Patents by Inventor Daniel A. Merrill

Daniel A. Merrill 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).

  • Nested bellows expansion member for a submersible pump
    Patent number: 7520735
    Abstract: A multi-diameter bellows for use in a seal section of a submersible pump. The bellows is adapted to surround a shaft that communicates the motor with the pump. The bellows is made of a first collapsible section and a second collapsible section. The volume of the bellows is varied by moving a coupling member that attaches the first collapsible section to the second collapsible section. The coupling member has an outside portion for connecting to the second collapsible section and an inside portion for connecting to the first collapsible section. The coupling member additionally has a transitional section between the outside portion and the inside portion. The transitional portion of the coupling member allows the inside portion to be located within the second collapsible section, i.e., allows the collapsible sections to be “nested”, which increases displaced volume for a given stroke length of the coupling member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Daniel A. Merrill, Leslie C. Reid
  • Above the motor bellows expansion member for a submersible pump
    Patent number: 6851935
    Abstract: A multi-diameter bellows is provided in a seal section of a submersible pump to assist in allowing expansion of dielectric oil within the submersible pump, to equalize the casing annulus pressure with the internal dielectric motor fluid and to isolate the well fluid from the clean dielectric motor fluid. A shaft communicates the motor with the pump and runs through a bellows located in a bellows chamber in the seal section. The bellows is made of a first collapsible section and a second collapsible section. The first collapsible section has a fixed end at a first end of the bellows and has a first cross-sectional area. The second collapsible section has a fixed end at a second end of the bellows and has a second cross-sectional area. A first coupling member is provided between the first collapsible section and the second collapsible section. A volume within the bellows is varied by movement of the first coupling member towards either of the first end and the second end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2005
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Daniel A. Merrill, Leslie C. Reid
  • Above the motor bellows expansion member for a submersible pump
    Publication number: 20040146415
    Abstract: A multi-diameter bellows is provided in a seal section of a submersible pump to assist in allowing expansion of dielectric oil within the submersible pump, to equalize the casing annulus pressure with the internal dielectric motor fluid and to isolate the well fluid from the clean dielectric motor fluid. A shaft communicates the motor with the pump and runs through a bellows located in a bellows chamber in the seal section. The bellows is made of a first collapsible section and a second collapsible section. The first collapsible section has a fixed end at a first end of the bellows and has a first cross-sectional area. The second collapsible section has a fixed end at a second end of the bellows and has a second cross-sectional area. A first coupling member is provided between the first collapsible section and the second collapsible section. A volume within the bellows is varied by movement of the first coupling member towards either of the first end and the second end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2003
    Publication date: July 29, 2004
    Applicant: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Daniel A. Merrill, Leslie C. Reid