Patents by Inventor Michael Knoeller

Michael Knoeller 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: 9739275
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure generally provide a disc-valve design with a self-cleaning feature. The self-cleaning feature may be integrated into the valve, for example, by removing a “cut-out” portion between sealing surfaces of ports. These cut-out portions may create vortices that might clean debris from the sealing surfaces. The cut-outs may also provide a place for debris to collect-keeping it away from the sealing surfaces. In addition, or as an alternative to cut-outs, some other type of mechanism, such as sealing members designed to disturb flow to sweep away debris near a sealing surface or helical grooves (rifling) formed in the ports, may also be used to promote self-cleaning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Clark Robison, John Kelleher, Michael Knoeller, Jeff Lembcke