Patents by Inventor Dougal Brown

Dougal Brown 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: 10883322
    Abstract: A portable apparatus for vertically positioning tubulars in a mousehole of a drilling rig includes a main body housing a winch and an anchor point. The main body is configured to be radially aligned with the mousehole. The apparatus also includes a float assembly which is suspended within the mousehole below the main body and a cable wound onto the winch. The cable extends downward into the mousehole traversing the mousehole at the float assembly and then extends upward to and attached to the anchor point on the main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: FRANK'S INTERNATIONAL, LLC
    Inventors: Malcolm Graham Stedman Gray-Stephens, Dougal Brown
  • Publication number: 20200149359
    Abstract: A portable apparatus for vertically positioning tubulars in a mousehole of a drilling rig includes a main body housing a winch and an anchor point. The main body is configured to be radially aligned with the mousehole. The apparatus also includes a float assembly which is suspended within the mousehole below the main body and a cable wound onto the winch. The cable extends downward into the mousehole traversing the mousehole at the float assembly and then extends upward to and attached to the anchor point on the main body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2018
    Publication date: May 14, 2020
    Inventors: Malcolm Graham Stedman Gray-Stephens, Dougal Brown
  • Patent number: 10612321
    Abstract: A pipe racking system and method, of which the pipe racking system includes a vertical column extending upwards from a rig floor, a main arm that is movable vertically along the column, a gripper connected to a distal end of the main arm and movable therewith, and an elevator including a plurality of slips configured to engage an outer diameter surface of a tubular and support a weight of the tubular by gripping the outer surface of the tubular. The elevator is suspended from the gripper or a distal end of the main arm via one or more suspension arms. The system also includes one or more guide arms connected to the vertical column. The one or more guide arms are configured to maintain a vertical orientation of the tubular.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: FRANK'S INTERNATIONAL, LLC
    Inventors: Alfred Moss, Nicholas Guidry, Logan Smith, Dax Joseph Neuville, Dougal Brown
  • Patent number: 10337262
    Abstract: A tubular gripping assembly includes a power tong housing configured to actuate between an open position and a closed position, one or more valves coupled to the power tong housing, an inflatable bladder apparatus coupled to an inner surface of the power tong housing and configured to grip a tubular member when the power tong housing is in the closed position and the inflatable bladder apparatus is inflated, a latch mechanism configured to secure the power tong housing in the closed position and configured to allow the power tong housing to actuate to the open position, and a remote-controller device in wireless communication with the one or more valves. The remote-controller device is configured to control the power tong housing, the inflatable bladder apparatus, and the latch mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: FRANK'S INTERNATIONAL, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas J. Clostio, Jr., Tyler Jabusch, Dougal Brown
  • Publication number: 20190153789
    Abstract: A pipe racking system and method, of which the pipe racking system includes a vertical column extending upwards from a rig floor, a main arm that is movable vertically along the column, a gripper connected to a distal end of the main arm and movable therewith, and an elevator including a plurality of slips configured to engage an outer diameter surface of a tubular and support a weight of the tubular by gripping the outer surface of the tubular. The elevator is suspended from the gripper or a distal end of the main arm via one or more suspension arms. The system also includes one or more guide arms connected to the vertical column. The one or more guide arms are configured to maintain a vertical orientation of the tubular.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2019
    Publication date: May 23, 2019
    Inventors: Alfred Moss, Nicholas Guidry, Logan Smith, Dax Joseph Neuville, Dougal Brown
  • Patent number: 10287830
    Abstract: A connector tool is used to direct fluids from a lifting assembly into a bore of a downhole tubular. The connector tool includes a body having an upper end and a lower end. The upper end is configured to be coupled to the lifting assembly, and the lower end is configured to be coupled to the downhole tubular. A telescopic engagement assembly is coupled to the body and configured to selectively extend and retract a seal assembly disposed at a distal end of the connector tool with a proximal end of the downhole tubular. A pump is coupled to the lifting assembly such that rotational movement from a component of the lifting assembly directs fluid to extend and retract the telescopic engagement assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: FRANK'S INTERNATIONAL, LLC
    Inventor: Dougal Brown
  • Publication number: 20190003270
    Abstract: A tubular gripping assembly includes a power tong housing configured to actuate between an open position and a closed position, one or more valves coupled to the power tong housing, an inflatable bladder apparatus coupled to an inner surface of the power tong housing and configured to grip a tubular member when the power tong housing is in the closed position and the inflatable bladder apparatus is inflated, a latch mechanism configured to secure the power tong housing in the closed position and configured to allow the power tong housing to actuate to the open position, and a remote-controller device in wireless communication with the one or more valves. The remote-controller device is configured to control the power tong housing, the inflatable bladder apparatus, and the latch mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2018
    Publication date: January 3, 2019
    Inventors: Thomas J. Clostio, JR., Tyler Jabusch, Dougal Brown
  • Patent number: 10100590
    Abstract: A tubular gripping assembly includes a power tong housing configured to actuate between an open position and a closed position. An inflatable bladder apparatus is coupled to an inner surface of the power tong housing and configured to grip a tubular member when the power tong housing is in the closed position and the inflatable bladder apparatus is inflated. A latch mechanism, operative in response to a remote control signal provided through a mechanized docking and undocking fluid connector, is configured to secure the power tong housing in the closed position and to allow the power tong housing to actuate to the open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: FRANK'S INTERNATIONAL, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas J. Clostio, Jr., Tyler Jabusch, Dougal Brown
  • Publication number: 20180135362
    Abstract: A connector tool is used to direct fluids from a lifting assembly into a bore of a downhole tubular. The connector tool includes a body having an upper end and a lower end. The upper end is configured to be coupled to the lifting assembly, and the lower end is configured to be coupled to the downhole tubular. A telescopic engagement assembly is coupled to the body and configured to selectively extend and retract a seal assembly disposed at a distal end of the connector tool with a proximal end of the downhole tubular. A pump is coupled to the lifting assembly such that rotational movement from a component of the lifting assembly directs fluid to extend and retract the telescopic engagement assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2016
    Publication date: May 17, 2018
    Inventor: Dougal Brown
  • Publication number: 20180073312
    Abstract: A tubular gripping assembly includes a power tong housing configured to actuate between an open position and a closed position. An inflatable bladder apparatus is coupled to an inner surface of the power tong housing and configured to grip a tubular member when the power tong housing is in the closed position and the inflatable bladder apparatus is inflated. A latch mechanism, operative in response to a remote control signal provided through a mechanized docking and undocking fluid connector, is configured to secure the power tong housing in the closed position and to allow the power tong housing to actuate to the open position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2016
    Publication date: March 15, 2018
    Inventors: Thomas J. Clostio, JR., Tyler Jabusch, Dougal Brown