on a substantially flat surface allowing unrestrained movement of the link engaging arms. As the elevator is lifted off the flat surface, the locking mechanism is activated and the link engaging arms are locked into place. A cam and cam roller assist in moving the link engaging arms between the full open and closed positions.

Abstract: Complementary relatively stationary pulleys having axially oppositely stepped diameter portions form a variable speed drive between a motor coupled with one stepped pulley and a driven device coupled with the oppositely stepped pulley such as the spindle of a drill press on which the device is mounted. A transmission belt for the stepped pulleys is bodily shifted with an associated belt tensioning idler pulley, a belt shaper guide, and a compression belt former selectively to position the belt in alignment with chosen diameter portions of the two stepped pulleys to effect a desired speed change while the belt is in a deformed state out of contact with the stepped pulleys, following which the belt is retensioned to engage it with the chosen stepped portions of the complementary stepped pulleys.

Abstract: An apparatus, for use with a traveling block and a drilling hook, for handling large diameter casing. A pair of links (23) (25) are suspended from link ears on the drilling hook. At the lower end of each link is a link connector (32), which preferably has a flat bottom surface and a spherical upper surface. The spherical upper surface mates with a similarly shaped surface on a removeable plate, forming a ball-and-socket type connection. Each plate has a flat upper surface which fits into a slot in an elevator (27). The slots for the connectors and plates are located within the circumference of the cylindrical body of the elevator, thus keeping the links oriented vertically even with large diameter elevator.