Patents by Inventor Nathan E. Fuller

Nathan E. Fuller 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: 10947787
    Abstract: An underreamer for increasing a diameter of a wellbore. The underreamer may include a body having an axial bore extending at least partially therethrough. An electromagnetic activation system may be disposed at least partially within the bore of the body. A valve may be disposed within the bore of the body and coupled to the electromagnetic activation system. The valve may include a mobile element and a static element. The mobile element may be coupled to the electromagnetic activation system and move from a first position where the mobile element obstructs fluid flow through the valve to a second position where the mobile element permits fluid flow through the valve. A cutter block may be movably coupled to the body and move radially-outward as the mobile element moves from the first position to the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: SMITH INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Nathan E. Fuller, Jonathan D. Marshall, Jordan D. Englund, Jacques Orban, R. Craig Boswell
  • Publication number: 20190145178
    Abstract: An underreamer for increasing a diameter of a wellbore. The underreamer may include a body having an axial bore extending at least partially therethrough. An electromagnetic activation system may be disposed at least partially within the bore of the body. A valve may be disposed within the bore of the body and coupled to the electromagnetic activation system. The valve may include a mobile element and a static element. The mobile element may be coupled to the electromagnetic activation system and move from a first position where the mobile element obstructs fluid flow through the valve to a second position where the mobile element permits fluid flow through the valve. A cutter block may be movably coupled to the body and move radially-outward as the mobile element moves from the first position to the second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2019
    Publication date: May 16, 2019
    Inventors: Nathan E. Fuller, Jonathan D. Marshall, Jordan D. Englund, Jacques Orban, R. Craig Boswell
  • Patent number: 10190368
    Abstract: An underreamer for increasing a diameter of a wellbore. The underreamer may include a body having an axial bore extending at least partially therethrough. An electromagnetic activation system may be disposed at least partially within the bore of the body. A valve may be disposed within the bore of the body and coupled to the electromagnetic activation system. The valve may include a mobile element and a static element. The mobile element may be coupled to the electromagnetic activation system and move from a first position where the mobile element obstructs fluid flow through the valve to a second position where the mobile element permits fluid flow through the valve. A cutter block may be movably coupled to the body and move radially-outward as the mobile element moves from the first position to the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: SMITH INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Nathan E. Fuller, R. Craig Boswell, Jacques Orban, Jonathan D. Marshall, Jordan D. Englund
  • Publication number: 20180252043
    Abstract: A tool with a hydraulic lock mechanism may include a body defining a flow tube and a chamber. An expandable member may be coupled to the body. A first valve may be located between the chamber and the flow tube to control the flow of fluid into the chamber from the flow tube. A second valve may located between the chamber and an external environment to control the flow of fluid from the chamber into the external environment. The first and second valves may trap fluid within the chamber to maintain the tool in an active position. A piston may be connected to the expandable member and may move in response to pressurization of the chamber. At one position, the piston may cause the expandable member to extend to a radially outward position. At another position, the piston may cause the expandable member to retract to a radially inward position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2015
    Publication date: September 6, 2018
    Inventors: Nathan E. Fuller, Timothy A. Burdett
  • Patent number: 10030459
    Abstract: A section milling device may include a plurality of rotatable arms that each include one or more cutting members. The rotatable arms may be rotated between a retracted position and an extended position. When rotated to the extended position, the rotatable arms may be locked or substantially limited in their movement by one or more hydraulic pistons. The rotatable arms may be held at a predetermined angle during milling operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: SMITH INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: David A. Stokes, Timothy M. O'Rourke, Nathan E. Fuller
  • Patent number: 9915100
    Abstract: An underreamer for increasing the diameter of a bore. The underreamer includes a substantially cylindrical body. A mandrel may extend axially through the body. One or more cutter blocks are movably coupled to the body. A ratio of a height of the cutter block to a diameter of the body is between about 0.35:1 and about 0.50:1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: SMITH INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Manoj D. Mahajan, Daniel W. Brietzke, Nathan E. Fuller, James A. Barnhouse, Georges Ishak
  • Publication number: 20170101824
    Abstract: An underreamer for increasing a diameter of a wellbore. The underreamer may include a body having an axial bore extending at least partially therethrough. An electromagnetic activation system may be disposed at least partially within the bore of the body. A valve may be disposed within the bore of the body and coupled to the electromagnetic activation system. The valve may include a mobile element and a static element. The mobile element may be coupled to the electromagnetic activation system and move from a first position where the mobile element obstructs fluid flow through the valve to a second position where the mobile element permits fluid flow through the valve. A cutter block may be movably coupled to the body and move radially-outward as the mobile element moves from the first position to the second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2016
    Publication date: April 13, 2017
    Inventors: Nathan E. Fuller, R. Craig Boswell, Jacques Orban, Jonathan D. Marshall, Jordan D. Englund
  • Publication number: 20160010413
    Abstract: A section milling device may include a plurality of rotatable arms that each include one or more cutting members. The rotatable arms may be rotated between a retracted position and an extended position. When rotated to the extended position, the rotatable arms may be locked or substantially limited in their movement by one or more hydraulic pistons. The rotatable arms may be held at a predetermined angle during milling operations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2015
    Publication date: January 14, 2016
    Inventors: David A. Stokes, Timothy M. O'Rourke, Nathan E. Fuller
  • Publication number: 20150322725
    Abstract: A tool with a hydraulic lock mechanism may include a body defining a flow tube and a chamber. An expandable member may be coupled to the body. A first valve may be located between the chamber and the flow tube to control the flow of fluid into the chamber from the flow tube. A second valve may located between the chamber and an external environment to control the flow of fluid from the chamber into the external environment. The first and second valves may trap fluid within the chamber to maintain the tool in an active position. A piston may be connected to the expandable member and may move in response to pressurization of the chamber. At one position, the piston may cause the expandable member to extend to a radially outward position. At another position, the piston may cause the expandable member to retract to a radially inward position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2015
    Publication date: November 12, 2015
    Inventors: Nathan E. Fuller, Timothy A. Burdett
  • Publication number: 20150184462
    Abstract: An underreamer for increasing the diameter of a bore. The underreamer includes a substantially cylindrical body. A mandrel may extend axially through the body. One or more cutter blocks are movably coupled to the body. A ratio of a height of the cutter block to a diameter of the body is between about 0.35:1 and about 0.50:1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2014
    Publication date: July 2, 2015
    Inventors: Manoj D. Mahajan, Daniel W. Brietzke, Nathan E. Fuller, James A. Barnhouse, Georges Ishak