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Atherton, GB
Eric Atherton, Oxfordshire GB
| Patent application number | Description | Published |
|---|---|---|
| 20080272904 | Signalling Method - An electrical signalling system comprises a modulator arranged to accept information and encode that information in an alternating signal containing repeated rising and falling edges, the encoding being by way of the time between consecutive rising and falling edges a transmission path for the signal from the modulator to a demodulator, wherein the modulator is arranged to precede a data signal with a reference signal of a known time, and the demodulator is arranged to detect that reference signal and calculate a calibration error therefrom. The demodulator can record the calibration error and subtract this from subsequent data signals. The demodulator can alternatively (or in addition) adjust the threshold for future signals, on the basis of the calibration error. This is particularly suited to inductive transmission paths such as a three-phase electrical supply cable leading to downhole sensors in the oil and gas extraction industries. | 11-06-2008 |
| 20110094734 | DOWNHOLE TOOL - A means of investigating the quality and/or nature of perforations in a downhole environment is disclosed. A ‘pecking’ finger and depth measuring probe that can be axially and radially displaced enables the perforation to be located and its depth determined, through sequentially pecking around the wall lining in patterns such as radial, axial, and spiral sequences. By swinging a pecking finger that supports a depth measuring probe or cable with a bullet or conically shaped tip and measuring the displacement of the finger, the edge and centre of the hole can be determined with the largest displacement being when the tip is fully in the hole. When this position has been determined, the depth measuring cable is deployed and the depth of the perforation can be established by both an increase in the force required to push the cable and by the displacement of the pecking finger as it is pushed back by the reaction forces on the cable. Thus, a downhole tool comprises a elongate housing for insertion into a downhole environment, from which a probe extends radially by a variable amount, means for driving the probe in a radial direction, and means for sensing resistance to outward radial movement of the probe. One or more radially extendable clamps can be provided for fixing the tool within a surrounding bore. These can be at the upper and/or lower ends of the tool. Ideally, they are moveable between an extended and a retracted position by interengagement with a member moveable relative to a remainder of the tool in a direction that is longitudinal relative to the tool. The member can be, for example, a sleeve extending longitudinally around the tool, the sleeve being moveable longitudinally along the tool. These clamps could be used to fix other types of tool in place in a downhole environment, or one similar to a downhole environment. | 04-28-2011 |
Eric Atherton, Oxon GB
| Patent application number | Description | Published |
|---|---|---|
| 20100247335 | System for Monitoring an Electrical Submersible Pump - A system for monitoring an Electrical Submersible Pump is disclosed comprising a rotation rate sensor located in an ESP gauge ( | 09-30-2010 |
Eric Atherton, Witney GB
| Patent application number | Description | Published |
|---|---|---|
| 20090027227 | Remote area Sensor System - A communications system comprises a primary wireless network and at least one secondary wireless networks, the primary and secondary wireless networks differing in at least one characteristic, at least one sensor unit comprising a means for sensing a parameter and a node of that secondary network adapted to transmit data relating to the parameter via that secondary network, at least one local data gathering point associated with the at least one secondary wireless network, incorporating a node of that secondary wireless network, a node of the primary network, and a control unit adapted to receive data signals from the at least one sensor unit via the secondary network, construct an outgoing data signal incorporating information from the received data signal, and transmit the outgoing data signal via the primary network, the primary wireless network being a multipoint radio network. The primary wireless network is optimised for relatively long distance communications, of the order of 10 km, and the secondary network or networks are optimised for relatively short distance communications of the order of 100 m, the radio power of each network being different and appropriate for each transmission distance required. This means that the secondary wireless network can have a restricted power output suitable for use proximate to wellheads, with the result that the range is unlikely to be greater than 1 km. The at least one sensor can be an oil or gas wellhead pressure sensor, preferably self powered. The nodes of the primary network may contain GPS receivers, to synchronise the sensors with which the nodes communicate, and aid routing performance of the primary wireless meshing network. | 01-29-2009 |
| 20100228502 | System and Method For Monitoring Fluid Flow Through an Electrical Submersible Pump - A system for monitoring a condition of a downhole electrical submersible pump (ESP) assembly is disclosed. The system includes: a downhole assembly configured to be disposed in a wellbore in an earth formation; the ESP assembly connected to the downhole assembly and including a motor and a pump, the ESP assembly in electrical communication with a surface electrical source via a conductor; a power gauge unit configured to measure the electrical power supplied to the ESP assembly; and a processor configured to receive data from the power gauge unit and calculate a flowrate of the ESP assembly based on at least the electrical power supplied to the ESP assembly. Also disclosed is a method of monitoring a condition of a downhole ESP assembly | 09-09-2010 |
Eric J. Atherton, Oxfordshire GB
| Patent application number | Description | Published |
|---|---|---|
| 20080212691 | Signalling Method and Apparatus - An electrical signalling system comprises a modulator arranged to accept information and encode that information in an alternating signal containing repeated rising and falling edges, the encoding being by way of the time between consecutive rising or consecutive falling edges, a transmission path for the signal from modulator to a demodulator, where the demodulator is arranged to detect the signal edge and store a record of the signal around that edge and compare a subsequent part of the signal with that record thereby to detect a like edge and detect the time difference between like edges. Such a system need not detect the precise position of the edge but detects that an edge has occurred within a short time frame, and retains an image of the signal during that period. That image is compared with a subsequent part of the signal, and where the subsequent signal differs only minimally from the record the system deems that a second like edge has occurred. Thus, although the precise position of the edge may or may not be detected by this system, the time delay between respective like edges is detected. The transmission path can be imperfect, for example inductive. The system is capable of sending recognisable signals along a three-phase electrical supply cable. The invention is particularly applicable to the supply of information from downhole sensors in the oil and gas extraction industries. Two signals can be sent simultaneously by also detecting unlike edges and the time difference therebetween. Multiple sources of data can be included consecutively. | 09-04-2008 |
Eric J. Atherton, Witney GB
| Patent application number | Description | Published |
|---|---|---|
| 20100155057 | Apparatus and Method of Monitoring An Alternating Current Component of a Downhole Electrical Imbalance Voltage - An apparatus and method are provided for monitoring and controlling a power system of an electrical submersible pump assembly. A sensor monitors an alternating current component of a downhole electrical imbalance voltage at a neutral point of a motor of the electrical submersible pump assembly. The sensor measurement is transmitted to a controller at the surface. The controller analyzes the alternating current component of the downhole electrical imbalance voltage and then adjusting an operation of the electrical submersible pump assembly, or scheduling maintenance, accordingly. Also, a model of a power system of an electrical submersible pump assembly is created to predict an alternating current component of a downhole electrical imbalance voltage. The model is modified as necessary responsive to measurements from the sensor. A controller adjusts surface currents according to the model of the power system to match downhole motor drive currents to thereby optimize the power system. | 06-24-2010 |
Eric John Atherton, Oxford GB
| Patent application number | Description | Published |
|---|---|---|
| 20080307553 | Method And Apparatus For Protecting Against Ballistic Projectiles - A composite material comprising a multitude of masses and fibers supported on a flexible substrate arranged in a manner to absorb energy from a ballistic projectile and thereby protect persons or property from ballistic injury or damage. An array of small, tough disc-like masses are suspended in a three dimensional cradle of high-tensile elastomeric fibers such that energy from an incoming ballistic projectile is first imparted to one or more masses and the motion of the masses are restrained by tensile strain of elastomeric fibers substantially in the direction of travel of the incoming projectile. The projectile is eventually decelerated to harmless velocity through a combination of transfer of momentum to the masses and the elastic and plastic tensile deformation of the fibers. One or more layers of the composite material can be assembled to form body protective armor (“bullet-proof vest”) or property protective armor, the number and characteristics of the layers being adjusted according to the specific ballistic threat anticipated. | 12-18-2008 |
Glyn Atherton, Cheshire GB
| Patent application number | Description | Published |
|---|---|---|
| 20110311845 | INDUSTRIAL APPARATUS FOR THE LARGE-SCALE STORAGE OF ELECTRIC ENERGY - The invention relates to an improved industrial apparatus for the large-scale storage of energy and a process for storing and transporting electric energy by means of this apparatus. | 12-22-2011 |
Helen J. Atherton, Oxfordshire GB
| Patent application number | Description | Published |
|---|---|---|
| 20110033387 | METHOD OF DETERMINATION OF PDH ACTIVITY AND IMAGING MEDIA FOR USE IN SAID METHOD - The invention relates to a method of determination of PDH activity by | 02-10-2011 |
John Heathcote Atherton, West Yorkshire GB
| Patent application number | Description | Published |
|---|---|---|
| 20090118478 | Manufacturing Process - A process for the preparation of a desired chemical compound in a continuous reactor in which a part of the product stream exits the reactor and part of the product stream is recycled around the reactor in order to reduce the amount of buffer that would otherwise be required. | 05-07-2009 |
John Stephen Atherton, Darlington GB
| Patent application number | Description | Published |
|---|---|---|
| 20090020793 | FIELD EFFECT TRANSISTOR - A transistor comprising | 01-22-2009 |
| 20110034018 | DIODE ASSEMBLY - A diode assembly comprising first and second diodes each having a different breakdown voltage, each of the first and second diodes comprising a semiconductor substrate; an electrically conducting channel layer on the semiconductor substrate; an upper semiconductor layer on the channel layer, the upper semiconductor layer comprising a recess; first and second ohmic contacts on the upper semiconductor layer on opposite sides of the recess, the ohmic contacts being connected together to form a first diode contact; a gate electrode within the recess, the gate electrode forming a second diode contact; wherein the area of the recess of the first diode covered by the first gate electrode is different to the area of the recess of the second diode covered by the second gate electrode. | 02-10-2011 |
Kathryn Jane Atherton, Bristol GB
| Patent application number | Description | Published |
|---|---|---|
| 20110219878 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MEASURING THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF A SAFE-LIFE AIRCRAFT COMPONENT - The structural integrity of a safe-life aircraft component on an aircraft is measured and assessed by a processing unit. The component includes a load-bearing metal element that is free from cracks. In the method, acoustic emissions generated in the metal element are converted into electronic signals. The acoustic emissions converted include relevant acoustic emissions resulting from changes in the structure of the element that make the element more susceptible to the formation of cracks. The electronic signals are set to a processing unit. The processing unit processes over time the signals in conjunction with stored reference data that allows a measure of the structural integrity to be made. Information providing a measure of the structural integrity of the aircraft component is outputted. Thus, deterioration of the structure of the component can be detected and monitored before a crack occurs. | 09-15-2011 |
Mark Atherton, Ware GB
| Patent application number | Description | Published |
|---|---|---|
| 20120078754 | Query Analysis for Geographic-Based Listing Service - A unique system and method facilitates analyzes searches or queries that are geographic based. In particular, a user can submit a geo-tag based search for items posted on a listing service according to the item's location or geo-tag information. The geo-tag information for each item can be approximate such as the city, state, or zip code or more specific such as the street address where the item is located. The amount of geo-tag information disclosed to any other user can depend on the type of item being offered. Geo-tag information is analyzed to facilitate determining item matches. In addition, users that post items can employ query results to analyze the quality of their items such as from the buyer's perspective. | 03-29-2012 |
Nigel D. Atherton, Galashiels GB
| Patent application number | Description | Published |
|---|---|---|
| 20100015246 | COMBINATION OF A LANTHANUM COMPOUND AND BONE ENHANCING AGENT FOR THE TREATMENT OF BONE DISEASES - The invention provides a method for enhancing bone formation, inhibiting osteoclastic differentiation and/or activating osteoblastic differentiation whereby to manage, treat or achieve prophylaxis of bone disease which comprises administering to a human or animal subject suffering from, or susceptible to bone disease a therapeutically or prophylactically effective amount of a lanthanum compound and a bone enhancing agent, such as vitamin D. | 01-21-2010 |