Patents by Inventor Patrick McMullen

Patrick McMullen 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: 20240133278
    Abstract: An electric machine is configured to be positioned within a wellbore. The electric machine enclosed within a housing isolates the electric machine from fluids within the wellbore. A first lubrication circuit includes a lubrication reservoir within the housing. The lubrication reservoir is fluidically connected to the electric machine. The first lubrication circuit is configured to provide lubrication to a bearing within the electric machine. A fluid rotor is configured to move or be moved by a fluid within the wellbore. A magnetic coupling couples the fluid rotor and a rotor of the electric machine to rotate in unison. A second lubrication circuit is configured to provide lubrication to a bearing supporting the fluid rotor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2023
    Publication date: April 25, 2024
    Applicant: Upwing Energy, LLC
    Inventors: David Biddick, Patrick McMullen, Christopher Matthew Sellers, Herman Artinian
  • Patent number: 11859474
    Abstract: An electric machine is configured to be positioned within a wellbore. The electric machine enclosed within a housing isolates the electric machine from fluids within the wellbore. A first lubrication circuit includes a lubrication reservoir within the housing. The lubrication reservoir is fluidically connected to the electric machine. The first lubrication circuit is configured to provide lubrication to a bearing within the electric machine. A fluid rotor is configured to move or be moved by a fluid within the wellbore. A magnetic coupling couples the fluid rotor and a rotor of the electric machine to rotate in unison. A second lubrication circuit is configured to provide lubrication to a bearing supporting the fluid rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Upwing Energy, LLC
    Inventors: David Biddick, Patrick McMullen, Christopher Matthew Sellers, Herman Artinian
  • Patent number: 11828144
    Abstract: An electric stator surrounds an electric rotor. A magnetic coupling is attached to an end of the electric rotor. The magnetic coupling is configured to transmit rotational force to or from a separate rotational device. A housing surrounds and isolates the electrical rotor, the electric stator, and a portion of the magnetic coupling, from a wellbore fluid. The housing is flooded with an incompressible fluid. A pressure within the housing is substantially the same or lower than a pressure within a wellbore environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Upwing Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Herman Artinian, Patrick McMullen
  • Patent number: 11686161
    Abstract: A multi-phase, inductive coupling first portion is carried by a tubular. The coupling first portion is configured to inductively transmit current with a corresponding multi-phase, inductive coupling second portion. A downhole-type electric stator is carried by the tubular and is configured to receive and electromagnetically interact with an electric rotor-impeller. The coupling first portion is electrically connected to windings of the stator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Upwing Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: David Biddick, Patrick McMullen
  • Publication number: 20230184036
    Abstract: A downhole-type device includes an electric machine. The electric machine includes an electrical rotor configured to couple with a device to drive or be driven by the electric machine. An electrical stator surrounds the electric rotor. The electric stator includes a seal configured to isolate stator windings from an outside, downhole environment. An inner surface of the seal and an outer surface of the electric rotor define an annulus exposed to the outside environment. A bearing couples the electric rotor to the electric stator. A lubrication system is fluidically coupled to the downhole-type device. The lubrication system includes a topside pressure pump and a downhole-type distribution manifold configured to be used within a wellbore. The distribution manifold is fluidically connected to the topside pressure pump and the bearing to receive a flow of lubricant from the topside pressure pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2023
    Publication date: June 15, 2023
    Inventors: David Biddick, Patrick McMullen, Herman Artinian
  • Patent number: 11646631
    Abstract: A tool includes a device including a housing and a rotor, the rotor to rotate about a longitudinal axis, and an axial gap generator including a stator assembly positioned adjacent to the rotor. The axial gap generator generates a voltage signal as a function of a gap spacing between the stator assembly and the rotor, the gap spacing being parallel to the longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Upwing Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick McMullen, Herman Artinian
  • Patent number: 11578535
    Abstract: A downhole-type device includes an electric machine. The electric machine includes an electrical rotor configured to couple with a device to drive or be driven by the electric machine. An electrical stator surrounds the electric rotor. The electric stator includes a seal configured to isolate stator windings from an outside, downhole environment. An inner surface of the seal and an outer surface of the electric rotor define an annulus exposed to the outside environment. A bearing couples the electric rotor to the electric stator. A lubrication system is fluidically coupled to the downhole-type device. The lubrication system includes a topside pressure pump and a downhole-type distribution manifold configured to be used within a wellbore. The distribution manifold is fluidically connected to the topside pressure pump and the bearing to receive a flow of lubricant from the topside pressure pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Upwing Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: David Biddick, Patrick McMullen, Herman Artinian
  • Patent number: 11371327
    Abstract: A system for operating in a wellbore in a subterranean formation is described. The system includes a housing, a rotor, a stator, and a controller. The rotor is within the housing and includes a rotatable shaft, a fluid impeller, and a magnetic field source. The magnetic field source is configured to generate a net magnetic field around an entire circumference of the rotor that is uniformly polarized in a single orientation. The stator is within the housing and laterally surrounds the rotatable shaft. The stator is configured to conduct the generated magnetic field to produce a voltage waveform signal. The controller is communicatively coupled to the stator. The controller is configured to receive the voltage waveform signal from the stator and determine an operating characteristic of the rotor based on the received voltage waveform signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: Upwing Energy, Inc.
    Inventor: Patrick McMullen
  • Patent number: 11326428
    Abstract: A stator for a downhole-type motor includes a housing. The housing includes a sleeve. The sleeve includes a first layer, a second layer, and a third layer. The first layer is erosion-resistant. The second layer is corrosion-resistant. The third layer can provide structural support. The stator includes a motor stack. The stator can be used to drive a rotor disposed within an inner bore of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: Upwing Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick McMullen, Kuo-Chiang Chen
  • Publication number: 20220006352
    Abstract: A downhole-type system includes a rotatable shaft; a sensor that can sense an axial position of the shaft and generate a first signal corresponding to the axial position of the shaft; a controller coupled to the sensor, in which the controller can receive the first signal generated by the sensor, determine an amount of axial force to apply to the shaft to maintain a target axial position of the shaft, and transmit a second signal corresponding to the determined amount of axial force; and multiple magnetic thrust bearings coupled to the shaft and the controller, in which each magnetic thrust bearing can receive the second signal from the controller and modify a load, corresponding to the second signal, on the shaft to maintain the target axial position of the shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2021
    Publication date: January 6, 2022
    Inventor: Patrick McMullen
  • Publication number: 20220003087
    Abstract: A system for operating in a wellbore in a subterranean formation is described. The system includes a housing, a rotor, a stator, and a controller. The rotor is within the housing and includes a rotatable shaft, a fluid impeller, and a magnetic field source. The magnetic field source is configured to generate a net magnetic field around an entire circumference of the rotor that is uniformly polarized in a single orientation. The stator is within the housing and laterally surrounds the rotatable shaft. The stator is configured to conduct the generated magnetic field to produce a voltage waveform signal. The controller is communicatively coupled to the stator. The controller is configured to receive the voltage waveform signal from the stator and determine an operating characteristic of the rotor based on the received voltage waveform signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2020
    Publication date: January 6, 2022
    Applicant: Upwing Energy, LLC
    Inventor: Patrick McMullen
  • Publication number: 20220003089
    Abstract: An electric stator surrounds an electric rotor. A magnetic coupling is attached to an end of the electric rotor. The magnetic coupling is configured to transmit rotational force to or from a separate rotational device. A housing surrounds and isolates the electrical rotor, the electric stator, and a portion of the magnetic coupling, from a wellbore fluid. The housing is flooded with an incompressible fluid. A pressure within the housing is substantially the same or lower than a pressure within a wellbore environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2021
    Publication date: January 6, 2022
    Inventors: Herman Artinian, Patrick McMullen
  • Publication number: 20210324010
    Abstract: Charged polypeptides, their conjugates, and fusion proteins comprising such polypeptides are disclosed. Inclusion of such a polypeptide in a fusion protein increases the protein's properties such as stability and circulation half-life, which results in a better therapeutic efficacy compared to an active protein alone. Thus, a fusion protein or a conjugate of the disclosure can be useful in developing a protein or peptide drug, treating or preventing diseases, disorders, or conditions, or improving a subjects health or wellbeing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2019
    Publication date: October 21, 2021
    Applicant: University of Washington
    Inventors: Caroline Tsao, Sijin Luozhong, Trevor Corrigan, Shaoyi Jiang, Erik Liu, Patrick McMullen
  • Patent number: 11131143
    Abstract: This disclosure describes various implementations of a downhole-blower system that can be used to boost production in a wellbore. The downhole-blower system includes a blower and an electric machine coupled to the blower that can be deployed in a wellbore, and that can, in cooperation, increase production through the wellbore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: Upwing Energy, LLC
    Inventors: Patrick McMullen, Venkateshwaran Krishnan, Larry Hawkins
  • Publication number: 20210293124
    Abstract: An electric machine is configured to be positioned within a wellbore. The electric machine enclosed within a housing isolates the electric machine from fluids within the wellbore. A first lubrication circuit includes a lubrication reservoir within the housing. The lubrication reservoir is fluidically connected to the electric machine. The first lubrication circuit is configured to provide lubrication to a bearing within the electric machine. A fluid rotor is configured to move or be moved by a fluid within the wellbore. A magnetic coupling couples the fluid rotor and a rotor of the electric machine to rotate in unison. A second lubrication circuit is configured to provide lubrication to a bearing supporting the fluid rotor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2020
    Publication date: September 23, 2021
    Applicant: Upwing Energy, LLC
    Inventors: David Biddick, Patrick McMullen, Christopher Matthew Sellers, Herman Artinian
  • Patent number: 11125234
    Abstract: A regenerative turbine impeller includes a first side and a second side. An impeller housing surrounds the regenerative turbine impeller. The impeller housing includes a seal separating the first side and the second side of the regenerative turbine impeller. A first fluid inlet is fluidically coupled to the first side of the regenerative turbine impeller. A first fluid outlet is fluidically coupled to the first side of the regenerative turbine impeller. A second fluid inlet is fluidically coupled to the second side of the regenerative turbine impeller. A second fluid outlet is fluidically coupled to the second side of the regenerative turbine impeller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: Upwing Energy, LLC
    Inventors: David Biddick, Justin Jongsik Oh, Patrick McMullen
  • Patent number: 11125059
    Abstract: A downhole-type tool includes a casing joint, a housing affixed to the casing joint, and an electric stator encased in the housing. The housing defines an inner bore and has an inner bore wall that is continuous with an inner wall of the casing joint. The housing is sealed against ingress of cement to the stator. The electric stator is configured to drive an electric rotor-impeller. A flow of cement can be received with an outer surface of the housing. The flow of cement can be directed into an annulus between the housing and a wall of a wellbore. The casing joint can be cemented in the wellbore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: Upwing Energy, LLC
    Inventors: David Biddick, Kuo-Chiang Chen, Patrick McMullen
  • Patent number: 11081919
    Abstract: A rotor for an electric machine has a permanent magnet carrier that defines a plurality of permanent magnet receptacles. A plurality of permanent magnets are received in the receptacles. The magnets are arranged to define at least two magnetic poles of the rotor. A metallic shield surrounds an outward facing surface of the permanent magnets to shield the magnets from high frequency magnetic fields that would cause eddy currents, and thus magnet heating. The metallic shield is constructed from a metallic foil. A carbon fiber retaining sleeve surrounds an outward facing surface of the metallic shield. The carbon fiber sleeve is configured to retain the magnets to the permanent magnet carrier during operation of the electric machine. The permanent magnet carrier is interference fit over a rotor core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: Calnetix Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Archie A. T. Andonian, Patrick McMullen
  • Patent number: 11081918
    Abstract: A rotor for an electric machine includes a central hub with a cylindrical outer surface. A plurality of elongate spacers are affixed to the central hub at its outer surface. The spacers are circumferentially spaced apart from each other and extend axially along the outer surface of the central hub. A plurality of permanent magnets reside on the outer surface between the spacers. The magnets define at least two magnetic poles of the rotor. A metallic shield surrounds an outward facing surface of the permanent magnets and spacers to shield the magnets from high frequency magnetic fields that would cause eddy currents, and thus magnet heating. The metallic shield includes a metallic foil. A carbon fiber retaining sleeve surrounds an outward facing surface of the metallic shield. The carbon fiber sleeve is configured to retain the magnets to the central hub during operation of the electric machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: Calnetix Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Archie A. T. Andonian, Patrick McMullen
  • Publication number: 20210140240
    Abstract: A downhole-type device includes an electric machine. The electric machine includes an electrical rotor configured to couple with a device to drive or be driven by the electric machine. An electrical stator surrounds the electric rotor. The electric stator includes a seal configured to isolate stator windings from an outside, downhole environment. An inner surface of the seal and an outer surface of the electric rotor define an annulus exposed to the outside environment. A bearing couples the electric rotor to the electric stator. A lubrication system is fluidically coupled to the downhole-type device. The lubrication system includes a topside pressure pump and a downhole-type distribution manifold configured to be used within a wellbore. The distribution manifold is fluidically connected to the topside pressure pump and the bearing to receive a flow of lubricant from the topside pressure pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2021
    Publication date: May 13, 2021
    Inventors: David Biddick, Patrick McMullen, Herman Artinian