Patents by Inventor Richard T. Trenholme

Richard T. Trenholme 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).

  • Marine drilling riser system
    Patent number: 8312933
    Abstract: A marine drilling riser system for securing drilling riser joints in a drilling riser string is presented. The drilling riser string is assembled by connecting a pin end of one drilling riser joint to a box end of an adjoining drilling riser joint by using a moveable ring to drive a fastener of one drilling riser joint against the adjoining drilling riser joint. A spider is used to drive the movable ring axially from a position where the fastener is not engaged against the adjoining drilling riser joint to a position where the fastener is engaged against the adjoining drilling riser joint, and vice versa. A latch is used to prevent the moveable ring from moving inadvertently from the second position. The spider may also be used to support the marine drilling riser string during assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Vetco Gray Inc.
    Inventors: Eric D. Larson, Rick L. Stringfellow, Richard T. Trenholme
  • Latch System for Friction-Locked Tubular Members
    Publication number: 20110174495
    Abstract: A technique for securing drilling riser joints in a drilling riser string is presented. The drilling riser joints have a tubular housing that has a box configuration on one end and a pin configuration on the other end. The drilling riser string is assembled by connecting the pin end of one drilling riser joint to the box end of an adjoining drilling riser joint. A moveable ring is used to connect adjoining drilling riser joints. The moveable ring is used to drive a fastener, such as a dog, of one drilling riser joint against the adjoining drilling riser joint. The moveable ring is driven axially from a first position, where the fastener is not engaged against the adjoining drilling riser joint, to a second position where the fastener is engaged against the adjoining drilling riser joint. A latch is used to prevent the moveable ring from moving inadvertently from the second position. This prevents the drilling riser joints from disconnecting inadvertently.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2011
    Publication date: July 21, 2011
    Applicant: Vetco Gray Inc.
    Inventors: Eric D. Larson, Rick L. Stringfellow, Richard T. Trenholme
  • System and method for connecting tubular members
    Patent number: 7913767
    Abstract: A technique for securing drilling riser joints in a drilling riser string is presented. The drilling riser joints have a tubular housing that has a box configuration on one end and a pin configuration on the other end. The drilling riser string is assembled by connecting the pin end of one drilling riser joint to the box end of an adjoining drilling riser joint. A moveable ring is used to connect adjoining drilling riser joints. The moveable ring is used to drive a fastener of one drilling riser joint against the adjoining drilling riser joint. The moveable ring is driven axially from a position where the fastener is not engaged against the adjoining drilling riser joint to a position where the fastener is engaged against the adjoining drilling riser joint. A latch is used to prevent the moveable ring from moving inadvertently from the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Vetco Gray Inc.
    Inventors: Eric D. Larson, Rick L. Stringfellow, Richard T. Trenholme
  • LATCH SYSTEM FOR FRICTION-LOCKED TUBULAR MEMBERS
    Publication number: 20090308658
    Abstract: A technique for securing drilling riser joints in a drilling riser string is presented. The drilling riser joints have a tubular housing that has a box configuration on one end and a pin configuration on the other end. The drilling riser string is assembled by connecting the pin end of one drilling riser joint to the box end of an adjoining drilling riser joint. A moveable ring is used to connect adjoining drilling riser joints. The moveable ring is used to drive a fastener, such as a dog, of one drilling riser joint against the adjoining drilling riser joint. The moveable ring is driven axially from a first position, where the fastener is not engaged against the adjoining drilling riser joint, to a second position where the fastener is engaged against the adjoining drilling riser joint. A latch is used to prevent the moveable ring from moving inadvertently from the second position. This prevents the drilling riser joints from disconnecting inadvertently.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2008
    Publication date: December 17, 2009
    Inventors: Eric D. Larson, Rick L. Stringfellow, Richard T. Trenholme