Patents by Inventor Neil Bostrom

Neil Bostrom 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: 10672585
    Abstract: In one example, a lift assembly may exert a force on a rotatable anode of an X-ray source. The lift assembly may include a lift shaft and a lift electromagnet. The lift shaft may be coupled to an anode and configured to rotate around an axis of rotation of the anode. The lift electromagnet may be configured to apply a magnetic force to the lift shaft in a radial direction. The lift electromagnet may include a coupling portion extending between an interior of a vacuum envelope and an exterior of the vacuum envelope and a winding portion coupled to the coupling portion. Windings may at least partially surround the winding portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: VAREX IMAGING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Vance Scott Robinson, Kasey Otho Greenland, Neil Bostrom, Jonathan Miller
  • Patent number: 10636612
    Abstract: In one example, a lift assembly may exert a force on a rotatable anode of an X-ray tube. The lift assembly may include a lift shaft and a lift electromagnet. The lift shaft may be coupled to the anode and may be configured to rotate around an axis of rotation of the anode. The lift electromagnet may be configured to apply a magnetic force to the lift shaft in a radial direction. The lift electromagnet may include a first pole and a second pole oriented towards the lift shaft. Windings may be positioned around the first pole. The lift assembly may include a heat dissipating structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Varex Imaging Corporation
    Inventors: Vance Scott Robinson, Kasey Otho Greenland, Neil Bostrom
  • Patent number: 10629403
    Abstract: In one example, a lift assembly may exert a force on a rotatable anode of an X-ray source. The lift assembly may include a lift shaft and a lift electromagnet. The lift shaft may be coupled to the anode and configured to rotate around an axis of rotation of the anode. The lift electromagnet may be configured to apply a magnetic force to the lift shaft in a radial direction. The lift electromagnet may include a curved surface that contours around at least a portion of the shaft wall. A radius of curvature of the curved surface of the lift electromagnet may be greater than a radius of curvature of the lift shaft, and the spacing between the curved surface of the lift electromagnet and the shaft wall may be non-uniform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: Varex Imaging Corporation
    Inventors: Neil Bostrom, Vance Scott Robinson, Kasey Otho Greenland, Santosh Ramachandran
  • Publication number: 20200105494
    Abstract: In one example, a lift assembly may exert a force on a rotatable anode of an X-ray source. The lift assembly may include a lift shaft and a lift electromagnet. The lift shaft may be coupled to the anode and configured to rotate around an axis of rotation of the anode. The lift electromagnet may be configured to apply a magnetic force to the lift shaft in a radial direction. The lift electromagnet may include a curved surface that contours around at least a portion of the shaft wall. A radius of curvature of the curved surface of the lift electromagnet may be greater than a radius of curvature of the lift shaft, and the spacing between the curved surface of the lift electromagnet and the shaft wall may be non-uniform.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: Neil Bostrom, Vance Scott Robinson, Kasey Otho Greenland, Santosh Ramachandran
  • Publication number: 20200105495
    Abstract: In one example, a lift assembly may exert a force on a rotatable anode of an X-ray tube. The lift assembly may include a lift shaft and a lift electromagnet. The lift shaft may be coupled to the anode and may be configured to rotate around an axis of rotation of the anode. The lift electromagnet may be configured to apply a magnetic force to the lift shaft in a radial direction. The lift electromagnet may include a first pole and a second pole oriented towards the lift shaft. Windings may be positioned around the first pole. The lift assembly may include a heat dissipating structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: Vance Scott Robinson, Kasey Otho Greenland, Neil Bostrom
  • Publication number: 20200105493
    Abstract: In one example, a lift assembly may exert a force on a rotatable anode of an X-ray source. The lift assembly may include a lift shaft and a lift electromagnet. The lift shaft may be coupled to an anode and configured to rotate around an axis of rotation of the anode. The lift electromagnet may be configured to apply a magnetic force to the lift shaft in a radial direction. The lift electromagnet may include a coupling portion extending between an interior of a vacuum envelope and an exterior of the vacuum envelope and a winding portion coupled to the coupling portion. Windings may at least partially surround the winding portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: Vance Scott Robinson, Kasey Otho Greenland, Neil Bostrom, Jonathan Miller
  • Patent number: 9638681
    Abstract: Accurate, real-time formation fluids analysis can be accomplished using the systems and techniques described herein. A fluid analyzer includes a first mode of analysis, such as an optical analyzer, configured to determine a physical (optical) property of a fluid sample. The fluid analyzer also includes another mode of analysis, such as a composition analyzer, such as a gas chromatograph, configured to determine a component composition of the fluid sample. A data processor is configured to determine a quantity, such as a weight percentage, of a target component of the fluid sample in response results obtained from the first and second modes of analysis. Beneficially, the results are obtained at least in near real-time, allowing for interim results, such as results from the first analyzer to be used for one or more of tuning the compositional analyzer and for implementing quality control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Oleg Zhdaneev, Christopher Harrison, Youxiang Zuo, Dingan Zhang, William H. Steinecker, Gordon R. Lambertus, Neil Bostrom
  • Patent number: 9551668
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for elemental analysis of a formation fluid from a subsurface tool having a housing, a sampling probe for collecting a sample of the formation fluid external to the housing, and a microplasma device within the housing and in fluid communication with the sampling probe. The microplasma device includes an upstream gas system, a sampling valve in fluid communication with the sampling probe and the upstream gas system, an expansion chamber for volatizing the formation fluid sample obtained from the sampling valve, and a microplasma chamber in fluid communication with the expansion chamber for ionizing the volatilized fluid sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Christopher Harrison, Neil Bostrom, Bradley Kaanta
  • Publication number: 20130085674
    Abstract: Accurate, real-time formation fluids analysis can be accomplished using the systems and techniques described herein. A fluid analyzer includes a first mode of analysis, such as an optical analyzer, configured to determine a physical (optical) property of a fluid sample. The fluid analyzer also includes another mode of analysis, such as a composition analyzer, such as a gas chromatographer, configured to determine an elemental composition of the fluid sample. A data processor is configured to determine a quantity, such as a weight percentage, of a target component of the fluid sample in response results obtained from the first and second modes of analysis. Beneficially, the results are obtained at least in near real-time, allowing for interim results, such as results from the first analyzer to be used for one or more of tuning the compositional analyzer and for implementing quality control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Applicant: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Oleg Zhdaneev, Christopher Harrison, Youxiang Zuo, Dingan Zhang, William H. Steinecker, Gordon R. Lambertus, Neil Bostrom
  • Publication number: 20130014943
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for elemental analysis of a formation fluid from a subsurface tool having a housing, a sampling probe for collecting a sample of the formation fluid external to the housing, and a microplasma device within the housing and in fluid communication with the sampling probe. The microplasma device includes an upstream gas system, a sampling valve in fluid communication with the sampling probe and the upstream gas system, an expansion chamber for volatizing the formation fluid sample obtained from the sampling valve, and a microplasma chamber in fluid communication with the expansion chamber for ionizing the volatilized fluid sample.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2012
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Applicant: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Christopher HARRISON, Neil BOSTROM, Bradley KAANTA
  • Publication number: 20120125602
    Abstract: A method of monitoring a nonhydrocarbon and nonaqueous fluid injected into the earth's subsurface through a first wellbore that involves positioning a fluid analysis tool within a second wellbore and determining the presence of the injected nonhydrocarbon and nonaqueous fluid by making a measurement downhole on the injected nonhydrocarbon and nonaqueous fluid using the fluid analysis tool. Also a related method of enhancing hydrocarbon production from a subsurface area having first and second wellbores that involves injecting a nonhydrocarbon and nonaqueous fluid into the subsurface through the first wellbore, positioning a fluid analysis tool within the second wellbore, and determining the presence of the injected nonhydrocarbon and nonaqueous fluid by making a measurement downhole on the injected nonhydrocarbon and nonaqueous fluid using the fluid analysis tool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2011
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Inventors: Francois Dubost, Oliver C. Mullins, Lalitha Venkataramanan, Christopher Harrison, Neil Bostrom, Robert Kleinberg
  • Publication number: 20110174694
    Abstract: Kerogen in oil shale is converted to bitumen, oil, gases and coke via a retorting process. The vaporizable oil and gases are then recovered. Following the retorting process, bitumen is recovered via solvent extraction. The overall conversion process is enhanced by calculating conditions to optimize recovery of both oil and bitumen. This can be accomplished by either separately calculating conditions for which production of vaporizable oil and production of bitumen are optimized, or calculating conditions for which production of vaporizable oil and production of bitumen are optimized by applying a maximizing function to combined vaporizable oil and bitumen data. An advantage of this technique is that greater efficiency is achieved because the time duration of heating associated with the retorting process can be reduced and product yields increased.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2010
    Publication date: July 21, 2011
    Applicant: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Neil Bostrom, Gabriela Leu, Andrew E. Pomerantz, Robert Kleinberg
  • Publication number: 20080135237
    Abstract: A method of monitoring a nonhydrocarbon and nonaqueous fluid injected into the earth's subsurface through a first wellbore that involves positioning a fluid analysis tool within a second wellbore and determining the presence of the injected nonhydrocarbon and nonaqueous fluid by making a measurement downhole on the injected nonhydrocarbon and nonaqueous fluid using the fluid analysis tool. Also a related method of enhancing hydrocarbon production from a subsurface area having first and second wellbores that involves injecting a nonhydrocarbon and nonaqueous fluid into the subsurface through the first wellbore, positioning a fluid analysis tool within the second wellbore, and determining the presence of the injected nonhydrocarbon and nonaqueous fluid by making a measurement downhole on the injected nonhydrocarbon and nonaqueous fluid using the fluid analysis tool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2007
    Publication date: June 12, 2008
    Applicant: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Francois Dubost, Oliver C. Mullins, Lalitha Venkataramanan, Christopher Harrison, Neil Bostrom, Robert Kleinberg
  • Publication number: 20070125233
    Abstract: A self-contained chromatography system is provided and includes a chromatography column, a carrier gas reservoir containing a carrier gas and an analyte stream processing device, wherein the carrier gas reservoir is disposed upstream from the chromatography column and wherein the analyte stream processing device is disposed downstream from the chromatography column. A method for implementing the self-contained chromatography system is also provided and includes generating a first system pressure upstream from the chromatography column and a second system pressure downstream from the chromatography column to cause the carrier gas to flow between the carrier gas reservoir and the analyte stream processing device. The method further includes combining a sample material with the carrier gas, introducing the combined sample to the chromatography column to generate the analyte stream and processing the analyte stream via the analyte stream processing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2005
    Publication date: June 7, 2007
    Applicant: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Neil Bostrom, Robert Kleinberg
  • Patent number: 6758090
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a method and apparatus to detect bubbles in a fluid sample to determine if gases are present, wherein an ultrasonic source is used and its properties monitored. Fluctuations in the ultrasonic source's electrical properties indicate the presence of bubbles/gas. Alternatively, the ultrasonic source may be used to cavitate the sample and induce the nucleation of bubbles. In such a system/method, bubbles may be detected by either (1) monitoring the ultrasonic source properties, (2) monitoring the compressibility of the sample, (3) monitoring the sample properties, including harmonics and subharmonics. The method and apparatus disclosed herein may be used in a borehole such as with a sampling means (including either a flowing sample or a stationary sample) or in a surface lab.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2004
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Neil Bostrom, Douglas D. Griffin, Robert L. Kleinberg
  • Publication number: 20020194907
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a method and apparatus to detect bubbles in a fluid sample to determine if gases are present, wherein an ultrasonic source is used and its properties monitored. Fluctuations in the ultrasonic source's electrical properties indicate the presence of bubbles/gas. Alternatively, the ultrasonic source may be used to cavitate the sample and induce the nucleation of bubbles. In such a system/method, bubbles may be detected by either (1) monitoring the ultrasonic source properties, (2) monitoring the compressibility of the sample, (3) monitoring the sample properties, including harmonics and subharmonics. The method and apparatus disclosed herein may be used in a borehole such as with a sampling means (including either a flowing sample or a stationary sample) or in a surface lab.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2002
    Publication date: December 26, 2002
    Applicant: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Neil Bostrom, Douglas D. Griffin, Robert L. Kleinberg