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).
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Publication number: 20100158615Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 2, 2010Publication date: June 24, 2010Applicant: GE OIL & GASInventors: Fife B. Ellis, Joseph W. Pallini, Jeffery K. McCarty, Charles E. Jennings
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Patent number: 7686091Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 28, 2008Date of Patent: March 30, 2010Assignee: Vetco Gray Inc.Inventors: Charles E. Jennings, Johnny Jurena, David D. Comeaux
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Patent number: 7686342Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 15, 2006Date of Patent: March 30, 2010Assignee: Vetco Gray Inc.Inventors: Charles E. Jennings, Brian N. Munk
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Publication number: 20100018721Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 28, 2008Publication date: January 28, 2010Applicant: VETCO GRAY INC.Inventors: Charles E. Jennings, Johny Jurena, David D. Comeaux
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Publication number: 20100000730Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 3, 2008Publication date: January 7, 2010Applicant: Vetco Gray Inc.Inventor: Charles E. Jennings
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Patent number: 7614447Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 26, 2007Date of Patent: November 10, 2009Assignee: Vetco Gray Inc.Inventor: Charles E. Jennings
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Patent number: 7559366Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 7, 2006Date of Patent: July 14, 2009Assignee: Vetco Gray Inc.Inventors: Rick C. Hunter, Anton J. Dach, Jr., Charles E. Jennings, Steven C. Ellis
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Publication number: 20090087247Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 29, 2008Publication date: April 2, 2009Inventors: Charles E Jennings, Donald F. Jewell
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Publication number: 20080265517Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 26, 2007Publication date: October 30, 2008Inventor: Charles E. Jennings
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Publication number: 20080149390Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 3, 2008Publication date: June 26, 2008Applicant: Vetco Gray Inc.Inventors: Thomas A. Fraser, Charles E. Jennings, John E. Nelson
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Publication number: 20080135229Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 7, 2006Publication date: June 12, 2008Inventors: Rick C. Hunter, Anton J. Dach, Charles E. Jennings, Steven C. Ellis
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Publication number: 20080099710Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 29, 2007Publication date: May 1, 2008Applicant: Vetco Gray Inc.Inventor: Charles E. Jennings
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Patent number: 7337848Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 23, 2006Date of Patent: March 4, 2008Assignee: Vetco Gray Inc.Inventors: Thomas A. Fraser, Charles E. Jennings, John E. Nelson
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Patent number: 7331395Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 23, 2006Date of Patent: February 19, 2008Assignee: Vetco Gray Inc.Inventors: Thomas A. Fraser, Charles E. Jennings
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Publication number: 20070289868Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 8, 2007Publication date: December 20, 2007Inventors: Fife B. Ellis, Charles E. Jennings
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Patent number: 7121349Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 8, 2004Date of Patent: October 17, 2006Assignee: Vetco Gray Inc.Inventor: Charles E. Jennings
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Patent number: 7044227Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 10, 2002Date of Patent: May 16, 2006Assignee: Vetco Gray Inc.Inventors: Charles E. Jennings, Ian D. Calder
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Patent number: 7040407Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 5, 2003Date of Patent: May 9, 2006Assignee: Vetco Gray Inc.Inventors: Charles E. Jennings, Alireza Shirani
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Patent number: 6974341Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 14, 2003Date of Patent: December 13, 2005Assignee: Vetco Gray Inc.Inventor: Charles E. Jennings
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Publication number: 20040200622Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 8, 2004Publication date: October 14, 2004Inventor: Charles E. Jennings