Patents by Inventor Eugene M. Hughes

Eugene M. Hughes 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: 4296706
    Abstract: A gravity anchor for a tethered buoyant platform comprises a container ballasted with a heavier than water ballast such as drilling mud. The anchor is installed by (a) floating the container in a buoyant condition with its interior volume containing air to the offshore installation site, (b) admitting water to, and expelling air from, the interior volume to reduce the buoyancy of the container so that the container is either of reduced positive buoyancy or negatively buoyant, (c) either pulling the container down to the sea bed against its reduced positive buoyancy or lowering the container to the sea bed employing its negative buoyancy, (d) admitting a heavier than water ballast to the container and expelling the water therefrom to further reduce the buoyancy of the container to increase the stability thereof on the sea bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1979
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1981
    Assignee: The British Petroleum Company Limited
    Inventor: Eugene M. Hughes