Abstract: A cantilevered drilling structure including a base unit having a side positionable generally adjacent a well head, and a drilling rig mast assembly positioned generally above and supported by the base unit. The base unit has a cantilever member extending out from its side, spaced from the ground, and having an outer portion spaced from the side. A telescoping leg extends down from the outer portion and is spaced from the side such that the side and the leg are positionable on opposite sides of a well head. The telescoping leg is movable between a lower support position and a higher raised position high enough to pass over flow lines when the drilling structure is moved along the well row. A skidding floor mechanism moves the drilling rig mast assembly along the base unit between a drilling position over the cantilever member when the telescoping leg has been extended and a moving position closer to the center of gravity of the base unit.

Abstract: A collapsible boom lift comprised of upper and lower telescoping boom assemblies. The upper boom is pivotally connected to an upright support member which is pivotally connected at its lower end to the lower boom. The upright support member is maintained plumb during raising and lowering of the lower boom, and the operator's platform, carried at the end of the upper boom, is maintained level during raising and lowering the upper boom. The upright support member is always positioned within the perimeter of the chassis of the boom lift.

Abstract: An auxiliary rig is used in combination with a primary drilling or workover rig. The primary drilling rig typically includes an elongated upstanding drill tower, a base and a crown block. The auxiliary rig of the present invention includes a racking tower detachably mounted with the upper end of the drill tower to form an extension to the drill tower for receiving interconnected pairs of tubular members to reduce the tripping time of the tubular members into and out of the well. A movable slip and controller therefor of the auxiliary rig are operably guided by the racking tower for releasably supporting the pairs of tubular members.

Abstract: A plurality of beams or triangular plates members and beam members form a tetrahedral unit. These units are coupled at their common planes to adjacent facing units to form a foldable, extendible truss beam. Some of the beams are extendible or bendable. By extending or bending, each beam or plate member folds into a flat or bar shape.

Abstract: Disclosed is an Angle Drilling Apparatus for mobile rotary drills and the like having a mast tower for operating and supporting the drill string. A transferable and adjustable lower pivot support is provided in combination with the normal mast raising cylinders and a unique upper mast support strut. The upper mast strut is slideably attached to the mast and provides support to the mast closer to the top of the mast as the mast is deployed at an angle for angle drilling. The adjustable lower pivot support allows drilling to be accomplished closer to the support base and more nearly at the point of vertical drilling.

Abstract: A telescoping mast assembly for floodlighting equipment or other apparatus is arranged to be raised by admitting pressurized fluid to the interior of the assembly and lowered by releasing the fluid. The assembly is constructed of light metal, such as aluminum alloy, and includes a plurality of telescoping hollow members, or tubes, each inner member having a pair of substantially spaced wear rings near its lower end for maintaining the spaced positions of the members and a fitting at its outer end carrying an internally mounted wear ring for maintaining the spacing at the outer end. The telescoping members do not engage one another but are spaced by the wear rings. The fitting is readily detachable and facilitates the use of straight lengths of standard aluminum tube stock for the mast sections. The fittings include keys slidably engaging longitudinal slots in the members for preventing rotation of the members with respect to one another. Seals are provided for preventing leakage of fluid between the members.

Abstract: An auxiliary rig is used in combination with a primary drilling or workover rig. The primary drilling rig typically includes an elongated upstanding drill tower, a base and a crown block. The auxiliary rig of the present invention includes a racking tower detachably mounted with the upper end of the drill tower to form an extension to the drill tower for receiving interconnected pairs of tubular members to reduce the tripping time of the tubular members into and out of the well. A movable slip and a controller therefor of the auxiliary rig are operably guided by the racking tower for releasably supporting the pairs of tubular members.

Abstract: The invention provides several embodiments of support assemblies (26,30,32) suitable for use in a lift mast (10). Each support assembly (26,30,32) has two slider bearings (36) for symetrically loading the main loading surface (37) and the inboard and outboard flange edge (38,40) of the corresponding I-beams (19) used in an upright assembly (16) incorporated in the lift mast (10). The support assemblies (26,30,32) include positioning screws (68) for adjusting the slider bearings (36) against the flange edges (38,40). The need for shims is thereby avoided. These positioning screws (68) permit the slider bearings (36) to pivot so as to ensure they remain in full face contact with the corresponding flange edge (38,40). The slider bearings (36) each accept two, mutually perpendicular loadings simplifying the construction of these support assemblies (26,30,32).

Abstract: A guyline tensioner for communication towers is provided wherein the towers are of the type having a plurality of nested sections which are raised and lowered by a telescoping action. The device of the present invention provides a guying means so that as the tower is raised or lowered, a single operator can maintain equal tension on all of the guys at the same time.

Abstract: A stabilizer for a telescoping cylinder and rod is disclosed. The stabilizer includes a support body which carries a cylinder rod encircling clamp and a bell crank. The support body and bell crank are moved along a support track by operation of the cylinder. As the cylinder structure reaches its full extension, the stabilizer is deployed to clamp and stabilize the cylinder rod and cylinder assembly at a joint generally equidistant the ends of the cylinder and rod assembly. The stabilizer is actuated automatically by the extension of the cylinder and is returned to its initial position as the cylinder is retracted. The telescoping cylinder stabilizer provides support for the elongated cylinder and protects the cylinder and rod from damage due to flexure and bending which might occur were it not for the stabilizer.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are fired ceramic wares possessing hydrophobic properties throughout the bodies thereof. The ware is prepared utilizing a water-reduced ceramic body composition containing a quantity of a finely-divided sub-micron amorphous silica or alumina. This ceramic body composition is formed into a green ware, the ware dried and fired at relatively low temperature and the fired ware treated with one or more reactive organosilicon compounds whereby organosilicon groups are caused to chemisorb onto the surface of the finely-divided amorphous oxide component.

Abstract: A portable drilling rig for mounting on a flatbed truck or other carrier vehicle, includes a turntable rotatably mounted on the truck bed; a slide pivotally mounted on the top of the turntable for rotation around a horizontal axis; a hydraulic cylinder interconnecting the turntable and slide for raising and lowering one end of the slide so that the slide can be tilted from a transport position to an operating position beside the truck; a carriage slidably mounted on the slide, the position of the carrier on the slide being controlled by a winch, pulley and cable system; a derrick pivotally mounted on the carriage for rotation between the transport and operating positions, and a hydraulic cylinder interconnecting the carriage and the derrick for causing the derrick to move between the transport and operating positions.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system including two or more fluid pressure piston-and-cylinder assemblies. The cylinders are linked in pairs so that retraction of both piston rods reduces the length of the pair of assemblies to the length of a single assembly. Operation of both pistons in a pair provides an effective stroke twice the length of a single assembly stroke. In a particular embodiment, a double cylinder system is used as a pickup system for elevating equipment along a mast in a well workover rig.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system including two or more fluid pressure piston-and-cylinder assemblies. The cylinders are linked in pairs so that retraction of both piston rods reduces the length of the pair of assemblies to the length of a single assembly. Operation of both pistons in a pair provides an effective stroke twice the length of a single assembly stroke. In a particular embodiment, a double cylinder system is used as a pickup system for elevating equipment along a mast in a well workover rig.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for transporting a sectional tower to a selected location and for erecting the tower at the selected location is disclosed. The apparatus includes a mobile trailer bed on which the erection apparatus and the tower sections are transported. A frame is carried on the trailer bed which has racks on which a number of tower sections are stowed. A folding guide member is pivotally attached to the trailer frame and is rotatable to a stowed position during transportation and is rotatable to an upright position for guiding the tower during erection. A hoist is carried on the folding guide member for raising the tower sections through the guide member. A plurality of sheaves are attached to the support frame and upon a number of anchors symmetrically disposed at radially spaced locations relative to the support frame. Guy wires are attached to the uppermost tower section and are reeved with the sheaves associated with each anchor and are coupled to a winch.

Abstract: An aerial device includes a boom support structure, a boom pivotally secured to the support structure, and first and second boom lift hydraulic actuators. The first and second boom lift hydraulic actuators are operated in tandem to raise, lower, and hold the boom in position. The first and second boom lift hydraulic actuators are pivotally connected between the boom support structure and the boom and are disposed with respect to the boom pivot axis so that regardless of boom position, one of the first and second actuators is under tension and the other is under compression. This eliminates the danger of loss of lift of the boom caused by end gland failure of a lift actuator.

Abstract: A solar energy collection system including a plurality of energy receivers supported in suspension by an array of radially extending booms above a field of heliostats which serves to reflect a plurality of beams of solar energy toward said receivers. Each of said receivers is characterized by a curved target surface substantially totally illuminated by the reflected beam. A network of interconnected conduits for conducting a working fluid along a tortuous path in juxtaposition with the target surface of each receiver, whereby the working fluid is heated for converting radiant energy to heat, and a network of conduits for collecting and conducting heated working fluid away from the receivers.

Abstract: A particular arrangement of web stiffening members for the extensible and retractable telescoping sections of a crane boom assembly. A series of web stiffening members are secured to each of the side webs of a telescoping boom section, the web stiffening members being angularly displaced in a particular arrangement on each boom section to provide for reduced stress levels in the section. The web stiffening members are arranged on each side web in two series of members, the innermost stiffener of each series being reversely positioned about a reference point provided on the boom section. The reference point for the boom section corresponds to the point of changeover for shear load for the section under cantilever loading.

Abstract: Two pivots are provided on a drill tower support. The drill tower is supported on and positively locked to the upper pivot in the horizontal position.The drill tower can be pivoted about the first pivot from the horizontal position to the vertical position and positively locked to the lower pivot. The drill tower is then disconnected from the first pivot and thereafter it can be pivoted about the second pivot for angle drilling.

Abstract: A tower which is especially useful as a radio antenna tower comprises an elongated antenna pole or mast having reinforcing truss structures on opposite sides thereof comprising triangular trusses at spaced locations. One set of trusses on one side employ truss members extending perpendicularly from the mast whereas the other set of trusses on the other side comprises angular truss members joined at their extremities by a truss base. The mast is pivotally supported on a base which is a large pipe cemented into the ground. A cable and pulley system is operated by an electric motor to elevate the mast from its angular position on the ground to an upright position or vice versa to lower the mast to the ground.