Patents by Inventor Alan Gregory Hooper
Alan Gregory Hooper 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).
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Patent number: 9764799Abstract: A method of supporting a chain stopper on a vessel, a chain stopper assembly for a vessel, and a vessel. The method of supporting a chain stopper on a vessel may comprise the steps of connecting a swivel element to the support structure on the vessel such that the swivel element is pivotable around a first axis perpendicular to a substantially horizontal axis; and coupling a chain stopper element to the swivel element such that the chain stopper element is pivotable relative to the swivel element around the substantially horizontal axis.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2014Date of Patent: September 19, 2017Assignee: PROMOR PTE LTDInventor: Alan Gregory Hooper
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Publication number: 20160137267Abstract: A method of supporting a chain stopper on a vessel, a chain stopper assembly for a vessel, and a vessel. The method of supporting a chain stopper on a vessel may comprise the steps of connecting a swivel element to the support structure on the vessel such that the swivel element is pivotable around a first axis perpendicular to a substantially horizontal axis; and coupling a chain stopper element to the swivel element such that the chain stopper element is pivotable relative to the swivel element around the substantially horizontal axis.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 27, 2014Publication date: May 19, 2016Applicant: PROMOR PTE LTDInventor: Alan Gregory HOOPER
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Patent number: 9334902Abstract: A roller assembly for a turret, a turret bearing system for a turret, and a method of manufacture of a roller assembly for a turret. The roller assembly comprises a first and a second roller; an axle on which the first and the second rollers are rotatably mounted; and a biasing mechanism located between the first and the second rollers and supporting the axle.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 2012Date of Patent: May 10, 2016Assignee: Promor Pte LtdInventor: Alan Gregory Hooper
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Publication number: 20140219589Abstract: A roller assembly for a turret, a turret bearing system for a turret, and a method of manufacture of a roller assembly for a turret. The roller assembly comprises a first and a second roller; an axle on which the first and the second rollers are rotatably mounted; and a biasing mechanism located between the first and the second rollers and supporting the axle.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 22, 2012Publication date: August 7, 2014Applicant: Promor PTE LTDInventor: Alan Gregory Hooper
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Patent number: 6857822Abstract: A riser system for use in transporting fluid cargo to a floating vessel from a submerged pipe employs a tensioning mechanism that prevents excess slack in a flexible riser that could potentially damage the riser. The tensioning mechanism includes a tensioning arm or element that is pivotally attached at a first end to a submerged base and at its second end to the flexible riser. The arm is free to rotate about the pivot point in a pendulum manner, but is urged toward an equilibrium position by one or more tension-applying elements disposed on the arm, such as a buoyancy element, a weight or both.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2002Date of Patent: February 22, 2005Assignee: Prosafe Production Pte, Ltd.Inventors: Alan Gregory Hooper, Geir Eik, Yves De Leeneer
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Patent number: 6827493Abstract: The invention is a bearing unit and bearing system for supporting a large rotatable element, such as a mooring turret. The bearing unit includes a hydrostatic suspension system which enables the bearing unit to accommodate fabrication tolerances and also enables the bearing unit to conform to relative movements between the ship and the turret, thereby providing a compliant bearing system. The system includes multiple bearing units of the invention which serve as thrust and/or radial bearings for supporting the turret. By manifolding a plurality of bearing units together in a fluidly-isolated group, the pressure applied to the bearing units in that group is self-equalizing so that all the bearing units act in unison to equally support the load, while also allowing some degree of self-alignment and tilting of the load. As a result, the bearing system emulates a self-aligning bearing system and is able to compensate for axial and angular misalignment.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 2002Date of Patent: December 7, 2004Assignee: Prosafe Production PTE LTDInventor: Alan Gregory Hooper
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Publication number: 20030086763Abstract: A riser system for use in transporting fluid cargo to a floating vessel from a submerged pipe employs a tensioning mechanism that prevents excess slack in a flexible riser that could potentially damage the riser. The tensioning mechanism includes a tensioning arm or element that is pivotally attached at a first end to a submerged base and at its second end to the flexible riser. The arm is free to rotate about the pivot point in a pendulum manner, but is urged toward an equilibrium position by one or more tension-applying elements disposed on the arm, such as a buoyancy element, a weight or both.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 22, 2002Publication date: May 8, 2003Inventors: Alan Gregory Hooper, Geir Eik, Yves De Leeneer
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Publication number: 20030070600Abstract: The invention is a bearing unit and bearing system for supporting a large rotatable element, such as a mooring turret. The bearing unit includes a hydrostatic suspension system which enables the bearing unit to accommodate fabrication tolerances and also enables the bearing unit to conform to relative movements between the ship and the turret, thereby providing a compliant bearing system. The system includes multiple bearing units of the invention which serve as thrust and/or radial bearings for supporting the turret. By manifolding a plurality of bearing units together in a fluidly-isolated group, the pressure applied to the bearing units in that group is self-equalizing so that all the bearing units act in unison to equally support the load, while also allowing some degree of self-alignment and tilting of the load. As a result, the bearing system emulates a self-aligning bearing system and is able to compensate for axial and angular misalignment.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 26, 2002Publication date: April 17, 2003Inventor: Alan Gregory Hooper
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Patent number: 6502524Abstract: The invention is a bearing unit and bearing system for supporting a large rotatable element, such as a mooring turret. The bearing unit includes a hydrostatic suspension system which enables the bearing unit to accommodate fabrication tolerances and also enables the bearing unit to conform to relative movements between the ship and the turret, thereby providing a compliant bearing system. The system includes multiple bearing units of the invention which serve as thrust and/or radial bearings for supporting the turret. By manifolding a plurality of bearing units together in a fluidly-isolated group, the pressure applied to the bearing units in that group is self-equalizing so that all the bearing units act in unison to equally support the load, while also allowing some degree of self-alignment and tilting of the load. As a result, the bearing system emulates a self-aligning bearing system and is able to compensate for axial and angular misalignment.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2000Date of Patent: January 7, 2003Assignee: Prosafe Production PTE Ltd.Inventor: Alan Gregory Hooper
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Patent number: 6126501Abstract: A mooring system employs a vessel mounted turret in combination with a submerged chain table that also acts as a clump weight. The chain table is submerged fairly close to the sea surface at approximately the keel depth of the vessel, or a few meters below that depth. Three or more chains connect the vessel mounted turret and chain table to one another, preferably though corresponding U-joints. Several mooring lines are attached at first ends to the bottom of the chain table, and are secured at second ends to anchors or piles in the seabed. The weight of the chain table is chosen so that it helps reduce the stresses imparted by the vessel to the mooring lines, thereby reducing the maximum load requirement, and thus cost, of the mooring lines.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 1999Date of Patent: October 3, 2000Assignee: Nortrans Offshore(s) PTE LTDInventors: Alan Gregory Hooper, Babu George, David Lee Hock Choon