Patents Issued in March 28, 2017
  • Patent number: 9605459
    Abstract: A door system suitable for installation in data centers to limit airflow to and from aisles between rows of equipment cabinets has a door assembly with a door panel and a plurality of vertically spaced hinge assemblies having powerful permanent magnets manually movable between connected and disconnected positions, enabling the door assembly to be aligned and positioned on the side wall panel of an equipment cabinet and then removably mounted in place by engagement of the magnets. Each magnet can be mounted in a rotatable threaded magnet carriers received in a threaded recesses in the hinge assembly and rotation of the magnet carrier is operable to move the magnet into the connected and disconnected positions. The hinge assemblies also include registration tabs that engage slots in the cabinet for proper alignment and orientation of the door system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Upsite Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Clint Veino, Bruce Long, Lars Strong
  • Patent number: 9605460
    Abstract: A hinge dampening device is provided for a granulation processor having a bowl and a lid. A dampening device includes first and second spaced apart hinge supports fixed to the bowl and a pin extending through the lid collar residing between the hinge supports. The first end of the pin is fixed to the first hinge support, and a second end of the pin extends through the second hinge support. An adjustable compressive force is applied axially to the hinge supports and lid collar to create frictional resistance to rotation of the lid. The rotational resistance provides controlled opening and closing of the lid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Freund—Vector Corporation
    Inventors: Nicholas Decker, Nigel P. Wright
  • Patent number: 9605461
    Abstract: In a door fitting with height adjustment for a sliding door panel with a housing in which a support roller is rotatably supported, a sliding door panel lifting member is slidingly supported by guide elements extending from the support base member into inclined guide passages formed in the housing side wails whereby the sliding door panel can be raised or lowered by longitudinal movement of the lifting member relative to the housing, the inclined guide passages are provided with end walls which limit the movement of the guide elements in the inclined passages to limit the height adjustment and an access area is formed at an upper end of each guide passage. Adjustment elements are provided for the movement of the base member relative to the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Inventors: Guenther Zimmer, Martin Zimmer
  • Patent number: 9605462
    Abstract: A hinge device includes a first fixed tubular half-shell having a working chamber defining a longitudinal axis, a second tubular half-shell rotatable about the longitudinal axis, a pivot rotating unitarily with the latter which includes a single pass-through actuating member having a helical shape, a plunger member slidable along the longitudinal axis, and a tubular bushing having a pair of guide cam slots. A pin inserted within the pass-through actuating member is provided to allow the mutual engagement of the pivot and the bushing. The first tubular half-shell includes an end portion susceptible to rotatably support the pivot, the second tubular half-shell and the bushing are coaxially coupled to each other, and the bushing and the first tubular half-shell are mutually unitarily coupled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: IN & TEC S.R.L.
    Inventor: Luciano Bacchetti
  • Patent number: 9605463
    Abstract: A snubber apparatus comprises a casing defining an inner cavity. A shaft passes through the inner cavity and rotates about its longitudinal axis. The shaft has one or two ends laterally projecting out of the casing and being connected to a moving part of a tool to dampen given motions thereof. A wiper arm is on the shaft so as to rotate therewith the shaft, with a free end in close proximity to the surface portions of the inner cavity. The free end has an arcuate contour complementarily corresponding to a circumferential surface portion. A dam extends from the circumferential surface portion into close proximity to the wiper arm, to divide the inner cavity in two chambers, with movements of the wiper arm changing the volume of the chambers. A hydraulic circuit controls a flow of fluid between chambers to oppose a force to rotation of the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: GLOBAL CASTING INC.
    Inventor: Michel Pilon
  • Patent number: 9605464
    Abstract: A drive device, comprising a first housing part and a second housing part which can be displaced with respect thereto, and comprising a motor assembly, which comprises a rotor, two mounting elements and two permanent magnet shells, and if desired comprising a transmission assembly and/or a sensor unit associated with the motor transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Stabilus GmbH
    Inventors: Jürgen Kessler, Andreas Ritter, Volker Neuhardt, Sergei Mazepa, Gisela Ursula Kessler
  • Patent number: 9605465
    Abstract: A door assembly for a motorized vehicle includes a door configured to move between an open position and a closed position, a first member defining a first axis, and a first support member pivotally coupled to the door and defining a second axis. A linkage assembly includes a first arm and a second arm. The first arm and the second arm are pivotally coupled to one another, where the first arm is coupled to the first member at a location offset from the first axis and the second arm defines a first slot. A cross member has a first end and a second end. The first end has a first pin for slideably engaging the first slot and the second end being coupled to the first member. The door is movable between the open and closed positions as the first member pivots about the first axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: The Braun Corporation
    Inventors: Adam Wojdyla, Sajed Dosenbach, Michael R. Pugh, Christopher Wegner, Greg Perkins
  • Patent number: 9605466
    Abstract: A door assembly for a motorized vehicle includes a door configured to move between an open position and a closed position, a first member defining a first axis, and a first support member pivotally coupled to the door and defining a second axis. A linkage assembly includes a first arm and a second arm. The first arm and the second arm are pivotally coupled to one another, where the first arm is coupled to the first member at a location offset from the first axis and the second arm defines a first slot. A cross member has a first end and a second end. The first end has a first pin for slideably engaging the first slot and the second end being coupled to the first member. The door is movable between the open and closed positions as the first member pivots about the first axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: The Braun Corporation
    Inventors: Adam Wojdyla, Michael R. Pugh, Sajed Dosenbach, Christopher Wegner, Greg Perkins
  • Patent number: 9605467
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for controlling an opening and closing of vehicle windows are provided. The method includes receiving, by a controller, an open signal for at least one window disposed within the vehicle. Further, the controller detects a rainfall at an exterior of the vehicle using a sensor and opens and closes the windows based on the open signal and the detected rainfall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Soo Il Park
  • Patent number: 9605468
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes systems, methods, and articles of manufacture for controlling a door. In various embodiments, exemplary systems may include a controller that may initialize and/or reset a limit count. A controller may initialize and/or reset a limit count in response to detection by a first position sensor of a first target. A controller may further initialize and/or reset a limit count by incrementing the limit count in response to a signal from a gear tooth sensor until a second position sensor detects a second target, whereupon the controller may store the limit count.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: CORNELL IRONWORKS ENTERPRISES
    Inventors: Xin Cui, Jeffery L. Mueller, Michael D. Mankoski, G. Bruce Burwell
  • Patent number: 9605469
    Abstract: A door assembly for a motorized vehicle includes a door configured to move between an open position and a closed position, a first member defining a first axis, and a first support member pivotally coupled to the door and defining a second axis. A linkage assembly includes a first arm and a second arm. The first arm and the second arm are pivotally coupled to one another, where the first arm is coupled to the first member at a location offset from the first axis and the second arm defines a first slot. A cross member has a first end and a second end. The first end has a first pin for slidably engaging the first slot and the second end being coupled to the first member. The door is movable between the open and closed positions as the first member pivots about the first axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: The Braun Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew Henseleit, Justin Gilmore
  • Patent number: 9605470
    Abstract: A protector with a sensor is installed on a sliding door for detecting an object by touch between two core wires in a hollow part. In a terminal part of the protector with the sensor, the core wires drawn out are connected with legs of a resistor. A primary seal is formed by grinding a surface of the hollow part of the terminal part of an extrusion molded part, positioning a ground part on a die and covering wire connection parts and a side of another end of an insert while also covering the ground part by means of injection molding. A secondary seal is formed by means of the injection molding for coating a part formed with the primary seal for forming an external shape of a product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: NISHIKAWA RUBBER CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Michihiko Matsumoto, Yuzo Hirakawa
  • Patent number: 9605471
    Abstract: A vehicle rear door control system and method of controlling a vehicle rear door, such as a hatch or trunk is provided. The method detects the opening of a side door of a vehicle and senses with a plurality of proximity sensors movement of an object such as a driver or passenger of the vehicle exiting the vehicle and moving from a side to a rear of the vehicle. The method controls an actuator to open the rear door of the vehicle in response to the detected opening of the side door followed by the sensed movement of the driver or passenger from the side to the rear of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Terry Lobsinger, Pietro Buttolo
  • Patent number: 9605472
    Abstract: A connecting means provides a connecting passage between a first compartment of a vehicle and a storage means located in a second compartment of the vehicle. The first and the second compartment are separated by a wall. A catering system for a vehicle includes the connecting means. A method provides a sealed connecting passage between a first compartment of a vehicle and a storage means located in second compartment of a vehicle. The connecting means includes a frame, a hatch arrangement for selectively closing and opening a frame aperture with a hatch cover and a bellows arrangement including a flexible bellows. The flexible bellows can be extended from the frame to a storage means located in the second compartment of the vehicle. A continuous passage defined by the flexible bellows and the frame provides a sealed connecting passage between the first compartment and the storage means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan Ebeling, Jens Gärtner, Andreas Köhler, Raj Kotian, Ralph Hoffmann
  • Patent number: 9605473
    Abstract: A protector with a sensor is installed on a sliding door for detecting an object by touch between two core wires in a hollow part. In a terminal part of the protector with the sensor, the core wires drawn out are connected with leads joined with a control unit. A primary seal is formed by means of injection molding for covering wire connection parts and another end side of an insert while also covering a skin of a wire harness which ties and coats the two leads. A secondary seal is formed by means of the injection molding for coating a part formed with the primary seal and for forming an external shape of a product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: NISHIKAWA RUBBER CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Michihiko Matsumoto, Yuzo Hirakawa
  • Patent number: 9605474
    Abstract: An apparatus for use with an overhead garage door includes an extensible screen that is provided in a screen assembly that is embedded within opening provided in a garage floor. A pair of horizontal and vertical recesses are provided on opposite sides of the opening to secure the screen assembly within the opening. The screen is wound on a spring-biased center roller disposed in a cylinder of the screen assembly. A top of the screen is secured to a strip. A pair of angled plates are disposed on opposite sides of the strip and are hingedly attached to the cylinder. When the garage door is lowered and extension of the screen is desired, a pair of pivot assemblies provided on the door bottom engage with the strip. As the door is raised, the strip and screen are extended from the screen assembly to cover an opening into the garage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Inventor: Glen Roy McCauley
  • Patent number: 9605475
    Abstract: A nut stacking mechanism (-1-) for the displacement of slats between a stacking zone (L2) and a sliding zone (L1), comprising a spindle (2), on which a nut (3) is displaceable between the stacking zone (L2) and the sliding zone (L1), a rotation stop element (4), to form in the sliding zone (L1), in the rotational direction of the spindle (2), an obstacle for the movement of the nut (3), and a stacking element (5), to form in the stacking zone (L2), in the longitudinal direction of the spindle (2), an obstacle for the movement of the nut (3), wherein, by displacement of at least a part of the rotation stop element (4) and the stacking element (5), the boundary between the stacking zone (L2) and the sliding zone (L1) is provided displaceably in the longitudinal direction of the spindle (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: RENSON SUNPROTECTION-SCREENS NV
    Inventors: Rino Francky De Muelenaere, Bart Pieter Jules Abeel
  • Patent number: 9605476
    Abstract: An apparatus in accordance with the invention includes a motor and a gearbox coupled to the motor and comprising an output shaft configured to actuate a window covering. A position encoder, directly driven by the output shaft, is configured to measure at least one of an angular position and a number of rotations of the output shaft. The angular position and number of rotations may be used to calculate an angular position of slats of a window blind and/or an amount a window covering is opened or closed. A corresponding method is also disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Inventor: David R. Hall
  • Patent number: 9605477
    Abstract: An actuating system for a window shade includes a suspension member, a casing having a fixed protrusion, a transmission axle disposed through the casing, a rotary drum arranged in the casing and rotationally coupled with the transmission axle, and an impeding part connected with the rotary drum and affixed with an end of the suspension member. The rotary drum is rotatable in a first direction for winding the suspension member, and in a second direction for unwinding the suspension member. The impeding part is movable relative to the rotary drum between a first and a second position, the impeding part when in the first position being movable with the rotary drum past the protrusion in any of the first and second direction, and the impeding part when in the second position being engageable with the protrusion to block rotation of the rotary drum in the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Teh Yor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chin-Tien Huang, Fu-Lai Yu
  • Patent number: 9605478
    Abstract: A motorized window treatment provides a low-cost solution for controlling the amount of daylight entering a space through a window. The window treatment includes a covering material, a drive shaft, at least one lift cord rotatably received around the drive shaft and connected to the covering material, and a motor coupled to the drive shaft for raising and lowering the covering material. The window treatment also includes a spring assist unit for assisting the motor by providing a torque that equals the torque provided by the weight on the cords that lift the covering material at a position midway between fully-open and fully-closed positions, which helps to minimize motor usage and conserve battery life if a battery is used to power the motorized window treatment. The window treatment may comprise a photosensor for measuring the amount of daylight outside the window and temperature sensors for measuring the temperatures inside and outside of the window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Lutron Electronics Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Jason O. Adams, Edward J. Blair, Andrew Karl Cooney, Soumya Jain, David A. Kirby, Stephen Lundy, Justin J. Mierta, Daniel W. Mistarz, Robert C. Newman, Jr., Peter W. Ogden, Jr., Jonathan L. Roe, Chen Ming Wu, Justin M. Zernhelt
  • Patent number: 9605479
    Abstract: A sliding screen window for a garage door may be built into new garage doors or may be sold separately for installation on existing garage doors. The window would generally, but not necessarily, be installed on the top panel of a garage door. The screen panel may be oblong in shape or may feature a decorative pattern of screened and non-screened shapes. Behind the screen is a plurality of transparent or opaque sliding plates that may be moved aside to allow air to flow through the garage door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Inventor: Carla Muto
  • Patent number: 9605480
    Abstract: A drill control system includes an uphole control device and a downhole control device. The uphole control device is configured to transmit a reference trajectory to the downhole control device and receive information about an actual trajectory from the downhole control device. The downhole control device is configured to receive the reference trajectory from the uphole control device, measure the actual trajectory, correct deviations between the reference trajectory and the actual trajectory, and transmit information about the actual trajectory to the uphole control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Maja Ignova, Geoffrey C. Downton, Dimitrios K. Pirovolou
  • Patent number: 9605481
    Abstract: A downhole adjustable drilling inclination tool including an outer housing, an inner housing, a compression spring, a piston assembly, and a tilt housing. The piston assembly is fluidly controlled to move axially along the outer diameter of a bottom end portion of the inner housing so that a rotatable control ring moves about a guide pin to hold a neutral, straight, or bent position of the piston assembly corresponding to an amount of compression of the compression spring. The tilt housing partially disposed within the outer housing includes a bolt plate pin channel configured to receive a bolt plate pin of the piston assembly that travels to tilt the tilt housing by a tilting mechanism that connects the tilt housing to the outer housing and position the tilt housing in a neutral, straight, or bent position corresponding to the neutral, straight, or bent position of the piston assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: SMART DOWNHOLE TOOLS B.V.
    Inventor: Johannes Thomas Bleeker
  • Patent number: 9605482
    Abstract: Adjustable drill string housings are described for use in the directional drilling of wellbores, e.g. wellbores for hydrocarbon recovery wells. The adjustable drill string housings permit adjustment of a bend angle in the housings without removing the housings from a wellbore. The bend angle can be adjusted by changing the internal stresses in a support member carried by the housings. The bend angle may also be adjusted by causing failure of sacrificial support members carried by the housings, and the failure may be caused by delivering chemicals through a chemical delivery system to the sacrificial support members. Methods of operating the adjustable drill string housings include multi-lateral drilling operations wherein the bend angle is adjusted when a casing window has been detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Gustav E. Lange, Fraser Wheeler
  • Patent number: 9605483
    Abstract: A method and system for directional drilling while conveying a liner, with latching parking capabilities for multiple trips, is disclosed. As the wellbore is drilled, each casing and liner is installed having upper and lower interior latch couplings. A liner to be installed below a parent casing includes an exterior latch assembly dimensioned for connection to the interior latch couplings of the parent casing. A bottom hole assembly may include upper and lower exterior inner string latch assemblies for connection to the upper and lower interior latch couplings of the liner to be installed. Such arrangement allows the liner to be conveyed and installed with the bottom hole assembly while directional drilling and for the liner to be temporarily hung from the parent casing for bottom hole assembly change-out while drilling. Float plugs dimensioned to be landed at lower liner interior latch couplings may be provided for cementing operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: HALLIBURTON ENERGY SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Hernando Jerez, Richard T. Hay, John G. Evans
  • Patent number: 9605484
    Abstract: A drilling apparatus including a drill bit and a nutation device. The drilling apparatus is configured to enable the drill bit to be rotated at a rotation frequency while the nutation device simultaneously nutates the drill bit at a nutation frequency. The nutation device may include a vibrating device for imposing vibrations upon the drilling apparatus at a vibration frequency, thereby causing nutation of the drill bit at the nutation frequency. The drilling apparatus may include a tuning mechanism for tuning the vibration frequency of the vibrating device. A method including rotating a drill bit at a rotation frequency and simultaneously nutating the drill bit at a nutation frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: DRILFORMANCE TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Sean Gillis, Matt Mangan
  • Patent number: 9605485
    Abstract: A hammer bit includes a bit body having a bit axis and a bit face, a first circumferential row of cutting elements mounted to the bit face, the first circumferential row located at an outermost radius of the bit face and extending around the bit axis, and a second circumferential row of cutting elements mounted to the bit face, the second circumferential row located radially inwardly adjacent the first circumferential row, wherein each of the cutting elements of the second circumferential row is a semi-round top insert. The ratio of the radial overlap distance to the radial span distance between the cutting profiles of cutting elements of the first and second circumferential rows is between 0.1 and 0.5. The ratio of the radial overlap distance to the radial span distance between the cutting profiles of the first and second circumferential rows is greater than 0.25.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: SMITH INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Shantanu Swadi, Angelo Spedale, Charles Dewey, Alan J. Marshall
  • Patent number: 9605486
    Abstract: A cutting element is disclosed that includes a sleeve, a rotatable cutting element, and at least one retaining ring. The sleeve has a first inner diameter and a second inner diameter, wherein the second inner diameter is larger than the first inner diameter and located at a lower axial position than the first inner diameter. The rotatable cutting element has an axis of rotation extending therethrough, a cutting face, a body extending axially downward from the cutting face, wherein the body has a shaft that is disposed within the sleeve, and a circumferential groove formed around an outer surface of the shaft. The at least one retaining ring is disposed in the circumferential groove and extends at least around the entire circumference of the shaft, wherein the at least one retaining ring protrudes from the circumferential groove, thereby retaining the rotatable cutting element within the sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Smith International, Inc.
    Inventors: Yuri Burhan, Jibin Shi, Chen Chen, Youhe Zhang
  • Patent number: 9605487
    Abstract: A method of forming an instrumented cutting element comprises forming a free-standing sintered diamond table having at least one chamber in the free-standing sintered diamond table, providing a doped diamond material within the at least one chamber, and attaching a substrate to the free-standing sintered diamond table to form an instrumented cutting element. The instrumented cutting element includes the doped diamond material disposed within the sintered diamond table on the substrate. A method of forming an earth-boring tool comprises attaching at least one instrumented cutting element to a body of an earth-boring tool. The at least one instrumented cutting element has a diamond table bonded to a substrate. The diamond table has at least one sensing element disposed at least partially within the diamond table. The at least one sensing element comprises a doped diamond material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignees: Baker Hughes Incorporated, Element Six Limited
    Inventors: Danny E. Scott, Timothy Peter Mollart, John Robert Brandon
  • Patent number: 9605488
    Abstract: Cutting elements for earth-boring tools may include a substrate and a polycrystalline superabrasive material secured to the substrate. The polycrystalline superabrasive material may include a first region including catalyst material in interstitial spaces among interbonded grains of the polycrystalline superabrasive material. A second region at least substantially free of catalyst material in the interstitial spaces among the interbonded grains of the polycrystalline superabrasive material may be located adjacent to the first region. An undulating boundary defined between the first region and the second region may extend from a longitudinal axis of the cutting element to a periphery of the cutting element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: David A. Stockey, Anthony A. DiGiovanni
  • Patent number: 9605489
    Abstract: A composite part comprises (a) a cutting element which comprises super-hard cutting table and a substrate and (b) a metal or alloy layer. Respective first surfaces of the superhard cutting table and the substrate are joined to each other, and the metal or alloy layer is located adjacent to second surfaces of the cutting table and the substrate so as to surround the joined first surfaces of the cutting table and the substrate. The metal or alloy layer and the second surfaces of one or both of the cutting table and substrate are co-operatively shaped substantially to prevent relative movement therebetween. The metal or alloy layer may be used to secure the cutting element within a tool body, and advantageously provides a convenient means to effect that securement, while simultaneously protecting the join between the superhard cutting table and the substrate during the process of securement of the cutting element to the tool body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Element Six Abrasives S.A.
    Inventors: Louise Frances Van Staden, Klaus Tank
  • Patent number: 9605490
    Abstract: In a subsea drilling operation, a riser isolation tool may be installed inside a marine riser between the subsea wellhead and the rig floor to provide a conduit having a higher pressure rating than the original riser itself. In some embodiments, the riser isolation tool includes a tubular body and, extending therefrom, a seal stinger sized to be slidably received in a receptacle seated in the wellhead. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Joe E. Hess, Andrew John Cuthbert, Ronald Wayne Courville
  • Patent number: 9605491
    Abstract: Underground drilling operation often requires connecting a drill tool (e.g., drill bit, backreamer, etc.) to a drill string. It is desirable to connect the drill tools to a drill string in a manner that facilitates quick and easy assembly and disassembly. Low torque coupling, commonly referred to as “torque-less” connection, can provide such functionality. The useful life and strength of such connections can be improved upon. The present disclosure provides a low torque coupling with improved strength and durability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Vermeer Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Michael D. Langenfeld, Randy R. Runquist
  • Patent number: 9605492
    Abstract: Disclosed is a coupling assembly that includes an upper adapter having an upper adapter body providing a latching collet and a torque collet, the torque collet including a plurality of axially-extending torque members and a corresponding torque lug defined in each axially-extending torque member, and a lower adapter having a lower adapter body configured to receive the upper adapter body and providing a series of latch mating threads defined on an inner surface of the lower adapter body and a torque collet profile, the latch mating threads being configured to matingly engage the latching collet and the torque collet profile including one or more longitudinal slots defined in the lower adapter body and configured to receive the torque lugs therein, wherein, when the torque lugs are received into the longitudinal slots, torque may be applied between the upper and lower adapters in at least one angular direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Wesley Paul Dietz
  • Patent number: 9605493
    Abstract: A downhole coupling has a first part with a sleeve end and a first connector end, and a second part with a pin end and a second connector end. The sleeve end and pin end are secured together via an interference fit. A second downhole coupling has a first part with a sleeve end and a first connector end, and a second part with a pin end and a second connector end. One or more shear pins may be present, each shear pin positioned within a shear pin bore that extends through the sleeve end and partially into the pin end. Related methods and combinations are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Inventor: Arthur W. Lauder
  • Patent number: 9605494
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a tool for selectively connecting or disconnecting components of a downhole workstring comprising a drive shaft (3) and a housing couplable to said drive shaft, and housing comprising first and second housing parts (21, 22) releasably connected to one another, transmission means such as a reduction gear mechanism (52-54) coupled to the drive shaft, the transmission means being arranged to selectively connect or disconnect the housing parts by rotating the drive shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Tercel IP Ltd.
    Inventors: John Hanton, Jeffrey B. Lasater
  • Patent number: 9605495
    Abstract: A pressure joint is provided for use with a floating installation (1) that is connected to a stiff riser (3, 12). A low pressure slip joint (5) connects the installation (1) to the stiff riser (3, 12). A telescopic assembly (13, 14) fitted with a high pressure seal (15) is arranged to be fitted within the low pressure slip joint (5) when in a non-extended configuration, such that normal operation of the low pressure slip joint (5) is not impeded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: STATOIL PETROLEUM AS
    Inventors: Lorents Reinås, Tore Geir Wernø, Alastair Buchanan
  • Patent number: 9605496
    Abstract: The devices and methods for controlling flow through a multi-channel system deployed in a petroleum well are disclosed. The devices of the invention feature a manifold with a plurality of inlets operably connected to the passageways of the multi-channel system. Individual flows of the multi-phase petroleum fluid from the parallel passageways of the multi-channel system towards the inlets of the manifold are controlled by opening or closing of corresponding stopping valves installed on each inlet or group of inlets. After exiting the inlets through the stopping valves, the flows of the multi-phase fluid are consolidated and directed towards single or multiple outlets of the manifold and ultimately towards the outlet of the petroleum well. Individual opening or closing of the stopping valves has the effect of increasing or decreasing the total cross-sectional area available for producing fluid flow through the well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Technology Commercialization Corp.
    Inventors: Michael W. Kenworthy, Boris Ganelin
  • Patent number: 9605497
    Abstract: An apparatus for handling one or more tubulars includes a body defining at least a portion of a tapered bowl. A plurality of slips may be disposed at least partially within the bowl and configured to slide along a surface of the bowl. Each of the slips includes a radial engaging surface and a tapered engaging surface. The radial engaging surface may have a plurality of gripping structures extending inwardly therefrom that are configured to engage an outer surface of a first tubular having a substantially constant outer diameter. The tapered engaging surface may be configured to engage a tapered outer surface of a second tubular.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: FRANK'S INTERNATIONAL, LLC
    Inventors: Jeremy R. Angelle, Robert L. Thibodeaux, James Fontenot, Jacob Chu
  • Patent number: 9605498
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes a racking system for receiving, storing, and/or delivering rods and tubulars. The racking system includes a rack having a plurality of beams configured to support a plurality of rods, a plurality of tubulars, or both. each of the plurality of beams includes a proximal end and a distal end. The racking system further includes a plurality of indexers aligned with or proximal to the proximal ends of the plurality of base beams, wherein each of the plurality of indexers includes a series of rotating holders configured to transport the plurality of rods, tubulars, or both to and from the rack. Additionally, the racking system further includes a jack coupled to the distal end each of the plurality of base beams, wherein the jack raises and lowers the distal end of the base beam in relation to the proximal end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Key Energy Services, LLC
    Inventors: Derrek Yorga, Derrick Jackson, Paul Knapp, Dave Richard, Minhao Yin, Harold James Miller
  • Patent number: 9605499
    Abstract: The present invention relates to deep-water drilling in petroleum engineering and, in particular, to a subsea wellhead pressure indicating and automatic adjusting device for deep-water dual-gradient drilling, comprising a subsea drilling fluid manifold system and a subsea wellhead pressure indicating and automatic adjusting system, wherein the subsea drilling fluid manifold system provides a flow channel for the drilling fluid returning through the wellbore so that the drilling fluid can smoothly return to a drilling platform, and provides a basis for the subsea wellhead pressure indicating and automatic adjusting system; and wherein the subsea wellhead pressure indicating and automatic adjusting system can display and adjust the subsea wellhead pressure in real time, in order to keep the subsea wellhead pressure to be constantly equal to the hydrostatic pressure of the seawater at the seabed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: China University of Petroleum (East China)
    Inventors: Baojiang Sun, Zhennan Zhang, Zhiyuan Wang, Ning Wang, Xuerui Wang, Guomin Yan, Yang Zhao
  • Patent number: 9605500
    Abstract: Present embodiments are directed to a drilling fluid management device. A containment structure of the drilling fluid management device is capable of engaging and at least partially creating a seal with a drillpipe element or drillpipe handling equipment. Further, a suction port structure of the drilling fluid management device extends from the containment structure and includes an opening into the containment structure, wherein the suction port structure is designed to couple with a drilling fluid transport feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: TESCO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Edgar Fernando Yajure, Ryan Thomas Bowley
  • Patent number: 9605501
    Abstract: In accordance with one aspect of the disclosure a system includes a plug launching assembly, including a housing. The system also includes a first flow assembly of the plug launching assembly including a first primary flow path configured to direct a fluid flow into a wellbore. Moreover, the first flow assembly is configured to transition from a first position to a second position within the plug launching assembly. Also, the first flow assembly is releasably coupled to the housing while in the first position. The system further includes a second flow assembly of the plug launching assembly coupled to the housing and positioned downstream of the first flow assembly. The first flow assembly engages the second flow assembly while the first flow assembly is in the second position. The system also includes a cement plug releasably coupled to the second flow assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: TESCO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kevin James Nikiforuk
  • Patent number: 9605502
    Abstract: A method of operating a system for handling an influx of gas into a marine riser during the drilling of a well bore includes the steps of operating a first riser closure apparatus to close the riser at a first point above a flow spool provided in the riser, there being a riser gas handling line extending from the riser at the flow spool to a riser gas handling manifold, operating a second riser closure apparatus to close the riser at a second point below the flow spool, pumping fluid into an inlet line which extends into the riser at a point above the second point but below the flow spool, and operating a choke provided in the riser gas handling manifold to maintain the pressure in the inlet line or the riser at a substantially constant pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: MANAGED PRESSURE OPERATIONS PTE LTD
    Inventors: Christian Leuchtenberg, Michael Chandra, Carlos Goncalves
  • Patent number: 9605503
    Abstract: In one aspect, a system includes a tool, a hanger connected to the tool, and a plurality of tubulars connected to the hanger and adapted to be positioned within a wellbore. The tool, hanger, and tubulars are rotatable in response to at least the application of torsion to the tool, and without transferring torque to the connection between the tool and the hanger. In another aspect, a method includes positioning a tubular string within a wellbore, connecting a hanger to the tubular string, and applying torsion to the tubular string to rotate the tubular string. To apply torsion to rotate, a tool is connected to the hanger, and torsion is applied to the tool without transferring torque to the connection between the tool and the hanger. In another aspect, there is provided an apparatus for rotating a tubular string in a preexisting structure, such as a wellbore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: SEABOARD INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Loren P. Boisvert, Charles Chapman
  • Patent number: 9605504
    Abstract: A pressure containment device for sealing around a tubular body comprising an actuator assembly and a seal assembly, the actuator assembly being operable to engage with the seal assembly to prevent significant rotation of the seal assembly with respect to the actuator assembly and to force the seal assembly into sealing engagement with a tubular body mounted in the pressure containment device, the seal assembly comprising a tubular seal sleeve having a radially inward portion made from a non-elastomeric polymer, and a radially outward portion made from an elastomer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: MANAGED PRESSURE OPERATIONS PTE LTD
    Inventors: Christian Leuchtenberg, Alexander John MacGregor
  • Patent number: 9605505
    Abstract: A remotely operated lifting top drive cement head has a high tensile strength and the ability to swivel or rotate. The cement head permits selective launching of darts, setting plugs, balls or other objects which can be held in place within the cement head without being damaged or washed away by slurry flow, but which can be launched as desired. The cement head can be remotely operated without requiring personnel to be lifted off the rig floor to actuate the tool or observe tool status.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Blackhawk Specialty Tools, LLC
    Inventors: Ron D. Robichaux, James F. Giebeler, Juan Carlos E. Mondelli
  • Patent number: 9605506
    Abstract: A stuffing box lubrication system for oilfield pumping units automatically delivers to the stuffing box, at specified time intervals, a precise volume of lubricant. The stuffing box lubrication system has a grease reservoir, a pump, a controller, a high pressure hose and grease fitting, and a stuffing box which receives the grease. In situations where the stuffing box in use is not equipped with a ported inlet for receiving the grease, the present invention may further include a stuffing box adapter, having a ported inlet, where the stuffing box adapter couples with the stuffing box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Jameson Specialties, Inc.
    Inventors: William Jameson, Ryan Utt
  • Patent number: 9605507
    Abstract: A method of maintaining a desired temperature at a location in a well can include adjusting fluid circulation parameters, thereby reducing a difference between an actual temperature at the location and the desired temperature. A well system can include at least one sensor, an output of the sensor being used for determining a temperature at a location in a well, and a hydraulics model which determines a desired change in fluid circulation through the well, in response to the temperature at the location being different from a desired temperature at the location. Another method of maintaining a desired temperature at a location in a well can include adjusting a density, solids content and/or flow rate of a fluid circulated through the well, thereby urging a temperature at the location toward the desired temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: James R. Lovorn, Derrick W. Lewis, Mohamed Sati, Emad Bakri, Clive D. Menezes
  • Patent number: 9605508
    Abstract: A seal includes a metal composite that has a cellular nanomatrix that includes a metallic nanomatrix material, a metal matrix disposed in the cellular nanomatrix, and a disintegration agent; an inner sealing surface; and an outer sealing surface disposed radially from the inner sealing surface. The seal can be prepared by combining a metal matrix powder, a disintegration agent, and metal nanomatrix material to form a composition; compacting the composition to form a compacted composition; sintering the compacted composition; and pressing the sintered composition to form the seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Zhiyue Xu, YingQing Xu, Gregory Lee Hern, Bennett M. Richard