Patents by Inventor Andrew D. Gledhill

Andrew D. Gledhill has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8813786
    Abstract: A hydraulic valve comprises a plurality of ports, which communicate with a passageway, and a valve member movable in the passageway to control the communication between the ports. The valve member carries a lateral shear seal which is integral with the valve member and engages the passageway. In one position, the valve member isolates a first port from a second port. In another position of the valve member, the shear seal communicates with the first port and provides communication between the first port and the second port by way of a passage within the valve member. The valve member has first and second portions of different effective cross-section areas and on each portion an integral sealing member makes a radial seal between the valve member and the passageway. A supply port supplies pressure to the outside of the valve member so as to produce by virtue of the different cross-sectional areas a force tending to move the valve member towards a closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Aker Subsea Limited
    Inventors: Matthew H Tibbitts, Andrew D Gledhill, David S Innes
  • Patent number: 8430125
    Abstract: A control valve includes a body including an internal passageway and is constituted at one end as a coupler that includes a valve poppet openable to allow fluid access to or from the passageway past the poppet. The body defines at least one lateral port. A valve spool is disposed within the body and is movable lengthwise of the body by a solenoid actuator, disposed at the other end of the body, to control fluid communication between the passageway and the lateral port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Aker Subsea Limited
    Inventors: Andrew E Massie, Andrew D Gledhill
  • Patent number: 8210208
    Abstract: An electrically operated hydraulic valve comprises a valve assembly that provides a common valve passageway, an inlet port, an outlet port and a return port connected to the passageway and an axially movable valve device which allows in a first position fluid flow between the outlet port and the return port while closing the inlet and in a second position, axially displaced from the first position, fluid flow between the inlet port and the outlet port while closing the return port. A spring provides a restoring force urging the valve device to its first position. An electrically operated actuator coupled to the valve device comprises a permanent magnet and a cooperating electrical coil having an associated magnetic core, one or other of the magnet and the coil constituting a stator and the other constituting an armature which is coupled to the valve device to move it from the first position to the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Aker Subsea Limited
    Inventors: Matthew H Tibbitts, Andrew D Gledhill, David S Innes
  • Publication number: 20110175003
    Abstract: A control valve which comprises a body (2) including an internal passageway (3) and is constituted at one end (6) as a coupler which includes a valve poppet (7) openable to allow fluid access to or from the passageway past the poppet. The body defines at least one lateral port (11 or 12). A valve spool (13) is disposed within the body and is movable lengthwise of the body by a solenoid actuator (18), disposed at the other end of the body (3), to control fluid communication between the passageway (3) and the lateral port (11 or 12).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2008
    Publication date: July 21, 2011
    Applicant: AKER SUBSEA LIMITED
    Inventors: Andrew E. Massie, Andrew D. Gledhill
  • Publication number: 20100065766
    Abstract: An electrically operated hydraulic valve comprises a valve assembly that provides a common valve passageway, an inlet port, an outlet port and a return port connected to the passageway and an axially movable valve device which allows in a first position fluid flow between the outlet port and the return port while closing the inlet and in a second position, axially displaced from the first position, fluid flow between the inlet port and the outlet port while closing the return port. A spring provides a restoring force urging the valve device to its first position. An electrically operated actuator coupled to the valve device comprises a permanent magnet and a cooperating electrical coil having an associated magnetic core, one or other of the magnet and the coil constituting a stator and the other constituting an armature which is coupled to the valve device to move it from the first position to the second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2007
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Applicant: AKER KVAERNER SUBSEA LIMITED
    Inventors: Matthew H. Tibbitts, Andrew D. Gledhill, David S. Innes
  • Patent number: 7131504
    Abstract: An apparatus for use in a wellbore. The apparatus includes a body and a blade assembly. The blade assembly is movable between a collapsed position whereby the expandable apparatus has a smaller outer diameter and an expanded position whereby the expandable apparatus has a larger outer diameter. The apparatus further includes a pressure activated member for selectively allowing the blade assembly to move from the closed position to the open position. A method for using the apparatus, wherein a drill string with an expandable bit at the end thereof is lowered into the wellbore. Thereafter, the pressure activated member is activated to allow the cutting members to move from the collapsed position to the expanded position. Subsequently, the expandable bit is rotated to form a portion of the wellbore. Next, the expandable bit is deactivated and the cutting members are moved from the expanded position to the collapsed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2006
    Assignee: Weatherford/Lamb, Inc.
    Inventors: Albert C. Odell, II, Andrew D. Gledhill, Michael Tague Smalley, Mark S. Fuller
  • Patent number: 6953096
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to an apparatus and method of forming a wellbore. In one aspect, an expandable bit for use in a wellbore is provided. The expandable bit includes a body and a blade assembly disposed on the body. The blade assembly is movable between a closed position whereby the expandable bit has a smaller outer diameter and an open position whereby the expandable bit has a larger outer diameter. The expandable bit further includes a release assembly for providing a secondary means to move the blade assembly from the open position to the closed position. In another aspect, a method of forming a wellbore is provided. In yet another aspect, an expandable apparatus for use in forming a wellbore is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2005
    Assignee: Weatherford/Lamb, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew D. Gledhill, Mark S. Fuller, Kenneth J. Dalrymple
  • Publication number: 20040124011
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to an apparatus and method of forming a wellbore. In one aspect, an expandable bit for use in a wellbore is provided. The expandable bit includes a body and a blade assembly disposed on the body. The blade assembly is movable between a closed position whereby the expandable bit has a smaller outer diameter and an open position whereby the expandable bit has a larger outer diameter. The expandable bit further includes a release assembly for providing a secondary means to move the blade assembly from the open position to the closed position. In another aspect, a method of forming a wellbore is provided. In yet another aspect, an expandable apparatus for use in forming a wellbore is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2002
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Inventors: Andrew D. Gledhill, Mark S. Fuller, Kenneth J. Dalrymple