Patents by Inventor Neville Dodds

Neville Dodds 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: 11958259
    Abstract: A method of making a flexible pipe layer, which method comprises: commingling polymer filaments and carbon fibre filaments to form an intimate mixture, forming yarns of the commingled filaments, forming the yarns into a tape, and applying the tape to a pipe body to form a flexible pipe layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Energy Technology UK Limited
    Inventors: Majeed Al-Zubaidy, Neville Dodds, Vineet Jha, James Latto, David Finch
  • Publication number: 20230030995
    Abstract: A method of making a flexible pipe layer, which method comprises: commingling polymer filaments and carbon fibre filaments to form an intimate mixture, forming yarns of the commingled filaments, forming the yarns into a tape, and applying the tape to a pipe body to form a flexible pipe layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2022
    Publication date: February 2, 2023
    Inventors: Majeed AL-ZUBAIDY, Neville DODDS, Vineet JHA, James LATTO, David FINCH
  • Patent number: 11529781
    Abstract: A method of making a flexible pipe layer, which method comprises: commingling polymer filaments and carbon fibre filaments to form an intimate mixture, forming yarns of the commingled filaments, forming the yarns into a tape, and applying the tape to a pipe body to form a flexible pipe layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Energy Technology UK Limited
    Inventors: Majeed Al-Zubaidy, Neville Dodds, Vineet Jha, James Latto, David Finch
  • Patent number: 11345111
    Abstract: A composite for use in a flexible pipe body, said composite comprising: a first polymer layer, a second polymer layer that is bonded to the first polymer layer, and filler particles that extend from the first polymer layer into the second polymer layer, whereby the particles are partially embedded in both the first and second polymer layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Energy Technology UK Limited
    Inventors: Neville Dodds, Vineet Kumar Jha, James Robert Latto, David Andrew Finch
  • Publication number: 20220065726
    Abstract: A pipeline apparatus comprising a pipe body. The pipe body includes an annular cavity between annular innermost and outermost fluid impermeable barrier layers. The pipe body further includes a plurality of armour wires which extend along at least part of the length of the pipe body in the annular cavity. The plurality of armour wires include a first armour wire which is electrically isolated from the other armour wires along at least part of the length of the armour wires. The pipe body also includes a measurement device which is arranged to electrically couple to the first armour wire at a first end of the pipe body. The measurement device is arranged to measure the electrical impedance of the first armour wire, wherein variation of the electrical impedance of the first armour wire is indicative of a defect of the first armour wire.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2019
    Publication date: March 3, 2022
    Inventors: John MCNAB, Philip NOTT, Andrew MCCORMICK, Neville DODDS
  • Patent number: 10774950
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for at least partially repairing a defect in a tubular composite layer. The apparatus comprises a plurality of independently movable abutment elements (3820) each supported in a spaced apart relationship via a respective one of at least one support member (3810). Each abutment element is associated with a respective drive axis along which the abutment elements are movable and the drive axes of all abutment elements extend outwardly from a common centre point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: GE Oil & Gas UK Limited
    Inventors: David Andrew Finch, James Latto, John Fulcher, Neville Dodds, Vineet Jha
  • Publication number: 20200031071
    Abstract: A method of making a flexible pipe layer, which method comprises: commingling polymer filaments and carbon fibre filaments to form an intimate mixture, forming yarns of the commingled filaments, forming the yarns into a tape, and applying the tape to a pipe body to form a flexible pipe layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2017
    Publication date: January 30, 2020
    Inventors: Majeed AL-ZUBAIDY, Neville DODDS, Vineet JHA, James LATTO, David FINCH
  • Patent number: 10479033
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus of manufacturing flexible pipe body (100) is disclosed. The method includes the step of winding at least one composite body having a substantially helical innate shape around an underlining pipe layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: GE Oil & Gas UK Limited
    Inventors: Neville Dodds, Majeed Al-Zubaidy
  • Patent number: 10293562
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for manufacturing a composite layer of a flexible pipe are disclosed. The apparatus comprises a layer inspection station comprising at least one sensor, located down stream of and in an in-line configuration with an extrusion station or pultrusion station or winding station or deposition station for providing a tubular composite layer over an underlying substantially cylindrical surface via a continuous process. The inspection station automatically and continuously determines if at least one parameter of the tubular composite layer satisfies a respective predetermined condition in at least one region of the tubular composite layer as the tubular composite layer is transported proximate to the inspection station and indicates in real time at least one of a type, size and/or location of a defect in the tubular composite layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: GE OIL & GAS UK LIMITED
    Inventors: Vineet Jha, Neville Dodds, James Latto, David Andrew Finch
  • Patent number: 10221971
    Abstract: A flexible pipe body and method of producing a flexible pipe body are disclosed. The method includes providing one or more composite filament (302) as a filament bundle (310); applying a braid element (304) around the filament bundle as a braided bundle (310); helically wrapping the braided bundle (310) around a flexible pipe layer (502); and then curing (510) the one or more composite filament (302).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: GE OIL & GAS UK LIMITED
    Inventors: Vineet Kumar Jha, Neville Dodds, James Robert Latto
  • Patent number: 10030793
    Abstract: To produce a flexible pipe body, a length of tensile armour element (300) of pre-preg composite material is fed towards a fluid-retaining layer (602). The tensile armour element (300) passes through a guide (604) an a pre-heater (606). The tensile armour element (300) is then applied to the fluid-retaining layer (602), being wrapped around the fluid-etaining layer (602) by virtue of the rotation of the layer (602), the linear translation of the layer (602), and the fixed position of the tensile armour element feed (601). The element (300) is fed to the fluid-retaining layer under a constant, predetermined controlled tension. Positioning head (608) helps to position the element (300) on the fluid-retaining layer (602). As tensile armour element is wound onto the pipe body, the pipe body continues to move in a, linear direction and the pipe body moves through an oven (610).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: GE Oil & Gas UK Limited
    Inventor: Neville Dodds
  • Patent number: 10001229
    Abstract: A flexible pipe body and method of producing a flexible pipe body are disclosed. The method includes providing two or more non-bonded composite filaments (302) as a non-bonded filament bundle (310); applying a braid element (304) around the filament bundle (310) to thereby form a braided bundle (310) comprising non-bonded filaments (302); and helically wrapping the braided bundle (310) around a flexible pipe body layer (502).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: GE Oil & Gas UK Limited
    Inventors: Vineet Kumar Jha, Neville Dodds, James Robert Latto
  • Patent number: 9995416
    Abstract: A flexible pipe body layer and method of producing a flexible pipe body layer are disclosed. The method includes coextruding an inner sub-layer and an outer sub-layer, wherein the inner sub-layer and outer sub-layer comprise a polymer, and wherein the inner sub-layer has a lower modulus of elasticity than the outer sub-layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: GE Oil & Gas UK Limited
    Inventors: Upul Shanthilal Fernando, Neville Dodds
  • Patent number: 9975144
    Abstract: A flexible pipe body and methods of producing a flexible pipe body are disclosed. The method may include providing a tubular length of polymeric material for forming a polymeric layer of flexible pipe body; providing a strength layer radially outwards of the polymeric layer; and treating the polymeric layer with a non-ambient temperature and pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: GE Oil & Gas UK Limited
    Inventors: Upul Shanthilal Fernando, Neville Dodds, Geoffrey Stephen Graham, Michelle Davidson, Peter Kirton, Philip Nott, Andrew Thompson
  • Publication number: 20170334156
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for manufacturing a composite layer of a flexible pipe are disclosed. The apparatus comprises a layer inspection station comprising at least one sensor, located down stream of and in an in-line configuration with an extrusion station or pultrusion station or winding station or deposition station for providing a tubular composite layer over an underlying substantially cylindrical surface via a continuous process. The inspection station automatically and continuously determines if at least one parameter of the tubular composite layer satisfies a respective predetermined condition in at least one region of the tubular composite layer as the tubular composite layer is transported proximate to the inspection station and indicates in real time at least one of a type, size and/or location of a defect in the tubular composite layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2015
    Publication date: November 23, 2017
    Inventors: Vineet Jha, Neville Dodds, James Latto, David Andrew Finch
  • Publication number: 20170328494
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for at least partially repairing a defect in a tubular composite layer. The apparatus comprises a plurality of independently movable abutment elements (3820) each supported in a spaced apart relationship via a respective one of at least one support member (3810). Each abutment element is associated with a respective drive axis along which the abutment elements are movable and the drive axes of all abutment elements extend outwardly from a common centre point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2015
    Publication date: November 16, 2017
    Inventors: David Andrew Finch, James Latto, John Fulcher, Neville Dodds, Vineet Jha
  • Patent number: 9630207
    Abstract: A flexible pipe body and methods of producing a flexible pipe body are disclosed. The method may include providing a tubular length of polymeric material for forming a polymeric layer of flexible pipe body; providing a strength layer radially outwards of the polymeric layer; and treating the polymeric layer with a non-ambient temperature and pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: GE Oil & Gas UK Limited
    Inventors: Upul Shanthilal Fernando, Neville Dodds, Geoffrey Stephen Graham, Michelle Davidson, Peter Kirton, Philip Nott, Andrew Thompson
  • Publication number: 20160347023
    Abstract: A composite for use in a flexible pipe body, said composite comprising: a first polymer layer, a second polymer layer that is bonded to the first polymer layer, and filler particles that extend from the first polymer layer into the second polymer layer, whereby the particles are partially embedded in both the first and second polymer layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2015
    Publication date: December 1, 2016
    Applicant: GE Oil & Gas UK Limited
    Inventors: Neville Dodds, Vineet Kumar Jha, James Robert Latto, David Andrew Finch
  • Patent number: 9505026
    Abstract: A flexible pipe body and method of producing a flexible pipe body are disclosed. The method includes providing a tubular layer; and directing a chemical reagent towards a surface portion of the tubular layer, wherein the tubular layer comprises an extruded polymer, and wherein the chemical reagent is suitable for changing one or more physical or mechanical property of a proportion of the extruded tubular layer thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: GE Oil & Gas UK Limited
    Inventors: Iwan Rhys Harries, Neville Dodds
  • Publication number: 20160243742
    Abstract: A flexible pipe body and methods of producing a flexible pipe body are disclosed. The method may include providing a tubular length of polymeric material for forming a polymeric layer of flexible pipe body; providing a strength layer radially outwards of the polymeric layer; and treating the polymeric layer with a non-ambient temperature and pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2016
    Publication date: August 25, 2016
    Applicant: GE Oil & Gas UK Limited
    Inventors: Upul Shanthilal Fernando, Neville Dodds, Geoffrey Stephen Graham, Michelle Davidson, Peter Kirton, Philip Nott, Andrew Thompson