Abstract: A liner tube for a core barrel assembly includes a substantially cylindrical sleeve having an inner surface configured to be coupled to a layer of material that is configured to absorb or adsorb formation fluids or parts of formation fluids. At every longitudinal location of the sleeve with respect to a longitudinal axis of the sleeve, a transverse cross-section of a wall of the sleeve may include at least one gap extending radially through the entire wall of the sleeve, such that the at least one gap separates a portion of the sleeve wall on one circumferential side of the at least one gap from another portion of the sleeve wall on an opposite circumferential side of the at least one gap. The sleeve has flexibility in a circumferential direction greater than that of a sleeve without a gap extending radially through an entire wall of the sleeve at a transverse cross-section of the sleeve at every longitudinal location of the sleeve.

Abstract: Core jam indicators for use with coring tools include a plug coupled with an inner barrel and configured to selectively close the entrance of the inner barrel. The plug has at least one fluid port extending through a wall of the plug between an interior and an exterior of the plug. The mandrel at least partially covers the at least one fluid port of the plug in an activated position and the at least one fluid port is at least partially uncovered by the mandrel in a deactivated position. The mandrel is coupled to the inner barrel. A piston force acting on the mandrel resulting from a pressure difference above and below the mandrel acts over an area smaller than a maximum transverse cross-sectional area of the inner barrel. Coring tools include such core jam indicators. Components are provided and assembled to form such core jam indicators.

Abstract: A downhole tool assembly for use in directional drilling operations. The assembly has a housing, a chuck, a cutting tool, a hub, and an elongate drive member. The housing has a spindle for supporting the hub and chuck for rotation thereon. The chuck is connected to the hub and has a non-circular interior surface and a box for supporting a cutting tool for rotation with the chuck. The elongate drive member is disposed within the housing, the hub, and the chuck. The drive member is operatively connected to the inner member of a dual-member drill string for rotation independently of the housing. The drive member has a non-circular external surface corresponding to the non-circular interior surface of the chuck. The pin end of the drive is slidably receivable in connector free torque-transmitting engagement with the interior surface of the chuck to drive rotation of the cutting tool, chuck, and hub independently of the housing.

Abstract: A plug connection for connecting two pipe sections of a drill pipe has a connecting plug on one end of a first of the pipe sections and a connecting bushing on one end of the second pipe section. The connecting plug and the connecting bushing have helical meshing guide projections and/or guide grooves. A pipe section for a drill pipe has on one of its ends a corresponding connecting plug and on the other end a corresponding connecting bushing.

Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) package substrate with an embedded stiffener is disclosed. The IC package substrate is a multilayer package substrate that has build-up layers and metal layers stacked up alternately and a core layer in between the multiple build-up and metal layers. The core layer has an embedded stiffener that surrounds a perimeter of the core layer. Metal layers and build-up layers that are stacked alternately are placed on each surface of the core layer. Each metal layer has transmission traces and each build-up layer has vias that connect the transmission traces on one metal layer to the transmission traces on another metal layer. The embedded stiffener in the IC package substrate creates a more stable IC package structure and may eliminate the need to have a stiffener in addition to the IC package substrate.

Abstract: Implementations of the present invention include a core barrel assembly having a driven latch mechanism. The driven latch mechanism can lock the core barrel assembly axially and rotationally relative to a drill string. The driven latch mechanism can include a plurality of wedge members positioned on a plurality of driving surfaces. Rotation of the drill string can cause the plurality of wedge members to wedge between an inner diameter of the drill string and the plurality of driving surfaces, thereby rotationally locking the core barrel assembly relative to the drill string. The driven latch mechanism can further include a refracted groove adapted to lock the plurality of wedge members radially within the core barrel assembly, thereby allowing for faster travel within the drill string. Implementations of the present invention also include drilling systems including such driven latch mechanisms, and methods of retrieving a core sample using such drilling systems.

Abstract: Implementations of the present invention include a core barrel assembly having a driven latch mechanism. The driven latch mechanism can lock the core barrel assembly axially and rotationally relative to a drill string. The driven latch mechanism can include a plurality of wedge members positioned on a plurality of driving surfaces. Rotation of the drill string can cause the plurality of wedge members to wedge between an inner diameter of the drill string and the plurality of driving surfaces, thereby rotationally locking the core barrel assembly relative to the drill string. The driven latch mechanism can further include a refracted groove adapted to lock the plurality of wedge members radially within the core barrel assembly, thereby allowing for faster travel within the drill string. Implementations of the present invention also include drilling systems including such driven latch mechanisms, and methods of retrieving a core sample using such drilling systems.

Abstract: A substrate and a method of making a substrate having a functionally gradient coefficient of thermal expansion are described herein. A system having a silicon die, an organic package substrate, and a substrate having a functionally gradient coefficient of thermal expansion, connecting the silicon die and the organic substrate is also described. The coefficient of thermal expansion at the upper surface of the substrate matches the coefficient of thermal expansion of the die, the coefficient of thermal expansion at the lower surface of the substrate matches the coefficient of thermal expansion of the package substrate, and the substrate has one or more coefficients of thermal expansion between the coefficients of thermal expansion of the upper and lower surfaces.

Abstract: An embedded resistor and capacitor circuit and fabrication method is provided. The circuit includes a substrate, a conductive foil laminated to the substrate, and a thick film dielectric material disposed on the conductive foil. One or more thick film electrodes are formed on the dielectric material and a thick film resistor is formed at least partially contacting the thick film electrodes. A capacitor is formed by an electrode and the conductive foil. The electrodes serve as terminations for the resistor and capacitor.

Abstract: A core sampler, particularly for use in oil prospecting, including a flexible movable ring (5), provided in particular at the front end (2) of the core sampler, which end is connected to a coring bit (3), for grasping a core sample (C) to be brought to the surface. The ring has a cylindrical internal surface (6) to be clamped around the core sample (C), and a frustoconical external surface (7) tapering towards the front end (2). In the end or starting position, the ring (5) is exposed to zero or minimal strain from the bearing surface (12) and has an internal diameter no smaller than the outer diameter of the core sample (C) to be grasped. The core sampler (1) comprises control mechanism for longitudinally moving the movable ring (5) from the end starting position to an end clamping position. A flexible sleeve (15) is advantageously substantially coaxial with the movable ring (5) and engages the side thereof opposite the front end (2) of the core sampler (1).

Abstract: A mechanism for catching and holding a core within an inner tube in a drill string includes a slidable core catcher and a full closure core catcher. The slidable core catcher is disposed within the inner tube and is coupled to an inner tube ring concentrically mounted on the outside of the inner tube. The inner tube ring and the slidable core catcher are connected to each other by means of a shear pin slidable within a slot defined in the inner tube. An outer tube ring is connected to the outer tube concentrically disposed about the inner tube. When the outer tube ring contacts the inner tube ring as the inner tube is lifted, the inner tube ring is moved downwardly with respect to the inner tube, thereby pulling the core catcher with it. As the core catcher moves downwardly it is compressed by an inside conical surface provided near the end of the inner tube. This serves to effectuate operation of the slideable core catcher.

Abstract: A multipurpose fluid flow assisted downhole tool that is adapted for attachment to the lower end of a pipe string to be extended into a well bore and which is capable of cutting sample cores from subsurface earth formations and removing the cores for evaluation. The tool is also capable of removing ferrous metal objects from the bottom of the well bore by both mechanical and magnetic means in conjunction with object movement assistance that is provided by flowing fluid in the vicinity of the bottom of the well bore. The well servicing tool includes an internal mechanism that has the capability of achieving reverse circulation of fluid in the vicinity of the bottom of the well bore which causes fluid flow from the annulus between the tool and the well bore, upwardly into an internal object collection chamber defined by the well tool and then outwardly of the well tool and upwardly through the annulus between the pipe string and the well bore to the surface.

Abstract: An apparatus for obtaining earth samples of soil or rock from the bottom of holes previously drilled in the earth, the apparatus having an outer and inner non-rotatable casing and a rotatable intermediate casing wherein the intermediate casing is provided with a cutter head fixed to the outer end thereof, including a rotatable hollow shaft adapted to rotate the intermediate casing through a reduction gear train and to supply water or other drill fluid under predetermined pressures to the apparatus, the outer casing having expandable earth engaging arms operatable by the water or fluid pressure received from the hollow shaft for engaging the side wall of the previously bored hole formed in the earth wherein the earth engaging arms will prevent rotation of the outer and inner casing while the hollow shaft is rotating the intermediate casing, and means carried within the outer casing for supporting the gear train, including means incorporated within the apparatus for marking the azimuth of the core, and means fo