Patents Examined by David Bagnell
  • Patent number: 10556579
    Abstract: A drive apparatus in a self-propelled construction machine comprises a milling rotor and a main drive which can be coupled to the milling rotor via an engaging and disengaging clutch, and an auxiliary drive which can be coupled to the milling rotor alternatively to the main drive. The clutch is provided with a fixed side and an axially displaceable output side, which is displaceable between an engaged position and a disengaged position. The axially displaceable side is simultaneously also the engaging and disengaging part of a shiftable transmission, the fixed part of which is driven by the auxiliary drive, with the transmission and the clutch being engaged and disengaged in a selective fashion via the axially displaceable side of the clutch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: BOMAG GmbH
    Inventors: Steffen Wachsmann, Niels Laugwitz, Jens-Martin Zehbe
  • Patent number: 9903196
    Abstract: A pressure test and actuation tool includes a housing; an insert disposed in operable communication with the housing. A metering head initially in sealed relation to both the housing and insert. A damper relief shoulder operably positioned relative to the metering head to initially support the metering head in sealed relationship with the housing and the insert and movable to unsupport the metering head defeating the sealed relationship with the housing and the insert. A method actuating a tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES, A GE COMPANY, LLC
    Inventors: James S. Sanchez, Jason M. Harper
  • Patent number: 9874066
    Abstract: A packer assembly has an inner expandable packer. An outer layer having sealing bodies may be disposed about and/or positioned on the outer surface of the inner expandable packer member. Each of the sealing bodies may have an elastomeric body, and one or more flowlines may be embedded in the elastomeric body of each of the sealing bodies. The sealing bodies may be located in grooves in the inner expendable packer member. The sealing bodies may contact a surrounding casing or a surrounding formation to form an annular seal; in an embodiment, the sealing bodies and the inner expandable packer member may contact a surrounding casing or a surrounding formation to form an annular seal. The sealing bodies may be non-integral with each other and/or separable from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Pierre-Yves Corre, Jean-Louis Pessin, Stephane Metayer, Stephen Yeldell
  • Patent number: 9863218
    Abstract: The present application includes an assembly and method for a plunger tool configured to remove contaminants from a well bore. The assembly includes a hollowed body, a dart configured to selectively close off the passage of working fluid through the body, and a wear pad coupled to an exterior surface of the body to protect the body from corrosive wear. The assembly may further include a dart having a core member and wear coating. The dart is configured to be interchangeable within the body and without the need to disassembly the body. The wear coating compressing for insertion and being sheared off during removal the dart. The body includes an internal lip to prevent the undesired removal of the dart.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Inventor: James T. Farrow
  • Patent number: 9850756
    Abstract: A method for building an underground storehouse by dissolving limestone with carbon dioxide, the method comprising the following steps: a.) drilling two wells extending from the ground surface (1) to a limestone layer (2), building a channel (5) allowing the two wells to communicate, and installing casing pipes (3, 4) respectively in the two wells; b.) introducing CO2 gas having at least 1 MPa of pressure into a CO2 absorbing solution having the same pressure to form a CO2 solution, flowing the CO2 solution into underground via the casing pipe (3) to react with the limestone to form a calcium bicarbonate solution, forming a cavern in the meanwhile, and discharging the calcium bicarbonate solution via the other casing pipe (4); c.) decompressing the discharged calcium bicarbonate solution to decompose the calcium bicarbonate contained in the solution into CO2, water and calcium carbonate, and recycling the separated CO2 absorption solution and the CO2; repeating steps b.) and c.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Sichuan University
    Inventors: Heping Xie, Yufei Wang, Jianfeng Liu, Lingzhi Xie, Ru Zhang
  • Patent number: 9850739
    Abstract: A stabber for assisting in the lifting and installation of a cement head assembly onto a bore hole casing includes a support member comprising a first end opposite a second end. A first connection element is disposed proximate the first end of the support member and a second connection element is disposed proximate the second end of the support member. A first weight is mounted to the support member in closer proximity to the second end of the support member than to the first end of the support member. A second weight is connected to the support member between the first and second ends of the support member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Inventors: George Pat Ferguson, Warren J. Diamond
  • Patent number: 9840816
    Abstract: In a self-propelled construction machine, in particular cold milling machine, recycler or surface miner, for working ground surfaces, comprising a milling drum supported at a machine frame and a conveying device arranged at the machine frame which accepts the milled-off material from the milling drum during the working operation and, on a continuously revolving first transport belt, unloads it, in conveying direction, onto a point of discharge at a discharge end along a parabolic trajectory, it is provided for the following features to be achieved: as a minimum, the last section of the conveying device as seen in conveying direction comprises no less than one continuously revolving cover belt arranged above the transport belt, said cover belt extending essentially parallel to the transport belt and resting against the milled-off material on the transport belt at least in a partial section of the length of the transport belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Wirtgen GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Berning, Cyrus Barimani, Martin Hömig
  • Patent number: 9828816
    Abstract: A flexible collet on a subterranean tool has sacrificial soft components to protect seal bores through which the collets have to compress to get through. The sacrificial components can be replaced when the tool is removed to the surface. In one embodiment, threaded fasteners are used alone or with washers for height adjustment such that the heads of the fasteners which are softer than the seal bore material ride on the seal bore and take the wear. The tool can ultimately be used to latch into shifting sleeves to move such sleeves to open or close wall ports. Alternatively axial ridges with beveled profile ends can be used or rolling members such as wheels or balls can be used to keep sharp edges off the seal bore. EDM method can be used to create multiple fingers with an axial ridge profile and rounded end transitions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES, LLC
    Inventor: Steven R. Hayter
  • Patent number: 9822596
    Abstract: Techniques for releasing a well tool string from a wireline release tool includes initiating actuation of a linear actuator of the wireline release tool, the actuator coupled to an inner mandrel on which a retractable latch rides, the retractable latch including a profile formed on an outer surface of the latch that is coupled to the well tool string; actuating the actuator to move the inner mandrel of the wireline release tool to remove support of the profile by a ramp formed on the outer surface, the profile retracted toward the inner mandrel based on the movement of the inner mandrel; decoupling the profile from the well tool string based on retraction of the profile toward the inner mandrel; and moving the wireline release tool into a position to release the wireline release tool from the well tool string.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Jack Gammill Clemens, Bryan William Kasperski, Matthew Craig Mlcak, George Nathan Aldredge
  • Patent number: 9822619
    Abstract: A well production device includes a production tubing with a fluid passage between the exterior of the tubing and a center bore of the tubing. A fluid barrier is provided sealing the fluid passage. The device has a chamber comprising a dissolving fluid adapted to dissolve the fluid barrier when in contact with the fluid barrier and an actuator configured to release the dissolving fluid into contact with the fluid barrier in response to a signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Luke William Holderman
  • Patent number: 9816367
    Abstract: Embodiments of an apparatus, a system, and a method are provided for deliquification of a production well. The apparatus can be a production tube that receives produced fluid from a subterranean reservoir and provides a pathway for transmission of the produced fluid to a surface location. The production tube includes a nozzle disposed therewithin and an opening positioned proximate to the nozzle through which a foaming agent is introduced into the production tube. The nozzle has a first end that defines an inlet, a second end distal to the first end that defines an outlet, and a passageway extending between the first end and the second end such that the produced fluid received by the inlet is delivered to the outlet. The passageway defines a region of decreased cross-sectional area that agitates the produced fluid passing through the nozzle thereby increasing mixing of the foaming agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: CHEVRON U.S.A. INC.
    Inventors: Jose Luis Arellano, Emee Ermel
  • Patent number: 9810065
    Abstract: Controlling an output of a mining system. The control includes receiving, at a processor, a first signal associated with a position of the shearer, determining, using the processor, the position of the shearer based on the first signal, receiving, at the processor, a second signal associated with a load of a conveyor, and determining, using the processor, the load of the conveyor based on the second signal. The method further includes determining, using the processor, an output of the mining system based on the position of the shearer and the load of the conveyor and controlling a speed of the shearer based on the output of the mining system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Joy MM Delaware, Inc.
    Inventor: Gareth Rimmington
  • Patent number: 9809937
    Abstract: In an automotive milling machine, comprising a machine frame, comprising a controller for the travelling and milling operation, comprising a working drum, comprising a transport conveyor, where the transport conveyor is slewable, relative to the machine frame, about a first axis extending essentially horizontally under an elevation angle, and sideways about a second axis extending orthogonally to the first axis under a slewing angle, where the transport conveyor discharges the milled material onto a loading surface of a transport vehicle at a specified conveying speed, and where the controller continuously controls positioning of the milled material automatically via, as a minimum, the slewing angle of the transport conveyor, it is provided for the following features to be achieved: the controller specifies and monitors limit values for a maximum permissible slewing angle range for slewing the transport conveyor variable in accordance with the current operating situation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Wirtgen GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Berning, Sebastian Winkels, Harald Kroell, Tobias Krista
  • Patent number: 9803476
    Abstract: A cutting head for hard rock mining applications is disclosed. The cutting head may have a base member. The base member may have a rotational axis and may include a center bore extending along the rotational axis. The cutting head may also have a drive bushing disposed within the center bore. The drive bushing may be configured to transmit torque from a driving device to the base member. The cutting may further have a plurality of annular tool supports. Each of the plurality of annular tool supports may be concentrically disposed about the rotational axis in a releasable manner. In addition, the cutting head may have a plurality of cutting bit carriers attached to each of the plurality of annular tool supports. Each of the plurality of cutting bit carriers may be configured to rotatably support a cutting bit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: Caterpillar Global Mining Europe GmbH
    Inventors: Joachim Raschka, Stefan Berger, Jan Rohwer, Oliver Kortmann
  • Patent number: 9803478
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a self-propelled construction machine, in particular a road milling machine, a recycler or a surface miner, comprising a machine frame 1 supported by a chassis 2 which comprises front and rear running gear 3, 4. A working device 5 is arranged on the machine frame 1 and comprises a working roller 17 for working the ground. Lifting devices 15, 16 are associated with the individual running gears 3, 4 and can each be retracted or extended for raising or lowering the running gears with respect to the machine frame. In addition, the construction machine comprises a control unit 20 for actuating the lifting devices 15, 16, which control unit comprises a lifting position measuring device 22 for detecting the lifting position of the lifting devices and a tilt detection device 23 for detecting the tilt of the machine frame 1 transversely to the working direction A of the construction machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: Wirtgen GmbH
    Inventors: René Müller, Sebastian Winkels, Cyrus Barimani
  • Patent number: 9803477
    Abstract: A system for determining the position and orientation of a cutter module relative to a frame of a highwall miner is provided. The cutter module is attached to the highwall miner by a string of push beams and moveable relative to the highwall miner. A reel is rotatably mounted to the highwall miner frame and configured to feed out a hose chain that supplies fluid to the cutter module. A fiber optic shape sensing system is associated with the cutter module is configured to receive strain information from the fiber bundle and compute the location of at least one position of the fiber bundle that is associated with the cutter module relative to the reference frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Paul R. Friend
  • Patent number: 9803479
    Abstract: In such fields as road milling, mining and trenching it is often desirable to engage and degrade tough materials such as asphalt, concrete and rock. To do so, degradation picks comprising hardened tips may be secured to an exterior of a rotatable drum so as to be repeatedly brought into contact with a surface of a material to be degraded. To secure such degradation picks to the rotatable drum, a toroidal body comprising an interior surface rigidly attachable to the rotatable body and an exterior surface comprising a plurality of bore holes disposed there around may receive a plurality of degradation picks secured within the bore holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: NOVATEK IP, LLC
    Inventors: David R. Hall, Ronald B. Crockett, Dwain Norris
  • Patent number: 9797246
    Abstract: The invention relates to a bit holder for an earth working machine, in particular a surface miner, a road milling machine, or the like, having a holding projection that comprises a bit receptacle and/or carries a cutting element. In order to improve the operating reliability of an earth working machine, provision is made according to the present invention that the holding projection has, behind the cutting element or behind a receiving region of the bit receptacle in the tool advance direction, a wear protection element having a hard-material element in order to provide an emergency-mode property.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Wirtgen GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Lehnert, Karsten Buhr, Cyrus Barimani
  • Patent number: 9797250
    Abstract: A safe haven wall for use in defining a safe haven in an underground mine comprising a lower section and an upper section, wherein said upper section is slidingly engaged to the lower section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Inventors: Harold Akers, John George Blackburn, Braden Lusk, Kyle Perry
  • Patent number: 9797230
    Abstract: A device for heating hydrocarbon resources in a subterranean formation having a wellbore therein may include a tubular radio frequency (RF) antenna within the wellbore and a tool slidably positioned within the tubular RF antenna. The tool may include an RF transmission line and at least one RF contact coupled to a distal end of the RF transmission line and biased in contact with the tubular RF antenna. The tool may also include a dielectric grease injector configured to inject dielectric grease around the at least one RF contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: HARRIS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Brian N. Wright, Murray Hann, Raymond C. Hewit, Zachary Linc Alexander Linkewich, Alan Watt