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: 20190089220
    Abstract: A device includes a rotor to rotate about a longitudinal axis, a magnetic bearing actuator, and an axial gap generator including a stator assembly adjacent to the rotor, the axial gap generator to generate an amount of power as a function of a gap spacing between the stator assembly and the rotor, the gap spacing parallel to the longitudinal axis, and the axial gap generator to supply the amount of power to a control coil of the magnetic bearing actuator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2017
    Publication date: March 21, 2019
    Applicant: Upwing Energy, LLC
    Inventor: Patrick McMullen
  • Publication number: 20190089221
    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: December 28, 2017
    Publication date: March 21, 2019
    Applicant: Upwing Energy, LLC
    Inventor: Patrick McMullen
  • Publication number: 20190085670
    Abstract: A fluid rotor is configured to move or be rotated by a working fluid. A fluid stator surrounds the fluid rotor. The fluid stator is spaced from the fluid rotor and defines a first annular fluid gap in-between that is in fluid communication with an outside environment exterior the downhole-type pump. A radial magnetic bearing includes a first portion coupled to the fluid rotor and a second portion coupled to the fluid stator. The first portion is spaced from the second portion defining a second annular fluid gap in-between that is in fluid communication with the outside environment exterior the downhole-type pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2017
    Publication date: March 21, 2019
    Applicant: Upwing Energy, LLC
    Inventors: Kuo-Chiang Chen, Patrick McMullen
  • Publication number: 20190085671
    Abstract: A downhole-type system includes a rotatable rotor, a magnetic thrust bearing coupled to the rotor, and a mechanical thrust bearing coupled to the rotor. The magnetic thrust bearing is configured to support a first portion of an axial load of the rotor during rotor rotation, and the mechanical thrust bearing is configured to support a second portion of the axial load of the rotor during rotor rotation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2018
    Publication date: March 21, 2019
    Applicant: Upwing Energy, LLC
    Inventors: David Biddick, Patrick McMullen, Kuo-Chiang Chen
  • Publication number: 20190085672
    Abstract: A fluid module includes a fluid rotor configured to rotatably drive or be driven by fluid produced from a wellbore. A first shaft is coupled to the fluid rotor. The first shaft is configured to rotate in unison with the fluid rotor. A thrust bearing module includes a thrust bearing rotor. A second shaft is coupled to the thrust bearing rotor. The second shaft is configured to rotate in unison with the thrust bearing rotor. The second shaft is coupled to the first shaft. An electric machine module includes an electric machine rotor. A third shaft is coupled to the electric machine rotor. A third shaft is configured to rotate in unison with the electric machine rotor. The third shaft is coupled to the second shaft. The third shaft is rotodynamically isolated from the first shaft and the second shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2018
    Publication date: March 21, 2019
    Applicant: Upwing Energy, LLC
    Inventors: Patrick McMullen, Herman Artinian, Kuo-Chiang Chen, David Biddick
  • Publication number: 20190085668
    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: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2017
    Publication date: March 21, 2019
    Applicant: Upwing Energy, LLC
    Inventors: Patrick McMullen, Herman Artinian
  • Publication number: 20190085669
    Abstract: A downhole-type system includes a rotatable shaft, a downhole-type magnetic bearing coupled to the rotatable shaft, a downhole-type sensor, a surface-type controller, and a surface-type amplifier coupled to the magnetic bearing. The magnetic bearing can control levitation of the rotatable shaft. The downhole-type sensor can detect a position of the rotatable shaft in a downhole location and generate a first signal based on the detected position. The surface-type controller can receive the first signal, determine an amount of force to apply to the shaft, and generate a second signal corresponding to the determined amount of force. The surface-type amplifier can receive the second signal, amplify the second signal to a sufficient level to drive the magnetic bearing to apply force to the rotatable shaft to control the levitation of the rotatable shaft at the downhole location, and transmit the amplified second signal to the magnetic bearing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2017
    Publication date: March 21, 2019
    Applicant: Upwing Energy, LLC
    Inventor: Patrick McMullen
  • Patent number: 10227860
    Abstract: A measurement tool includes a rotor to rotate about a longitudinal axis, an axial gap generator having a stator assembly adjacent to the rotor, and a movable support structure to which the stator assembly is mounted. The axial gap generator generates a voltage signal as a function of a gap spacing between the stator assembly and the rotor, where the gap spacing is parallel to the longitudinal axis. The movable support structure moves the stator assembly parallel to the longitudinal axis based at least in part on a physical property of an environment about the movable support structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: Upwing Energy, LLC
    Inventor: Patrick McMullen
  • Patent number: 10174762
    Abstract: An electric stator surrounds a rotor and is configured to cause the rotor to rotate or generate electricity in the electric stator when the rotor rotates. The electric stator is spaced from the rotor and defines a first annular fluid gap in-between that is in fluid communication with an outside environment exterior the electric machine. A radial bearing includes a first portion coupled to the rotor and a second portion coupled to the electric stator. The first portion is spaced from the second portion defining a second annular fluid gap in-between that is in fluid communication with the outside environment exterior the electric machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: Upwing Energy, LLC
    Inventors: Kuo-Chiang Chen, Patrick McMullen, Herman Artinian, David Biddick
  • Patent number: 10167871
    Abstract: A rotor is surrounded by a stator. A radial bearing includes a first radial bearing portion coupled to the rotor and a second radial bearing portion coupled to the stator. A thrust-bearing includes a first portion coupled to the rotor. The first portion is spaced from a second portion coupled to the stator defining a first annular fluid gap in-between that is in fluid communication with an outside environment exterior the downhole-type machine. The thrust bearing is configured to support an axial load of the rotor within the stator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: Upwing Energy, LLC
    Inventors: Kuo-Chiang Chen, Patrick McMullen, David Biddick
  • Patent number: 10145224
    Abstract: A system to provide power to a tool includes an electric motor that can operate at rotary speeds of at least 6,000 rpm, a variable speed drive electrically connected to the electric motor, and a step-up transformer electrically coupled to the electric motor and the variable speed drive, in which the variable speed drive can generate and transmit a drive signal to supply power to the electric motor when the electric motor is spaced apart from the variable speed drive by a distance of at least 100 meters, and the transformer can prevent capacitive leakage in the drive signal transmitted over the distance from the variable speed drive to the electric motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Upwing Energy, LLC
    Inventors: Suratkal P. Shenoy, Liping Zheng, Herman Artinian, Patrick McMullen, David Biddick, Kuo-Chiang Chen
  • Publication number: 20180316246
    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: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2017
    Publication date: November 1, 2018
    Inventors: Archie A.T. Andonian, Patrick McMullen
  • Publication number: 20180316247
    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: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2017
    Publication date: November 1, 2018
    Inventors: Archie A.T. Andonian, Patrick McMullen
  • Patent number: 10075843
    Abstract: A method, system, and medium are provided for validating the identity or authority of a user of a wireless device to consent to providing geographic locations of their respective wireless device to a third-party application. Upon receiving a request to validate the authority of a user to consent to providing of geographic locations, the user is automatically redirected to a validation service portal. The validation service portal verifies the identity or authority of the user to consent by requiring the user to provide identification information. The identification information is compared to identification information in one or more databases to determine if the user has the authority to consent. An indication is provided by the validation service portal to the third-party application of whether the user has the authority to consent. The third-party application then initiates location-based services based on the indication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: John R. Schuler, Rodney Dewaine Nelson, Michael Patrick McMullen, Geetha R. Thati
  • Publication number: 20180180049
    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. A pressure within the housing is lower than a pressure within a wellbore environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2017
    Publication date: June 28, 2018
    Applicant: Upwing Energy, LLC
    Inventors: Patrick McMullen, David Biddick, Christopher Matthew Sellers
  • Publication number: 20180180055
    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: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2016
    Publication date: June 28, 2018
    Applicant: Upwing Energy, LLC
    Inventors: Patrick McMullen, Venkateshwaran Krishnan, Larry Hawkins
  • Publication number: 20180179849
    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: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2016
    Publication date: June 28, 2018
    Applicant: Upwing Energy, LLC
    Inventors: Venkateshwaran Krishnan, John Stout, Patrick McMullen, Archie A.T. Andonian
  • Publication number: 20180179868
    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: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2016
    Publication date: June 28, 2018
    Applicant: Upwing Energy, LLC
    Inventors: Archie A.T. Andonian, Patrick McMullen
  • Publication number: 20180179860
    Abstract: Providing power to a downhole-type tool includes rotating a rotor of a downhole power unit about a longitudinal axis, generating, with a generator stator assembly of a generator positioned adjacent the downhole power unit, an amount of power in response to rotating the rotor, and supplying, with the generator, the amount of power to at least one downhole-type tool proximate to the downhole power unit. The at least one downhole-type tool is operable using the supplied amount of power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2017
    Publication date: June 28, 2018
    Applicant: Upwing Energy, LLC
    Inventor: Patrick McMullen
  • Publication number: 20180183377
    Abstract: Providing power to a downhole-type tool includes positioning a downhole-type electric motor in a wellbore, electrically connecting a variable speed drive to the electric motor with three-phase conductors extending between the variable speed drive and the electric motor, where the variable speed drive controls and supplies power to the electric motor through the three-phase conductors, diverting at least a portion of a power supply from the three-phase conductors to a rectifier, and supplying, from the rectifier, the diverted portion of the power supply to at least one downhole-type tool proximate to the electric motor, the at least one downhole-type tool operable using the diverted portion of the power supply.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2017
    Publication date: June 28, 2018
    Applicant: Upwing Energy, LLC
    Inventor: Patrick McMullen