Patents by Inventor Gerald McInally

Gerald McInally 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: 11846147
    Abstract: A device for hydraulically operating a drive wheel of a wellbore tractor has, in certain embodiments, at least one cam and a rotatable assembly arranged to be rotatable with respect to the cam about an axis of rotation. The rotatable assembly has at least one piston. The device also has a chamber and at least one supply port for supplying hydraulic fluid from the chamber to the piston for energizing the piston, the supply port being arranged to be moved between first and second positions relative to the cam. In the first position, the piston can connect to the supply port and be energized to impart force against the cam for producing forward rotation of the assembly. In the second position, the piston can connect to the supply port and be energized to impart force against the cam for producing reverse rotation of the assembly. Related distributor assembly, wellbore tractor, and method are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: Altus Intervention (Technologies) AS
    Inventor: Gerald McInally
  • Patent number: 11441370
    Abstract: This invention relates to a tractor for use in a wellbore, an apparatus for use in the tractor and related methods. In one embodiment the apparatus has a body, a drive wheel and a movable arm for supporting drive wheel. The arm may be rotatably movable using an actuator such that the drive wheel can be extracted from the body and brought into engagement with a wall of the wellbore, and may be arranged to be offset from a central region of the apparatus for providing accommodation space for the actuator in the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Qinterra Technologies AS
    Inventor: Gerald McInally
  • Patent number: 11162312
    Abstract: A downhole tractor has at least one hydraulic drive section, comprising a first hydraulic supply line for actuating at least one hydraulic cylinder for actuating at least one tractor arm and a second hydraulic supply line for driving at least one hydraulic motor for rotating at least one tractor wheel. The downhole tractor further comprises a hydraulic power pack configured for supplying hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic supply lines. The hydraulic power pack comprises a pressure-setting valve provided in between the first hydraulic supply line and the second hydraulic supply line, wherein the pressure-setting valve is configured for feeding excess hydraulic fluid in the first hydraulic supply line to the second hydraulic supply line to increase the speed of the downhole tractor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Altus Intervention (Technologies) AS
    Inventor: Gerald McInally
  • Publication number: 20210246745
    Abstract: A device for hydraulically operating a drive wheel of a wellbore tractor has, in certain embodiments, at least one cam and a rotatable assembly arranged to be rotatable with respect to the cam about an axis of rotation. The rotatable assembly has at least one piston. The device also has a chamber and at least one supply port for supplying hydraulic fluid from the chamber to the piston for energizing the piston, the supply port being arranged to be moved between first and second positions relative to the cam. In the first position, the piston can connect to the supply port and be energized to impart force against the cam for producing forward rotation of the assembly. In the second position, the piston can connect to the supply port and be energized to impart force against the cam for producing reverse rotation of the assembly. Related distributor assembly, wellbore tractor, and method are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2019
    Publication date: August 12, 2021
    Inventor: Gerald McInally
  • Patent number: 10876361
    Abstract: A winder for a threaded connection of two axially aligned bodies where a first body comprises a male portion at an end connection portion and a second body has a female portion at an end connection portion. The female portion comprises a sleeve with a threaded portion on an internal face. The winder includes a winder ring encircling the male portion. The winder ring forms an internal surface and an external surface having a threaded portion. The internal surface of the winder ring includes a number of parallel grooves that are perpendicular to a rotational axis of the winder ring. A further male portion comprises external, circular grooves complementary to internal, circular ridges of the winder, and a threaded connection between two axially aligned bodies where the connection comprises the winder and the male portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Altus Intervention (Technologies) AS
    Inventor: Gerald Mcinally
  • Patent number: 10871046
    Abstract: The downhole tractor further comprises a hydraulic power pack coupled to the hydraulic supply line, at least one hydraulic component and at least one further hydraulic component. The hydraulic components are coupled to the hydraulic supply line in parallel and configured for being actuated by the hydraulic supply line. The hydraulic supply line comprises a controllable valve placed at a location in between the at least one hydraulic component and the at least one further hydraulic component such that a first part of the hydraulic supply line is coupled to a second part of the hydraulic supply line via the controllable valve. The downhole tractor provides for much better control and facilitates tuning of the performance of the tractor to the actual needs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: Altus Intervention (Technologies) AS
    Inventors: Gerald McInally, Mauro Antonio Zambrana Puerta
  • Patent number: 10816017
    Abstract: A downhole tractor having a hydraulic system for driving a plurality of hydraulic cylinders and a plurality of hydraulic motors. The system comprises: a hydraulic power pack; a first hydraulic supply line for supplying hydraulic fluid to the plurality of hydraulic cylinders; a second hydraulic supply line for supplying hydraulic fluid to plurality of hydraulic motors; a valve section comprising a respective part of first hydraulic supply line and a further respective part of second hydraulic supply line, valve section further comprising an inlet for receiving hydraulic fluid, and a set of valves, and a hydraulic bypass supply line coupled to hydraulic power pack for supplying hydraulic fluid directly to the inlet of valve section bypassing at least part of first hydraulic supply line and second hydraulic supply line. The first and the second hydraulic supply line each comprise two parts connected via respective part in the valve section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: Altus Intervention (Technologies) AS
    Inventor: Gerald McInally
  • Publication number: 20200200194
    Abstract: A downhole tractor having a hydraulic system for driving a plurality of hydraulic cylinders and a plurality of hydraulic motors. The system comprises: a hydraulic power pack; a first hydraulic supply line for supplying hydraulic fluid to the plurality of hydraulic cylinders; a second hydraulic supply line for supplying hydraulic fluid to plurality of hydraulic motors; a valve section comprising a respective part of first hydraulic supply line and a further respective part of second hydraulic supply line, valve section further comprising an inlet for receiving hydraulic fluid, and a set of valves, and a hydraulic bypass supply line coupled to hydraulic power pack for supplying hydraulic fluid directly to the inlet of valve section bypassing at least part of first hydraulic supply line and second hydraulic supply line. The first and the second hydraulic supply line each comprise two parts connected via respective part in the valve section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2018
    Publication date: June 25, 2020
    Inventor: Gerald McInally
  • Patent number: 10570673
    Abstract: The invention relates to a downhole tool for use in a petroleum well. The downhole tool (100) comprises a first part (110) comprising a driving unit (8), and second part (120) comprising a driven unit (9), wherein the drive unit (8) is configured for driving the driven unit (9).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Qinterra Technologies AS
    Inventor: Gerald McInally
  • Publication number: 20190368280
    Abstract: The invention concerns a winder for a threaded connection of two axially aligned bodies where a first body comprises a male portion at an end connection portion; a second body has a female portion at an end connection portion. The female portion comprises a sleeve with a threaded portion on an internal face. The winder includes a winder ring encircling the male portion. The winder ring forms an internal surface and an external surface, and the external surface includes a threaded portion. The winder ring's internal surface includes a number of parallel grooves that are perpendicular to a rotational axis of the winder ring. The invention further concerns a male portion comprising external, circular grooves that is complementary to internal, circular ridges of the winder, and a threaded connection between two axially aligned bodies where the connection comprises the winder and the male portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2018
    Publication date: December 5, 2019
    Inventor: Gerald Mcinally
  • Publication number: 20190219072
    Abstract: The invention relates to a downhole tractor having at least one hydraulic drive section, comprising a first hydraulic supply line for actuating at least one hydraulic cylinder for actuating at least one tractor arm and a second hydraulic supply line for driving at least one hydraulic motor for rotating at least one tractor wheel. The downhole tractor further comprises a hydraulic power pack configured for supplying hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic supply lines. The hydraulic power pack comprises a pressure-setting valve provided in between the first hydraulic supply line and the second hydraulic supply line, wherein the pressure-setting valve is configured for feeding excess hydraulic fluid in the first hydraulic supply line to the second hydraulic supply line to increase the speed of the downhole tractor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2017
    Publication date: July 18, 2019
    Inventor: Gerald McInally
  • Publication number: 20190040700
    Abstract: The downhole tractor further comprises a hydraulic power pack coupled to the hydraulic supply line, at least one hydraulic component and at least one further hydraulic component. The hydraulic components are coupled to the hydraulic supply line in parallel and configured for being actuated by the hydraulic supply line. The hydraulic supply line comprises a controllable valve placed at a location in between the at least one hydraulic component and the at least one further hydraulic component such that a first part of the hydraulic supply line is coupled to a second part of the hydraulic supply line via the controllable valve. The downhole tractor provides for much better control and facilitates tuning of the performance of the tractor to the actual needs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2017
    Publication date: February 7, 2019
    Inventors: Gerald McInally, Mauro Antonio Zambrana Puerta
  • Publication number: 20180209491
    Abstract: The invention relates to a downhole tool for use in a petroleum well. The downhole tool (100) comprises a first part (110) comprising a driving unit (8), and second part (120) comprising a driven unit (9), wherein the drive unit (8) is configured for driving the driven unit (9).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2016
    Publication date: July 26, 2018
    Inventor: Gerald McInally
  • Publication number: 20180119503
    Abstract: This invention relates to a tractor for use in a wellbore, an apparatus for use in the tractor and related methods. In one embodiment the apparatus has a body, a drive wheel and a movable arm for supporting drive wheel. The arm may be rotatably movable using an actuator such that the drive wheel can be extracted from the body and brought into engagement with a wall of the wellbore, and may be arranged to be offset from a central region of the apparatus for providing accommodation space for the actuator in the body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Publication date: May 3, 2018
    Inventor: Gerald McInally
  • Patent number: 8302682
    Abstract: A wireline tractor includes a displacement mechanism and at least one driving wheel positioned on the displacement mechanism so that the driving wheel is held in a biasing manner against a well wall. The displacement mechanism is rotatable or movable between a first position at which the driving wheel bears against the well wall on one side of the wireline tractor, and a second position at which the driving wheel bears against the well wall on the opposite side of the wireline tractor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Aker Well Service AS
    Inventor: Gerald McInally
  • Publication number: 20100012315
    Abstract: A device for a wireline tractor includes at least one driving wheel positioned on a displacement mechanism connected to the wireline tractor, in which the displacement mechanism is arranged so as to hold the driving wheel in a biasing manner against a well wall. The displacement mechanism at least is rotatable or movable between a first position at which the driving wheel bears against the well wall on one side of the wireline tractor, and a second position at which the driving wheel bears against the well wall on the opposite side of the wireline tractor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2008
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Applicant: AKER WELL SERVICE AS
    Inventor: Gerald McInally