Patents by Inventor Christopher Loftin

Christopher Loftin 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).

  • Patent number: 9708865
    Abstract: A pipe connection includes a pin having external threads and a box having internal threads. A circumferentially extending row of pin teeth are located on an exterior portion of the pin. A slot extends through a side wall of the box. A key is carried in the slot, the key having a row of key teeth that mate with the pin teeth. The key is mounted to the box such that a movable portion of the key is radially movable relative to the box between radially outward and radially inward positions. The key is biased toward the inward position, so that the key teeth ratchet on the pin teeth during make-up of the pin and the box. The key and pin teeth have a saw-tooth configuration to resist unscrewing rotation of the pin and the box. The key may be an integral part of the side wall of the box or a separate component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Vetco Gray Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas L. Steen, Daniel C. Benson, David L. Ford, Christopher Loftin
  • Patent number: 8939213
    Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for providing proper spacing and alignment of multi-well modular drilling templates and associated wells are provided. An example embodiment of a system includes a primary well upon which a multi-well modular drilling template is landed, and a second well upon which a specially configured spacer device is landed. The spacer device includes an alignment frame which engages guide arms of the template to force the spacer device into proper axial alignment. The spacer device includes an elongated arm and a guide funnel which provide the proper spacing and proper location for inserting a third well. The third well can be used as the central well for a second multi-well modular drilling template.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Vetco Gray Inc.
    Inventors: Sibu Varghese, Christopher Loftin, Edward Rositas, Arjin Nolan, Jesus Aldeguer
  • Patent number: 8905156
    Abstract: A template for use in positioning subsea wellbores that has a drop away funnel that extends laterally from the template. The drop away funnel is used to locate a piling adjacent the wellbores and is selectively detached from the template after installing the piling. A tang and clevis type assembly mounts the drop away funnel to the template, where the tang and clevis are coupled together with a main stud. The main stud is oriented substantially parallel with an axis of the drop away funnel; so that when the stud is removed, the drop away funnel can decouple from the template and slide axially downward along the piling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Vetco Gray Inc.
    Inventors: Sibu Varghese, Clint Trimble, Christopher Loftin, Jeffrey Allen Raynal
  • Publication number: 20140167408
    Abstract: A pipe connection includes a pin having external threads and a box having internal threads. A circumferentially extending row of pin teeth are located on an exterior portion of the pin. A slot extends through a side wall of the box. A key is carried in the slot, the key having a row of key teeth that mate with the box teeth. The key is mounted to the box such that a movable portion of the key is radially movable relative to the box between radially outward and radially inward positions. The key is biased toward the inward position, so that the key teeth ratchet on the pin teeth during make-up of pin and the box. The teeth have a saw-tooth configuration to resist unscrewing rotation of pin and the box. The key may be an integral part of the side wall of the box or a separate component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2012
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: Vetco Gray Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas L. Steen, Daniel C. Benson, David L. Ford, Christopher Loftin
  • Publication number: 20130284444
    Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for providing proper spacing and alignment of multi-well modular drilling templates and associated wells are provided. An example embodiment of a system includes a primary well upon which a multi-well modular drilling template is landed, and a second well upon which a specially configured spacer device is landed. The spacer device includes an alignment frame which engages guide arms of the template to force the spacer device into proper axial alignment. The spacer device includes an elongated arm and a guide funnel which provide the proper spacing and proper location for inserting a third well. The third well can be used as the central well for a second multi-well modular drilling template.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2012
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Applicant: VETCO GRAY INC.
    Inventors: Sibu Varghese, Christopher Loftin, Edward Rositas, Arjin Nolan, Jesus Aldeguer
  • Publication number: 20130264117
    Abstract: A template for use in positioning subsea wellbores that has a drop away funnel that extends laterally from the template. The drop away funnel is used to locate a piling adjacent the wellbores and is selectively detached from the template after installing the piling. A tang and clevis type assembly mounts the drop away funnel to the template, where the tang and clevis are coupled together with a main stud. The main stud is oriented substantially parallel with an axis of the drop away funnel; so that when the stud is removed, the drop away funnel can decouple from the template and slide axially downward along the piling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2012
    Publication date: October 10, 2013
    Applicant: Vetco Gray Inc
    Inventors: Sibu Varghese, Clint Trimble, Christopher Loftin, Jeffrey Allen Raynal