Patents by Inventor Bradford Shane Franks

Bradford Shane Franks 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).

  • Method and apparatus for sealing a wellbore
    Patent number: 8978751
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for sealing a wellbore are provided. A seal assembly carried by a pair of opposing ram blocks of a blowout preventer is provided. The seal assembly includes a pair of seals carried by the pair of opposing ram blocks and a plurality of inserts carried by the pair of seals. The inserts include an upper body and a lower body with a rib therebetween. The upper and lower bodies each have an extended tip on a seal end thereof and a tip receptacle on a leading face thereof for receiving the extended tip. The extended tips are positionable in the tip receptacle of an adjacent inserts whereby an extrusion of a seal therebetween is restricted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: National Oilwell Varco, L.P.
    Inventors: Sascha Antonio Castriotta, Bradford Shane Franks
  • METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SEALING A WELLBORE
    Publication number: 20120227987
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for sealing a wellbore are provided. A seal assembly carried by a pair of opposing ram blocks of a blowout preventer is provided. The seal assembly includes a pair of seals carried by the pair of opposing ram blocks and a plurality of inserts carried by the pair of seals. The inserts include an upper body and a lower body with a rib therebetween. The upper and lower bodies each have an extended tip on a seal end thereof and a tip receptacle on a leading face thereof for receiving the extended tip. The extended tips are positionable in the tip receptacle of an adjacent inserts whereby an extrusion of a seal therebetween is restricted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2012
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Applicant: National Oilwell Varco, L.P.
    Inventors: Sascha Antonio Castriotta, Bradford Shane Franks