Patents by Inventor Woodrow T. Rutledge, Jr.

Woodrow T. Rutledge, Jr. 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: 4919560
    Abstract: Disclosed is an oil well sucker rod having a fiberglass rod with steel connectors on each end. Each connector has a rod-receiving receptacle having an open end, a closed end, and a plurality of axially spaced annular, tapered surfaces. The taper angles of the tapered surfaces are progresssively less toward the open end of the receptacle. An annular centering surface within the receptacle engages the end of the rod to the center the rod within the connector. A plurality of evenly spaced dimples on the connector extend into the receptacle to the center the rod within the connector at a point spaced from the centering surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 24, 1990
    Assignee: Fiberglass Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Woodrow T. Rutledge, Jr., Russell P. Rutledge, T. Mike Jones, Don E. McCown, J. Tom Hodnett
  • Patent number: 4475404
    Abstract: A device for testing the tensile strength of fiberglass rods. A hydraulic ram system applies force through specially shaped holders to the ends of fiberglass sucker rods having end connectors mounted by a combination of adhesive and compression joints.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1982
    Date of Patent: October 9, 1984
    Assignee: Fiberflex Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Woodrow T. Rutledge, Jr., Russell P. Rutledge, John E. Freeman
  • Patent number: 4422508
    Abstract: A method and means for pulling a sucker rod string from a well is disclosed. A separable connector is provided in the sucker rod string above the pump body. The connector comprises a male and a female section having aligned openings and joined by a shear pin within said openings. The force required to shear the pin and separate the sections of the connector is substantially greater than that required for normal operation of a downhole reciprocating pump or similar tool but is substantially less than the weight of the fluid column above the downhole reciprocating pump. The disclosed methods include insertion of this connector into a sucker rod string, such as one including fiberglass sucker rods, above the pump. The pump is then operated in the normal known fashion. To remove the sucker rod string, tension in the string is increased above that required to operate the pump until the pin within the connection shears, separating the sucker rod string from the pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1981
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1983
    Assignee: Fiberflex Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Woodrow T. Rutledge, Jr., Russel P. Rutledge, John E. Freeman, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4360288
    Abstract: A fiberglass sucker rod construction is disclosed comprising a cylindrical fiberglass rod having a steel connector member adhesively bonded to each end thereof. The steel connector members are basically identical in their manner of being affixed to each end of the fiberglass rod, each connector member having an internal receptacle defining a series of tapered annular spaces for receiving an epoxy adhesive material which bonds the fiberglass rod in the metal connector member, thereby forming a unitary sucker rod having a male thread connector at one end and a mating female connector at the other end thereof. The epoxy adhesive cures, forming a sleeve having a series of annular tapering surfaces defining annular wedges that are oriented such that tension applied to the rod causes the wedges to be compressed between the rod and connector member, resulting in a radially inwardly directed force to retain the rod in position against such tension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1979
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1982
    Assignee: Fiberflex Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Woodrow T. Rutledge, Jr., Russell P. Rutledge, John E. Freeman, Steven D. Clark
  • Patent number: RE32865
    Abstract: A fiberglass sucker rod construction is disclosed comprising a cylindrical fiberglass rod having a steel connector member adhesively bonded to each end thereof. The steel connector members are basically identical in their manner of being affixed to each end of the fiberglass rod, each connector member having an internal receptacle defining a series of tapered annular spaces for receiving an epoxy adhesive material which bonds the fiberglass rod in the metal connector member, thereby forming a unitary sucker rod having a male thread connector at one end and a mating female connector at the other end thereof. The epoxy adhesive cures, forming a sleeve having a series of annular tapering surfaces defining annular wedges that are oriented such that tension applied to the rod causes the wedges to be compressed between the rod and connector member, resulting in a radially inwardly directed force to retain the rod in position against such tension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1989
    Assignee: Fiberflex Products Ltd.
    Inventors: Woodrow T. Rutledge, Jr., Russell P. Rutledge, Jon B. Freeman, Stephen D. Clark