Patents by Inventor Danny K. Wolff

Danny K. Wolff 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: 7121346
    Abstract: A wellhead assembly for use on a well with a blowout preventer stack having a bore therethrough that utilizes an intervention spool sealingly secured between a horizontal tree and the blowout preventer stack to allow the use of a removable valve package positioned in the intervention spool with valve actuators mounted on the exterior of the intervention spool is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: Cameron International Corporation
    Inventors: Danny K. Wolff, John C. Vicic, William M. Taylor, Mark L. Carter
  • Patent number: 6231027
    Abstract: A high torque rotating actuator is disclosed. The high torque rotating actuator has a variable helix angle that allows the actuator to generate greater torque near the end of its travel when it is needed to close a valve or operate a choke. The high torque rotating actuator is designed for use with valves and chokes. In a second embodiment, a high torque rotating actuator is configured to give a shorter overall assembly. As in the preferred embodiment, a variable helix angle is used to generate greater torque near the end of its travel when it is needed to close a valve or operate a choke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2001
    Assignee: Cooper Cameron Corporation
    Inventors: Gerald S. Baker, David Garnham, Brian Hart, Danny K. Wolff
  • Patent number: 5542475
    Abstract: The method and apparatus includes lowering a blanking plug assembly into the bore of an oilfield tubular member and inserting a sealing assembly on the blanking plug assembly into the seal bore of the tubular member without sealingly engaging the seal bore. A support shoulder on the blanking plug assembly lands on the landing shoulder of the oilfield tubular member. Wireline jars jar down on the lock sleeve of the blanking plug assembly to shift dog members radially outward into latching grooves in the oilfield tubular member. The lock sleeve then locks the dog members into the latching grooves. The wireline jars then jar up on a plug of the blanking plug assembly to move the plug upwardly to an upper position within the blanking plug assembly. The sealing assembly is prevented from moving upward and a tapered surface on the plug is driven through the sealing assembly thereby radially energizing the sealing assembly into sealing engagement with the outer tubular member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1996
    Assignee: Cooper Cameron Corporation
    Inventors: Edwin C. Turner, Danny K. Wolff
  • Patent number: 5482082
    Abstract: A fluid coupling, e.g., a subsea coupling, includes male and female parts which can be coupled together. The female part includes four passages normally closed by a slidable gate. The male part includes four passages normally closed by a closure slide. When the male and female parts are coupled together, the gate is pushed aside by the gate part and becomes temporarily joined thereto, and the closure slide is pushed aside by the female part and is temporarily joined thereto. When the male and female parts are uncoupled, the gate and closure slide are moved back to their passage-closing positions. A metal sealing member for the passages includes annular thick and thin lips. The thin lip provides flexibility, and the thick lip engages a relatively movable part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 9, 1996
    Assignee: Cooper Cameron Corporation
    Inventors: Edwin C. Turner, Danny K. Wolff
  • Patent number: 4576358
    Abstract: An improved remotely operable safety valve which is adapted for use between the swivel and the kelly is disclosed. An annular hydraulic piston moves the valve to the open and closed position whether or not the drill string is rotating, and in the event of hydraulic failure, the valve may be operated manually. Centering spring means are provided to reduce wear on the operable elements when the valve is in the open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1983
    Date of Patent: March 18, 1986
    Assignee: Hydril Company
    Inventors: James D. Mott, Danny K. Wolff
  • Patent number: 4082147
    Abstract: Two embodiments of a surface controller system apparatus and their method for use with a surface controlled subsurface safety valve are disclosed. Both surface controller systems are responsive to an emergency shutdown signal for enabling closing of the subsurface safety valve when the well surface safety systems are shut-in. Once the subsurface Safety Valve has been shut-in up the system, the safety control system must be manually reset before the subsurface valve can be reopened.Both safety control system provides an enclosed reservoir or accumulator for receiving the hydraulic control fluid when the subsurface valve closes and for containing well blow-outs through either one or both control fluid conduits operably connecting the controller system with the subsurface valve. The enclosed systems are also arranged that any internal leakage of the surface control system will operate to shut-in the well with the subsurface valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1977
    Date of Patent: April 4, 1978
    Assignee: Hydril Company
    Inventors: Danny K. Wolff, James D. Mott, Kenneth W. Colvin