Patents by Inventor Kelley Leigh Plunkett

Kelley Leigh Plunkett 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: 11927091
    Abstract: A drill bit has a plurality of cutters secured to the bit body, including a gauge cutter defining a gauge diameter of the drill bit. A reciprocating gauge assembly on the bit comprises a cavity defined in the bit body, a piston reciprocably disposed in the cavity, a wear element on an outwardly facing end of the piston, a piston retainer for moveably retaining the piston in the cavity, and a spring biasing the piston outwardly to a neutral position of the wear element with respect to the gauge diameter. The wear element and piston may be urged inwardly in response to an applied load at the drill bit gauge pad, increasing the lateral depth of cut and thereby controlling the aggressiveness of the bit in response to the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Van Jordan Brackin, Trung Huynh, Kelley Leigh Plunkett, Kevin Clark, Andrew David Lake, Darien Louis Gurka, Jr., Daniel Brendan Voglewede, Curtis Clifford Lanning, William Brian Atkins
  • Patent number: 11859451
    Abstract: A depth of cut control (DOCC) assembly includes a DOCC element positioned in a retainer pocket along a drill bit blade to limit a depth of cut of one or more fixed cutters. A retention member initially retains the DOCC element within the retainer pocket at a first exposure position. The retention member is configured to release the DOCC element downhole to allow one-way movement of the DOCC element to a second exposure position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Kelley Leigh Plunkett, Kevin Clark, Van Jordan Brackin, Chris Propes, Rob Arfele
  • Publication number: 20230117439
    Abstract: A depth of cut control (DOCC) assembly includes a DOCC element positioned in a retainer pocket along a drill bit blade to limit a depth of cut of one or more fixed cutters. A retention member initially retains the DOCC element within the retainer pocket at a first exposure position. The retention member is configured to release the DOCC element downhole to allow one-way movement of the DOCC element to a second exposure position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2021
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Applicant: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Kelley Leigh Plunkett, Kevin Clark, Van Jordan Brackin, Chris Propes, Rob Arfele
  • Publication number: 20220205356
    Abstract: A drill bit has a plurality of cutters secured to the bit body, including a gauge cutter defining a gauge diameter of the drill bit. A reciprocating gauge assembly on the bit comprises a cavity defined in the bit body, a piston reciprocably disposed in the cavity, a wear element on an outwardly facing end of the piston, a piston retainer for moveably retaining the piston in the cavity, and a spring biasing the piston outwardly to a neutral position of the wear element with respect to the gauge diameter. The wear element and piston may be urged inwardly in response to an applied load at the drill bit gauge pad, increasing the lateral depth of cut and thereby controlling the aggressiveness of the bit in response to the load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2020
    Publication date: June 30, 2022
    Applicant: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Van Jordan Brackin, Trung Huynh, Kelley Leigh Plunkett, Kevin Clark, Andrew David Lake, Darien Louis Gurka, JR., Daniel Brendan Voglewede, Curtis Clifford Lanning, William Brian Atkins
  • Patent number: 11280136
    Abstract: A rolling depth of cut controller (DOCC) includes a first retainer including a body portion having an arcuate inner surface. The body portion extends partially around a central axis between the inner surface and an outer surface from a mating surface to an engagement surface. Further, the body portion extends axially along the central axis. The rolling DOCC also includes a second retainer secured to the first retainer at the mating surface via at least one fastening feature. Additionally, the rolling DOCC includes a rolling element disposed at least partially within a cavity formed between the first retainer and the second retainer. The rolling element is configured to rotate within the cavity about the central axis, and an exposed portion of the rolling element is configured to provide depth-of-cut control for a drill bit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Van Jordan Brackin, Kelley Leigh Plunkett, Curtis Clifford Lanning, John William Varner, Nicholas Grant Allison
  • Publication number: 20220034168
    Abstract: A rolling depth of cut controller (DOCC) includes a first retainer including a body portion having an arcuate inner surface. The body portion extends partially around a central axis between the inner surface and an outer surface from a mating surface to an engagement surface. Further, the body portion extends axially along the central axis. The rolling DOCC also includes a second retainer secured to the first retainer at the mating surface via at least one fastening feature. Additionally, the rolling DOCC includes a rolling element disposed at least partially within a cavity formed between the first retainer and the second retainer. The rolling element is configured to rotate within the cavity about the central axis, and an exposed portion of the rolling element is configured to provide depth-of-cut control for a drill bit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2020
    Publication date: February 3, 2022
    Applicant: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Van Jordan Brackin, Kelley Leigh Plunkett, Curtis Clifford Lanning, John William Varner, Nicholas Grant Allison
  • Patent number: 11060358
    Abstract: An earth-boring drill bit with brazed-in rolling elements for depth-of-cut control. The earth-boring drill bit includes a bit body, a blade having an exterior surface and defining at least one pocket, and a DOCC element positioned within the blade. The DOCC element includes a walled retainer positioned within the pocket. The walled retainer includes retainer side walls and an endcap attached to the retainer side walls at an end of the walled retainer. The DOCC element further includes a rolling element positioned within and partially enclosed by walled retainer, with a portion thereof extending above the exterior surface of the blade. The disclosure further includes the DOCC element and a method of installing it in the pocket defined by the blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Kelley Leigh Plunkett, Jordan Olear
  • Patent number: 11053742
    Abstract: A rotating cutter for a fixed cutter type bit includes an annular sleeve with a retainer having a plurality of inwardly extending tabs and a spindle cutter rotatably coupled to the annular sleeve. The spindle cutter includes a spindle extending into the annular sleeve and rotatable about a central axis of the annular sleeve, a base portion positioned between the retainer and a proximal end of the annular sleeve, and a cutter portion coupled to the spindle. The rotating cutter further includes at least one pin disposed between adjacent tabs of the plurality of tabs of the retainer to prevent axial movement of the base portion through the retainer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Trung Quoc Huynh, Van Jordan Brackin, Kelley Leigh Plunkett
  • Publication number: 20200399961
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to earth-boring drill bit with brazed-in rolling elements for depth-of-cut control. The earth-boring drill bit includes a bit body, a blade having an exterior surface and defining at least one pocket, and a DOCC element positioned within the blade. The DOCC element includes a walled retainer positioned within the pocket. The walled retainer includes retainer side walls and an endcap attached to the retainer side walls at an end of the walled retainer. The DOCC element further includes a rolling element positioned within and partially enclosed by walled retainer, with a portion thereof extending above the exterior surface of the blade. The disclosure further includes the DOCC element and a method of installing it in the pocket defined by the blade.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2019
    Publication date: December 24, 2020
    Inventors: Kelley Leigh Plunkett, Jordan Olear
  • Patent number: 10801269
    Abstract: A method may comprise placing a plug in a chamber of a housing, sending a carbide powder through the one or more access ports such that the carbide power is directed around the plug and deposited on the inner surface, and removing the plug from the chamber. A rolling element assembly may comprise a housing having an outer surface and inner surface, carbide powder on the inner surface, and a rolling element attached in the chamber with a portion of the rolling element extends from the chamber, wherein the rolling element is in contact with the carbide powder deposited on the inner surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: John Benjamin Hankins, Kelley Leigh Plunkett