Patents by Inventor David L. Ford
David L. Ford 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: 20240127804Abstract: Disclosed herein are system, method, and computer readable medium embodiments for machine learning systems to process interactive communications between at least two participants. Speech and text within the interactive communications are analyzed using machine learning models to infer insights located within the interactive communications. The inferred insights are converted to descriptive text or audio and tagged to the interactive communication as graphics or audio whispers reflecting the insights added to the interactive communication.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 12, 2022Publication date: April 18, 2024Applicant: Capital One Services, LLCInventors: Anup SHIRODKAR, Thomas ZAHORIK, Matthew C. FORD, Miguel DE LA ROCHA, Sara R. MCDOLE, Robert L. SCHOLTZ, III, Raghav SAHAI, Kevin T. SHAFFER, Trent F. HODGES, Avinash KAWALE, David ABER
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Publication number: 20230151710Abstract: A downhole tool for transmitting rotation to a casing string includes a tool body having a bore extending from a first end to a second end. The downhole tool also includes a cam positioned within the tool body, the cam being axially translatable along an axis of the bore. The downhole tool further includes a recess, formed in an outer diameter of the cam. The downhole tool includes a locking mechanism, positioned at least partially within the tool body. The locking mechanism includes a tool key. The locking mechanism also includes a biasing member, the biasing member driving the tool key toward the retracted position.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 6, 2023Publication date: May 18, 2023Applicant: Baker Hughes Oilfield Operations LLCInventors: Noel Monjure, David L. Ford, Stephen Peters, Philip Potter, James Sonnier
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Patent number: 11555370Abstract: A downhole tool for transmitting rotation to a casing string includes a tool body having a bore extending from a first end to a second end. The downhole tool also includes a cam positioned within the tool body, the cam being axially translatable along an axis of the bore. The downhole tool further includes a recess, formed in an outer diameter of the cam. The downhole tool includes a locking mechanism, positioned at least partially within the tool body. The locking mechanism includes a tool key. The locking mechanism also includes a biasing member, the biasing member driving the tool key toward the retracted position.Type: GrantFiled: September 3, 2020Date of Patent: January 17, 2023Assignee: Baker Hughes Oilfield Operations LLCInventors: Noel Monjure, David L. Ford, Steve Peters, Phil Potter, James Sonnier
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Publication number: 20210062604Abstract: A downhole tool for transmitting rotation to a casing string includes a tool body having a bore extending from a first end to a second end. The downhole tool also includes a cam positioned within the tool body, the cam being axially translatable along an axis of the bore. The downhole tool further includes a recess, formed in an outer diameter of the cam. The downhole tool includes a locking mechanism, positioned at least partially within the tool body. The locking mechanism includes a tool key. The locking mechanism also includes a biasing member, the biasing member driving the tool key toward the retracted position.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 3, 2020Publication date: March 4, 2021Applicant: Baker Hughes Oilfield Operations LLCInventors: Noel Monjure, David L. Ford, Steve Peters, Phil Potter, James Sonnier
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Patent number: 10138698Abstract: A wellhead housing has a bore with a landing shoulder aid an annular retaining groove spaced above the landing shoulder. A casing hanger connects to a string of easing and lands on the landing shoulder. A seal assembly between the hanger and an interior side wall of the wellhead housing below the retaining groove has an energizing ring that moves axially downward relative to the seal member to a set position that causes the seal member to sealingly engage the hanger and the interior side wall. A lockdown member has an outer lower end portion that bears against an upper end of the energizing ring and an inner lower end portion that hears against an upper end of the hanger. A lockdown ring mounted to the lockdown member engages the retaining groove to prevent upward movement of the lockdown member.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2015Date of Patent: November 27, 2018Assignee: VETCO GRAY, LLCInventors: Daniel R. Barnhart, David L. Ford
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Publication number: 20180305984Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure include an apparatus for forming a tubular fitting includes an annular body having an axial height and radial thickness. The apparatus also includes an inner arm forming at least a portion of the annular body, the inner arm positioned at a first end of the annular body with an inner arm thickness that is less than the radial thickness. The apparatus includes an outer arm forming at least a portion of the annular body, the outer arm positioned at a second end of the annular body with an outer arm thickness that is less than the radial thickness. Also, the apparatus includes one or more self-limiting features that control movement of the inner arm and the outer arm relative to one another.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 25, 2017Publication date: October 25, 2018Applicant: Vetco Gray Inc.Inventors: Baozhi Zhu, Luke Andrew McElmurry, Daniel Barnhart, David L. Ford, Gregory Matthew Dunn
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Patent number: 10094192Abstract: A wellhead assembly includes a wellhead housing having a bore with a wellhead housing sidewall and a longitudinal axis. A hanger lands in the bore, the hanger having a hanger sidewall. Parallel circumferentially extending hanger sidewall ridges are located on the hanger sidewall. Each of the hanger sidewall ridges have upper and lower flanks that converge to a crest. Hanger sidewall bands are located between adjacent ones of the hanger sidewall ridges. A metal seal ring has an outer seal surface in metal-to-metal sealing engagement with the wellhead housing sidewall and an inner seal surface in metal-to-metal sealing engagement with the hanger sidewall bands. Crests of the hanger sidewall ridges embed into the inner seal surface to restrict relative movement between the hanger and the seal ring. A recess extends through each of the hanger sidewall ridges from the upper flank to the lower flank to allow any fluid trapped between the hanger sidewall ridges to flow out.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2016Date of Patent: October 9, 2018Assignee: Vetco Gray, LLCInventors: David L. Ford, Guaraci Bornia, Hugo Lopes, Ricardo Silva
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Patent number: 9982503Abstract: A wellhead housing has a bore with an inner seal surface. A hanger with an outer seal surface lands in the bore. Wickers are formed on at least one of the seal surfaces. A metal seal ring lands between the seal surfaces, the seal ring having annular inner and outer legs separated by an annular slot. An energizing ring has inner and outer diameter surfaces that slide against the inner and outer legs of the seal ring when the energizing ring is moved downward in the slot to radially deform the inner and outer legs into sealing engagement with the wellhead housing and hanger. The energizing ring has an inner diameter relief and an outer diameter relief, each being a partially circumferential groove extending upward from a lower rim. The reliefs define a bridge of narrower radial thickness in the lower rim.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2016Date of Patent: May 29, 2018Assignee: VETCO GRAY, LLCInventors: Joseph W. Pallini, Rick C. Hunter, David L. Ford, Robert Jen-Yue Du
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Publication number: 20180002998Abstract: A wellhead assembly includes a wellhead housing having a bore with a wellhead housing sidewall and a longitudinal axis. A hanger lands in the bore, the hanger having a hanger sidewall. Parallel circumferentially extending hanger sidewall ridges are located on the hanger sidewall. Each of the hanger sidewall ridges have upper and lower flanks that converge to a crest. Hanger sidewall bands are located between adjacent ones of the hanger sidewall ridges. A metal seal ring has an outer seal surface in metal-to-metal sealing engagement with the wellhead housing sidewall and an inner seal surface in metal-to-metal sealing engagement with the hanger sidewall bands. Crests of the hanger sidewall ridges embed into the inner seal surface to restrict relative movement between the hanger and the seal ring. A recess extends through each of the hanger sidewall ridges from the upper flank to the lower flank to allow any fluid trapped between the hanger sidewall ridges to flow out.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 29, 2016Publication date: January 4, 2018Applicant: Vetco Gray Inc.Inventors: David L. Ford, Guaraci Bornia, Hugo Lopes, Ricardo Silva
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Publication number: 20170284165Abstract: A wellhead housing has a bore with an inner seal surface. A hanger with an outer seal surface lands in the bore. Wickers are formed on at least one of the seal surfaces. A metal seal ring lands between the seal surfaces, the seal ring having annular inner and outer legs separated by an annular slot. An energizing ring has inner and outer diameter surfaces that slide against the inner and outer legs of the seal ring when the energizing ring is moved downward in the slot to radially deform the inner and outer legs into sealing engagement with the wellhead housing and hanger. The energizing ring has an inner diameter relief and an outer diameter relief, each being a partially circumferential groove extending upward from a lower rim. The reliefs define a bridge of narrower radial thickness in the lower rim.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 31, 2016Publication date: October 5, 2017Inventors: Joseph W. Pallini, Rick C. Hunter, David L. Ford, Robert Jen-Yue Du
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Patent number: 9708865Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 13, 2012Date of Patent: July 18, 2017Assignee: Vetco Gray Inc.Inventors: Thomas L. Steen, Daniel C. Benson, David L. Ford, Christopher Loftin
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Publication number: 20170089162Abstract: A wellhead housing has a bore with a Sanding shoulder aid an annular retaining groove spaced above the landing shoulder. A casing hanger connects to a string of easing and lands on the landing shoulder. A seal assembly between the hanger and an interior side wall of the wellhead housing below the retaining groove has an energizing ring that moves axially downward relative to the seal member to a set position that causes the seal member to sealingly engage the hanger and the interior side wall. A lockdown member has an outer lower end portion that bears against an upper end of the energizing ring and an inner lower end portion that hears against an upper end of the hanger. A lockdown ring mounted to the lockdown member engages the retaining groove to prevent upward movement of the lockdown member.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2015Publication date: March 30, 2017Inventors: Daniel R. Barnhart, David L. Ford
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Patent number: 8978772Abstract: A seal seals an annulus in a subsea assembly between a wellhead and a casing hanger landed on a shoulder within a bore of the wellhead. The seal includes a casing hanger seal ring disposed within the annulus. The seal ring engaged with an inner diameter surface of the wellhead, and engaged with an outer diameter surface of the casing hanger so that the seal ring prevents flow through the annulus. A nose ring is secured to a lower end of the seal ring so that, when the seal ring is energized, a conical surface of the nose ring engages a mating conical profile formed in the inner diameter surface portion of the wellhead and the nose ring engages a surface opposite the conical surface with a substantially smooth outer diameter surface portion of the casing hanger to limit upwards axial movement of the casing hanger.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2011Date of Patent: March 17, 2015Assignee: Vetco Gray Inc.Inventors: Chad Eric Yates, David L. Ford, Daniel Caleb Benson
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Patent number: 8955583Abstract: A wellbore assembly includes a housing member, an outer wellbore member, and a second wellbore member, with an outer sensor located in the annulus between the outer wellbore member and the second wellbore member. The outer sensor can sense a condition of the annulus, such as pressure or temperature, and transmit data through a solid portion of the sidewall of the outer wellbore member to a signal receiver located on the housing member. In one embodiment, the signal receiver can transmit an electromagnetic field to inductively charge a power supply on the outer sensor.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2012Date of Patent: February 17, 2015Assignee: Vetco Gray Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey A. Raynal, Daniel C. Benson, David L. Ford, Aaron J. Andersen Shaw
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Patent number: 8925639Abstract: A seal assembly between a wellhead housing having a bore and a casing hanger, has an inner seal leg for sealing against a hanger and an outer seal leg for sealing against the housing. A bellows style portion is formed on a nose ring carried by the seal assembly to increase lockdown capacity. The bellows style portion has an inner surface that faces an outer profile of the hanger, and an outer surface that faces the bore of the housing. Inner and outer lock rings are disposed on the bellows style portion. When the bellows style portion is axially collapsed, it radially expands into the bore of the housing and the outer profile of the hanger, and urges the inner and outer lock rings into engagement with the outer profile of the hanger and the bore of the housing.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2011Date of Patent: January 6, 2015Assignee: Vetco Gray Inc.Inventors: Daniel Caleb Benson, David L. Ford
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Patent number: 8851194Abstract: A seal assembly between a wellhead housing having a bore and a casing hanger, has an inner seal leg for sealing against hanger and an outer seal leg for sealing against housing. An extension extends downward from outer seal leg and has a downward facing shoulder that rests on an upward facing shoulder formed on a nose ring. Connection connects seal ring to the nose ring with a lower portion of the nose ring resting on the upward facing shoulder of the casing hanger. Bellows are formed on the nose ring to increase lockdown capacity. Bellows have an inner surface that faces an outer profile of the hanger, and an outer surface on the bellow that faces the bore of the housing. When the bellows are axially collapsed, they expand radially outward and contract radially inward into the bore of the housing and the outer profile of the hanger.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2011Date of Patent: October 7, 2014Inventors: David L. Ford, Daniel C. Benson, Leonard Landriault
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Patent number: 8851183Abstract: A seal seals an annulus in a subsea assembly between a wellhead and a casing hanger landed on a shoulder within a bore of the wellhead. The seal includes a casing hanger seal ring disposed within the annulus. The seal ring engaged with an inner diameter surface of the wellhead, and engaged with an outer diameter surface of the casing hanger so that the seal ring prevents flow through the annulus. A lockdown slip ring is secured to a lower end of the seal ring so that, when the seal ring is energized, the lockdown slip ring engages a substantially smooth inner diameter surface portion of the wellhead and a substantially smooth outer diameter surface portion of the casing hanger to limit upwards axial movement of the casing hanger.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2011Date of Patent: October 7, 2014Inventors: Chad Eric Yates, David L. Ford, Daniel Caleb Benson
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Publication number: 20140167408Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 13, 2012Publication date: June 19, 2014Applicant: Vetco Gray Inc.Inventors: Thomas L. Steen, Daniel C. Benson, David L. Ford, Christopher Loftin
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Publication number: 20130248171Abstract: A wellbore assembly includes a housing member, an outer wellbore member, and a second wellbore member, with an outer sensor located in the annulus between the outer wellbore member and the second wellbore member. The outer sensor can sense a condition of the annulus, such as pressure or temperature, and transmit data through a solid portion of the sidewall of the outer wellbore member to a signal receiver located on the housing member. In one embodiment, the signal receiver can transmit an electromagnetic field to inductively charge a power supply on the outer sensor.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 26, 2012Publication date: September 26, 2013Applicant: Vetco Gray, Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey A. Raynal, Daniel C. Benson, David L. Ford, Aaron J. Andersen Shaw
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Publication number: 20130146306Abstract: A seal seals an annulus in a subsea assembly between a wellhead and a casing hanger landed on a shoulder within a bore of the wellhead. The seal includes a casing hanger seal ring disposed within the annulus. The seal ring engaged with an inner diameter surface of the wellhead, and engaged with an outer diameter surface of the casing hanger so that the seal ring prevents flow through the annulus. A nose ring is secured to a lower end of the seal ring so that, when the seal ring is energized, a conical surface of the nose ring engages a mating conical profile formed in the inner diameter surface portion of the wellhead and the nose ring engages a surface opposite the conical surface with a substantially smooth outer diameter surface portion of the casing hanger to limit upwards axial movement of the casing hanger.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 7, 2011Publication date: June 13, 2013Applicant: VETCO GRAY INC.Inventors: Chad Eric Yates, David L. Ford, Daniel Caleb Benson