Patents by Inventor James Wheeler

James Wheeler 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: 9453400
    Abstract: A method for heating heavy oil inside a production well. The method raises the subsurface temperature of heavy oil by utilizing an activator that has been injected below the surface. The activator is then excited with a generated non-microwave frequency from 0.1 MHz to 300 MHz such that the excited activator heats the heavy oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignees: ConocoPhillips Company, Harris Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas James Wheeler, Wayne Reid Dreher, Francis Eugene Parsche, Mark Alan Trautman
  • Patent number: 9329212
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing collaborative energy benchmarking are described. Information including background data, energy consumption data, temporal data, and/or other information is gathered from multiple sources and stored in a central database. Based on the stored information, energy benchmarks are created for measuring residential energy usage. Energy usage data is displayed to consumers in multiple formats, and permits consumers to directly compare their energy usage data to other consumers or groups of consumers, in addition to their own energy usage. In some embodiments, energy challenge programs encourage reduction of energy usage. Through such programs, consumers create and present challenges for themselves and/or other consumers, such as to reduce energy usage during a given timeframe. The progress of the group and individual consumers is displayed during the course of a challenge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: Tendril Networks, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles Reid Benes, Rebecca Fay Premus, Michael Kent Ruth, Carol L. Stimmel, Adrian Christopher Tuck, Andrew James Wheeler
  • Publication number: 20150192626
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing collaborative energy benchmarking are described. Information including background data, energy consumption data, temporal data, and/or other information is gathered from multiple sources and stored in a central database. Based on the stored information, energy benchmarks are created for measuring residential energy usage. Energy usage data is displayed to consumers in multiple formats, and permits consumers to directly compare their energy usage data to other consumers or groups of consumers, in addition to their own energy usage. In some embodiments, energy challenge programs encourage reduction of energy usage. Through such programs, consumers create and present challenges for themselves and/or other consumers, such as to reduce energy usage during a given timeframe. The progress of the group and individual consumers is displayed during the course of a challenge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2015
    Publication date: July 9, 2015
    Inventors: Charles Reid Benes, Rebecca Fay Premus, Michael Kent Ruth, Carol L. Stimmel, Adrian Christopher Tuck, Andrew James Wheeler
  • Patent number: 8668119
    Abstract: A container for containing and dispensing viscous comestibles, such as ice cream, is disclosed. The container includes a container body with a nozzle and a container cap movably coupled to the container body. The container cap moves between at least two positions, a first position where the container cap covers the nozzle, and a second position where a portion of the nozzle extends through a container cap opening. In some embodiments a straw portion of the nozzle extends through the container cap opening. A method of containing viscous comestibles is disclosed which includes attaching a container cap to a container body such that the container cap has at least two positions, testing that the container cap moves to each of its at least two positions, inserting viscous comestibles into the container body through a nozzle opening in the container body nozzle, and locking the container cap in the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Inventor: James Wheeler
  • Patent number: 8607884
    Abstract: Methods and systems relate to recovering petroleum products from an underground reservoir. Injection of steam along with carbon dioxide into the reservoir facilitates the recovering, which is further influenced by operating pressure for the injection. Absorption of the carbon dioxide by the products and heat transfer from the steam to the products act to reduce viscosity of the products in order to aid flowing of the products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: ConocoPhillips Company
    Inventors: Thomas James Wheeler, Windsong Fang
  • Publication number: 20120234536
    Abstract: A method for heating heavy oil inside a production well. The method raises the subsurface temperature of heavy oil by utilizing an activator that has been injected below the surface. The activator is then excited with a generated non-microwave frequency from 0.1 MHz to 300 MHz such that the excited activator heats the heavy oil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2011
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicants: Harris Corporation, ConocoPhillips Company
    Inventors: Thomas James Wheeler, Wayne Reid Dreher, Francis Eugene Parsche, Mark Alan Trautman
  • Patent number: 8000288
    Abstract: A method for monitoring a wireless network includes, at a device including a communication interface coupling the device to a wireless network, monitoring messages transmitted between the communication interface and the wireless network, and outputting monitoring data associated with the monitored messages from the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Ember Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew James Wheeler, Dewitt Clinton Seward, IV, Jonathan Everett Avey
  • Publication number: 20110186292
    Abstract: Methods and systems relate to recovering petroleum products from an underground reservoir. Injection of steam along with carbon dioxide into the reservoir facilitates the recovering, which is further influenced by operating pressure for the injection. Absorption of the carbon dioxide by the products and heat transfer from the steam to the products act to reduce viscosity of the products in order to aid flowing of the products.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2011
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Applicant: ConocoPhillips Company
    Inventors: Thomas James Wheeler, Windsong Fang
  • Publication number: 20110049170
    Abstract: A container for containing and dispensing viscous comestibles, such as ice cream, is disclosed. The container includes a container body with a nozzle and a container cap movably coupled to the container body. The container cap moves between at least two positions, a first position where the container cap covers the nozzle, and a second position where a portion of the nozzle extends through a container cap opening. In some embodiments a straw portion of the nozzle extends through the container cap opening. A method of containing viscous comestibles is disclosed which includes attaching a container cap to a container body such that the container cap has at least two positions, testing that the container cap moves to each of its at least two positions, inserting viscous comestibles into the container body through a nozzle opening in the container body nozzle, and locking the container cap in the first position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2010
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Inventor: James Wheeler
  • Patent number: 7819260
    Abstract: A tire loading apparatus and method of packing tires that includes placing the tires in a rack, compressing the tires, and assembling the rack are disclosed. The apparatus includes one or more conveyors, scanners, and robots that load tires from a conveyor to a rack. A tire unloading apparatus is also disclosed. The unloading apparatus includes a scissor mechanism to raise and/or lower tire racks to an unloading platform. The unloading apparatus additionally includes one or more unloaders and conveyors. The sorting and unloading of tires is accomplished with one or more automated conveyors, scanners, and storage structures for reading information from incoming tires and using the tire information to sort and store the tires. A rack to improve compression and support of tires during storage and shipment is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Linwell, Inc.
    Inventors: Wendell B. Leimbach, James Wheeler Marshal, Rick Wallace
  • Patent number: 7782813
    Abstract: A method for monitoring a wireless network includes, at a device including a communication interface coupling the device to a wireless network, monitoring messages transmitted between the communication interface and the wireless network, and outputting monitoring data associated with the monitored messages from the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Ember Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew James Wheeler, Dewitt Clinton Seward, IV, Jonathan Everett Avey
  • Publication number: 20100196556
    Abstract: A container for containing and dispensing viscous comestibles is disclosed. Viscous comestibles typically include frozen and/or partially frozen comestibles such as ice-cream and frozen and/or partially frozen yogurt, custard, gelato, sorbet, and smoothies. The container comprises a nozzle with a nozzle opening at the proximal end of the container. The distal end of the container body has a distal opening. The container includes a plunger cap, which sealably, frictionably fits within the container body, wherein the plunger cap moves towards the nozzle opening in response to suction applied to the nozzle opening. In some embodiments the container includes a lip at the distal end of the container to retain the plunger cap within the container body. The container can include a dispensing ledge or the container can include a lid, wherein the lid can be repeatably coupled to the nozzle opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2009
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Inventor: James Wheeler
  • Publication number: 20100172265
    Abstract: A method for monitoring a wireless network includes, at a device including a communication interface coupling the device to a wireless network, monitoring messages transmitted between the communication interface and the wireless network, and outputting monitoring data associated with the monitored messages from the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2010
    Publication date: July 8, 2010
    Applicant: EMBER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Andrew James Wheeler, Dewitt Clinton Seward, IV, Jonathan Everett Avey
  • Publication number: 20100036190
    Abstract: A brachytherapy shielding system configured to be used with a brachytherapy application includes a balloon catheter and a body made from a magnetic material positioned within an inflatable portion, such as a balloon portion, of the balloon catheter. The brachytherapy shielding system is arranged to shield skin tissue exposed to a radiation source during intracavitary radiation therapy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2009
    Publication date: February 11, 2010
    Inventors: Brent D. Murphy, James Wheeler
  • Publication number: 20090148260
    Abstract: A tire loading apparatus and method of packing tires that includes placing the tires in a rack, compressing the tires, and assembling the rack are disclosed. The apparatus includes one or more conveyors, scanners, and robots that load tires from a conveyor to a rack. A tire unloading apparatus is also disclosed. The unloading apparatus includes a scissor mechanism to raise and/or lower tire racks to an unloading platform. The unloading apparatus additionally includes one or more unloaders and conveyors. The sorting and unloading of tires is accomplished with one or more automated conveyors, scanners, and storage structures for reading information from incoming tires and using the tire information to sort and store the tires. A rack to improve compression and support of tires during storage and shipment is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2008
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Applicant: LINWELL, INC.
    Inventors: Wendell B. Leimbach, James Wheeler Marshal, Rick Wallace
  • Publication number: 20090143897
    Abstract: A tire loading apparatus and method of packing tires that includes placing the tires in a rack, compressing the tires, and assembling the rack are disclosed. The apparatus includes one or more conveyors, scanners, and robots that load tires from a conveyor to a rack. A tire unloading apparatus is also disclosed. The unloading apparatus includes a scissor mechanism to raise and/or lower tire racks to an unloading platform. The unloading apparatus additionally includes one or more unloaders and conveyors. The sorting and unloading of tires is accomplished with one or more automated conveyors, scanners, and storage structures for reading information from incoming tires and using the tire information to sort and store the tires. A rack to improve compression and support of tires during storage and shipment is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2008
    Publication date: June 4, 2009
    Applicant: LINWELL, INC.
    Inventors: Wendell B. Leimbach, James Wheeler Marshal, Rick Wallace
  • Publication number: 20080223410
    Abstract: The fluid supply apparatus includes a plurality of supply lines (308), each line having an outlet control device (328) configurable to either allow or prevent fluid in the line flowing to a shared outlet conduit (326). A controller (332) sets the outlet control devices of one or more of the plurality of supply lines in accordance with the output of a monitoring device (336), which monitors the concentration of cleaning fluid passing through the outlet conduit, to control the fluid delivered by the delivery device and the one or more outlet control devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2005
    Publication date: September 18, 2008
    Applicant: CleverClear Ltd
    Inventors: Anthony Molloy, Steven James Wheeler, Matthew Molloy
  • Publication number: 20080146861
    Abstract: A brachytherapy applicator shielding system includes a brachytherapy applicator, a magnet, and magnetically attractable particles. The brachytherapy applicator shielding system is arranged to shield skin tissue exposed to a radiation source during intracavitary radiation therapy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2007
    Publication date: June 19, 2008
    Applicant: GOSHEN HEALTH SYSTEM, INC.
    Inventors: Brent D. Murphy, James Wheeler
  • Publication number: 20070255641
    Abstract: The present invention provides a novel computer interface for trading municipal bonds. Aspects of the invention include a trading engine hosted by a broker's broker and which is accessed by a number of brokers (or the like) via client-machine that are networked to the trading engine. The interface allows the broker to provide search criteria for municipal bonds that may be available as offerings or as bid-wanteds. The interface can also allow the same broker to provide requests for bids for municipal bonds, so that the broker's broker can conduct a bid-wanted process. Each time the search information is updated, a notification is pushed to the broker's client-machine. Likewise, when the bids responsive to the bid-wanted process have been aggregated by the broker's broker, a notification is pushed to the broker's client-machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2006
    Publication date: November 1, 2007
    Inventors: Kevin Harrington, Kenneth Torres, James Wheeler
  • Publication number: 20070101900
    Abstract: The present invention pertains to a dye-based inkjet ink set and, more particularly, to a dye-based inkjet ink set suitable for printing on polyamide fabric.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2005
    Publication date: May 10, 2007
    Inventors: James Wheeler, John Locke, Samit Chevli, Sandra Issler, Alicia Walsh