Patents by Inventor Robert A. Jancha
Robert A. Jancha 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).
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Patent number: 9133688Abstract: An integral multistage safety valve is designed to provide a second level of protection should a first stage fail. The valve may be used in oil and/or gas wells. The interior portion of the multiphase safety valve is designed so as to reduce turbulence and pressure loss through the valve when the valve is in an open position. The valves may be independently operable, or operable with a single control line. The multi-stage valve reduces the number of body joints required to construct two identical valves thereby reducing cost and potential leak paths and increasing reliability of the system.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 2012Date of Patent: September 15, 2015Assignee: Tejas Research & Engineering, LLCInventors: Robert A. Jancha, Thomas G. Hill, Jr.
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Patent number: 8701781Abstract: A flapper for use as a component of a safety valve designed for deployment in a well bore having well bore fluids. The flapper includes a flapper body forming a flapper valve bore therethrough. The flapper body forms a groove proximate to the flapper bore. The flapper also includes a plunger member sized and configured to be received in the flapper valve bore. The plunger member includes a first end portion and a second end portion. Additionally, the flapper includes a leaf spring including a primary end portion and a secondary end portion, the primary end portion of the leaf spring detachably attached to the second end portion of the plunger member and unattached to the flapper body and the secondary end portion of the leaf spring being sized and configured to be received and retained in the groove and to bias the plunger member into the flapper valve bore.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 2011Date of Patent: April 22, 2014Assignee: Baker Hughes IncorporatedInventors: Robert C. Henschel, Robert Jancha
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Publication number: 20140034325Abstract: An integral multistage safety valve is designed to provide a second level of protection should a first stage fail. The valve may be used in oil and/or gas wells. The interior portion of the multiphase safety valve is designed so as to reduce turbulence and pressure loss through the valve when the valve is in an open position. The valves may be independently operable, or operable with a single control line. The multi-stage valve reduces the number of body joints required to construct two identical valves thereby reducing cost and potential leak paths and increasing reliability of the system.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 3, 2012Publication date: February 6, 2014Applicant: TEJAS RESEARCH AND ENGINEERING, LLC.Inventors: Robert A. Jancha, Thomas G. Hill, JR.
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Publication number: 20120111575Abstract: A flapper for use as a component of a safety valve designed for deployment in a well bore having well bore fluids. The flapper includes a flapper body forming a flapper valve bore therethrough. The flapper body forms a groove proximate to the flapper bore. The flapper also includes a plunger member sized and configured to be received in the flapper valve bore. The plunger member includes a first end portion and a second end portion. Additionally, the flapper includes a leaf spring including a primary end portion and a secondary end portion, the primary end portion of the leaf spring detachably attached to the second end portion of the plunger member and unattached to the flapper body and the secondary end portion of the leaf spring being sized and configured to be received and retained in the groove and to bias the plunger member into the flapper valve bore.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 4, 2011Publication date: May 10, 2012Applicant: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATEDInventors: Robert C. Henschel, Robert Jancha
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Publication number: 20110114335Abstract: A flapper for use as a component of a safety valve designed for deployment in a well bore having well bore fluids. The flapper includes a flapper body forming a flapper valve bore therethrough. The flapper body further forms a groove proximate to the flapper bore. The flapper also includes a plunger member sized and configured to be received in the flapper valve bore. The plunger member includes a first end portion and a second end portion. Additionally, the flapper includes a leaf spring including a primary end portion and a secondary end portion, the primary end portion of the leaf spring detachably attached to the second end portion of the plunger member and unattached to the flapper body and the secondary end portion of the leaf spring being sized and configured to be received and retained in the groove and to bias the plunger member into the flapper valve bore.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 19, 2011Publication date: May 19, 2011Applicant: BJ SERVICES COMPANY, LLCInventors: Robert C. Henschel, Robert Jancha
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Patent number: 7798235Abstract: A safety valve assembly comprises a valve body, a flapper mount, flapper and a hinge used to rotate the flapper in an opened or closed position. Torsional pins are mounted adjacent the flapper mount, each having ends which extend into the hinge and terminating adjacent each other at a location along the hinge. Torsional springs are circumferentially mounted around the torsional pins. Tabs extend from the torsional springs and contact an actuation member extending over the top of the flapper. As such, the torque created by the torsional springs is transferred to the actuation member via the tabs, thereby reducing the stress on the torsional springs.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2008Date of Patent: September 21, 2010Assignee: BJ Services Company LLCInventors: Maximiliano Mondelli, Robert Jancha, Robert Henschel
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Publication number: 20100175887Abstract: A flapper for use as a component of a safety valve designed for deployment in a well bore having well bore fluids. The flapper includes a flapper body forming a flapper valve bore therethrough. The flapper body further forms a groove proximate to the flapper bore. The flapper also includes a plunger member sized and configured to be received in the flapper valve bore. The plunger member includes a first end portion and a second end portion. Additionally, the flapper includes a leaf spring including a primary end portion and a secondary end portion, the primary end portion of the leaf spring detachably attached to the second end portion of the plunger member and unattached to the flapper body and the secondary end portion of the leaf spring being sized and configured to be received and retained in the groove and to bias the plunger member into the flapper valve bore.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 9, 2009Publication date: July 15, 2010Applicant: BJ Services CompanyInventors: Robert C. Henschel, Robert Jancha
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Publication number: 20090242209Abstract: A safety valve assembly comprises a valve body, a flapper mount, flapper and a hinge used to rotate the flapper in an opened or closed position. Torsional pins are mounted adjacent the flapper mount, each having ends which extend into the hinge and terminating adjacent each other at a location along the hinge. Torsional springs are circumferentially mounted around the torsional pins. Tabs extend from the torsional springs and contact an actuation member extending over the top of the flapper. As such, the torque created by the torsional springs is transferred to the actuation member via the tabs, thereby reducing the stress on the torsional springs.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 27, 2008Publication date: October 1, 2009Applicant: BJ Services CompanyInventors: Maximiliano Mondelli, Robert Jancha, Robert Henschel
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Patent number: 6854519Abstract: A valve for use in a wellbore, the valve having a compensating secondary sealing system for misalignments that inevitably occur in sealing subsurface valves, particularly subsurface safety valves. A sealing system can include a dynamic sealing system and a static sealing system, where the static sealing system establishes one or more line contact surfaces. The line contact surfaces can be leading, in that the forward edge of the seal faces a corresponding engagement portion of the actuator. The actuator can include at least two spherical engagement portions where one of the spherical engagement portions engages resilient and non-resilient seals with line contact surfaces on a downstroke and the other spherical engagement portion engages resilient and non-resilient seals with line contact surfaces on an upstroke. Further, a bearing disposed above seals on a piston of the actuator assists in keeping contaminants out of the seal area of the piston.Type: GrantFiled: May 3, 2002Date of Patent: February 15, 2005Assignee: Weatherford/Lamb, Inc.Inventors: Thomas Michael Deaton, Winfield M. Sides, III, Robert A. Jancha, Roddie R. Smith
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Patent number: 6851477Abstract: A subsurface safety valve for controlling fluid flow in a well bore. In one embodiment, the subsurface safety valve includes a tubular member having a longitudinal bore extending therethrough, a curved flapper removably connected to the tubular member. The curved flapper is configured to pivot against the tubular member between an open position and a closed position. The subsurface safety valve further includes a hard seat positioned inside the tubular member, in which the hard seat defines a seating surface configured to receive a sealing surface defined on a bottom periphery portion of the curved flapper to form a sealing interface having a slope that varies along the sealing interface.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 2002Date of Patent: February 8, 2005Assignee: Weatherford/Lamb, Inc.Inventors: Thomas G. Hill, Jr., Robert A. Jancha, Robert C. Henschel
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Publication number: 20030205389Abstract: The present invention provides a more compensating secondary sealing system for misalignments that inevitably occur in sealing subsurface valves, particularly subsurface safety valves. A sealing system can include a dynamic sealing system and a static sealing system, where the static sealing system establishes one or more line contact surfaces. The line contact surfaces can be leading, in that the forward edge of the seal faces a corresponding engagement portion of the actuator. The actuator can include at least two spherical engagement portions where one of the spherical engagement portions engages resilient and non-resilient seals with line contact surfaces on a downstroke and the other spherical engagement portion engages resilient and non-resilient seals with line contact surfaces on an upstroke. Further, a bearing disposed above seals on a piston of the actuator assists in keeping contaminants out of the seal area of the piston.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 3, 2002Publication date: November 6, 2003Applicant: WEATHERFORD/LAMB, INC.Inventors: Thomas Michael Deaton, Winfield M. Sides, Robert A. Jancha, Roddie R. Smith
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Publication number: 20030121664Abstract: A subsurface safety valve for controlling fluid flow in a well bore. In one embodiment, the subsurface safety valve includes a tubular member having a longitudinal bore extending therethrough, a curved flapper removably connected to the tubular member. The curved flapper is configured to pivot against the tubular member between an open position and a closed position. The subsurface safety valve further includes a hard seat positioned inside the tubular member, in which the hard seat defines a seating surface configured to receive a sealing surface defined on a bottom periphery portion of the curved flapper to form a sealing interface having a slope that varies along the sealing interface.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 12, 2002Publication date: July 3, 2003Inventors: Thomas G. Hill, Robert A. Jancha, Robert C. Henschel