Patents by Inventor Samuel R. Curlett

Samuel R. Curlett 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).

  • Impact excavation system and method with two-stage inductor
    Patent number: 7398838
    Abstract: A system and method for excavating a subterranean formation according to which a fluid is introduced into a vessel to draw a plurality of impactors into the vessel to form a suspension. The suspension is discharged from the vessel and into another vessel, and fluid is introduced into the other vessel to draw the suspension into the other vessel. A suspension is formed in the other vessel that is discharged towards the formation to remove a portion of the formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2008
    Assignee: Particle Drilling Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Nathan J. Harder, Harry B. Curlett, Paul O. Padgett, Samuel R. Curlett
  • Impact excavation system and method with particle trap
    Patent number: 7398839
    Abstract: A system and method for excavating a subterranean formation, according to which a slurry of liquid and a plurality of impactors are introduced into at least one cavity formed in a body member and are discharged from the cavity so that the impactors remove a portion of the formation. The impactors are separated from at least a portion of the fluid and the materials removed from the formation, so that the impactors can be reused.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2008
    Assignee: Particle Drilling Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Nathan J. Harder, Harry B. Curlett, Paul O. Padgett, Samuel R. Curlett
  • Drill bit
    Patent number: 7258176
    Abstract: A drill bit for drilling a well bore using solid material impactors comprising a nozzle and a cavity for accelerating the velocity of the solid material impactors and directing flow of the solid material impactors through the nozzle. The drill bit may also comprise a junk slot for return flow of the drilling fluid and solid material impactors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Particle Drilling, Inc.
    Inventors: Gordon A. Tibbitts, Paul O. Padgett, Harry B. Curlett, Samuel R. Curlett, Nathan J. Harder