Patents by Inventor Maurice A. Williams
Maurice A. Williams 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: 11788363Abstract: A clamp assembly, for mounting around a tool joint coaxially joining cylindrical upper and lower workpieces, comprises an upper collar assembly and a lower collar assembly, each having semi-cylindrical left and right collar segments. The left and right collar segments of each collar assembly are removably connectable to each other by threaded fasteners to form the collar assembly. The upper and lower collar assemblies are coaxially mountable around the upper and lower workpieces, respectively, such that tightening the fasteners will urge the upper and lower collar assemblies to grip the upper and lower workpieces, respectively, and thus to provide increased resistance to relative rotation between the two workpieces about the tool joint axis. The upper and lower left collar segments, and/or the upper and lower right collar segments, may be interlockingly and radially slidable relative to each other to accommodate differences between the outside diameters of the two workpieces.Type: GrantFiled: April 5, 2021Date of Patent: October 17, 2023Assignee: Noetic Technologies Inc.Inventors: Maurice William Slack, Victor Yung
-
Publication number: 20230074786Abstract: A clamp assembly, for mounting around a tool joint coaxially joining cylindrical upper and lower workpieces, comprises an upper collar assembly and a lower collar assembly, each having semi-cylindrical left and right collar segments. The left and right collar segments of each collar assembly are removably connectable to each other by threaded fasteners to form the collar assembly. The upper and lower collar assemblies are coaxially mountable around the upper and lower workpieces, respectively, such that tightening the fasteners will urge the upper and lower collar assemblies to grip the upper and lower workpieces, respectively, and thus to provide increased resistance to relative rotation between the two workpieces about the tool joint axis. The upper and lower left collar segments, and/or the upper and lower right collar segments, may be interlockingly and radially slidable relative to each other to accommodate differences between the outside diameters of the two workpieces.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 5, 2021Publication date: March 9, 2023Inventors: Maurice William SLACK, Victor YUNG
-
Patent number: 11560761Abstract: An axial linkage acting between the main body and the gripping assembly of a tool for gripping tubular workpieces includes a drive cam body that coaxially engages an intermediate cam body via a drive thread, with the intermediate cam body coaxially engaging a driven cam body via a driven thread, and with the drive thread and the driven thread having opposite orientations. The linkage includes a latch mechanism for preventing relative axial displacement of the drive cam body and the driven cam body. In operation while unlatched, the linkage converts bi-directional relative rotation into relative axial movement of the drive cam body and the driven cam body, thus increasing or decreasing the overall length of the linkage according to the rotational direction. The linkage can be re-latched using any of multiple operational sequences.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2021Date of Patent: January 24, 2023Assignee: Noetic Technologies Inc.Inventor: Maurice William Slack
-
Patent number: 11466534Abstract: A cementing head apparatus includes a plug-launching tool and a tubular plug receiver cage disposed within a bore of the launching tool, plus one or more paddles selectively movable within a bore of the receiver cage between a hold position in which the paddles at least partially occlude the receiver cage bore to hold a plug within a retained plug interval of the receiver cage bore, and a launch position in which the paddles are substantially retracted from the receiver cage bore to allow passage of the plug through the receiver cage bore and onward into a casing string to which the launching tool is mounted.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2020Date of Patent: October 11, 2022Assignee: Noetic Technologies Inc.Inventors: Maurice William Slack, Petre Dorobantu
-
Publication number: 20220316284Abstract: An axial linkage acting between the main body and the gripping assembly of a tool for gripping tubular workpieces includes a drive cam body that coaxially engages an intermediate cam body via a drive thread, with the intermediate cam body coaxially engaging a driven cam body via a driven thread, and with the drive thread and the driven thread having opposite orientations. The linkage includes a latch mechanism for preventing relative axial displacement of the drive cam body and the driven cam body. In operation while unlatched, the linkage converts bi-directional relative rotation into relative axial movement of the drive cam body and the driven cam body, thus increasing or decreasing the overall length of the linkage according to the rotational direction. The linkage can be re-latched using any of multiple operational sequences.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 26, 2021Publication date: October 6, 2022Inventor: Maurice William SLACK
-
Publication number: 20220259930Abstract: A rotary latch release mechanism includes axially-aligned upper and lower rotary latch components carried on and rotationally coupled to upper and lower latch assemblies, respectively. The latch release mechanism is movable from an axially-latched position to an axially-unlatched position in response to relative rotation between the upper and lower rotary latch components. The latch release mechanism has a movable land surface that acts in response to relative axial displacement to induce the relative rotation required to release the latch. The latch release mechanism may be configured such that the axial movement of the movable land surface will cause the relative axial movement required to release the latch in combination with the required rotation. Accordingly, the rotary latch mechanism operates in response to externally-controlled axial movement of a movable land surface carried by the latch release mechanism, without requiring externally-induced rotation.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 2, 2022Publication date: August 18, 2022Inventor: Maurice William SLACK
-
Publication number: 20220243541Abstract: A rotary latch release mechanism includes axially-aligned upper and lower rotary latch components carried on and rotationally coupled to upper and lower latch assemblies, respectively. The latch release mechanism is movable from an axially-latched position to an axially-unlatched position in response to relative rotation between the upper and lower rotary latch components. The latch release mechanism has a movable land surface that acts in response to relative axial displacement to induce the relative rotation required to release the latch. The latch release mechanism may be configured such that the axial movement of the movable land surface will cause the relative axial movement required to release the latch in combination with the required rotation. Accordingly, the rotary latch mechanism operates in response to externally-controlled axial movement of a movable land surface carried by the latch release mechanism, without requiring externally-induced rotation.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 21, 2022Publication date: August 4, 2022Inventor: Maurice William SLACK
-
Patent number: 11313183Abstract: A rotary latch release mechanism includes axially-aligned upper and lower rotary latch components carried on and rotationally coupled to upper and lower latch assemblies, respectively. The latch release mechanism is movable from an axially-latched position to an axially-unlatched position in response to relative rotation between the upper and lower rotary latch components. The latch release mechanism has a movable land surface that acts in response to relative axial displacement, to induce the relative rotation required to release the latch. The latch release mechanism may be configured such that the axial movement of the movable land surface will cause the relative axial movement required to release the latch in combination with the required rotation. Accordingly, the rotary latch mechanism operates in response to externally-controlled axial movement of a movable land surface carried by the latch release mechanism, without requiring externally-induced rotation.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 2020Date of Patent: April 26, 2022Assignee: Noetic Technologies Inc.Inventor: Maurice William Slack
-
Patent number: 11299940Abstract: A rotary latch release mechanism includes axially-aligned upper and lower rotary latch components carried on and rotationally coupled to upper and lower latch assemblies, respectively. The latch release mechanism is movable from an axially-latched position to an axially-unlatched position in response to relative rotation between the upper and lower rotary latch components. The latch release mechanism has a movable land surface that acts in response to relative axial displacement to induce the relative rotation required to release the latch. The latch release mechanism may be configured such that the axial movement of the movable land surface will cause the relative axial movement required to release the latch in combination with the required rotation. Accordingly, the rotary latch mechanism operates in response to externally-controlled axial movement of a movable land surface carried by the latch release mechanism, without requiring externally-induced rotation.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2018Date of Patent: April 12, 2022Inventor: Maurice William Slack
-
Publication number: 20220003064Abstract: A cementing head apparatus includes a plug-launching tool and a tubular plug receiver cage disposed within a bore of the launching tool, plus one or more paddles selectively movable within a bore of the receiver cage between a hold position in which the paddles at least partially occlude the receiver cage bore to hold a plug within a retained plug interval of the receiver cage bore, and a launch position in which the paddles are substantially retracted from the receiver cage bore to allow passage of the plug through the receiver cage bore and onward into a casing string to which the launching tool is mounted.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 8, 2020Publication date: January 6, 2022Inventors: Maurice William SLACK, Petre DOROBANTU
-
Publication number: 20220005554Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for digitizing a framework for clinical development. In one example, A computing device comprising a memory configured to store a regulatory database, and one or more processors may be configured to perform the techniques. The one or more processors may retrieve, from the regulatory database, a template based on a governance process, receive, via a user interface, input from a user, parameterize the template based on the governance process with the user input to create a parameterized template, and store the parameterized template in a database.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 6, 2021Publication date: January 6, 2022Inventors: Frederik Malfait, Brent Carlson, Tim Graser, Mark Watson, Robert Ross, Maurice Williams, LeFether Jackson, Tuan Dinh
-
Publication number: 20220005558Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for digitizing a framework for clinical development. In one example, a computing device comprising a processor and a memory may be configured to perform the techniques. The processor may first define a data model comprising metadata that specifies a data standard representative of requirements for regulatory-compliant exchange of data between entities. The data model may include one or more client objects, where each client object specifying a sequence of a plurality of gates for a process of a clinical research study protocol. Moreover, each gate of the plurality of gates defines one or more conditions for completion of the gate. The processor may express the data model to define the clinical research study protocol. The memory may store the data model.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 6, 2021Publication date: January 6, 2022Inventors: Frederik Malfait, Brent Carlson, John Palof, Maurice Williams
-
Publication number: 20220005555Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for digitizing a framework for clinical development. In one example, a computing device comprising a memory configured to store a study and a processor may be configured to perform the techniques. The processor may receive, from a user, an input specifying a plurality of trial elements for the study, and receive, from the user, an input arranging the plurality of trial elements into a tree data structure. The processor may also determine, based on the tree data structure of the plurality of trial elements, one or more trial arms for the study, each trial arm of the one or more trial arms comprising a single path between at least one trial element of the plurality of trial elements to at least one other trial element of the plurality of trial elements. The processor may further output, for display, the one or more trial arms for the study.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 6, 2021Publication date: January 6, 2022Inventors: Frederik Malfait, Maurice Williams, Robert Ross
-
Publication number: 20210355764Abstract: A rotary latch release mechanism includes axially-aligned upper and lower rotary latch components carried on and rotationally coupled to upper and lower latch assemblies, respectively. The latch release mechanism is movable from an axially-latched position to an axially-unlatched position in response to relative rotation between the upper and lower rotary latch components. The latch release mechanism has a movable land surface that acts in response to relative axial displacement, to induce the relative rotation required to release the latch. The latch release mechanism may be configured such that the axial movement of the movable land surface will cause the relative axial movement required to release the latch in combination with the required rotation. Accordingly, the rotary latch mechanism operates in response to externally-controlled axial movement of a movable land surface carried by the latch release mechanism, without requiring externally-induced rotation.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 19, 2020Publication date: November 18, 2021Inventor: Maurice William SLACK
-
Patent number: 11167358Abstract: A collet-type mechanism for releasably gripping either an external or internal target surface of a tubular workpiece includes a collet receiver defining a collet receiver contact surface configured as a curved lateral surface of a truncated right circular cone, and a segmented collet assembly comprising a plurality of collet segments. Each collet segment defines a workpiece engagement surface configured for gripping engagement with a workpiece target surface, and a collet segment contact surface configured for at least partial contacting engagement with the collet receiver contact surface. The collet segment contact surface may comprise two axially-contiguous regions, one of which corresponds to a curved lateral surface of either an oblique circular cylinder or a right circular cylinder, and the other of which corresponds to a curved lateral surface of a truncated right circular cone.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2020Date of Patent: November 9, 2021Assignee: Noetic Technologies Inc.Inventors: Maurice William Slack, Victor Yung
-
Patent number: 10982711Abstract: An adjustable-length bail extension includes a tubular outer link member, an inner link member axially movable within the bore of the outer member, and an adjustment mechanism for releasably clamping the outer member to the inner member at any of multiple locking positions defined by sets of locking grooves formed at axial intervals on the inner member. The adjustment mechanism is operable between a locked position wherein a collet assembly linked to the outer member engages a selected locking groove set and thereby enables axial load transfer between the inner and outer members; and an unlocked position wherein the collet assembly does not lockingly engage any locking grooves, such that the inner member is axially movable within the outer member to enable adjustment of the overall length of the adjustable-length bail extension by repositioning the collet assembly to engage the inner member at a different locking position.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2019Date of Patent: April 20, 2021Assignee: Noetic Technologies Inc.Inventors: Maurice William Slack, Matthew Allen, Mark Sheehan, Kyle Morrill, Victor Yung
-
Publication number: 20210008640Abstract: A collet-type mechanism for releasably gripping either an external or internal target surface of a tubular workpiece includes a collet receiver defining a collet receiver contact surface configured as a curved lateral surface of a truncated right circular cone, and a segmented collet assembly comprising a plurality of collet segments. Each collet segment defines a workpiece engagement surface configured for gripping engagement with a workpiece target surface, and a collet segment contact surface configured for at least partial contacting engagement with the collet receiver contact surface. The collet segment contact surface may comprise two axially-contiguous regions, one of which corresponds to a curved lateral surface of either an oblique circular cylinder or a right circular cylinder, and the other of which corresponds to a curved lateral surface of a truncated right circular cone.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 6, 2020Publication date: January 14, 2021Inventors: Maurice William SLACK, Victor YUNG
-
Patent number: 10878455Abstract: A system and method for enhancing marketing efforts uses a plurality of advertising media objects, each having a geotagged coded icon located thereon. A remotely located server stores data associated with each of the geotagged coded icons. A personal electronic device in communication with the server comprises executable software that displays representations of one or more of the coded icons on a map at their respective location, selectively filters the displayed representations, and retrieves data associated with selected displayed coded icon(s).Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 2017Date of Patent: December 29, 2020Inventor: Theodore Maurice Williams, IV
-
Patent number: 10787878Abstract: A tool for launching wiper plugs into a casing string in a gas or oil well during cementing operations employs a collet-like mechanism carrying radially-movable jaws arranged to retain a plug in a fluid flow path when the tool is in a closed position, and to release the plug into the fluid flow path when the tool is in an open position. Selection of the desired operational position of the plug launcher (i.e., open or closed) is effected by actuation of an axially-movable sliding sleeve. Alternative means for actuating the sliding sleeve include rotary actuation about the tool's longitudinal axis, rotary actuation about a radial axis generally normal to the longitudinal axis, rotary actuation about a generally tangent axis, and pneumatic or hydraulic actuation. The tool may be adapted to carry multiple wiper plugs for sequential launching into a casing string.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2017Date of Patent: September 29, 2020Assignee: Noetic Technologies Inc.Inventor: Maurice William Slack
-
Patent number: 10662724Abstract: A grip element for gripping a tubular CRA workpiece has a hardened grip surface carrying an array of generally pyramidic die teeth, which may have either pointed or rounded tips, with the configuration of the tooth tips being selected for effective gripping of the CRA workpiece by way of an interference grip, and without unacceptably marking the CRA workpiece. The die tooth density over the grip surface may be selected to minimize accumulation of contaminants between teeth and/or to facilitate removal of accumulated contaminants. The substrate of the grip element may comprise a stainless steel having no free iron, with the grip surface being hardened by nitriding. Optionally, the tips of the grip element may truncated after nitriding to partially expose the stainless steel substrate. In alternative embodiments, the grip element may have a carbon steel substrate with a nitrided grip surface.Type: GrantFiled: November 1, 2017Date of Patent: May 26, 2020Assignee: NOETIC TECHNOLOGIES INCInventor: Maurice William Slack