Patents by Inventor Timothy Scott Steffenhagen

Timothy Scott Steffenhagen 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: 11661804
    Abstract: A coiled tubing injector including two or more drive chains each carrying a plurality of grippers for engaging coiled tubing within a grip zone defined between the two or more drive chains, a drive system including at least one hydraulic motor connected to a drive line and a return line forming a drive circuit for fluidly powering the at least one hydraulic motor, and a tension system including at least one hydraulic cylinder for tensioning the two or more drive chains. The tension system can include a reactive chain tension circuit for automatically tensioning the two or more drive chains by maintaining a pressure differential between a fluid pressure within the drive line and a fluid pressure within the at least one hydraulic cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: NATIONAL OILWELL VARCO, L.P.
    Inventors: Timothy Scott Steffenhagen, Matthew Stephen Lane
  • Patent number: 11608695
    Abstract: A coiled tubing injector system may include a coiled tubing injector guide configured for guiding coiled tubing into a coiled tubing injector and a remotely adjustable guide mechanism. The remotely adjustable guide mechanism may include a guide mount configured for adjustably securing the coiled tubing injector guide to a frame of the coiled tubing injector and a drive mechanism configured for remotely adjusting a position of the guide mount relative to the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: NOV INTERVENTION AND STIMULATION EQUIPMENT US, LLC
    Inventors: Timothy Scott Steffenhagen, Mike Xiaolei Lu, Matthew Stephen Lane
  • Publication number: 20220205867
    Abstract: A chain wear system for monitoring an amount of wear of a chain operating on a plurality of sprockets may include a chain monitoring device configured for determining a length of the chain passing by a point in an amount of time, a sprocket monitoring device configured for determining the amount of sprocket rotation of at least one of the plurality of sprockets in the amount of time, and a processing system in signal communication with the chain monitoring device and the sprocket monitoring device. The processing system may be configured for calculating the amount of wear based on the length of the chain and the amount of sprocket rotation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2020
    Publication date: June 30, 2022
    Inventors: Timothy Scott Steffenhagen, Marcus Joseph Doran, Kenneth Gene Barnes
  • Patent number: 11359446
    Abstract: A coiled tubing injector system includes a traction system for advancing coiled tubing through the injector and into or out of a well. The traction system includes a plurality of carriers (129) and gripper shoes (128) configured to repeatedly propagate through the injector along guides (114). The traction system also includes a position monitor (134) for monitoring the lateral position of the carrier, gripper shoe, or portion thereof as the carrier and gripper shoe propagates along the coiled tubing path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: NOV INTERVENTION AND STIMULATION EQUIPMENT US, LLC
    Inventors: Timothy Scott Steffenhagen, Marcus Joseph Doran, Kenneth Gene Barnes
  • Publication number: 20210348459
    Abstract: A coiled tubing injector system includes a traction system for advancing coiled tubing through the injector and into or out of a well. The traction system includes a plurality of carriers (129) and gripper shoes (128) configured to repeatedly propagate through the injector along guides (114). The traction system also includes a position monitor (134) for monitoring the lateral position of the carrier, gripper shoe, or portion thereof as the carrier and gripper shoe propagates along the coiled tubing path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2019
    Publication date: November 11, 2021
    Inventors: Timothy Scott Steffenhagen, Marcus Joseph Doran, Kenneth Gene Barnes
  • Publication number: 20210207445
    Abstract: A coiled tubing injector system may include a coiled tubing injector guide configured for guiding coiled tubing into a coiled tubing injector and a remotely adjustable guide mechanism. The remotely adjustable guide mechanism may include a guide mount configured for adjustably securing the coiled tubing injector guide to a frame of the coiled tubing injector and a drive mechanism configured for remotely adjusting a position of the guide mount relative to the frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2019
    Publication date: July 8, 2021
    Inventors: Timothy Scott Steffenhagen, Mike Xiaolei Lu, Matthew Stephen Lane
  • Patent number: 10975634
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to novel and advantageous devices, systems, and methods for stabilizing a coiled tubing guide extending from a coiled tubing unit. Stabilization of the guide may mitigate movement of the guide from lateral operational forces. The guide may be stabilized by clamping or anchoring a connection point between the guide and the unit, such as between the guide and a coiled tubing injector frame or a tubing guide mount coupled to the coiled tubing injector frame. In general, a clamp or other mechanism may operate to preload the pinned connection with a prescribed force. The direction of the force may be perpendicular, or near perpendicular, to an axis of rotation about which lateral loading on the guide causes moment forces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: NATIONAL OILWELL VARCO, L.P.
    Inventors: Marcus Joseph Doran, Timothy Scott Steffenhagen, Antonio Ruiz, Kevin Edwin AuBuchon
  • Publication number: 20190085646
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to novel and advantageous devices, systems, and methods for stabilizing a coiled tubing guide extending from a coiled tubing unit. Stabilization of the guide may mitigate movement of the guide from lateral operational forces. The guide may be stabilized by clamping or anchoring a connection point between the guide and the unit, such as between the guide and a coiled tubing injector frame or a tubing guide mount coupled to the coiled tubing injector frame. In general, a clamp or other mechanism may operate to preload the pinned connection with a prescribed force. The direction of the force may be perpendicular, or near perpendicular, to an axis of rotation about which lateral loading on the guide causes moment forces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2018
    Publication date: March 21, 2019
    Inventors: Marcus Joseph Doran, Timothy Scott Steffenhagen, Antonio Ruiz, Kevin Edwin AuBuchon
  • Patent number: 6648000
    Abstract: A spool for carrying continuous pipe or coiled tubing for a coiled tubing injector is dropped into a stand at a site and coupled to a rotary power source. The stand includes two axles, on either side of the spool, and a drive coupling. A pipe slideably extends through one of the axles. It is retracted when the spool is lowered onto the stand and then extended for communicating fluid between the coiled tubing and a fluid source. A swivel joint is connected to one end of the pipe. The pipe is permitted to turn with the spool or is held stationary with respect to the stand depending on whether the swivel joint is mounted outside the stand or inside the spool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Assignee: Varco I/P, Inc.
    Inventors: Troy D. Cain, Timothy Scott Steffenhagen
  • Publication number: 20030089400
    Abstract: A spool for carrying continuous pipe or coiled tubing for a coiled tubing injector is dropped into a stand at a site and coupled to a rotary power source. The stand includes two axles, on either side of the spool, and a drive coupling. A pipe slideably extends through one of the axles. It is retracted when the spool is lowered onto the stand and then extended for communicating fluid between the coiled tubing and a fluid source. A swivel joint is connected to one end of the pipe. The pipe is permitted to turn with the spool or is held stationary with respect to the stand depending on whether the swivel joint is mounted outside the stand or inside the spool.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2001
    Publication date: May 15, 2003
    Inventors: Troy D. Cain, Timothy Scott Steffenhagen
  • Patent number: 6216780
    Abstract: A coiled tubing injector includes two chains mounted for continuous, opposing rotation and aligned to grip between the continuous tubing. Behind a portion of each chain is a straight skate that presses gripper elements on the chain against the tubing as it passes between the chains. The skate includes a beam. Rollers are mounted on carriers, and the carriers slide into slots formed on the beam. A resilient pad is placed between the carriers and the beam. The gripper elements roll over the rollers as they are being pressed against the continuous tubing. Dimensional variations in gripper elements, rollers, and the roller carriers that may otherwise cause grippers to be out of alignment are accommodated by compression of the pad. Furthermore, the last roller at each end of each skate is mounted for pivoting against a spring in order to deflect as gripper elements turn into, or out of, alignment with the skate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Assignee: Hydra Rig, Inc.
    Inventors: John Edward Goode, Randall Scott Graves, Timothy Scott Steffenhagen