Patents Assigned to Westbay Instruments, Inc.
  • Patent number: 6302200
    Abstract: An in situ underground sample analyzing apparatus for use in a multilevel borehole monitoring system is disclosed. A casing assembly comprising a plurality of elongate tubular casings (24) separated by measurement port couplers (26) is coaxially alignable in a borehole (20). The measurement port couplers (26) include an inlet measurement port (70b ) for collecting fluid from an underground measurement zone (32) and an outlet measurement port (70a) for releasing fluid into the measurement zone (32). An in situ sample analyzing probe (124) is orientable in the casing assembly. The in situ sample analyzing probe (124) includes inlet and outlet probe ports (148b and 148a) alignable and mateable with the inlet and outlet measurement ports (70b and 70a). The inlet and outlet measurement ports (70b and 70a) typically include valves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: Westbay Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Franklin D. Patton, Jan J. Divis
  • Patent number: 6196064
    Abstract: An in situ underground sample analyzing apparatus for use in a multilevel borehole monitoring system is disclosed. A casing assembly comprising a plurality of elongate tubular casings (24) separated by measurement port couplers (26) is coaxially alignable in a borehole (20). The measurement port couplers (26) include an inlet measurement port (70b) for collecting fluid from an underground measurement zone (32) and an outlet measurement port (70a) for releasing fluid into the measurement zone (32). An in situ sample analyzing probe (124) is orientable in the casing assembly. The in situ sample analyzing probe (124) includes inlet and outlet probe ports (148b and 148a) alignable and mateable with the inlet and outlet measurement ports (70b and 70a). The inlet and outlet measurement ports (70b and 70a) typically include valves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Westbay Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Franklin D. Patton, Jan J. Divis
  • Patent number: 6192982
    Abstract: A system for individually controlling the inflation and deflation of individual packers mounted on a casing is disclosed. The system includes a packer valve (36) mounted on the casing (24). The valve is in fluid communication with one of the packers (28). A probe (124) is movable within the casing to access packer valve to inflate or deflate the related packer (28). The packer valve includes a body having a bore (40), a valve closure conduit (42) and a valve opening conduit (44), each in communication with the bore. In one embodiment, the valve further includes a packer inlet/outlet conduit (50) connecting the bore to the packer, and a packer/valve conduit (54) in communication with the bore (40) and the packer inlet/outlet conduit. In another embodiment, the bore is directly communicated with the interior of the packer. The packer valve also includes a valve pin (41) reciprocatably mounted in the bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Assignee: Westbay Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Jan J. Divis, Franklin D. Patton
  • Patent number: 6062073
    Abstract: An in situ underground sample analyzing apparatus for use in a multilevel borehole monitoring system is disclosed. A casing assembly comprising a plurality of elongate tubular casings (24) separated by measurement port couplers (26) is coaxially alignable in a borehole (20). The measurement port couplers (26) include an inlet measurement port (70b) for collecting fluid from an underground measurement zone (32) and an outlet measurement port (70a) for releasing fluid into the measurement zone (32). An in situ sample analyzing probe (124) is orientable in the casing assembly. The in situ sample analyzing probe (124) includes inlet and outlet probe ports (148b and 148a) alignable and mateable with the inlet and outlet measurement ports (70b and 70a). The inlet and outlet measurement ports (70b and 70a) typically include valves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2000
    Assignee: Westbay Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Franklin D. Patton, Jan J. Divis
  • Patent number: 5704425
    Abstract: A measurement port coupler (26) having an improved measurement port (70) to allow fluid from the exterior of the measurement port coupler to be sampled by a probe (124) located on the interior of the measurement port coupler. A valve (72) in the measurement port is recessed in a conical depression (76) set in a wall of the measurement port coupler. The conical depression protects the valve from inadvertent opening and from wear. An improved probe interface (148) is provided to mate with the measurement port. The probe interface includes a face seal gasket (150) that contacts the conical depression of the measurement port prior to the measurement port being opened. A removable cover plate (88) is provided on the exterior of the measurement port coupler to filter any fluids that pass through the measurement port. A removable helical insert (110) is also provided for insertion into the measurement port coupler to aid in orienting the probe when samples or measurements are to be taken.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1998
    Assignee: Westbay Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Jan J. Divis, Franklin D. Patton