Patents by Inventor Kurt D. Vandervort

Kurt D. Vandervort 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: 8474392
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a compliant banding system for use in a marine environment comprising a flexible compliant member and an abaxial relatively rigid strap, both constructed to extend circumferentially around an underlying structure such as a strake or fairing collar. The strap maintains a fixed circumference while the compliant member flexes intermediate the strap and an underlying.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: VIV Suppression, Inc.
    Inventors: Rodney H. Masters, Cecil M. Brandon, Jr., Stuart John Harbert, Kurt D. Vandervort, Bill Griffith
  • Patent number: 8028750
    Abstract: Force balancing adjusts hydraulic fluid pressure in an upper piston area of a Rotating Pressure Control Device (RPCD) that has an inner housing rotatably engaged within an outer housing by an upper bearing and a lower bearing. The hydraulic fluid pressure is adjusted to balance net force in a upper piston area and a lower piston area. The fluid pressure adjustment creates a force differential that balances the total load transmitted through the upper bearing and the lower bearing and thereby extends the life of the sealing element and bearings. Additionally, a wear indicator signals the end of the useful life of the drill pipe sealing element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Sunstone Corporation
    Inventors: William James Hughes, Murl Ray Richardson, Thomas L. Pettigrew, Kurt D. Vandervort, Kenneth D. Young
  • Publication number: 20110074074
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a compliant banding system for use in a marine environment comprising a flexible compliant member and an abaxial relatively rigid strap, both constructed to extend circumferentially around an underlying structure such as a strake or fairing collar. The strap maintains a fixed circumference while the compliant member flexes intermediate the strap and an underlying.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2010
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Applicant: VIV Suppression, Inc.
    Inventors: Rodney H. Masters, Cecil M. Brandon, JR., Stuart John Harbert, Kurt D. Vandervort, Bill Griffith
  • Patent number: 7845299
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a compliant banding system for use in a marine environment comprising a flexible compliant member and an abaxial relatively rigid strap, both constructed to extend circumferentially around an underlying structure such as a strake or fairing collar. The strap maintains a fixed circumference while the compliant member flexes intermediate the strap and an underlying.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: VIV Suppression, Inc.
    Inventors: Rodney H. Masters, Cecil M. Brandon, Jr., Stuart John Harbert, Kurt D. Vandervort, Bill Griffith
  • Publication number: 20100200213
    Abstract: Force balancing adjusts hydraulic fluid pressure in an upper piston area of a Rotating Pressure Control Device (RPCD) that has an inner housing rotatably engaged within an outer housing by an upper bearing and a lower bearing. The hydraulic fluid pressure is adjusted to balance net force in a upper piston area and a lower piston area. The fluid pressure adjustment creates a force differential that balances the total load transmitted through the upper bearing and the lower bearing and thereby extends the life of the sealing element and bearings. Additionally, a wear indicator signals the end of the useful life of the drill pipe sealing element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2010
    Publication date: August 12, 2010
    Applicant: SUNSTONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: William James Hughes, Murl Ray Richardson, Thomas L. Pettigrew, Kurt D. Vandervort, Kenneth D. Young
  • Patent number: 7743823
    Abstract: Force balancing adjusts hydraulic fluid pressure in an upper piston area of a Rotating Pressure Control Device (RPCD) that has an inner housing rotatably engaged within an outer housing by an upper bearing and a lower bearing. The hydraulic fluid pressure is adjusted to balance net force in a upper piston area and a lower piston area. The fluid pressure adjustment creates a force differential that balances the total load transmitted through the upper bearing and the lower bearing and thereby extends the life of the sealing element and bearings. Additionally, a wear indicator signals the end of the useful life of the drill pipe sealing element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Sunstone Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: William James Hughes, Murl Ray Richardson, Thomas L. Pettigrew, Kurt D. Vandervort, Kenneth D. Young
  • Publication number: 20080296016
    Abstract: Force balancing adjusts hydraulic fluid pressure in an upper piston area of a Rotating Pressure Control Device (RPCD) that has an inner housing rotatably engaged within an outer housing by an upper bearing and a lower bearing. The hydraulic fluid pressure is adjusted to balance net force in a upper piston area and a lower piston area. The fluid pressure adjustment creates a force differential that balances the total load transmitted through the upper bearing and the lower bearing and thereby extends the life of the sealing element and bearings. Additionally, a wear indicator signals the end of the useful life of the drill pipe sealing element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2007
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Inventors: William James Hughes, Murl Ray Richardson, Thomas L. Pettigrew, Kurt D. Vandervort, Kenneth D. Young
  • Publication number: 20080236469
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a compliant banding system for use in a marine environment comprising a flexible compliant member and an abaxial relatively rigid strap, both constructed to extend circumferentially around an underlying structure such as a strake or fairing collar. The strap maintains a fixed circumference while the compliant member flexes intermediate the strap and an underlying.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2007
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Inventors: Rodney H. Masters, Cecil M. Brandon, Stuart John Harbert, Kurt D. Vandervort, Bill Griffith
  • Patent number: 5960881
    Abstract: A system for reducing pressure while running a casing liner, hanging a casing liner from a casing and cementing the liner in a borehole during a single trip downhole is disclosed. Some of the components of the system are 1.) a bypass or diverter sub for reducing surge pressure having either an incremental breakaway seat or a yieldable seat, 2.) a container or manifold for launching a smaller ball used to close the bypass, a larger ball used to hang the liner in the casing, and a drill pipe wiper dart for cementing, and 3.) a guide shoe with multiple openings and no float valve to provide proper flow of drilling fluid up the liner and out the port of the bypass to reduce surge pressure and to provide for proper cementation. Advantageously, methods for operation of this surge pressure reduction system and its components are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Assignee: Jerry P. Allamon
    Inventors: Jerry P. Allamon, Carroll Kennedy Burgess, Jr., Jack E. Miller, Kurt D. Vandervort