Patents by Inventor Robert McCullough

Robert McCullough 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: 20260078645
    Abstract: A clutch assembly for use in a wellbore and connectable between a first and second drill string sections is provided. The clutch assembly includes a first assembly portion connectable to the first drill string section and a second assembly portion connectable to the second drill string section. The second assembly portion comprises a driveshaft. The clutch assembly further comprises a releasable clutch mechanism that selectively rotationally locks the first assembly portion with the second assembly portion. The clutch assembly may comprises a one-way bearing assembly allowing rotation of the driveshaft relative to the first assembly portion in a first rotational direction and preventing rotation of the driveshaft in a second rotational direction opposite to the first rotational direction. The clutch assembly may comprise a diverter valve mechanism having an open configuration and a closed configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2024
    Publication date: March 19, 2026
    Inventors: Robert McCullough, Everett Hagar, Lisa Ying Pui Yung
  • Patent number: 12454864
    Abstract: Clutch assemblies and related systems are provided. In some embodiments, the system comprises the clutch assembly, a circulation assembly, and an actuation mechanism operatively connected to the clutch assembly and the circulation assembly. In some embodiments, the clutch assembly allows for selective rotation of a bottom hole assembly of a drill string and the circulation assembly allows for selective exhausting of drilling fluid from the drill string. Related drill strings and methods for drilling a borehole are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2024
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2025
    Assignee: NTS AMEGA WEST USA, INC
    Inventors: Robert McCullough, Adam Well, Everett Hagar, Sean O'Neill, Harris Hurst
  • Publication number: 20250123023
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate to a device for attenuating ultraviolet radiation in an air handling system, wherein the device is arranged for insertion in a ducting section of the air handling system, the device comprising: a plurality of elongate flow passages, wherein each of the plurality of elongate flow passages is configured to permit airflow through the elongate flow passage from an inlet of the device to an outlet of the device; wherein each of the elongate flow passages comprises one or more internal walls comprising a coating configured to absorb a proportion of incident ultraviolet radiation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2022
    Publication date: April 17, 2025
    Inventors: Robert MCCULLOUGH, Ian SINCLAIR, Julia MARTIN
  • Publication number: 20250034944
    Abstract: Clutch assemblies and related systems are provided. In some embodiments, the system comprises the clutch assembly, a circulation assembly, and an actuation mechanism operatively connected to the clutch assembly and the circulation assembly. In some embodiments, the clutch assembly allows for selective rotation of a bottom hole assembly of a drill string and the circulation assembly allows for selective exhausting of drilling fluid from the drill string. Related drill strings and methods for drilling a borehole are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2024
    Publication date: January 30, 2025
    Inventors: Robert McCullough, Adam Well, Everett Hagar, Sean O’Neill, Harris Hurst
  • Patent number: 12152467
    Abstract: Clutch assemblies and related systems are provided. In some embodiments, the system comprises the clutch assembly, a circulation assembly, and an actuation mechanism operatively connected to the clutch assembly and the circulation assembly. In some embodiments, the clutch assembly allows for selective rotation of a bottom hole assembly of a drill string and the circulation assembly allows for selective exhausting of drilling fluid from the drill string. Related drill strings and methods for drilling a borehole are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2024
    Assignee: NTS Amega West USA, Inc
    Inventors: Robert McCullough, Adam Well, Everett Hagar, Sean O'Neill, Harris Hurst
  • Patent number: 12049823
    Abstract: A drilling apparatus connectable with a drill pipe and connectable with a drilling assembly comprising a drilling assembly housing, for use in drilling a borehole, including a rotation restraining device actuatable between a retracted position and an extended position, a rotation restraining device actuator for actuating the rotation restraining device between the retracted position and the extended position, a swivel actuatable between a locked position and an unlocked position, and a swivel actuator for actuating the swivel between the locked position and the unlocked position. A method for drilling a borehole, including connecting a drilling assembly with a drill pipe, wherein the drilling assembly comprises a drilling assembly housing, drilling while rotating the drill pipe and thereby rotating the drilling assembly housing, and drilling while rotating the drill pipe relative to the drilling assembly housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2024
    Assignee: NTS Amega West USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert McCullough, Adam Well, Everett Hagar, Daniel Minett-Smith, Robert Sedgeman
  • Publication number: 20240019145
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an air cleaning system comprising: a ducting section comprising an inlet and an outlet; at least one source of ultraviolet radiation arranged to emit ultraviolet radiation into an interior volume of the ducting section, the interior volume between the inlet and the outlet; and a reflective surface arranged to reflect ultraviolet radiation emitted by the source of ultraviolet radiation within the interior volume of the ducting section, wherein the reflective surface is capable of reflecting at least 60% of incident ultraviolet radiation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2021
    Publication date: January 18, 2024
    Inventors: Ian Sinclair, Julia Martin, Robert Mccullough
  • Publication number: 20230295988
    Abstract: Clutch assemblies and related systems are provided. In some embodiments, the system comprises the clutch assembly, a circulation assembly, and an actuation mechanism operatively connected to the clutch assembly and the circulation assembly. In some embodiments, the clutch assembly allows for selective rotation of a bottom hole assembly of a drill string and the circulation assembly allows for selective exhausting of drilling fluid from the drill string. Related drill strings and methods for drilling a borehole are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2022
    Publication date: September 21, 2023
    Inventors: Robert McCullough, Adam Well, Everett Hagar, Sean O'Neill, Harris Hurst
  • Publication number: 20220412167
    Abstract: A drilling apparatus connectable with a drill pipe and connectable with a drilling assembly comprising a drilling assembly housing, for use in drilling a borehole, including a rotation restraining device actuatable between a retracted position and an extended position, a rotation restraining device actuator for actuating the rotation restraining device between the retracted position and the extended position, a swivel actuatable between a locked position and an unlocked position, and a swivel actuator for actuating the swivel between the locked position and the unlocked position. A method for drilling a borehole, including connecting a drilling assembly with a drill pipe, wherein the drilling assembly comprises a drilling assembly housing, drilling while rotating the drill pipe and thereby rotating the drilling assembly housing, and drilling while rotating the drill pipe relative to the drilling assembly housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2020
    Publication date: December 29, 2022
    Inventors: Robert McCullough, Adam Well, Everett Hagar, Daniel Minett-Smith, Robert Sedgeman
  • Publication number: 20090255687
    Abstract: Sealing may be provided between alignable windows for lateral wellbore drilling. A method for use with a lateral wellbore includes the steps of: positioning a swellable seal material between a closure device and a housing of a window assembly; swelling the seal material to thereby prevent fluid transfer through a window formed in a sidewall of the housing; and then installing the window assembly in a parent wellbore. A lateral wellbore system includes a window assembly with a window formed through a sidewall of a generally tubular housing, and a swollen seal material preventing fluid transfer through the window. A window assembly includes a generally tubular housing having a window formed through a sidewall of the housing, a closure device having another window formed through a wall of the closure device; and a swellable seal material which prevents fluid transfer between the windows.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2008
    Publication date: October 15, 2009
    Applicant: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Robert McCullough, Henry Stoltz, Michael Rees, Shaun Renshaw
  • Publication number: 20050207468
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for non-destructive testing of a structure including the deposition of energy volumetrically into an object and detecting transient temperatures at a surface of the object caused by diffusion of the deposited energy. The energy is typically induced within the object by an induction coil and viewed by an IR camera as the transient energy exits the surface of the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2004
    Publication date: September 22, 2005
    Inventors: Robert McCullough, Phillip Bondurant
  • Patent number: 6835679
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for light curing of composite materials in which the radiation required to initiate the curing is delivered via one or more lossy fiber optics. The fiber optics are made lossy by methods such as bending the fiber, weaving the fiber into a mat to create periodic micro-bends, tailoring the thickness of the fiber cladding to allow evanescent wave transmission, or simply removing the cladding at intervals along the fiber. Distribution of the light through out the composite material results in dramatic power and time reductions over traditional light curing methods. Unlike thermal curing of composite materials, there is no need for an auto-clave and hence no limit on the size of the part that may be created. Additional benefits include the possibility of curing at operational temperature and so avoiding thermal stresses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2004
    Assignee: Continuum Dynamics, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan J. Bilanin, Andrew E. Kaufman, Robert McCullough
  • Publication number: 20040021255
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for light curing of composite materials in which the radiation required to initiate the curing is delivered via one or more lossy fiber optics. The fiber optics are made lossy by methods such as bending the fiber, weaving the fiber into a mat to create periodic micro-bends, tailoring the thickness of the fiber cladding to allow evanescent wave transmission, or simply removing the cladding at intervals along the fiber. Distribution of the light through out the composite material results in dramatic power and time reductions over traditional light curing methods. Unlike thermal curing of composite materials, there is no need for an auto-clave and hence no limit on the size of the part that may be created. Additional benefits include the possibility of curing at operational temperature and so avoiding thermal stresses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2002
    Publication date: February 5, 2004
    Inventors: Alan J. Bilanin, Andrew E. Kaufman, Robert McCullough
  • Patent number: D811279
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: PRIDE MOBILITY PRODUCTS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Robert McCullough, Kip Darrin Alder