Michael R Hooper

US Patent:

7083401, Aug 1, 2006

Filed:

Oct 27, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/975671

Inventors:

Michael E. Hooper - Spring TX, US

Assignee:

Dyna-Drill Technologies, Inc. - Houston TX

International Classification:

F03C 2/00
F04C 18/00

US Classification:

418 48, 418152, 418153, 418179

Abstract:

The inventive stator includes a helical cavity component made from a material chosen to reinforce an elastomer liner deployed thereon. The contouring of the elastomer liner is asymmetrical, such that the elastomer liner is relatively thick on the loaded side of a lobe as compared to its thickness on the unloaded side of the lobe.

US Patent:

7389832, Jun 24, 2008

Filed:

May 26, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/441582

Inventors:

Michael E. Hooper - Spring TX, US

Assignee:

Dyna-Drill Technologies, Inc. - Houston TX

International Classification:

F16J 15/34

US Classification:

175107, 277306

Abstract:

A hydrostatic mechanical seal assembly includes a locally deployed pump for pressurizing a lubricant fluid between the opposing faces of a mating ring and a sealing ring. In one exemplary embodiment, such pressurization may be achieved via a device that converts the rotational motion of a drive shaft into fluid pressure. The locally deployed pump is intended to advantageously provide a stable positive pressure on the sealing interface between the mating and sealing rings, which may provide improved sealing characteristics, especially in demanding downhole environments.

US Patent:

7950914, May 31, 2011

Filed:

Jun 5, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/810203

Inventors:

Michael E. Hooper - Spring TX, US
James W. Estep - Spring TX, US
Wayne Quantz - Kingwood TX, US
Daniel Symonds - Houston TX, US
John Clyde Wade - Katy TX, US
Glennon Allmon Wheeler - Houston TX, US

Assignee:

Smith International, Inc. - Houston TX

International Classification:

F01C 21/00
F04C 15/00
F04C 29/00

US Classification:

418179, 418 48, 418152, 418153, 418178

Abstract:

A Moineau style stator includes a helical reinforcement component that provides an internal helical cavity. A resilient liner is deployed on an inner surface of the helical reinforcement component. The helical reinforcement component includes a solder or braze material and is typically metallurgically bonded to an inner wall of a stator tube. In exemplary embodiments, the helical reinforcement component includes a composite mixture of solder and aggregate. Exemplary embodiments of this invention address the heat build up and subsequent elastomer breakdown in the lobes of prior arts stators by providing a helical reinforcement component. Solder reinforced stators tend to be less expensive to fabricate than reinforced stators of the prior art.

US Patent:

20080050259, Feb 28, 2008

Filed:

Aug 25, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/510384

Inventors:

Michael Hooper - Spring TX, US

Assignee:

Dyna-Drill Technologies, Inc. - Houston TX

International Classification:

F01C 5/00
F01C 1/10

US Classification:

418 45, 418 48

Abstract:

A Moineau stator for a downhole drilling motor and a method for fabricating the stator are disclosed. The stator includes an internal helical cavity component fabricated from an improved elastomeric material formulated to provide both high resilience and good processability. For example, in one exemplary embodiment the elastomer material includes rheological parameters Min a range from about 1.0 to about 4.0 lbin and Min a range from about 75 to about 110 lbin according to ASTM D2084 at 380 degrees F. Stators in accordance with this invention may exhibit improved efficiency (and may thus provide improved torque output) as compared with conventional stators without substantially increasing manufacturing costs.

US Patent:

54720583, Dec 5, 1995

Filed:

Apr 20, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/230348

Inventors:

Michael E. Hooper - Spring TX
Madapusi K. Keshavan - The Woodlands TX

Assignee:

Smith International, Inc. - Houston TX

International Classification:

E21B 1022

US Classification:

175371

Abstract:

A mechanical seal for use in a rotary rock bit comprises a leg seal ring positioned within a recessed portion of a leg forming a seal cavity. The leg seal comprises one surface partially engaged by a resilient material and an opposite surface comprising a first sealing surface. The mechanical seal also comprises cone seal ring positioned within a portion of a cone forming the seal cavity. The cone seal comprises one surface positioned within and attached to a recessed portion of the cone and another surface comprising a second sealing surface engaging the first sealing surface. The portion of the leg seal ring engaged by the resilient material engages a back face of the leg which includes a ramp, serving to urge the first sealing surface against the adjacent second sealing surface and create a sealing engagement. The first and second sealing surfaces are made from different hard materials each having a similar hardness of greater than 1000, and each material selected has a Knoop hardness difference of about 400 or less. The first and second sealing surfaces may be formed from materials the same as or different than materials forming the leg seal ring and cone seal ring, respectively.

US Patent:

53538854, Oct 11, 1994

Filed:

Jul 9, 1993

Appl. No.:

8/089356

Inventors:

Michael E. Hooper - Spring TX
David P. Crockett - Moorpark CA

Assignee:

Smith International, Inc. - Houston TX

International Classification:

E21B 1016

US Classification:

175378

Abstract:

A rock bit is disclosed having a plurality of rolling cone cutters each having a gage row of inserts oriented to face the borehole bottom for crushing the same, and a second row of heel gage inserts which are oriented to face the borehole sidewall for scraping the same, heel inserts are nestled within the profile of the gage inserts in order to alleviate most of the scraping action normally encountered by gage inserts.

US Patent:

52659640, Nov 30, 1993

Filed:

Apr 20, 1992

Appl. No.:

7/871378

Inventors:

Michael E. Hooper - Spring TX

Assignee:

Smith International, Inc. - Houston TX

International Classification:

F16C 3206
E21B 1022

US Classification:

384 93

Abstract:

A radially disposed thrust bearing surface formed in a rotary cone is provided with at least a pair of grooves and a ramp surface on the trailing edge of the grooves. The groove provides a lubricant reservoir and the ramp serves to generate hydrodynamic pressures during rotation of the rotary cone on the thrust surface of a journal bearing thereby distributing a film of lubricant on the opposing thrust bearing surfaces.

US Patent:

53620739, Nov 8, 1994

Filed:

Oct 21, 1992

Appl. No.:

7/964673

Inventors:

Robert G. Upton - Montgomery TX
Michael F. Hooper - Spring TX
Gary Portwood - Katy TX
Jerry Pyka - Houston TX
Randy Johnston - Conroe TX
Robert Chambers - Conroe TX

Assignee:

Smith International, Inc. - Houston TX

International Classification:

F16J 1534

US Classification:

277 92

Abstract:

An elastomeric o-ring rock bit seal is disclosed with two or more integrally bonded elastomers or phenolic type materials joined together to form the seal. The dynamic sealing face adjacent the journal bearing is fabricated from an elastomer/phenolic engineered specifically for wear resistance. The bulk of the seal adjacent the static seal retention cavity typically formed in the rotary cone is molded from an elastomer engineered specifically for precise control of the seal contact force adjacent the dynamic seal face when the seal is compressed against the dynamic face by the seal retention cavity in the cone.