Patents by Inventor Eric D. Larson
Eric D. Larson 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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Patent number: 11540778Abstract: A method for suppressing sensor noise in a spatially oversampled sensor array includes receiving spatially oversampled multi-channel sensor data from a region of interest and building a spatial model from the data for essential spatial degrees of freedom. The method further includes decomposing the data into the underlying spatial model to obtain associated amplitude components containing a mixture of original temporal waveforms of the data and, for each channel of the multi-channel sensor, estimating time-domain amplitude components using cross-validation. Next, for each channel, based on the estimated time-domain amplitude components, sensor noise and/or artifacts for that channel are identified. Finally, for each channel, the identified sensor noise and/or artifacts can be suppressed from the data.Type: GrantFiled: May 26, 2017Date of Patent: January 3, 2023Assignee: University of WashingtonInventors: Samu Taulu, Eric D. Larson
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Publication number: 20190125268Abstract: A method for suppressing sensor noise in a spatially oversampled sensor array includes receiving spatially oversampled multi-channel sensor data from a region of interest and building a spatial model from the data for essential spatial degrees of freedom. The method further includes decomposing the data into the underlying spatial model to obtain associated amplitude components containing a mixture of original temporal waveforms of the data and, for each channel of the multi-channel sensor, estimating time-domain amplitude components using cross-validation. Next, for each channel, based on the estimated time-domain amplitude components, sensor noise and/or artifacts for that channel are identified. Finally, for each channel, the identified sensor noise and/or artifacts can be suppressed from the data.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 26, 2017Publication date: May 2, 2019Inventors: Samu Taulu, Eric D. Larson
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Patent number: 8511387Abstract: A cap is lowered onto and secured to a subsea member with an external flange, effecting a seal between the external flange and cap. The cap includes a tubular outer body defining a cavity, and a tubular inner body defining a bore, wherein the lower end of the inner body resides within the cavity. The cap also includes a lower engaging member coupled to the outer body that is radially movable between an inward state and an outward state and configured to alternately engage and disengage at least one of a backside of the external flange. Finally, the cap includes an upper engaging member coupled to the outer body and being radially movable independently of the lower engaging member between an inward state and an outward state and configured to engage and disengage the inner body.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2010Date of Patent: August 20, 2013Assignee: BP Corporation North America Inc.Inventors: Thomas A Fraser, John G Landthrip, Eric D Larson, Sara N Riddle, Dale Norman, Jamie C Gamble, Satish N Ramasheshaiah, James R Reams
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Patent number: 8499838Abstract: A connector is lowered onto and secured to a subsea member, effecting a seal between subsea member and the connector. The connector includes an outer body defining a cavity, and an inner body defining a bore, wherein the lower end of the inner body resides within the cavity. The connector also includes an engaging member coupled to the outer body and adapted to engage the subsea device, the engaging member radially movable between a disengaged position and an engaged position. The connector includes a seal carried by the inner body and adapted to form a seal between the bore and the subsea device. Finally, the connector includes a pre-loading member coupled to the outer body, operable to urge the inner body and seal against the subsea device to exert a pre-loading force on the seal. A differential pressure between the bore and a subsea environment energizes the seal.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2010Date of Patent: August 6, 2013Assignee: BP Corporation North America Inc.Inventors: Thomas A Fraser, John G Landthrip, Eric D Larson, Sara N Riddle, Dale Norman, Jamie C Gamble, Satish N Ramasheshaiah, James R Reams
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Patent number: 8388255Abstract: A connector assembly for connecting two members that allows manual lockdown to prevent accidental disengagement. The connector assembly can be used to connect a tension ring to a housing on a riser by using a lower set of hydraulically actuated dogs. A set of upper hydraulically actuated dogs on the connector assembly can be used to connect the tension ring to a diverter housing mounted on a rig. The connector assembly also has position indicators that ride along with the dogs to indicate whether the dogs are in the engaged or disengaged position.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2009Date of Patent: March 5, 2013Assignee: Vetco Gray Inc.Inventors: Eric D. Larson, John V. Leba, Robert A. Blue
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Patent number: 8322438Abstract: An offshore drilling riser joint has a central riser pipe, a number of auxiliary lines mounted around it, and a buoyancy module assembly of a buoyant material. A pair of upper thrust sleeves slide over two of the auxiliary lines, each of the upper thrust sleeves having a flange in contact with an upper end of the buoyancy module assembly. Each of the upper thrust sleeves transfer upward thrust imposed by the buoyancy module assembly to an upper support flange mounted to the central riser pipe. A pair of lower thrust sleeves slide over two of the auxiliary lines. Each lower thrust sleeve has a lower thrust flange that is engaged by a lower end of the buoyancy module assembly. Each of the lower thrust sleeves transfer weight of the buoyancy module assembly while out of water to a lower support flange mounted to the central riser pipe.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 2010Date of Patent: December 4, 2012Assignee: Vetco Gray Inc.Inventors: Eric D. Larson, Rick L. Stringfellow, Jesse L. Bullard, Jim R. Reams
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Patent number: 8312933Abstract: A marine drilling riser system for securing drilling riser joints in a drilling riser string is presented. The drilling riser string is assembled by connecting a pin end of one drilling riser joint to a box end of an adjoining drilling riser joint by using a moveable ring to drive a fastener of one drilling riser joint against the adjoining drilling riser joint. A spider is used to drive the movable ring axially from a position where the fastener is not engaged against the adjoining drilling riser joint to a position where the fastener is engaged against the adjoining drilling riser joint, and vice versa. A latch is used to prevent the moveable ring from moving inadvertently from the second position. The spider may also be used to support the marine drilling riser string during assembly.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2011Date of Patent: November 20, 2012Assignee: Vetco Gray Inc.Inventors: Eric D. Larson, Rick L. Stringfellow, Richard T. Trenholme
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Publication number: 20120006557Abstract: A cap is lowered onto and secured to a subsea member with an external flange, effecting a seal between the external flange and cap. The cap includes a tubular outer body defining a cavity, and a tubular inner body defining a bore, wherein the lower end of the inner body resides within the cavity. The cap also includes a lower engaging member coupled to the outer body that is radially movable between an inward state and an outward state and configured to alternately engage and disengage at least one of a backside of the external flange. Finally, the cap includes an upper engaging member coupled to the outer body and being radially movable independently of the lower engaging member between an inward state and an outward state and configured to engage and disengage the inner body.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2010Publication date: January 12, 2012Inventors: Thomas A. Fraser, John G. Landthrip, Eric D. Larson, Dale Norman, Jamie C. Gamble, Satish N. Ramasheshaiah, Sara N. Riddle, James R. Reams
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Publication number: 20120006555Abstract: A connector is lowered onto and secured to a subsea member, effecting a seal between subsea member and the connector. The connector includes an outer body defining a cavity, and an inner body defining a bore, wherein the lower end of the inner body resides within the cavity. The connector also includes an engaging member coupled to the outer body and adapted to engage the subsea device, the engaging member radially movable between a disengaged position and an engaged position. The connector includes a seal carried by the inner body and adapted to form a seal between the bore and the subsea device. Finally, the connector includes a pre-loading member coupled to the outer body, operable to urge the inner body and seal against the subsea device to exert a pre-loading force on the seal. A differential pressure between the bore and a subsea environment energizes the seal.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2010Publication date: January 12, 2012Inventors: Thomas A. Fraser, John G. Landthrip, Eric D. Larson, Sara N. Riddle, Dale Norman, Jamie C. Gamble, Satish N. Ramasheshaiah, James R. Reams
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Patent number: 8016042Abstract: In accordance with certain embodiments, the present invention provides a connector for attaching to a multi-toothed profile on a wellhead features a tooth profile that staggers loading preferably starting at a loading surface furthest from the connector body sitting on the wellhead and moving toward the connector body. The staggered loading more evenly distributes stresses on the matching loading surfaces as compared to the result of using a tooth profile on the connector that nearly exactly matches the profile on the wellhead. The joint can then take advantage of an increased preload and exhibit improved stress characteristics when operating at high loading conditions.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2009Date of Patent: September 13, 2011Assignee: Cameron International CorporationInventors: Michael W. Spiering, Maoye Sun, Paul D. Bunch, Eric D. Larson
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Publication number: 20110174495Abstract: A technique for securing drilling riser joints in a drilling riser string is presented. The drilling riser joints have a tubular housing that has a box configuration on one end and a pin configuration on the other end. The drilling riser string is assembled by connecting the pin end of one drilling riser joint to the box end of an adjoining drilling riser joint. A moveable ring is used to connect adjoining drilling riser joints. The moveable ring is used to drive a fastener, such as a dog, of one drilling riser joint against the adjoining drilling riser joint. The moveable ring is driven axially from a first position, where the fastener is not engaged against the adjoining drilling riser joint, to a second position where the fastener is engaged against the adjoining drilling riser joint. A latch is used to prevent the moveable ring from moving inadvertently from the second position. This prevents the drilling riser joints from disconnecting inadvertently.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 29, 2011Publication date: July 21, 2011Applicant: Vetco Gray Inc.Inventors: Eric D. Larson, Rick L. Stringfellow, Richard T. Trenholme
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Patent number: 7913767Abstract: A technique for securing drilling riser joints in a drilling riser string is presented. The drilling riser joints have a tubular housing that has a box configuration on one end and a pin configuration on the other end. The drilling riser string is assembled by connecting the pin end of one drilling riser joint to the box end of an adjoining drilling riser joint. A moveable ring is used to connect adjoining drilling riser joints. The moveable ring is used to drive a fastener of one drilling riser joint against the adjoining drilling riser joint. The moveable ring is driven axially from a position where the fastener is not engaged against the adjoining drilling riser joint to a position where the fastener is engaged against the adjoining drilling riser joint. A latch is used to prevent the moveable ring from moving inadvertently from the second position.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 2008Date of Patent: March 29, 2011Assignee: Vetco Gray Inc.Inventors: Eric D. Larson, Rick L. Stringfellow, Richard T. Trenholme
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Publication number: 20110008099Abstract: A connector assembly for connecting two members that allows manual lockdown to prevent accidental disengagement. The connector assembly can be used to connect a tension ring to a housing on a riser by using a lower set of hydraulically actuated dogs. A set of upper hydraulically actuated dogs on the connector assembly can be used to connect the tension ring to a diverter housing mounted on a rig. The connector assembly also has position indicators that ride along with the dogs to indicate whether the dogs are in the engaged or disengaged position.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 13, 2009Publication date: January 13, 2011Applicant: VETCO GRAY INC.Inventors: Eric D. Larson, John V. Leba, Robert A. Blue
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Publication number: 20100270025Abstract: An offshore drilling riser joint has a central riser pipe, a number of auxiliary lines mounted around it, and a buoyancy module assembly of a buoyant material. A pair of upper thrust sleeves slide over two of the auxiliary lines, each of the upper thrust sleeves having a flange in contact with an upper end of the buoyancy module assembly. Each of the upper thrust sleeves transfer upward thrust imposed by the buoyancy module assembly to an upper support flange mounted to the central riser pipe. A pair of lower thrust sleeves slide over two of the auxiliary lines. Each lower thrust sleeve has a lower thrust flange that is engaged by a lower end of the buoyancy module assembly. Each of the lower thrust sleeves transfer weight of the buoyancy module assembly while out of water to a lower support flange mounted to the central riser pipe.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 16, 2010Publication date: October 28, 2010Applicant: Vetco Gray Inc.Inventors: Eric D. Larson, Rick L. Stringfellow, Jesse L. Bullard, Jim R. Reams
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Publication number: 20100078174Abstract: In accordance with certain embodiments, the present inveniton provides a connector for attaching to a multi-toothed profile on a wellhead features a tooth profile that staggers loading preferably starting at a loading surface furthest from the connector body sitting on the wellhead and moving toward the connector body. The staggered loading more evenly distributes stresses on the matching loading surfaces as compared to the result of using a tooth profile on the connector that nearly exactly matches the profile on the wellhead. The joint can then take advantage of an increased preload and exhibit improved stress characteristics when operating at high loading conditions.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2009Publication date: April 1, 2010Applicant: CAMERON INTERNATIONAL CORPORATIONInventors: Michael W. Spiering, Maoye Sun, Paul D. Bunch, Eric D. Larson
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Publication number: 20090308658Abstract: A technique for securing drilling riser joints in a drilling riser string is presented. The drilling riser joints have a tubular housing that has a box configuration on one end and a pin configuration on the other end. The drilling riser string is assembled by connecting the pin end of one drilling riser joint to the box end of an adjoining drilling riser joint. A moveable ring is used to connect adjoining drilling riser joints. The moveable ring is used to drive a fastener, such as a dog, of one drilling riser joint against the adjoining drilling riser joint. The moveable ring is driven axially from a first position, where the fastener is not engaged against the adjoining drilling riser joint, to a second position where the fastener is engaged against the adjoining drilling riser joint. A latch is used to prevent the moveable ring from moving inadvertently from the second position. This prevents the drilling riser joints from disconnecting inadvertently.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 16, 2008Publication date: December 17, 2009Inventors: Eric D. Larson, Rick L. Stringfellow, Richard T. Trenholme
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Patent number: 7614453Abstract: In accordance with certain embodiments, the present invention provides a connector for attaching to a multi-toothed profile on a wellhead features a tooth profile that staggers loading preferably starting at a loading surface furthest from the connector body sitting on the wellhead and moving toward the connector body. The staggered loading more evenly distributes stresses on the matching loading surfaces as compared to the result of using a tooth profile on the connector that nearly exactly matches the profile on the wellhead. The joint can then take advantage of an increased preload and exhibit improved stress characteristics when operating at high loading conditions.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 2006Date of Patent: November 10, 2009Assignee: Cameron International CorporationInventors: Michael W. Spiering, Maoye Sun, Paul D. Bunch, Eric D. Larson
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Publication number: 20070277983Abstract: In accordance with certain embodiments, the present invention provides a connector for attaching to a multi-toothed profile on a wellhead features a tooth profile that staggers loading preferably starting at a loading surface furthest from the connector body sitting on the wellhead and moving toward the connector body. The staggered loading more evenly distributes stresses on the matching loading surfaces as compared to the result of using a tooth profile on the connector that nearly exactly matches the profile on the wellhead. The joint can then take advantage of an increased preload and exhibit improved stress characteristics when operating at high loading conditions.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 1, 2006Publication date: December 6, 2007Inventors: Michael W. Spiering, Maoye Sun, Paul D. Bunch, Eric D. Larson