Patents by Inventor Martin Liess

Martin Liess 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: 8141642
    Abstract: A fill-up and circulation tool includes a mandrel; a packer assembly is disposed around the mandrel; and a valve assembly connected to the mandrel, wherein the valve assembly is configured to selectively control fluid flow into the tool and out of the tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Weatherford/Lamb, Inc.
    Inventors: Delaney Michael Olstad, Russell W. Thompson, Russell Lee Morgan, Jim Hollingsworth, Doyle Frederic Boutwell, Jr., Michael Hayes, Martin Liess, John D. Hooker, II
  • Publication number: 20110147573
    Abstract: A sensor cap assembly includes a radiation shielding part provided with a radiation entrance opening, and a radiation-transmissive lens mounted from the outside to the shielding part. The lens is a thick lens with a ratio T/D of thickness (T) to diameter (D) of more than 0.10, preferably more than 0.15.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2008
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Applicant: PERKINELMER OPTOELECTRONICS GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Martin Liess, Fred Plotz, Guido Lauck, Stefan Naumann
  • Publication number: 20110120730
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to an apparatus for positioning a tool at a well site. The apparatus includes a first arm rotationally connected to a guide on a column. The apparatus further includes a second arm rotationally connected to the first arm. The second arm is also connected to a tool attachment member at a pivot point, wherein the pivot point is offset from the centerline of the tool. Additionally, the apparatus includes a flexible tension member having one end operatively connected to the guide and another end connected to the tool attachment member at a location closer to the centerline of the tool than the pivot point, wherein the flexible tension member is configured to maintain the tool in a specific orientation around the pivot point during the positioning operation. In a further aspect, a method of positioning a tool at a wellsite is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2010
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Inventors: Ditmar Clasen, Martin Liess, Martin Helms
  • Publication number: 20100309013
    Abstract: A surface mountable radiation guide for a radiation path between a measurement volume (1) and an electro-optical component has a first radiation interface in a radiation path towards the measurement volume, a third radiation interface in a radiation path towards the electro-optical component, and a reflecting portion forming a first radiation path between the first and the third radiation interface, said first radiation path providing a focus region at the measurement volume.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2008
    Publication date: December 9, 2010
    Applicant: PERKINELMER TECHNOLOGIES GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Martin Liess, Arthur Barlow
  • Patent number: 7707914
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for handling tubulars is provided. In one aspect, the present invention provides a spinner having a first arm having a first roller and a second arm having a second roller, the first arm and the second arm simultaneously adjustable to retain the tubular. The apparatus also includes a third roller capable of urging the tubular against the first and second rollers, wherein at least one of the first, second, and third rollers is actuatable to rotate the tubular. In one embodiment, the spinner further comprises a fluid operated cylinder for adjusting the first arm and the second arm. The arms are adjusted by actuating the cylinder extend or retract the first arm and the second arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Weatherford/Lamb, Inc.
    Inventors: Bernd-Georg Pietras, Martin Liess
  • Publication number: 20100032162
    Abstract: A fill-up and circulation tool includes a mandrel; a packer assembly is disposed around the mandrel; and a valve assembly connected to the mandrel, wherein the valve assembly is configured to selectively control fluid flow into the tool and out of the tool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2009
    Publication date: February 11, 2010
    Inventors: Delaney Michael Olstad, Russell W. Thompson, Russell Lee Morgan, Jim Hollingsworth, Doyle Frederic Boutwell, JR., Michael Hayes, Martin Liess, John D. Hooker, II
  • Publication number: 20090274545
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a tubular gripping assembly for use with a top drive to handle a tubular includes a tubular gripping tool having a mandrel and gripping elements operatively coupled to the mandrel; and a link assembly attached to the mandrel, wherein a load of the link assembly is transferred to the mandrel. In another embodiment, the tubular gripping assembly includes a swivel having selectively actuatable seals. In yet another embodiment, the tubular gripping assembly includes a thread compensator to facilitate tubular make-up. In yet another embodiment, the tubular gripping assembly includes a wedge lock release apparatus to facilitate the release of gripping elements from the tubular.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2009
    Publication date: November 5, 2009
    Inventors: Martin Liess, John D. Hooker, II, Reinhard Grosch, Thomas Kotschy, Andreas Carlsson
  • Publication number: 20090274544
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a tubular handling apparatus is provided with a wedge lock release mechanism that creates a clearance to allow movement by the mandrel having mating wedge surfaces relative to the tubular to release the wedge slips. In another embodiment, a tubular handling apparatus for handling a tubular includes a mandrel; a carrier coupled to the mandrel; a gripping element for engaging the tubular; an engagement member coupled to the carrier for engaging an upper portion of the tubular; and an abutment device adapted to engage the engagement member, wherein a length of the abutment device is adjustable to allow movement of the engagement member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2009
    Publication date: November 5, 2009
    Inventor: Martin Liess
  • Publication number: 20090219971
    Abstract: A method for correcting the output signal of a radiation sensor 20 includes obtaining two or more temperature signals from a corresponding number of measurements of quantities at different times and/or different locations relating to the temperature of the sensor, and correcting the output signal with reference to said temperature signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2006
    Publication date: September 3, 2009
    Applicant: PERKINELMER OPTOELECTRONICS GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Martin Liess, Juergen Schilz
  • Publication number: 20090110535
    Abstract: A remotely operated joint elevator for use in handling a tubular is provided. The single joint elevator including a housing having an access opening configured to receive the tubular. The single joint elevator further including at least one closure member connected to the housing via a hinge pin. Additionally, the single joint elevator including a power assembly configured to rotate at least one closure member around the hinge pin to selectively open and close the access opening. In another aspect, a method of handling a tubular using a remotely operated joint elevator is provided. In yet a further aspect, a remotely operated joint elevator for use in handling a tubular.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2008
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Inventors: Bernd-Georg Pietras, Kevin Wood, Karsten Heidecke, John D. Hooker, II, Martin Helms, Martin Liess
  • Publication number: 20070206180
    Abstract: In an apparatus for handling sheet material or an optical input device, for example, which employs a relative movement sensor (108 ) utilizing the so-called “self-mixing” effect of a laser diode, a band pass filter (100) is provided for filtering the electric signal resulting from measurement of the electric signal to reduce or substantially eliminate the effects of both the low frequency carrier signal and the high frequency noise present in such a signal. As a result, the precision of the laser self-mixing translation measurements is significantly improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2005
    Publication date: September 6, 2007
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
    Inventor: Martin Liess
  • Publication number: 20070164201
    Abstract: In an optical input device based on movement of an object (15) and the device relative to each other and which comprising at least one optical sensor unit including a laser (3) having a laser cavity for generating a measuring beam (13), converging means (50) for converging the measuring beam in an action plane and for converging measuring beam radiation reflected by the object in the laser cavity to generate a self-mixing effect in the laser and measuring means for measuring the result of the self-mixing effect, which effect is determined by said movement, the converging means (50) is adapted to provide a self-mixing effect that is smaller than a possible maximum but larger than a detection threshold for an extended range of distances (AZ) between the object and the device. This allows obtaining the required self-mixing effect in an extended range of distances between the object and the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2005
    Publication date: July 19, 2007
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONIC, N.V.
    Inventors: Martin Liess, Aldegonda Weijers
  • Patent number: 7188548
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an adapter frame is provided for use with a power frame to support a tong assembly. When the adapter frame is coupled to the power frame, the load capacity of the power frame is increased, thereby allowing the power frame to be used with larger tongs or tong assemblies such as a riser tong.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: Weatherford/Lamb, Inc.
    Inventor: Martin Liess
  • Patent number: 7090254
    Abstract: In one aspect, an apparatus for aligning tubulars is provided, comprising at least one guide, a tong, and a backup unit, wherein the guide is arranged on or between the tong and the backup unit, and wherein the guide is, in use, movable towards and away from the tubular with respect to the backup unit. In another aspect, an apparatus for aligning tubulars is provided, comprising a tong, a backup unit, at least one torsion post arranged therebetween, and at least one guide, the guide mounted on the torsion post. In another aspect, a method for aligning tubulars using the apparatus of the invention is provided, comprising moving the guide towards and away from the tubular with respect to the backup unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Inventors: Bernd-Georg Pietras, Martin Liess
  • Publication number: 20060152494
    Abstract: In an apparatus comprising an optical keyboard (140) and an optical input device (182,186) controlled by a moving object and wherein the input device comprises at least one diode laser and photo diode (182) for supplying at least one measuring beam (184) to a device window (186) and for receiving radiation reflected by the object placed on the window, the input device is integrated in the keyboard such that the measuring beam (184) is guided via the positions of the keys (125) to the window (186). In this way the optical the keyboard is substantially simplified and the reliability of the output signal of the input device increased.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2003
    Publication date: July 13, 2006
    Inventor: Martin Liess
  • Publication number: 20050243053
    Abstract: A small and cheap user's input device for measuring scroll-and-click movements of a finger (132) or other object relative to the device comprises at least one sensor unit (124, 126, 130) and sensor signal analyzing means (136) to derive click information and scroll information from the same sensor signal. The analyzing means is designed such as to recognize a first typical time pattern of a click action and a second typical time pattern of a scroll action. Moreover in analyzing a sensor signal obtained during a time interval data obtained during other time intervals can be used to supply reliable signals. This device can be used in a number of different consumer apparatus, such as a mobile phone (134).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2003
    Publication date: November 3, 2005
    Applicant: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Martin Liess, Carsten Heinks, Aldegonda Weijers, Marianne Somers Van Os
  • Publication number: 20050213106
    Abstract: A method of and an input device for measuring movement of an object (80) and the input device relative to each other, which movement comprises at least a scroll movement and a click movement, uses means (98,100,102) to determine the presence of the object on a window (78) of the input device. This allows measuring scroll movement and click movement with one sensor unit (92,94,96) of the input device and reduction of costs and size of the input device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2003
    Publication date: September 29, 2005
    Inventors: Aldegonda Weijers, Martin Liess, Carsten Heinks, Arnoldus Ras
  • Publication number: 20050128024
    Abstract: A waveguide comprises a longitudinal first conductor (110) located in an inner space of a box-shaped longitudinal shield conductor which is provided with a slot (122) defining a sliding support for a substantially plate-shaped coupler (300). The shield conductor (120) is provided with flanges (125, 126) extending substantially parallel to each other on opposite sides of the slot (122). A coupling conductor portion (322) faces the first conductor (110).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2003
    Publication date: June 16, 2005
    Inventors: Martin Liess, Lukas Leyten, Diego Sommavilla
  • Publication number: 20050076744
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for handling tubulars is provided. In one aspect, the present invention provides a spinner having a first arm having a first roller and a second arm having a second roller, the first arm and the second arm simultaneously adjustable to retain the tubular. The apparatus also includes a third roller capable of urging the tubular against the first and second rollers, wherein at least one of the first, second, and third rollers is actuatable to rotate the tubular. In one embodiment, the spinner further comprises a fluid operated cylinder for adjusting the first arm and the second arm. The arms are adjusted by actuating the cylinder extend or retract the first arm and the second arm. In another embodiment, the first arm and the second arm are coupled together and may retract or extend simultaneously. In another embodiment still, the arms may include a cam surface to move the rollers closer together to adjust to the size of the tubular being retained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2004
    Publication date: April 14, 2005
    Inventors: Bernd-Georg Pietras, Martin Liess
  • Publication number: 20050077743
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for handling tubulars is provided. In one aspect, a tong assembly is provided with a first tong for engaging a first tubular and a second tong for engaging a second tubular. Preferably, the tong assembly is mounted on a movable frame for moving the tongs to and from the tubulars. In one embodiment, the tong assembly includes a torque member for rotating the first tong. The first tubular may be rotated relative to the second tubular to makeup or breakout the tubulars. In another aspect, each tong may include a first gripping member operatively coupled to a second gripping member to retain a tubular. Each of the gripping members has a jaw for contacting the tubular. In one embodiment, at least one of the jaws is actuatable to apply a gripping force to the tubular.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2003
    Publication date: April 14, 2005
    Inventors: Bernd-Georg Pietras, Martin Liess