Patents by Inventor Hugh B. Matthews

Hugh B. Matthews 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: 4932500
    Abstract: The lubrication insertions system of the present invention inserts lubricating oil into the critical areas of a bearing. The system comprises a delivery element for delivering lubricating oil to a predetermined point relative to the bearing. The bearing, which is rotating, causes the lubricating oil to be slung outward of the spin axis of the bearing. A cage element, having a lip that extends beyond the edge of the bearing, captures the lubricating oil and directs the lubricating oil into the bearing to the outer race of the bearing and to the rolling elements of the bearing, which track the oil to the inner race of the bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 12, 1990
    Assignee: Honeywell Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis W. Smith, Hugh B. Matthews, Sr.
  • Patent number: 4605977
    Abstract: A magnetic head slider for supporting a flying head on a magnetic disk has a plurality of rails extended longitudinally between the slider and the disk which provide the air bearing surface and define a channel parallel to the motion of the data track. A flexible beam is affixed to the leading edge of the channel providing a cantilever structure. A magnetic head is mounted on the free end of the cantilever. A pair of oppositely polarized piezoelectric crystals are mounted on the cantilever assembly. When energized by an electrical driving source, the cantilever beam is flexed upwards or downwards thereby changing the distance of the magnetic head from the disk. A capacitive proximity sensor is coupled to the magnetic head for sensing the height of the head above the data track. The output of the sensor is fed to the driving source and energizes the piezoelectric crystals in the polarity desired for the corresponding deflection of the cantilever structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1983
    Date of Patent: August 12, 1986
    Assignee: Sperry Corporation
    Inventor: Hugh B. Matthews
  • Patent number: 4426849
    Abstract: In a gravity head geothermal energy conversion system, downwardly flowing working fluid is supplied to a downwell turbine pump in heat transfer relationship to the upwardly flowing geothermal brine. The working fluid which is used to drive the downwell turbine pump is reheated by conveying the working fluid upward in heat transfer relationship with the geothermal brine to a predetermined point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1981
    Date of Patent: January 24, 1984
    Assignee: Sperry Corporation
    Inventor: Hugh B. Matthews
  • Patent number: 4388807
    Abstract: In a geothermal energy conversion system of the type having a down-hole turbine pump unit driven by a heated working fluid, a heat exchanger is disposed at the surface of the earth for heating the working fluid. The turbine pump unit pumps the geothermal brine to surface heat exchanger where it is used to heat the working fluid. The same heated working fluid is used to drive the down-hole turbine pump and to drive the power generating equipment at the earth's surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1981
    Date of Patent: June 21, 1983
    Assignee: Sperry Corporation
    Inventor: Hugh B. Matthews
  • Patent number: 4380903
    Abstract: A geothermal deep well energy extraction system is provided of the general type in which solute-bearing hot water is pumped to the earth's surface from a relatively low temperature geothermal source by transferring thermal energy from the hot water to a working fluid for driving a primary turbine-motor and a primary electrical generator at the earth's surface. The superheated expanded exhaust from the primary turbine motor is conducted to a bubble tank where it bubbles through a layer of sub-cooled working fluid that has been condensed. The superheat and latent heat from the expanded exhaust of the turbine transfers thermal energy to the sub-cooled condensate. The desuperheated exhaust is then conducted to the condenser where it is condensed and sub-cooled, whereupon it is conducted back to the bubble tank via a barometric storage tank. The novel condensing process of this invention makes it possible to exploit geothermal sources which might otherwise be non-exploitable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1981
    Date of Patent: April 26, 1983
    Assignee: Sperry Corporation
    Inventor: Hugh B. Matthews
  • Patent number: 4342197
    Abstract: Geothermal deep well energy extraction apparatus is provided of the general kind in which solute-bearing hot water is pumped to the earth's surface from a subterranean location by utilizing thermal energy extracted from the hot water for operating a turbine motor for driving an electrical power generator at the earth 3 s surface, the solute bearing water being returned into the earth by a reinjection well. Efficiency of operation of the total system is increased by an arrangement of coaxial conduits for greatly reducing the flow of heat from the rising brine into the rising exhaust of the down-well turbine motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1980
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1982
    Assignee: Sperry Corporation
    Inventor: Hugh B. Matthews
  • Patent number: 4328673
    Abstract: Geothermal deep well energy extraction apparatus is provided of the general kind in which solute-bearing hot water is pumped to the earth's surface from a subterranean location by utilizing thermal energy extracted from the hot water for operating a primary turbine-motor for driving a primary electrical generator at the earth's surface, the solute-bearing water being returned by a reinjection well. A surface-located auxiliary turbine-pump combination with both turbine and brine pump elements acting in series with down-well counterparts to furnish the pressure necessary for reinjection of the brine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1980
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1982
    Assignee: Sperry Corporation
    Inventor: Hugh B. Matthews
  • Patent number: 4325681
    Abstract: A deep well pumping apparatus utilizing a geothermal source of energy is disposed within or above a stratum having a cool irrigating fluid, and an associated heat exchange unit is disposed within a stratum having the geothermal source. An organic working fluid is conveyed under pressure through the heat exchange unit and applied as a gas to a turbine assembly operatively coupled to the pump. The spent working fluid and cool irrigation fluid are then conveyed to the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1980
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1982
    Assignee: Sperry Corporation
    Inventor: Hugh B. Matthews
  • Patent number: 4142108
    Abstract: A geothermal energy recovery system of improved efficiency makes use of thermal energy stored in hot, solute-bearing well water as it is pumped upward to the earth's surface through an extended heat exchange element for continuously heating a downward flowing organic fluid to a supercritical state. Some of the energy of the latter fluid is used within the well for operating a turbine-driven pump for pumping the hot, solute-bearing well water at high pressure and always in liquid state to the earth's surface, where it is reinjected into the earth in another well. The temperature difference between the upward flowing brine and the downward flowing organic fluid is maintained finite in a predetermined manner along the subterranean extended heat exchange element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1977
    Date of Patent: February 27, 1979
    Assignee: Sperry Rand Corporation
    Inventor: Hugh B. Matthews
  • Patent number: 4077220
    Abstract: A geothermal energy recovery system of improved life duration makes use of thermal energy stored in hot, solute-bearing well water as it is pumped upward to the earth's surface through an extended heat exchange element for continuously heating a downward flowing organic working fluid to a supercritical state. Some of the energy of the latter fluid is used within the well for operating a turbine-driven pump for pumping the hot well water at high pressure and always in liquid state to the earth's surface, where it is reinjected into the earth in a second well. After driving the deep-well turbine-driven pump, the organic fluid still in supercritical state arises toward the earth's surface in a thermally insulated conduit; at the earth's surface, vapor turbine electrical power generation equipment is driven by the ascending organic fluid, after which it is returned into the well for re-heating in the extended heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1976
    Date of Patent: March 7, 1978
    Assignee: Sperry Rand Corporation
    Inventor: Hugh B. Matthews
  • Patent number: 4066995
    Abstract: A system for the transmission of data along a borehole during drilling operations which includes an acoustic transmitter receiver and mechanical filters. Data is acoustically propagated from the transmitter to the receiver along a portion of the drill string which is isolated from noise generating elements of the drilling system by means of the mechanical filters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1975
    Date of Patent: January 3, 1978
    Assignee: Sperry Rand Corporation
    Inventor: Hugh B. Matthews
  • Patent number: 4059959
    Abstract: The improved geothermal energy extraction system abstracts thermal energy stored in hot solute-bearing well water to generate a super-heated fluid from an injected flow of a working fluid; the super-heated fluid is then used to operate a turbine-driven pump at the well bottom for pumping the hot geothermal brine in liquid state toward the earth's surface. After energy for the generation of electrical power is extracted from the brine, a consequently cooled portion of the brine is then used at the earth's surface in a combination unitary cooling tower and working organic fluid condensing system. The invention combines the cooling tower and condenser functions in an integrated unit, the outer surfaces of the condenser tubes being exposed to a cascading flow of cooling brine while the brine is itself being cooled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1976
    Date of Patent: November 29, 1977
    Assignee: Sperry Rand Corporation
    Inventor: Hugh B. Matthews
  • Patent number: 4050517
    Abstract: A geothermal energy transfer and utilization system makes use of thermal energy stored in hot solute-bearing well water to generate a thermal working fluid from an injected flow of clean fluid. The working fluid is then used for operating a turbine-driven pump near the well bottom for pumping the hot solute-bearing water in liquid state to the earth's surface, where it is used by transfer of its heat content to a closed-loop generator-turbine alternator combination for the beneficial generation of electrical power. The deep well pump system is supported within the well casing pipe from the earth's surface by a turbine exhaust conduit. In view of the effects of differential expansion on the relative lengths of the well casing pipe and the exhaust conduit, a novel flexible seal is provided between the suspended turbine-pump system and the well casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1976
    Date of Patent: September 27, 1977
    Assignee: Sperry Rand Corporation
    Inventor: Hugh B. Matthews
  • Patent number: 4025240
    Abstract: A geothermal energy transfer and utilization system makes use of thermal energy stored in hot solute-bearing well water to generate super-heated steam from an injected flow of clean water; the super-heated steam is then used for operating a turbine-driven pump at the well bottom for pumping the hot solute-bearing water at high pressure and in liquid state to the earth's surface, where it is used by transfer of its heat to a closed-loop boiler-turbine-alternator combination for the generation of electrical or other power. Residual concentrated solute-bearing water is pumped back into the earth. The clean cooled water is regenerated at the surface-located system and is returned to the deep well pumping system also for lubrication of a novel bearing arrangement supporting the turbine-driven pump system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1975
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1977
    Assignee: Sperry Rand Corporation
    Inventor: Hugh B. Matthews
  • Patent number: 3988896
    Abstract: The operation of a geothermal well power-generation system is monitored by sensor, communication, and performance monitoring equipment permanently associated with the operating power generation system. Sensors detect changes in well water temperature, in water pressure below and above the pump, and in pump rotating speed. This data is transmitted by multiplex communication to receiver and utilization means at the earth's surface. A novel permanent magnet generator system supplies the signal representative of pump rotation speed and also supplies electrical power for the multiplex communication of the sensor output signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1975
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1976
    Assignee: Sperry Rand Corporation
    Inventor: Hugh B. Matthews
  • Patent number: 3967448
    Abstract: A geothermal energy transfer and utilization system makes use of thermal energy stored in hot solute-bearing well water to generate super-heated steam from an injected flow of clean water. The super-heated steam is then used for operating a turbine-driven pump at the well bottom for pumping the hot solute-bearing water at high pressure and in liquid state to the earth's surface, where it is used by transfer of its heat to a closed-loop steam generator-turbine-alternator combination for the beneficial generation of electrical or other power. Residual concentrated solute-bearing water is pumped back into the earth. The clean cooled water regenerated at the surface-located system is returned to the deep well pumping system also for lubrication of a fluid bearing arrangement supporting the turbine-driven pump system. The deep well pump system is supported within the well casing pipe from the earth's surface by the turbine exhaust steam conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1974
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1976
    Assignee: Sperry Rand Corporation
    Inventor: Hugh B. Matthews
  • Patent number: 3939659
    Abstract: A geothermal energy transfer and utilization system abstracts thermal energy stored in hot solute-bearing well water to generate super-heated steam from an injected flow of clean water; the super-heated steam is then used for operating a turbine-driven pump at the well bottom for pumping the hot solute-bearing water at high pressure and always in liquid state to the earth's surface, where it is used by transfer of its heat to a closed-loop vapor generator-turbine-alternator combination for the generation of electrical or other power. Cooled, clean water is regenerated by the surface-located system for re-injection into the deep well and the residual concentrated solute-bearing water is pumped back into the earth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1974
    Date of Patent: February 24, 1976
    Assignee: Sperry Rand Corporation
    Inventor: Hugh B. Matthews
  • Patent number: 3938334
    Abstract: A geothermal energy transfer and utilization system makes use of thermal energy stored in hot solute-bearing well water to generate super-heated steam from an injected flow of clean water; the super-heated steam is then used for operating a turbine-driven pump at the well bottom for pumping the hot solute-bearing water at high pressure and in liquid state to the earth's surface, where it is used by transfer of its heat to a closed-loop boiler-turbine-alternator combination for the generation of electrical or other power. Residual concentrated solute-bearing water is pumped back into the earth. The clean cooled water is regenerated at the surface-located system and is returned to the deep well pumping system also for lubrication of a novel bearing arrangement supporting the turbine-driven pump system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1974
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1976
    Assignee: Sperry Rand Corporation
    Inventor: Hugh B. Matthews