Patents by Inventor Brian J. Baca

Brian J. Baca 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: 11898644
    Abstract: A diverter valve which includes a valve body, an inlet, a plurality of outlets, an internal cavity to which the inlet and the outlets are connected, and a valve member which is movably positioned in the cavity. The valve member includes a through bore which is configured to connect the inlet with a corresponding one of the outlets for each of a plurality of operative positions of the valve member. In operation of the diverter valve, the valve member is movable between its operative positions to selectively connect the inlet with any one of the outlets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Inventors: James Cook, Brian J. Baca, Jeffrey Michael Partridge
  • Patent number: 11261686
    Abstract: A tubing hanger assembly including an outer hanger body (8) lands on a load shoulder (10) of a tubing head. Additionally, an inner hanger body (9) having at least one inner hanger groove (19) moves vertically up and down with respect to the outer hanger body and engages at least one downhole device. A first latch ring (11) expands into a groove (12) of the tubing head to lock the outer hanger body in position and a sleeve (14) with a plurality of grooves (20) is disposed between the outer hanger body and the inner hanger body of the tubing hanger assembly. Furthermore, a second latch ring (15), disposed between the sleeve and the inner hanger body, expands into or collapse out of the at least one inner hanger groove (19) and the plurality of grooves (20) on the sleeve (14), and the second latch ring (15) is a tension loading support for the inner hanger body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: FMC Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian J. Baca, Roman Chirko, Cassandra E. Weimer
  • Patent number: 11142993
    Abstract: A testable back pressure valve for controlling fluid flow through a bore of a component installed in a well bore is disclosed. The back pressure valve includes a valve body which is configured to be secured in the bore, a flow bore which extends through the valve body, at least a first body seal which is configured to seal the valve body to the bore, and a poppet which is movably positioned in the valve body. At least a first poppet seal is sealingly engaged between the poppet and the valve body when the poppet is in the closed position, and a test port extends through the valve body to below the first poppet seal when the poppet is in the closed position. Thus, with the back pressure valve installed in the flow bore and the poppet in the closed position, the first poppet seal can be pressure tested by communicating test pressure through the test port to below the first poppet seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: FMG Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Gareth Boyd, Brian J. Baca
  • Patent number: 11105175
    Abstract: An adjustable flow line may include an outer pipe body having a first flange, an inner pipe body partially disposed within the outer pipe body and axially translatable with respect to the outer pipe body, a metal seal positioned between an outer surface of inner pipe body and an inner surface of the outer pipe body, a sleeve positioned around the inner pipe body and outside of the outer pipe body, and a second flange positioned around the inner pipe body, wherein when connected to the first flange. The sleeve may be axially translatable with respect to the inner pipe body. The second flange may axially secure the sleeve with respect to the outer pipe body and cause the sleeve to energize the metal seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: FMC Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Roman Chirko, Dan R. Fink, Brian J. Baca
  • Publication number: 20210108494
    Abstract: A diverter valve which includes a valve body, an inlet, a plurality of outlets, an internal cavity to which the inlet and the outlets are connected, and a valve member which is movably positioned in the cavity. The valve member includes a through bore which is configured to connect the inlet with a corresponding one of the outlets for each of a plurality of operative positions of the valve member. In operation of the diverter valve, the valve member is movable between its operative positions to selectively connect the inlet with any one of the outlets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2019
    Publication date: April 15, 2021
    Inventors: James Cook, Brian J. Baca, Jeffrey Michael Partridge
  • Publication number: 20200240230
    Abstract: A tubing hanger assembly including an outer hanger body (8) lands on a load shoulder (10) of a tubing head. Additionally, an inner hanger body (9) having at least one inner hanger groove (19) moves vertically up and down with respect to the outer hanger body and engages at least one downhole device. A first latch ring (11) expands into a groove (12) of the tubing head to lock the outer hanger body in position and a sleeve (14) with a plurality of grooves (20) is disposed between the outer hanger body and the inner hanger body of the tubing hanger assembly. Furthermore, a second latch ring (15), disposed between the sleeve and the inner hanger body, expands into or collapse out of the at least one inner hanger groove (19) and the plurality of grooves (20) on the sleeve (14), and the second latch ring (15) is a tension loading support for the inner hanger body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2018
    Publication date: July 30, 2020
    Applicant: FMC Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian J. Baca, Roman Chirko, Cassandra E. Weimer
  • Publication number: 20190360292
    Abstract: A testable back pressure valve for controlling fluid flow through a bore of a component installed in a well bore is disclosed. The back pressure valve includes a valve body which is configured to be secured in the bore, a flow bore which extends through the valve body, at least a first body seal which is configured to seal the valve body to the bore, and a poppet which is movably positioned in the valve body. At least a first poppet seal is sealingly engaged between the poppet and the valve body when the poppet is in the closed position, and a test port extends through the valve body to below the first poppet seal when the poppet is in the closed position. Thus, with the back pressure valve installed in the flow bore and the poppet in the closed position, the first poppet seal can be pressure tested by communicating test pressure through the test port to below the first poppet seal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2018
    Publication date: November 28, 2019
    Inventors: Gareth Boyd, Brian J. Baca
  • Publication number: 20190128454
    Abstract: An adjustable flow line may include an outer pipe body having a first flange, an inner pipe body partially disposed within the outer pipe body and axially translatable with respect to the outer pipe body, a metal seal positioned between an outer surface of inner pipe body and an inner surface of the outer pipe body, a sleeve positioned around the inner pipe body and outside of the outer pipe body, and a second flange positioned around the inner pipe body, wherein when connected to the first flange. The sleeve may be axially translatable with respect to the inner pipe body. The second flange may axially secure the sleeve with respect to the outer pipe body and cause the sleeve to energize the metal seal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2018
    Publication date: May 2, 2019
    Applicant: FMC Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Roman Chirko, Dan R. Fink, Brian J. Baca
  • Patent number: 9939089
    Abstract: A bi-directional seal assembly for sealing the annulus between an inner tubular member and an outer tubular member comprises an annular seal which in cross section includes a generally U-shaped first portion having a radially inner first leg and a radially outer second leg and a generally U-shaped second portion having a radially inner third leg and a radially outer fourth leg. The second and third legs are joined together such that the first leg engages the inner tubular member and the fourth leg engages the outer tubular member. Pressure below the seal urges the first leg into sealing engagement with the inner tubular member and forces the second and third legs radially outwardly to thereby urge the fourth leg into sealing engagement with the outer tubular member. Also, pressure above the seal urges the fourth leg into sealing engagement with the outer tubular member and forces the second and third legs radially inwardly to thereby urge the first leg into sealing engagement with the inner tubular member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: FMC Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Brian J. Baca
  • Publication number: 20150369404
    Abstract: A bi-directional seal assembly for sealing the annulus between an inner tubular member and an outer tubular member comprises an annular seal which in cross section includes a generally U-shaped first portion having a radially inner first leg and a radially outer second leg and a generally U-shaped second portion having a radially inner third leg and a radially outer fourth leg. The second and third legs are joined together such that the first leg engages the inner tubular member and the fourth leg engages the outer tubular member. Pressure below the seal urges the first leg into sealing engagement with the inner tubular member and forces the second and third legs radially outwardly to thereby urge the fourth leg into sealing engagement with the outer tubular member. Also, pressure above the seal urges the fourth leg into sealing engagement with the outer tubular member and forces the second and third legs radially inwardly to thereby urge the first leg into sealing engagement with the inner tubular member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2015
    Publication date: December 24, 2015
    Inventor: Brian J. Baca
  • Patent number: 9140388
    Abstract: A bi-directional seal assembly for sealing the annulus between an inner tubular member and an outer tubular member comprises an annular seal which in cross section includes a generally U-shaped first portion having a radially inner first leg and a radially outer second leg and a generally U-shaped second portion having a radially inner third leg and a radially outer fourth leg. The second and third legs are joined together such that the first leg engages the inner tubular member and the fourth leg engages the outer tubular member. Pressure below the seal urges the first leg into sealing engagement with the inner tubular member and forces the second and third legs radially outwardly to thereby urge the fourth leg into sealing engagement with the outer tubular member. Also, pressure above the seal urges the fourth leg into sealing engagement with the outer tubular member and forces the second and third legs radially inwardly to thereby urge the first leg into sealing engagement with the inner tubular member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: FMC Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Brian J. Baca
  • Publication number: 20110227296
    Abstract: A bi-directional seal assembly for sealing the annulus between an inner tubular member and an outer tubular member comprises an annular seal which in cross section includes a generally U-shaped first portion having a radially inner first leg and a radially outer second leg and a generally U-shaped second portion having a radially inner third leg and a radially outer fourth leg. The second and third legs are joined together such that the first leg engages the inner tubular member and the fourth leg engages the outer tubular member. Pressure below the seal urges the first leg into sealing engagement with the inner tubular member and forces the second and third legs radially outwardly to thereby urge the fourth leg into sealing engagement with the outer tubular member. Also, pressure above the seal urges the fourth leg into sealing engagement with the outer tubular member and forces the second and third legs radially inwardly to thereby urge the first leg into sealing engagement with the inner tubular member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2010
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Applicant: FMC Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Brian J. Baca
  • Patent number: 7231983
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a split locking ring for wellhead components. In one illustrative embodiment, the device comprises a first internally threaded wellhead component, a second wellhead component, at least a portion of which is positioned within an opening in the first wellhead component, and a rotatable split lock ring comprised of at least two externally threaded sections, wherein at least a portion of the sections of the split lock ring are positioned between the first and second wellhead components and rotated to threadingly couple the sections of the split lock ring to the first wellhead component and thereby secure the second wellhead component to the first wellhead component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2007
    Assignee: FMC Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Huy Lequang, Joseph Shu Yian Liew, Brian J. Baca, Hoa Ngoc Nguyen, Kevin Kok Sum Lim