Patents Examined by Cornellus J. Husar
  • Patent number: 4655641
    Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for aligning an integrated deck carried on a barge with a jacket secured to the seafloor. The apparatus comprises a plurality of cantilevered springs extending vertically downward from the deck and a plurality of sockets secured to the jacket, each socket being positioned to receive the lower end of one of the cantilevered springs. As the cantilevered springs are lowered into the sockets, wind or wave induced horizontal motion of the deck is accommodated by tilting of receiving members in the sockets. Once the cantilevered springs are fully engaged with the sockets, the receiving members no longer tilt and the great stiffness of the cantilevered springs permits only very slight horizontal motion of the deck so that the barge can be ballasted downward to transfer the deck load to the jacket without misalignment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1985
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1987
    Assignee: Exxon Production Research Co.
    Inventor: Michael E. Weyler
  • Patent number: 4541782
    Abstract: A submersible pump system comprises a lowermost electrically driven pump unit (4,55) providing an inlet to the system for liquid to be pumped and one or more like pumps (5,55) positioned above it and connected in series. Electric power is supplied to the units by way of conductors within a central pipe (14) concentric with an outer cofferdam pipe (12), dielectric oil being circulated through the conductor pipe and between it and the cofferdam pipe and thus through the pump unit motors which have hollow drive shafts (21) around the conductor pipe. The pump stack may be located within a well casing (52), by sealing rings (62) expanded by the dielectric oil pressure, or surrounded by an outer load-bearing pipe (10). The liquid pumped flows externally of the pump stack and the system can be constructed in separate lengths which can be readily assembled on installation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1983
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1985
    Assignee: Framo Developments (UK) Limited
    Inventor: Frank Mohn