Patents by Inventor Mick Fowkes

Mick Fowkes 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: 10590745
    Abstract: A carriage arranged to walk along an elongate member while carrying a payload includes individually-operable clamps that are spaced axially along a common longitudinal axis. An axially-extensible frame connects the clamps. At least one of the clamps is attached to the frame via a rotationally-displaceable coupling for relative angular movement between that clamp and the frame about the longitudinal axis. The carriage can carry the payload to a subsea worksite by opening and closing the clamps to release and grip the elongate member in a sequence that includes moving the leading clamp forward when the leading clamp is open and moving the trailing clamp forward when the leading clamp is closed. At the worksite, installation force can be applied to the payload in a forward direction by moving the leading clamp forward when the leading clamp is open and the trailing clamp is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Subsea 7 Limited
    Inventors: Stewart John Sinclair Munro, Mick Fowkes, Ian Adamson
  • Patent number: 10174866
    Abstract: A submersible mixing and sampling apparatus with submersible supply systems (12, 14) for first and second liquid components such as a thermoset resin and a curing agent is disclosed. Each supply system has a respective submersible tank (24) for holding a respective one of the liquid components. Submersible mixers (46, 48, 50) downstream of the supply systems mix the liquid components underwater to form a curable mixture for injection into a subsea chamber such as a tee (102). Submersible sampling devices downstream of the mixers take samples (94) of the mixture underwater before, during and after injection, and optionally also at the surface. The samples may be cured and tested underwater or may be lifted to the surface for testing. The apparatus may be mounted on a subsea skid (100) or basket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: Subsea 7 Limited
    Inventors: Mick Fowkes, Paul Booth, Dan Quoc Vu, Stewart John Sinclair Munro, Catriona Rachel Ogg
  • Patent number: 10088078
    Abstract: A subsea drying system (10) for drying a chamber (12) underwater has an upstream piping (24, 26, 28) for conveying a pressurized drying fluid from a source (18) to the chamber (12); and downstream piping (36, 38, 40) for expelling liquid displaced from the chamber (12) by the drying fluid in an open-loop dewatering mode. In a closed-loop dehumidifying mode, a recirculation path (54) between the downstream piping (36, 38, 40) and the upstream piping (24, 26, 28) conveys drying fluid exiting the chamber (12) back into the chamber (12) after passing through a dehumidifier (58). A valve system selectively closes and opens the re-circulation path to expel displaced liquid when that path is closed and to recirculate drying fluid from the chamber (12) through the dehumidifier (58) to the upstream piping (24, 26, 28) when that path is open.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: Subsea 7 Limited
    Inventors: Mick Fowkes, Paul Booth
  • Publication number: 20180274697
    Abstract: A wrap tape cassette for a subsea pipeline repair or coating machine includes a drum for carrying a wrap tape wound on the drum. A housing defines an exit opening for the wrap tape to be dispensed from the drum onto a pipeline during a repair or coating operation. The drum may be mounted to the housing for rotational and longitudinal movement relative to the housing to dispense the wrap tape through the exit opening on being unwound from the drum. A leading end of the wrap tape may be attached to an anchor element that is arranged as a closure for the exit opening and, when moved from the exit opening, for attachment to a pipeline being repaired or coated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2016
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Inventor: Mick Fowkes
  • Publication number: 20180274332
    Abstract: A carriage arranged to walk along an elongate member while carrying a payload includes individually-operable clamps that are spaced axially along a common longitudinal axis. An axially-extensible frame connects the clamps. At least one of the clamps is attached to the frame via a rotationally-displaceable coupling for relative angular movement between that clamp and the frame about the longitudinal axis. The carriage can carry the payload to a subsea worksite by opening and closing the clamps to release and grip the elongate member in a sequence that includes moving the leading clamp forward when the leading clamp is open and moving the trailing clamp forward when the leading clamp is closed. At the worksite, installation force can be applied to the payload in a forward direction by moving the leading clamp forward when the leading clamp is open and the trailing clamp is closed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2016
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Inventors: Stewart John Sinclair Munro, Mick Fowkes, Ian Adamson
  • Publication number: 20180208283
    Abstract: A carriage arranged to walk along elongate member while carrying a payload includes individually-operable clamps that are spaced axially along a common longitudinal axis. An axially-extensible frame connects the clamps. At least one of the clamps is attached to the frame via a rotationally-displaceable coupling for relative angular movement between that clamp an the frame about the longitudinal axis. The carriage can carry the payload to a subsea worksite by opening and closing the clamps to release and grip the elongate member in a sequence that includes moving the leading clamp forward when the leading clamp is open and moving the trailing clamp forward when the leading clamp is closed. At the worksite, installation force can be applied to the payload in a forward direction by moving the leading clamp forward when the leading clamp is open and the trailing clamp is closed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2018
    Publication date: July 26, 2018
    Inventors: Stewart John Sinclair Munro, Mick Fowkes, Ian Adamson
  • Publication number: 20170254442
    Abstract: A submersible mixing and sampling apparatus with submersible supply systems (12, 14) for first and second liquid components such as a thermoset resin and a curing agent is disclosed. Each supply system has a respective submersible tank (24) for holding a respective one of the liquid components. Submersible mixers (46, 48, 50) downstream of the supply systems mix the liquid components underwater to form a curable mixture for injection into a subsea chamber such as a tee (102). Submersible sampling devices downstream of the mixers take samples (94) of the mixture underwater before, during and after injection, and optionally also at the surface. The samples may be cured and tested underwater or may be lifted to the surface for testing. The apparatus may be mounted on a subsea skid (100) or basket.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2015
    Publication date: September 7, 2017
    Inventors: Mick Fowkes, Paul Booth, Dan Quoc Vu, Stewart John Sinclair Munro, Catriona Rachel Ogg
  • Publication number: 20170234460
    Abstract: A subsea drying system (10) for drying a chamber (12) underwater has an upstream piping (24, 26, 28) for conveying a pressurized drying fluid from a source (18) to the chamber (12); and downstream piping (36, 38, 40) for expelling liquid displaced from the chamber (12) by the drying fluid in an open-loop dewatering mode. In a closed-loop dehumidifying mode, a recirculation path (54) between the downstream piping (36, 38, 40) and the upstream piping (24, 26, 28) conveys drying fluid exiting the chamber (12) back into the chamber (12) after passing through a dehumidifier (58). A valve system selectively closes and opens the re-circulation path to expel displaced liquid when that path is closed and to recirculate drying fluid from the chamber (12) through the dehumidifier (58) to the upstream piping (24, 26, 28) when that path is open.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2015
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Inventors: Mick Fowkes, Paul Booth
  • Patent number: 8141643
    Abstract: A method of installing equipment subsea comprising the steps of: assembling the equipment within a frame; submerging in the sea at least a part of an assembly comprising the frame and the equipment; coupling the at least partially submerged assembly to a vessel; transporting the at least partially submerged assembly proximate a subsea installation site; coupling the assembly to an installation device; and installing the equipment at the installation site using the installation device. A frame for supporting equipment is also disclosed wherein the frame is shaped to match the dimensions of the equipment to be supported. The frame comprises at least one clamp having a first half clamp member for releasably engaging a second half clamp member of a second structure and a full clamp member for clamping around and supporting the equipment. The first half clamp member and the full clamp member can be integrally formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Subsea 7 Limited
    Inventor: Mick Fowkes
  • Publication number: 20080035327
    Abstract: A method of installing equipment subsea comprising the steps of: assembling the equipment within a frame; submerging in the sea at least a part of an assembly comprising the frame and the equipment; coupling the at least partially submerged assembly to a vessel; transporting the at least partially submerged assembly proximate a subsea installation site; coupling the assembly to an installation device; and installing the equipment at the installation site using the installation device. A frame for supporting equipment is also disclosed wherein the frame is shaped to match the dimensions of the equipment to be supported. The frame comprises at least one clamp having a first half clamp member for releasably engaging a second half clamp member of a second structure and a full clamp member for clamping around and supporting the equipment. The first half clamp member and the full clamp member can be integrally formed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2007
    Publication date: February 14, 2008
    Inventor: Mick Fowkes