Patents Assigned to British Gas PLC
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Patent number: 4969776Abstract: A marine structure, for example an offshore production plantform comprises a floating base section, which can be flooded, having caissons thereon and a topsides mounted on the caissons. The caissons comprise at least two telescopic sections,the uppermost section carrying the topsides and the lowermost being mounted on the base. The structure can be installed by supporting hte topsides for example, using the derrick of a jack-up rig, and then partially flooding the base section until the jack-up rig is supporting the topsides. On lowering the hook, more of the topsides weight is applied to the base and the structure sinks to the sea-bed where it is secured by grouting. The upper supported section is then lifted to the desired height and the telescopic sections locked. Piling and drill casings, strings etc. may be lowered through the topsides into the hollow regions within the legs.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 1987Date of Patent: November 13, 1990Assignee: British Gas PLCInventors: James W. Bunce, Andrew P. Hollis, Peter R. Wood
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Patent number: 4967199Abstract: A wheeled support assembly 10 is manually pushed over the ground and has a motor 22 rotating an antenna assembly 60 about a vertical axis 24. Encoders 28 on the antenna shaft 20 and on a wheel axle encode antenna angular position and position over the ground. Transmitted pulses and received data pass through a rotary microwave connector 26. For example, 400 sets of pulses are emitted at equal angular intervals in each revolution of the antenna assembly. The interval between pulses is e.g. 12 microseconds, with 256 pulses per set. Noise reduction is achieved by processing the received data accordingly. In a modification the rotary connector 26 is single channel with some electronic stages mounted on the rotating antenna assembly. Power is coupled to them via the microwave cable. An umbilical connects the assembly 10 to a support facility including a computer. Alternatively, battery power is used with data transferred radiatively.Type: GrantFiled: May 26, 1989Date of Patent: October 30, 1990Assignee: British Gas plcInventors: David J. Gunton, Howard F. Scott, Michael P. Stansfield, Paul B. Cordes, Roger P. Ashworth
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Patent number: 4963421Abstract: First and second members (e.g. pipes, fittings) of cross-linked polyolefinic material such as polyethylene having a melt flow index (MFI) of zero are joined using a third member of polyolefinic material such as polyethylene having a higher MFI e.g. 0.3. The first member 10 and the third member gripped by clamps 18, 20 of a butt fusion machine are pressed against opposite faces of a heater plate which is then withdrawn and the members are pressed together by the clamps. Only the third member is upset to form beads 24, 26. Part of the third member is removed leaving a stub part 16. The second member is joined to the stub's face 36 using the heater plate. The part 16 is upset leaving a thin wafer 48. The two interfaces 30, 50 limit the growth of cracks in the wafer to prevent their propagation through the pipe thickness under hoop stress. The beads are preferably removed at each stage.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 1989Date of Patent: October 16, 1990Assignee: British Gas plcInventors: Alan J. Dickinson, Trevor G. Stafford
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Patent number: 4960155Abstract: A device is provided for permitting a first length of previously commissioned main to be extended by connecting a second length of main thereto, the device comprising a duct 1 having an inlet 2 for connection to the first length of main before it has been commissioned and an outlet 3 for connection to the second length of main after the first length of main has been commissioned, the outlet 3 being isolated from the inlet 2 by a barrier or wall 24 which may be punctured after the outlet 3 has been connected to the second length of main to effect communication between the inlet 2 and the outlet 3.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 1988Date of Patent: October 2, 1990Assignee: British Gas plcInventor: Russell J. Monrose
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Patent number: 4957430Abstract: The presence of the oxides of nitrogen in the exhaust gas leaving a regenerator is limited by injecting water or water vapor into the regenerator 1 during its firing phase and causing the water or water vapor to reach the combustion chamber 26 of the regenerator 1 by way its heat storage bed 11 which has been preheated during a previous heat collecting phase.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 1989Date of Patent: September 18, 1990Assignees: British Gas plc, Hotwork Developments Ltd.Inventor: James H. Goodfellow
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Patent number: 4944674Abstract: An apparatus such as a crucible furnace for heating a vessel such as a crucible comprises an enclosure surrounding the vessel so that a flow path exists between the enclosure and the vessel which has an outer surface forming the inner boundary of the flow path. The flow path extends all around the vessel. First and second gas fired burners open into the flow path to discharge their hot combustion product gases into the path. Associated with each burner is a respective heat regenerator. When the first burner is in firing mode its emitted hot combustion product gases circulate around the flow path and leave through the second burner, which is in flueing mode, and heat the associated regenerator. Then when the second burner is in firing mode that heated regenerator heats the combustion air used by the second burner.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 1989Date of Patent: July 31, 1990Assignee: British Gas plcInventors: Philip J. Wedge, David Wharmby
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Patent number: 4935739Abstract: An encoder device encodes angular position in the form of electrical signals in dependence on the position of a rotatable member in relation to a series of discrete fixed contacts disposed about the axis of rotation of a rotatable member. A series of discrete fixed contacts 2a, 2b, carried by a panel 1, form a first group of contacts of a flexible switch structure which also has a second group of contacts 9 carried by a flexible sheet 7 and arranged such that each contact of the second group is located opposite to, but spaced from, one of the series forming the first group of contacts. An intermediate sheet 8 is sandwiched between the panel 1 and flexible sheet 7 and is apertured at 10 in the region of the contact sets 2a, 2b and 9.Type: GrantFiled: October 12, 1988Date of Patent: June 19, 1990Assignee: British Gas PLCInventor: Frank A. Humphrey
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Patent number: 4928866Abstract: The burster has a body in two parts 10, 12 separable by pistons 20, 22, 24 in cylinders 14, 16, 18 in the part 12. The pistons have piston rods 32, 34, 36 secured to the part 10 by screws 54. The relative rectilinear movement of the parts 10, 12 is guided by the sliding engagement between the internal cylindrical surfaces 58, 60, 62 of the rings 44 and 46 and of the cylinder 18 and the external surfaces of the piston rods 32, 34, 36. Separating movement is effected by fluid fed into the three cylinders via a passage 88 and is limited by engagement between stop surfaces 66, 68 on the part 10 and stop surfaces on the part 12. Approach movement is effected by fluid fed into two cylinders 14, 16 via a passage 90 and is limited by engagement between the inner surface 64 of the part 10 and the rings 44, 46.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 1989Date of Patent: May 29, 1990Assignee: British Gas plcInventor: Alec R. Carruthers
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Patent number: 4911007Abstract: A fluidic oscillator for a shunt flowmeter for measuring gas flow through a pipeline, comprises three sections arranged in series and providing a generally U-shaped flow path through the oscillator. The first section has an inlet end connectable to an outlet port in the pipeline and leading to a main fluid nozzle communicating with an interaction chamber, diverging sidewalls of the flow path extending downstream of the interaction chamber, and feedback loops extending from the diverging sidewalls to control nozzles at the interaction chamber. The second section is juxtaposed to the first section to return the flow to the pipeline and has an outlet end connectable to a return port in the pipeline. The second section includes diverging sidewalls terminating in a flow restriction adjacent the outlet end, and a flow-splitter body physically dividing the flow.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 1988Date of Patent: March 27, 1990Assignee: British Gas PlcInventors: David A. Churchill, Geoffrey J. Parkinson
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Patent number: 4911193Abstract: A method is provided for temporarily or permanently blocking the bore of a gas service pipe 5. In the method a resilient ball 6 is forced along the pipe 5 from the gas meter tap end of the pipe 5 by gas pressure, the ball 6 forming a force fit sufficient to resist any attempt to dislodge it by the pressure of gas in the pipe 5. The ball 6 is forced to a position where it is outside the gas consumer's premises 1.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 1988Date of Patent: March 27, 1990Assignee: British Gas plcInventor: Peter Smith
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Patent number: 4890820Abstract: A method for heating a metallic strand 16 such as a wire or strip comprises passing the strand 16 along a metallic tube 4 which is filled with molten metal 13, the tube wall being heated by a furnace chamber 3 through which the tube 4 extends.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 1989Date of Patent: January 2, 1990Assignee: British Gas plcInventor: Robert J. Tucker
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Patent number: 4887750Abstract: A rack arrangement for supporting a load, for example above the roof of a vehicle body, comprises a pair of substantially parallel elongate guide members 3 each having a lower upwardly extending portion 3a and an upper load supporting portion 3b. A load carrier member 4 is rockably connected to the guide members and is manually slidable from a lowered position upwardly along the lower guide member portions 3a onto the supporting portions 3b to a load storage position. Means is provided for releasably retaining the carrier member in the load storage position, for example a cup-like recess 17 which locates the base of a handle 12 for the carrier member.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 1988Date of Patent: December 19, 1989Assignee: British Gas plcInventor: Robin K. Dainty
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Patent number: 4886040Abstract: Concrete weight 14 coating on a subsea pipe has slots 82, 84 made in it by means of a circular saw carried by a first apparatus mounted on the pipe. The saw also cuts two spaced circumferential slots. All slots sever all steel reinforcement. The slots have boundary surfaces defining two semi-cylindrical pieces of concrete 15, 17. A second apparatus replaces the first.It has a frame 90 clamped by chains to the pipe outside the pieces 15, 17. Two assemblies 98 adjustably spaced apart along the frame include plates 100 which are forced apart by clyinders 102. The plates 100 are guided downwards by cam tracks 116 and rollers 118 as the plates 120 swing down about pins 126. The plates 100 continue to exert thrust on the boundary surfaces of the slot 84 as the two pieces 15, 17 separate. The thrust on either piece of coating is at least partly reacted against the other so reducing the turning moment on the frame 90.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 1987Date of Patent: December 12, 1989Assignee: British Gas PLCInventor: Nigel Wright
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Patent number: 4840560Abstract: A method for heating stock comprises feeding stock 9 to be heated into a heating chamber 1, causing heating gas to enter the heating chamber 1 to heat the stock 9 and leave the heating chamber 1 after heating the stock 9 and then removing the stock 9 from the heating chamber 1 on completion of heating, the heating gas being allowed to enter the heating chamber 1 by way of a plenum chamber 2,3 which communicates with the heating chamber 1. The heating gas may be supplied by a regenerative burner 4,5 as fuel combustion products. Where there are two such burners 4,5 one may be firing while the other is flueing.Type: GrantFiled: November 25, 1987Date of Patent: June 20, 1989Assignee: British Gas PLCInventor: John D. Waddington
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Patent number: 4824440Abstract: Heterocyclic and O-substituted aromatic species, for example those obtained as a by product of coal gasification, may be gasified by reaction with steam in the presence of a nickel-alumina containing catalyst to produce methane-containing gases. The reforming reaction is carried out at temperatures of not greater than 500.degree. C.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 1987Date of Patent: April 25, 1989Assignee: British Gas plcInventor: Reginald G. S. Banks
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Patent number: 4812850Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing data indicative of the presence of buried objects, wherein two waveforms I(t) Q(t) are combined with two reference waveforms Ir(t) Qr(t) using filters 10, 12, 14, 16 of two types A, B. Type A has time response Ir(-t) and type B has time response Qr(-t). The products {I(t)@Ir(t)}.multidot.{Q(t)@Qr(t)} and {I(t)@Qr(t)}.multidot.{Q(t)@Ir(t)} from multipliers 18, 20 are subtracted to give V1 and added to give V2 in the combiner 30. A list of object distances (36) is derived from V1. A list of object orientations (46) is derived from V2. Object times (34) are used to section V2 at (40) on a time basis. A correlation operation is represented by @. The invention is particularly applicable to location of buried pipes using ground probing radar, but is also useful in locating planar objects and in other systems. The waveform combination suppresses noise and clutter. I(t) and Ir(t) are quadrature versions of Q(t) and Qr(t). The emitted radiation is circularly polarized.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 1987Date of Patent: March 14, 1989Assignee: British Gas plcInventors: David J. Gunton, Lucy J. Manning
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Patent number: 4807695Abstract: A regenerator for a regenerative heating system comprises a chamber 2 for storing a heat storage bed in the form of discrete particles 45, a closable inlet 16 for introducing fresh particles into the chamber 2 to replace contaminated particles and a closable outlet 18 for removing the contaminated particles from the chamber 2 so that the fresh particles may be introduced.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 1988Date of Patent: February 28, 1989Assignees: British Gas plc, Hotwork Developments Ltd.Inventor: Trevor Ward
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Patent number: 4809008Abstract: An antenna assembly which comprises a first laminar structure which includes a sheet of dielectric material having on one side a contiguous metal sheet and on the other side a strip transmission line adapted to be coupled with signal feeding means, and a second laminar structure, one side of which is in contact with the transmission line, and having on the other side, at least one region but preferable at least two concentrically arranged regions of a coated or cladded metal which serves as a radiator, characterized in that the transmission line is non-symetrically disposed with respect to the radiator.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 1986Date of Patent: February 28, 1989Assignee: British Gas plcInventor: David J. Gunton
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Patent number: 4785175Abstract: A method of inspecting the cover of a buried pipeline comprising the operations of irradiating the inner wall of the pipeline with neutrons from a radioactive source carried by a vehicle traversing the pipeline, measuring the intensity of ionizing radiation within the pipeline arising from nuclear interactions occuring within the cover of the pipeline and its surroundings due to the neutrons emitted by the source, and recording the measured intensity of the said ionising radiation together with data representative of the position of the vehicle along the pipeline. Apparatus for carrying out the method also is described.Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 1987Date of Patent: November 15, 1988Assignee: British Gas plcInventors: Malcolm R. Wormald, Lionel G. Sanders, Colin G. Clayton
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Patent number: 4777984Abstract: A method for lining a pipe or main comprising heating a length of synthetic-resin liner pipe 20 of external diameter substantially equal to or greater than the internal diameter of the pipe or main 40 to be lined, mechanically deforming the heated liner pipe 20 to reduce its external diameter to less than the internal diameter of the pipe or main 40 to be lined, causing the liner pipe 20 to enter the pipe or main 40 to be lined and pressurizing the internal wall of the liner pipe 20 to cause it to expand into engagement with the internal wall of the pipe or main 40 to be lined.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 1987Date of Patent: October 18, 1988Assignee: British Gas plcInventor: Brian W. Storah