Patents by Inventor Neil Andrews

Neil Andrews 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).

  • Publication number: 20030212178
    Abstract: An acrylic material which is flame retardant comprises 4.9 to 94.9% by wt of an acrylic composition, 5-95% by wt of a halogen-containing polymer, especially PVC, and 0.1-25% by wt of an inorganic composition comprising at least one of an oxide, hydroxide, carbonate, borate, stearate, chloride or bromide, zinc, magnesium, molybdenum, antimony, aluminum, tin, copper, manganese, cobalt or iron.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2003
    Publication date: November 13, 2003
    Applicant: Lucite International UK Limited
    Inventors: Paul Eustace, Neil Andrew McCathy, Nicholas John Marston
  • Publication number: 20030205387
    Abstract: A method of anchoring tubing in a bore comprises: providing first tubing having a section with a wall configured to provide outer surface portions describing a diameter less than a first diameter. The tubing is located within a bore comprising a first section having an internal diameter greater than the first diameter and a second section having an internal diameter corresponding to the first diameter, with the tubing section in the first section of the bore. The tubing section is then reconfigured such that the outer surface portions describe a tubing diameter greater than the first diameter. The tubing is then axially translated relative to the bore to locate the tubing section in the second section of the bore such that the outer surface portions are restrained to the first diameter by the bore, and the outer surface portions engage with the bore.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2003
    Publication date: November 6, 2003
    Applicant: Weatherford/Lamb, Inc.
    Inventors: Neil Andrew Abercrombie Simpson, Alexander Craig Mackay, Graham Mackay, Duncan James Trinder
  • Publication number: 20030205388
    Abstract: A method of anchoring tubing in a bore comprising: providing tubing having a section with outer surface portions defining a tubing profile, and configured to describe an outer diameter less than a first diameter. The tubing is located within a bore having an internal diameter equal to the first diameter and defining a bore profile. The tubing is then reconfigured such that the tubing profile engages with the bore profile, anchoring the tubing within the bore.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2003
    Publication date: November 6, 2003
    Applicant: Weatherford/Lamb, Inc.
    Inventors: Neil Andrew Abercrombie Simpson, Alexander Craig MacKay, Graham MacKay, Duncan James Trinder
  • Patent number: 6632767
    Abstract: The low stability of some molecular sieves can be overcome during calcination by a solid state reaction between the molecular sieve and a salt. Molecular sieves including zeolites, metal substituted aluminosilicates, and metallosilicates can be stabilized by this method. The inventive process comprises mixing such molecular sieve with a salt, either directly or as a slurry; and then heating the resulting mixture to remove water, organics and adsorbed species.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Qisheng Huo, Neil Andrew Stephenson
  • Patent number: 6607046
    Abstract: A drill bit suitable to be connected to a drill string for drilling a borehole into an earth formation, the drill string having a central longitudinal axis, the drill bit comprising a bit body connectable to the lower end of the drill string, and a cutting member provided with cutting devices at the outer surface thereof, the cutting member being rotatable relative to the bit body about a longitudinal axis of rotation extending eccentrically relative to the central longitudinal axis of the drill string, between a first rotational position[ and a second rotational position, whereby in said second rotational position the cutting devices arranged at a larger radial distance from the central longitudinal axis of the drill string than in said first rotational position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2003
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Michael John Betts, Timothy William Rhys Harris, Neil Andrew Abecrombie Simpson
  • Publication number: 20030136561
    Abstract: A method of isolating a section of downhole tubing comprises: running a length of expandable tubing (20) into a tubing-lined borehole (12, 14) and positioning the expandable tubing (20) across a section of tubing to be isolated; deforming at least portions of the expandable tubing (36, 40) to increase the diameter of the portions to sealingly engage the tubing (14) and to isolate the tubing section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2002
    Publication date: July 24, 2003
    Applicant: Weatherford/Lamb, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul David Metcalfe, Neil Andrew Abercrombie Simpson
  • Publication number: 20030132032
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for drilling and lining a wellbore in one downhole trip. The method comprises mounting a drill bit on a drill string including a section of expandable tubing and providing a tubing expander in the string, then rotating the drill bit and advancing the drill string through a bore, then passing the expander through the expandable tubing to expand the tubing, wherein the expandable tubing is deformed by compressive plastic deformation of the tubing with a localised reduction in wall thickness, resulting in a subsequent increase in tubing diameter, and then retrieving the drill bit from the bore through the expanded tubing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2003
    Publication date: July 17, 2003
    Applicant: Weatherford/Lamb, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul David Metcalfe, Neil Andrew Abercrombie Simpson
  • Publication number: 20030127774
    Abstract: A tubing expansion device (20) is adapted to be advanced axially, without rotation, through tubing (10) to be expanded. The device (20) comprises a body (22) and a plurality of expansion members (30,32,34) mounted on the body (22), the expansion members (30,32,34) being independently radially movable. The expansion members may be rotatable, or may be non-rotating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2002
    Publication date: July 10, 2003
    Applicant: Weatherford/Lamb, Inc.
    Inventors: David Stephenson, Grant Adams, David H. Grant, Neil Andrew Abercrombie Simpson
  • Publication number: 20030120951
    Abstract: Malware definition data for mobile computing devices 2 is generated from master malware definition data 44 by selecting those classes of malware threat to which the mobile computing device is vulnerable and then selecting the matching malware items from within the master malware definition data. A PC 6 to which the mobile computing device may be connected is responsible for downloading an updated version of the master malware definition data for its own use and generates appropriate mobile computing device malware definition data for transfer to the mobile computing device when it is connected to the PC. The scanner programs of both the PC and the mobile computing device may be similarly updated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2001
    Publication date: June 26, 2003
    Inventors: Paul Nicholas Gartside, Neil Andrew Cowie
  • Publication number: 20030110387
    Abstract: When a user commands execution of a computer program to commence, a loader program 2 is first started. This loader program2 reads an encrypted version of the computer program 6 and decrypts it using a public key. This generates an executable version of the computer program 9 which is written directly to the computer memory 8. When the loader program 2 has decrypted the whole of the computer program 9 it starts execution of the computer program 9 it has written into the computer memory 8 and terminates itself or is terminated by the computer program it started. The computer program 9 written into the computer memory 8 will be written into its own memory space and will have its own execution thread. The encryption used may be public key/private key encryption.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2001
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Inventors: Neil Andrew Cowie, Igor Garrievich Muttik, Daniel Joseph Wolff
  • Publication number: 20030103887
    Abstract: Monovalent and/or divalent cation-exchanged zeolite adsorbents, such as zinc-substituted zeolites, for use in separating nitrogen from a gas, such as air, and a process for use of the adsorbents in a PSA cycle to economically and effectively produce nitrogen from air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2001
    Publication date: June 5, 2003
    Inventor: Neil Andrew Stephenson
  • Patent number: 6547859
    Abstract: A process for making microporous membranes that incorporate selected gas selective species as surface sites in a controlled spacing and orientation manner and such membranes so formed being suitable for separating and purifying the selected gas from selected gas containing gas mixtures. An example is the use of oxygen selective transition element complexes (TECs) as surface sites for separating and purifying oxygen from oxygen-containing gas mixtures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Timothy Mullhaupt, Neil Andrew Stephenson, Frank Notaro, Ravi Prasad
  • Patent number: 6543552
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for drilling and lining a wellbore in one downhole trip. The method comprises mounting a drill bit on a drill string including a section of expandable tubing and providing a tubing expander in the string, then rotating the drill bit and advancing the drill string through a bore, then passing the expander through the expandable tubing to expand the tubing, wherein the expandable tubing is deformed by compressive plastic deformation of the tubing with a localised reduction in wall thickness, resulting in a subsequent increase in tubing diameter, and then retrieving the drill bit from the bore through the expanded tubing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Assignee: Weatherford/Lamb, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul David Metcalfe, Neil Andrew Abercrombie Simpson
  • Publication number: 20030051885
    Abstract: A method of expanding tubing comprises the steps: providing a length of expandable tubing; locating an expansion tool, such as a cone, in the tubing; and applying impulses to the tool to drive the tool through the tubing and expand the tubing to a larger diameter. The tubing may be located downhole and may have a solid wall or a slotted wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2002
    Publication date: March 20, 2003
    Inventors: Neil Andrew Abercrombie Simpson, David H. Grant, Grant Adams
  • Publication number: 20030042028
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for creating a seal between two coaxial strings of pipe. The method and apparatus have utility in one embodiment for sealing the annulus between the tubing and the casing within a hydrocarbon wellbore. According to the method of the present invention, an expander tool is positioned at a selected depth within the tubing, and then actuated in order to expand the tubing against the inner wall of the casing wall. The expander tool is rotated in order to provide a fluid seal in the annulus. In this way, the tubing string becomes its own packer. In the preferred embodiment, an elastomeric seal is provided around the outer surface of the tubing to enhance the fluid seal. Further, a slip ring is provided around the outer surface of the tubing to provide a gripping means between the tubing and the casing. In the preferred embodiment, rollers of the expander tool are aligned with the seal ring and slip ring before expansion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2001
    Publication date: March 6, 2003
    Applicant: Weatherford/Lamb, Inc.
    Inventors: J. Eric Lauritzen, Robert Joe Coon, Neil Andrew Abercrombie Simpson
  • Patent number: 6527049
    Abstract: A method of isolating a section of downhole tubing comprises: running a length of expandable tubing (20) into a tubing-lined borehole (12, 14) and positioning the expandable tubing (20) across a section of tubing to be isolated; deforming at least portions of the expandable tubing (36, 40) to increase the diameter of the portions to sealingly engage the tubing (14) and to isolate the tubing section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Assignee: Weatherford/Lamb, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul David Metcalfe, Neil Andrew Abercrombie Simpson
  • Publication number: 20030029258
    Abstract: A ballnut assembly is provided in which a locknut (20), which is normally unloaded becomes loaded in the event of failure of a primary load path. This loading causes relative motion between Tocking nut (24) and the threads of a shaft (8) such that on clearance there between is eliminated. This causes frictional forces to initiate a lock-up of the locknut.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2002
    Publication date: February 13, 2003
    Inventors: Jonathan Paul Davies, Brian Farley, Neil Andrew Venables
  • Publication number: 20030024711
    Abstract: A method of expanding tubing comprises locating an expansion tool in a section of tubing to be expanded, applying a fluid pressure to the tubing to create a fluid pressure expansion force and induce a hoop stress in the tubing, and applying a mechanical expansion force to the tubing via the expansion tool. The combined fluid pressure expansion force and mechanical expansion force is selected to be sufficient to induce expansion of the tubing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2002
    Publication date: February 6, 2003
    Inventors: Neil Andrew Abercrombie Simpson, David Michael Haugen
  • Publication number: 20030023865
    Abstract: A technique for detecting Trojans and worms within packed computer files uses fingerprint data derived from the unpacked resource data associated with the packed computer files. The number of entries, the position within the resource data and size of the resource that is the largest resource specified, a timestamp value of compilation and a checksum value derived from the whole of the resource data may be included within a fingerprint value as characteristic of a particular set of resource data. A library of such fingerprint values may be generated for known Trojans and worms, or other programs it is wished to detect, and then a suspect file compared against this library of fingerprints.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2001
    Publication date: January 30, 2003
    Inventors: Neil Andrew Cowie, Igor Muttik
  • Publication number: 20030019638
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for shaping pipes, tubes, liners, or casing at downhole locations in wells. Use is made of rollers bearing radially outwards against the inside wall of the pipe (etc.), the rollers being rolled around the pipe to cause outward plastic deformation which expands and shapes the pipe to a desired profile. Where one pipe is inside another, the two pipes can be joined without separate components (except optional seals). Landing nipples and liner hangers can be formed in situ. valves can be deployed to a selected downhole location and there sealed to the casing or liner without separate packers. Casing can be deployed downhole in reduced-diameter lengths and then expanded to case a well without requiring larger diameter bores and casing further uphole. The invention enables simplified downhole working, and enables a well to be drilled & produced with the minimum downhole bore throughout its depth, obviating the need for large bores.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2002
    Publication date: January 30, 2003
    Applicant: Weatherford/Lamb, Inc.
    Inventor: Neil Andrew Abercrombie Simpson