Patents by Inventor William J. McDonald
William J. McDonald 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: 7549467Abstract: A wellbore motor includes a source of rotational motive power disposed in a wellbore, a magnetic gear member operatively coupled at an input thereof to the source; and a magnetic gear member output coupled rotationally to a rotary wellbore tool.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2007Date of Patent: June 23, 2009Assignee: Dexter Magnetic Technologies, Inc.Inventors: William J. McDonald, Timothy F. Price, Gareth P. Hatch
-
Patent number: 7487829Abstract: A wellbore valve includes a valve operator arranged to move axially along an interior of the wellbore, the valve operator arranged to operate a valve. A valve actuator is disposed proximate the valve operator. The valve actuator is arranged to move from one longitudinal position to another. A linear magnetic gear is coupled at an input element thereof to the valve actuator. The gear is coupled at an output element thereof to the valve operator such that motion of the valve actuator is transferred to the valve operator.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2007Date of Patent: February 10, 2009Assignee: Dexter Magnetic Technologies, Inc.Inventors: William J. McDonald, Timothy F. Price
-
Patent number: 7481283Abstract: A wellbore motor includes a means for converting flow of fluid in the wellbore into rotational energy. A magnetic gear member is operatively coupled at an input thereof to the means for converting. A wellbore rotary tool is coupled to an output of the magnetic gear member.Type: GrantFiled: November 27, 2006Date of Patent: January 27, 2009Assignee: Dexter Magnetic Technologies, Inc.Inventors: William J. McDonald, Timothy F. Price, Gareth P. Hatch
-
Publication number: 20070289734Abstract: A wellbore valve includes a valve operator arranged to move axially along an interior of the wellbore, the valve operator arranged to operate a valve. A valve actuator is disposed proximate the valve operator. The valve actuator is arranged to move from one longitudinal position to another. A linear magnetic gear is coupled at an input element thereof to the valve actuator. The gear is coupled at an output element thereof to the valve operator such that motion of the valve actuator is transferred to the valve operator.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 14, 2007Publication date: December 20, 2007Inventors: William J. McDonald, Timothy F. Price
-
Publication number: 20070215343Abstract: A wellbore motor includes a source of rotational motive power disposed in a wellbore, a magnetic gear member operatively coupled at an input thereof to the source; and a magnetic gear member output coupled rotationally to a rotary wellbore tool.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 10, 2007Publication date: September 20, 2007Inventors: William J. McDonald, Timothy F. Price, Gareth P. Hatch
-
Patent number: 7031225Abstract: The described invention combines wireless transmission and reception technologies with athletic event timers to remove and reduce human and environmental factors that interfere with the athletic event timekeeping process for improvement of the process. The system controls and communicates the timing of a single athletic event between the timekeeping mechanism and the referee using at least one timing communicator with a transmitter and a channel selector. The transmitter is adapted to transmit a wireless electromagnetic radiation signal from outside the field of play to the field of play to a mobile field communicator having a receiver and channel selector also responsive to the channel selector. The mobile field communicator is adapted to be carried by the umpire or referee on the field of play and to receive the wireless signal from outside the field of play and emit an actuation signal in response thereto.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 2003Date of Patent: April 18, 2006Inventor: William J. McDonald
-
Publication number: 20040240320Abstract: A seismic energy source for use while drilling a wellbore is disclosed. The source includes a drive shaft adapted to be coupled in a drill string, and a housing rotatably supported outside the drive shaft. At least one contact member is disposed on an exterior of the housing and is selectively urged into contact with a wall of a wellbore surrounding the housing. The source includes means for selectively controlling a force applied to the at least one contact member.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 10, 2004Publication date: December 2, 2004Applicant: NOBLE DRILLING SERVICES, INC.Inventors: William J. McDonald, Gerard T. Pittard, Fritz W. Reuter
-
Publication number: 20040184354Abstract: The described invention combines wireless transmission and reception technologies with athletic event timers to remove and reduce human and environmental factors that interfere with the athletic event timekeeping process for improvement of the process. The system controls and communicates the timing of a single athletic event between the timekeeping mechanism and the referee using at least one timing communicator with a transmitter and a channel selector. The transmitter is adapted to transmit a wireless electromagnetic radiation signal from outside the field of play to the field of play to a mobile field communicator having a receiver and channel selector also responsive to the channel selector. The mobile field communicator is adapted to be carried by the umpire or referee on the field of play and to receive the wireless signal from outside the field of play and emit an actuation signal in response thereto.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 21, 2003Publication date: September 23, 2004Inventor: William J. McDonald
-
Patent number: 6530437Abstract: A multi-gradient system for drilling a well bore from a surface location into a seabed includes an injector for injecting buoyant substantially incompressible articles into a column of drilling fluid associated with the well bore. Preferably, the substantially incompressible articles comprises hollow substantially spherical bodies.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2001Date of Patent: March 11, 2003Assignee: Maurer Technology IncorporatedInventors: William C. Maurer, George H. Medley, Jr., William J. McDonald
-
Patent number: 6457538Abstract: A system of apparatus for use in a coring tool measures the height of a core sample being recovered and transmits data relative thereto to the surface of a formation concurrently during the coring operation. A transmitter of an electromagnetic ranging system rides atop a core sample being formed in the barrel chamber and a receiver member of the electromagnetic ranging system is fixed at a top end of the barrel it known distance above the transmitter. During the coring operation the transmitter transmits a fixed frequency signal to the receiver through drilling fluid disposed therebetween. The distance between the transmitter and receiver decreases and the amplitude of the transmitted signal changes as a function of the separation distance between the transmitter and receiver as the core sample enters the inner barrel and the height of the core sample within the barrel is determined as a function of time and depth.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 2001Date of Patent: October 1, 2002Assignee: Maurer Engineering, Inc.Inventors: Gerard T. Pittard, J. Christopher Hetmaniak, Curtis Leitko, William J. Mcdonald
-
Publication number: 20020011338Abstract: A multi-gradient system for drilling a well bore from a surface location into a seabed includes an injector for injecting buoyant substantially incompressible articles into a column of drilling fluid associated with the well bore. Preferably, the substantially incompressible articles comprises hollow substantially spherical bodies.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 5, 2001Publication date: January 31, 2002Inventors: William C. Maurer, George H. Medley, William J. McDonald
-
Patent number: 6313755Abstract: A downhole buried utility sensing and data transmission system for connection at the lower end of a drill string has sensors capable of detecting the existence of various different types of buried utilities and objects and making calculations as to the radial separation distance between the detected utilities and the drill head and transmitting data between the down hole drill head to the surface. The sensors respond to material properties used to construct the utility lines or the energy fields created by the operation of these lines (pipes and cables) or from the energy associated with transmission of the particular utility service, including sound energy resulting from fluid flow and electromagnetic energy from electric currents.Type: GrantFiled: June 2, 1999Date of Patent: November 6, 2001Assignee: Maurer Engineering, Inc.Inventors: J. Christopher Hetmaniak, William J. McDonald, Gerard T. Pittard
-
Patent number: 5467083Abstract: A wireless downhole electromagnetic data transmission system and method utilizes microprocessor controlled frequency synthesis for two-way communication between the surface and a downhole guided boring or drilling apparatus in the range of from 100 Hz to 100 KHz. A non-magnetic downhole probe unit connected between a drill motor or drill bit and the drill string contains data gathering and transmission components including accelerometers which measure the earth's gravity vector and fluxgate magnetometers which read the earth's magnetic field and serve as power line proximity sensors. The drill pipe acts as an electrical lossy, single conductor with the earth forming the electrical return path. Sensory data gathered by the downhole probe is encoded in digital format and impressed upon the drill string using frequency shift keying of the electromagnetic energy waves and is picked off at the surface by a signal receiver-demodulator and message processor unit.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 1993Date of Patent: November 14, 1995Assignee: Electric Power Research InstituteInventors: William J. McDonald, Gerard T. Pittard, Charles G. Steele, Karl F. Kiefer, Terry P. Clifton, Curtis E. Leitko
-
Patent number: 5396966Abstract: A flexible steering sub is disclosed for flexible drilling of horizontal oil and gas wells, horizontal storage wells, geothermal drilling for electric power generation; earth sciences study of and monitoring of earth movement with respect to fault movement; environmental science cleaning up of inaccessible polluted areas; coring to test rock strength prior to large scale constructions such as dams; introduction of chemicals for solution mining logging while drilling short radius well bores, and the like. The flexible sub comprises an elongated housing having a plurality of housing sections connectable at one end to an orientation sub for a PDM drill and connectable at the other end to a wire line connector. An electronics assembly including guidance directional guided sensors, directional probe and logging while drilling probe is positioned in a plurality of the housing sections, interconnected electrically, and connected at one end to the wire line connector.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 1994Date of Patent: March 14, 1995Assignee: Slimdril International Inc.Inventors: Albert E. Roos, Jr., Steven W. Drews, William J. McDonald
-
Patent number: 5277055Abstract: A test stand has a base supporting standards on which are mounted a crossbar and an adjustably locatable header. The header supports an actuator for raising and lowering the crossbar which holds V-blocks for engaging the handles of an impact or impact-rotary tool and which applies downward pressure to the tool. The tool chuck is fitted to the top of a guide rod whose lower end passes with a sliding fit through a disc to which it is keyed and bears against a piston in an hydraulically pressurized cylinder. Sensors detect rotation of the disc and movement of the piston to provide information to a computer as to impact energy and rotary speed. A manifold fitted with sensors for temperature, pressure, and flow rate supplies operating air to the tool. The computer includes a database with stored information as to past history of the tool and the manufacturer's recommended operating specifications to which the measured data is compared.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 1991Date of Patent: January 11, 1994Assignee: Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc.Inventors: Gerard T. Pittard, William J. McDonald, Terry P. Clifton, William C. Herben
-
Patent number: 5082145Abstract: A wine cask accessory comprising a shaped plate (1) having a pair of depending leg portions (2,3) disposed on either side of the shaped opening (4) having an innermost portion (5) which is shaped to receive the most common sizes of wine cask valve (V), the leg portions (2,3) on the opening (4) being dimensioned such that the leg portions project below the bottom of the wine cask (C) when the opening portion (5) is engaged with the valve (V) of the wine cask. The plate (1) may be formed with a crown sealed bottle opener (15, 16), a twist-off bottle cap opener (20, 21, 22), a can opener (12,13), a screw-top cap opener (17, 18, 19), a cork screw (23,24) and a plastic bottle cap remover (27, 28). The accessory functions to prevent displacement of the cask valve (V) inwardly of the container in use and the leg portions (2,3) engage the edge of a supporting surface to prevent movement of the cask with respect to the supporting surface.Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 1990Date of Patent: January 21, 1992Inventor: William J. McDonald
-
Patent number: 5022471Abstract: A deviated wellbore drilling system suitable for drilling curved wellbores which have a radius of curvature of approximately 10 to 1,000 feet relative to a vertical or near vertical wellbore comprises a drill string, a drill bit, and a fluid-operated drill motor having a curved or bent housing section for rotating the drill bit independently of the drill string. The drilling motor has an elongate tubular rotor/stator drive section containing a rubber stator and a steel rotor and the housing is bent or curved intermediate its ends. A straight or bent universal section below the bent or curved rotor/stator section contains a universal joint for converting orbiting motion of the rotor to concentric rotary motion at the bit, and a bearing pack section below the universal section contains radial and thrust bearings to absorb the high loads applied to the bit.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 1990Date of Patent: June 11, 1991Assignee: Maurer Engineering, Inc.Inventors: William C. Maurer, William J. McDonald
-
Patent number: 4991668Abstract: A system of apparatus for the controlled directional drilling of a deviated well bore into the earth has a fluid operated drilling motor and drill bit secured on the bottom end of a drill string. The drill bit is supported for angular drilling relative to a substantially vertical well bore by either using a bent sub for supporting the drilling motor or by using a drilling motor with a bent housing or a combination of the two. A bypass tool is connected to the bent sub or motor housing, an orienting sub and mule shoe keying sub are connected to the bypass tool, and a surveying tool is connected in the drill string above the orienting sub and mule shoe sub. The bypass tool is in fluid connection with the motor and has a telescopic housing and a valve for circulating fluid into the bore hole to flush cuttings and debris therefrom. The surveying tool determines and controls the direction of drilling.Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 1989Date of Patent: February 12, 1991Assignees: Maurer Engineering, Inc., Bechtel Investments, Inc.Inventors: William A. Rehm, William J. McDonald, William C. Maurer, Curtis E. Leitko, Jr.
-
Patent number: 4936397Abstract: An earth drilling apparatus has a pneumatic motor operated earth drilling tool, a valve assembly connected to the motor, and a drill string connected to the valve and to a source of pneumatic fluid. The drilling tool has an earth drilling bit and a rotor/stator motor section to apply a rotational force to rotate the bit at the bottom of the string. The valve assembly is disposed between the drilling tool motor and the source of pneumatic fluid and controls the flow of pneumatic fluid to the tool. The valve assembly has a pneumatic pressure-operated valve which is operable in response to the pressure of pneumatic fluid in the drill string to be opened to permit flow of pneumatic fluid to the tool at a predetermined operating pressure to transmit an initial pulse of pneumatic fluid to initiate operation of the motor. The valve is kept open at a lower pressure than that required to open it.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 1989Date of Patent: June 26, 1990Assignee: Slimdril International, Inc.Inventors: William J. McDonald, William C. Maurer
-
Patent number: 4880065Abstract: A new and improved air motor operated rotary earth drilling tool for use with a source of high pressure, high volume compressed air has a circulation control housing, a motor housing, a reduction gear housing, and a bearing housing connected longitudinally in series. The circulation control housing is connected to high pressure, high volume, compressed air and has an outlet opening into the motor housing, and an exhaust opening for discharge of compressed air for flushing cuttings and debris from a bore hole which is controlled by longitudinal movement of an inlet tube. The motor housing has a motor chamber and a sliding vane rotor with a rotary shaft extending into the reduction gear housing. A planetary reduction gear receives the rotor shaft and has a low speed, high torque output shaft extending into the bearing housing. A passageway conducts compressed air around the planetary reduction gear for cooling.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 1988Date of Patent: November 14, 1989Assignee: Gas Research InstituteInventors: William J. McDonald, Michael R. Wasson, Curtis E. Leitko, Gerard T. Pittard, William C. Maurer