Patents Assigned to Earl & Wright
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Patent number: 5536117Abstract: A tower structure for offshore oil and gas fields is formed from various vertically spaced and interconnected tower sections. At least one of the tower sections is rotated about a vertical axis relative to another section so as to define a twisted portion. The number and orientation of the tower sections are varied depending on the particular environment and, particularly the water depth where the tower structure is located.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 1994Date of Patent: July 16, 1996Assignee: Kvaerner Earl and WrightInventors: Malcolm B. Frame, Majid A. Hesar, Jayan Varghese, David G. Woodgate
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Patent number: 5431511Abstract: A tension leg platform for supporting an oil rig above a seabed includes a deck, a buoyant hull and a single tubular tether. The tether has a lower end penetrating into the seabed and an upper end that is secured to the hull to hold the hull down against its own buoyancy. The deck is secured to the hull and adapted to support an oil rig. Multiple casing strings extend through the tether from the deck to the seabed. Supplemental buoyancy, tanks can be provided between the hull and the tether or within the tether itself.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 1993Date of Patent: July 11, 1995Assignee: Kvaerner Earl and WrightInventor: Raymond G. Guy
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Patent number: 5383748Abstract: The invention provides an improved structure for standing offshore, particularly in arctic environments, and a method for installing this structure. The structure comprises a shield portion which rests on a seabed and primarily resists environmental loads, such as from ice, and a separate support portion which comprises a plurality of piles driven into the seabed to support a deck payload. The method for installing the structure comprises moving a shield portion of the structure to its intended location with piles pre-installed therein, setting the structure on the seabed, driving the piles into the seabed, and then severing any connection between the piles and the shield portion.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 1993Date of Patent: January 24, 1995Assignee: Kvaerner Earl and Wright (a division of Kvaerner H&G Offshore Ltd.)Inventor: John W. Waddell
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Patent number: 5332336Abstract: An offshore base-supported column structure for installation in the water on an offshore floor having an elongate column vertically supported entirely from a column foundation on the offshore floor and releasably engaged to the foundation with the top of the column extending above the offshore water level. A column support base is supported from the offshore floor and engages and provides lateral support for the column with a slidable connection. A support structure is connected to the top of the column above the water level.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 1992Date of Patent: July 26, 1994Assignee: Kvaerner Earl And Wright, Inc.Inventor: Roger E. Lewis
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Patent number: 5219102Abstract: A foam dispensing device mixes a foamable liquid with ambient air and dispenses a foam having a relatively constant ratio of liquid to air even during rapidly repeated foam dispension. The device contains a passage for foam return from a foam conduit to a liquid reservoir having one-way valve means to permit flow only in the direction from the foam conduit to the liquid reservoir during operation of the foamer, and a means of separating the inlet to the air passage from the outlet of the foam return passage to prevent flow of foam through the air passage during rapid, repeated foam dispension.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 1992Date of Patent: June 15, 1993Assignee: Earl Wright CompanyInventor: H. Earl Wright
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Patent number: 4909672Abstract: A lattice framework to form or when forming an offshore structure capable of supporting a deck above the water for offshore operations, such as drilling for oil or gas for exploration or production as well as radar stations and the like where it is desired to maintain a stable platform in a fixed position over the sea bed, having four main legs which branch out into buttresses to support a spread base at the lower part of the structure and in which two of the main legs form launch rails on which the structure can be launched from a barge.Type: GrantFiled: January 27, 1989Date of Patent: March 20, 1990Assignee: Earl and WrightInventor: Michael V. Hancock
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Patent number: 4880161Abstract: A device for use with foamable liquids includes a reservoir adapted to contain a quantity of a foamable liquid and an air pump for supplying air to be mixed with the foamable liquid to form a foam. The foamable liquid reservoir is isolated from the air supplying pump. A mixing chamber is provided in which the foamable liquid and air from the air supplying pump can interact to create the foam. A first passage leads from the reservoir of foamable liquid to the mixing chamber and a pump is provided for pumping the foamable liquid from the reservoir through the passage to the mixing chamber. A second passage is provided from the air supplying pump to the mixing chamber to introduce air into the mixing chamber.Type: GrantFiled: November 25, 1986Date of Patent: November 14, 1989Assignee: Earl Wright CompanyInventor: H. Earl Wright
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Patent number: 4657021Abstract: An apparatus enhances the sense of touch when placed between the fingertips of the user and the object being touched. The apparatus comprises a liquid lubricant inside a sealed enclosure. The enclosure is formed of a pliable, elastic material having a wall thickness of about 0.005 to 0.020 inches. The liquid lubricant is present in an amount sufficient to fully coat the interior of the enclosure, but which also permits the enclosure to be flattened with at least about 75 percent of the surface area of one side in contact with the other side.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 1985Date of Patent: April 14, 1987Assignee: Earl Wright CompanyInventors: Donald A. Perry, H. Earl Wright
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Patent number: 4587775Abstract: A building structure having a roof opening which is covered by a retractable closure. The retractable closure includes a plurality of panels which are pivotally mounted about the margin of the roof opening. The panels are sized and shaped so that they fit together and cover the opening when in their closed positions, and when the panels are in their open positions the roof opening is completely unobstructed. Tracks on the roof support the panels and resist vertical load forces. Support towers and guy lines are provided to bear a part of the load forces as the panels are closed. Drive means is provided for opening and closing the panels conjointly or independently to achieve a range of roof opening capability.Type: GrantFiled: July 18, 1984Date of Patent: May 13, 1986Assignee: Earl & WrightInventors: Roger E. Lewis, Webb W. Hayes, Jr.
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Patent number: 4531660Abstract: This foam dispensing device includes an outer container for holding foamable liquid, and a foam producing unit mounted in the discharge port of the outer container. The foam producing unit includes an inner container of substantial smaller cross section than the outer container, and a closure cap having a pressurized air inlet and foam outlet. A one-way valve is provided between the inner and outer containers which opens to replenish the foamable liquid supply in the inner container but remains closed during the foam forming process.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 1984Date of Patent: July 30, 1985Assignee: Hershel Earl WrightInventor: George W. Ford, Jr.
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Patent number: 3974792Abstract: A drilling unit is disclosed which incorporates a submersible streamlined hull supporting a streamlined upper hull above the surface of the water by support columns and trusses. The unit is directionally controlled by transverse thrusters and in-line propulsion screws in the submersible hull which are operated by a control system to maintain station keeping over the wellhead at an optimum heading for minimizing the effects of environmental forces such as wind, current and wave action. The control system senses the vessel's heading and surge and sway motions with respect to the wellhead reference and converts this information into error signals. The bow and stern thrusters and in-line propulsion screws are then operated to produce thrust forces which reduce the respective errors. In response to the generation of a stern thrust the control system iteratively calculates a change in the bow target point position on the target circle which will make the stern thrust trend toward zero.Type: GrantFiled: January 3, 1975Date of Patent: August 17, 1976Assignee: Earl & WrightInventors: Anthony John Burnell, Robert Grant