Patents Assigned to The Subsea Company
  • Patent number: 11326716
    Abstract: A subplate mounted valve is disclosed having an open position and a closed position. The valve includes at least one pilot pressure intake port, a plurality of functional fluid ports, a spool movable between the open position and the closed position, and spring biasing the spool to either the open position or the closed position. To reduce water hammer due to quickly opening or quickly closing the valve, a flow regulation assembly is positioned at the pilot pressure intake port and has a chamber with a larger inlet channel at the intake position and transitioning to a smaller channel at the outlet position such that fluid flow at the intake port is reduced, thereby slowing the transition between the open position and the closed position and the transition between the closed position and the open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: The Subsea Company
    Inventors: Barry J McMiles, Thomas A Cates
  • Patent number: 10371272
    Abstract: A shuttle valve has a housing with a plurality of inlet ports, an outlet port for fluid flow, and a passageway for fluid to flow from any one of the inlet ports to the outlet port. Each Inlet port has an associated plunger configured one to the other such that when sufficient pressurized fluid is flowing into any one of the inlet ports, fluid is prevented from flowing into any other inlet port. The plungers include male and female mating portions with a radial seal between them. A biasing spring allows one of the plungers to allow backward fluid flow through the associated inlet port when not under pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: The Subsea Company
    Inventor: Barry J McMiles
  • Patent number: 9366093
    Abstract: A two part coupling connector for pipe having male and female components that sealably engage with an extendable multi-link spring member that is locked into a recessed slot in the female component by a rotational key. The male and female components are aligned with a mating extension and receiving groove. The parts are disengaged by insertion of a tool into circumferential apertures about the female component that apply pressure inward to move the extendable spring away from the recessed slot. The connector may also have ports for communication and control lines that are engaged to and about the coupling connector to facilitate transmission of electrical signals and flanges to support such lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: The Subsea Company
    Inventor: Barry J McMiles
  • Patent number: 9334726
    Abstract: A plug assembly and method for pressure testing a shaft having a generally cylindrical member with a deformable outer surface comprised of alternating soft and rigid ribs and a central void for reception of a sealing component having a sealable central bore, a tubular adapter capable of releasable attachment to a drill pipe and releasably engaged to the cylindrical member, a plurality of ports about the circumference of the member for upward flow of fluid through the member and a receptacle in the member for placement of the sealing component for fixed attachment inside the member for creating a seal for testing pressure. The sealing component may use a ball valve to regulate flow and the cylindrical member may have rigid sections implanted between soft sections during manufacture to facilitate sealing upon pressurization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: The Subsea Company
    Inventor: Barry J. McMiles
  • Patent number: 8998150
    Abstract: A clamp for placement about a riser having an assembly with a housing for releasably engaging at least one strap, the strap having a first and second end wherein the first and second ends are releasably attached to the housing, a plate on the housing for selectively engaging the first and second ends of the strap; and a support operably connected to the housing for releasably holding MUX, IWOC and other umbilical cables used in subsea applications. The housing may have two straps for engagement to a riser that shorten and lengthen by the turning of a screw through a plate engaged to the straps. The clamp may also have a hinged or fixed circular member for attachment around the riser. The cables are held by a hinged attachment to the housing that forms cylindrical vertical openings upon closure of the hinge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: The Subsea Company
    Inventors: Barry McMiles, Thomas Cates
  • Patent number: 8967201
    Abstract: A pilot regulator system includes a housing having a fluid inflow port, a ball valve to regulate fluid flow among two fluid outflow ports, two regulator outputs each associated with one of said two fluid outflow ports, and a regulator selection aperture. An extension portion, generally horizontal to the regulator outputs, is connected to the regulator selection aperture, and includes an open end for access to a selection member that can be moved between two positions to select fluid flow to one of two regulator outputs. The extension portion also has a groove and the selection member has an extension extending through the groove so as to be movable by either the extension or the selection member itself. The extension portion has an expansive cross-sectional element to guide a remote vehicle to the selection member for movement thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: The Subsea Company
    Inventor: Barry J McMiles
  • Patent number: 8939215
    Abstract: A gasless subsea accumulator having a series of opposing springs in two separate chambers defined by a central cross shaped member for translating force on a piston in the accumulator to dampen the movement of the piston. The body of the accumulator may be operably engaged to a bladder in fluid communication with one of the two chambers to provide additional dampening. The body may be vented through a port and have a port for controlling pressure on body through a pilot control circuit. The accumulator may be manually controlled by an ROV and operatively connected to a regulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: The Subsea Company
    Inventor: Barry McMiles
  • Patent number: 8540029
    Abstract: A clamp for securing about annular casing via a centrally oriented aperture having a radius includes at least one aperture for grasping a longitudinally extending accessory disposed about the radius of the centrally oriented aperture and at least one fastening member for securing the longitudinally extending accessory about the clamp. At least one fastening member and at least one aperture act to secure a longitudinally extending accessory relative to the annular casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: The Subsea Company
    Inventor: Barry J. McMiles
  • Patent number: 8376314
    Abstract: A controllable solenoid valve having a sealed chamber that isolates the armature cavity from the function fluid or external water sources with oil or dielectric fluid and is ported to a reservoir or to a surrounding housing to maintain fluid communication with the armature cavity. The valve may also have a closed internal chamber filled with oil or dielectric fluid to maintain isolation of the armature cavity from the function fluid or other water sources. The closed chamber may also encompass the electrodes or the coil of the solenoid. In a preferred embodiment, the chamber is in fluid communication with transducers that sense fluid pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: The Subsea Company
    Inventor: Barry James McMiles