Patents by Inventor Alan Patrick John Finlay

Alan Patrick John Finlay 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: 10240408
    Abstract: A sensor unit for a fingerboard latch assembly comprising a latch bracket and a latch rotatably mounted on the latch bracket comprises a sensor arranged to sense the orientation of the latch and a wireless, optical or other communication unit arranged to communicate the orientation of the latch sensed by the sensor. The sensor unit may be mountable on the latch and comprise an orientation sensor arranged to take measurements that are dependent on the orientation of the sensor unit, and a processor arranged to derive an orientation signal representing the orientation of the latch from the measurements, the communication unit being arranged to communicate the orientation signal. A monitoring system receives the sensed orientations from plural sensor units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: Salunda Limited
    Inventors: Alan Patrick John Finlay, John Mark Newton, Andrew Henry John Larkins, Mathew William Davis, Grant Nicholls
  • Patent number: 10132660
    Abstract: A sensor assembly is provided for a fingerboard latch assembly that comprises: a latch bracket; bolts for mounting the latch bracket to a fingerboard; a latch; and a bracket pin rotatably supporting the latch on the latch bracket to allow rotation of the latch between an open position and a closed position. The sensor assembly has a mounting arrangement that mounts to the bolts, holding a closed-position proximity sensor probe facing downwardly for sensing proximity of a crank portion of the latch and/or the piston head in the closed position, and also holding an open-position proximity sensor probe facing forwardly for sensing proximity of an arm of the latch in the open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Salunda Limited
    Inventors: John Mark Newton, Alan Patrick John Finlay
  • Publication number: 20180328124
    Abstract: A sensor unit for a fingerboard latch assembly comprising a latch bracket and a latch rotatably mounted on the latch bracket comprises a sensor arranged to sense the orientation of the latch and a wireless, optical or other communication unit arranged to communicate the orientation of the latch sensed by the sensor. The sensor unit may be mountable on the latch and comprise an orientation sensor arranged to take measurements that are dependent on the orientation of the sensor unit, and a processor arranged to derive an orientation signal representing the orientation of the latch from the measurements, the communication unit being arranged to communicate the orientation signal. A monitoring system receives the sensed orientations from plural sensor units.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2018
    Publication date: November 15, 2018
    Inventors: Alan Patrick John Finlay, John Mark Newton, Andrew Henry John Larkins, Mathew William Davis, Grant Nicholls
  • Publication number: 20180321331
    Abstract: A sensor unit for a fingerboard latch assembly comprising a latch bracket and a latch rotatably mounted on the latch bracket comprises a sensor arranged to sense the orientation of the latch and a wireless, optical or other communication unit arranged to communicate the orientation of the latch sensed by the sensor. The sensor unit may be mountable on the latch and comprise an orientation sensor arranged to take measurements that are dependent on the orientation of the sensor unit, and a processor arranged to derive an orientation signal representing the orientation of the latch from the measurements, the communication unit being arranged to communicate the orientation signal. A monitoring system receives the sensed orientations from plural sensor units.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2018
    Publication date: November 8, 2018
    Inventors: Alan Patrick John Finlay, John Mark Newton, Andrew Henry John Larkins, Mathew William Davis, Grant Nicholls
  • Publication number: 20180321064
    Abstract: A sensor assembly is provided for a fingerboard latch assembly that comprises: a latch bracket; bolts for mounting the latch bracket to a fingerboard; a latch; and a bracket pin rotatably supporting the latch on the latch bracket to allow rotation of the latch between an open position and a closed position. The sensor assembly has a mounting arrangement that mounts to the bolts, holding a closed-position proximity sensor probe facing downwardly for sensing proximity of a crank portion of the latch and/or the piston head in the closed position, and also holding an open-position proximity sensor probe facing forwardly for sensing proximity of an arm of the latch in the open position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2018
    Publication date: November 8, 2018
    Inventors: John Mark Newton, Alan Patrick John Finlay
  • Publication number: 20180292242
    Abstract: A sensor assembly is provided for a fingerboard latch assembly that comprises: a latch bracket; bolts for mounting the latch bracket to a fingerboard; a latch; and a bracket pin rotatably supporting the latch on the latch bracket to allow rotation of the latch between an open position and a closed position. The sensor assembly has a mounting arrangement that mounts to the bolts, holding a closed-position proximity sensor probe facing downwardly for sensing proximity of a crank portion of the latch and/or the piston head in the closed position, and also holding an open-position proximity sensor probe facing forwardly for sensing proximity of an arm of the latch in the open position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2018
    Publication date: October 11, 2018
    Inventors: John Mark Newton, Alan Patrick John Finlay
  • Publication number: 20180156029
    Abstract: An elongate component such as a drill string of drill pipes connected by joint sections inside a bore is sensed using at least one set of electromagnetic coils, the coils within the set being arranged at different angular positions around the bore facing the bore. There may be at least two sets of coils separated along the axial direction of the bore. Electrical oscillations are generated in the coils to produce oscillating electromagnetic fields that interact with the contents of the bore. A parameter of the electrical oscillations generated in each coil is detected. The detected parameters may be used to derive both (1) a measure of the axial position along the bore, and (2) a measure of the lateral position. The detected parameters may be used to derive a measure of electromagnetic properties of the contents of the pipe in a region adjacent each coil, thereby imaging the contents of the pipe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2016
    Publication date: June 7, 2018
    Inventors: Martin Roy HARRISON, Philip Samuel PICKLES, Alan Patrick John FINLAY
  • Publication number: 20160076920
    Abstract: A sensor assembly is provided for a fingerboard latch assembly that comprises: a latch bracket; bolts for mounting the latch bracket to a fingerboard; a latch; and a bracket pin rotatably supporting the latch on the latch bracket to allow rotation of the latch between an open position and a closed position. The sensor assembly has a mounting arrangement that mounts to the bolts, holding a closed-position proximity sensor probe facing downwardly for sensing proximity of a crank portion of the latch and/or the piston head in the closed position, and also holding an open-position proximity sensor probe facing forwardly for sensing proximity of an arm of the latch in the open position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2015
    Publication date: March 17, 2016
    Inventors: John Mark Newton, Alan Patrick John Finlay