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).
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Patent number: 10590745Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 20, 2016Date of Patent: March 17, 2020Assignee: Subsea 7 LimitedInventors: Stewart John Sinclair Munro, Mick Fowkes, Ian Adamson
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Patent number: 10174866Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 10, 2015Date of Patent: January 8, 2019Assignee: Subsea 7 LimitedInventors: Mick Fowkes, Paul Booth, Dan Quoc Vu, Stewart John Sinclair Munro, Catriona Rachel Ogg
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Patent number: 10088078Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 6, 2015Date of Patent: October 2, 2018Assignee: Subsea 7 LimitedInventors: Mick Fowkes, Paul Booth
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Publication number: 20180274697Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 20, 2016Publication date: September 27, 2018Inventor: Mick Fowkes
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Publication number: 20180274332Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 20, 2016Publication date: September 27, 2018Inventors: Stewart John Sinclair Munro, Mick Fowkes, Ian Adamson
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Publication number: 20180208283Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 23, 2018Publication date: July 26, 2018Inventors: Stewart John Sinclair Munro, Mick Fowkes, Ian Adamson
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Publication number: 20170254442Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 10, 2015Publication date: September 7, 2017Inventors: Mick Fowkes, Paul Booth, Dan Quoc Vu, Stewart John Sinclair Munro, Catriona Rachel Ogg
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Publication number: 20170234460Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 6, 2015Publication date: August 17, 2017Inventors: Mick Fowkes, Paul Booth
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Patent number: 8141643Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 30, 2007Date of Patent: March 27, 2012Assignee: Subsea 7 LimitedInventor: Mick Fowkes
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Publication number: 20080035327Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 30, 2007Publication date: February 14, 2008Inventor: Mick Fowkes