Patents by Inventor Walter J. Laflin

Walter J. Laflin 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: 7478679
    Abstract: A field assembled packer or plug features a sleeve of a swelling material, preferably rubber, which is slipped over the tubular. A pair of molds is assembled over the tubular. The molds can accommodate variation in the size and out of roundness of standard API tubulars. An epoxy mixture is formulated on site and pumped into the molds at opposed ends of the sealing element assembly and allowed to set up. The molds are removed and the assembly is ready to be run in the hole as a packer included in a tubular string. The element assembly can include a harder swelling material on opposed ends of the main sealing element to protect the main sealing element from damage during run in.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2009
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Vel Berzin, Walter J. Laflin, Robert O. Castillo, Darwin D. Arline
  • Publication number: 20080290603
    Abstract: A swellable element includes a mandrel, a swellable material disposed about the mandrel and at least one cut in the swellable material and method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2008
    Publication date: November 27, 2008
    Applicant: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
    Inventor: WALTER J. LAFLIN
  • Patent number: 7441596
    Abstract: A sealing element that swells on exposure to well fluids present or added to the wellbore is assembled to the mandrel in a manner to induce circumferential stresses proximately to the inside diameter of the element so as to resist the tendency of the inside diameter of the element to grow during the swelling process. A vacuum and a pressure method are described. Leak paths between the mandrel and the sealing element are minimized or eliminated as a result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Edward T. Wood, Steven N. Bailey, Walter J. Laflin, Vel Berzin, James R. Korte, Edward J. O'Malley, Bennett M. Richard
  • Publication number: 20080135260
    Abstract: A field assembled packer or plug features a sleeve of a swelling material, preferably rubber, which is slipped over the tubular. A pair of molds is assembled over the tubular. The molds can accommodate variation in the size and out of roundness of standard API tubulars. An epoxy mixture is formulated on site and pumped into the molds at opposed ends of the sealing element assembly and allowed to set up. The molds are removed and the assembly is ready to be run in the hole as a packer included in a tubular string. The element assembly can include a harder swelling material on opposed ends of the main sealing element to protect the main sealing element from damage during run in.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2006
    Publication date: June 12, 2008
    Inventors: Vel Berzin, Walter J. Laflin, Robert O. Castillo, Darwin D. Arline
  • Publication number: 20070295498
    Abstract: A sealing element that swells on exposure to well fluids present or added to the wellbore is assembled to the mandrel in a manner to induce circumferential stresses proximately to the inside diameter of the element so as to resist the tendency of the inside diameter of the element to grow during the swelling process. A vacuum and a pressure method are described. Leak paths between the mandrel and the sealing element are minimized or eliminated as a result.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2006
    Publication date: December 27, 2007
    Inventors: Edward T. Wood, Steven N. Bailey, Walter J. Laflin, Vel Berzin, James R. Korte, Edward J. O'Malley, Bennett M. Richard
  • Patent number: 6374916
    Abstract: The present invention generally provides a system and method for stiffening a cutting tool assembly used in cutting laterally relative to a wellbore axis to reduce stresses and cyclical bending of the cutting tool assembly during cutting. The system includes a cutting tool attached to a shaft such as an output shaft of a motor or a drill string. A sleeve is disposed in an annular space, known as a box relief, defined between the shaft and a peripheral wall of the cutting tool. The sleeve is preferably fixed in the annular space by a sleeve ring surrounding a recess in the shaft, but can be coupled to the peripheral wall and/or shaft by, for example, a threaded engagement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2002
    Assignee: Weatherford/Lamb, Inc.
    Inventor: Walter J. Laflin
  • Patent number: 5348088
    Abstract: A well connector connectable to the outside of coil tubing for coupling the tubing to another member. The connector includes a tubular body externally enclosing the end of the coil tubing and a second end for connection to another member. A slip housing is threadably connected to the first end of the body and encloses slips between the body and the housing for gripping the outside of coil tubing. The body includes a thermally compensated packing element and a threaded actuation energizer is provided threadably engaging the body, separate from the slip actuation, for energizing the packer element into a seating engagement with the exterior of the coiled tubing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 20, 1994
    Assignee: Camco International Inc.
    Inventors: Walter J. Laflin, Arthur J. Morris
  • Patent number: 5306050
    Abstract: A ratchet-type spoolable connector for coupling coiled tubing to tools or other coiled tubing. A mandrel is engaged by a ratchet to the inside of a body and slips abut the end of the body and engage the mandrel. The alternate application of tension and compression across the connector ratchets the mandrel into wedging engagement with the slips for gripping the coiled tubing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 26, 1994
    Assignee: Camco International Inc.
    Inventors: Walter J. Laflin, Brian K. Moore
  • Patent number: 5238273
    Abstract: An internal slip-type connector for coupling coiled tubing to tools or other coiled tubing having a body that does not upset the outside diameter of the coiled tubing with seal means to seal to the inside of the coiled tubing. A mandrel is threadably engaged to the inside of the end of the body and slip means abuts the first end of the body and engages the mandrel. Rotation of the body relative to the mandrel wedges the slip means into the inside of the coiled tubing for gripping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1993
    Assignee: Camco International Inc.
    Inventors: Walter J. Laflin, Brian K. Moore