Abstract: The invention relates to a rod section of a ground drilling rod, wherein the rod section is configured at the end to form a plug connection and has (a) a male connector or (b) a female connector at at least one end, wherein the male connector has at least one circular portion and at least one more straight-line-like portion in cross section on the outside, or the female connector has at least one circular portion and at least one more straight-line-like portion in cross section on the inside.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and a method for a lysis procedure, in particular for an automated and/or controlled lysis procedure of a sample, in particular a biological sample.

Abstract: An embodiment of a method for drilling a borehole into an earthen formation, the method including contacting a first end housing at a first axial position with a first drive key, wherein the first end housing has a central axis, a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and a first receptacle extending axially from the first end, and wherein the first drive key is disposed within the first receptacle in the first end housing and radially disposed between the first end housing and a driveshaft. In addition, the method includes transferring torque between the first end housing and the driveshaft via the first ball during. Further, the method includes, contacting the first end housing at a second axial position with the first drive key or a second drive key after (b), wherein the second axial position is axially spaced from the first axial position.

Abstract: A driveshaft for a downhole motor has a longitudinal axis and includes a first end. In addition, the driveshaft includes a second end opposite the first end. The first end has a radially outer surface including a first connection lug. The outer surface also includes a second connection lug uniformly circumferentially-spaced from the first connection lug. The first connection lug and the second connection lug each include a cylindrical surface concentrically disposed about a first pivot axis oriented orthogonal to the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: An apparatus for transmitting torque to a down hole motor in a down hole drilling assembly. The apparatus includes a center rod having a distal protuberance and a proximal protuberance, a transmission adapter having a first end connected to the down hole motor, and a transmission socket formed within a second end of the transmission adapter and configured to receive the proximal protuberance. The apparatus may also include a bearing adapter operatively connected to the center rod, with the bearing adapter having a bearing socket therein, and wherein the transmission adapter is configured to connect to an output of the down hole motor and the bearing adapter is configured to connect to an input of a bearing assembly in the down hole assembly for drilling the well. A method of drilling a well is also disclosed.

Abstract: A telescopic universal joint includes a first joint and a second joint. A sleeve is connected to the second joint. A sliding member includes one end connected to the first joint, and is slidably received in the sleeve. A resilient ring is snugly arranged around the sliding member, and stays in a tight contact with an inner surface of the sleeve, thereby creating a friction between the resilient ring and the inner surface and allowing the sliding member to be positioned at a desired position by the friction.

Abstract: Components such as turbine shafts are maintained coaxial with each other by a coupling ring. The coupling ring includes a body which is cylindrical when unstressed, and which has two arrays of projections each array engaging a respective cylindrical surface of recesses in the components. The body is flexible, and so is resiliently deformed by contact between the projections and the respective cylindrical surface. The projections of the two arrays are angularly out of phase with each other.

Abstract: A driveshaft assembly includes a driveshaft with a pair of constant velocity joints disposed at each end of the driveshaft. Each of the constant velocity joints provides torque transfer from the driveshaft to an adapter disposed to driveshaft using a plurality of elliptical projections that mate with interior grooves of the adapter. Stress concentration on the projections may be reduced in some embodiments by providing a variable radius fillet around each of the projections at the intersection of the projection with the driveshaft.

Abstract: A drive mechanism for transmitting rotational force including a drive member for applying the rotational force and a driven member to be turned by the drive member. One of the members has a socket forming an internal oval female contact surface and the other member has an end forming an external, circumferential, oval male contact surface dimensioned to be received in and to engage the female contact surface for the transmission of the rotational force.

Abstract: A drive shaft assembly for a downhole motor includes a drive shaft formed with convexly spherical bearing surfaces on each end, and end housings with concavely spherical bearing surfaces for mating contact with the spherical bearing surfaces of the drive shaft, thereby facilitating omni-directional articulation between the drive shaft and the end housings while transferring axial thrust loads between the drive shaft and end housings across the interface of the mating spherical bearing surfaces. Torque is transferred between the drive shaft and end housings through two or alternatively four swivelling drive keys mounted to each end of the drive shaft and engageable with complementary drive key slots in the end housings. Full and constant torque-transferring contact is thus provided between the swivelling drive keys and the end housings irrespective of any angular offset between the drive shaft and the end housings, resulting from omni-directional articulation of the drive shaft relative to the end housing.

Abstract: A universal joint assembly includes an assembly housing, an assembly cap coupled to the assembly housing, a rotatable mandrel, a plurality of substantially spherical drive balls, and a floating washer. The assembly housing has a plurality of pockets formed in an interior surface of the assembly housing. The rotatable mandrel is fitted within a cavity defined by the assembly housing and the assembly cap and has a plurality of pockets configured to partially receive the drive balls. The substantially spherical drive balls are rotatable within the cavity about a central axis of the mandrel. A substantially circular groove formed in the cavity is defined by a proximal end of the assembly cap and an interior wall and a shoulder of the assembly housing. The floating washer is disposed within the substantially circular groove and configured to radially displace within the groove.

Abstract: A drive line for a down hole mud motor has a plurality of elongate keys extending radially from an exterior surface of a central shaft for the purpose of transmitting torque. A plurality of circumferentially spaced axial keyways are provided in an interior surface of each end housing, which are adapted to receive the keys. Each of the keys has opposed sides, opposed ends and a front face. The front face is radiused both in a first direction between the opposed ends and in a second direction between the opposed sides, thereby accommodating the omni-directional pivotal movement of the shaft relative to the housing. The use of keys for torque transmission increases available contact area, with a corresponding increase in torque load capacity.

Abstract: A rotor to rotor coupling providing a connecting rod having longitudinal grooves mating to longitudinal grooves in a rotor end. The mated grooves forming chambers for which pins are received therein. A rotor cap secures the captured pins within the chambers and further strengthens the coupling. An optional thrust bearing assembly is disclosed along with a preferred method of synchronizing the rotors and timing the stators.

Abstract: A Sealed Downhole Motor Drive Shaft Universal Joint Assembly consisting of a housing with an interior and an exterior surface. The interior has an end wall and side walls. The end wall has an elongate projection with a concave terminus. The side walls have a plurality of slots. A shaft is provided having an exterior surface and opposed ends. Each of the ends has a central cavity with a substantially concave end wall. The exterior surface of the drive shaft has a plurality of annularly spaced pockets adjacent each end. The pockets are in substantial alignment with the end wall of the central cavity. Each end of the drive shaft is telescopically received within one of the housings. A thrust ball is positioned between the concave terminus of the elongate projection of the housing and the concave end wall of the central cavity of the shaft thereby transmitting thrust loads between the housing and the shaft while permitting omni-directional relative movement of the housing and the shaft.

Abstract: A flex-joint assembly (36) having a pair of identical flex joints (102,104) between three sections of shaft, front (88), center (86) and rear (90). Each flex joint, i.e., (102), consists of a pair of substantially semi-cylindrical bearings (89,93) and a trunnion block (92). The block (92) is a double wedge having long arcuate edges (106,108) at opposite sides thereof, the two edges being orthogonal to each other. The edges (106,108) fit into the bearings (89,93), and the bearings (89,93) and trunnion block (92) fit into complementarily shaped end-sections (91,95) in the facing ends of their associated shafts (88,86). The shafts (88,86,90), the bearings (89,93) and (98,100), and the blocks (92) and (94) are formed with a central bore (121) in which a wire (96) is placed. The wire (96) is placed under tension and affixed at the ends of the front and rear shafts (88) and (90).

Abstract: A rotor adapter for connection between a drive shaft having eccentric motion and a driven shaft having circular motion within a downhole mud motor. The rotor adapter has two symmetrical ends on either end of a rotor adapter shaft. Each end includes a coupler defining a socket for receiving one end of the rotor adapter shaft. A thrust ball is located between the rotor adapter shaft and the coupler and seated in pockets that have radii larger than the thrust ball and depths shallower than the radius of the thrust ball. Circumferentially spaced pockets around the rotor adapter shaft near the end of the shaft fit steel balls which protrude into complementary pockets on the coupler. The coupler pockets are cylindrical and plugged from the outside with plugs. The plugs are secured in place with the steel balls in the complementary pockets. The pockets on the rotor adapter shaft are elongated in the axial direction of the rotor adapter shaft to allow tilting of the rotor adapter shaft.

Abstract: A flexible coupling for use in a down-hole motor assembly such as a positive displacement moineau motor is presented. The flexible coupling includes two sets of flexible joints. Each joint consists of two cylindrically shaped slipper couplings angularly offset by 90 degrees. Each slipper coupling is comprised of mating male and female members which are joined together by ball bearings positioned in arcuate grooves located along the cylindrical mating surface.

Abstract: An interlocking shaft coupling including a disk-shaped body having two end faces and an interlocking element disposed on each of these faces. Each interlocking element has a substantially circular cross section and a longitudinal axis parallel to a diameter of the disk-shaped body. The coupling can be attached to opposing rotary shafts by hubs which fit over the shafts and have receiving elements which engage with the interlocking elements of the shaft coupling.

Abstract: A shaft coupling which can prevent trransmission of side loads in the event of angular or parallel misalignment of end-to-end shafts and which can also provide non-destructible overload protection. A pair of independent translatable devices spaced apart along the axis of the coupling, and set in planes at right angles to the axis and to each other can translate independently to permit free nutating motion of an intermediate torque-transmitting coupling member. Spring loaded balls on the ends of the independent devices decouple the shafts from each other in the event of overload. Embodiments can achieve all of the above with virtually zero back lash.

Abstract: A universal joint assembly comprises a first rotary member having a first longitudinal axis and an outer tubular portion at one end thereof concentrically disposed about the axis, a second rotary member having a second longitudinal axis and an inner tubular portion at one end thereof concentrically disposed about the axis, the second member being adapted to be telescopically received within the outer tubular end portion of the first member, a ball bearing for transmitting axial loads between the first and second members, the bearing pivotally connecting the first and second members whereby to provide limited omni-directional pivotal movement of one of the first and second members with respect to the other of the first and second members about a point of intersection of the longitudinal axes of the first and second members, and a slot and key engagement disposed between the outer and inner tubular end portions for transferring torque between the first and second members, the longitudinal slots formed in one of

Abstract: A solid core (3) serves to transmit both torque and axial thrust (if any) between first and second end pieces (1 and 2) having longitudinal axes that may be up to 10.degree. out of alignment. The core is close to being cubical in shape, having two interfitting sets of three adjacent sides each comprising a first semicircular plane face, a semi-cylindrical face, and a second semicircular plane face. Concave recesses (10, 13) are provided in respective front faces of the two end pieces to receive each of the semi-cylindrical surfaces of the core. The "chunky" nature of the core maximizes the torque that can be transmitted in a given volume.

Abstract: A tool holding member is coupled to a driving or spindle member by a lug-and-slot universal type coupling member. The three members are held against axial separation by a pair of resiliently yieldable retaining rings which coact with the coupling member to allow the tool holding member to float radially relative to the spindle member. Means are provided for locking tools of various diameters in the tool holding member while providing a positive drive between the holding member and the tool.

Abstract: A coupling shaft couples driving and driven shafts which are subject to relative misalignment. The coupling shaft has crowned male polygonal profiles on both of its ends, and which ends mate directly with corresponding female polygonal profiles carried by the driving and driven shafts. The crowned male profiles permit the coupling arrangement to act in a hinge like manner to accommodate the misalignment. Non-metallic bushings and adapters may be interposed between the coupling shaft and the driving and driven shafts to eliminate metal to metal contact and to thereby eliminate fretting and metal wear which would otherwise occur.