Patents by Inventor Ben L. Kirkpatrick

Ben L. Kirkpatrick 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: 9567807
    Abstract: An earth-boring tool includes a bit body, a plurality of first cutting elements, and a plurality of second cutting elements. Each of the first cutting elements includes a discontinuous phase dispersed within a continuous matrix phase. The discontinuous phase includes a plurality of particles of superabrasive material. Each of the second cutting elements includes a polycrystalline diamond compact or tungsten carbide. A method of forming an earth-boring tool includes disposing a plurality of first cutting elements on a bit body and disposing a second plurality of second cutting elements on the bit body. Another method of foaming an earth-boring tool includes forming a body having a plurality of first cutting elements and a plurality of cutting element pockets and securing each of a plurality of second cutting elements within each of the cutting element pockets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: James C. Green, Ben L. Kirkpatrick, Christopher J. Cleboski, Nicholas J. Lyons, Andrew R. Warner, Wesley Dean Fuller
  • Patent number: 9098862
    Abstract: Providers of goods and services may desire human input regarding the products that they offer. A vocal query service provides a mechanism to present queries to human respondents. A human respondent may be presented with information and subsequently queried as to their opinion. The respondents receiving the query may be selected based upon profiles containing demographic information, interest information, desired contact time, and the like. Prospective respondents may be contacted via a personal telephone at a time of their choosing and may choose whether or not to respond. During the query, should a respondent require assistance, the respondent may be contact a customer service agent. Query respondents may be motivated to participate, as the query is designed to appeal to respondent's interest and is presented at a convenient time. The query service may also increase the customer service agents to expand the query to additional human respondents in near-real time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Chunyi Chou, Mark N. Kelly, Ben L. Kirkpatrick
  • Publication number: 20150051952
    Abstract: Providers of goods and services may desire human input regarding the products that they offer. A vocal query service provides a mechanism to present queries to human respondents. A human respondent may be presented with information and subsequently queried as to their opinion. The respondents receiving the query may be selected based upon profiles containing demographic information, interest information, desired contact time, and the like. Prospective respondents may be contacted via a personal telephone at a time of their choosing and may choose whether or not to respond. During the query, should a respondent require assistance, the respondent may be contact a customer service agent. Query respondents may be motivated to participate, as the query is designed to appeal to respondent's interest and is presented at a convenient time. The query service may also increase the customer service agents to expand the query to additional human respondents in near-real time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2014
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Inventors: Eric Chunyi Chou, Mark N. Kelly, Ben L. Kirkpatrick
  • Patent number: 8817969
    Abstract: Providers of goods and services may desire human input regarding the products that they offer. A vocal query service provides a mechanism to present queries to human respondents. A human respondent may be presented with information and subsequently queried as to their opinion. The respondents receiving the query may be selected based upon profiles containing demographic information, interest information, desired contact time, and the like. Prospective respondents may be contacted via a personal telephone at a time of their choosing and may choose whether or not to respond. During the query, should a respondent require assistance, the respondent may be contact a customer service agent. Query respondents may be motivated to participate, as the query is designed to appeal to respondent's interest and is presented at a convenient time. The query service may also increase the customer service agents to expand the query to additional human respondents in near-real time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Chunyi Chou, Mark N. Kelly, Ben L. Kirkpatrick
  • Publication number: 20120080240
    Abstract: An earth-boring tool includes a bit body, a plurality of first cutting elements, and a plurality of second cutting elements. Each of the first cutting elements includes a discontinuous phase dispersed within a continuous matrix phase. The discontinuous phase includes a plurality of particles of superabrasive material. Each of the second cutting elements includes a polycrystalline diamond compact or tungsten carbide. A method of forming an earth-boring tool includes disposing a plurality of first cutting elements on a bit body and disposing a second plurality of second cutting elements on the bit body. Another method of foaming an earth-boring tool includes forming a body having a plurality of first cutting elements and a plurality of cutting element pockets and securing each of a plurality of second cutting elements within each of the cutting element pockets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2011
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Applicant: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
    Inventors: James C. Green, Ben L. Kirkpatrick, Christopher J. Cleboski, Nicholas J. Lyons, Andrew R. Warner, Wesley Dean Fuller
  • Patent number: 8096373
    Abstract: A rotary drill bit or other drilling tool for drilling or reaming through subterranean formation and comprising a body comprising a distal end and gage areas near a proximal end thereof and comprising longitudinally upward extensions of a plurality of blades or legs. A longitudinally trailing, radially inwardly extending surface is associated with at least some gage pads or legs at the longitudinally trailing ends thereof. Protective structures in the form of superabrasive elements comprising a plurality of thermally stable polycrystalline diamonds, or so-called “TSPs” (thermally stable products) are secured to a trailing surface of at least one gage pad. PDC elements may be employed in combination with the TSPs. Non-diamond structures may also be employed, in lieu of or in conjunction with diamond structures, particularly if drilling of ferrous metal casing components is contemplated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Suresh G. Patel, Ben L. Kirkpatrick, Scott E. Mayer
  • Publication number: 20090308663
    Abstract: A rotary drill bit or other drilling tool for drilling or reaming through subterranean formation and comprising a body comprising a distal end and gage areas near a proximal end thereof and comprising longitudinally upward extensions of a plurality of blades or legs. A longitudinally trailing, radially inwardly extending surface is associated with at least some gage pads or legs at the longitudinally trailing ends thereof. Protective structures in the form of superabrasive elements comprising a plurality of thermally stable polycrystalline diamonds, or so-called “TSPs” (thermally stable products) are secured to a trailing surface of at least one gage pad. PDC elements may be employed in combination with the TSPs. Non-diamond structures may also be employed, in lieu of or in conjunction with diamond structures, particularly if drilling of ferrous metal casing components is contemplated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2009
    Publication date: December 17, 2009
    Inventors: Suresh G. Patel, Ben L. Kirkpatrick, Scott E. Mayer