Patents by Inventor Gregory Hatton

Gregory Hatton 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).

  • Superhydrophobic compositions and coating process for the internal surface of tubular structures
    Patent number: 9121540
    Abstract: A method for depositing a coating includes creating a vacuum within an interior volume of a tubular structure, wherein the tubular structure also includes an internal surface. Gas is supplied to the interior volume of the tubular structure, wherein the gas includes a plasma precursor in the gas phase. The tubular structure is biased relative to ground. Plasma having a density is formed and cyclically positioned along the length of the tubular structure. Positive ions of the plasma precursor gas are generated and are deposited on the internal surface forming a coating on the internal surface, wherein the coating exhibits a water contact angle of greater than 120°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: SOUTHWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Michael A. Miller, Ronghua Wei, Gregory Hatton
  • Superhydrophobic Compositions And Coating Process For The Internal Surface Of Tubular Structures
    Publication number: 20140137976
    Abstract: A method for depositing a coating includes creating a vacuum within an interior volume of a tubular structure, wherein the tubular structure also includes an internal surface. Gas is supplied to the interior volume of the tubular structure, wherein the gas includes a plasma precursor in the gas phase. The tubular structure is biased relative to ground. Plasma having a density is formed and cyclically positioned along the length of the tubular structure. Positive ions of the plasma precursor gas are generated and are deposited on the internal surface forming a coating on the internal surface, wherein the coating exhibits a water contact angle of greater than 120°.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2012
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicant: SOUTHWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Michael A. MILLER, Ronghua WEI, Gregory HATTON
  • Pipes, systems, and methods for transporting hydrocarbons
    Publication number: 20060186023
    Abstract: There is disclosed a method of transporting a produced fluid through a pipe while limiting deposits at a desired pipe inner-wall location comprising providing a pipe having an inner surface roughness Ra less than 2.5 micrometers at said desired pipe inner-wall location, forcing the produced fluid through the pipe, wherein the produced fluid has a wall shear stress of at least 1 dyne per centimeter squared at said desired pipe inner-wall location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2006
    Publication date: August 24, 2006
    Inventors: Szabolcs Balkanyi, James Broze, Jose Esparza, Gregory Hatton, Ajay Mehta, Johnny Nimmons, Chien Tsai, Moye Wicks, George Zabaras
  • Method and apparatus for a cold flow subsea hydrocarbon production system
    Publication number: 20060175063
    Abstract: A system for assuring subsea hydrocarbon production flow in pipelines by chilling the hydrocarbon production flow in a heat exchanger and causing solids to form, periodically removing deposits and placing them in a slurry utilizing a closed loop pig launching and receiving systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2005
    Publication date: August 10, 2006
    Inventors: Szabolcs Balkanyi, James Broze, Jose Esparza, Gregory Hatton, Ajay Mehta, Chien Tsai, Moye Wicks, George Zabaras