Patents by Inventor Michael E. Hooper
Michael E. Hooper 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: 8333231Abstract: A Moineau style stator includes a helical reinforcement component that provides an internal helical cavity. A resilient liner is deployed on an inner surface of the helical reinforcement component. The helical reinforcement component includes a solder or braze material and is typically metallurgically bonded to an inner wall of a stator tube. In exemplary embodiments, the helical reinforcement component includes a composite mixture of solder and aggregate. Exemplary embodiments of this invention address the heat build up and subsequent elastomer breakdown in the lobes of prior arts stators by providing a helical reinforcement component. Solder reinforced stators tend to be less expensive to fabricate than reinforced stators of the prior art.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2011Date of Patent: December 18, 2012Assignee: Schlumberger Technology CorporationInventors: Michael E Hooper, James W Estep, Wayne Quantz, Daniel Symonds, John C Wade, Glennon A Wheeler, Jr.
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Publication number: 20110203110Abstract: A Moineau style stator includes a helical reinforcement component that provides an internal helical cavity. A resilient liner is deployed on an inner surface of the helical reinforcement component. The helical reinforcement component includes a solder or braze material and is typically metallurgically bonded to an inner wall of a stator tube. In exemplary embodiments, the helical reinforcement component includes a composite mixture of solder and aggregate. Exemplary embodiments of this invention address the heat build up and subsequent elastomer breakdown in the lobes of prior arts stators by providing a helical reinforcement component. Solder reinforced stators tend to be less expensive to fabricate than reinforced stators of the prior art.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 2, 2011Publication date: August 25, 2011Applicant: Smith International, Inc.Inventors: Michael E. Hooper, James W. Estep, Wayne Quantz, Daniel Symonds, John Clyde Wade, Glennon Allmon Wheeler
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Patent number: 7950914Abstract: A Moineau style stator includes a helical reinforcement component that provides an internal helical cavity. A resilient liner is deployed on an inner surface of the helical reinforcement component. The helical reinforcement component includes a solder or braze material and is typically metallurgically bonded to an inner wall of a stator tube. In exemplary embodiments, the helical reinforcement component includes a composite mixture of solder and aggregate. Exemplary embodiments of this invention address the heat build up and subsequent elastomer breakdown in the lobes of prior arts stators by providing a helical reinforcement component. Solder reinforced stators tend to be less expensive to fabricate than reinforced stators of the prior art.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2007Date of Patent: May 31, 2011Assignee: Smith International, Inc.Inventors: Michael E. Hooper, James W. Estep, Wayne Quantz, Daniel Symonds, John Clyde Wade, Glennon Allmon Wheeler
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Publication number: 20080304992Abstract: A Moineau style stator includes a helical reinforcement component that provides an internal helical cavity. A resilient liner is deployed on an inner surface of the helical reinforcement component. The helical reinforcement component includes a solder or braze material and is typically metallurgically bonded to an inner wall of a stator tube. In exemplary embodiments, the helical reinforcement component includes a composite mixture of solder and aggregate. Exemplary embodiments of this invention address the heat build up and subsequent elastomer breakdown in the lobes of prior arts stators by providing a helical reinforcement component. Solder reinforced stators tend to be less expensive to fabricate than reinforced stators of the prior art.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 5, 2007Publication date: December 11, 2008Applicant: Dyna-Drill Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Michael E. Hooper, James W. Estep, Wayne Quantz, Daniel Symonds, John Clyde Wade, Glennon Allmon Wheeler
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Patent number: 7389832Abstract: A hydrostatic mechanical seal assembly includes a locally deployed pump for pressurizing a lubricant fluid between the opposing faces of a mating ring and a sealing ring. In one exemplary embodiment, such pressurization may be achieved via a device that converts the rotational motion of a drive shaft into fluid pressure. The locally deployed pump is intended to advantageously provide a stable positive pressure on the sealing interface between the mating and sealing rings, which may provide improved sealing characteristics, especially in demanding downhole environments.Type: GrantFiled: May 26, 2006Date of Patent: June 24, 2008Assignee: Dyna-Drill Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Michael E. Hooper
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Publication number: 20080047756Abstract: A hydrostatic mechanical seal assembly includes a locally deployed pump for pressurizing a lubricant fluid between the opposing faces of a mating ring and a sealing ring. In one exemplary embodiment, such pressurization may be achieved via a device that converts the rotational motion of a drive shaft into fluid pressure. The locally deployed pump is intended to advantageously provide a stable positive pressure on the sealing interface between the mating and sealing rings, which may provide improved sealing characteristics, especially in demanding downhole environments.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 26, 2006Publication date: February 28, 2008Applicant: Dyna-Drill Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Michael E. Hooper
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Patent number: 7083401Abstract: The inventive stator includes a helical cavity component made from a material chosen to reinforce an elastomer liner deployed thereon. The contouring of the elastomer liner is asymmetrical, such that the elastomer liner is relatively thick on the loaded side of a lobe as compared to its thickness on the unloaded side of the lobe.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 2004Date of Patent: August 1, 2006Assignee: Dyna-Drill Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Michael E. Hooper
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Patent number: 5472058Abstract: A mechanical seal for use in a rotary rock bit comprises a leg seal ring positioned within a recessed portion of a leg forming a seal cavity. The leg seal comprises one surface partially engaged by a resilient material and an opposite surface comprising a first sealing surface. The mechanical seal also comprises cone seal ring positioned within a portion of a cone forming the seal cavity. The cone seal comprises one surface positioned within and attached to a recessed portion of the cone and another surface comprising a second sealing surface engaging the first sealing surface. The portion of the leg seal ring engaged by the resilient material engages a back face of the leg which includes a ramp, serving to urge the first sealing surface against the adjacent second sealing surface and create a sealing engagement.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 1994Date of Patent: December 5, 1995Assignee: Smith International, Inc.Inventors: Michael E. Hooper, Dah-Ben Liang, Madapusi K. Keshavan
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Patent number: 5402858Abstract: An improved O-ring seal for rock bit bearings is formed from a resilient elastomeric composition comprising a multiplicity of low friction wear resistant particles distributed uniformly throughout the composition. The low friction wear resistant particles can have a rounded or non-rounded configuration. The low friction wear resistant particles located near the surface of the O-ring are exposed through wear of the elastomeric component to form wear pads that contact adjacent rotating rock bit sealing surfaces. The wear pads serve to reduce the break-off friction between the adjacent sealing surfaces and minimize the occurrence of stick-slip, thereby enhancing the service life of the O-ring seal and rock bit.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 1994Date of Patent: April 4, 1995Assignee: Smith International, Inc.Inventors: Wayne C. Quantz, Michael E. Hooper, Madapusi K. Keshavan, Mark J. Hommel
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Patent number: 5353885Abstract: A rock bit is disclosed having a plurality of rolling cone cutters each having a gage row of inserts oriented to face the borehole bottom for crushing the same, and a second row of heel gage inserts which are oriented to face the borehole sidewall for scraping the same, heel inserts are nestled within the profile of the gage inserts in order to alleviate most of the scraping action normally encountered by gage inserts.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 1993Date of Patent: October 11, 1994Assignee: Smith International, Inc.Inventors: Michael E. Hooper, David P. Crockett
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Patent number: 5265964Abstract: A radially disposed thrust bearing surface formed in a rotary cone is provided with at least a pair of grooves and a ramp surface on the trailing edge of the grooves. The groove provides a lubricant reservoir and the ramp serves to generate hydrodynamic pressures during rotation of the rotary cone on the thrust surface of a journal bearing thereby distributing a film of lubricant on the opposing thrust bearing surfaces.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 1992Date of Patent: November 30, 1993Assignee: Smith International, Inc.Inventor: Michael E. Hooper
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Patent number: 5188462Abstract: A radially disposed thrust bearing surface formed in a rotary cone is provided with at least a pair of grooves and a ramp surface on the trailing edge of the grooves. The groove provides a lubricant reservoir and the ramp serves to generate hydrodynamic pressures during rotation of the rotary cone on the thrust surface of a journal bearing thereby distributing a film of lubricant on the opposing thrust bearing surfaces.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 1990Date of Patent: February 23, 1993Assignee: Smith International Inc.Inventors: Michael E. Hooper, Donald F. Wilcock
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Patent number: 5148879Abstract: This invention consists of a floating spindle cap disposed between a spindle pilot bearing extending from a main journal bearing and a cone bore formed by a rotary rock bit cone secured to the journal bearing. The floating spindle cap is formed from a softer material than both the spindle bearing and the cone to accommodate for slight misalignments and edge loading between the journal bearings and the cone while working in a borehole.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 1992Date of Patent: September 22, 1992Assignee: Smith International, Inc.Inventor: Michael E. Hooper
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Patent number: 4793719Abstract: A sealed bearing roller cone rock bit is disclosed having precision roller bearings with very close fits. The bearing package includes highly refined and hardened surface finishes, special roller bearing metal materials and lubricants with specific lube viscosities.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 1987Date of Patent: December 27, 1988Assignee: Smith International, Inc.Inventors: David P. Crockett, Gerard P. Erpenbeck, Michael E. Hooper
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Patent number: RE36452Abstract: An elastomeric o-ring rock bit seal is disclosed with two or more integrally bonded elastomers or phenolic type materials joined together to form the seal. The dynamic sealing face adjacent the journal bearing is fabricated from an elastomer/phenolic engineered specifically for wear resistance The bulk of the seal adjacent the static seal retention cavity typically formed in the rotary cone is molded from an elastomer engineered specifically for precise control of the seal contact force adjacent the dynamic seal face when the seal is compressed against the dynamic face by the seal retention cavity in the cone.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 1996Date of Patent: December 21, 1999Assignee: Smith International, Inc.Inventors: Robert G. Upton, Michael E. Hooper, Jerry Pyka, Robert Chambers, Gary Portwood, Randy Johnston