Patents by Inventor James B. Renfroe, Jr.

James B. Renfroe, Jr. 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: 4834176
    Abstract: A sleeve type valve useful in a well tubing string for controlling flow between the valve interior and exterior. An internal pressure balanced sleeve is releasably positioned to the valve body closing a flow port in the valve body wall to flow. The valve has an external pressure unbalanced sleeve also releasably positioned to close the port to flow. When the internal sleeve is moved to a position opening the port to flow, pressure may be increased in the valve interior to act through the port on the unbalanced sleeve, moving this sleeve to a position also opening the port to flow and permitting flow between the valve interior and exterior. The body has profiled grooving and a seal bore above the port and a seal bore below the port in which a locking mandrel may lock and seal, reclosing the port to flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 30, 1989
    Assignee: Otis Engineering Corporation
    Inventor: James B. Renfroe, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4646828
    Abstract: An impingement device in a side pocket mandrel or other downhole tools for injecting a predetermined quality of steam in one or more zones of a formation. The impingement device directs and mixes the laminae of hot fluid and vapor and a valve in a valve pocket controls the flow of steam to the zone from the side pocket mandrel or other downhole tools. Along with the impingement device, a centralizer to guide tools through the impingement device and to cause a pressure change and dispersion of the steam; and an agitation device to amalgamate the steam may be used if further blending is required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1987
    Assignee: Otis Engineering Corporation
    Inventors: Carl M. Schwab, Jr., Clark E. Robison, James B. Renfroe, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4632184
    Abstract: A pump produces through a tubing in a cased well. Gas is vented through the packer and through a valve preferably located in a side pocket mandrel in the tubing. A subsurface safety valve is positioned in the tubing below the side pocket mandrel and preferably below the packer. The safety valve is preferably of the flapper type and when the valve is closed liquid is automatically recirculated to the pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1986
    Assignee: Otis Engineering Corporation
    Inventors: James B. Renfroe, Jr., Rennie L. Dickson, Roger D. Rion
  • Patent number: 4624310
    Abstract: A well system employs a pump to lift liquid through a primary tubing and subsurface safety valve. The tubing passes through a packer and a vent valve vents gas from the well through the packer. The power transfer means may extend through the vent valve and the vent valve may also control a cross-over in the packer for recirculation of liquid to the pump when the well is shut-in. The vent valve has associated therewith a kill valve permitting pumping of kill fluid into the well. The vent remains closed in the presence of ambient pressure up to a selected value and above this value the kill valve opens thus permitting testing of the packer with annulus pressure below the selected pressure and pump through to kill the well with pressure above the selected pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1985
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1986
    Assignee: Otis Engineering Corporation
    Inventors: Ralph H. Echols, Bhanubhai H. Patel, James B. Renfroe, Jr.
  • Patent number: RE33614
    Abstract: An impingement device in a side pocket mandrel or other downhole tools for injecting a predetermined quality of steam in one or more zones of a formation. The impingement device directs and mixes the laminae of hot fluid and vapor and a valve in a valve pocket controls the flow of steam to the zone from the side pocket mandrel or other downhole tools. Along with the impingement device, a centralizer to guide tools through the impingement device and to cause a pressure change and dispersion of the steam; and an agitation device to amalgamate the steam may be used if further blending is required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1987
    Date of Patent: June 18, 1991
    Assignee: Otis Engineering Corp.
    Inventors: Carl M. Schwab, Jr., Clark E. Robison, James B. Renfroe, Jr.