Patents by Inventor Karl Parfrey
Karl Parfrey 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: 8870186Abstract: A seal assembly for use with a casing hanger that includes a pair of split rings held together by a threaded fastener. Torqueing the fastener axially compresses one of the rings so that it expands radially inward into sealing engagement with a wall of wellbore casing, and radially outward against an inner wall of a wellhead housing. Support grommets are provided where the fastener enters and exits the compressible ring. Protrusions on a side of the support grommets project into the compressible ring and create a sealing interface between each support grommet and compressible ring. O-rings line inner circumferences of the support grommets to seal between the support grommets and fasteners. A threaded end on a lower end of the fastener has a diameter less than an inner diameter of the O-rings to prevent damaging the O-rings during assembly.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 2012Date of Patent: October 28, 2014Assignee: Vetco Gray Inc.Inventors: Chau Hoang, Khanh Anh Duong, William Ryan Moore, Karl A. Parfrey, Clayton Griffin
-
Patent number: 8679606Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a tubular from a composite material. The composite material includes fibers and epoxy resin that are formed into plies that are wound around an axis to form an annular member. The fibers in each ply are arranged axially and hoopwise. The axially oriented fibers are angled from about 10° up to about 20° with respect to an axis of the tubular. The hoopwise fibers are wound in the plies ranging from about 60° at the innermost ply up to about 90° in the outermost ply. The hoop fibers in the intermediate plies are arranged at increasing angles with distance away from the innermost layer. Transitioning the hoop fiber alignment in the successive plies better distributes hoop stress through the wall of the tubular thereby reducing stress concentrations on the innermost ply.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 2010Date of Patent: March 25, 2014Assignee: Vetco Gray Inc.Inventor: Karl A. Parfrey
-
Publication number: 20140062025Abstract: A seal assembly for use with a casing hanger that includes a pair of split rings held together by a threaded fastener. Torqueing the fastener axially compresses one of the rings so that it expands radially inward into sealing engagement with a wall of wellbore casing, and radially outward against an inner wall of a wellhead housing. Support grommets are provided where the fastener enters and exits the compressible ring. Protrusions on a side of the support grommets project into the compressible ring and create a sealing interface between each support grommet and compressible ring. O-rings line inner circumferences of the support grommets to seal between the support grommets and fasteners. A threaded end on a lower end of the fastener has a diameter less than an inner diameter of the O-rings to prevent damaging the O-rings during assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 28, 2012Publication date: March 6, 2014Applicant: Vetco Gray Inc.Inventors: Chau Hoang, Khanh Anh Duong, William Ryan Moore, Karl A. Parfrey, Clayton Griffin
-
Patent number: 8640318Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming an elongate tubular from a composite material. The composite material includes fibers and epoxy resin that are disposed around an elongated mandrel. The fibers are wound around the outer circumference of the mandrel and the epoxy resin may be applied to the fibers, before, during, or after, being wound onto the mandrel. A trough is provided that supports the mandrel between ends of the mandrel. An example trough includes a flexible membrane supported on its lateral ends to resemble a catenary.Type: GrantFiled: April 1, 2013Date of Patent: February 4, 2014Assignee: Vetco Gray Inc.Inventor: Karl Parfrey
-
Patent number: 8413319Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming an elongate tubular from a composite material. The composite material includes fibers and epoxy resin that are disposed around an elongated mandrel. The fibers are wound around the outer circumference of the mandrel and the epoxy resin may be applied to the fibers, before, during, or after, being wound onto the mandrel. A trough is provided that supports the mandrel between ends of the mandrel. An example trough includes a flexible membrane supported on its lateral ends to resemble a catenary.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2010Date of Patent: April 9, 2013Assignee: Vetco Gray Inc.Inventor: Karl Parfrey
-
Patent number: 8403055Abstract: A hydraulic coupler for providing fluid communication between adjacent members that includes a two way check valve formed from a double headed poppet set in a hollow cylinder with corrugated bellows like walls. Contoured bores are provided in the cylinder ends and the poppet heads are profiled to match the contour of the bores. When the heads are seated in the bores they form a sealing surface to block fluid from flowing through the coupler. Compressively preloading the cylinder before assembly provides a sealing force between the heads and the bores. Axially compressing the cylinder with respect to the poppet unseats the heads from the bores to form a flow path through the coupler.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2012Date of Patent: March 26, 2013Assignee: Vetco Gray Inc.Inventor: Karl A. Parfrey
-
Patent number: 8277716Abstract: A stiffened mandrel used in the manufacture of a composite tubular. The mandrel is placed on a filament winding machine and is comprised of an outer and inner shell. A pressure source is connected to the mandrel to exert a tensile force on the outer shell to stiffen the mandrel and thereby prevent sagging and bending of the mandrel. The stiffened mandrel allows for the manufacture of a composite tubular without undesirable flexing, wrinkling, or contamination of the uncured composite.Type: GrantFiled: February 2, 2010Date of Patent: October 2, 2012Assignee: Vetco Gray Inc.Inventors: Gary L. Galle, Karl A. Parfrey
-
Publication number: 20120118581Abstract: A hydraulic coupler for providing fluid communication between adjacent members that includes a two way check valve formed from a double headed poppet set in a hollow cylinder with corrugated bellows like walls. Contoured bores are provided in the cylinder ends and the poppet heads are profiled to match the contour of the bores. When the heads are seated in the bores they form a sealing surface to block fluid from flowing through the coupler. Compressively preloading the cylinder before assembly provides a sealing force between the heads and the bores. Axially compressing the cylinder with respect to the poppet unseats the heads from the bores to form a flow path through the coupler.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 26, 2012Publication date: May 17, 2012Applicant: VETCO GRAY INC.Inventor: Karl A. Parfrey
-
Publication number: 20120094041Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a tubular from a composite material. The composite material includes fibers and epoxy resin that are formed into plies that are wound around an axis to form an annular member. The fibers in each ply are arranged axially and hoopwise. The axially oriented fibers are angled from about 10° up to about 20° with respect to an axis of the tubular. The hoopwise fibers are wound in the plies ranging from about 60° at the innermost ply up to about 90° in the outermost ply. The hoop fibers in the intermediate plies are arranged at increasing angles with distance away from the innermost layer. Transitioning the hoop fiber alignment in the successive plies better distributes hoop stress through the wall of the tubular thereby reducing stress concentrations on the innermost ply.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 14, 2010Publication date: April 19, 2012Applicant: VETCO GRAY INC.Inventor: Karl A. Parfrey
-
Patent number: 8113287Abstract: A hydraulic coupler for providing fluid communication between adjacent members that includes a two way check valve formed from a double headed poppet set in a hollow cylinder with corrugated bellows like walls. Contoured bores are provided in the cylinder ends and the poppet heads are profiled to match the contour of the bores. When the heads are seated in the bores they form a sealing surface to block fluid from flowing through the coupler. Compressively preloading the cylinder before assembly provides a sealing force between the heads and the bores. Axially compressing the cylinder with respect to the poppet unseats the heads from the bores to form a flow path through the coupler.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2009Date of Patent: February 14, 2012Assignee: Vetco Gray Inc.Inventor: Karl A. Parfrey
-
Publication number: 20120023725Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming an elongate tubular from a composite material. The composite material includes fibers and epoxy resin that are disposed around an elongated mandrel. The fibers are wound around the outer circumference of the mandrel and the epoxy resin may be applied to the fibers, before, during, or after, being wound onto the mandrel. A trough is provided that supports the mandrel between ends of the mandrel. An example trough includes a flexible membrane supported on its lateral ends to resemble a catenary.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 29, 2010Publication date: February 2, 2012Applicant: Vetco Gray Inc.Inventor: Karl Parfrey
-
Patent number: 7963337Abstract: An offshore composite enhanced metallic drilling riser is equipped to enable preloading of the composite shell and the metallic riser. A riser has steel end connectors and a continuous metallic inner liner, encased in a composite shell. A segmented hyperboloid shaped profile is located near each of the end fittings for preloading of the composite and the metallic riser. In one version, both halves of the hyperboloid shape are capable of axial movement by adjusting jack bolts connected to one of the hyperboloid halves. One of the halves is limited in axial movement while the other half moves axially away from the restricted half, the movement simultaneously generates the composite pre-load and the metallic riser pre-load. The other version uses fluid pressure between mating faces of the segments to push them apart.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 2008Date of Patent: June 21, 2011Assignee: Vetco Gray Inc.Inventors: Joseph W. Pallini, Jr., Frank C. Adamek, Karl A. Parfrey
-
Publication number: 20110073324Abstract: A hydraulic coupler for providing fluid communication between adjacent members that includes a two way check valve formed from a double headed poppet set in a hollow cylinder with corrugated bellows like walls. Contoured bores are provided in the cylinder ends and the poppet heads are profiled to match the contour of the bores. When the heads are seated in the bores they form a sealing surface to block fluid from flowing through the coupler. Compressively preloading the cylinder before assembly provides a sealing force between the heads and the bores. Axially compressing the cylinder with respect to the poppet unseats the heads from the bores to form a flow path through the coupler.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2009Publication date: March 31, 2011Applicant: Vetco Gray Inc.Inventor: Karl A. Parfrey
-
Publication number: 20100230856Abstract: A stiffened mandrel used in the manufacture of a composite tubular. The mandrel is placed on a filament winding machine and is comprised of an outer and inner shell. A pressure source is connected to the mandrel to exert a tensile force on the outer shell to stiffen the mandrel and thereby prevent sagging and bending of the mandrel. The stiffened mandrel allows for the manufacture of a composite tubular without undesirable flexing, wrinkling, or contamination of the uncured composite.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 2, 2010Publication date: September 16, 2010Applicant: VETCO GRAY INC.Inventors: Gary L. Galle, Karl A. Parfrey
-
Publication number: 20100032214Abstract: An offshore composite enhanced metallic drilling riser is equipped to enable preloading of the composite shell and the metallic riser. A riser has steel end connectors and a continuous metallic inner liner, encased in a composite shell. A segmented hyperboloid shaped profile is located near each of the end fittings for preloading of the composite and the metallic riser. In one version, both halves of the hyperboloid shape are capable of axial movement by adjusting jack bolts connected to one of the hyperboloid halves. One of the halves is limited in axial movement while the other half moves axially away from the restricted half, the movement simultaneously generates the composite pre-load and the metallic riser pre-load. The other version uses fluid pressure between mating faces of the segments to push them apart.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 7, 2008Publication date: February 11, 2010Applicant: Vetco Gray Inc.Inventors: Joseph W. Pallini, JR., Frank C. Adamek, Karl A. Parfrey
-
Patent number: 7025384Abstract: A device for mechanically securing a tubular liner in a pipe having a tubular member and connectors on each end. The connector has a bore with an internal seat that may have grooves and be tapered depending upon the application. The liner extends through the tubular member into the bore. The ends of the liner are radially and plastically deformed into engagement with the seats. An inner ring is positioned inside the liner to retain the end of the liner in engagement with the seat. The inner ring may be held by threads or by radially and plastically deforming it. The connectors are mounted to the tubular member independently of the liner, such as by adhesive. The liner may be replaced by removing the inner rings without affecting the connection between the tubular member and the connectors.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2002Date of Patent: April 11, 2006Assignee: Vetco Gray Inc.Inventors: Justin M. Whitehead, Gary L. Galle, Karl A. Parfrey
-
Publication number: 20030047939Abstract: A device for mechanically securing a tubular liner in a pipe having a tubular member and connectors on each end. The connector has a bore with an internal seat that may have grooves and be tapered depending upon the application. The liner extends through the tubular member into the bore. The ends of the liner are radially and plastically deformed into engagement with the seats. An inner ring is positioned inside the liner to retain the end of the liner in engagement with the seat. The inner ring may be held by threads or by radially and plastically deforming it. The connectors are mounted to the tubular member independently of the liner, such as by adhesive. The liner may be replaced by removing the inner rings without affecting the connection between the tubular member and the connectors.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 31, 2002Publication date: March 13, 2003Inventors: Justin M. Whitehead, Gary L. Galle, Karl A. Parfrey
-
Patent number: 6029338Abstract: In a binding (19) for winding overhangs (20) of rotors (1) of electric machines, essentially comprising a plastic matrix with fibrous material embedded therein, the binding (19) is formed by winding a fiber tape (15) onto the winding overhang (20). The plastic matrix is composed of a thermoplastic. Furthermore, a method is described for applying the fiber tape to the winding overhang of an electric machine.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 1999Date of Patent: February 29, 2000Assignee: ABB Research Ltd.Inventors: Werner Heil, Vishal Mallick, Fran.cedilla.ois Meynard, Karl Parfrey, Herbert Prenner
-
Patent number: 5900689Abstract: In a binding (19) for winding overhangs (20) of rotors (1) of electric machines, essentially comprising a plastic matrix with fibrous material embedded therein, the binding (19) is formed by winding a fiber tape (15) onto the winding overhang (20). The plastic matrix is composed of a thermoplastic. Furthermore, a method is described for applying the fiber tape to the winding overhang of an electric machine.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 1997Date of Patent: May 4, 1999Assignee: ABB Research Ltd.Inventors: Werner Heil, Vishal Mallick, Fran.cedilla.ois Meynard, Karl Parfrey, Herbert Prenner