Patents by Inventor Douglas Patrick Trail

Douglas Patrick Trail 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: 10669137
    Abstract: A compact and simplified heave compensation system for reducing the effect of waves or wavelike movements on a lifting device. The system can have active and passive heave compensation components. An overload protection to protect lifting equipment can also be implemented. The system enables accurate load and displacement calculations, as well as simplifying the control schemes utilized for lifting devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: WT INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventor: Douglas Patrick Trail
  • Patent number: 10328999
    Abstract: The present embodiments relate to launch and recovery systems for a remotely operated vehicle. The embodiments eliminate or minimize the need for load lines, and provide virtually unlimited excursion distances for remotely operated vehicles, limited only by the amount of tether available at the launch point. Further, the embodiments allow for extended deployments of ROVs by allowing recharging of a tether climbing component while submerged. The system can include a launch and recovery assembly, a tether climbing component, and a remotely operated vehicle attached to a remotely operated vehicle tether. The launch and recovery assembly deploys the remotely operated vehicle and the tether climbing component overboard, and the remotely operated vehicle is configured for tethered operation while maintaining the tether climbing component at a desired depth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: WT INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventor: Douglas Patrick Trail
  • Publication number: 20190112011
    Abstract: The present embodiments relate to launch and recovery systems for a remotely operated vehicle. The embodiments eliminate or minimize the need for load lines, and provide virtually unlimited excursion distances for remotely operated vehicles, limited only by the amount of tether available at the launch point. Further, the embodiments allow for extended deployments of ROVs by allowing recharging of a tether climbing component while submerged. The system can include a launch and recovery assembly, a tether climbing component, and a remotely operated vehicle attached to a remotely operated vehicle tether. The launch and recovery assembly deploys the remotely operated vehicle and the tether climbing component overboard, and the remotely operated vehicle is configured for tethered operation while maintaining the tether climbing component at a desired depth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2018
    Publication date: April 18, 2019
    Inventor: Douglas Patrick Trail
  • Publication number: 20190092610
    Abstract: A compact and simplified heave compensation system for reducing the effect of waves or wavelike movements on a lifting device. The system can have active and passive heave compensation components. An overload protection to protect lifting equipment can also be implemented. The system enables accurate load and displacement calculations, as well as simplifying the control schemes utilized for lifting devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2017
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Inventor: Douglas Patrick Trail
  • Patent number: 9855999
    Abstract: The present embodiments relate to launch and recovery management systems with a pass through tether for an offshore object. The embodiments turn a free flying remotely operated vehicle system into a tether management controlled system by separately supporting the tether management system frame with an independent load line so the tether or umbilical only passes through the frame going direct to a remotely operated vehicle. A traction system coupled with a constant tension system on the tether management system topside maintains the tether or umbilical directly below the launch and recovery system down to the desired working depth thereby avoiding any slack or impacts of current forces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: WT INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventor: Douglas Patrick Trail
  • Patent number: 9540076
    Abstract: A launch and recovery management system with a pass through tether for an offshore object. The system turns a free flying remotely operated vehicle system into a tether management controlled system by separately supporting the tether management system frame with an independent load line so the tether or umbilical only passes through the frame going direct to a remotely operated vehicle. A traction system coupled with a constant tension system on the tether management system topside maintains the tether or umbilical directly below the launch and recovery system down to the desired working depth thereby avoiding any slack or impacts of current forces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: WT INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventor: Douglas Patrick Trail