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).
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Patent number: 7252160Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 30, 2004Date of Patent: August 7, 2007Assignee: Weatherford/Lamb, Inc.Inventors: Tony Dopf, Derek William Logan, Paul Leonard Camwell, Michael Nero, Clemens L. Horst, Robert E. Smallwood
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Patent number: 7093680Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 23, 2003Date of Patent: August 22, 2006Assignee: Weatherford/Lamb, Inc.Inventors: Marvin L. Holbert, James W. Haslett, Robert E. Smallwood, Frederick N. Trofimenkoff
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Publication number: 20040134652Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 23, 2003Publication date: July 15, 2004Applicant: Weatherford/Lamb, Inc.Inventors: Marvin L. Holbert, James W. Haslett, Robert E. Smallwood, Frederick N. Trofimenkoff
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Patent number: 6672383Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 3, 2002Date of Patent: January 6, 2004Assignee: Weatherford/Lamb, Inc.Inventors: Marvin L. Holbert, James W. Haslett, Robert E. Smallwood, Frederick N. Trofimenkoff
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Publication number: 20020189803Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 3, 2002Publication date: December 19, 2002Applicant: Weatherford/Lamb, Inc.Inventors: Marvin L. Holbert, James W. Haslett, Robert E. Smallwood, Frederick N. Trofimenkoff
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Patent number: 6405795Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 5, 2001Date of Patent: June 18, 2002Assignee: Weatherford/Lamb, Inc.Inventors: Marvin L. Holbert, James W. Haslett, Robert E. Smallwood, Frederick N. Trofimenkoff
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Publication number: 20020005282Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: February 5, 2001Publication date: January 17, 2002Applicant: Weatherford/Lamb, Inc.Inventors: Marvin L. Holbert, James W. Haslett, Robert E. Smallwood, Frederick N. Trofimenkoff
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Patent number: 6209632Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 10, 1997Date of Patent: April 3, 2001Inventors: Marvin L. Holbert, James W. Haslett, Robert E. Smallwood, Frederick N. Trofimenkoff