Patents by Inventor Charles E. Jennings

Charles E. Jennings 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).

  • Publication number: 20100158615
    Abstract: A surface assembly that communicates with subsea structures and includes a working deck on a floating structure. The working deck has an aperture extending axially therethrough. A riser extends from a subsea location to the working deck and through the aperture. The surface assembly includes a frame extending circumferentially around the riser so that the frame moves axially with the riser. The assembly also includes a tensioner assembly connected between the working deck and the frame. The tensioner assembly includes a piston slidably carried in a piston chamber, a piston rod extending from the piston and away from the piston chamber, and a shroud enclosing the piston rod. The shroud has a plurality of segments with at least one of the shroud segments being movable in unison with the piston rod.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2010
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Applicant: GE OIL & GAS
    Inventors: Fife B. Ellis, Joseph W. Pallini, Jeffery K. McCarty, Charles E. Jennings
  • Patent number: 7686091
    Abstract: A drive assembly for inserting hose within a wellhead housing that intermittently reciprocates the hose feed into the housing. The intermittent reciprocating action feeds the hose past obstacles in the wellhead housing, such as within annuluses between tubulars. The drive assembly includes rollers that frictionally contact the hose and when rotated drive the hose forward. The rollers are rotated by a drive sprocket that is rotated by a hand crank. An offset cam assembly between the hand crank and the drive sprocket adds an orbital/reciprocating motion to the drive assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Vetco Gray Inc.
    Inventors: Charles E. Jennings, Johnny Jurena, David D. Comeaux
  • Patent number: 7686342
    Abstract: A connection system for connecting tubular members to each other includes a rotatable connector sleeve on one of the tubular members. A make-up tool has a curved rack of gear teeth that are engagable with the connector sleeve for causing rotation of the connector sleeve in unison with the rack. The make-up tool includes a power tool having a drive motor that rotates a drive shaft. A pinion gear mounted on the drive shaft engages the teeth of the rack to cause the rack to move in a rotational direction when the drive shaft is rotated. This movement causes the connector sleeve to rotate to make-up or break-out the connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Vetco Gray Inc.
    Inventors: Charles E. Jennings, Brian N. Munk
  • Publication number: 20100018721
    Abstract: A drive assembly for inserting hose within a wellhead housing that intermittently reciprocates the hose feed into the housing. The intermittent reciprocating action feeds the hose past obstacles in the wellhead housing, such as within annuluses between tubulars. The drive assembly includes rollers that frictionally contact the hose and when rotated drive the hose forward. The rollers are rotated by a drive sprocket that is rotated by a hand crank. An offset cam assembly between the hand crank and the drive sprocket adds an orbital/reciprocating motion to the drive assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2008
    Publication date: January 28, 2010
    Applicant: VETCO GRAY INC.
    Inventors: Charles E. Jennings, Johny Jurena, David D. Comeaux
  • Publication number: 20100000730
    Abstract: A casing annulus is remediated by inserting a hose into a casing annulus, the hose having a nozzle on its lower end. An acoustic signal is directed into the annulus. A sensor in the hose receives the acoustic signal and transmits data from the sensor to the surface. The data represents the acoustic signal arrival time to the sensor, and an analyzer estimates the sensor depth based on the data. The hose is inserted from a reel into a wellhead above the annulus. An electrical transducer mechanically coupled to the hose creates the acoustic signal. The signal is propagated along the hose and transferred to the fluid in the annulus, where it then propagates further into the annulus. The transducer can be installed on a hose roller along which the hose is fed into the wellhead.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2008
    Publication date: January 7, 2010
    Applicant: Vetco Gray Inc.
    Inventor: Charles E. Jennings
  • Patent number: 7614447
    Abstract: A bi-directional metal seal is energized and un-energized by a rolling action that takes place between radiused seal lips. The seal forms an assembly with upper and lower energizing rings. The rings have external grooves for engaging hook ends on the inner surfaces of the seal lips in a nesting arrangement when the seal is in the un-energized position. When the upper ring is pulled upward, the seal is un-energized and does not contact the adjacent conductors or wellhead members. When the upper ring is forced downward, the hooks ends of the seal are forced out of the grooves causing the seal lips to roll around in a radial outward direction, rather than stretch, and expand against the seal's outer diameter. This energizing process also causes the seal to become smaller on the seal's inner diameter, and thus forms a pressure-assist, metal-to-metal seal with the adjacent conductors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: Vetco Gray Inc.
    Inventor: Charles E. Jennings
  • Patent number: 7559366
    Abstract: A wellhead seal assembly forms a metal-to-metal seal between the inner and outer wellhead members. A metal seal ring has inner and outer conical walls separated by a tapered slot. An energizing ring has inner and outer annular members that are separated by an annular cavity. When the energizing ring is moved further into the slot, the cavity width decreases but remains to provide a preloaded radial force to the seal ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Vetco Gray Inc.
    Inventors: Rick C. Hunter, Anton J. Dach, Jr., Charles E. Jennings, Steven C. Ellis
  • Publication number: 20090087247
    Abstract: This invention relates to a low voltage battery operated handheld waxing depilatory device used to remove unwanted body hair quickly, safely and with ease by allowing a depilatory wax stick to enter an opening in the battery door (100) through which the wax stick is conveyed by the battery/wax stick support (80) by the Advance Assembly lever (40) which guides it towards and through the Heating Element Guide (30) to the Heating Element (20) where the wax reaches it melting point then is gentle forced by the Advance Assembly lever (40) causing the melted wax to pass through the Heating Element's opening (20) to the reach the surface where it is being applied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2008
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Inventors: Charles E Jennings, Donald F. Jewell
  • Publication number: 20080265517
    Abstract: A bi-directional metal seal is energized and un-energized by a rolling action that takes place between radiused seal lips. The seal forms an assembly with upper and lower energizing rings. The rings have external grooves for engaging hook ends on the inner surfaces of the seal lips in a nesting arrangement when the seal is in the un-energized position. When the upper ring is pulled upward, the seal is un-energized and does not contact the adjacent conductors or wellhead members. When the upper ring is forced downward, the hooks ends of the seal are forced out of the grooves causing the seal lips to roll around in a radial outward direction, rather than stretch, and expand against the seal's outer diameter. This energizing process also causes the seal to become smaller on the seal's inner diameter, and thus forms a pressure-assist, metal-to-metal seal with the adjacent conductors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2007
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Inventor: Charles E. Jennings
  • Publication number: 20080149390
    Abstract: An offshore riser system has riser joints, each having a pin and a box. The pin has an external grooved profile that is engaged by a locking element carried by the box of another riser joint. An actuating ring engages with the locking element to move it into the locked position. A retractable spider supports the string of riser while the new joint is being made up. A makeup tool on the riser deploying floor moves the ring relative to the locking element, causing the locking element to move to the locked position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2008
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Applicant: Vetco Gray Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas A. Fraser, Charles E. Jennings, John E. Nelson
  • Publication number: 20080135229
    Abstract: A wellhead seal assembly forms a metal-to-metal seal between the inner and outer wellhead members. A metal seal ring has inner and outer conical walls separated by a tapered slot. An energizing ring has inner and outer annular members that are separated by an annular cavity. When the energizing ring is moved further into the slot, the cavity width decreases but remains to provide a preloaded radial force to the seal ring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2006
    Publication date: June 12, 2008
    Inventors: Rick C. Hunter, Anton J. Dach, Charles E. Jennings, Steven C. Ellis
  • Publication number: 20080099710
    Abstract: A gate valve has a gate that moves in a gate cavity between a lower closed position and an upper open position. A seal member in the gate seals against a downstream seat ring when the gate is in the closed position. The seal member is moveable in upward and downward directions as well as upstream and downstream directions relative to the gate. The seal member is in an upper and downstream position relative to the gate while the gate is in the closed position. A cam member is carried by the gate for movement in unison and is in engagement with the seal member. The cam member moves the seal member to an upstream and downward position in response to initial movement of the gate from the closed position toward the open position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2007
    Publication date: May 1, 2008
    Applicant: Vetco Gray Inc.
    Inventor: Charles E. Jennings
  • Patent number: 7337848
    Abstract: An offshore riser system has riser joints, each having a pin and a box. The pin has an external grooved profile that is engaged by a locking element carried by the box of another riser joint. An actuating ring engages with the locking element to move it into the locked position. A retractable spider supports the string of riser while the new joint is being made up. A makeup tool on the riser deploying floor moves the ring relative to the locking element, causing the locking element to move to the locked position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: Vetco Gray Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas A. Fraser, Charles E. Jennings, John E. Nelson
  • Patent number: 7331395
    Abstract: An offshore riser system has riser joints, each having a pin and a box. The pin has an external grooved profile that is engaged by a locking element carried by the box of another riser joint. An actuating ring engages with the locking element to move it into the locked position. A retractable spider supports the string of riser while the new joint is being made up. A makeup tool on the riser deploying floor moves the ring relative to the locking element, causing the locking element to move to the locked position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Vetco Gray Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas A. Fraser, Charles E. Jennings
  • Publication number: 20070289868
    Abstract: A system electroplates the interior or exterior cylindrical surfaces of an elongated workpiece, such as a pipe or shaft. The workpiece is continuously electroplated with metallic solutions via a traveling anode that gradually plates along the axial length of the workpiece instead of plating the entire part or large portions of the part at one time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2007
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Inventors: Fife B. Ellis, Charles E. Jennings
  • Patent number: 7121349
    Abstract: A centralizer is located in a passage of a tubular body of a wellhead assembly for centralizing well tools lowered through the passage. Centralizing members have outer ends mounted to axially extending stationary hinge members, which are mounted to the tubular body in a circular array around a circumference of the passage. A cam and a slot are located between the outer end of each of the centralizing members and the stationary hinge member. Each of the slots has an upward inclined portion, a downward inclined portion, and a neutral position located between the upward and downward inclined portions. A spring urges the cam and the slot to the neutral position, which orients the centralizing members radially inward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: Vetco Gray Inc.
    Inventor: Charles E. Jennings
  • Patent number: 7044227
    Abstract: A subsea wellhead assembly has the capabilities of communicating from the outer surface of an inner wellhead housing to a casing annulus. A connector, adapted to attach to a riser, connects to the outer surface of the inner wellhead housing, thereby communicating with the casing annulus. The wellhead housing has a passage extending from the casing annulus to its outer surface. The connector has a port that aligns with the passage when the connector attaches to the inner wellhead housing. Fluid can be injected through the port and the passage into the casing annulus. Casing annulus pressure can be monitored though the port and the passage. A seal ring slidingly engages the outer surface of the wellhead housing so that the passage is closed when the connector is not attached. The connector actuates the seal ring to open the passage when the connector attaches to the wellhead housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: Vetco Gray Inc.
    Inventors: Charles E. Jennings, Ian D. Calder
  • Patent number: 7040407
    Abstract: In a subsea wellhead assembly, a collet ring assembly is used with a hanger for suspending a string of conduit in a subsea wellhead assembly. The ring assembly includes a collet that extends around an outer surface of the hanger. The collet has an upper portion that rotates radially between locked and unlocked positions. The ring assembly has a protruding lower portion extending radially outward from the hanger for engaging an interior surface of the wellhead assembly, which causes the upper portion of the collet to rotate radially outward to engage the interior surface of the wellhead assembly in a locked position. The ring assembly includes a back-up ring that engages the interior of the collet, which the collet rotates around between its locked and unlocked positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignee: Vetco Gray Inc.
    Inventors: Charles E. Jennings, Alireza Shirani
  • Patent number: 6974341
    Abstract: A wellhead assembly has an electrical connector that has a movable inner member carried in a tubing hanger for stroking outward into engagement with an stationary outer component located in a passage in the sidewall of the wellhead or tree. A running tool releasably engages the tubing hanger and has an actuator that moves axially for setting the tubing hanger in the bore. The inner member of the electrical connection is movable in response to axial movement of the actuator of the running tool from a retracted position to an extended position in electrical engagement with the inner end of the outer member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2005
    Assignee: Vetco Gray Inc.
    Inventor: Charles E. Jennings
  • Publication number: 20040200622
    Abstract: A centralizer is located in a passage of a tubular body of a wellhead assembly for centralizing well tools lowered through the passage. Centralizing members have outer ends mounted to axially extending stationary hinge members, which are mounted to the tubular body in a circular array around a circumference of the passage. A cam and a slot are located between the outer end of each of the centralizing members and the stationary hinge member. Each of the slots has an upward inclined portion, a downward inclined portion, and a neutral position located between the upward and downward inclined portions. A spring urges the cam and the slot to the neutral position, which orients the centralizing members radially inward.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2004
    Publication date: October 14, 2004
    Inventor: Charles E. Jennings