Patent application number | Description | Published |
20140089717 | AD-HOC SYNCHRONIZATION OF INDUSTRIAL CONTROL NETWORKS - A method and apparatus are disclosed to provide ad-hoc synchronization in industrial networks between a programmable logic controller and each I/O device without any specific protocol extensions or distributed clock scheme. An embodiment of an industrial control network comprising a Programmable Logic Controller (PLC), a network coupled to the PLC, and a plurality of networked input/output (I/O) devices coupled to the network is provided. Each I/O device comprises: inputs coupled to the network to receive data from the PLC as device input data; and outputs coupled to the network to transmit output data from the I/O device to the PLC. The embodiment further comprises a programmable timer initiating an I/O cycle for the device on a periodic basis. The I/O device is operable to determine a first time period starting at the time at which specific output data arrives from the PLC and ending when the period of the timer ends. The first time period is compared to a predetermined time period. The I/O device is operable to adjust the period of the timer such that the first period approaches the predetermined time period and ad-hoc synchronization is provided between production time of the PLC and timing of the I/O device. | 03-27-2014 |
20140269306 | ETHERNET TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT APPARATUS - An improved Ethernet traffic management device is provided comprising. a first port, a second port, and a third port. The device further comprises a first deterministic multi-threaded micro-controller controlling traffic through the first port, a second deterministic multi-threaded micro-controller controlling traffic through the second port, and a third deterministic multi-threaded micro-controller controlling traffic through the third port. The first deterministic multi-threaded micro-controller, second deterministic multi-threaded micro-controller, and third deterministic multi-threaded micro-controller cooperatively operate to selectively communicate data packets between each of the first, second and third ports. | 09-18-2014 |
20140269688 | PACKET DATA TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT APPARATUS - A packet data network traffic management device comprises a plurality of ports comprising at least a first port, a second port, and a third port; and a plurality of deterministic multi-threaded deterministic micro-controllers, each of the micro-controllers associated with a corresponding one of the ports to control packet data through the corresponding port; and the plurality of multi-threaded deterministic micro-controllers cooperatively operate to selectively communicate data packets between the plurality of ports. | 09-18-2014 |
20150089080 | METHOD OF PROCESSING BUS DATA - A method is provided for operating a communication controller coupling a device comprising a processor with a bus. The method comprises: receiving a plurality of types of data packets via the bus and processing received data packets before making available said received data packets to the device processor. The processing of received data packets comprises: evaluating each received data packet in accordance with predetermined criteria; rejecting any of the received data packets that fails to meet the predetermined criteria; identifying non-rejected data packets having high priority; identifying said non-rejected other data packets having lower priority; providing a high priority data path to the processor for the high priority data packets; providing at least one additional data path to the processor for the other data packets; and providing a high priority alert to the device processor to the presence of high priority data packets at the high priority channel. | 03-26-2015 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080230278 | Fixed cutter drill bit for abrasive applications - The invention provides a fixed cutter drill bit for drilling through unconsolidated, highly abrasive formations. The bit includes a bit body having a cutting face and a side portion. The bit body comprising carbide matrix material. A plurality of blades azimuthally spaced about the cutting face and a plurality of cutters disposed along the blades. At least one gage pad is disposed along a side of the bit body and includes wear resistant gage elements formed of a material more wear resistant than the matrix material forming a portion of the gage pad. The wear resistant elements have a rounded surface and are embedded in gage pad material proximal a leading edge of the gage pad to provide a rounded wear-resistant edge or surface proximal the leading edge. | 09-25-2008 |
20100038407 | METHODS OF HARDBANDING JOINTS OF PIPE USING FRICTION STIR WELDING - A method for applying a wear reducing material to a tool used in a wellbore operation that includes welding a hardfacing alloy to a surface of the tool, wherein the welding comprises friction stirring the alloy into the tool's surface is disclosed. Methods of welding a preformed sleeve or width of wear reducing material using friction stirring are also disclosed. | 02-18-2010 |
20100038408 | METHODS OF TREATING HARDBANDED JOINTS OF PIPE USING FRICTION STIR PROCESSING - A method for treating a wear reducing material welded to a surface of a tool used in a wellbore operation that includes friction stirring the wear reducing material into the surface of the tool is disclosed. Method for improving the properties of a wear reducing material on a tool are also disclosed. | 02-18-2010 |
20110005837 | FIXED CUTTER DRILL BIT FOR ABRASIVE APPLICATIONS - The invention provides a fixed cutter drill bit for drilling through unconsolidated, highly abrasive formations. The bit includes a bit body having a cutting face and a side portion. The bit body comprising carbide matrix material. A plurality of blades azimuthally spaced about the cutting face and a plurality of cutters disposed along the blades. At least one gage pad is disposed along a side of the bit body and includes wear resistant gage elements formed of a material more wear resistant than the matrix material forming a portion of the gage pad. The wear resistant elements have a rounded surface and are embedded in gage pad material proximal a leading edge of the gage pad to provide a rounded wear-resistant edge or surface proximal the leading edge. | 01-13-2011 |
20120024604 | FIXED CUTTER DRILL BIT FOR ABRASIVE APPLICATIONS - The invention provides a fixed cutter drill bit for drilling through unconsolidated, highly abrasive formations. The bit includes a bit body having a cutting face and a side portion. The bit body comprising carbide matrix material. A plurality of blades azimuthally spaced about the cutting face and a plurality of cutters disposed along the blades. At least one gage pad is disposed along a side of the bit body and includes wear resistant gage elements formed of a material more wear resistant than the matrix material forming a portion of the gage pad. The wear resistant elements have a rounded surface and are embedded in gage pad material proximal a leading edge of the gage pad to provide a rounded wear-resistant edge or surface proximal the leading edge. | 02-02-2012 |
20120222902 | HIGH PERFORMANCE WELLBORE DEPARTURE AND DRILLING SYSTEM - A system and method facilitate drilling of lateral wellbores by optionally eliminating one or more trips downhole. The system and method provide for drilling a lateral wellbore by enabling the milling of a casing window and the drilling of the desired lateral wellbore to a target depth during a single trip down hole. The system and method also facilitate better downhole dynamics control and improved overall bottom hole assembly functionality during drilling. | 09-06-2012 |
20120255785 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COUPLING A DRILL BIT TO A WHIPSTOCK - A system and method facilitate drilling of a lateral wellbore by eliminating one or more trips downhole. The system comprises a drill bit optimized for the drilling operation. The drill bit is coupled to a whipstock via a connector, which minimizes interference with the cutting elements of the drill bit. The connector includes a separation device which facilitates disconnection of the drill bit from the whipstock after the whipstock is anchored at a desired downhole location. The separation device is disposed in the connector to minimize the remaining portions of the connector existing after separation of the drill bit from the whipstock which must be milled by the drill bit prior to drilling the lateral wellbore. | 10-11-2012 |
20130199784 | EXTENDED WHIPSTOCK AND MILL ASSEMBLY - A cutting apparatus and method to facilitate milling of a casing window by improving the interaction between the mill and the casing. The cutting apparatus comprises a whipstock having a plurality of ramp sections which provide a ramp profile arranged and designed to cooperate with the cutting structure of a mill to achieve a desired loading on the mill cutting elements during milling of the casing window. The plurality of ramp sections, having specific lengths and oriented at specific angles, adjust the loading on the mill as the mill cuts through the casing during formation of the casing window. The improved whipstock maintains a more balanced loading across the cutting elements during milling operations. Additional mill cutting structures, including one or more disclosed herein, may also be selected and evaluated to further balance the cutting load during window milling. | 08-08-2013 |
20140216819 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COUPLING A DRILL BIT TO A WHIPSTOCK - A system and method facilitate drilling of a lateral wellbore by eliminating one or more trips downhole. The system comprises a drill bit optimized for the drilling operation. The drill bit is coupled to a whipstock via a connector, which minimizes interference with the cutting elements of the drill bit. The connector includes a separation device which facilitates disconnection of the drill bit from the whipstock after the whipstock is anchored at a desired downhole location. The separation device is disposed in the connector to minimize the remaining portions of the connector existing after separation of the drill bit from the whipstock which must be milled by the drill bit prior to drilling the lateral wellbore. | 08-07-2014 |