Patents by Inventor James Michael McIntosh

James Michael McIntosh 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: 7493969
    Abstract: Vessels, system and methods for conveying drilling cuttings material, which, in certain aspects, include a system for conveying material from a vessel, the system having a vessel for receiving material to be conveyed, a first conduit for conveying air, a second conduit for receiving air from the first conduit and for conveying air into the vessel, a metering screw for receiving material from the vessel and for moving the material from the vessel, a discharge line for receiving the material from the metering screw, the discharge line having an exit end, pressure sensor apparatus for sensing pressure in the discharge line, and control apparatus for automatically controlling the metering screw in response to a pressure sensed by the pressure sensor apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Assignee: Varco I/P, Inc.
    Inventors: George Alexander Burnett, Colin Crabb, David Wood, Kenneth Wayne Seyffert, James Michael McIntosh
  • Patent number: 7484574
    Abstract: Methods for processing drill cuttings including measuring moisture content of the drill cuttings; systems for doing this; methods for moving drill cuttings using conduits with spaced-apart inlets for applying positive pressure; and feeding apparatuses for loading drill cuttings into a positive pressure conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: Varco I/P, Inc.
    Inventors: George Alexander Burnett, Colin Crabb, David Wood, Kenneth Wayne Seyffert, William Chrtistian Herben, James Michael McIntosh
  • Patent number: 7195084
    Abstract: Vessels for selectively holding drilling cuttings material and methods employing such vessels; the vessels, in at least certain aspects, having a body with a hollow container with an interior space for receiving drilling cuttings material and from which the material may exit from the body; a first opening through which the material enters into the container; a second opening through which the material passes out from the container; and movement apparatus with a movement member within the container movable adjacent the second opening to facilitate passage of the material into the second opening; and in certain aspects, the vessels having moisture-content sensor apparatus on the body for sensing moisture content of material within a vessel; conduit apparatus for conducting drilling cuttings from the exit opening; valve apparatus for selectively controlling flow of material in the conduit apparatus; and a controller in communication with the moisture-content sensor apparatus and the valve apparatus for selective
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2007
    Assignee: Varco I/P, Inc.
    Inventors: George Alexander Burnett, Colin Crabb, David Wood, Kenneth Wayne Seyffert, William Christian Herben, James Michael McIntosh
  • Patent number: 6988567
    Abstract: Methods for moving drilled cuttings, the methods, in certain aspects, using a cuttings processor with a rotating annular screen to separate fluid from drilled cuttings and/or such methods including conveying with air under positive pressure, drilled cuttings to flow conduit apparatus; applying air under positive pressure to the flow conduit apparatus to continuously move the drilled cuttings material therethrough; continuously moving the drilled cuttings material with the air under pressure to separation apparatus; with the separation apparatus continuously separating drilled cuttings from air; wherein, in certain aspects, the drilled cuttings are included in a low density slurry with drilling fluid, drilling mud, and/or oil and wherein, in certain aspects, the separation apparatus is a cyclone separator and the drilled cuttings moved into the cyclone separator are wet; and systems for effecting such methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2006
    Assignee: Varco I/P, Inc.
    Inventors: George Alexander Burnett, David Wood, Kenneth W. Seyffert, William Christian Herben, James Michael McIntosh
  • Patent number: 6936092
    Abstract: Methods for moving drilled cuttings, the methods, in certain aspects, including conveying with air under positive pressure, drilled cuttings to flow conduit apparatus; applying air under positive pressure to the flow conduit apparatus to continuously move the drilled cuttings material therethrough; continuously moving the drilled cuttings material with the air under pressure to separation apparatus; with the separation apparatus continuously separating drilled cuttings from air; wherein, in certain aspects, the drilled cuttings are included in a low density slurry with drilling fluid, drilling mud, and/or oil and wherein, in certain aspects, the separation apparatus is a cyclone separator and the drilled cuttings moved into the cyclone separator are wet; and systems for effecting such methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Assignee: Varco I/P, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth W. Seyffert, William Christian Herben, James Michael McIntosh
  • Publication number: 20040182605
    Abstract: Methods for moving drilled cuttings, the methods, in certain aspects, including conveying with air under positive pressure, drilled cuttings to flow conduit apparatus; applying air under positive pressure to the flow conduit apparatus to continuously move the drilled cuttings material therethrough; continuously moving the drilled cuttings material with the air under pressure to separation apparatus; with the separation apparatus continuously separating drilled cuttings from air; wherein, in certain aspects, the drilled cuttings are included in a low density slurry with drilling fluid, drilling mud, and/or oil and wherein, in certain aspects, the separation apparatus is a cyclone separator and the drilled cuttings moved into the cyclone separator are wet; and systems for effecting such methods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2003
    Publication date: September 23, 2004
    Inventors: Kenneth W. Seyffert, William Christian Herben, James Michael McIntosh