Patents by Inventor Chad Vrla

Chad Vrla 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).

  • Publication number: 20260055822
    Abstract: A valve position sensing system includes a valve housing, a tail stock extending from the valve housing, an extendable valve stem extending axially through the tail stock, and a valve sensor housing assembly. The valve sensor housing assembly includes a housing body, having an interior cavity opening to a first and a second end, where the first end has a fixed connection portion integrally formed with the housing body and a movable connection portion that is movable relative to the fixed connection portion. The fixed and movable connection portions are fitted around the tail stock to secure the first end of the housing body to the tail stock. The valve sensor housing assembly further includes a closure mechanism disposed around the first end, a backplate covering the opening of the interior cavity at the second end, and a sensor provided in the interior cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2025
    Publication date: February 26, 2026
    Applicant: FMC Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Chad Vrla
  • Patent number: 12379047
    Abstract: A valve position sensing system includes a valve housing, a tail stock extending from the valve housing, an extendable valve stem extending axially through the tail stock, and a valve sensor housing assembly. The valve sensor housing assembly includes a housing body, having an interior cavity opening to a first and a second end, where the first end has a fixed connection portion integrally formed with the housing body and a movable connection portion that is movable relative to the fixed connection portion. The fixed and movable connection portions are fitted around the tail stock to secure the first end of the housing body to the tail stock. The valve sensor housing assembly further includes a closure mechanism disposed around the first end, a backplate covering the opening of the interior cavity at the second end, and a sensor provided in the interior cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2025
    Assignee: FMC Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Chad Vrla
  • Publication number: 20250116792
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and at least one seal pocket detection assembly configured to be placed within a pressure cavity of a well tubing system. The seal pocket detection assembly includes a selectively removable insert body supporting one or more seals and one or more coils that produce an electromagnetic field extending into the bore of tubing sections of the well tubing system. The seal pocket detection assembly is configured to detect a ferrous object passing through the bore.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2024
    Publication date: April 10, 2025
    Inventors: James Cook, Chad Vrla, Rajeev Pillai, Pablito Derayunan, Thiago Machado, Corey Massey
  • Patent number: 12252951
    Abstract: A control unit includes a hydraulic fluid system, a lubricant system, at least one sensor cable, an electronics module in communication with the at least one sensor cable, the hydraulic fluid system, and the lubricant system. A housing of the control unit contains the hydraulic fluid system, the lubricant system, the sensor cable(s), and the electronics module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2025
    Assignee: FMC Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: James Cook, Corey Massey, Chad Vrla
  • Patent number: 12210131
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and at least one seal pocket detection assembly configured to be placed within a pressure cavity of a well tubing system. The seal pocket detection assembly includes a selectively removable insert body supporting one or more seals and one or more coils that produce an electromagnetic field extending into the bore of tubing sections of the well tubing system. The seal pocket detection assembly is configured to detect a ferrous object passing through the bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: FMC Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: James Cook, Chad Vrla, Rajeev Pillai, Pablito Derayunan, Thiago Machado, Corey Massey
  • Publication number: 20240385344
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and at least one seal pocket detection assembly configured to be placed within a pressure cavity of a well tubing system. The seal pocket detection assembly includes a selectively removable insert body supporting one or more seals and one or more coils that produce an electromagnetic field extending into the bore of tubing sections of the well tubing system. The seal pocket detection assembly is configured to detect a ferrous object passing through the bore.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2023
    Publication date: November 21, 2024
    Inventors: James Cook, Chad Vrla, Rajeev Pillai, Pablito Derayunan, Thiago Machado, Corey Massey
  • Patent number: 12060896
    Abstract: A high-pressure unit (HPU) skid includes one or more hydraulic pumps, a grease pump, a hydraulic reservoir, and two or more accumulators all mounted on a portable frame. The HPU skid also includes fluidic connections to connect one or more valves to an output of the grease pump and fluidic connections to connect one or more valves to an output of at least one of the two or more accumulators. The accumulators are configured to close at least one of the one or more valves using a charged pressure. The HPU skid further includes fluidic connections to connect one or more valves to at least one of the one or more hydraulic pumps. The hydraulic pumps are configured to withdraw hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic reservoir for charging the accumulators, operating the grease pump, charging the accumulators and operating the grease pump at a same time, or operating one or more valves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2024
    Assignee: FMC Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: James Cook, Corey Massey, Chad Vrla
  • Publication number: 20240229592
    Abstract: A control unit includes a hydraulic fluid system, a lubricant system, at least one sensor cable, an electronics module in communication with the at least one sensor cable, the hydraulic fluid system, and the lubricant system. A housing of the control unit contains the hydraulic fluid system, the lubricant system, the sensor cable(s), and the electronics module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2022
    Publication date: July 11, 2024
    Applicant: FMC Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: James Cook, Corey Massey, Chad Vrla
  • Publication number: 20240052947
    Abstract: A valve position sensing system includes a valve housing, a tail stock extending from the valve housing, an extendable valve stem extending axially through the tail stock, and a valve sensor housing assembly. The valve sensor housing assembly includes a housing body, having an interior cavity opening to a first and a second end, where the first end has a fixed connection portion integrally formed with the housing body and a movable connection portion that is movable relative to the fixed connection portion. The fixed and movable connection portions are fitted around the tail stock to secure the first end of the housing body to the tail stock. The valve sensor housing assembly further includes a closure mechanism disposed around the first end, a backplate covering the opening of the interior cavity at the second end, and a sensor provided in the interior cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2022
    Publication date: February 15, 2024
    Applicant: FMC Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Chad Vrla
  • Publication number: 20230250836
    Abstract: A high-pressure unit (HPU) skid includes one or more hydraulic pumps, a grease pump, a hydraulic reservoir, and two or more accumulators all mounted on a portable frame. The HPU skid also includes fluidic connections to connect one or more valves to an output of the grease pump and fluidic connections to connect one or more valves to an output of at least one of the two or more accumulators. The accumulators are configured to close at least one of the one or more valves using a charged pressure. The HPU skid further includes fluidic connections to connect one or more valves to at least one of the one or more hydraulic pumps. The hydraulic pumps are configured to withdraw hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic reservoir for charging the accumulators, operating the grease pump, charging the accumulators and operating the grease pump at a same time, or operating one or more valves.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2023
    Publication date: August 10, 2023
    Applicant: FMC Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: James Cook, Corey Massey, Chad Vrla
  • Patent number: 11661958
    Abstract: A high-pressure unit (HPU) skid for greasing and actuating a frac tree valve includes one or more hydraulic pumps, a grease pump, a hydraulic reservoir, and two or more accumulators all of which are mounted on a portable frame. The HPU skid further includes fluidic connections to connect the frac tree valve to an output of the grease pump and fluidic connections to connect the frac tree valve to at least one of the two or more accumulators. The hydraulic pumps are configured to withdraw hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic reservoir for charging the accumulators, operating the grease pump, or charging the accumulators and operating the grease pump at a same time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: FMC Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: James Cook, Corey Massey, Chad Vrla
  • Publication number: 20230026798
    Abstract: A high-pressure unit (HPU) skid for greasing and actuating a frac tree valve includes one or more hydraulic pumps, a grease pump, a hydraulic reservoir, and two or more accumulators all of which are mounted on a portable frame. The HPU skid further includes fluidic connections to connect the frac tree valve to an output of the grease pump and fluidic connections to connect the frac tree valve to at least one of the two or more accumulators. The hydraulic pumps are configured to withdraw hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic reservoir for charging the accumulators, operating the grease pump, or charging the accumulators and operating the grease pump at a same time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2021
    Publication date: January 26, 2023
    Applicant: FMC Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: James Cook, Corey Massey, Chad Vrla
  • Patent number: 11499389
    Abstract: A control unit includes a hydraulic fluid system, a lubricant system, at least one sensor cable, an electronics module in communication with the at least one sensor cable, the hydraulic fluid system, and the lubricant system. A housing of the control unit contains the hydraulic fluid system, the lubricant system, the sensor cable(s), and the electronics module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: FMC Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: James Cook, Corey Massey, Chad Vrla