Patents by Inventor Christopher S. Caldwell
Christopher S. Caldwell 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: 8857862Abstract: A marine riser assembly having a first tubular member having an external surface with a plurality of first axially spaced formations, a second tubular member having an external surface with a plurality of second axially spaced formations thereon, a segmented ring in surrounding relationship to the first and second tubular members, the segmented ring having an inner surface with a plurality of formations engageable with the formations on the first and second tubular members, the engageable formations serving to urge the first and second tubular members toward each other when the segmented ring is subjected to radially inwardly directed compressive forces, a sleeve in surrounding relationship to force the engageable formations together and a seal assembly for sealing against external and internal pressure.Type: GrantFiled: April 19, 2013Date of Patent: October 14, 2014Assignee: RTI Energy Systems, Inc.Inventors: Christopher S. Caldwell, Michael G. B. Foley
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Publication number: 20130234431Abstract: A marine riser assembly having a first tubular member having an external surface with a plurality of first axially spaced formations, a second tubular member having an external surface with a plurality of second axially spaced formations thereon, a segmented ring in surrounding relationship to the first and second tubular members, the segmented ring having an inner surface with a plurality of formations engageable with the formations on the first and second tubular members, the engageable formations serving to urge the first and second tubular members toward each other when the segmented ring is subjected to radially inwardly directed compressive forces, a sleeve in surrounding relationship to force the engageable formations together and a seal assembly for sealing against external and internal pressure.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 19, 2013Publication date: September 12, 2013Inventors: Michael E. Beard, David J. Cole, Christopher S. Caldwell, Michael G. B. Foley
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Patent number: 8424919Abstract: A marine riser assembly having a first tubular member having an external surface with a plurality of first axially spaced formations, a second tubular member having an external surface with a plurality of second axially spaced formations thereon, a segmented ring in surrounding relationship to the first and second tubular members, the segmented ring having an inner surface with a plurality of formations engageable with the formations on the first and second tubular members, the engageable formations serving to urge the first and second tubular members toward each other when the segmented ring is subjected to radially inwardly directed compressive forces, a sleeve in surrounding relationship to force the engageable formations together and a seal assembly for sealing against external and internal pressure.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2012Date of Patent: April 23, 2013Assignee: RTI Energy Systems, Inc.Inventors: Michael E. Beard, David J. Cole, Christopher S. Caldwell, Michael B. Foley
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Publication number: 20120119490Abstract: A marine riser assembly having a first tubular member having an external surface with a plurality of first axially spaced formations, a second tubular member having an external surface with a plurality of second axially spaced formations thereon, a segmented ring in surrounding relationship to the first and second tubular members, the segmented ring having an inner surface with a plurality of formations engageable with the formations on the first and second tubular members, the engageable formations serving to urge the first and second tubular members toward each other when the segmented ring is subjected to radially inwardly directed compressive forces, a sleeve in surrounding relationship to force the engageable formations together and a seal assembly for sealing against external and internal pressure.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 24, 2012Publication date: May 17, 2012Inventors: Michael E. Beard, David J. Cole, Christopher S. Caldwell, Michael B. Foley
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Patent number: 8100437Abstract: A marine riser assembly having a first tubular member having an external surface with a plurality of first axially spaced formations, a second tubular member having an external surface with a plurality of second axially spaced formations thereon, a segmented ring in surrounding relationship to the first and second tubular members, the segmented ring having an inner surface with a plurality of formations engageable with the formations on the first and second tubular members, the engageable formations serving to urge the first and second tubular members toward each other when the segmented ring is subjected to radially inwardly directed compressive forces, a sleeve in surrounding relationship to force the engageable formations together and a seal assembly for sealing against external and internal pressure.Type: GrantFiled: April 19, 2010Date of Patent: January 24, 2012Inventors: Michael E. Beard, David J. Cole, Christopher S. Caldwell, Michael B. Foley
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Publication number: 20100253076Abstract: A marine riser assembly having a first tubular member having an external surface with a plurality of first axially spaced formations, a second tubular member having an external surface with a plurality of second axially spaced formations thereon, a segmented ring in surrounding relationship to the first and second tubular members, the segmented ring having an inner surface with a plurality of formations engageable with the formations on the first and second tubular members, the engageable formations serving to urge the first and second tubular members toward each other when the segmented ring is subjected to radially inwardly directed compressive forces, a sleeve in surrounding relationship to force the engageable formations together and a seal assembly for sealing against external and internal pressure.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 19, 2010Publication date: October 7, 2010Inventors: Michael E. Beard, David J. Cole, Christopher S. Caldwell, Michael B. Foley
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Patent number: 7699354Abstract: A marine riser assembly having a first tubular member having an external surface with a plurality of first axially spaced formations, a second tubular member having an external surface with a plurality of second axially spaced formations thereon, a segmented ring in surrounding relationship to the first and second tubular members, the segmented ring having an inner surface with a plurality of formations engageable with the formations on the first and second tubular members, the engageable formations serving to urge the first and second tubular members toward each other when the segmented ring is subjected to radially inwardly directed compressive forces, a sleeve in surrounding relationship to force the engageable formations together and a seal assembly for sealing against external and internal pressure.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2006Date of Patent: April 20, 2010Inventors: Michael E. Beard, David J. Cole, Christopher S. Caldwell, Michael B. Foley
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Patent number: 7393158Abstract: A centralizer system is provided for use in a marine riser system, the centralizer being preferably heat-shrink fitted to an upset portion of a keel joint, the upset portion having tapered sections on the upper and lower ends that gradually blend into the outer diameter of the pipe used as the keel joint, the centralizer preferably comprising axially extending annular grooves in surrounding relationship to the upset portion, the grooves serving to permit forces acting on the centralizer to be redirected or dissipated to thereby prevent excessive buildup on a selected region of the upset portion adjacent the radial grooves.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2003Date of Patent: July 1, 2008Assignee: RTI Energy Systems, Inc.Inventors: Christopher S. Caldwell, Carl F. G. Baxter, Robert E. Rose, Jr., Brent L. Dyer, Michael Beard
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Patent number: 7096940Abstract: A centralizer system is provided for use in a marine riser system with an insulated pipe, which may be a titanium stress joint. The centralizer system utilizes one or more centralizers mounted such that insulation material is provided in an annulus between the one or more centralizers and the stress joint. A clamp is utilized to axially affix either one centralizer or multiple centralizers to the stress joint. The clamp is comprised of a plurality of sections with cylindrical interior surfaces which are tightened together using fasteners. The cylindrical interior surfaces avoid damage to the insulation layer which may be elastomeric. The clamp and each centralizer have radially directed projections thereon which interlock the clamp with each centralizer. Because the clamp is axially affixed, the centralizer is then also axially affixed. In one embodiment, the centralizer is axially moveable to a desired axial position prior to being interlocked to the tightened clamp.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2003Date of Patent: August 29, 2006Assignee: RTI Energy Systems, Inc.Inventors: Carl F. G. Baxter, Christopher S. Caldwell, Robert E. Rose, Jr., Brent L. Dyer, Michael Beard, Roy Daniel Avery