Patents by Inventor James C. St. John

James C. St. John 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: 5551242
    Abstract: A flameless nitrogen vaporizing unit includes a first internal combustion engine driving a nitrogen pump through a transmission. A second internal combustion engine drives three hydraulic oil pumps against a variable back pressure so that a variable load may be imposed upon the second engine. Liquid nitrogen is pumped from the nitrogen pump driven by the first engine into a first heat exchanger where heat is transferred from exhaust gases from the first and second internal combustion engines to the liquid nitrogen to cause the nitrogen to be transformed into a gaseous state. The gaseous nitrogen then flows into a second heat exchanger where it is superheated by an engine coolant fluid to heat the gaseous nitrogen to essentially an ambient temperature. The superheated nitrogen is then injected into the well. The engine coolant fluid flows in a coolant circulation system. Heat is transferred to the coolant fluid directly from the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1984
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1996
    Assignee: Halliburton Company
    Inventors: Stanley B. Loesch, James C. St. John, Danny K. Mints
  • Patent number: 4438729
    Abstract: A flameless nitrogen vaporizing unit includes a first internal combustion engine driving a nitrogen pump through a transmission. A second internal combustion engine drives three hydraulic oil pumps against a variable back pressure so that a variable load may be imposed upon the second engine. Liquid nitrogen is pumped from the nitrogen pump driven by the first engine into a first heat exchanger where heat is transferred from exhaust gases from the first and second internal combustion engines to the liquid nitrogen to cause the nitrogen to be transformed into a gaseous state. The gaseous nitrogen than flows into a second heat exchanger where it is superheated by an engine coolant fluid to heat the gaseous nitrogen to essentially an ambient temperature. The superheated nitrogen is then injected into the well. The engine coolant fluid flows in a coolant circulation system. Heat is transferred to the coolant fluid directly from the internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1980
    Date of Patent: March 27, 1984
    Assignee: Halliburton Company
    Inventors: Stanley B. Loesch, James C. St. John, Danny K. Mints
  • Patent number: 4409927
    Abstract: A flameless nitrogen vaporizing unit includes a first internal combustion engine driving a nitrogen pump through a transmission. Connected to the transmission is a transmission retarder for varying the load on the first internal combustion engine by varying a level of hydraulic fluid present in the transmission retarder. A second internal combustion engine drives three hydraulic oil pumps against a variable back pressure so that a variable load may be imposed upon the second engine. Liquid nitrogen is pumped from the nitrogen pump driven by the first engine into a first heat exchanger where heat is transferred from exhaust gases from the first and second internal combustion engines to the liquid nitrogen to cause the nitrogen to be transformed into a gaseous state. The gaseous nitrogen then flows into a second heat exchanger where it is superheated by an engine coolant fluid to heat the gaseous nitrogen to essentially an ambient temperature. The superheated nitrogen is then injected into the well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1980
    Date of Patent: October 18, 1983
    Assignee: Halliburton Company
    Inventors: Stanley B. Loesch, James C. St. John, Danny K. Mints, Allen D. Burmeister