Patents by Inventor Robert G. Roycroft

Robert G. Roycroft 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: 20240102364
    Abstract: Described herein are embodiments of systems, apparatuses, and methods that include a center rod plunger, wherein movement and/or placement of the center rod is at least partially controlled by the center rod including a centering section that keeps the center rod more centered in the center rod plunger's housing. The center rod plunger may also include a clutch for retarding movement of the center rod in the housing. In still other embodiments, the center rod may have a shaft whose diameter may vary and a clutch that may include a one-piece device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2023
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Applicant: Epic Lift Systems
    Inventors: Robert G. Roycroft, Shannon S. Freeman
  • Publication number: 20240102464
    Abstract: Described herein are embodiments of systems, apparatuses, and methods that include a center rod plunger, wherein movement of the center rod between an open and a closed position is at least partially controlled by a clutch. The center rod has a shaft whose diameter may vary such that the clutch imparts a corresponding varying degree of friction on the center rod and such that less friction is imparted when the center rod is in its open and/or closed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2023
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Applicant: Epic Lift Systems
    Inventors: Robert G. Roycroft, Shannon S. Freeman
  • Publication number: 20230287762
    Abstract: Described herein are embodiments of systems and apparatuses that include a dart and/or a clutch for a dart plunger. In an exemplary embodiment, the dart plunger includes a dart adapted to move between a first position and a second position and also between a maximum closed position and a minimum closed position. Varying diameters of the dart, and/or the opening in which the clutch is retained, enable the clutch to variably retard movement of the dart between its first, second, maximum, and minimum positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2023
    Publication date: September 14, 2023
    Applicant: Epic Lift Systems
    Inventors: Robert G. Roycroft, Shannon Freeman
  • Publication number: 20230287769
    Abstract: Described herein are embodiments of an improved bypass lubricator. The lubricator may include a body having a bore, where the bore may include at least an upper exit bore and a lower exit bore. The lubricator may also include an exit flow path that also has a bore, wherein the bore of the exit flow path is in fluid communication with the upper exit bore, the lower exit bore, and an exit valve. The upper exit bore and the lower exit bore may be sized relative to one another to create a pressure differential between the upper and lower exit bores to assist in maintaining an artificial lift device in the lubricator’s body. Shutting the exit valve shuts in the well.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2023
    Publication date: September 14, 2023
    Applicant: Epic Lift Systems
    Inventors: Robert G. Roycroft, Shannon S. Freeman, Aaron Michael Benjamin Skeete
  • Publication number: 20230175353
    Abstract: Described herein are embodiments of systems and apparatuses that include a dart and/or a clutch for a dart plunger. In an exemplary embodiment, the dart plunger includes a dart adapted to move between a first position and a second position and also between a maximum closed position and a minimum closed position. Varying diameters of the dart enable the clutch to variably retard movement of the dart between its first, second, maximum, and minimum positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2023
    Publication date: June 8, 2023
    Applicant: Epic Lift Systems
    Inventors: Robert G. Roycroft, Shannon Freeman
  • Publication number: 20230029090
    Abstract: Described herein are embodiments of systems and apparatuses that include a dart and/or a clutch for a dart plunger. In an exemplary embodiment, the clutch consists of a one-piece unit having a length, an outside diameter, and an inside diameter where at least a portion of the inside diameter is sized to create a frictional interface with a dart. The clutch may also include a gap, a slot, and/or a spiral cut. The dart may include a shaft having opposite ends and a shaft diameter that varies between the opposite ends.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2022
    Publication date: January 26, 2023
    Applicant: Epic Lift Systems
    Inventors: Robert G. Roycroft, Shannon Freeman
  • Patent number: 10907452
    Abstract: Embodiments of well plunger systems, assemblies, and apparatuses are described. In an embodiment, the apparatus includes a body having a first open end, a second open end, and a channel extending from the first open end through the body to the second open end, the channel for passing fluid from an oil or gas well. The apparatus may also include a receiver disposed at the first open end, the receiver configured to receive a stopper configured to at least partially seal off the channel, the first open end comprising a retention member receiver configured to receive one or more specially adapted retention members for applying a retention force to the stopper when the stopper is engaged with the receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: PATRIOT ARTIFICIAL LIFT, LLC
    Inventors: Robert G. Roycroft, Darrell W. Mitchum
  • Publication number: 20190085666
    Abstract: Embodiments of well plunger systems, assemblies, and apparatuses are described. In an embodiment, the apparatus includes a body having a first open end, a second open end, and a channel extending from the first open end through the body to the second open end, the channel for passing fluid from an oil or gas well. The apparatus may also include a receiver disposed at the first open end, the receiver configured to receive a stopper configured to at least partially seal off the channel, the first open end comprising a retention member receiver configured to receive one or more specially adapted retention members for applying a retention force to the stopper when the stopper is engaged with the receiver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2018
    Publication date: March 21, 2019
    Applicant: Patriot Artificial Lift, LLC
    Inventors: Robert G. Roycroft, Darrell W. Mitchum
  • Patent number: 10161230
    Abstract: Embodiments of well plunger systems, assemblies, and apparatuses are described. In an embodiment, the apparatus includes a body having a first open end, a second open end, and a channel extending from the first open end through the body to the second open end, the channel for passing fluid from an oil or gas well. The apparatus may also include a receiver disposed at the first open end, the receiver configured to receive a stopper configured to at least partially seal off the channel, the first open end comprising a retention member receiver configured to receive one or more specially adapted retention members for applying a retention force to the stopper when the stopper is engaged with the receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Patriot Artificial Lift, LLC
    Inventors: Robert G. Roycroft, Darrell W. Mitchum
  • Publication number: 20170268318
    Abstract: Embodiments of well plunger systems, assemblies, and apparatuses are described. In an embodiment, the apparatus includes a body having a first open end, a second open end, and a channel extending from the first open end through the body to the second open end, the channel for passing fluid from an oil or gas well. The apparatus may also include a receiver disposed at the first open end, the receiver configured to receive a stopper configured to at least partially seal off the channel, the first open end comprising a retention member receiver configured to receive one or more specially adapted retention members for applying a retention force to the stopper when the stopper is engaged with the receiver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2016
    Publication date: September 21, 2017
    Applicant: Patriot Artificial Lift, LLC
    Inventors: Robert G. Roycroft, Darrell W. Mitchum
  • Publication number: 20160215600
    Abstract: Embodiments of an improved bypass dart and assembly are described. In an embodiment, the plunger assembly includes a plunger having a first and second end. The plunger assembly may also include a cage attached to the second end of the plunger. Additionally, the plunger assembly may include a dart disposed within said cage. Further, the assembly may include an actuator coupled to the dart, the actuator configured to actuate the dart from a first position to a second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Publication date: July 28, 2016
    Applicant: Patriot Artificial Lift, LLC
    Inventors: Robert G. Roycroft, Darrell W. Mitchum
  • Publication number: 20160168963
    Abstract: A plunger assembly for down-hole use in a well. In one embodiment, the plunger assembly comprises a plunger having a first and second end, a cage attached to the second end of the plunger, and a dart disposed within the cage having a body with at least two surfaces, where one surface is a raised surface relative to the other, lower surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2014
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Inventors: Robert G. Roycroft, Darrell W. Mitchum
  • Patent number: 9261277
    Abstract: In a multistage combustion furnace having a motor driven inducer blower and a pressure sensing device or set of switches for sensing pressure in the combustion gas flowpath through the furnace, a high firing rate blower speed and low firing rate blower speed are set based on the blower speed setting required for a medium firing rate. Each particular furnace, having its own pressures and combustion gas resistance to flow characteristics, may be provided with a database of inducer blower motor speeds required to achieve predetermined pressures in the combustion gas flowpath for a variety of combustion gas venting systems generating such resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Trane International Inc.
    Inventors: Gordon Jeffrey Hugghins, Stephen Kowalski, Robert G. Roycroft
  • Publication number: 20160017700
    Abstract: A bumper assembly for down-hole use in a well. In one embodiment, the bumper assembly includes a fish neck, a cage, and a progressive rate spring disposed there-between. When a plunger strikes the top of the fish neck, the progressive rate spring dampens the force delivered by the plunger, thereby prolonging the useful life of the plunger and/or the bumper assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2014
    Publication date: January 21, 2016
    Inventors: Robert G. Roycroft, Darrell W. Mitchum
  • Patent number: 7601204
    Abstract: An air conditioning apparatus includes a cabinet having air inlet and outlet openings and an intense field dielectric air filtration system disposed in the cabinet between the inlet and outlet openings. The filtration system includes a field charging unit and a filter unit. The filter unit may be mounted for removal from the cabinet on spaced apart support brackets connected to the cabinet or to a frame of the field charging unit. Electrical contact elements may be supported by the support brackets for engagement with corresponding contact elements on the filter unit and charging unit for establishing electrical communication between a power supply and the charging unit and filter unit, respectively. A shorting bar is aligned with the contact members on the filter unit for discharging high voltage potential upon removal of the filter unit from the cabinet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: Trane International Inc.
    Inventors: Mark D. Woodruff, Kirk W. Beason, Larry Stephen Bias, Robert G. Roycroft, Lester D. Sherrow, Stephen J. Vendt
  • Publication number: 20090044794
    Abstract: In a multistage combustion furnace having a motor driven inducer blower and a pressure sensing device or set of switches for sensing pressure in the combustion gas flowpath through the furnace, a high firing rate blower speed and low firing rate blower speed are set based on the blower speed setting required for a medium firing rate. Each particular furnace, having its own pressures and combustion gas resistance to flow characteristics, may be provided with a database of inducer blower motor speeds required to achieve predetermined pressures in the combustion gas flowpath for a variety of combustion gas venting systems generating such resistance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2007
    Publication date: February 19, 2009
    Inventors: Gordon Jeffrey Hugghins, Stephen Kowalski, Robert G. Roycroft
  • Publication number: 20080053309
    Abstract: An air conditioning apparatus includes a cabinet having air inlet and outlet openings and an intense field dielectric air filtration system disposed in the cabinet between the inlet and outlet openings. The filtration system includes a field charging unit and a filter unit. The filter unit may be mounted for removal from the cabinet on spaced apart support brackets connected to the cabinet or to a frame of the field charging unit. Electrical contact elements may be supported by the support brackets for engagement with corresponding contact elements on the filter unit and charging unit for establishing electrical communication between a power supply and the charging unit and filter unit, respectively. A shorting bar is aligned with the contact members on the filter unit for discharging high voltage potential upon removal of the filter unit from the cabinet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2006
    Publication date: March 6, 2008
    Applicant: AMERICAN STANDARD INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Mark D. Woodruff, Kirk W. Beason, Larry Stephen Bias, Robert G. Roycroft, Lester D. Sherrow, Stephen J. Vendt