Patents Issued in January 15, 2019
  • Patent number: 10180034
    Abstract: A cutter element for rock removal comprises a free standing PCD body (801, 1801) comprising one or more physical volumes (1702, 1703), the PCD material being invariant in terms of the diamond and metal network compositional ratio and metal elemental composition such that each physical volume does not differ to any other physical volume with respect to diamond and metal network compositional ratio and metal elemental composition. The PCD body has a functional working volume (803) forming in use the region which comes into contact with the rock. A functional support volume (804) extant in use and having a proximal free surface extends from the functional working volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: ELEMENT SIX ABRASIVES S.A.
    Inventors: Moosa Mahomed Adia, Geoffrey John Davies
  • Patent number: 10180035
    Abstract: The disclosure describes soldering a first component (200) to a second component (226) for use in a downhole circuit, device and/or tool. The first component (200) includes an electrically conductive contact region (402) finished with a metallic finish layer (404). The soldering includes disposing a layer of manganese (408) adjacent to the metallic finish layer (404), and applying solder (406) to the layer of manganese (408). The solder (406) used in the soldering of the two components is a mixture of copper, silver and tin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignees: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION, UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, COLLEGE PARK
    Inventors: Chandradip Pravinbhai Patel, Mark Alex Kostinovsky, Francis Dupouy, Glen Dell Schilling, Gilles Iafrate, F. Patrick McCluskey
  • Patent number: 10180036
    Abstract: A portion of a drilling fluid waste is injected into a well. A cross-sectional dimension of solids in a slurry is reduced. The slurry includes the drilling fluid waste. A property of the slurry, of the well, or both is measured. A model is obtained based at least partially upon the property. The model represents an interaction of the slurry with the well. An additive is introduced into the slurry in response to measuring the property, generating the model, or both. The slurry is injected into the well after the additive is introduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: MILESTONE ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, LLC.
    Inventors: Mark Blackwell, Steve Bills, Jason Larchar
  • Patent number: 10180037
    Abstract: A wellbore plug isolation system and method for positioning plugs to isolate fracture zones in a horizontal, vertical, or deviated wellbore is disclosed. The system/method includes a wellbore casing laterally drilled into a hydrocarbon formation, a wellbore setting tool (WST) that sets a large inner diameter (ID) restriction sleeve member (RSM), and a restriction plug element (RPE). The RPE includes a first composition and a second composition that changes phase or strength under wellbore conditions. After a stage is perforated, RPEs are deployed to isolate toe ward pressure communication. The second composition changes phase to create flow channels in the RPE during production. In an alternate system/method, the second composition changes phase or strength thereby deforming the RPE to reduce size and pass through the RSM's. The RPEs are removed or left behind prior to initiating well production without the need for a milling procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: GEODYNAMICS, INC.
    Inventors: John T. Hardesty, Michael D. Wroblicky, Philip M. Snider
  • Patent number: 10180038
    Abstract: A tool for use in a wellbore comprising a seal assembly, a collet member, and a cone member. The seal assembly is coupled to the collet member and in engagement with the cone member. A force transferring member is movable from a first state that prevents relative movement between the seal assembly and the cone member, to a second state where the seal assembly is movable relative to the cone member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: WEATHERFORD TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS, LLC
    Inventor: Paul Andrew Reinhardt
  • Patent number: 10180039
    Abstract: A device is provided for cementing a casing in a well bore. The device includes, on the well head side, a shutter disposed within the casing that controls opening and closing of at least one cementing aperture. The at least one cementing aperture makes an interior of the casing communicate with an annular space situated between an external face of the casing and an internal wall of the well. The device also includes, on the well bottom side, a packer having two expandable liners mounted along the external face of the casing and at least one communication passage between an exterior of the first external liner and the annular volume. The at least one communication passage is situated on the packer side orientated towards the well bottom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: SALTEL INDUSTRIES
    Inventors: Jean-Louis Saltel, Samuel Roselier, Romain Neveu, Anas Gaby
  • Patent number: 10180040
    Abstract: An automatic tubing drain for rotary pumps automatically closes when the pump starts and opens when the pump stops using reactive torque generated by the pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Gadu Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew Wright
  • Patent number: 10180041
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to an isolation valve with debris control. In one aspect, an isolation valve for use as part of a casing string is provided. The isolation valve includes a housing having a bore and a valve cavity. The isolation valve further includes a valve member movable between a first position in which the valve member obstructs the bore of the housing and a second position in which the valve member is disposed in the valve cavity. Further, the isolation valve includes a flow tube configured to allow movement of the valve member between the first and second positions. Additionally, the isolation valve includes an engagement assembly adapted to engage the flow tube to substantially prevent debris from entering the valve cavity when the valve member is in the second position. In another aspect, a method of operating an isolation valve in a wellbore is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: WEATHERFORD TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher L. McDowell, Joe Noske, Paul L. Smith
  • Patent number: 10180042
    Abstract: The present application describes a velocity chamber to regulate a velocity of fluid between an outer diameter of a piston, and an insert to limit, reduce, etc. erosion against the tool and casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Comitt Well Solutions LLC
    Inventors: Mohamed Ibrahim Saraya, Roger Antonsen, Peter Kris Cleven
  • Patent number: 10180043
    Abstract: A method is for establishment of a new well path from a well. The method comprises disposing and anchoring a plug base in a casing in the well; lowering a perforation tool into the casing; forming holes in the casing along a longitudinal section; pumping a flushing fluid out through outlets in a flushing tool and into the casing and further out into an annulus; pumping a fluidized plugging material out through the flushing tool and into the casing and further out into the annulus; placing the fluidized plugging material along the longitudinal section so as to form a plug across a cross section of the well; wherein the outlets in the flushing tool are angled non-perpendicularly relative to a longitudinal axis of the flushing tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Hydra Systems AS
    Inventors: Morten Myhre, Arne Gunnar Larsen, Roy Inge Jensen, Patrick Andersen, Arnt Olav Dahl, Erlend Engelsgjerd, Markus Iuell, Arnold Østvold
  • Patent number: 10180044
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a downhole wireless transfer system (1) for transferring signals and/or power, comprising a production casing (2) arranged in a borehole (3), defining an annulus (4) therebetween, the production casing having an inner face (5) and an outer face (6), a downhole tool (7) comprising a first ultrasonic transceiver (8), a second ultrasonic transceiver (9) connected to the outer face of the production casing, wherein the tool comprises a projectable means (10) configured to bring the first ultrasonic transceiver in contact with the inner face of the production casing, so that signals and/or power can be transferred through the production casing via ultrasonic waves between the first and second ultrasonic transceivers. The present invention also relates to a method for wirelessly transferring signals and/or power in a downhole wireless transfer system according to the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Welltec A/S
    Inventors: Ricardo Reves Vasques, Dean Richard Massey
  • Patent number: 10180045
    Abstract: A system for field selecting drill bit includes a server having a computing processor with functionality to perform: receiving a first simulation request, executing a first simulation to generate a first set of performance data, receiving a second simulation request, and executing a second simulation to generate a second set of performance data. A computing device coupled to the server having a graphical user interface with functionality to perform: selecting a baseline bit, inputting a plurality of drilling data, sending the first simulation request, receiving the first set of performance data, presenting the first set of performance data for review, modifying a parameter of a drill bit, sending the second simulation request with the modified parameter, receiving the second set of performance data from the second simulation, and presenting the first set of performance data and the second set of performance data for review.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: SMITH INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: Ambalavanan Sachidanandam, Anna Marie Nelson
  • Patent number: 10180046
    Abstract: A flow control apparatus is provided for deployment downhole as part of a wellbore string. The flow control apparatus includes a flow control member having a screened portion for filtering debris from reservior fluid that is incoming into the wellbore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: NCS MULTISTAGE INC.
    Inventors: Michael John Werries, John Edward Ravensbergen, Don Getzlaf, Doug Brunskill, Nick Getzlaf
  • Patent number: 10180047
    Abstract: A screen filter assembly has an upper screen housing and a lower screen housing, both of which contain screens to filter solids from dirty production fluid. The lower screen housing has a plurality of circular grooves that trap solids therein, thereby helping to prevent the solids from falling downward toward the plunger. In an embodiment, the lower screen housing may include a plurality of rings that seal off the area between the upper screen housing and the lower screen housing, thereby preventing any cleaned fluid produced by the lower screen housing from mixing with any contaminated fluid above it. In another embodiment, a screen filter assembly is incorporated into a full-length plunger, which contains a screen to filter solids from dirty production fluid. By filtering dirty production fluid, the screen filter assembly keeps the solids off of the plunger and away from the pump barrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Inventor: Michael Brent Ford
  • Patent number: 10180048
    Abstract: Tools and methods for abrasively cutting downhole pipes and casing. The tools and methods are ideally suited for situations where the pipe to be cut or perforated is positioned partly or wholly inside another pipe and damage to the outer pipe must be avoided. The jet nozzles are positioned at a non-normal angle to the target surface to reduce the jets' effective cutting distance. While pumping the abrasive fluid, the jets are supported at a selected radial distance from the target surface so that within a predetermined operating time the jets will cut or perforate the inner pipe but leave the outer pipe substantially intact. The tool may be rotated with a motor to perform cutoff operations or held in a fixed position for perforating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Thru Tubing Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Brock W. Watson, Roger L. Schultz
  • Patent number: 10180049
    Abstract: A high pressure switch for controlling electrical signals between elements of a gun for perforating hydrocarbon wells. The switch uses mechanical energy from an explosion to change from one electrical path to a second electrical path. The switch has a piston that translates from the shockwave to electrical connect a firing pin to a conductive member while opening an electrical path from the piston to the firing pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Inventor: Daniel S. Trafton
  • Patent number: 10180050
    Abstract: A select fire system and method for controlling operations in a gun string assembly includes perforating guns and switch subs mechanically connected in the gun string assembly. Each of the switch subs includes a switching element, input links and output links. The switch subs and perforating guns communicate with each other through the input and output links. The switching elements keep track of the state of the sub and switches states based on trigger conditions such as environment conditions, perforating gun conditions, or input conditions from surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: GEODYNAMICS, INC.
    Inventor: John T Hardesty
  • Patent number: 10180051
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a downhole pumping assembly for being introduced in a well inside a casing and submerged in well fluid, the downhole pumping assembly extending in a longitudinal direction and being adapted for connection with a wireline. The downhole pumping assembly comprises a pump section comprising a tubular pump housing providing a pump chamber, an inlet provided in the tubular pump housing, the inlet being in fluid communication with the pump chamber, a first valve which is a one-way valve arranged for opening and closing the inlet to allow fluid to flow into the chamber, a plunger slidably disposed in the pump chamber, a pump rod operably connected to the plunger and extending from the plunger through the tubular pump housing, an outlet provided in the tubular pump housing, the outlet being in fluid communication with the pump chamber, a second valve which is a one-way valve arranged for controlling a flow of fluid out of the chamber through the outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Welltec Oilfield Solutions AG
    Inventor: Ricardo Reves Vasques
  • Patent number: 10180052
    Abstract: The invention relates to injecting steam into crude oil for several benefits, primarily of which is to remove salt by transferring the salt into the condensed water from the steam. Steam transfers salt via a different transfer mechanism and therefore doesn't require the high shear mixing of conventional water injection systems. As such, steam injection through a variety of procedures, is more efficient at gathering salt into water that itself is easier to remove from the crude oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Phillips 66 Company
    Inventors: Keith H. Lawson, Derek H. Willman
  • Patent number: 10180053
    Abstract: A method for determining a connectivity of at least one fracture to other fractures in an earth formation includes: obtaining connectivity information for each fracture of interest in the earth formation where the connectivity information for each fracture of interest includes connections with other fractures. The method further includes converting the connectivity information for each fracture of interest into a conjunctive normal form and determining the connectivity of the at least one fracture to other fractures by solving the connectivity information for each fracture of interest in the conjunctive normal form using a Boolean Satisfiability problem solver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES, A GE COMPANY, LLC
    Inventor: Tobias Hoeink
  • Patent number: 10180054
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes methods and systems for fracturing geological formations in a hydrocarbon reservoir. One method includes forming a borehole in a hydrocarbon reservoir from a surface of the hydrocarbon reservoir extending downward into the hydrocarbon reservoir; transmitting an electromagnetic (EM) wave through the borehole: directing at least a portion of the EM wave to rocks at a location below the surface in the hydrocarbon reservoir; and fracturing the rocks at the location below the surface in the hydrocarbon reservoir by irradiating the rocks around the borehole using at least the portion of the EM wave, wherein irradiating the rocks elevates pore-water pressure in the rocks causing fracturing of the rocks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Jinhong Chen, Daniel T. Georgi, Hui-Hai Liu, Lorne Arthur Davis, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10180055
    Abstract: A method of filtering a fluid for injection into an injection well comprises opening an actuator valve, actuating a pump in fluid communication with the actuator valve, receiving a fluid comprising solids within a filter assembly, where the pump is in fluid communication with the filter assembly, separating at least a portion of the suspended solids in the fluid within the filter assembly, ceasing separation of the suspended solids from the fluid, initiating a cleaning cycle for the filter assembly after ceasing separation of the suspended solids, washing at least the portion of the suspended solids from the filter assembly into a solids collection vessel using a cleaning fluid after initiating the cleaning cycle, and resuming separation of the suspended solids from the fluid after washing at least the portion of the suspended solids from the filter assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Inventor: Eric Benavides
  • Patent number: 10180056
    Abstract: A system may include a monitoring device that may receive data associated with one or more properties of a well. The well may produce a flow of hydrocarbons. The monitoring device may receive data associated with the well and determine whether the flow of hydrocarbons includes a percentage of water greater than a threshold based on whether the data is outside a profile associated with the flow of hydrocarbons at the well over time. The monitoring device may then send an alarm notification to another device indicating an increased water cut in the flow of hydrocarbon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: ROCKWELL AUTOMATION ASIA PACIFIC BUSINESS CENTER PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Srikanth G. Mashetty, Miguel Armando Machado
  • Patent number: 10180057
    Abstract: Crossflow between two adjacent reservoir layers through leaky cement sheaths in offset wells during transient-pressure tests in one of the two reservoir layers is diagnosed and quantified. The obtained measures are determined based on individual well and layer properties. The pressure drawdown in the reservoir layer in which pressure transient testing is being performed is measured as a function of time. The longitudinal conductivity of a leaky cement sheath in an offset well and the pressure drawdown in the tested reservoir layer simultaneously control the crossflow rate to the tested reservoir layer from the adjacent reservoir layer at a given time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Noor M. Anisur Rahman, Hasan A. Nooruddin
  • Patent number: 10180058
    Abstract: An telemetry module includes a valve assembly having a gate defining gate valve flow ports and a valve seat defining valve seat flow ports. A first solenoid assembly is arranged on a first side of the valve assembly and includes a first valve train engageable with the gate and a first push solenoid operatively coupled to the first valve train to move the gate in a first direction. A second solenoid assembly is arranged on a second side of the valve assembly and includes a second valve train engageable with the gate and a second push solenoid operatively coupled to the second valve train to move the gate in a second direction opposite the first direction. Moving the gate in the first direction with the first solenoid increases flow through the gate and alternately moving the gate in the second direction with the second solenoid decreases flow through the gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel Patrick Carter
  • Patent number: 10180059
    Abstract: A telemetry tool comprising a pulser assembly, a primary seal, a fluid pressure pulse generator and a secondary seal. The pulser assembly comprises a housing and a driveshaft extending out of an opening in the housing. The primary seal surrounds and seals against the driveshaft to seal the opening in the housing. The fluid pressure pulse generator comprises a stator with a bore therethrough configured to fixedly attach to the housing or to a drill collar surrounding the fluid pressure pulse generator, and a rotor fixedly attached to the driveshaft. The driveshaft and rotor rotate relative to the fixed stator to generate pressure pulses in mud flowing through the fluid pressure pulse generator. The secondary seal is seated in the stator bore and surrounds and seals against a portion of the driveshaft extended out of the housing or a portion of the rotor to reduce the amount of mud, grit and debris impinging on the primary seal which could otherwise cause wear or damage the primary seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: EVOLUTION ENGINEERING INC.
    Inventors: Gavin Gaw-Wae Lee, Aaron W. Logan, Kurtis West, Justin C. Logan
  • Patent number: 10180060
    Abstract: A pulser for generating positive pressure mud pulses includes a signal shaft disposed to move between an up position and a down position within a ceramic shaft seal, the signal shaft connected at a top end to a drive shaft, the signal shaft sealing a poppet orifice when in the down position, wherein the drive shaft is connected to an actuator, the actuator connected to a hybrid bearing and a pulser coupling. The pulser is contained in a drill collar and configured to connect to a bottom end assembly. The pulser includes a pressure compensation membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Standard Directional Services Ltd.
    Inventors: Desmond Anderson, Salvador Berberov
  • Patent number: 10180061
    Abstract: Methods of identifying rock properties in real-time during drilling, are provided. An example of such a method includes connecting a downhole sensor subassembly between a drill bit and a drill string, operably coupling acoustic sensors to a downhole data interface, and operably coupling a surface computer to the downhole data interface. The method can also include receiving raw acoustic sensor data generated real-time as a result of rotational contact of the drill bit with rock during drilling, transforming the raw data into the frequency domain, filtering the transformed data, and deriving a plurality of acoustic characteristics from the filtered data. This can be performed by a petrophysical properties analyzing program stored in memory of the computer. The method can also include deriving petrophysical properties from the filtered data utilizing a petrophysical properties evaluation algorithm employable to predict one or more petrophysical properties of rock undergoing drilling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventor: Yunlai Yang
  • Patent number: 10180062
    Abstract: A system and method calibrate efficiency of a gas extraction system in extracting hydrocarbons from mud flowing in a drilling operation. A background reading of a hydrocarbon is extracted from the mud flowing in the drilling operation with the gas extraction system and is checked for stability. An injection operation injects a known concentration of the hydrocarbon into mud, and a subject reading of the hydrocarbon is obtained with the gas extraction system during the injection operation. A correction factor of the hydrocarbon is determined for the gas extraction system by comparing the subject reading against its corresponding known concentration. Then, at least one operational reading of the hydrocarbon extracted from the mud with the gas extraction system can be corrected using the determined correction factor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Weatherford Technology Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Mark D. Pickell, Doug Law, Aurel Brumboiu, Wilfred Ovedhe
  • Patent number: 10180063
    Abstract: An apparatus for testing lost circulation materials (“LCMs”) for use in a formation is disclosed. The apparatus may comprise a LCM cell that contains at least one formation simulation component. A pressurized tank may be in fluid communication with the LCM cell, and may force a sample LCM slurry into the LCM cell. An LCM receiver may also be in fluid communication with the LCM cell, and may receive the LCM slurry that flows through the LCM cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Murphy, Dale E. Jamison, Matthew L. Miller
  • Patent number: 10180064
    Abstract: A system of formation sampling while drilling, comprising: a suction pup joint provided to pump out and clean the formation fluid; a sampling pup joint provided to sample and store the formation fluid; a setting pup joint provided between the suction pup joint and the sampling pup joint and provided to establish a fluid channel between the formation fluid and the suction pup joint, the sampling pup joint; and an electrohydraulic high voltage connection device provided between the setting pup joint and the sampling pup joint. The embodiments of the present invention can be applied in the field of formation exploration technology, the function of storing the formation sample in the process of logging while drilling can be accomplished and the current logging instrument can be effectively optimized, the universality and precision of the current logging function can be effectively improved according to the embodiments of the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignees: China National Offshore Oil Corporation, China Oilfield Services Limited
    Inventors: Yongren Feng, Zhongli Bao, Qiang Yu, Guiqing Hao, Wanguang Song, Zichao Ii, Yanmin Zhou
  • Patent number: 10180065
    Abstract: An improved tool is described that has a generally cylindrical slotted shank with a radially bulbous or extending portion adjacent a distal end of the shank, sized to interfere with a bore in which the shank is to be inserted. The dimension of the extending portion can be sized to change the retention force between the shank and the bore as desired. A top of the tool includes a metal carbide-metal disk-metal carbide diamond coated tip sandwich that is bonded inside a bore in the top of the tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: The Sollami Company
    Inventor: Phillip Sollami
  • Patent number: 10180066
    Abstract: The method for directionally swaying and resetting harrow teeth of a rolling harrow loader-excavator and the rolling harrow loader-excavator comprising a harrow rotary piece, directional sway and reset harrow teeth, a harrow supporter, a driving mechanism, a feeder mechanism and a body; each directional sway and reset harrow tooth comprises a torsion spring shaft supporting piece, a tooth handle sway limiting piece, a directional sway and reset tooth handle, a directional sway and reset tooth point, a torsion spring tooth handle shaft, a torsion spring and a torsion spring tooth handle shaft retaining piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Inventor: Suhua Liu
  • Patent number: 10180067
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine component comprises a shroud, a U-channel, an internal cooling air passage and a U-channel cooling hole. The shroud comprises a forward face, an aft face, a first side face and a second side face. The U-channel is disposed in the aft face of the shroud. A gas path surface connects the forward face, aft face, first side face and second side face. A cooled surface connects the forward face, aft face, first side face and second side face opposite the gas path face. The internal cooling air passage extends through the shroud. The U-channel cooling hole extends into the first side face of the shroud adjacent the U-channel to intersect the internal cooling passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey S. Beattie, Scott D. Lewis, Mark F. Zelesky, Ricardo Trindade, Bret M. Teller, Jeffrey Michael Jacques, Brandon M. Rapp
  • Patent number: 10180068
    Abstract: A gas turbine unit having a compressor section, a combustion chamber section containing at least one combustion chamber, and a turbine section, wherein, starting from a compressor inlet, a flow path extends. The gas turbine unit is equipped with at least one first and one second cooling air path. The first cooling air path draws off compressed air from the flow path upstream of the at least one combustion chamber. The first cooling air path has a higher pressure level than the second cooling air path and feeds the cooling air. The second cooling air path has a draw-off point in the compressor section, and extends from the compressor section to the turbine section, bypassing the at least one combustion chamber. After components have been cooled, the first cooling air path feeds the cooling air into the second cooling air path at an infeed point as additional cooling air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Lennard Helmers
  • Patent number: 10180069
    Abstract: A turbine engine blade made of composite material including fiber reinforcement obtained by weaving a first plurality of yarns with a second plurality of yarns, the yarns of the first plurality of yarns being arranged in successive layers and extending in a longitudinal direction of the fiber blank corresponding to a longitudinal direction of the blade, the reinforcement being densified by a matrix. The blade includes one or more internal channels extending in the longitudinal direction of the blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINES
    Inventors: Dominique Coupe, Bruno Jacques Gerard Dambrine, Jean-Noel Mahieu
  • Patent number: 10180070
    Abstract: A tooling for fastening metal reinforcement on the leading edge of a turbine engine blade, the tooling including a blade support for receiving a blade while leaving surfaces of the leading edge of the blade disengaged; and a leading edge reinforcement support on which the blade support is designed to be mounted, and including two lateral wedges between which the metal reinforcement for the leading edge of the blade is positioned, the wedges being suitable for being capable of moving towards each other and apart from each other and each of them being provided with a suction grid for gripping the metal reinforcement, the leading edge reinforcement support further including heater elements for polymerizing an adhesive film applied on the leading edge surfaces of the blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignees: SAFRAN, SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINES
    Inventors: Thierry Chauvin, Franck Bernard Leon Varin
  • Patent number: 10180071
    Abstract: A turbine wheel for use in a gas turbine engine having a plurality of blades attached to a rotor disk. Each blade is formed as a composite structure including a number of plies of ceramic-containing material. The blades each include a root to fit within dovetail slots of the rotor disk to couple the blades to the rotor disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Ted J. Freeman, Daniel K. Vetters
  • Patent number: 10180072
    Abstract: A bladed disk for a gas turbine engine is provided. The bladed disk includes a rotor disk, a plurality of rotor blades, and an interlocking transition zone. The rotor disk includes a plurality of fused layers of a first material formed via additive manufacturing and defines an outer rim. The plurality of rotor blades includes a plurality of fused layers of a second material formed via additive manufacturing. The interlocking transition zone includes a plurality of projections alternately extending from the outer rim of the rotor disk and the plurality of rotor blades, respectively, to undetachably couple the rotor disk and the plurality of rotor blades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Herbert Chidsey Roberts, Richard William Albrecht, Jr., Michael John McCarren, Peter Andrew Flynn, Michael Francis Xavier Gigliotti, Jr., Eric Alan Estill
  • Patent number: 10180073
    Abstract: A turbine nozzle includes an arcuate inner band having opposed flowpath and back sides, and an aft flange extending outward from the back side; an arcuate outer band having opposed flowpath and back sides; an airfoil-shaped turbine vane extending between the flowpath sides of the inner and outer bands, wherein the inner and outer bands and the vane comprise a ceramic low-ductility material; and a metallic collar surrounding the aft flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Michael Ray Tuertscher, Darrell Glenn Senile, Greg Phelps
  • Patent number: 10180074
    Abstract: A system and method for remotely monitoring the operation of a turbine includes a remote device having a power module connected to a sensor and a transmitter. The remote device is powered by the power module and connected to a system such that the remote device is self-powered. The remote device wirelessly transmits information acquired by the sensor out of the turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Inventors: Mehmet Arik, Kurtis Gifford McKenney, Scott Gayton Liter, Samhita Dasgupta
  • Patent number: 10180075
    Abstract: Technologies for engine fluid quality monitoring are disclosed herein. An engine system includes a gas turbine engine having one or more mechanical components, a fluid quality sensing system, and an engine controller. Each mechanical component includes a tracer material embedded in the mechanical component during manufacture. The fluid quality sensing system applies a laser beam to debris captured in an engine fluid of the gas turbine engine and detects a light signature generated by tracer material in the debris in response to application of the laser beam. The engine controller identifies the tracer material as a function of the light signature. The engine controller determines a potential wear state of a mechanical component as a function of the tracer material. The engine controller may select the mechanical component from multiple mechanical components based on the tracer material. Each mechanical component has a predetermined association with a corresponding tracer material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Dawn K. Andrus, Michael T. Elliott, John Costello, Anthony Fulford, John Gebhard
  • Patent number: 10180076
    Abstract: A method and system for use with actuation system to control a plurality of vanes disposed within a turbine engine, wherein a vane position sensor provides a vane position signal corresponding to a vane position of the plurality of vanes, the actuation system includes a plurality of motors engaged in response to the vane position signal, and a differential gearbox having a plurality of inputs operatively coupled to the plurality of motors and an output operatively coupled to the plurality of vanes, wherein an output speed of the output is a sum of a plurality of input speeds of the plurality of inputs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventors: Floyd R. Emmons, Gregory DiVincenzo
  • Patent number: 10180077
    Abstract: A moving-vane angle of attack probe is provided. The moving-vane angle of attack probe comprises: a vane having opposed first and second vane surfaces that define a leading edge and a trailing edge, the first and second vane surfaces, each extending between the leading edge and the trailing edge; a first vane opening located on the leading edge; at least one exhaust opening; a vane conduit extending between the first vane opening and the exhaust opening such that the first vane opening and the exhaust opening are in fluid communication, the vane conduit defining at least an interior chamber between the first and second vane surfaces; and a pitot-tube located within the interior chamber such that in use it receives air that enters the interior chamber via the first vane opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Meggitt (UK) Limited
    Inventor: Alan Waddington
  • Patent number: 10180078
    Abstract: There is described herein methods and systems for detecting a shaft event, such as a shaft shear, a shaft decoupling, and/or a shaft failure in a gas turbine engine. The method comprises determining a detection threshold as a set of threshold values for a spool speed of a first spool of the engine and a load transfer through a shaft of a second spool of the engine different from the first spool, the set of threshold values varying throughout a flight envelope, the detection threshold defining, for each spool speed value, at least one load transfer value beyond which a shaft event is detected. Operation values of the spool speed and the load transfer are obtained during operation of the engine, and the operation values are compared to the detection threshold. The shaft event is detected when the operation values are below the detection threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Andrew Elliot Roach, Zubair Ahmad, Ryan John Perera
  • Patent number: 10180079
    Abstract: Methods and systems for communicating a signal between a rotating antenna and a plurality of stationary antennae based on an axial displacement of the rotating antenna are provided. In one example, the method can include obtaining one or more measurements of an axial displacement of the rotating antenna from one or more axial displacement sensors. The method can further include determining a selected stationary antenna from the plurality of stationary antennae based at least in part on the measurements of an axial displacement of the rotating antenna. The method can further include activating the selected stationary antenna to communicate a signal with the rotating antenna. The method can further include communicating a signal between the rotating antenna and the selected stationary antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Kurt Kramer Schleif, Donald W. Shaw
  • Patent number: 10180080
    Abstract: Techniques are described for using an electrical motor to slow down or stop a propulsor during an operation mode where the engine is to be otherwise running but the speed of the propulsor should be low or the propulsor should be stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Erik Alexander Munevar
  • Patent number: 10180081
    Abstract: A gas turbine having a turbine stage is presented. The gas turbine has a guide vane that can be operated cooled by a cooling medium, and a cooling medium feed device for feeding the cooling medium into the interior of the guide van, which, in the region of its rear edge, has on the pressure side at least one cooling medium outlet opening, through which the cooling medium can flow out of the interior of the guide vane into the main flow. The cooling medium feed device has a mass flow control device for controlling the mass flow through the at least one cooling medium outlet opening, with which the mass flow through the at least one cooling medium outlet opening can be increased during operation of the gas turbine under part-load compared to operation of the gas turbine under full load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Hans-Thomas Bolms, Boris Dobrzynski
  • Patent number: 10180082
    Abstract: A fan case for use in a gas turbine engine of an aircraft includes an outer shroud and a liner extending along the outer shroud. The fan case provides a protective band that blocks fan blades from being thrown out of the fan case in case of a blade-off event in which a fan blade is released during operation of the gas turbine engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventor: Burke J. Snyder
  • Patent number: 10180083
    Abstract: A convertible ducted fan engine having a shroud connected to a shroud shaft, a drive shaft connected to a mechanical fan, a rotational drive motor configured to rotate the drive shaft and mechanical fan, and a linear drive motor configured to translate the drive shaft and mechanical fan in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the shroud. The convertible ducted fan engine includes a fluid-propulsion configuration in which the mechanical fan rotates freely with respect to the shroud to produce thrust through fluid flow, and a drive-wheel configuration in which the mechanical fan is in contact with the shroud, thereby causing concurrent rotation of the shroud and mechanical fan when the mechanical fan rotates about the rotational axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Hyalta Aeronautics, Inc.
    Inventor: Scott R. Kempshall