Patents by Inventor Walter A. Phillips

Walter A. Phillips 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: 20240026771
    Abstract: An apparatus for monitoring rod rotation in a rod lift system. The apparatus comprises one or more sensors that reside on the rod string of the rod lift system. The sensor is configured via a processor to generate a signal indicative of radial position of the sensor relative to an external frame of reference. The signal may be sent to a wireless I/O module, with the signals being indicative of at least partial rotation or, alternatively, a lack of rotation, of the rod-string. The processor is configured to generate an alarm if an absence of rod rotation is detected while the rod lift system is running and transmit this signal to the nearby wireless I/O module. A method for monitoring a reciprocating rod lift system is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2023
    Publication date: January 25, 2024
    Inventor: WALTER PHILLIPS
  • Patent number: 11814948
    Abstract: An apparatus for monitoring rod rotation in a rod lift system. The apparatus comprises one or more sensors that reside on the rod string of the rod lift system. The sensor is configured via a processor to generate a signal indicative of radial position of the sensor relative to an external frame of reference. The signal may be sent to a wireless I/O module, with the signals being indicative of at least partial rotation or, alternatively, a lack of rotation, of the rod-string. The processor is configured to generate an alarm if an absence of rod rotation is detected while the rod lift system is running and transmit this signal to the nearby wireless I/O module. A method for monitoring a reciprocating rod lift system is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Inventor: Walter Phillips
  • Publication number: 20230073307
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for measuring position and magnitude of downhole mechanical friction. The apparatus comprises sensors that reside along, or in-line with, a section of equipment that is installed or removed from a wellbore. The sensing device is configured to measure friction relative to the wellbore during a work-over or other well intervention procedures where said section of equipment (tubing, rods, cable/wireline, etc.) is installed in, or removed from, the wellbore. Recorded measurements are processed to correct for dynamic forces to provide a measure of friction through the wellbore. Additionally, a method for applying the map of wellbore friction to the design and analysis of a rod actuated pump is presented. The method and apparatus presented herein pertain specifically to the handling of continuous rod, continuous tubing, or wireline/cable passing through the wellbore as measured at surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2022
    Publication date: March 9, 2023
    Inventor: Walter Phillips
  • Patent number: 11560783
    Abstract: A properly calibrated load-cell is critical for the safe operation of a rod-pumping system. Load readings are utilized for shutdown thresholds, and incorrect measurements can cause those safe load limits to be exceeded. Correct surface load, combined with position measurement, is also important for the diagnosis of the complete pumping system. The diagnostic method for calculating down-hole conditions presents an interesting opportunity to validate surface load measurements, even from the incorrect load measurements themselves. The calculated down-hole dynamometer card will be transposed on a distinct diagonal with respect to both load and position, if the input surface load measurements are incorrect. A load offset can then be identified from this shifting and the surface load measurements can be corrected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Inventor: Walter Phillips
  • Patent number: 11525351
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for measuring position and magnitude of downhole mechanical friction. The apparatus comprises sensors that reside along, or in-line with, a section of equipment that is installed or removed from a wellbore. The sensing device is configured measure relative to the wellbore during a work-over or other well intervention procedures where said section of equipment (tubing, rods, drill pipe, etc.) is installed in, or removed from, the wellbore. Recorded measurements are then processed to correct for dynamic forces to provide a measure of friction through the portions of the wellbore where said equipment travels. The sensing can be done near the source of friction, or at some distance through a mechanical connection. A method for determining depth and magnitude of downhole friction is also provided. Additionally, a method for applying the map of wellbore friction to the design and analysis of a rod actuated pump is presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Inventor: Walter Phillips
  • Patent number: 10987639
    Abstract: Provided is a an amphiphilic diblock copolymer including from 40 to 60% by weight, relative to the weight of the copolymer, of a hydrophilic block including a unit derived from an n-butyl acrylate monomer and a derived from a hydroxyethyl methacrylate monomer. The copolymer also includes from 40 to 60% by weight, relative to the weight of the copolymer, of a hydrophobic block including at least one unit derived from a methyl methacrylate monomer. Also provided is a polymeric membrane that includes the block copolymer and a hydrophobic polymeric matrix. This membrane is useful for treating an effluent, for example, water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignees: Arkema France, Polymem
    Inventors: Walter Phillip Kosar, Olivier Lorain, Sébastien Marcellino, François Beaume, Pierre Gerard
  • Publication number: 20200386092
    Abstract: A properly calibrated load-cell is critical for the safe operation of a rod-pumping system. Load readings are utilized for shutdown thresholds, and incorrect measurements can cause those safe load limits to be exceeded. Correct surface load, combined with position measurement, is also important for the diagnosis of the complete pumping system. The diagnostic method for calculating down-hole conditions presents an interesting opportunity to validate surface load measurements, even from the incorrect load measurements themselves. The calculated down-hole dynamometer card will be transposed on a distinct diagonal with respect to both load and position, if the input surface load measurements are incorrect. A load offset can then be identified from this shifting and the surface load measurements can be corrected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2020
    Publication date: December 10, 2020
    Inventor: Walter Phillips
  • Publication number: 20200370413
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for measuring position and magnitude of downhole mechanical friction. The apparatus comprises sensors that reside along, or in-line with, a section of equipment that is installed or removed from a wellbore. The sensing device is configured measure relative to the wellbore during a work-over or other well intervention procedures where said section of equipment (tubing, rods, drill pipe, etc.) is installed in, or removed from, the wellbore. Recorded measurements are then processed to correct for dynamic forces to provide a measure of friction through the portions of the wellbore where said equipment travels. The sensing can be done near the source of friction, or at some distance through a mechanical connection. A method for determining depth and magnitude of downhole friction is also provided. Additionally, a method for applying the map of wellbore friction to the design and analysis of a rod actuated pump is presented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2020
    Publication date: November 26, 2020
    Inventor: Walter Phillips
  • Patent number: 10612537
    Abstract: A hydraulic oil well pumping system is provided. The system uses a pump to exert hydraulic pressure against a reciprocating piston over a wellbore. The piston is connected to a rod string and downhole pump for pumping oil from a wellbore. The system includes an electronic control system that controls movement of the piston as it moves between the upper and lower rod positions by cycling the hydraulic system between (i) an “upstroke” condition wherein the pump is pumping oil through the oil line into the hydraulic cylinder to move the piston to its upper rod position, and (ii) a “neutral” condition wherein the pump is no longer pumping oil into the hydraulic cylinder, but is allowing oil to flow back through the oil line in response to gravitational fall of the piston. The control system is programmed to cycle based upon a volumetric calculation of hydraulic oil in the cylinder without reference to position sensors along the wellhead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: Hydraulic Rod Pumps, International
    Inventors: Christopher M. Hodges, Lance A. Mehegan, Timothy L. Hankerd, Nathan Terry, Walter Phillips
  • Patent number: 10550673
    Abstract: A hydraulic oil well pumping system is provided. The system uses a pump to exert hydraulic pressure against a reciprocating piston over a wellbore. The piston is connected to a rod string and downhole pump for pumping oil from a wellbore. The system includes an electronic control system that controls movement of the piston as it moves between the upper and lower rod positions by cycling the hydraulic system between (i) an “upstroke” condition wherein the pump is pumping oil through the oil line into the hydraulic cylinder to move the piston to its upper rod position, and (ii) a “neutral” condition wherein the pump is no longer pumping oil into the hydraulic cylinder, but is allowing oil to flow back through the oil line in response to gravitational fall of the piston. The control system is programmed to cycle based upon a volumetric calculation of hydraulic oil in the cylinder without reference to position sensors along the wellhead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Hydraulic Rod Pumps, International
    Inventors: Christopher M. Hodges, Lance A. Mehegan, Timothy L. Hankerd, Nathan Terry, Walter Phillips
  • Patent number: 10474824
    Abstract: Unauthorized code may be stored as data in a data volume of a firmware volume. To prevent or block execution of the unauthorized code, the firmware file system (FFS) file that includes the unauthorized code may be tagged, marked or deleted according to a system bios policy. These corrupted FFS files are thus blocked from execution during initialization or a boot process of a basic input/output system (BIOS) firmware as they are not published or enumerated to an execution list of the BIOS firmware.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Balasingh Samuel, Walter Phillips, Richard Tonry
  • Patent number: 10392016
    Abstract: A controller is configured to receive a first signal indicative of a spatial locating speed or a spatial locating position for determining the spatial locating speed. The controller is configured to determine a sensed speed of the work vehicle based on a calibration and a second signal indicative of a rotational rate of a wheel of the work vehicle, and to determine whether a difference between the sensed speed and the spatial locating speed exceeds a calibration threshold. In response to determining that the difference exceeds the calibration threshold, the controller is configured to update the calibration such that the sensed speed is substantially equal to the spatial locating speed, and update the sensed speed based on the updated calibration and the second signal. Further, the controller is configured to instruct a speed control system to limit a ground speed of the work vehicle based on the sensed speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventor: Walter Phillip Gorczowski
  • Patent number: 10386086
    Abstract: A chilled water plant includes a communications bus, chilled water plant devices connected to the communications bus, and a chiller device connected to the communications bus. The chiller device is configured to detect the chilled water plant devices connected to the communications bus during a commissioning process, determine device status modules based at least in part on a type of each of the chilled water plant devices, control an operation of the chilled water plant, and display a user interface containing the device status modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Homero L. Noboa, Joe Villani, Christine E. Kinner, Walter A. Phillips
  • Publication number: 20190203579
    Abstract: An apparatus for monitoring rod rotation in a rod lift system. The apparatus comprises one or more sensors that reside on the rod string of the rod lift system. The sensor is configured via a processor to generate a signal indicative of radial position of the sensor relative to an external frame of reference. The signal may be sent to a wireless I/O module, with the signals being indicative of at least partial rotation or, alternatively, a lack of rotation, of the rod-string. The processor is configured to generate an alarm if an absence of rod rotation is detected while the rod lift system is running and transmit this signal to the nearby wireless I/O module. A method for monitoring a reciprocating rod lift system is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Publication date: July 4, 2019
    Inventor: Walter Phillips
  • Publication number: 20190071086
    Abstract: A controller is configured to receive a first signal indicative of a spatial locating speed or a spatial locating position for determining the spatial locating speed. The controller is configured to determine a sensed speed of the work vehicle based on a calibration and a second signal indicative of a rotational rate of a wheel of the work vehicle, and to determine whether a difference between the sensed speed and the spatial locating speed exceeds a calibration threshold. In response to determining that the difference exceeds the calibration threshold, the controller is configured to update the calibration such that the sensed speed is substantially equal to the spatial locating speed, and update the sensed speed based on the updated calibration and the second signal. Further, the controller is configured to instruct a speed control system to limit a ground speed of the work vehicle based on the sensed speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2017
    Publication date: March 7, 2019
    Inventor: Walter Phillip Gorczowski
  • Publication number: 20190039029
    Abstract: Provided is a an amphiphilic diblock copolymer including from 40 to 60% by weight, relative to the weight of the copolymer, of a hydrophilic block including a unit derived from an n-butyl acrylate monomer and a derived from a hydroxyethyl methacrylate monomer. The copolymer also includes from 40 to 60% by weight, relative to the weight of the copolymer, of a hydrophobic block including at least one unit derived from a methyl methacrylate monomer. Also provided is a polymeric membrane that includes the block copolymer and a hydrophobic polymeric matrix. This membrane is useful for treating an effluent, for example, water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2017
    Publication date: February 7, 2019
    Applicants: Arkema France, Polymem
    Inventors: Walter Phillip KOSAR, Olivier LORAIN, Sébastien MARCELLINO, François BEAUME, Pierre GERARD
  • Patent number: 10120678
    Abstract: System and methods are provided for distributing firmware updates to groups of IHSs (Information Handling Systems) managed by an organization. The organization managing the IHSs specifies categorizations for each IHS that are used to separate the managed IHSs into firmware update groups. A GUID (Global Unique Identifier) is assigned to each IHS, in some scenarios during the manufacture of the IHS. The assigned GUID specifies one or more firmware update groups to which an IHS has been assigned. The organization, or other technical support entity, utilizes a firmware distribution system for delivery of firmware updates to supported IHSs. The organization signals the delivery of updates to a firmware update group by specifying the group's GUID to the firmware distribution service. The IHS, identified by its assigned GUID, queries a firmware distribution services in order to determine whether new firmware updates have been made available to its assigned firmware update group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Dell Products, L.P.
    Inventors: Steven Downum, Walter Phillips, Balasingh Samuel
  • Publication number: 20180306011
    Abstract: A hydraulic oil well pumping system is provided. The system uses a pump to exert hydraulic pressure against a reciprocating piston over a wellbore. The piston is connected to a rod string and downhole pump for pumping oil from a wellbore. The system includes an electronic control system that controls movement of the piston as it moves between the upper and lower rod positions by cycling the hydraulic system between (i) an “upstroke” condition wherein the pump is pumping oil through the oil line into the hydraulic cylinder to move the piston to its upper rod position, and (ii) a “neutral” condition wherein the pump is no longer pumping oil into the hydraulic cylinder, but is allowing oil to flow back through the oil line in response to gravitational fall of the piston. The control system is programmed to cycle based upon a volumetric calculation of hydraulic oil in the cylinder without reference to position sensors along the wellhead.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2018
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Applicant: Hydraulic Rod Pumps, International
    Inventors: Christopher M. Hodges, Lance A. Mehegan, Timothy L. Hankerd, Nathan Terry, Walter Phillips
  • Publication number: 20180224144
    Abstract: A chilled water plant includes a communications bus, chilled water plant devices connected to the communications bus, and a chiller device connected to the communications bus. The chiller device is configured to detect the chilled water plant devices connected to the communications bus during a commissioning process, determine device status modules based at least in part on a type of each of the chilled water plant devices, control an operation of the chilled water plant, and display a user interface containing the device status modules.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2017
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Applicant: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Homero L. Noboa, Joe Villani, Christine E. Kinner, Walter A. Phillips
  • Publication number: 20180136928
    Abstract: System and methods are provided for distributing firmware updates to groups of IHSs (Information Handling Systems) managed by an organization. The organization managing the IHSs specifies categorizations for each IHS that are used to separate the managed IHSs into firmware update groups. A GUID (Global Unique Identifier) is assigned to each IHS, in some scenarios during the manufacture of the IHS. The assigned GUID specifies one or more firmware update groups to which an IHS has been assigned. The organization, or other technical support entity, utilizes a firmware distribution system for delivery of firmware updates to supported IHSs. The organization signals the delivery of updates to a firmware update group by specifying the group's GUID to the firmware distribution service. The IHS, identified by its assigned GUID, queries a firmware distribution services in order to determine whether new firmware updates have been made available to its assigned firmware update group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2016
    Publication date: May 17, 2018
    Applicant: Dell Products, L.P.
    Inventors: Steven Downum, Walter Phillips, Balasingh Samuel