Abstract:
The present disclosure relates to a tunneling apparatus including a drill head having a main body and a drive stem rotatably mounted within the main body. The main body defines a vacuum passage offset from the drive stem that extends through the main body from a proximal end to a distal end of the main body. The tunneling apparatus also includes an axial bearing structure for transferring axial load between the drive stem and the main body of the drill head. The axial bearing structure is proximally offset from the distal end of the main body of the drill head. The tunneling apparatus further includes a first radial bearing structure for transferring radial load between the drive stem and the main body of the drill head. The first radial bearing structure is positioned between the axial bearing structure and the distal end of the main body of the drill head and is distally offset from the axial bearing structure.
Abstract:
A drill rod assembly (100, 200, 400, 500) including inner (110, 210, 410, 510) and outer (120, 220, 420, 520) drill rods. The drill rod assembly further including flow passages (140, 240, 440, 540) that are in fluid communication with an annular fluid flow path (160, 260, 460, 560) defined between the inner and outer drill rods. The passages preventing blockage of a drill string fluid flow path when a number of drill rod assemblies are interconnected to form a drill string.
Abstract:
A film laminate(20) having cross-directional elasticity includes an elastomeric film (22) laminated to at least one neckable facing layer(26) such that fibers of the facing layer are attached to the elastomeric film. The laminate can be made by applying an elastic polymer, such as a liquid elastic polymer, onto a neckable nonwoven web(26) to form a laminate(20); longitudinally slitting the laminate into a plurality of laminate strips; and necking the plurality of laminate strips. The method may be timed such that a setting of elastic memory in the elastic polymer occurs after the plurality of laminate strips are necked.
Abstract:
A series of nips (200, 202, 204, 412, 414) formed by intermeshing grooves (22, 24, 26, 28) provides for a higher degree of stretch, particularly for lightweight webs (100) by stretching in stages in multiple grooved nips. The ability to adjust the degree of stretch at each nip can provide a high degree and variability of stretch with reduced web damage compared to a single step application of the same stretch. Improvements to the manufacture of lightweight components of personal care products such as diaper backing components are obtained.
Abstract:
The present disclosure relates to a tunneling apparatus including a drill head having a main body and a drive stem rotatably mounted within the main body. The main body defines a vacuum passage offset from the drive stem that extends through the main body from a proximal end to a distal end of the main body. The tunneling apparatus also includes an axial bearing structure for transferring axial load between the drive stem and the main body of the drill head. The axial bearing structure is proximally offset from the distal end of the main body of the drill head. The tunneling apparatus further includes a first radial bearing structure for transferring radial load between the drive stem and the main body of the drill head. The first radial bearing structure is positioned between the axial bearing structure and the distal end of the main body of the drill head and is distally offset from the axial bearing structure.
Abstract:
An extendable laminate having cross-directional extendability includes a film layer laminated to at least one neckable facing layer. The laminate can be made by attaching the film layer to the neckable facing layer to form the laminate, longitudinally slitting the laminate into a plurality of laminate strips, and necking the plurality of laminate strips. The laminate may be incorporated into an absorbent garment as an outer cover material, for example.
Abstract:
A drilling system including a drill head is configured to couple to a drill string of a drilling machine to drill a borehole. The drill head includes a one- way clutch, a steering housing, and a drill bit. The steering housing includes biasing features that promote a boring direction that is deviated from an adjacent axis of the drill string. When the drill string is rotated in a first direction, the one-way clutch engages and rotates the steering housing with the drill string and thereby continuously rotates the biasing features. The boring direction deviation is thus continuously changed preventing significant deviation accumulation and producing a substantially straight segment of the borehole. When the drill string is rotated in a second direction, the one-way clutch disengages and friction holds the steering housing from rotating in the borehole. The biasing features of the steering housing are thus rotationally held with respect to the borehole and the boring direction deviations accumulate producing a curved segment of the borehole.
Abstract:
A drilling system including a drill head is configured to couple to a drill string of a drilling machine to drill a borehole. The drill head includes a one- way clutch, a steering housing, and a drill bit. The steering housing includes biasing features that promote a boring direction that is deviated from an adjacent axis of the drill string. When the drill string is rotated in a first direction, the one-way clutch engages and rotates the steering housing with the drill string and thereby continuously rotates the biasing features. The boring direction deviation is thus continuously changed preventing significant deviation accumulation and producing a substantially straight segment of the borehole. When the drill string is rotated in a second direction, the one-way clutch disengages and friction holds the steering housing from rotating in the borehole. The biasing features of the steering housing are thus rotationally held with respect to the borehole and the boring direction deviations accumulate producing a curved segment of the borehole.
Abstract:
A drill rod assembly including inner and outer drill rods. The drill rod assembly further including flow passages that are in fluid communication with an annular fluid flow path defined between the inner and outer drill rods. The passages preventing blockage of a drill string fluid flow path when a number of drill rod assemblies are interconnected to form a drill string.