Patents by Inventor Alexander John MacGregor
Alexander John MacGregor has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 11619107Abstract: A rotating control device includes a bowl housing with an inner aperture to receive a seal and bearing assembly. A plurality of hydraulically-actuated fail-last-position latching assemblies are disposed about an outer surface of the bowl housing to controllably extend a plurality of piston-driven dogs radially into a groove of the seal and bearing assembly. The seal and bearing assembly includes a housing, a mandrel disposed within an inner aperture of the housing, a first interference-fit sealing element attached to a bottom distal end of the mandrel, a plurality of tapered-thrust bearings indirectly mounted to the housing, a preload spacer disposed between top and bottom tapered-thrust bearings, a plurality of jam nuts to adjust a preload of the tapered-thrust bearings, and a lower seal carrier attached to the seal and bearing housing comprising a plurality of dynamic sealing elements that contact the mandrel.Type: GrantFiled: January 3, 2022Date of Patent: April 4, 2023Assignee: Grant Prideco, Inc.Inventors: Justin Fraczek, Shawn Paul McClosky, George James Michaud, Alexander John MacGregor, Fukun Lai
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Patent number: 11339619Abstract: A seal and bearing includes a seal and bearing housing, a rotatable mandrel disposed within an inner aperture of the seal and bearing housing, an upper seal carrier attached to a top side of the seal and bearing housing having a dynamic sealing element that contacts the rotatable mandrel, a plurality of tapered-thrust bearings to facilitate rotation of the rotatable mandrel including top tapered-thrust bearings indirectly mounted at a positive offset angle from a perpendicular line to a longitudinal axis of the rotating control device and bottom tapered-thrust bearings indirectly mounted at a negative offset angle from the perpendicular line to the longitudinal axis of the rotating control device, a preload spacer disposed between the top and bottom tapered-thrust bearings, and a lower seal carrier attached to a bottom side of the seal and bearing housing having a plurality of removable seal carrier trays.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2021Date of Patent: May 24, 2022Assignee: AMERIFORGE GROUP INC.Inventors: Justin Fraczek, Shawn Paul McClosky, George James Michaud, Alexander John MacGregor, Fukun Lai
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Publication number: 20220120156Abstract: A rotating control device includes a bowl housing with an inner aperture to receive a seal and bearing assembly. A plurality of hydraulically-actuated fail-last-position latching assemblies are disposed about an outer surface of the bowl housing to controllably extend a plurality of piston-driven dogs radially into a groove of the seal and bearing assembly. The seal and bearing assembly includes a housing, a mandrel disposed within an inner aperture of the housing, a first interference-fit sealing element attached to a bottom distal end of the mandrel, a plurality of tapered-thrust bearings indirectly mounted to the housing, a preload spacer disposed between top and bottom tapered-thrust bearings, a plurality of jam nuts to adjust a preload of the tapered-thrust bearings, and a lower seal carrier attached to the seal and bearing housing comprising a plurality of dynamic sealing elements that contact the mandrel.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 3, 2022Publication date: April 21, 2022Inventors: Justin Fraczek, Shawn Paul McClosky, George James Michaud, Alexander John MacGregor, Fukun Lai
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Patent number: 11306550Abstract: A method of seal condition monitoring may determine the state of the annular seal, the state of one or more sealing elements, take actions to maintain the annular seal as one or more sealing elements transition from new to worn, and provide advance notice of the impending failure of one or more sealing elements so as to avoid a catastrophic annular seal failure while the marine riser is pressurized. Advantageously, operations may be conducted proactively rather than reactively, and one or more sealing elements may be replaced well in advance of failure, but potentially later than a conventional maintenance schedule would dictate. The one or more failing sealing elements may be proactively replaced without depressurizing the marine riser, prior to seal failure or replacement may be planned well in advance and coordinated with other rig operations to improve efficiency and maintain the safety of the drilling rig and personnel.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2020Date of Patent: April 19, 2022Assignee: AMERIFORGE GROUP INC.Inventors: Austin Johnson, Justin Fraczek, Waybourn Anderson, Jr., Brian Piccolo, Saravanan Sundaramoorthy, Alexander John MacGregor, Kareem Ahmed Ameen Amer, George James Michaud
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Patent number: 11306551Abstract: A method of seal condition monitoring may determine the state of the annular seal, the state of one or more sealing elements, take actions to maintain the annular seal as one or more sealing elements transition from new to worn, and provide advance notice of the impending failure of one or more sealing elements so as to avoid a catastrophic annular seal failure while the marine riser is pressurized. Advantageously, operations may be conducted proactively rather than reactively, and one or more sealing elements may be replaced well in advance of failure, but potentially later than a conventional maintenance schedule would dictate. The one or more failing sealing elements may be proactively replaced without depressurizing the marine riser, prior to seal failure or replacement may be planned well in advance and coordinated with other rig operations to improve efficiency and maintain the safety of the drilling rig and personnel.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2020Date of Patent: April 19, 2022Assignee: AMERIFORGE GROUP INC.Inventors: Austin Johnson, Justin Fraczek, Waybourn Anderson, Jr., Brian Piccolo, Saravanan Sundaramoorthy, Alexander John MacGregor, Kareem Ahmed Ameen Amer, George James Michaud
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Patent number: 11248434Abstract: A rotating control device includes a bowl housing with an inner aperture to receive a seal and bearing assembly. A plurality of hydraulically-actuated fail-last-position latching assemblies are disposed about an outer surface of the bowl housing to controllably extend a plurality of piston-driven dogs radially into a groove of the seal and bearing assembly. The seal and bearing assembly includes a housing, a mandrel disposed within an inner aperture of the housing, a first interference-fit sealing element attached to a bottom distal end of the mandrel, a plurality of tapered-thrust bearings indirectly mounted to the housing, a preload spacer disposed between top and bottom tapered-thrust bearings, a plurality of jam nuts to adjust a preload of the tapered-thrust bearings, and a lower seal carrier attached to the seal and bearing housing comprising a plurality of dynamic sealing elements that contact the mandrel.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2021Date of Patent: February 15, 2022Assignee: AMERIFORGE GROUP INC.Inventors: Justin Fraczek, Shawn Paul McClosky, George James Michaud, Alexander John MacGregor, Fukun Lai
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Publication number: 20210246754Abstract: A rotating control device includes a bowl housing with an inner aperture to receive a seal and bearing assembly. A plurality of hydraulically-actuated fail-last-position latching assemblies are disposed about an outer surface of the bowl housing to controllably extend a plurality of piston-driven dogs radially into a groove of the seal and bearing assembly. The seal and bearing assembly includes a housing, a mandrel disposed within an inner aperture of the housing, a first interference-fit sealing element attached to a bottom distal end of the mandrel, a plurality of tapered-thrust bearings indirectly mounted to the housing, a preload spacer disposed between top and bottom tapered-thrust bearings, a plurality of jam nuts to adjust a preload of the tapered-thrust bearings, and a lower seal carrier attached to the seal and bearing housing comprising a plurality of dynamic sealing elements that contact the mandrel.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 27, 2021Publication date: August 12, 2021Inventors: Justin Fraczek, Shawn Paul McClosky, George James Michaud, Alexander John MacGregor, Fukun Lai
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Publication number: 20210207447Abstract: A seal and bearing includes a seal and bearing housing, a rotatable mandrel disposed within an inner aperture of the seal and bearing housing, an upper seal carrier attached to a top side of the seal and bearing housing having a dynamic sealing element that contacts the rotatable mandrel, a plurality of tapered-thrust bearings to facilitate rotation of the rotatable mandrel including top tapered-thrust bearings indirectly mounted at a positive offset angle from a perpendicular line to a longitudinal axis of the rotating control device and bottom tapered-thrust bearings indirectly mounted at a negative offset angle from the perpendicular line to the longitudinal axis of the rotating control device, a preload spacer disposed between the top and bottom tapered-thrust bearings, and a lower seal carrier attached to a bottom side of the seal and bearing housing having a plurality of removable seal carrier trays.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 25, 2021Publication date: July 8, 2021Inventors: Justin Fraczek, Shawn Paul McClosky, George James Michaud, Alexander John MacGregor, Fukun Lai
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Patent number: 11008825Abstract: A rotating control device includes a bowl housing with an inner aperture to receive a seal and bearing assembly. A plurality of hydraulically-actuated fail-last-position latching assemblies are disposed about an outer surface of the bowl housing to controllably extend a plurality of piston-driven dogs radially into a groove of the seal and bearing assembly. The seal and bearing assembly includes a housing, a mandrel disposed within an inner aperture of the housing, a first interference-fit sealing element attached to a bottom distal end of the mandrel, a plurality of tapered-thrust bearings indirectly mounted to the housing, a preload spacer disposed between top and bottom tapered-thrust bearings, a plurality of jam nuts to adjust a preload of the tapered-thrust bearings, and a lower seal carrier attached to the seal and bearing housing comprising a plurality of dynamic sealing elements that contact the mandrel.Type: GrantFiled: August 4, 2020Date of Patent: May 18, 2021Assignee: AMERIFORGE GROUP INC.Inventors: Justin Fraczek, Shawn Paul McClosky, George James Michaud, Alexander John MacGregor, Fukun Lai
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Patent number: 10995573Abstract: A rotating control device includes a bowl housing with an inner aperture to receive a seal and bearing assembly. A plurality of hydraulically-actuated fail-last-position latching assemblies are disposed about an outer surface of the bowl housing to controllably extend a plurality of piston-driven dogs radially into a groove of the seal and bearing assembly. The seal and bearing assembly includes a housing, a mandrel disposed within an inner aperture of the housing, a first interference-fit sealing element attached to a bottom distal end of the mandrel, a plurality of tapered-thrust bearings indirectly mounted to the housing, a preload spacer disposed between top and bottom tapered-thrust bearings, a plurality of jam nuts to adjust a preload of the tapered-thrust bearings and a lower seal carrier attached to the seal and bearing housing comprising a plurality of dynamic sealing elements that contact the mandrel.Type: GrantFiled: August 4, 2020Date of Patent: May 4, 2021Assignee: AMERIFORGE GROUP INC.Inventors: Justin Fraczek, Shawn Paul McClosky, George James Michaud, Alexander John MacGregor, Fukun Lai
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Publication number: 20200362651Abstract: A rotating control device includes a bowl housing with an inner aperture to receive a seal and bearing assembly. A plurality of hydraulically-actuated fail-last-position latching assemblies are disposed about an outer surface of the bowl housing to controllably extend a plurality of piston-driven dogs radially into a groove of the seal and bearing assembly. The seal and bearing assembly includes a housing, a mandrel disposed within an inner aperture of the housing, a first interference-fit sealing element attached to a bottom distal end of the mandrel, a plurality of tapered-thrust bearings indirectly mounted to the housing, a preload spacer disposed between top and bottom tapered-thrust bearings, a plurality of jam nuts to adjust a preload of the tapered-thrust bearings and a lower seal carrier attached to the seal and bearing housing comprising a plurality of dynamic sealing elements that contact the mandrel.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 4, 2020Publication date: November 19, 2020Inventors: Justin Fraczek, Shawn Paul McClosky, George James Michaud, Alexander John MacGregor, Fukun Lai
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Publication number: 20200362659Abstract: A rotating control device includes a bowl housing with an inner aperture to receive a seal and bearing assembly. A plurality of hydraulically-actuated fail-last-position latching assemblies are disposed about an outer surface of the bowl housing to controllably extend a plurality of piston-driven dogs radially into a groove of the seal and bearing assembly. The seal and bearing assembly includes a housing, a mandrel disposed within an inner aperture of the housing, a first interference-fit sealing element attached to a bottom distal end of the mandrel, a plurality of tapered-thrust bearings indirectly mounted to the housing, a preload spacer disposed between top and bottom tapered-thrust bearings, a plurality of jam nuts to adjust a preload of the tapered-thrust bearings, and a lower seal carrier attached to the seal and bearing housing comprising a plurality of dynamic sealing elements that contact the mandrel.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 4, 2020Publication date: November 19, 2020Inventors: Justin Fraczek, Shawn Paul McClosky, George James Michaud, Alexander John MacGregor, Fukun Lai
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Publication number: 20200300051Abstract: A method of seal condition monitoring may determine the state of the annular seal, the state of one or more sealing elements, take actions to maintain the annular seal as one or more sealing elements transition from new to worn, and provide advance notice of the impending failure of one or more sealing elements so as to avoid a catastrophic annular seal failure while the marine riser is pressurized. Advantageously, operations may be conducted proactively rather than reactively, and one or more sealing elements may be replaced well in advance of failure, but potentially later than a conventional maintenance schedule would dictate. The one or more failing sealing elements may be proactively replaced without depressurizing the marine riser, prior to seal failure or replacement may be planned well in advance and coordinated with other rig operations to improve efficiency and maintain the safety of the drilling rig and personnel.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 9, 2020Publication date: September 24, 2020Inventors: Austin Johnson, Justin Fraczek, Waybourn Anderson, JR., Brian Piccolo, Saravanan Sundaramoorthy, Alexander John MacGregor, Kareem Ahmed Ameen Amer, George James Michaud
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Publication number: 20200300052Abstract: A method of seal condition monitoring may determine the state of the annular seal, the state of one or more sealing elements, take actions to maintain the annular seal as one or more sealing elements transition from new to worn, and provide advance notice of the impending failure of one or more sealing elements so as to avoid a catastrophic annular seal failure while the marine riser is pressurized. Advantageously, operations may be conducted proactively rather than reactively, and one or more sealing elements may be replaced well in advance of failure, but potentially later than a conventional maintenance schedule would dictate. The one or more failing sealing elements may be proactively replaced without depressurizing the marine riser, prior to seal failure or replacement may be planned well in advance and coordinated with other rig operations to improve efficiency and maintain the safety of the drilling rig and personnel.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 9, 2020Publication date: September 24, 2020Inventors: Austin Johnson, Justin Fraczek, Waybourn Anderson, JR., Brian Piccolo, Saravanan Sundaramoorthy, Alexander John MacGregor, Kareem Ahmed Ameen Amer, George James Michaud
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Patent number: 10605048Abstract: A riser pressure relief apparatus includes a pressure relief valve with a valve member, an actuator, and a pilot valve assembly connected to a pressurized fluid. The valve member moves between a first position, which prevents a fluid flow through the side port, and a second position, which permits the flow. The actuator includes an open port and moves the valve member from the first to the second position by supplying the pressurized fluid to the open port. The pilot valve assembly moves between a first configuration, which prevents a flow of the pressurized fluid to the open port, and a second configuration, which permits the flow. A valve part of the pilot valve assembly moves from a first to a second position based on a fluid pressure in the riser, which causes the pilot valve assembly to move from the first to the second configuration or vice versa.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2016Date of Patent: March 31, 2020Assignee: MANAGED PRESSURE OPERATIONS PTE. LTD.Inventors: Alexander John MacGregor, Christian Leuchtenberg, Brian Piccolo, Henry Pinkstone, Bruce Garlick
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Patent number: 10316607Abstract: A pressure containment device includes a sealing element. The sealing element includes a longitudinal axis, a substantially annular cross-section arranged perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, a radially inwardly facing interior surface having a plurality of recesses, a radially outwardly facing exterior surface, a first end surface having a plurality of recesses, and a second end surface. The first end surface and the second end surface are each arranged to extend from the radially inwardly facing interior surface to the radially outwardly facing exterior surface. The first end surface and the second end surface are arranged at opposite ends of the sealing element.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2015Date of Patent: June 11, 2019Assignee: MANAGED PRESSURE OPERATIONS PTE. LTD.Inventors: Christian Leuchtenberg, Alexander John MacGregor, George Michaud, Saravanan Sundaramoorthy
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Patent number: 10246958Abstract: A valve assembly for use controlling flow of fluid into a drill pipe, the valve assembly having a valve body, a valve member and a valve seat, wherein a) the valve body has a main passage b) the valve member is movable between a closed position in which the valve member engages with a seat face of the valve seat to substantially prevent flow of fluid along the main passage, and an open position in which the valve member is spaced from the seat face, c) the valve seat is a separate part to the valve body.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2014Date of Patent: April 2, 2019Assignee: MANAGED PRESSURE OPERATIONS PTE, LTD.Inventors: Alexander John MacGregor, Christian Leuchtenberg, James Bisset
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Publication number: 20180051536Abstract: A riser pressure relief apparatus includes a pressure relief valve with a valve member, an actuator, and a pilot valve assembly connected to a pressurized fluid. The valve member moves between a first position, which prevents a fluid flow through the side port, and a second position, which permits the flow. The actuator includes an open port and moves the valve member from the first to the second position by supplying the pressurized fluid to the open port. The pilot valve assembly moves between a first configuration, which prevents a flow of the pressurized fluid to the open port, and a second configuration, which permits the flow. A valve part of the pilot valve assembly moves from a first to a second position based on a fluid pressure in the riser, which causes the pilot valve assembly to move from the first to the second configuration or vice versa.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 13, 2016Publication date: February 22, 2018Applicant: MANAGED PRESSURE OPERATIONS PTE. LTD.Inventors: ALEXANDER JOHN MACGREGOR, CHRISTAN LEUCHTENBERG, BRIAN PICCOLO, HENRY PINKSTONE, BRUCE GARLICK
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Publication number: 20170370171Abstract: A pressure containment device includes a sealing element. The sealing element includes a longitudinal axis, a substantially annular cross-section arranged perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, a radially inwardly facing interior surface having a plurality of recesses, a radially outwardly facing exterior surface, a first end surface having a plurality of recesses, and a second end surface. The first end surface and the second end surface are each arranged to extend from the radially inwardly facing interior surface to the radially outwardly facing exterior surface. The first end surface and the second end surface are arranged at opposite ends of the sealing element.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 17, 2015Publication date: December 28, 2017Applicant: MANAGED PRESSURE OPERATIONS PTE. LTD.Inventors: CHRISTIAN LEUCHTENBERG, ALEXANDER JOHN MACGREGOR, GEORGE MICHAUD, SARAVANAN SUNDARAMOORTHY
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Patent number: 9719310Abstract: A connector assembly for connecting a hose to a tubular element. The connector assembly includes a housing, a hose connector, and a latch. The housing encloses a main passage which is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the housing and which has a side passage extending through the housing from an exterior of the housing into the main passage. The side passage extends through a connector tube mounted on an exterior of the housing. A hose connector is secured to an end of the hose and engages with the connector tube to connect the hose to the tubular element. The hose connector comprises a pipe portion which mates with the connector tube to connect an interior of the hose to the side passage. The latch urges the connector tube and the pipe portion into engagement and prevents a separation thereof.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2014Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: MANAGED PRESSURE OPERATIONS PTE. LTD.Inventors: Alexander John MacGregor, Ted Jee Voon