Abstract: Significant amounts of heat energy, otherwise wasted in the curing and drying systems previously known, are recovered and recycled in the multi-chamber system of the present invention to thereby significantly increase efficiency and reduce fuel requirements. Tobacco or other moisture containing material is cured and dried in batches in a plurality of individual chambers, with each chamber having suitable controls for individually controlling the temperature and humidity conditions of the curing air which is circulated through the chamber. Means and methods are disclosed for recovering and recycling the heat content of the heated exhaust air from the respective chambers, for using solar energy for further heating the air, and for recovering and recycling the heat energy of the batch of material as it is cooled down at the end of the curing and drying cycle.

Abstract: An improved tobacco smoke filter is characterized by grooves defined in its outer periphery and extending to the smoke discharging end of the filter. The grooves are totally exposed to ambient air along their entire length and serve as open air dilution passages to conduct air into the smoker's mouth with each puff or draw. In one embodiment, the filter rod contains no plug wrap and is joined to a tobacco rod with tipping paper, the grooves being defined in both the tipping paper and the filter rod. These grooves may be defined in the final assembled product by forming the grooves in the tipping paper and the filter rod at the same time. Alternatively, the filter rod is pre-grooved and the tipping paper is attached thereto so as to conform to the grooves.

Abstract: A friction heater having a heat insulative housing containing inner and outer members with at least one member mounted for rotation relative to the other on a common vertical axis, causes oil to rise up into an annular liquid chamber between the members during rotation to generate friction heat. The inner and outer members are of heavy heat conductive material and are of cup shaped configuration, preferably inverted, to receive the electric motor drive in the resulting, central axially extending space. The outer member has an inner side wall within the cup shaped inner member and the housing has an inner side wall within the members to guide air in a flow path over the motor.

Abstract: A selector valve for an aircraft breathing system wherein oxygen enriched gas is provided by two sources, the primary source being fractionalized air and the secondary, backup, source being bottled oxygen is comprised of a control valve with three operating modes and a shuttle valve. In the first operating mode gas is provided from the primary source, in the second operating mode gas is provided from the primary source within certain operating parameters and outside these parameters gas from the secondary source is provided. In the third operating mode, gas from the secondary source is provided. The shuttle valve responds to the secondary source gas pressure and directs gas from either source to the pilot based on preset conditions.

Abstract: A transducer for providing a modulated fluid pressure control signal having an electromagnetic stator operable in response to an electrical control signal to apply a magnetomotive torque to a rotary valve member for controlling fluid flow to and from a control signal chamber. A diaphragm senses the difference between the control signal chamber pressure and atmospheric pressure and is operable in response thereto for moving the rotor axially for varying the pole overlap and magnetomotive torque on the rotor.

Abstract: A vacuum check valve comprising a single umbrella valve responding to vacuum differences between the input and output of the check valve. The check valve directs the output line to feed a vacuum operated device with either the vacuum source or reference air through a bleed passage. The umbrella shaped valve eliminates the requirement for a diaphragm operated poppet valve.

Abstract: A ventilator for a coldroom with pressure responsive valves wherein a first valve plate becomes free from a partition wall so as to open a first valve port when internal pressure is increased, and a second valve plate becomes free from said partition wall so as to open a second valve port when internal pressure is reduced. Electric heaters are disposed at supporting rib portions between said respective valve ports and at outer peripheral portions of said valve ports or in the vicinity of those portions, thereby to heat contact portions of said valve plates with said partition wall. The ventilator can be precisely and susceptively operated in response to changes of internal pressure without fear of malfunction due to freezing.

Abstract: A mixing faucet, used for controlling the outflow of water from a hot water pipe and a cold water pipe by means of two globe valves. The faucet comprises a main body portion, a spigot, and two globe valves each of which is provided with a globe plug, a transmission rod, two wearing rings, a sealing ring, an adjusting collar, a fixing screw, and a faucet handle.

Abstract: An improved valve is disclosed. In the preferred and illustrated embodiment, the valve utilizes a flat disk within a valve body, the disk supporting a peripheral groove having bearings therein for alignment and to enable rotation, and further includes pressure balanced opposing faces and receives a valve seat therein. The flat disk and body arrangement reduces the size of a large valve and reduces the wear occurring on the valve seat and seal mechanism. Alternate embodiments and configurations are disclosed.

Abstract: Apparatus for controlling the aperture size of a valve in a fluid exhaust line from an individual section of glass forming machine is disclosed. The apparatus controls the aperture size of the valve in response to first and second control signals and comprises a driver connected to the valve for decreasing the aperture of the valve from a preset size to a restricted size by a series of discrete steps and then for increasing the aperture of the valve from the restricted size back to the preset size by a series of discrete steps. The driver is responsive to a directional signal and a series of electrical pulses each actuating a corresponding discrete step to decrease the size of the aperture when the directional signal is applied thereto and to increase the size of the aperture when the directional signal is removed therefrom.

Abstract: A three-way air valve whose housing has connection openings for a compressed air power line, a line running to the load and an air let-off opening, the load opening being joined up with the power opening in one position of the valve and with the air let-off opening in the other position thereof. The housing having the power inlet opening, the load opening and the air let-off opening has an axial hole running through it from end to end for taking up a liner, which may be pushed in from one end of the housing and has airways for the air moving through the valve. Furthermore, the liner has a valve lip. Within the inner hole of the liner, which is open at the end nearest to the valve lip, there is the valve spool which has a valve seat for use with the valve lip. The valve spool is acted upon by the driving rod guided in the housing and by a spring which urges it axially.

Abstract: A distributor of a hydraulic servo-mechanism is provided for power-assisted steering. According to the invention, the fluid circulation circuit defined by the interaction of two distributor elements (11, 13) consists of longitudinal grooves (40a, 40b) in the outer distributor element (11) and of holes (44, 45), some of which are blind, arranged radially in the inner distributor element (13). The holes have different diameters.

Abstract: A concrete pipe of the type employed, for example, in large sewers is described, having a concrete wall and an inner lining sheet of a polymeric or other plastic material anchored to the wall by a layer of fabric welded or otherwise firmly connected to the sheet. The fabric includes a plurality of preferably monofilament projections having a higher modulus of elasticity than the material of the sheet which projections extend into the inner wall of the concrete pipe and anchor the fabric and sheet thereto. A protective plastic ring and a covering strip positively support the sheet at the joint between two pipes.

Abstract: A drill pipe comprises a tube, a tool joint at each end of the tube, each tool joint having a larger outer diameter than the tube, a fractured sleeve having an internal diameter smaller than the external diameter of the tool joints but slightly larger than the outer diameter of the tube welded together about the tube, and adhesive cement between the sleeve and tube affixing the sleeve to the tube. The sleeve is fractured by forming a plurality of external longitudinal grooves therein not in excess of 180 degrees apart circumferentially, cooling the sleeve to at least the ductile-brittle transition temperature, placing the sleeve on a split tubular internally tapered mandrel, and forcing a wedge into the mandrel with a hammer blow to fracture the sleeve along said grooves into a plurality of segments.

Abstract: A mesh hose bears upon a liquid pervious, for instance helical-spring shaped support body, and upon such mesh hose there lies a paper-like hose. This structure is loosely placed in an external mesh hose portion. The paper-like hose can be impregnated. If such sealing device is placed with closed ends into a concrete joint, which then is to be closed with concrete, the sealing device then can be drilled from the outside through the concrete and filled with a sealing compound or agent which penetrates through the wall of the device into untight or leaky concrete locations and can seal the same. The paper-like hose successfully prevents the clogging of the device by concrete grout or the like.

Abstract: To provide a jacket for electrical welding cables with good torsional and bending flexibility as well as form strength at high internal pressures, a surrounding reinforcement layer of conventional warp-knit type is vulcanized into the rubber jacket. In the radial direction outside this reinforcement layer, at least one unidirectionally helically wound reinforcing card is vulcanized into the rubber jacket, the spacing between adjacent cord windings measuring in the longitudinal direction of the jacket about 2-8 mm, preferably about 4 mm.

Abstract: A two-ply screen for the sheet forming zone of a papermaking machine comprises weft filaments arranged in pairs one over the other and warp filaments with all the warp filaments being woven into the top layer of the screen. Only part of the warp filaments are woven also into the bottom layer of the screen. The number of warp filaments in the top fabric layer serving to form the paper sheet is twice that contained in the bottom layer. The lower weft filaments are at least 20% and preferably at least 30% thicker than the warp filaments.

Abstract: Disclosed is a machine for automatically banding particularly linear objects in groups with strap-type banding elements having interlockable male and female members at one and the other ends thereof respectively, which comprises a pistol-shaped machine body and an operation lever provided to a grip handle thereof and with which, when the operation lever is triggered, each banding element loaded on the machine body is fed forwardly in the machine body, applied about a group of objects to be banded and received on a front end portion of the machine body and then fastened with its male and female members interlocked to accomplish banding, the machine being characterized by comprising a pusher member driven through triggering of the operation lever to move in a guide path in the machine body from a rear end portion to a front end portion of the machine body while pushing a banding element, a stopper for fixing an end portion of the banding element at a front end portion in the guide groove during a banding operat

Abstract: This invention relates to a process of producing a plate for a lead storage battery. A plate grid of lead material such as lead or lead alloy is formed by casting and a frame of acid-resisting plastic material is formed by molding which is to surround the plate grid. A plate substrate is formed by placing the plate grid into the frame. The plate substrate is filled with paste of lead oxide on both sides of the plate substrate, and then the paste filled in the plate substrate is partly dried. Thereafter, the plate substrate filled with the paste is covered with an acid-resisting fiber mat which is thermally adhered to the frame of the plate substrate. This invention also relates to a plate for a lead storage battery produced by the aforementioned process.

Abstract: A vial closed at one end by a septum is redundantly sealed by a shaped plug for the storage of soil gas samples.

Abstract: A nitrogen injector system is provided including a nitrogen injector unit. The nitrogen injector unit includes liquid nitrogen with a head space having gaseous nitrogen at a pressure exceeding atmospheric pressure. An injector orifice is provided, as is a distributing disk which normally closes that orifice. The distributing disk is provided with metering apertures for receiving metered amounts of liquid nitrogen from a nitrogen receptacle and transporting those metered amounts to a position adjacent the injector orifice and for opening the orifice when the metered amount is in the requisite position. The pressure of nitrogen gas within the head space is utilized to eject the metered amount from the metering aperture into a container located at the dispensing position. Containers are advanced to the dispensing position on a container conveyor.

Abstract: A separable coupling for filling or emptying a bulk container of a liquid or semi-liquid food product comprises a closure on the container, and a coupling member attached to a supply or discharge conduit and which is releasably connectable with the closure. Valves on the closure and coupling member are connected in series in the product flow path when the coupling is made. They are connected mechanically together and actuated in series so that the valve of the coupling member is actuated through the agency of the valve on the closure in a fail-safe manner. Provision is made for feeding superheated steam to the part of the product flow path lying between the valves, so that the exposed surfaces of the closure and coupling member can be sterilized or purged before and after a filling or discharging operation.

Abstract: A manual work-feeding device and guard body for a shaping machine. The device provides direct access to the cutting tool and further provides for in-process visual inspection while protecting the operator from injury.

Abstract: A cutter for square timber hewing, which consists of a cutter disk shaped like a truncated cone and on the mantle surface of which have been affixed cutter bits arranged after each other in helical configuration, so that cutting takes place with each cutter bit in its turn, starting at the outer periphery of the cutter cone and proceeding inward. The cutter bit has two cutting edges which lie on each other's extension and define an obtuse angle. One bit edge moves in parallel with the grain of the timber and the other bit edge moves obliquely with reference to the grain of the timber, hewing of the square timber being effected by feeding the trunk in between two opposing cutters or pairs of cutters. The cutter bit has been affixed to the cutter disk by the extension, pointing towards the center of the cutter disk, of the cutter bit's bit edge cutting in the direction of the grain.

Abstract: A veneer lathe for turning a log thereon to cut off veneer sheets therefrom. The log is principally driven by a rotary roller having a plurality of projections therearound, which roller is pressed against the log to ensure positive engagement with the periphery thereof. The log is formed with a center bore at a core portion thereof. A spindle to support the log is inserted into the center bore to prevent the log deflection due to the pressure from the rotary roller. Another form of this veneer lathe is additionally provided with a center bore forming mechanism together with a centering mechanism for the boring operation such that a center bore is formed in the log in advance before being turned on the veneer lathe.

Abstract: A bow saw having a frame and a saw blade which is tightened between the opposite ends of the frame when used. The frame is composed of three individual elements which are interconnected by means of simple and cheap connections and which are firmly held together as long as a tensile stress is maintained in the blade by means of screw members. These elements are collapsible in order to reduce the size of the saw. To this end a main element has a cavity for housing the blade, while two end elements have cavities allowing the main element to be partially introduced therein.

Abstract: There is disclosed a window shade system which reduces heat transport through windows by providing an insulating seal between a shade and window sill. The insulating seal is effected by a resilient material attached to the bottom longitudinal edge section of the shade. When the bottom longitudinal edge section of the shade is positioned in engagement with the sill, the resilient material conforms to the contour of the sill, frictionally sealing the shade against the sill, thereby insulating and reducing heat transport through the window. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the bottom longitudinal edge section includes a first depending longitudinal slat pocket for receiving a window shade slat, and a second depending longitudinal pocket configured to substantially enclose the slat pocket. A longitudinal void is provided between the pockets to permit the enclosing pocket to resiliently conform to the contour of the sill.

Abstract: A metal slat for use in a venetian-type blind including an embossed rib formed at each narrowed slat material region adjacent the cord receiving slots. The slat also includes a decorative weave pattern comprising a plurality of separated longitudinal rows of embossed ribs formed on the slat in a continuous in-and-out pattern.Also disclosed is apparatus for forming the embossment weave pattern concurrent with forming the crown configuration of the slat. The apparatus includes a first rotary die arrangement for prestretching of at least one localized region of a continuous flat metal strip passing therethrough, a second rotary die arrangement for simultaneously forming the strip into a crown configuration and forming the embossment pattern therein, and a third die arrangement for compensating out of the strip any bow, side curve or twist.

Abstract: Process for obtaining, by pig iron casting, machine elements provided with protection cages suitable to preserve delicate portions of machine elements from breaking and deforming during the production phase. The process consists in applying raised impressions of the cages on a pattern for green casting which impression corresponds to a print of a hardened shell reproducing the outer portions of the machine elements.

Abstract: A casting process for making and utilizing an elastomeric pattern that is coated with a non-metallic material to form a non-metallic shell mold and thereafter removed from the non-metallic shell mold by thermal decomposition or mechanical stripping.

Abstract: A modified die casting process and machine utilizes a shaped and contained charge of molten metal which is formed and moved proximate the gate runner while the die halves are open. The charge is formed between the shot piston and an ejector side plunger which includes a slave driver rod projecting to engage the shot piston. By confining and compacting the charge, a charge more homogeneous and of uniform temperature is provided. When the die halves close, the shot piston further advances moving the plunger against a stop, retracting the slave driver rod and filling the cavity at the desired flow rate. The cavity is provided with one or more impact absorbing devices positioned in recesses on the parting plane of the die.

Abstract: In plate heat exchangers the dismantling of the pack of plates is a lengthy job which normally has to be carried out in situ. A plate heat exchanger has a frame including a head (3), a supporting pillar (7) and a movable follower (4) mounted on a top rail (2) extending between the head (3) and pillar (7) which also carries the plate pack (1). In accordance with the invention, the top rail (2) is readily releasable therefrom by bolts (13) whereby the whole plate pack (1) may be lifted clear of the frame. The follower (4) may be temporarily accommodated on the supporting pillar (7) by clamping means (10) and the roller (5) removed. The top rail may be provided with means for attachment of lifting shackles (11).

Abstract: In a plant having a dryer for organic materials, especially wood chips through which hot gas from a combustion chamber can be passed, and the exhaust gases, laden with combustible contaminants, can be passed through indirect heat exchangers, by-pass ducts carrying exhaust gas from the dryer are associated with the heat exchangers, along with hot gas ducts to and from the combustion chamber. After a heat exchanger has been shut off from the exhaust gas stream from the dryer, the same heat exchanger can be connected for cleaning to a portion of the hot gas from the combustion chamber.

Abstract: A heat exchanger including a serpentine heat transfer tube embedded in a fluidized bed contained in a vertical casing. The heat transfer pipe has a construction such that fluid undergoing heat exchange and particles of the fluidized bed do not move straightforwardly from an inlet port at the bottom of the casing toward an exit port at the top of the casing. The heat transfer tube includes a horizontal portion extending through a vacant space in the vertical casing above the fluidized bed, and this horizontal portion is provided with a plurality of spaced inclined fins which overlap with each other when viewed from above.

Abstract: A silane propane burner for an underground coal gasification process which is used to ignite the coal and to controllably retract the injection point by cutting the injection pipe. A narrow tube with a burner tip is positioned in the injection pipe through which an oxidant (oxygen or air) is flowed. A charge of silane followed by a supply of fuel, such as propane, is flowed through the tube. The silane spontaneously ignites on contact with oxygen and burns the propane fuel.

Abstract: An improved portable, versatile, modular, above-ground system and process for generating combustion gases, principally nitrogen and carbon dioxide, and steam, for removing particulate matter and corrosive components from the combustion gases, and for injecting the purified nitrogen and CO.sub.2, and steam, individually or in selected mixtures, at controlled temperatures and pressures into a subterranean formation bearing hydrocarbons to enhance the recovery thereof. The system includes a high-pressure combustion reactor for efficient generation of combustion gases at the required rates and at pressures up to about 8000 psi and temperatures up to about 4500.degree. F. The reactor is water-jacketed but lined with refractory material to minimize soot formation. Combustion chamber temperature is reduced to a safe level by water injection with the fuel.

Abstract: The invention relates to a packer for separation of zones behind casing in a well bore. It comprises a casing string serving as mandrel for the packer, an expandable packing element and first and second sleeves tightly fixed to the peripheries of the packing element, wherein the first sleeve is sealed and movable in respect of the casing string and the second sleeve is tightly fixed to the casing string.According to the improvement in this invention, a sleeve plug slides on and is sealed against the casing string and has a thicker upper part and a thinner lower part, the upper part is slidingly arranged at least partially between the casing and the collar and is sealed against both of them, the lower part is slidingly arranged at least partially between the casing and the packing element. The first sleeve slides tightly on the sleeve plug. A non-return valve in the casing connects the inside and the outside of the casing at the packing element.

Abstract: A relatively closely spaced injection well and production well pair is used as a single electrode and is used in a way that significantly increases the effective radius of an electrode production location. This is achieved by appropriately spacing of the wells and flowing aqueous fluid between wells at a pressure below the pressure driving oil toward the production well. The controlled pressure flowing aqueous fluid forms a highly conductivity flow path for oil flowing toward the production well. The effectiveness of the increased well pair drainage radius is achieved or augmented by injecting aqueous fluid, preferably steam or hot water, into the formation at a pressure great enough to drive oil toward the well pair and using the formation injection well as an electrode for electrically heating the oil. More than one well pair may be used either as a separate or the same electrode. One injection well or one production well may be used to form two or more well pairs.

Abstract: In-situ combustion of tar sand formations is improved by introducing into an unminable tar sand formation prior to initiation of in-situ combustion hydrogen sulfide produced from upgrading tar sands from a minable tar sand formation in an area proximate the area of the unminable formation. The stream of hydrogen sulfide may contain a small proportion of hydrocarbons condensible at temperature and pressure conditions of the unminable formation. The improvement is applicable to both forward and reverse in-situ combustion processes.

Abstract: A sub-sea well assembly has features to eliminate side-to-side movement between a wellhead and a wellhead housing due to movement of the drilling vessel. The wellhead extends into the wellhead housing and is connected on its upper end to equipment extending to the vessel. Slips are located in an annular space between the wellhead housing passage and the exterior wall of the wellhead. The slips are mounted so that they will slide from the contracted position when the wellhead is being placed into the wellhead housing to an expanded position after the wellhead is locked into the wellhead housing. In the expanded position, the slips move downward to wedge, but are not weight bearing. The slips are self-actuating, with a spring to urge them downward into the expanded position.

Abstract: A tubing string extends downhole in a cased borehole to a jet perforating gun. A packer device is located uphole of a releasable coupling apparatus. The coupling apparatus has an annular piston therein which is moved to release the lower string. Two spaced apart movable annular pistons are series connected in the tubing string at a location below the packer and above the gun. Flow ports, formed in the tubing wall, are covered by the pistons. A ball of appropriate diameter can be circulated downhole and seated upon either of the pistons, thereby forcing a selected piston in a downhole direction. Circulation ports are provided below the lower piston in proximity of a gun firing head. The lower piston includes a shaft depending axially therefrom and into proximity of a detonator of the gun firing head, so that when the lower piston is forced downhole, the shaft contacts the firing head which detonates the shaped charges of the perforating gun.

Abstract: A fire and explosion suppression system which is operative for suppressing an explosion within 100 milliseconds of the existence of a high energy ignition and within 200 milliseconds of the existence of a low energy ignition. Actuation circuitry for this system is also disclosed and claimed and includes circuitry operative in two different modes having different sensitivities and response as well as circuitry for sensing the failure of suppression elements to operate and for actuation of additional suppression elements in response to this sensed failure.

Abstract: A rock drilling machine is swingably carried on a pivotable drill boom. The rock drilling machine is fed along a drilling axis in response to a feeding movement applied by the drill boom. A set angle value is fed to a servo control system. During drilling, an actual angle value in the form of the angular position in space of the rock drilling machine is fed to the servo control system. The servo control system governs continuously a positioning motor which positions the rock drilling machine relative to the drill boom in such a way that the actual and set values coincide, thereby causing the rock drilling machine to follow the drilling axis.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for lubricating a string of hollow rods connected to a cone penetrometer within a probe hole, as used in geotechnical "in situ" testing. The rods have aligned bores to receive a drilling or lubricating fluid which passes along the rods to a perforated lubricating apparatus extending between an inner end of the string of rods and the cone penetrometer. Preferably a major portion of an outer surface of the lubricating apparatus is within a maximum cross-section of the cone penetrometer. A longitudinal bore within the lubricating apparatus communicates with a plurality of lubricating openings in the outer surface of the lubricating apparatus body. Thus lubricating fluid within the string of rods passes in to the longitudinal bore of the body and is dispersed through the plurality of the lubricating openings to the outer surface of the body, so as to stabilize side wall of the probe hole and to lubricate the string of drill rods within the probe hole.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, rotation of the inner barrel relative of the axis of symmetry of the core barrel (indicative of core twist off or core sand erosion during coring operations) is detected by a novel sensor combination comprising a battery-powered Hall-effect device fitted to the inner barrel imbedded in a support sleeve of a custom safety sub attached to the outer core barrel adjacent to a single signature magnet.During coring, circumferential passage of the Hall-effect device adjacent to the signature magnet (during rotation of the outer core barrel to generate a core), produces a series of signals of constant repetition rate. But with the occurrence of rotation of the inner core barrel irregular repetition intervals are produced at uphole indicating equipment connected to the Hall-effect device through conventional downhole telemetering and power generating equipment.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, rotation of the inner barrel relative of the axis of symmetry of the core barrel (indicative of core twist-off or core sand erosion during coring operations) is detected by a novel sensor combination comprising a Hall-effect device imbedded in a support sleeve of a custom safety sub attached to the outer core barrel adjacent to a single signature magnet fitted to and carried by a special support ring attached to the inner barrel. In releasably attaching the inner and outer core barrels together, the special support ring is made to be locking through operation of a series of compression strings acting between the lower surface of the ring and the inner core barrel as to wedge the upper surface of the support ring against an annular stopper ring. Result: the inner core barrel does not rotate relative to the outer core barrel during the trip down to the bottom of the well bore.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus and method for reducing the quantity of air or other gas needed to remove earth cuttings from a hole being drilled in the earth. The apparatus includes an accelerator core having connectors at each end for installing the accelerator in a string of drilling pipe. The accelerator core is hollow so that compressed air can be conveyed through to the drill tool assembly. Attached to the accelerator core is a pair of flanges which support a sleeve. The apparatus restricts the available flow area thereby accelerating the flow of air exhausting from the drill hole, to remove the drill cuttings using a minimum of pneumatic gas. The accelerators are spaced appropriately throughout the drilling string.

Abstract: A drag blade bit for connection on a drill string has a hollow body on which there are welded a plurality of cutting or drilling blades. The blades extend longitudinally and radially of the bit body and terminate in relatively flat, radially extending cutting edges. A plurality of cutters are positioned in and spaced along the cutting edges and consists of cylindrical sintered carbide inserts with polycrystalline diamond cutting elements mounted thereon. Hardfacing is provided on the cutting edges between the cutters and on the other surfaces of the blades and the bit body subject to abrasive wear. One or more nozzles are positioned in passages from the interior of the bit body for directing flow of drilling fluid for flushing cuttings from the well bore and for cooling the bit.

Abstract: A polycrystalline diamond cutting element in an earth boring bit is affixed to the bit face by an improved tooth. The tooth includes a prepad extending from the face of the mining bit contiguous to and substantially congruous with that portion of a polycrystalline diamond element also extending from the bit face. A trailing support is provided behind the polycrystalline diamond element and is similarly contiguous and substantially congruous therewith so that a generally singular geometrically shaped body is formed by the prepad, the polycrystalline diamond element and the trailing support. The prepad and trailing support are integrally formed from the matrix material of the rotary bit and are generally arcuate about a radius centered on the bit face. The polycrystalline diamond element is thus securely retained on the bit face while exposing a maximum extent of the polycrystalline diamond element sandwiched between the prepad and trailing support.

Abstract: The present invention is directed towards a method for measuring the weight of bulk goods loaded or, alternatively, loading performance over time of hydraulic earth moving machines, excavators or similar machines which are provided with a hydraulically operated material loading scoop. Typically, these loading scoops rotate about and are supported on a loading arm. The scoop is controlled and tilted by a hydraulic piston-cylinder unit. The determination of the weight of bulk goods loaded or of the loading performance of the excavator is often required by the operator and the manufacturer of the apparatus, both for the determination of the performance of the apparatus per work shift, or for the computation of the fully loaded weight of a transport vehicle used in carrying away the bulk goods.