Patents by Inventor Robert E. Smallwood

Robert E. Smallwood 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: 7252160
    Abstract: A compact, robust, wear resistant, and high performance electrically insulating gap sub for use with borehole EM Telemetry is disclosed. In one embodiment, the gap sub may include an externally threaded mandrel separated from an internally threaded housing by a dielectric material. Additionally, some embodiments may include an external gap ring for separating the upper and lower electrical halves of the sub which offers structural support, acts as the primary external seal, and provides an abrasion resistant non-conductive length on the exterior. Some embodiments may include torsion pins to prevent the possible unscrewing of the dielectric filled threaded sections should the dielectric material become damaged or weakened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: Weatherford/Lamb, Inc.
    Inventors: Tony Dopf, Derek William Logan, Paul Leonard Camwell, Michael Nero, Clemens L. Horst, Robert E. Smallwood
  • Patent number: 7093680
    Abstract: An insulator for a subsurface signal transmitting apparatus. The insulator includes a housing, a mandrel axially disposed inside the housing, a first insulating material disposed between the housing and the mandrel, a first sleeve formed of a second insulating material disposed between the housing and a first tubular member and the first tubular member coupled to the mandrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: Weatherford/Lamb, Inc.
    Inventors: Marvin L. Holbert, James W. Haslett, Robert E. Smallwood, Frederick N. Trofimenkoff
  • Publication number: 20040134652
    Abstract: A subsurface signal transmitting apparatus including an insulation coupler, a carrier device for mounting the telemetry instrumentation, and a by-pass system for avoiding pressure build-up either above or below the apparatus. The insulation coupler includes a housing member having a central opening defined by an interior surface extending in the longitudinal direction and a mandrel member having an exterior surface spaced from the interior surface of the housing member to provide a gap or clearance with an insulating bonding material occupying the clearance. The surfaces are oriented so that when the coupling is in tension at least a portion of the two surfaces experience interacting forces towards each other in the longitudinal direction of the coupling and in event of failure of the bonding material, the mandrel member is unable to withdraw from the housing member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2003
    Publication date: July 15, 2004
    Applicant: Weatherford/Lamb, Inc.
    Inventors: Marvin L. Holbert, James W. Haslett, Robert E. Smallwood, Frederick N. Trofimenkoff
  • Patent number: 6672383
    Abstract: A subsurface signal transmitting apparatus including an insulation coupler, a carrier device for mounting the telemetry instrumentation, and a by-pass system for avoiding pressure build-up either above or below the apparatus. The insulation coupler includes a housing member having a central opening defined by an interior surface extending in the longitudinal direction and a mandrel member having an exterior surface spaced from the interior surface of the housing member to provide a gap or clearance with an insulating bonding material occupying the clearance. The surfaces are oriented so that when the coupling is in tension at least a portion of the two surfaces experience interacting forces towards each other in the longitudinal direction of the coupling and in event of failure of the bonding material, the mandrel member is unable to withdraw from the housing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Weatherford/Lamb, Inc.
    Inventors: Marvin L. Holbert, James W. Haslett, Robert E. Smallwood, Frederick N. Trofimenkoff
  • Publication number: 20020189803
    Abstract: A subsurface signal transmitting apparatus including an insulation coupler, a carrier device for mounting the telemetry instrumentation, and a by-pass system for avoiding pressure build-up either above or below the apparatus. The insulation coupler includes a housing member having a central opening defined by an interior surface extending in the longitudinal direction and a mandrel member having an exterior surface spaced from the interior surface of the housing member to provide a gap or clearance with an insulating bonding material occupying the clearance. The surfaces are oriented so that when the coupling is in tension at least a portion of the two surfaces experience interacting forces towards each other in the longitudinal direction of the coupling and in event of failure of the bonding material, the mandrel member is unable to withdraw from the housing member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2002
    Publication date: December 19, 2002
    Applicant: Weatherford/Lamb, Inc.
    Inventors: Marvin L. Holbert, James W. Haslett, Robert E. Smallwood, Frederick N. Trofimenkoff
  • Patent number: 6405795
    Abstract: The subsurface signal transmitting apparatus (10) including an insulation coupler (11), a carrier device (12) for mounting the telemetry instrumentation (75), and a by-pass system for avoiding pressure build-up either above or below the apparatus. The insulation coupler (11) includes a housing member (13) having a central opening (16) defined by an interior surface (22) extending in the longitudinal direction and a mandrel member (14) having an exterior surface (32) spaced from the interior surface (22) of the housing member (13) to provide a gap or clearance (33) with an insulating bonding material (29) occupying the clearance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Assignee: Weatherford/Lamb, Inc.
    Inventors: Marvin L. Holbert, James W. Haslett, Robert E. Smallwood, Frederick N. Trofimenkoff
  • Publication number: 20020005282
    Abstract: The subsurface signal transmitting apparatus (10) including an insulation coupler (11), a carrier device (12) for mounting the telemetry instrumentation (75), and a by-pass system for avoiding pressure build-up either above or below the apparatus. The insulation coupler (11) includes a housing member (13) having a central opening (16) defined by an interior surface (22) extending in the longitudinal direction and a mandrel member (14) having an exterior surface (32) spaced from the interior surface (22) of the housing member (13) to provide a gap or clearance (33) with an insulating bonding material (29) occupying the clearance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2001
    Publication date: January 17, 2002
    Applicant: Weatherford/Lamb, Inc.
    Inventors: Marvin L. Holbert, James W. Haslett, Robert E. Smallwood, Frederick N. Trofimenkoff
  • Patent number: 6209632
    Abstract: A subsurface signal transmitting apparatus including an insulation coupler, a carrier device for mounting the telemetry instrumentation, and a by-pass system for avoiding pressure build-up either above or below the apparatus. The insulation coupler includes a housing member having a central opening defined by an interior surface extending in the longitudinal direction and a mandrel member having an exterior surface spaced from the interior surface of the housing member to provide a gap or clearance with an insulating bonding material occupying the clearance. The surfaces are oriented so that when the coupling is in tension at least a portion of the two surfaces experience interacting forces towards each other in the longitudinal direction of the coupling and in event of failure of the bonding material, the mandrel member is unable to withdraw from the housing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2001
    Inventors: Marvin L. Holbert, James W. Haslett, Robert E. Smallwood, Frederick N. Trofimenkoff