Patents by Inventor Marthinus van Schoor
Marthinus van Schoor 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).
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Patent number: 10557550Abstract: A constant volume flexible joint system includes a flexible membrane for coupling across a joint and spaced radial support ribs fitted to the membrane. Axial support structures are coupled to the spaced radial support ribs preventing axial deformation of the joint due to a differential pressure. The axial support structure preferably include pivoting sockets and blocks enabling the joint to flex and the flexible membrane to contract on the inside of a bend and expand by an equal or near equal amount on the outside of the bend resulting in a constant volume joint that requires low or no torque throughout the bending motion.Type: GrantFiled: April 7, 2016Date of Patent: February 11, 2020Assignee: Mide Technology CorporationInventors: Luke Clovis Saindon, Noel Jared Keegan, Marthinus van Schoor
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Patent number: 9970545Abstract: A seal system includes a face seal rotor ring including a wide sealing face preferably made of tungsten carbide. The stator ring includes a narrower sealing face confronting the rotor ring wide sealing face. The stator ring sealing face is preferably made of polyamide-imide and tapers to narrower widths rearwardly.Type: GrantFiled: February 2, 2017Date of Patent: May 15, 2018Assignee: Mide Technology CorporationInventors: Andrew Cutler, Stephen Hanly, Steven A. Klepper, Christopher Ludlow, Mark Spadafora, Marthinus van Schoor
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Publication number: 20170138477Abstract: A seal system includes a face seal rotor ring including a wide sealing face preferably made of tungsten carbide. The stator ring includes a narrower sealing face confronting the rotor ring wide sealing face. The stator ring sealing face is preferably made of polyamide-imide and tapers to narrower widths rearwardly.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 2, 2017Publication date: May 18, 2017Inventors: Andrew Cutler, Stephen Hanly, Steven A. Klepper, Christopher Ludlow, Mark Spadafora, Marthinus van Schoor
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Publication number: 20160305554Abstract: A seal system includes a face seal rotor ring including a wide sealing face preferably made of tungsten carbide. The stator ring includes a narrower sealing face confronting the rotor ring wide sealing face. The stator ring sealing face is preferably made of polyamide-imide and tapers to narrower widths rearwardly.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 17, 2015Publication date: October 20, 2016Inventors: Andrew Cutler, Stephen Hanly, Steven A. Klepper, Christopher Ludlow, Mark Spadafora, Marthinus van Schoor
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Publication number: 20160297504Abstract: A constant volume flexible joint system includes a flexible membrane for coupling across a joint and spaced radial support ribs fitted to the membrane. Axial support structures are coupled to the spaced radial support ribs preventing axial deformation of the joint due to a differential pressure. The axial support structure preferably include pivoting sockets and blocks enabling the joint to flex and the flexible membrane to contract on the inside of a bend and expand by an equal or near equal amount on the outside of the bend resulting in a constant volume joint that requires low or no torque throughout the bending motion.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 7, 2016Publication date: October 13, 2016Inventors: Luke Clovis Saindon, Noel Jared Keegan, Marthinus van Schoor
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Publication number: 20140360699Abstract: A heat sink assembly and method wherein a base plate is mountable to a heat source and spaced fins on the base plate define flow channels therebetween. Self actuating louvers are configured to increase flow through select channels in response to increased temperatures.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 7, 2013Publication date: December 11, 2014Inventors: Marthinus van Schoor, Steven Thomas
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Patent number: 8608172Abstract: A bulkhead seal includes a housing configured to be attached to a bulkhead about a shaft and defining an annular recess. An annular diaphragm seal is rotatably disposed in the annular recess of the housing and about the shaft. A plurality of orifices extend through the annular diaphragm seal to prevent air pressure differentials from locking the annular diaphragm seal with respect to the housing. A lip seal is provided on each side of the annular diaphragm seal. Each lip seal includes a seal portion disposed to seal the orifices in the presences of liquid.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2010Date of Patent: December 17, 2013Assignee: Mide Technology CorporationInventors: Marthinus van Schoor, Steven Klepper, Andrew Cutler
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Patent number: 8419020Abstract: A fluid activated shaft bulkhead seal system includes an annular carrier fixed with respect to a bulkhead and about a shaft extending through the bulkhead and the annular carrier. The annular carrier supports a pair of lip seals each of which defines an outwardly facing pocket and a lip portion spaced from the shaft and a portion abutting the carrier. A foam body is disposed in the pocket of each lip seal. Each foam body includes a gel material configured to expand in the presence of fluid urging the lip portions of the lip seals into contact with the shaft to seal the annular carrier with respect to the shaft. An annular retainer is mated to each side of the annular carrier for retaining the foam body in the pocket of each lip seal.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2010Date of Patent: April 16, 2013Assignee: Mide Technology CorporationInventors: Marthinus van Schoor, Christopher C. Ludlow, Steven A. Klepper, Andrew M. Cutler
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Publication number: 20110248450Abstract: A bulkhead seal includes a housing configured to be attached to a bulkhead about a shaft and defining an annular recess. An annular diaphragm seal is rotatably disposed in the annular recess of the housing and about the shaft. A plurality of orifices extend through the annular diaphragm seal to prevent air pressure differentials from locking the annular diaphragm seal with respect to the housing. A lip seal is provided on each side of the annular diaphragm seal. Each lip seal includes a seal portion disposed to seal the orifices in the presences of liquid.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 13, 2010Publication date: October 13, 2011Inventors: Marthinus van Schoor, Steven Klepper, Andrew Cutler
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Publication number: 20100301566Abstract: A fluid activated shaft bulkhead seal system includes an annular carrier fixed with respect to a bulkhead and about a shaft extending through the bulkhead and the annular carrier. The annular carrier supports a pair of lip seals each of which defines an outwardly facing pocket and a lip portion spaced from the shaft and a portion abutting the carrier. A foam body is disposed in the pocket of each lip seal. Each foam body includes a gel material configured to expand in the presence of fluid urging the lip portions of the lip seals into contact with the shaft to seal the annular carrier with respect to the shaft. An annular retainer is mated to each side of the annular carrier for retaining the foam body in the pocket of each lip seal.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 28, 2010Publication date: December 2, 2010Inventors: Marthinus van Schoor, Christopher C. Ludlow, Steven A. Klepper, Andrew M. Cutler
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Patent number: 7828299Abstract: Systems and methods associated with a fluid-activated shaft seal are provided. The systems, which feature multiple components, include a support component defining an exterior surface, a carrier component including an interior surface to slideably engage the exterior surface of the support component, and a seal disposed relative to the carrier component. The seal includes a lip portion and a fluid-responsive gel material that expands when exposed to a fluid to urge the lip portion towards or into contact with a shaft. The gel material contracts in the absence of the fluid to form or increase the size of a gap between the shaft and the lip portion. Methods of assembling and installing such a system are also described.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2008Date of Patent: November 9, 2010Assignee: MIDE Technology CorporationInventors: Marthinus van Schoor, David Gilbert, Andrew Cutler, Steven Klepper
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Publication number: 20080303218Abstract: Systems and methods associated with a fluid-activated shaft seal are provided. The systems, which feature multiple components, include a support component defining an exterior surface, a carrier component including an interior surface to slideably engage the exterior surface of the support component, and a seal disposed relative to the carrier component. The seal includes a lip portion and a fluid-responsive gel material that expands when exposed to a fluid to urge the lip portion towards or into contact with a shaft. The gel material contracts in the absence of the fluid to form or increase the size of a gap between the shaft and the lip portion. Methods of assembling and installing such a system are also described.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 6, 2008Publication date: December 11, 2008Applicant: Mide Technology CorporationInventors: Marthinus van Schoor, David Gilbert, Andrew Cutler, Steven Klepper
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Patent number: 7246660Abstract: An enhanced electrical power generating system. In a described embodiment, an electrical power generating system for use in a subterranean well includes a flow passage formed through a tubular string in the well, a flow region in communication with, and laterally offset relative to, the flow passage, an electrical power generator operative in response to flow of fluid through the flow region and multiple flow restrictors in the flow passage. The flow restrictors are operative to influence at least a portion of the fluid to flow from the flow passage through the flow region.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2003Date of Patent: July 24, 2007Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Michael L. Fripp, Marthinus van Schoor, John Rodgers, Roger L. Schultz
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Patent number: 7208845Abstract: A vibration based power generator. In a described embodiment, an electrical power generating system includes a vibrating assembly including a vortex shedding device which sheds vortices in response to fluid flow across the vibrating assembly. A generator generates electrical power in response to vibration of the vibrating assembly. The vortex shedding device sheds the vortices at a frequency which is substantially equal to a resonant frequency of the vibrating assembly.Type: GrantFiled: April 15, 2004Date of Patent: April 24, 2007Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Brett Masters, Brooks Radighieri, Marcel Huigsloot, Gert Muller, Andries Du Plessis, Marthinus Van Schoor, Matt Schaefer, Chris Ludlow
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Patent number: 7167009Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining an electrical property of a structure. The method involves creating a model of an electrical property of a structure and measuring the electrical property of the structure between at least two of a plurality of locations. The method also involves determining the electrical property of at least a portion of the structure based on the model and the measurement of the electrical property between the at least two of the plurality of locations.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2004Date of Patent: January 23, 2007Assignee: Mide Technology CorporationInventors: Marthinus van Schoor, Andrew M. Cutler, Gert J. Muller, Attila Lengyel, Brooks Radighieri
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Publication number: 20070006652Abstract: Systems and methods for measuring a load in a structural element include placing at least one actuator and sensor on the structural element. The actuator is capable of exciting a wave of a predetermined frequency in the structural element and the sensor is capable of sensing the wave excited in the structural element. A computer control unit is applied to operate the actuator so as to excite a wave in the structural member in at least a first frequency, and to operate the sensor so as to measure at least one of a change in a resonance frequency in the structural element as a result of a change in loading on the structural member and a change in phase angle in the wave sensed by the sensor as a result of a change in loading on the structural member.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 31, 2006Publication date: January 11, 2007Applicant: Abnaki Systems, Inc.Inventors: James Weldon, Marthinus van Schoor, Attila Lengyel
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Publication number: 20060108745Abstract: Systems and methods associated with a fluid-activated shaft seal are provided. The system includes a housing and a seal disposed relative to the housing. The method reduces flow of a fluid between the shaft and the housing. The method involves installing the housing in an opening relative to the shaft and locating the seal relative to the housing. The seal includes a gel material that expands when exposed to a fluid. The seal reduces flow of the fluid through a gap between the housing and the shaft. Advantages of the system and method include reduced wear to the seal due to friction because the seal does not engage the shaft in the absence of a fluid. The seal engages the shaft in the presence of a fluid. Sealing quality is improved by increasing the pressure differential acting on the gel material. In some embodiments, the seal includes a lip portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 22, 2005Publication date: May 25, 2006Applicant: MIDE TECHNOLOGY CORPORATIONInventor: Marthinus Van Schoor
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Publication number: 20060043336Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlled charging of photoluminescent materials are provided. The method involves receiving a signal associated with an operating property of a luminescent system and determining if the signal satisfies an operating criterion. Electromagnetic energy is provided to the photoluminescent material until an ambient light level in proximity to the system exceeds a predefined level. The system includes a photoluminescent material and a sensor for detecting an operating property of the luminescent system. The system includes a control module for selectively illuminating the photoluminescent material based on the operating property until the ambient light level in proximity to the luminescent system exceeds a predefined level.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 25, 2005Publication date: March 2, 2006Applicant: MIDE TECHNOLOGY CORPORATIONInventor: Marthinus van Schoor
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Publication number: 20060006769Abstract: Laser beam machining is applied to form arbitrarily shaped electroactive ceramics for transducers (e.g., electromechanical sensors and actuators). One particularly preferred embodiment of the invention comprises machining parallel grooves in a ceramic plate to improve flexibility. The grooves provide strain relief in bending by relieving Poisson strains transverse to the direction of bending. This embodiment offers the further benefit that planar anisotropy or directionality is introduced in the transducer. The machining process of the invention further enables the production of more complex geometries than those currently known in the art. Because of the flexibility of the machining process, virtually any desired transducer shape may be produced.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 26, 2005Publication date: January 12, 2006Inventors: Brett Masters, John Rodgers, Marthinus van Schoor
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Publication number: 20050139001Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining an electrical property of a structure. The method involves creating a model of an electrical property of a structure and measuring the electrical property of the structure between at least two of a plurality of locations. The method also involves determining the electrical property of at least a portion of the structure based on the model and the measurement of the electrical property between the at least two of the plurality of locations.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 24, 2004Publication date: June 30, 2005Applicant: MIDE TECHNOLOGY CORPORATIONInventors: Marthinus van Schoor, Andrew Cutler, Gert Muller, Attila Lengyel, Brooks Radighieri