Patents Assigned to Sunstone Technologies, LLC
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Patent number: 10066446Abstract: An apparatus comprises a first number of splines located near a first end of a first joint section and a second number of splines located near a second end of a second joint section. The first number of splines extends in an axial direction of the first joint section and spans a circumferential surface of the first joint section. Each of the first number of splines has a base, a tip, and a pair of flanks that extends from the base to the tip and forms an acute angle. Each of the first number of splines are configured to be received between adjacent pairs of splines in the second number of splines as the first end of the first joint section and the second end of the second joint section are joined.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2017Date of Patent: September 4, 2018Assignee: SUNSTONE TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: William James Hughes, Bryan Lane, Gary Marshall Briggs
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Patent number: 10060197Abstract: An apparatus comprises a first number of splines located near a first end of a first joint section and a second number of splines located near a second end of a second joint section. The first number of splines extends in an axial direction of the first joint section and spans a circumferential surface of the first joint section. Each of the first number of splines has a base, a tip, and a pair of flanks that extends from the base to the tip and forms an acute angle. Each of the first number of splines are configured to be received between adjacent pairs of splines in the second number of splines as the first end of the first joint section and the second end of the second joint section are joined.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2014Date of Patent: August 28, 2018Assignee: SUNSTONE TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: William James Hughes, Bryan Lane
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Patent number: 10006255Abstract: An apparatus comprises a first number of splines located near a first end of a first joint section and a second number of splines located near a second end of a second joint section. The first number of splines extends in an axial direction of the first joint section and spans a circumferential surface of the first joint section. Each of the first number of splines has a base, a tip, and a pair of flanks that extends from the base to the tip and forms an acute angle. Each of the first number of splines are configured to be received between adjacent pairs of splines in the second number of splines as the first end of the first joint section and the second end of the second joint section are joined.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 2016Date of Patent: June 26, 2018Assignee: Sunstone Technologies, LLCInventors: William James Hughes, Bryan Lane
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Patent number: 9845645Abstract: An apparatus comprises a first number of splines located near a first end of a first joint section and a second number of splines located near a second end of a second joint section. The first number of splines extends in an axial direction of the first joint section and spans a circumferential surface of the first joint section. Each of the first number of splines has a base, a tip, and a pair of flanks that extends from the base to the tip and forms an acute angle. Each of the first number of splines are configured to be received between adjacent pairs of splines in the second number of splines as the first end of the first joint section and the second end of the second joint section are joined.Type: GrantFiled: November 1, 2013Date of Patent: December 19, 2017Assignee: SUNSTONE TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: William James Hughes, Bryan Lane, Gary Marshall Briggs
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Publication number: 20170089164Abstract: An annular drilling device is provided that employs an active or passive, stationary sealing element. More specifically, rotating annular drilling devices commonly used depend on externally pressurized sealing elements that are energized by wellhead pressure or hydraulic pressure to grip a rotating drill pipe and rotate with the drill string. Thus, a plurality of rotary seals and bearings must be used. Here, however, the passive or active sealing element is stationary, thereby eliminating the need for bearings, etc. The passive or active stationary sealing element is made of a low-friction material that contacts the drill pipe, creates a seal, and does not adversely affect drilling operations.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 14, 2016Publication date: March 30, 2017Applicant: SunStone Technologies, LLCInventor: William James Hughes
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Publication number: 20170067297Abstract: An apparatus comprises a first number of splines located near a first end of a first joint section and a second number of splines located near a second end of a second joint section. The first number of splines extends in an axial direction of the first joint section and spans a circumferential surface of the first joint section. Each of the first number of splines has a base, a tip, and a pair of flanks that extends from the base to the tip and forms an acute angle. Each of the first number of splines are configured to be received between adjacent pairs of splines in the second number of splines as the first end of the first joint section and the second end of the second joint section are joined.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 18, 2016Publication date: March 9, 2017Applicant: Sunstone Technologies, LLCInventors: William James Hughes, Bryan Lane
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Patent number: 9540898Abstract: An annular drilling device is provided that employs an active or passive, stationary sealing element. The sealing element is made of a low-friction material that contacts the drill pipe and creates a seal.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 2015Date of Patent: January 10, 2017Assignee: Sunstone Technologies, LLCInventor: William James Hughes
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Patent number: 8739861Abstract: An apparatus includes a first pin and a second pin. The first pin has a first joint section. The first joint section has first holes extending a length of the first joint section and terminating at a first preload face. The second pin has a second joint section. The second joint section has second holes extending a length of the first joint section and terminating at a second preload face. The second joint section is adapted to receive the first joint section and the first holes match the second holes when the first pin and the second pin are mated.Type: GrantFiled: July 7, 2011Date of Patent: June 3, 2014Assignee: Sunstone Technologies, LLCInventors: William James Hughes, Bryan Lane, Gary Marshall Briggs
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Publication number: 20140054886Abstract: An apparatus comprises a first number of splines located near a first end of a first joint section and a second number of splines located near a second end of a second joint section. The first number of splines extends in an axial direction of the first joint section and spans a circumferential surface of the first joint section. Each of the first number of splines has a base, a tip, and a pair of flanks that extends from the base to the tip and forms an acute angle. Each of the first number of splines are configured to be received between adjacent pairs of splines in the second number of splines as the first end of the first joint section and the second end of the second joint section are joined.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 1, 2013Publication date: February 27, 2014Applicant: Sunstone Technologies, LLCInventors: William James Hughes, Bryan Lane, Gary Marshall Briggs
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Patent number: 8403059Abstract: An apparatus comprises a jet pump assembly affixed to a riser string and to a blowout preventer. The jet pump assembly comprises a conduit and a sealing assembly configured to accelerate a drilling fluid's return flow by a power fluid delivered by an umbilical connected to the conduit.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 2010Date of Patent: March 26, 2013Assignee: Sunstone Technologies, LLCInventors: William James Hughes, Jack Everett Miller
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Publication number: 20120012301Abstract: An apparatus includes a first pin and a second pin. The first pin has a first joint section. The first joint section has first holes extending a length of the first joint section and terminating at a first preload face. The second pin has a second joint section. The second joint section has second holes extending a length of the first joint section and terminating at a second preload face. The second joint section is adapted to receive the first joint section and the first holes match the second holes when the first pin and the second pin are mated.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 7, 2011Publication date: January 19, 2012Applicant: SUNSTONE TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: William James Hughes, Bryan Lane, Gary Marshall Briggs
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Publication number: 20110180273Abstract: An apparatus comprises a first number of splines located near a first end of a first joint section and a second number of splines located near a second end of a second joint section. The first number of splines extends in an axial direction of the first joint section and spans a circumferential surface of the first joint section. Each of the first number of splines has a base, a tip, and a pair of flanks that extends from the base to the tip and forms an acute angle. Each of the first number of splines are configured to be received between adjacent pairs of splines in the second number of splines as the first end of the first joint section and the second end of the second joint section are joined.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 28, 2010Publication date: July 28, 2011Applicant: SUNSTONE TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: William James Hughes, Bryan Lane, Gary Marshall Briggs
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Patent number: 7743823Abstract: Force balancing adjusts hydraulic fluid pressure in an upper piston area of a Rotating Pressure Control Device (RPCD) that has an inner housing rotatably engaged within an outer housing by an upper bearing and a lower bearing. The hydraulic fluid pressure is adjusted to balance net force in a upper piston area and a lower piston area. The fluid pressure adjustment creates a force differential that balances the total load transmitted through the upper bearing and the lower bearing and thereby extends the life of the sealing element and bearings. Additionally, a wear indicator signals the end of the useful life of the drill pipe sealing element.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2007Date of Patent: June 29, 2010Assignee: Sunstone Technologies, LLCInventors: William James Hughes, Murl Ray Richardson, Thomas L. Pettigrew, Kurt D. Vandervort, Kenneth D. Young