Patents by Inventor Jeffrey Thomas Melancon

Jeffrey Thomas Melancon 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).

  • Publication number: 20230092113
    Abstract: A valve lock for a linear valve system includes a housing including a passage configured to receive a rod of a linearly extendable valve member of the linear valve system, and a collet assembly received in the housing, wherein the collet assembly has a central axis extending parallel the rod of the valve member, a radially inner configuration with respect to the central axis of the collet assembly, and a radially outer configuration relative to the central axis of the collet assembly, wherein the lock includes an unlocked configuration associated with the radially outer configuration of the collet assembly, and a locked configuration associated with the radially inner configuration of the collet assembly and which locks against the rod of the valve member and thereby prevent the rod from travelling in at least one axial direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2022
    Publication date: March 23, 2023
    Applicant: National Oilwell Varco, L.P.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Thomas Melancon, Wade Ernest Sheppard
  • Patent number: 10883331
    Abstract: A ram assembly is disclosed. The ram assembly includes a ram wedge, a blade, and a ram seat. The ram wedge has a tubular cavity therethrough for receiving the tubular. The ram wedge is slidably positionable in the ram channel between a retracted and an extended position, and has rails extending therefrom. The blade is positionable about the tubular cavity, the blade carried by the ram wedge to cuttingly engage the tubular. The ram seat is positionable in the housing about the passage, and has a hole for receiving the tubular therethrough. The ram seat also has an outer surface interlockingly engageable with the rails as the ram wedge moves relative thereto whereby a gap is reduced therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: NATIONAL OILWELL VARCO, L.P.
    Inventors: James A. Douty, Jeffrey Thomas Melancon
  • Publication number: 20190010777
    Abstract: A ram assembly is disclosed. The ram assembly includes a ram wedge, a blade, and a ram seat. The ram wedge has a tubular cavity therethrough for receiving the tubular. The ram wedge is slidably positionable in the ram channel between a retracted and an extended position, and has rails extending therefrom. The blade is positionable about the tubular cavity, the blade carried by the ram wedge to cuttingly engage the tubular. The ram seat is positionable in the housing about the passage, and has a hole for receiving the tubular therethrough. The ram seat also has an outer surface interlockingly engageable with the rails as the ram wedge moves relative thereto whereby a gap is reduced therebetween.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2016
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Inventors: James A. Douty, Jeffrey Thomas Melancon
  • Patent number: 9249643
    Abstract: A ram assembly of a blowout prevent (BOP) includes a ram shuttle, a ram wedge and a ram seat. The ram shuttle and the ram wedge are slidably positionable in a ram channel of a BOP housing between a retracted and extended position. The ram shuttle has a wedge cavity extending therethrough and an inclined surface thereon. The ram wedge has a tubular cavity therethrough for receiving the tubular. The ram wedge has a corresponding inclined surface engageable with the inclined surface of the ram shuttle, and wedges between the ram shuttle and the housing whereby a force is generated therebetween. The ram seat is positionable in the housing about the passage, and is engageable with the ram wedge and the housing when the ram shuttle and the ram wedge are moved to the extended position whereby a seal is formed therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: National Oilwell Varco, L.P.
    Inventor: Jeffrey Thomas Melancon
  • Patent number: 9045961
    Abstract: A blowout preventer (BOP) seal and method are provided. The seal includes a tubular body comprising a plurality of segments that form a continuous loop. The tubular body has a plurality of inner projections extending from opposite sides of a first end thereof and a plurality of outer projections extending from opposite sides of a second end thereof. Each of the plurality of projections tapers away from the tubular body. A cross-sectional area along at least a portion of the plurality of segments is varied whereby the plurality of segments are selectively reinforced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: National Oilwell Varco, L.P.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Thomas Melancon, James Allen Douty
  • Patent number: 9022126
    Abstract: A system and method for replacing equipment at a wellsite is provided. The wellsite has a subsea stripper installed proximate a subsea borehole. The system has a conveyance for delivering a BHA into the subsea borehole. The system has a subsea stripper having a central bore for passing the conveyance and the BHA therethrough, and at least one actuator connected to the subsea stripper for actuating a packer whereby the wellbore is sealed. The system has at least one replaceable seal assembly for installation within the stripper. The replaceable seal assembly has at least one packer extendable within the subsea stripper to form a seal thereabout and at least one locator sleeve for positioning the seal assembly in an install position within the subsea stripper. The replaceable seal assembly has a frangible member for connecting the seal assembly to the conveyance prior to deployment in the subsea stripper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: National Oilwell Varco, L.P.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Thomas Melancon, Denzal Wayne Van Winkle, James Allen Douty
  • Publication number: 20150075801
    Abstract: A stripper packer for sealing a tubular of a wellsite is provided. The stripper packer includes an extendable housing, a packer, and a sliding window. The extendable housing has a passage therethrough to receive the tubular, and includes a piston operatively connectable between an upper and a lower portion of the extendable housing for selective movement therebetween. The packer is positionable within the extendable housing and sealingly engageable with the tubular. The sliding window is slidably positionable in the passage of the extendable housing and engageable with the packer. The sliding window is movable with the piston in response to pressure whereby the packer is sealable with the tubing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2013
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Applicant: NATIONAL OILWELL VARCO, L.P.
    Inventors: Richard Michael WARD, James Allen DOUTY, Jeffrey Thomas MELANCON, Douglas Avery WARE
  • Publication number: 20140264099
    Abstract: A ram assembly of a blowout prevent (BOP) includes a ram shuttle, a ram wedge and a ram seat. The ram shuttle and the ram wedge are slidably positionable in a ram channel of a BOP housing between a retracted and extended position. The ram shuttle has a wedge cavity extending therethrough and an inclined surface thereon. The ram wedge has a tubular cavity therethrough for receiving the tubular. The ram wedge has a corresponding inclined surface engageable with the inclined surface of the ram shuttle, and wedges between the ram shuttle and the housing whereby a force is generated therebetween. The ram seat is positionable in the housing about the passage, and is engageable with the ram wedge and the housing when the ram shuttle and the ram wedge are moved to the extended position whereby a seal is formed therebetween.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventor: Jeffrey Thomas Melancon
  • Publication number: 20120193874
    Abstract: A blowout preventer (BOP) seal and method are provided. The seal includes a tubular body comprising a plurality of segments that form a continuous loop. The tubular body has a plurality of inner projections extending from opposite sides of a first end thereof and a plurality of outer projections extending from opposite sides of a second end thereof. Each of the plurality of projections tapers away from the tubular body. A cross-sectional area along at least a portion of the plurality of segments is varied whereby the plurality of segments are selectively reinforced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Applicant: NATIONAL OILWELL VARCO, L.P.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Thomas Melancon, James Allen Douty
  • Publication number: 20120125622
    Abstract: A system and method for replacing equipment at a wellsite is provided. The wellsite has a subsea stripper installed proximate a subsea borehole. The system has a conveyance for delivering a BHA into the subsea borehole. The system has a subsea stripper having a central bore for passing the conveyance and the BHA therethrough, and at least one actuator connected to the subsea stripper for actuating a packer whereby the wellbore is sealed. The system has at least one replaceable seal assembly for installation within the stripper. The replaceable seal assembly has at least one packer extendable within the subsea stripper to form a seal thereabout and at least one locator sleeve for positioning the seal assembly in an install position within the subsea stripper. The replaceable seal assembly has a frangible member for connecting the seal assembly to the conveyance prior to deployment in the subsea stripper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2010
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Applicant: NATIONAL OILWELL VARCO, L.P.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Thomas Melancon, Denzal Wayne Van Winkle, James Allen Douty