Patents by Inventor Charles M. Meador

Charles M. Meador 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: 10570686
    Abstract: A downhole tool including a mandrel, at least one moveable component mounted to the mandrel, and a locking ring mounted to the mandrel. The locking ring includes a plurality of locking ring segments that enable relative movement between the mandrel and the at least one moveable component. A plurality of circumferential spaces is arranged between corresponding ones of the locking ring segments. At least one load bar is arranged in at least one of the plurality of circumferential spaces. The at least one load bar is mechanically connected to the at least one moveable component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES, A GE COMPANY, LLC
    Inventors: Charles M. Meador, Matthew J. Krueger, Mark E. Ramey
  • Patent number: 10233709
    Abstract: A system of tubulars includes a non-expandable mandrel having a body including an uphole end, a downhole end, and an outer surface. The non-expandable mandrel includes one or more slip members that are outwardly extendable relative to the outer surface. A seal assembly is arranged at the downhole end of the non-expandable mandrel. The seal assembly is settable after outward expansion of the one or more slip members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES, A GE COMPANY, LLC
    Inventors: Charles M. Meador, Matthew J. Krueger, Mark E. Ramey
  • Publication number: 20180187499
    Abstract: A downhole tool including a mandrel, at least one moveable component mounted to the mandrel, and a locking ring mounted to the mandrel. The locking ring includes a plurality of locking ring segments that enable relative movement between the mandrel and the at least one moveable component. A plurality of circumferential spaces is arranged between corresponding ones of the locking ring segments. At least one load bar is arranged in at least one of the plurality of circumferential spaces. The at least one load bar is mechanically connected to the at least one moveable component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2018
    Publication date: July 5, 2018
    Applicant: Baker Hughes, a GE company, LLC
    Inventors: Charles M. Meador, Matthew J. Krueger, Mark E. Ramey
  • Publication number: 20180066486
    Abstract: A system of tubulars includes a non-expandable mandrel having a body including an uphole end, a downhole end, and an outer surface. The non-expandable mandrel includes one or more slip members that are outwardly extendable relative to the outer surface. A seal assembly is arranged at the downhole end of the non-expandable mandrel. The seal assembly is settable after outward expansion of the one or more slip members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2016
    Publication date: March 8, 2018
    Applicant: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Charles M. Meador, Matthew J. Krueger, Mark E. Ramey
  • Patent number: 9759027
    Abstract: A liner hanger has slips held by a slip body. A potential energy force to move the slips axially when the hanger is in position is selectively released. The slips move axially and radially outwardly guided on opposed edges by the slip body. The slip faces have wickers that dig into the surrounding casing that will support a liner string off the slips. Weight is set down to bring the housing into contact with the top of the slips that are already engaged to the surrounding casing. The nature of the loading between the slips and the casing changes from a radial reaction force from the casing going into the slip and then distributed circumferentially to the slip housing to an essentially axial loading of the slip housing down onto the slip that has penetrated the casing with an opposite reaction force in the casing wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Charles M. Meador, Matthew J. Krueger, Christopher R. Hern, Eric Halfmann
  • Patent number: 9752418
    Abstract: A liner hanger has slips held by a slip body. A potential energy force to move the slips axially when the hanger is in position is selectively released. The nature of the loading between the slips and the casing changes from a radial reaction force from the casing going into the slip and then distributed circumferentially to the slip housing to an essentially axial loading of the slip housing down onto the slip that has penetrated the casing with an opposite reaction force in the casing wall. The contact location between the slip housing and the slip is made broader at the slip end with a wider portion having an undercut to reduce contact stress and to aid in promoting flow past the set slip. The slip housing also has axial flow channels that interact with the undercut to promote flow past the set slips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Charles M. Meador, Matthew J. Krueger, Christopher R. Hern
  • Publication number: 20140338891
    Abstract: A liner hanger has slips held by a slip body. A potential energy force to move the slips axially when the hanger is in position is selectively released. The slips move axially and radially outwardly guided on opposed edges by the slip body. The slip faces have wickers that dig into the surrounding casing that will support a liner string off the slips. Weight is set down to bring the housing into contact with the top of the slips that are already engaged to the surrounding casing. The nature of the loading between the slips and the casing changes from a radial reaction force from the casing going into the slip and then distributed circumferentially to the slip housing to an essentially axial loading of the slip housing down onto the slip that has penetrated the casing with an opposite reaction force in the casing wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2013
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Inventors: Charles M. Meador, Matthew J. Krueger, Christopher R. Hern, Eric Halfmann
  • Publication number: 20140338892
    Abstract: A liner hanger has slips held by a slip body. A potential energy force to move the slips axially when the hanger is in position is selectively released. The nature of the loading between the slips and the casing changes from a radial reaction force from the casing going into the slip and then distributed circumferentially to the slip housing to an essentially axial loading of the slip housing down onto the slip that has penetrated the casing with an opposite reaction force in the casing wall. The contact location between the slip housing and the slip is made broader at the slip end with a wider portion having an undercut to reduce contact stress and to aid in promoting flow past the set slip. The slip housing also has axial flow channels that interact with the undercut to promote flow past the set slips.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicant: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Charles M. Meador, Matthew J. Krueger, Christopher R. Hern