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).
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Patent number: 8474392Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 6, 2010Date of Patent: July 2, 2013Assignee: VIV Suppression, Inc.Inventors: Rodney H. Masters, Cecil M. Brandon, Jr., Stuart John Harbert, Kurt D. Vandervort, Bill Griffith
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Patent number: 8028750Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 28, 2010Date of Patent: October 4, 2011Assignee: Sunstone CorporationInventors: William James Hughes, Murl Ray Richardson, Thomas L. Pettigrew, Kurt D. Vandervort, Kenneth D. Young
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Publication number: 20110074074Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 6, 2010Publication date: March 31, 2011Applicant: VIV Suppression, Inc.Inventors: Rodney H. Masters, Cecil M. Brandon, JR., Stuart John Harbert, Kurt D. Vandervort, Bill Griffith
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Patent number: 7845299Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 30, 2007Date of Patent: December 7, 2010Assignee: VIV Suppression, Inc.Inventors: Rodney H. Masters, Cecil M. Brandon, Jr., Stuart John Harbert, Kurt D. Vandervort, Bill Griffith
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Publication number: 20100200213Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 28, 2010Publication date: August 12, 2010Applicant: SUNSTONE CORPORATIONInventors: William James Hughes, Murl Ray Richardson, Thomas L. Pettigrew, Kurt D. Vandervort, Kenneth D. Young
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Patent number: 7743823Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 4, 2007Date of Patent: June 29, 2010Assignee: Sunstone Technologies, LLCInventors: William James Hughes, Murl Ray Richardson, Thomas L. Pettigrew, Kurt D. Vandervort, Kenneth D. Young
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Publication number: 20080296016Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 4, 2007Publication date: December 4, 2008Inventors: William James Hughes, Murl Ray Richardson, Thomas L. Pettigrew, Kurt D. Vandervort, Kenneth D. Young
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Publication number: 20080236469Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 30, 2007Publication date: October 2, 2008Inventors: Rodney H. Masters, Cecil M. Brandon, Stuart John Harbert, Kurt D. Vandervort, Bill Griffith
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Patent number: 5960881Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 22, 1997Date of Patent: October 5, 1999Assignee: Jerry P. AllamonInventors: Jerry P. Allamon, Carroll Kennedy Burgess, Jr., Jack E. Miller, Kurt D. Vandervort