Patents by Inventor Fife B. Ellis

Fife B. Ellis 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: 8101050
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Vetco Gray Inc.
    Inventors: Fife B. Ellis, Charles E. Jennings
  • Publication number: 20110139341
    Abstract: A pipe is wrapped with a composite to form a pre-stressed interface to facilitate load sharing between the materials. Prior to being wrapped, the pipe is placed in tension via hydraulic devices or the like. Alternatively, a combination of cured and uncured composite wraps is used in proximity to each other to apply compressive stress to the pipe. In addition, the pipe may be subjected to cold temperatures to change its dimensions prior to being wrapped with a composite material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Applicant: Vetco Gray Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph W. Pallini, Fife B. Ellis, Danny L. Havelka, Brian N. Munk
  • Patent number: 7896998
    Abstract: A pipe is wrapped with a composite to form a pre-stressed interface to facilitate load sharing between the materials. Prior to being wrapped, the pipe is placed in tension via hydraulic devices or the like. Alternatively, a combination of cured and uncured composite wraps is used in proximity to each other to apply compressive stress to the pipe. In addition, the pipe may be subjected to cold temperatures to change its dimensions prior to being wrapped with a composite material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Vetco Gray Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph W. Pallini, Fife B. Ellis, Danny L. Havelka, Brian N. Munk
  • Publication number: 20100279022
    Abstract: A process for providing a protective layer to an article. The process includes depositing a layer of material onto a surface of the article with a thermal spray process. Examples of thermal spray process include high velocity oxygen/air fuel, atmospheric plasma spray, and chemical vapor deposition. Coating methods, such as cold vapor deposition and physical vapor deposition, may also be used. The layer can then be bonded to the article by heating material in the layer adjacent its connection with the article.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2009
    Publication date: November 4, 2010
    Applicant: Vetco Gray Inc.
    Inventors: Leonardo Ajdelsztajn, Dennis Gray, Fife B. Ellis, Joseph W. Pallini, JR.
  • Patent number: 7823646
    Abstract: A tensioner for an offshore structure has inner and outer barrels engaging each other for movement between retracted and extended positions. The barrels are filled with gas pressure. A primary seal is located between the inner and outer barrels at the open end of the inner barrel. An annular lubricant reservoir is mounted to an interior wall surface of the inner barrel at the open end of the inner barrel. A lubricant port extends from the lubricant reservoir through the inner barrel to a high pressure side of the primary seal for dispensing lubricant between the inner and outer barrels. A fill tube leads from the reservoir to the exterior of the inner barrel for replenishing lubricant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Vetco Gray Inc.
    Inventors: Fife B. Ellis, Jeffery K. McCarty
  • Patent number: 7819195
    Abstract: A riser tensioner has inner and outer cylindrical barrels that telescopingly engage each other. A small external tank is mounted outside of the barrels for communicating a small quantity of hydraulic fluid the seals between the inner and outer barrels. The external tank allows the internal volume of the cylinder rod assembly to be used for gas storage and reduces the need for accumulators. The fluid level in the external tank is checked via a sight glass, and the tank is isolated from the cylinder assembly by a combination of check and three-way valves, which allows easier access to the working fluid, and allows the addition or removal of high pressure fluid to the system without a high pressure fluid cart.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Vetco Gray Inc.
    Inventor: Fife B. Ellis
  • Publication number: 20100183376
    Abstract: A corrosion-resistant alloy tube is formed and bonded to a pre-machined steel alloy rod to form a riser tensioner cylinder rod. During assembly, an epoxy is injected into an annular space between the tube and rod and then cured. The bonded tube is ground to a desired surface finish prior to installation and utilizes a double seal arrangement that prevents external pressure or corrosive fluids from entering the cured epoxy in the annular space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2010
    Publication date: July 22, 2010
    Applicant: VETCO GRAY INC.
    Inventor: Fife B. Ellis
  • Publication number: 20100158615
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2010
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Applicant: GE OIL & GAS
    Inventors: Fife B. Ellis, Joseph W. Pallini, Jeffery K. McCarty, Charles E. Jennings
  • Patent number: 7686085
    Abstract: A corrosion-resistant alloy tube is formed and bonded to a pre-machined steel alloy rod to form a riser tensioner cylinder rod. During assembly, an epoxy is injected into an annular space between the tube and rod and then cured. The bonded tube is ground to a desired surface finish prior to installation and utilizes a double seal arrangement that prevents external pressure or corrosive fluids from entering the cured epoxy in the annular space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Vetco Gray Inc.
    Inventor: Fife B. Ellis
  • Publication number: 20090145611
    Abstract: A tensioner anti-rotation device and method that transfers rotational force from an offshore platform deck to a riser in response to waves and currents. The device includes a bracket mounted on the deck, and a rib that transfers force from the deck through the bracket, to the rib, and into the riser such that the tensioners on the riser are not subjected to torque.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2008
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Inventors: Joseph W. Pallini, JR., Fife B. Ellis
  • Publication number: 20090050730
    Abstract: A pipe is wrapped with a composite to form a pre-stressed interface to facilitate load sharing between the materials. Prior to being wrapped, the pipe is placed in tension via hydraulic devices or the like. Alternatively, a combination of cured and uncured composite wraps is used in proximity to each other to apply compressive stress to the pipe. In addition, the pipe may be subjected to cold temperatures to change its dimensions prior to being wrapped with a composite material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2007
    Publication date: February 26, 2009
    Inventors: Joseph W. Pallini, Fife B. Ellis, Danny L. Havelka, Brian N. Munk
  • Publication number: 20070289868
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2007
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Inventors: Fife B. Ellis, Charles E. Jennings
  • Patent number: 7067201
    Abstract: A method of reducing stress and wear on one or more components in a keel joint assembly in which a cobalt-based, wear resistant alloy coating is applied to the surfaces of one or more components. The use of the coating reduces stress and wear and achieves improved corrosion, galling, erosion and abrasion resistance as compared to other currently known and applied methods. In the present invention, the coating would preferably would be applied to the surfaces of the mating components of the keel joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: Vetco Gray Inc.
    Inventors: Fife B. Ellis, Kim H. Phan, Eric J. Schultz
  • Patent number: 6902005
    Abstract: A subsea wellhead assembly allows communication between a production tubing annulus and a conduit in fluid communication with a platform above. The wellhead assembly has a tubing hanger that is held relative to a tubular wellhead member of a subsea well by a tubing hanger support. A string of tubing extends from the tubing hanger into the well, defining an annulus around the tubing. The conduit communicates with the tubing annulus through a tubing annulus passage. The tubing annulus passage has a portion extending through the tubing hanger support. The wellhead member supports a valve block located between the tubing hanger support and the riser. The tubing annulus passage has another portion that registers with the portion of the passage in the tubing hanger support. The conduit stabs into valve block portion of the tubing annulus passage when the riser connects to the upper end of the valve block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2005
    Assignee: Vetco Gray Inc.
    Inventors: Amin Radi, Michael E. Capesius, Fife B. Ellis, Robert K. Voss
  • Publication number: 20030155126
    Abstract: A subsea wellhead assembly allows communication between a production tubing annulus and a conduit in fluid communication with a platform above. The wellhead assembly has a tubing hanger that is held relative to a tubular wellhead member of a subsea well by a tubing hanger support. A string of tubing extends from the tubing hanger into the well, defining an annulus around the tubing. The conduit communicates with the tubing annulus through a tubing annulus passage. The tubing annulus passage has a portion extending through the tubing hanger support. The wellhead member supports a valve block located between the tubing hanger support and the riser. The tubing annulus passage has another portion that registers with the portion of the passage in the tubing hanger support. The conduit stabs into valve block portion of the tubing annulus passage when the riser connects to the upper end of the valve block.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2003
    Publication date: August 21, 2003
    Inventors: Amin Radi, Michael E. Capesius, Fife B. Ellis, Robert K. Voss
  • Patent number: 5685487
    Abstract: A high pressure spinning nozzle for cleaning material from a surface such as the inner walls of a heat exchanger tube, for example, includes a tubular body having an open front end and a plug in its rear end, a rotor in the body bore having an internal flow passage and inclined and skewed orifices in its front wall that cause the rotor to spin during operation, axial and radial passages in the body to feed high pressure water to the rotor flow passage, a water bearing between the rear of the rotor and the plug, and ports in the body to automatically regulate the pressure of the water bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1997
    Assignee: J. Edward Stachowiak
    Inventor: Fife B. Ellis
  • Patent number: 5456413
    Abstract: A rotary water blast nozzle assembly includes an inner body member and a mandrel that supports a spray head having an internal bushing that rotates on the mandrel. Seals on the of the bushing are spaced at selected distance points from radial flow ports in its center. The resultant of operating pressure forces acting inward on the outside of the bushing between the seals, and gradually diminishing pressures acting outwardly in the clearance from the center toward the ends of the bushing, together with frusto-conically shaped sections of the bushing, cause uniform inward deflection that reduces the clearance in proportion to the operating pressure to inhibit leakby.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 10, 1995
    Assignee: Edward J. Stachowiak
    Inventor: Fife B. Ellis