Patents by Inventor Murl Ray Richardson

Murl Ray Richardson 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: 8028750
    Abstract: Force balancing adjusts hydraulic fluid pressure in an upper piston area of a Rotating Pressure Control Device (RPCD) that has an inner housing rotatably engaged within an outer housing by an upper bearing and a lower bearing. The hydraulic fluid pressure is adjusted to balance net force in a upper piston area and a lower piston area. The fluid pressure adjustment creates a force differential that balances the total load transmitted through the upper bearing and the lower bearing and thereby extends the life of the sealing element and bearings. Additionally, a wear indicator signals the end of the useful life of the drill pipe sealing element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Sunstone Corporation
    Inventors: William James Hughes, Murl Ray Richardson, Thomas L. Pettigrew, Kurt D. Vandervort, Kenneth D. Young
  • Publication number: 20100200213
    Abstract: Force balancing adjusts hydraulic fluid pressure in an upper piston area of a Rotating Pressure Control Device (RPCD) that has an inner housing rotatably engaged within an outer housing by an upper bearing and a lower bearing. The hydraulic fluid pressure is adjusted to balance net force in a upper piston area and a lower piston area. The fluid pressure adjustment creates a force differential that balances the total load transmitted through the upper bearing and the lower bearing and thereby extends the life of the sealing element and bearings. Additionally, a wear indicator signals the end of the useful life of the drill pipe sealing element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2010
    Publication date: August 12, 2010
    Applicant: SUNSTONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: William James Hughes, Murl Ray Richardson, Thomas L. Pettigrew, Kurt D. Vandervort, Kenneth D. Young
  • Patent number: 7743823
    Abstract: Force balancing adjusts hydraulic fluid pressure in an upper piston area of a Rotating Pressure Control Device (RPCD) that has an inner housing rotatably engaged within an outer housing by an upper bearing and a lower bearing. The hydraulic fluid pressure is adjusted to balance net force in a upper piston area and a lower piston area. The fluid pressure adjustment creates a force differential that balances the total load transmitted through the upper bearing and the lower bearing and thereby extends the life of the sealing element and bearings. Additionally, a wear indicator signals the end of the useful life of the drill pipe sealing element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Sunstone Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: William James Hughes, Murl Ray Richardson, Thomas L. Pettigrew, Kurt D. Vandervort, Kenneth D. Young
  • Publication number: 20080296016
    Abstract: Force balancing adjusts hydraulic fluid pressure in an upper piston area of a Rotating Pressure Control Device (RPCD) that has an inner housing rotatably engaged within an outer housing by an upper bearing and a lower bearing. The hydraulic fluid pressure is adjusted to balance net force in a upper piston area and a lower piston area. The fluid pressure adjustment creates a force differential that balances the total load transmitted through the upper bearing and the lower bearing and thereby extends the life of the sealing element and bearings. Additionally, a wear indicator signals the end of the useful life of the drill pipe sealing element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2007
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Inventors: William James Hughes, Murl Ray Richardson, Thomas L. Pettigrew, Kurt D. Vandervort, Kenneth D. Young
  • Patent number: 7380590
    Abstract: A Rotating Pressure Control Head (RPCH) with a rapid engagement mechanism is disclosed. The RPCH comprises an upper body and a lower body. The rapid engagement mechanism allows the upper body to be quickly disengaged from the lower body and replaced with a new upper body. The upper body comprises a sealing element and an inner housing that rotates with respect to an outer housing. The sealing element contains a plurality of internal cavities. The plurality of cavities control the constriction of the sealing element around the drill pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: Sunstone Corporation
    Inventors: William James Hughes, Murl Ray Richardson