Patents by Inventor Christopher E. Cunningham
Christopher E. Cunningham 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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Publication number: 20220282602Abstract: A submersible well fluid system for operating submerged in a body of water may include an electric machine and a fluid end. The electric machine includes a rotor and a stator residing in a first housing at specified conditions. The fluid end may include an impeller and be coupled to the electric machine. The submersible well fluid system may also include an adjustable speed drive for the electric machine in the housing. The submersible well fluid system may also include a chemical distribution system for supplying treatment chemicals to the submersible well fluid system, a barrier fluid supply system for supplying a barrier fluid to the submersible well fluid system, and a pressure management system.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 24, 2022Publication date: September 8, 2022Inventors: Christopher E. Cunningham, Eduardo Cardoso, Timothy Bartlett, Paulo Guedes-Pinto, Co Si Huynh, Robert Perry, John Davis Sink
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Patent number: 11352863Abstract: A submersible well fluid system for operating submerged in a body of water may include an electric machine and a fluid end. The electric machine includes a rotor and a stator residing in a first housing at specified conditions. The fluid end may include an impeller and be coupled to the electric machine. The submersible well fluid system may also include an adjustable speed drive for the electric machine in the housing. The submersible well fluid system may also include a chemical distribution system for supplying treatment chemicals to the submersible well fluid system, a barrier fluid supply system for supplying a barrier fluid to the submersible well fluid system, and a pressure management system.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2019Date of Patent: June 7, 2022Assignee: FMC Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Christopher E. Cunningham, Eduardo Cardoso, Timothy Bartlett, Paulo Guedes-Pinto, Co Si Huynh, Robert Perry, John Davis Sink
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Patent number: 10801309Abstract: A submersible fluid system for operating submersed in a body of water includes a fluid-end housing having an upper end and a lower end. A fluid rotor is disposed to rotate in the fluid-end housing and to receive and interact with a process fluid flowing from an inlet of the fluid-end housing to an outlet of the fluid-end housing. The fluid rotor is configured to thrust upwards toward the upper end when rotating. A bearing near the lower end of the fluid-end housing has an upward-facing bearing surface coupled to the fluid rotor and a downward-facing bearing surface coupled to the fluid housing, the bearing surfaces cooperate to support the upward thrust of the fluid rotor.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2012Date of Patent: October 13, 2020Assignee: FMC Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Christopher E. Cunningham
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Patent number: 10393115Abstract: A submersible fluid system for operating submersed in a body of water includes an electric machine and a fluid-end. The fluid-end includes a fluid-end housing having an inlet to a fluid rotor, the fluid rotor coupled to the electric machine and carried to rotate in the housing by a bearing in the housing. A fluid separator system receives a multiphase fluid and communicates a flow of the fluid to the inlet and a substantially liquid flow extracted from the multiphase fluid to the bearing.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2012Date of Patent: August 27, 2019Assignee: FMC Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Christopher E. Cunningham, Co Si Huynh
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Publication number: 20190195057Abstract: A submersible well fluid system for operating submerged in a body of water may include an electric machine and a fluid end. The electric machine includes a rotor and a stator residing in a first housing at specified conditions. The fluid end may include an impeller and be coupled to the electric machine. The submersible well fluid system may also include an adjustable speed drive for the electric machine in the housing. The submersible well fluid system may also include a chemical distribution system for supplying treatment chemicals to the submersible well fluid system, a barrier fluid supply system for supplying a barrier fluid to the submersible well fluid system, and a pressure management system.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 4, 2019Publication date: June 27, 2019Applicant: FMC Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Christopher E. Cunningham, Eduardo Cardoso, Timothy Bartlett, Paulo Guedes-Pinto, Co Si Huynh, Robert Perry, John Davis Sink
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Patent number: 10221662Abstract: A submersible well fluid system for operating submerged in a body of water may include an electric machine and a fluid end. The electric machine includes a rotor and a stator residing in a first housing at specified conditions. The fluid end may include an impeller and be coupled to the electric machine. The submersible well fluid system may also include an adjustable speed drive for the electric machine in the housing. The submersible well fluid system may also include a chemical distribution system for supplying treatment chemicals to the submersible well fluid system, a barrier fluid supply system for supplying a barrier fluid to the submersible well fluid system, and a pressure management system.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2014Date of Patent: March 5, 2019Assignee: FMC Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Christopher E. Cunningham, Eduardo Cardoso, Timothy Bartlett, Paulo Guedes-Pinto, Co Si Huynh, Robert Perry, John Davis Sink
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Patent number: 10161418Abstract: A submersible fluid system for operating submerged in a body of water includes a fluid-end that has a fluid rotor disposed in a fluid-end housing. An electric machine housing is coupled to the fluid-end housing and includes a hermetically sealed cavity. An electric machine, such as a motor and/or generator, is disposed entirely within the cavity of the electric machine housing. The electric machine includes an electric machine stator and an electric machine rotor. A magnetic coupling couples the electric machine rotor and the fluid rotor.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2012Date of Patent: December 25, 2018Assignee: FMC Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Christopher E. Cunningham, Co Si Huynh
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Patent number: 9954414Abstract: A submersible fluid system for operating submerged in a body of water includes a fluid-end with a fluid rotor disposed in a fluid-end housing. An electric machine housing is coupled to the fluid-end housing and has a hermetically sealed cavity containing a fluid at a pressure less than a hydrostatic pressure at a specified depth at which the submersible fluid system is designed to operate. An electric machine is disposed in the cavity of the electric machine housing and includes an electric machine rotor coupled to the fluid rotor and an electric machine stator.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2012Date of Patent: April 24, 2018Assignee: FMC Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Christopher E. Cunningham, Co Si Huynh
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Patent number: 9601964Abstract: A flow-conditioning system includes a pump, process tubing coupling the pump to a source of multiple component process fluid, and an in-line flow-mixing device positioned in the process tubing upstream of the pump. A system includes a well disposed below a body of water and providing a source of multiple component fluid, a pump disposed in and exposed to the water, process tubing coupling the pump to the well, and an in-line flow-mixing device positioned in the process tubing upstream of the pump.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2009Date of Patent: March 21, 2017Assignee: FMC Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Christopher E. Cunningham, Rune Fantoft, Terje Hollingsaeter
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Publication number: 20160145980Abstract: A submersible well fluid system for operating submerged in a body of water may include an electric machine and a fluid end. The electric machine includes a rotor and a stator residing in a first housing at specified conditions. The fluid end may include an impeller and be coupled to the electric machine. The submersible well fluid system may also include an adjustable speed drive for the electric machine in the housing. The submersible well fluid system may also include a chemical distribution system for supplying treatment chemicals to the submersible well fluid system, a barrier fluid supply system for supplying a barrier fluid to the submersible well fluid system, and a pressure management system.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 13, 2014Publication date: May 26, 2016Applicant: FMC Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Christopher E. Cunningham, Eduardo Cardoso, Timothy Bartlett, Paulo Guedes-Pinto, Co Si Huynh, Robert Perry, John Davis Sink
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Publication number: 20150345265Abstract: A submersible fluid system for operating submersed in a body of water includes a fluid-end housing having an upper end and a lower end. A fluid rotor is disposed to rotate in the fluid-end housing and to receive and interact with a process fluid flowing from an inlet of the fluid-end housing to an outlet of the fluid-end housing. The fluid rotor is configured to thrust upwards toward the upper end when rotating. A bearing near the lower end of the fluid-end housing has an upward-facing bearing surface coupled to the fluid rotor and a downward-facing bearing surface coupled to the fluid housing, the bearing surfaces cooperate to support the upward thrust of the fluid rotor.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 12, 2012Publication date: December 3, 2015Inventor: Christopher E. Cunningham
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Publication number: 20150326094Abstract: A submersible fluid system for operating submerged in a body of water includes a fluid-end with a fluid rotor disposed in a fluid-end housing. An electric machine housing is coupled to the fluid-end housing and has a hermetically sealed cavity containing a fluid at a pressure less than a hydrostatic pressure at a specified depth at which the submersible fluid system is designed to operate. An electric machine is disposed in the cavity of the electric machine housing and includes an electric machine rotor coupled to the fluid rotor and an electric machine stator.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 12, 2012Publication date: November 12, 2015Inventors: Christopher E. CUNNINGHAM, Co Si HUYNH
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Publication number: 20150322756Abstract: A submersible fluid system for operating submersed in a body of water includes an electric machine and a fluid-end. The fluid-end includes a fluid-end housing having an inlet to a fluid rotor, the fluid rotor coupled to the electric machine and carried to rotate in the housing by a bearing in the housing. A fluid separator system receives a multiphase fluid and communicates a flow of the fluid to the inlet and a substantially liquid flow extracted from the multiphase fluid to the bearing.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 12, 2012Publication date: November 12, 2015Inventors: Christopher E. CUNNINGHAM, Co Si HUYNH
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Publication number: 20150316072Abstract: A submersible fluid system for operating submerged in a body of water includes a fluid-end that has a fluid rotor disposed in a fluid-end housing. An electric machine housing is coupled to the fluid-end housing and includes a hermetically sealed cavity. An electric machine, such as a motor and/or generator, is disposed entirely within the cavity of the electric machine housing. The electric machine includes an electric machine stator and an electric machine rotor. A magnetic coupling couples the electric machine rotor and the fluid rotor.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 12, 2012Publication date: November 5, 2015Inventors: Christopher E. CUNNINGHAM, Co Si HUYNH
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Patent number: 8920137Abstract: A flow-conditioning system includes a pump, process tubing coupling the pump to a source of multiple component process fluid, and an in-line flow-mixing device positioned in the process tubing upstream of the pump. A system includes a well disposed below a body of water and providing a source of multiple component fluid, a pump disposed in and exposed to the water, process tubing coupling the pump to the well, and an in-line flow-mixing device positioned in the process tubing upstream of the pump.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2009Date of Patent: December 30, 2014Assignee: FMC Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Christopher E. Cunningham, Rune Fantoft, Terje Hollingsaeter
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Patent number: 8777596Abstract: An apparatus includes a pump, a motor operatively coupled to the pump, and a flushing system. The motor includes a stator and a rotor disposed in a rotor cavity isolated from the stator. The flushing system is operable to provide a flushing medium to the rotor cavity.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2009Date of Patent: July 15, 2014Assignee: FMC Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Christopher E. Cunningham, Rune Fantoft, Terje Hollingsaeter
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Patent number: 8696331Abstract: A pump unit includes a motor, a pump, a shaft spanning the motor and the pump, and at least a first magnetic bearing supporting the shaft. A hydrocarbon production system includes an underwater well and a pump unit exposed to an underwater environment. The pump unit is operable to pump a production fluid from the well and includes a motor, a pump, a shaft spanning the motor and the pump, and at least a first magnetic bearing supporting the shaft.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2009Date of Patent: April 15, 2014Assignee: FMC Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Christopher E. Cunningham, Rune Fantoft, Terje Hollingsaeter
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Patent number: 8487493Abstract: A rotating apparatus includes a housing, a shaft at least partially disposed within a first pressure environment defined by the housing, a first magnetic bearing supporting the shaft and being at least partially disposed within the first pressure environment, a sensor operable to sense a position of the shaft relative to the first magnetic bearing, a controller disposed in a second pressure environment independent of the first pressure environment and operable to communicate with the sensor and to generate a control signal for the first magnetic bearing based on the sensed position, and a communication device operable to communicate the control signal between the controller and the first magnetic bearing and to communicate the sensed position between the sensor and the controller without penetrating a pressure boundary defined between the first and second pressure environments.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2009Date of Patent: July 16, 2013Assignee: FMC Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Christopher E. Cunningham, Rune Fantoft, Terje Hollingsaeter
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Publication number: 20110058966Abstract: An apparatus includes a pump, a motor operatively coupled to the pump, and a flushing system. The motor includes a stator and a rotor disposed in a rotor cavity isolated from the stator. The flushing system is operable to provide a flushing medium to the rotor cavity.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 30, 2009Publication date: March 10, 2011Inventors: Christopher E. Cunningham, Rune Fantoft, Terje Hollingsaeter
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Publication number: 20110058965Abstract: A flow-conditioning system includes a pump, process tubing coupling the pump to a source of multiple component process fluid, and an in-line flow-mixing device positioned in the process tubing upstream of the pump. A system includes a well disposed below a body of water and providing a source of multiple component fluid, a pump disposed in and exposed to the water, process tubing coupling the pump to the well, and an in-line flow-mixing device positioned in the process tubing upstream of the pump.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 30, 2009Publication date: March 10, 2011Inventors: Christopher E. Cunningham, Rune Fantoft, Terje Hollingsaeter