Patents by Inventor Duane Shotwell

Duane Shotwell 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: 11549312
    Abstract: The invention relates to reamers used in downhole oil well drilling operations, particularly in reaming while drilling applications. Presented is a reamer having an interior channel which runs along an elongate axis of the entire body of the reamer, wherein there are openings along both ends of the reamer, exposing the interior channel. Additionally presented in the reamer are a plurality of paths extending parallel to the interior channel along the exterior of the body of the reamer, and running in a helical pattern along the entirety of the exterior of the body of the reamer. Disposed within the helical paths are a plurality of cutting inserts, which cutting inserts are enabled to provides a uniform cutting surface against a well bore, which preferably improves cutting action and reduces strain on the reamer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Inventor: Duane Shotwell
  • Patent number: 11230889
    Abstract: A reamer used in downhole oil well operations, particularly in reaming while drilling applications includes a plurality of helical blades. Each blade extends along a center axis of the reamer body and includes a sequence of a sloping leading edge, a central blade length, and a sloping trailing edge. Each edge slopes away from the central blade length and toward the center axis. A first series of a first type of cutter are positioned along the central blade length; separate pluralities of a second type of cutter are respectively positioned along the leading edge and the sloping trailing edge. A third type of cutter is positioned in a first transition zone located between the leading edge and the central blade length, an additional instance of the third type of cutter is positioned in a second transition zone located between the trailing edge and the central blade length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Inventor: Duane Shotwell
  • Patent number: 11125018
    Abstract: The invention relates to reamers used in downhole oil well drilling operations, particularly in reaming while drilling applications. Presented is a reamer having an interior channel which runs along an elongate axis of the entire body of the reamer, wherein there are openings along both ends of the reamer, exposing the interior channel. Additionally presented in the reamer are a plurality of paths extending parallel to the interior channel along the exterior of the body of the reamer, and running in a helical pattern along the entirety of the exterior of the body of the reamer. Disposed within the helical paths are a plurality of cutting inserts, which cutting inserts are enabled to provides a uniform cutting surface against a well bore, which preferably improves cutting action and reduces strain on the reamer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Inventor: Duane Shotwell
  • Publication number: 20210270089
    Abstract: The present invention provides non-planar cutting tooth and a diamond drill bit. The non-planar cutting tooth and the diamond drill bit have great ability of impact resistance and balling resistance. According to the features of drilled formation, cutting teeth are arranged on the drill bit with different mode, which can improve the mechanical speed and footage of the drill bit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 29, 2020
    Publication date: September 2, 2021
    Applicant: Chengdu Diamond Bit Co., LTD
    Inventors: DUANE SHOTWELL, ANDREW NGUYEN
  • Patent number: 10947786
    Abstract: At least one mechanical face seal is disposed within a cutter cartridge of a roller reamer. The cutter cartridge includes a roller cutter and a retention assembly. A bearing shaft of the retention assembly extends through an inner channel of the roller cutter. A first mechanical face seal is disposed or shared between the roller cutter and a first pillow block of the retention assembly. An optional second mechanical face seal is disposed or shared between the roller cutter and a second pillow block of the retention assembly. Each pillow block is rotatably coupled at an opposing end of the bearing shaft. The retention assembly includes two separately matched sets of one pillow block and a wedge. The wedges in combination detachably secure the pillow blocks to a tool body of the roller reamer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Inventor: Duane Shotwell
  • Patent number: 10837237
    Abstract: At least one labyrinth seal assembly is disposed within a roller cutter of a roller reamer. A first labyrinth seal assembly of a roller cutter is positioned toward a first pillow block of a cutter cartridge that includes the roller cutter. An optional second labyrinth seal assembly is disposed within the roller cutter and toward second pillow block of the cutter cartridge A bearing shaft of the cutter cartridge extends through an inner channel of the roller cutter. The cutter cartridge is retained in an axial recess of a tool body of the roller reamer via a compound and separate wedging of each of the two pillow blocks into a same axial recess. Each pillow block is rotatably coupled to the bearing shaft at an opposing end of the roller cutter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Inventor: Duane Shotwell
  • Publication number: 20200256131
    Abstract: The invention relates to reamers used in downhole oil well drilling operations, particularly in reaming while drilling applications. Presented is a reamer having an interior channel which runs along an elongate axis of the entire body of the reamer, wherein there are openings along both ends of the reamer, exposing the interior channel. Additionally presented in the reamer are a plurality of paths extending parallel to the interior channel along the exterior of the body of the reamer, and running in a helical pattern along the entirety of the exterior of the body of the reamer. Disposed within the helical paths are a plurality of cutting inserts, which cutting inserts are enabled to provides a uniform cutting surface against a well bore, which preferably improves cutting action and reduces strain on the reamer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2019
    Publication date: August 13, 2020
    Applicant: Chengdu Best Diamomd Bit Co., Ltd
    Inventor: DUANE SHOTWELL
  • Publication number: 20200256130
    Abstract: The invention relates to reamers used in downhole oil well drilling operations, particularly in reaming while drilling applications. Presented is a reamer having an interior channel which runs along an elongate axis of the entire body of the reamer, wherein there are openings along both ends of the reamer, exposing the interior channel. Additionally presented in the reamer are a plurality of paths extending parallel to the interior channel along the exterior of the body of the reamer, and running in a helical pattern along the entirety of the exterior of the body of the reamer. Disposed within the helical paths are a plurality of cutting inserts, which cutting inserts are enabled to provides a uniform cutting surface against a well bore, which preferably improves cutting action and reduces strain on the reamer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2019
    Publication date: August 13, 2020
    Inventor: DUANE SHOTWELL
  • Patent number: 10718165
    Abstract: An integral pressure relief assembly is comprised within a roller assembly of a roller reamer. The integral pressure relief assembly extends through a pair of pillow blocks and a bearing shaft of a retention assembly of the roller assembly. A volume of lubricant is inserted under pressure through a relief valve into an interior channel of the bearing shaft. A spring element in combination with an elastomeric piston provides additional pressure to the pressurized volume of lubricant contained within the integral pressure relief assembly. The lubricant absorbs heat from motion of the bearing shaft and a cutter assembly. As the lubricant increases in pressure, the relief valve releases lubricant from the bearing shaft when a sufficient differential pressure between the contained lubricant and the outside environment is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Inventor: Duane Shotwell
  • Publication number: 20200157889
    Abstract: A reamer used in downhole oil well operations, particularly in reaming while drilling applications includes a plurality of helical blades. Each blade extends along a center axis of the reamer body and includes a sequence of a sloping leading edge, a central blade length, and a sloping trailing edge. Each edge slopes away from the central blade length and toward the center axis. A first series of a first type of cutter are positioned along the central blade length; separate pluralities of a second type of cutter are respectively positioned along the leading edge and the sloping trailing edge. A third type of cutter is positioned in a first transition zone located between the leading edge and the central blade length, an additional instance of the third type of cutter is positioned in a second transition zone located between the trailing edge and the central blade length.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2019
    Publication date: May 21, 2020
    Inventor: DUANE SHOTWELL
  • Patent number: 10502000
    Abstract: The invention relates to reamers used in downhole oil well drilling operations, particularly in reaming while drilling applications. Presented is a reamer having an interior channel which runs along an elongate axis of the entire body of the reamer, wherein there are openings along both ends of the reamer, exposing the interior channel. Additionally presented in the reamer are a plurality of paths extending parallel to the interior channel along the exterior of the body of the reamer, and running in a helical pattern along the entirety of the exterior of the body of the reamer. Disposed within the helical paths are a plurality of cutting inserts, which cutting inserts are enabled to provides a uniform cutting surface against a well bore, which preferably improves cutting action and reduces strain on the reamer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Inventor: Duane Shotwell
  • Publication number: 20190162027
    Abstract: At least one labyrinth seal assembly is disposed within a roller cutter of a roller reamer. A first labyrinth seal assembly of a roller cutter is positioned toward a first pillow block of a cutter cartridge that includes the roller cutter. An optional second labyrinth seal assembly is disposed within the roller cutter and toward second pillow block of the cutter cartridge A bearing shaft of the cutter cartridge extends through an inner channel of the roller cutter. The cutter cartridge is retained in an axial recess of a tool body of the roller reamer via a compound and separate wedging of each of the two pillow blocks into a same axial recess. Each pillow block is rotatably coupled to the bearing shaft at an opposing end of the roller cutter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2017
    Publication date: May 30, 2019
    Inventor: DUANE SHOTWELL
  • Publication number: 20190162028
    Abstract: At least one mechanical face seal is disposed within a cutter cartridge of a roller reamer. The cutter cartridge includes a roller cutter and a retention assembly. A bearing shaft of the retention assembly extends through an inner channel of the roller cutter. A first mechanical face seal is disposed or shared between the roller cutter and a first pillow block of the retention assembly. An optional second mechanical face seal is disposed or shared between the roller cutter and a second pillow block of the retention assembly. Each pillow block is rotatably coupled at an opposing end of the bearing shaft. The retention assembly includes two separately matched sets of one pillow block and a wedge. The wedges in combination detachably secure the pillow blocks to a tool body of the roller reamer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2017
    Publication date: May 30, 2019
    Inventor: DUANE SHOTWELL
  • Publication number: 20190162026
    Abstract: An integral pressure relief assembly is comprised within a roller assembly of a roller reamer. The integral pressure relief assembly extends through a pair of pillow blocks and a bearing shaft of a retention assembly of the roller assembly. A volume of lubricant is inserted under pressure through a relief valve into an interior channel of the bearing shaft. A spring element in combination with an elastomeric piston provides additional pressure to the pressurized volume of lubricant contained within the integral pressure relief assembly. The lubricant absorbs heat from motion of the bearing shaft and a cutter assembly. As the lubricant increases in pressure, the relief valve releases lubricant from the bearing shaft when a sufficient differential pressure between the contained lubricant and the outside environment is achieved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2017
    Publication date: May 30, 2019
    Inventor: DUANE SHOTWELL
  • Patent number: 10066440
    Abstract: An invented reamer provides an annular body supporting two or more blades wherein each blade includes a spiral section disposed between two tapered sections placed on an exterior of the body. The spiral section fixes a plurality of a one type of cutting insert, e.g., tungsten carbide inserts, and the two tapered sections may each fix cutting inserts of an alternate type, e.g., polydiamond inserts. Certain embodiments provide of the tapered sections have a first flat surface area that extends towards and away from a central longitudinal axis of the annular body and/or a second surface area that positions cutting surfaces of attached cutting inserts linearly along a line that intersects the central longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Inventor: Duane Shotwell
  • Patent number: 10000973
    Abstract: An invented reamer provides an annular body supporting two or more blades wherein each blade includes a spiral section disposed between two tapered sections placed on an exterior of the body. The spiral section fixes a plurality of a one type of cutting insert, e.g., tungsten carbide inserts, and the two tapered sections may each fix cutting inserts of an alternate type, e.g., polydiamond inserts. Certain embodiments provide of the tapered sections have a first flat surface area that extends towards and away from a central longitudinal axis of the annular body and/or a second surface area that positions cutting surfaces of attached cutting inserts linearly along a line that intersects the central longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Inventor: Duane Shotwell
  • Publication number: 20180058147
    Abstract: The invention relates to reamers used in downhole oil well drilling operations, particularly in reaming while drilling applications. Presented is a reamer having an interior channel which runs along an elongate axis of the entire body of the reamer, wherein there are openings along both ends of the reamer, exposing the interior channel. Additionally presented in the reamer are a plurality of paths extending parallel to the interior channel along the exterior of the body of the reamer, and running in a helical pattern along the entirety of the exterior of the body of the reamer. Disposed within the helical paths are a plurality of cutting inserts, which cutting inserts are enabled to provides a uniform cutting surface against a well bore, which preferably improves cutting action and reduces strain on the reamer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2016
    Publication date: March 1, 2018
    Inventor: DUANE SHOTWELL
  • Publication number: 20160265280
    Abstract: The invention relates to reamers used downhole oil well operations, particularly in reaming while drilling applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2014
    Publication date: September 15, 2016
    Inventor: Duane Shotwell
  • Publication number: 20160123088
    Abstract: The invention relates to reamers used downhole oil well operations, particularly in reaming while drilling applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2014
    Publication date: May 5, 2016
    Inventor: Duane Shotwell
  • Publication number: 20160123089
    Abstract: The invention relates to reamers used downhole oil well operations, particularly in reaming while drilling applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2014
    Publication date: May 5, 2016
    Inventor: Duane Shotwell