Patents by Inventor Randy S. Roberts

Randy S. Roberts 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: 11798273
    Abstract: A system is provided for identifying and quantizing a change in a scene having objects based on comparison of features representing a target object derived from a first image and a second image that includes the target object. The system segments, based on a scene model of the scene, a second image that includes the target object to identify a second area representing the target object within the second image. The system extracts, from the second image, second features for the target object based on the second area. The system determines a second effectiveness of the second features indicating effectiveness of the second features in representing the target object. The system detects a change based on a difference between first features and the second features factoring in a first effectiveness and the second effectiveness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: LAWRENCE LIVERMORE NATIONAL SECURITY, LLC
    Inventors: Randy S. Roberts, John Goforth
  • Publication number: 20220292278
    Abstract: A system is provided for identifying and quantizing a change in a scene having objects based on comparison of features representing a target object derived from a first image and a second image that includes the target object. The system segments, based on a scene model of the scene, a second image that includes the target object to identify a second area representing the target object within the second image. The system extracts, from the second image, second features for the target object based on the second area. The system determines determine a second effectiveness of the second features indicating effectiveness of the second features in representing the target object. The system detects a change based on a difference between first features and the second features factoring in a first effectiveness and the second effectiveness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2021
    Publication date: September 15, 2022
    Inventors: Randy S. Roberts, John Goforth
  • Patent number: 11339789
    Abstract: A diffuser anti-rotation system and apparatus is described. A diffuser anti-rotation system includes a circumferential coupling ring interlocked between a top of a first diffuser and a bottom of an adjacent diffuser. One end of the first diffuser includes at least one male register tab, the opposing end of the adjacent diffuser has at least one female register slot, and the coupling ring interlocks with the male register tab and the female register slot. One of the male register tabs and one of the female register slots are aligned axially and a single projection from the coupling ring interlocks with both the male register tab and the axially aligned female register slot. Impellers are mated with and rotating within each of the first diffuser and the adjacent diffuser, and the interlocked coupling ring prevents rotation of the first diffuser with respect to the adjacent diffuser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Joshua Wayne Webster, Wesley John Nowitzki, Randy S. Roberts
  • Patent number: 11299973
    Abstract: A gas separator operationally coupled between a submersible pump and a motor for use in downhole reservoirs includes an intake housing and an inner intake assembly. The intake housing includes at least two sets of intake ports along an upper section adjacent to the pump with ports in a set vertically offset and sets horizontally offset. The inner intake assembly includes a separation chamber, a self-orienting intake rotatable around a central axis and having at least one communication port, and a port controller. The port controller functions to position the communications port toward the bottom of the gas separator when the gas separator is positioned horizontally in a downhole wellbore. The intake housing allows reservoir fluid traveling downstream to pass through intake ports and into the separation chamber through the communication ports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Donn J. Brown, Randy S. Roberts, Larry J. Parmeter
  • Publication number: 20210332688
    Abstract: A gas separator operationally coupled between a submersible pump and a motor for use in downhole reservoirs includes an intake housing and an inner intake assembly. The intake housing includes at least two sets of intake ports along an upper section adjacent to the pump with ports in a set vertically offset and sets horizontally offset. The inner intake assembly includes a separation chamber, a self-orienting intake rotatable around a central axis and having at least one communication port, and a port controller. The port controller functions to position the communications port toward the bottom of the gas separator when the gas separator is positioned horizontally in a downhole wellbore. The intake housing allows reservoir fluid traveling downstream to pass through intake ports and into the separation chamber through the communication ports.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2018
    Publication date: October 28, 2021
    Inventors: Donn J. Brown, Randy S. ROBERTS, Larry J. PARMETER
  • Patent number: 11131179
    Abstract: An electric submersible pump (ESP) gas separator is described. An ESP gas separator includes a propeller upstream of a fluid entrance to a crossover, the crossover including a production pathway and a vent pathway, and the propeller including a plurality of blades comprising washout twist, wherein gas rich fluid of multi-phase fluid traveling through the gas separator flows through the propeller and into the vent pathway, and gas poor fluid of the multi-phase fluid flows around the propeller and then through the production pathway. An ESP assembly includes a gas separator between a centrifugal pump and an induction motor, the gas separator serving as an intake for fluid into the centrifugal pump and including a propeller in a separation chamber, the propeller comprising a plurality of blades, each blade having a pitch that increases in coarseness from a hub towards a shroud of the propeller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Donn J. Brown, Randy S. Roberts, Thomas John Gottschalk
  • Patent number: 10683868
    Abstract: A bushing anti-rotation system and apparatus. A bushing anti-rotation system includes an impeller and diffuser stage including a rotatable shaft extending longitudinally through the stage, the diffuser having an inner diameter defining a bore, a bearing set including a bushing pressed into the inner diameter, and a rotatable sleeve inward of the bushing, and means for wedging the bushing against the inner diameter of the diffuser, wherein the means for wedging provides a mechanical lock against rotation of the bushing. The means for wedging the bushing against the diffuser includes one of a key wedged between an eccentric cavity in the diffuser and a notch in the bushing, a pin protruding from the diffuser against a flattened portion of the bushing, a square-shaped bushing secured into a square-shaped bore, a bent retaining ring having a bent end that wedges against a diffuser groove wall, or a combination thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Wesley John Nowitzki, Joshua Wayne Webster, Randy S. Roberts, Joseph Dean Butler, John Vanderstaay Kenner, Thomas John Gottschalk
  • Patent number: 10546051
    Abstract: An annotation system for providing annotations for original images is provided. In some embodiments, the annotation system accesses an annotation associated with an object of a 3D model. The annotation system also accesses and displays an original image. The annotation system renders a model image of the 3D model based on the view from which the original image was collected. When the model image contains the annotated object, the annotation system provides an indication that an annotation is associated with the object of the original image. The annotation system can provide indications of the annotation for other original images that include the annotated object irrespective of the view from which the other original images are collected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC
    Inventors: Randy S. Roberts, John Goforth
  • Publication number: 20190309768
    Abstract: An electric submersible pump (ESP) dual gas and sand separator is described. An ESP system includes a dual gas and sand separator having a fluid flow pathway including an upward turn and a downward turn, the upward turn separating solids from a fluid flowing through the pathway and the downward turn separating gas from the fluid, the dual separator including a sand sump below the fluid flow pathway. The separator includes tubing that extends below the ESP assembly, at least a portion of the tubing including two concentric pipes. A dual gas and sand separating method includes causing pumped fluid to turn from upwards to downwards and then upwards again in a tortious pathway below the ESP assembly before the fluid travels into a centrifugal pump intake, and collecting solids that separate out of the multiphase fluid in a solid sump coupled below the tortious pathway.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2018
    Publication date: October 10, 2019
    Inventors: Jared Michael TODD, Michael A. MURRAY, Michael A. MURRAY, Wesley John NOWITZKI, Randy S. ROBERTS, David Linn SELF
  • Publication number: 20190285071
    Abstract: A diffuser anti-rotation system and apparatus is described. A diffuser anti-rotation system includes a circumferential coupling ring interlocked between a top of a first diffuser and a bottom of an adjacent diffuser. One end of the first diffuser includes at least one male register tab, the opposing end of the adjacent diffuser has at least one female register slot, and the coupling ring interlocks with the male register tab and the female register slot. One of the male register tabs and one of the female register slots are aligned axially and a single projection from the coupling ring interlocks with both the male register tab and the axially aligned female register slot. Impellers are mated with and rotating within each of the first diffuser and the adjacent diffuser, and the interlocked coupling ring prevents rotation of the first diffuser with respect to the adjacent diffuser.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2018
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Applicant: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Joshua Wayne WEBSTER, Wesley John NOWITZKI, Randy S. ROBERTS
  • Publication number: 20190162063
    Abstract: An electric submersible pump (ESP) gas separator is described. An ESP gas separator includes a propeller upstream of a fluid entrance to a crossover, the crossover including a production pathway and a vent pathway, and the propeller including a plurality of blades comprising washout twist, wherein gas rich fluid of multi-phase fluid traveling through the gas separator flows through the propeller and into the vent pathway, and gas poor fluid of the multi-phase fluid flows around the propeller and then through the production pathway. An ESP assembly includes a gas separator between a centrifugal pump and an induction motor, the gas separator serving as an intake for fluid into the centrifugal pump and including a propeller in a separation chamber, the propeller comprising a plurality of blades, each blade having a pitch that increases in coarseness from a hub towards a shroud of the propeller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2018
    Publication date: May 30, 2019
    Inventors: Donn J. Brown, Randy S. ROBERTS, Thomas John GOTTSCHALK
  • Publication number: 20180260992
    Abstract: An annotation system for providing annotations for original images is provided. In some embodiments, the annotation system accesses an annotation associated with an object of a 3D model. The annotation system also accesses and displays an original image. The annotation system renders a model image of the 3D model based on the view from which the original image was collected. When the model image contains the annotated object, the annotation system provides an indication that an annotation is associated with the object of the original image. The annotation system can provide indications of the annotation for other original images that include the annotated object irrespective of the view from which the other original images are collected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2018
    Publication date: September 13, 2018
    Inventors: Randy S. Roberts, John Goforth
  • Patent number: 10019824
    Abstract: An annotation system for providing annotations for original images is provided. In some embodiments, the annotation system accesses an annotation associated with an object of a 3D model. The annotation system also accesses and displays an original image. The annotation system renders a model image of the 3D model based on the view from which the original image was collected. When the model image contains the annotated object, the annotation system provides an indication that an annotation is associated with the object of the original image. The annotation system can provide indications of the annotation for other original images that include the annotated object irrespective of the view from which the other original images are collected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC
    Inventors: Randy S. Roberts, John Goforth
  • Publication number: 20180053329
    Abstract: An annotation system for providing annotations for original images is provided. In some embodiments, the annotation system accesses an annotation associated with an object of a 3D model. The annotation system also accesses and displays an original image. The annotation system renders a model image of the 3D model based on the view from which the original image was collected. When the model image contains the annotated object, the annotation system provides an indication that an annotation is associated with the object of the original image. The annotation system can provide indications of the annotation for other original images that include the annotated object irrespective of the view from which the other original images are collected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2016
    Publication date: February 22, 2018
    Inventors: Randy S. Roberts, John Goforth
  • Publication number: 20180017066
    Abstract: A bushing anti-rotation system and apparatus. A bushing anti-rotation system includes an impeller and diffuser stage including a rotatable shaft extending longitudinally through the stage, the diffuser having an inner diameter defining a bore, a bearing set including a bushing pressed into the inner diameter, and a rotatable sleeve inward of the bushing, and means for wedging the bushing against the inner diameter of the diffuser, wherein the means for wedging provides a mechanical lock against rotation of the bushing. The means for wedging the bushing against the diffuser includes one of a key wedged between an eccentric cavity in the diffuser and a notch in the bushing, a pin protruding from the diffuser against a flattened portion of the bushing, a square-shaped bushing secured into a square-shaped bore, a bent retaining ring having a bent end that wedges against a diffuser groove wall, or a combination thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2017
    Publication date: January 18, 2018
    Inventors: Wesley John Nowitzki, Joshua Wayne Webster, Randy S. Roberts, Joseph Dean Butler, John Vanderstaay Kenner, Thomas John Gottschalk
  • Patent number: 9816519
    Abstract: A press-fit bearing locking system, apparatus and method is described. A press-fit bearing locking system includes a diffuser having a diffuser groove on an inner diameter (ID), a bushing comprising an outer diameter (OD) press-fit into the grooved ID of the diffuser, the OD of the bushing having a bushing groove tracing a path of the diffuser groove, and a high thermal expansion material (HTEM) key seated within the bushing groove. A press-fit bearing locking method includes seating a HTEM key inside a groove on an OD of a bushing, press-fitting the bushing with HTEM key into a diffuser such that the bushing groove is opposite a groove on an ID of the diffuser, operating an electric submersible pump assembly including the diffuser during a temperature rise, and allowing the HTEM key to expand into the diffuser groove during the temperature rise to lock the bushing against the diffuser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Summit ESP, LLC
    Inventors: Wesley John Nowitzki, Randy S. Roberts
  • Publication number: 20170159668
    Abstract: A press-fit bearing locking system, apparatus and method is described. A press-fit bearing locking system includes a diffuser having a diffuser groove on an inner diameter (ID), a bushing comprising an outer diameter (OD) press-fit into the grooved ID of the diffuser, the OD of the bushing having a bushing groove tracing a path of the diffuser groove, and a high thermal expansion material (HTEM) key seated within the bushing groove. A press-fit bearing locking method includes seating a HTEM key inside a groove on an OD of a bushing, press-fitting the bushing with HTEM key into a diffuser such that the bushing groove is opposite a groove on an ID of the diffuser, operating an electric submersible pump assembly including the diffuser during a temperature rise, and allowing the HTEM key to expand into the diffuser groove during the temperature rise to lock the bushing against the diffuser.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2016
    Publication date: June 8, 2017
    Inventors: Wesley John Nowitzki, Randy S. Roberts
  • Patent number: 9638015
    Abstract: An electric submersible pump (ESP) inverted shroud assembly is described. An ESP assembly includes an inverted shroud separating an ESP pump from a well casing, the ESP pump rotatably coupled to an ESP motor, the inverted shroud having an opening on an upstream terminal side, at least a portion of the ESP motor extending through the opening, the portion of the ESP motor extending through the opening exposed to working fluid, and the opening sealed to the working fluid. An ESP assembly includes an inverted shroud, and an ESP motor including a head, housing and base, the head of the ESP motor at least partially inside the inverted shroud, and the housing and base of the ESP motor at least partially outside the inverted shroud.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Summit ESP, LLC
    Inventors: Wesley John Nowitzki, Joseph Stewart, Randy S. Roberts, Michael Edward Sterling
  • Patent number: 9531230
    Abstract: A motor bearing for an electric submersible motor is described. An electric submersible motor includes a rotatable motor shaft extending longitudinally through a submersible motor, a bearing sleeve secured to the rotatable motor shaft in between two adjacent rotor sections, a motor bearing radially outward from the bearing sleeve and pressed against a stator bore, wherein the motor bearing comprises a series of magnets dispersed around an outer diameter of the motor bearing, and an insulation layer covering a surface of each magnet of the series of magnets, wherein the insulation layer faces the stator bore. A motor bearing includes a series of recessions dispersed around an outer axial surface of a motor bearing, a magnet inset in each recession of the series of recessions, and an insulation layer coating a surface of each of the magnets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: Summit ESP, LLC
    Inventors: Larry James Parmeter, Brett D. Leamy, Randy S. Roberts, Gregory Austin Davis, John Vanderstaay Kenner
  • Publication number: 20160190893
    Abstract: A motor bearing for an electric submersible motor is described. An electric submersible motor includes a rotatable motor shaft extending longitudinally through a submersible motor, a bearing sleeve secured to the rotatable motor shaft in between two adjacent rotor sections, a motor bearing radially outward from the bearing sleeve and pressed against a stator bore, wherein the motor bearing comprises a series of magnets dispersed around an outer diameter of the motor bearing, and an insulation layer covering a surface of each magnet of the series of magnets, wherein the insulation layer faces the stator bore. A motor bearing includes a series of recessions dispersed around an outer axial surface of a motor bearing, a magnet inset in each recession of the series of recessions, and an insulation layer coating a surface of each of the magnets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2016
    Publication date: June 30, 2016
    Inventors: Larry James Parmeter, Brett D. Leamy, Randy S. Roberts, Gregory Austin Davis, John Vanderstaay Kenner