Patents by Inventor Alan Howell
Alan Howell 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: 8925928Abstract: A mechanical seal has a stationary face and rotating assembly adjacent to the stationary face. The rotating assembly includes an upper bellows ring, a lower bellows ring and a runner between the lower bellows ring and the stationary face. A bellows extends between the upper bellows ring and the lower bellows ring. In preferred embodiments, the bellows is constructed from a perfluoroalkoxy polymer and is secured within the upper bellows ring and the lower bellows ring by a selected locking mechanism. The locking mechanism may include the use of crimp rings configured for a press fit engagement within the upper and lower bellows rings. Alternatively, the locking mechanism may employ locking rings configured for threaded engagement with the upper and lower bellows rings.Type: GrantFiled: November 28, 2012Date of Patent: January 6, 2015Assignee: GE Oil & Gas ESP, Inc.Inventors: Steven Alan Howell, Brian Paul Reeves, Chengbao Wang, Charles Collins
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Patent number: 8856647Abstract: A request is received for a rendered document corresponding to a document. The document is retrieved from a storage device. The document is transformed into the rendered document. One or more server font files associated with the rendered document are generated. The rendered document and the server font files are stored.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 2009Date of Patent: October 7, 2014Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Gareth Alan Howell, Zhenjun Zhu, Jie Tang
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Publication number: 20140152197Abstract: A method of operating an acceleration system comprises injecting charged particles into an RF accelerator, providing RF power to the accelerator, and accelerating the injected charged particles. The accelerated charged particles may impact a target to generate radiation. The RF power is based, at least in part, on past performance of the system, to compensate, at least partially, for dose and/or energy instability. A controller may provide a compensated control voltage (“CCV”) to an electric power source based on the past performance, to provide compensated electric power to the RF source. A decreasing CCV, such as an exponentially decreasing CCV, may be provided to the electric power source during beam on time periods. The CCV to be provided may be increased, such as exponentially increased toward a maximum value, during beam off time periods. The controller may be configured by a compensation circuit and/or software. Systems are also described.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 3, 2012Publication date: June 5, 2014Applicant: Varian Medical Systems, Inc.Inventors: Gongyin CHEN, Kenneth Todd Romriell, David Alan Howell
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Publication number: 20140147301Abstract: A seal section for use in a downhole submersible pumping system includes a housing and a seal bag located within the housing. The seal bag includes a substrate having a plurality of substrate surfaces and a metal coating layer on at least one of the plurality of substrate surfaces. The substrate can optionally be configured as a cylindrical form that includes an interior surface and an exterior surface. In particularly preferred embodiments, the substrate is seamless and fabricated from an extruded fluoropolymer. The metal coating layer preferably comprises a metal selected from the group consisting of titanium, stainless steel, nickel, chrome, silver and gold. The metalized seal bag exhibits increased durability and decreased permeability to liquids and gases at elevated temperatures.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 28, 2012Publication date: May 29, 2014Applicant: GE OIL & GAS ESP, INC.Inventors: Brian Paul Reeves, Chengbao Wang, Steven Alan Howell
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Publication number: 20140147307Abstract: A method for applying a metalized polymer film to a seal bag for use in a downhole submersible pumping system includes the steps of applying a metal layer to a polymer layer, applying an adhesive layer to the polymer layer, and rolling the adhesive layer onto a substrate of the seal bag. The method may also include the steps of rotating a first roller, which is located above the polymer layer of the metalized polymer film, and rotating a second roller, which is located on an interior surface of the substrate of the seal bag, in the opposite direction of the first roller. Also disclosed is a downhole pumping system that incorporates a seal bag manufactured from these techniques.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2013Publication date: May 29, 2014Applicant: GE OIL & GAS ESP, INC.Inventors: Brian Paul Reeves, Chengbao Wang, Steven Alan Howell
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Publication number: 20140147302Abstract: A mechanical seal has a stationary face and rotating assembly adjacent to the stationary face. The rotating assembly includes an upper bellows ring, a lower bellows ring and a runner between the lower bellows ring and the stationary face. A bellows extends between the upper bellows ring and the lower bellows ring. In preferred embodiments, the bellows is constructed from a perfluoroalkoxy polymer and is secured within the upper bellows ring and the lower bellows ring by a selected locking mechanism. The locking mechanism may include the use of crimp rings configured for a press fit engagement within the upper and lower bellows rings. Alternatively, the locking mechanism may employ locking rings configured for threaded engagement with the upper and lower bellows rings.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 28, 2012Publication date: May 29, 2014Applicant: GE OIL & GAS ESP, INC.Inventors: Steven Alan Howell, Brian Paul Reeves, Chengbao Wang, Charles Collins
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Patent number: 8690551Abstract: A seal section for use in a downhole submersible pumping system includes a modular seal bag assembly having a first end cap, a second end cap and a plurality of seal bags connected between the first and second end caps. Each of the first and second end caps includes a plurality of nozzles and each of the plurality of seal bags is connected to a unique pair of nozzles on the first and second end caps. The modular seal bag assembly further includes a shaft tube connected between the first and second end caps. In a second preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a seal section that includes a single seal bag connected between two opposing end caps. The seal bag is preferably seamless and fabricated from a fluoropolymer, such as perfluoroalkoxy (PFA).Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 2008Date of Patent: April 8, 2014Inventors: Arcady Royzen, Alan Howell, Joseph W. Elder
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Publication number: 20130240199Abstract: A downhole pumping system includes a motor, a pump driven by the motor and a seal section positioned between the pump and the motor. The seal section preferably includes a first seal bag assembly, a second seal bag assembly and an interconnect module connected between the first seal bag assembly and the second seal bag assembly. The interconnect module includes a plenum, at least one fluid exchange passage connected to the plenum, and a shaft seal assembly. The shaft seal assembly is configured to divert fluid from the plenum into the at least one fluid exchange passage. In another aspect, a first group of interconnect modules within the seal section each includes a shaft seal assembly oriented in a first direction and a second group of the interconnect modules each includes a shaft seal assembly oriented in a second direction to selectively apply an axial force on the shaft.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 19, 2012Publication date: September 19, 2013Applicant: GE OIL & GAS ESP, INC.Inventors: Alan Howell, Chengbao Wang, Brian Reeves
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Patent number: 8419387Abstract: A submersible pumping system includes a pump assembly, a motor and a seal section positioned between the pump assembly and the motor. The seal section includes a clean fluid circulation system, a contaminated fluid circulation system and at least one bag seal assembly. The bag seal assembly includes an upper mounting block, a lower mounting block and a bag seal extending over the upper mounting block and lower mounting block and providing a path for the clean fluid circulation system. The bag seal assembly further includes a mounting plate connected to the upper mounting block that limits the axial travel of the bag seal on the upper mounting block. The bag seal assembly optionally includes a breather tube connected to the mounting plate and extending along the exterior of the bag seal.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 2009Date of Patent: April 16, 2013Inventors: Randy Karbs, Michael Barnes, Alan Howell, Arcady Royzen
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Patent number: 8347208Abstract: Portions of content are transformed into portions of rendered content. While the portions of the content are being transformed into portions of the rendered content, each discrete portion of the rendered content can be provided to the application program after that portion is completed.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2009Date of Patent: January 1, 2013Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Gareth Alan Howell, Matthew James Ruhlen, Brendyn O'Dell-Alexander, Nicholas Allen Robarge, Zhenjun Zhu, Sugandha SudeshKumar Kapoor, Kiran Akella Venkata, Juraj Gottweis
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Publication number: 20120331377Abstract: Portions of content are transformed into portions of rendered content. While the portions of the content are being transformed into portions of the rendered content, each discrete portion of the rendered content can be provided to the application program after that portion is completed.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 7, 2012Publication date: December 27, 2012Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATIONInventors: Gareth Alan Howell, Matthew James Ruhlen, Brendyn O'Dell-Alexander, Nicholas Allen Robarge, Zhenjun Zhu, Sugandha SudeshKumar Kapoor, Kiran Akella Venkata, Juraj Gottweis
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Patent number: 8246328Abstract: A seal section for use with a downhole pumping system includes a rotatable shaft, a seal section head and a mechanical seal chamber inside the seal section head. The mechanical seal chamber is bounded by a floor and a wall. The mechanical seal chamber includes a trench disposed in the floor that is configured to entrap solid particles in the mechanical seal chamber at a distance spaced apart from the mechanical seal.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 2009Date of Patent: August 21, 2012Assignee: GE Oil & Gas ESP, Inc.Inventors: Alan Howell, Michael Barnes, Randy Karbs, Arcady Royzen
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Publication number: 20110222589Abstract: A method of monitoring at least one beam of a satellite, the at least one beam being directed at a body around which the satellite orbits, the method comprising monitoring the at least one beam using a monitoring satellite which orbits around the body.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 2, 2010Publication date: September 15, 2011Applicant: Inmarsat Global LimitedInventors: William Alan Howell, Antonio Franchi, Brian Garstang
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Patent number: 7801409Abstract: Described herein is a technology for facilitating playback of video segments (with transforms applied therein) which can be both glitch-free and realtime.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2004Date of Patent: September 21, 2010Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Gareth Alan Howell, Olivier Colle, Rebecca C. Weiss
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Publication number: 20100229086Abstract: Portions of content are transformed into portions of rendered content. While the portions of the content are being transformed into portions of the rendered content, each discrete portion of the rendered content can be provided to the application program after that portion is completed.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 4, 2009Publication date: September 9, 2010Applicant: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Gareth Alan Howell, Matthew James Ruhlen, Brendyn O'Dell-Alexander, Nicholas Allen Robarge, Zhenjun Zhu, Sugandha SudeshKumar Kapoor, Kiran Akella Venkata, Juraj Gottweis
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Publication number: 20100218086Abstract: A request is received for a rendered document corresponding to a document. The document is retrieved from a storage device. The document is transformed into the rendered document. One or more server font files associated with the rendered document are generated. The rendered document and the server font files are stored.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 20, 2009Publication date: August 26, 2010Applicant: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Gareth Alan Howell, Zhenjun Zhu, Jie Tang
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Patent number: 7733962Abstract: Systems and methods for processing input media in a computing device are described. In one aspect, a reconstructed frame is cached according to a set of criteria. A request to scrub to a predictive frame of input media is received. Responsive to receiving the request, the predictive frame is decoded starting with the reconstructed frame.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2003Date of Patent: June 8, 2010Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Rebecca C. Weiss, Geoffrey T. Dunbar, Niranjan S. Nayak, Sohail Baig Mohammed, Thomas W. Holcomb, Chih-lung Bruce Lin, Olivier Colle, Gareth Alan Howell
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Patent number: 7640552Abstract: Providing resiliency to a multimedia application. A list of filters associated with the multimedia application is identified. It is determined if one or more filters of the identified list of filters are suitable for the multimedia application. The one or more filters are disabled if the one or more filters are determined to be unsuitable for the multimedia application. The one or more filters of the list of filters may also be presented to a user of the multimedia application as a function of suitability of each of the list of filters for the multimedia application. The user is allowed to manage the presented one or more filters.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2004Date of Patent: December 29, 2009Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Kristen Miller, Brian James Walker, Gareth Alan Howell, Ian Cameron Mercer
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Patent number: 7624795Abstract: Disclosed is a submersible pumping system that includes a motor, a production pump and a seal section disposed between the motor and the production pump. The pumping system further comprises an auxiliary pump disposed below the motor and an auxiliary adapter connected between the motor and the auxiliary pump.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 2006Date of Patent: December 1, 2009Assignee: Wood Group ESP, Inc.Inventors: Yasser Khan Bangash, Alan Howell
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Patent number: 7564974Abstract: Methods and systems enable content authors to achieve frame-accurate editing and, in at least some embodiments, reduce the amount of content that needs to be decompressed in order to operate on the frames. Some embodiments ensure that bit rate integrity is preserved so that bit rate conditions associated with streaming environments are preserved. Various embodiments intelligently determine which content portions should be decompressed, processed, and recompressed and which content portions should not be decompressed.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2004Date of Patent: July 21, 2009Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Alexandre V. Grigorovitch, Chih-lung Bruce Lin, Gareth Alan Howell, Mei L. Wilson, Niranjan S. Nayak, Olivier Colle, Randolph B Oakley, Blake Bender, Tony M. Antoun