Patents by Inventor Rick A. Curto

Rick A. Curto 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: 5459285
    Abstract: This invention discloses a method and apparatus for waterblocking wire-to-wire connections in a cable using an arrangement of seals. Lead-in transmission lines are slid through a multiple-aperture seal to produce a compression seal between the transmission lines and the seal and the trailing transmission line is slid through a single-aperture seal to produce another compression seal. A piece of constrictive tubing is slid over the first seal before splicing the wires in the lead-in and trailing transmission lines together. The tubing then is positioned over both seals to produce a compression seal between the tubing and the seals to form a waterblock in the area defined by the two seals containing the splice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 17, 1995
    Assignee: Western Atlas International, Inc.
    Inventors: Rick A. Curto, Danny T. Moore
  • Patent number: 5408947
    Abstract: A method and apparatus in marine seismic surveying for towing an optical-electrical towing cable (leadin) and seismic array (streamer cable) at a perpendicular distance from the centerline of the towing vessel using a short, flexible adapter cable section which optically and electrically connects the leadin to the streamer cable and which attaches to pivoting arms of a removable towing bracket which carries the bending loads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 25, 1995
    Assignee: Western Atlas International, Inc.
    Inventors: Rick A. Curto, Tom E. Hickman, Philip J. Jenkins
  • Patent number: 5185726
    Abstract: The invention provides a floatation apparatus for maintaining a longitudinal object at a constant depth below the water surface in a body of water. Several airtight chambers are connected in a serial connection to form a string of air tight chambers. A one-way check valve is installed in the chamber at one end of the string while the other end chamber is connected to a nose piece. Air is continuously supplied to the check valve connected to the end chamber. A separate one-way check valve is installed between each pair of adjacent chambers in the string in a manner that air can pass between only in the direction from the air source to the nose member. The floatation apparatus is pivotaly connected to the longitudinal object at more than one place by means of parallel links.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1993
    Assignee: Western Atlas International, Inc.
    Inventors: Rick A. Curto, Otis A. Johnston
  • Patent number: 5183966
    Abstract: A termination assembly is disclosed providing a substantially watertight, yet field serviceable interface to a plurality of electrical splices. The termination assembly includes a housing having an anchor portion for receiving and fixing a multi-transmission line cable therein, a ported sleeve for cradling the transmission lines, and a shell for providing field access to the splices between the transmission line in the interior of the housing. A resinous epoxy, together with O-ring seals and heat shrink tubing provide redundant protection against the invasion of water into the housing along the transmission lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1993
    Assignee: Western Atlas International, Inc.
    Inventors: Larry Hurtado, Rick A. Curto, Dallas Martin
  • Patent number: 5144588
    Abstract: The invention provides a seismic transmitter source system which includes a floatation device that contains a plurality of air tight chambers in a serial connection. A separate one way check valve is placed between each adjacent pair of the chambers. Pressurized air is continuously supplied to an end chamber. The one-way check valves enable the air to pass to the remaining chambers in one direction. A transmitter subarray containing a plurality of spaced apart transmitters is suspended from the floatation device by means of severasl pivotly connected links. The front end of the transmitter array is connected to a point near the front end of the floatation device. During operation, the seismic transmitter source system is pulled from a tow point located at the front of the floatation device, pulling both the floatation device and the transmitter subarray in substantially a horizontal straight line position while maintaining the transmitter subarray at a near constant depth below the water surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1992
    Assignee: Western Atlas International, Inc.
    Inventors: Otis A. Johnston, Rick A. Curto