Patents by Inventor Robert Louis Williford

Robert Louis Williford 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: 9383238
    Abstract: A system for determining characteristics of a multiphase fluid includes pipe and multiple pairs of transducers positioned circumferentially around the pipe. Each pair of transducers includes a transmitting transducer and a receiving transducer. The transmitting transducer of each pair of transducers is oriented to transmit a respective acoustic signal toward the receiving transducer of the pair of transducers. The transmitting transducer of each pair of transducers is operable to transmit the respective acoustic signal sequentially with respect to other transmitting transducers of the multiple pairs of transducers. A reception of a first acoustic signal transmitted by a transmitting transducer of a first pair transducers of the multiple pairs of transducers is completed by a receiving transducer of the first pair transducers before a transmitting transducer of another pair of transducers of the multiple pairs of transducers transmits a second acoustic signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: CHEVRON U.S.A. INC.
    Inventors: Farid G. Mitri, Cole T. Brinkley, Robert Louis Williford
  • Publication number: 20150233747
    Abstract: A system for determining characteristics of a multiphase fluid includes pipe and multiple pairs of transducers positioned circumferentially around the pipe. Each pair of transducers includes a transmitting transducer and a receiving transducer. The transmitting transducer of each pair of transducers is oriented to transmit a respective acoustic signal toward the receiving transducer of the pair of transducers. The transmitting transducer of each pair of transducers is operable to transmit the respective acoustic signal sequentially with respect to other transmitting transducers of the multiple pairs of transducers. A reception of a first acoustic signal transmitted by a transmitting transducer of a first pair transducers of the multiple pairs of transducers is completed by a receiving transducer of the first pair transducers before a transmitting transducer of another pair of transducers of the multiple pairs of transducers transmits a second acoustic signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2014
    Publication date: August 20, 2015
    Applicant: CHEVRON U.S.A. INC.
    Inventors: Farid G. Mitri, Cole T. Brinkley, Robert Louis Williford
  • Patent number: 9103198
    Abstract: A system, method and device may be used to monitor conditions in a borehole. Well tubing and casing act as a conductive pair for delivering power to one or more downhole active sensors. At the surface, power and signal are isolated so that the same conductive pair may act to transmit the sensor signals to the surface. In an embodiment, the sensor signals are RF signals and the surface electronics demodulate the RF signals from the sensor power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: CHEVRON U.S.A. INC.
    Inventors: Manuel E. Gonzalez, Melvin Clark Thompson, Robert Louis Williford, David William Beck
  • Publication number: 20150070186
    Abstract: A system, method and device may be used to monitor conditions in a borehole. Well tubing and casing act as a conductive pair for delivering power to one or more downhole active sensors. At the surface, power and signal are isolated so that the same conductive pair may act to transmit the sensor signals to the surface. In an embodiment, the sensor signals are RF signals and the surface electronics demodulate the RF signals from the sensor power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2014
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Applicant: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Manuel E. Gonzalez, Melvin Clark Thompson, Robert Louis Williford, David William Beck