Patents by Inventor Lawrence A. Ford

Lawrence A. Ford 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).

  • Publication number: 20230347299
    Abstract: Some embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a composite membrane. In some embodiments, the composite membrane comprises a first fluoropolymer membrane and a second fluoropolymer membrane. In some embodiments a difference between a second surface energy of the second fluoropolymer membrane and a first surface energy of the first fluoropolymer membrane is at least 10 mN/m at 20° C. In some embodiments, the composite membrane has a Z strength of at least 5 psi.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2021
    Publication date: November 2, 2023
    Inventors: Orlando Collazo, Anita Dutta, Lawrence A. Ford, Jason J. Strid
  • Publication number: 20220001602
    Abstract: An additive manufacturing process is provided to produce integral 3-dimensional (3D) articles by laminating together a plurality of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) membranes. The process includes repetitive cycles of ePTFE membrane lamination paired with laser cutting/bonding to produce a desired geometry based on a predefined pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2021
    Publication date: January 6, 2022
    Inventors: Edward H. Cully, Lawrence A. Ford, Alexander Zaggl
  • Publication number: 20210095177
    Abstract: Disclosed are compositions comprising at least one iodocarbon compound and preferably at least one stabilization agent. These compositions are generally useful as refrigerants for heating and cooling, as blowing agents, as aerosol propellants, as solvent composition, and as fire extinguishing and suppressing agents.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2020
    Publication date: April 1, 2021
    Inventors: Rajiv R. Singh, Haridasan K. Nair, Raymond H. Thomas, Lawrence A. Ford, David P. Wilson
  • Patent number: 10900316
    Abstract: An annular seal for sealing an interface between a wellhead housing and a casing hanger. The annular seal includes a central body portion and a first pair of seal legs extending in a first direction from the central body portion. Each of the first pair of seal legs sealingly engages one of the wellhead housing or the casing hanger, and are further energized by bore pressure. The annular seal also includes a second pair of seal legs extending in a second direction from the central body portion. Each of the second pair of seal legs sealingly engages one of the wellhead housing or the casing hanger, and is further energized by annulus pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: VETCO GRAY INC.
    Inventors: David Lawrence Ford, Joseph William Pallini, Thomas Allen Fraser, Daniel Ralph Barnhart, Daniel Caleb Benson
  • Patent number: 10822907
    Abstract: A wellhead assembly includes an outer wellhead member having a bore and an inner wellhead member located in the bore, defining an annular pocket between the outer and inner wellhead members. A sealing assembly is located within the annular pocket, the sealing assembly having an annular seal and an energizing ring. The energizing ring engages inner and outer legs of the annular seal to push the inner and outer legs into sealing engagement with the inner and outer wellhead members. A retainer nut is threadingly attached to the free end of the outer leg of the sealing assembly. Mating grooves are located on one of an inner diameter of the retainer nut and an outer diameter of the energizing ring and mating protrusions located on the other. The mating protrusions mate with the mating grooves to prevent relative axial movement between the energizing ring and the annular seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: VETCO GRAY INC.
    Inventors: Robert Jen-Yue Du, Dinesh Narayan, Durai Balaji, David Lawrence Ford, Baozhi Zhu, Krishnanand Anandan, Kendra Limbrick
  • Patent number: 10508505
    Abstract: A wellhead assembly includes a tubular wellhead housing having a bore and an annular gallery slot. The annular gallery slot is defined by an enlarged inner diameter of the bore. A tubular hanger is selectively landed in the bore of the wellhead housing, defining an annular cavity between the bore and an outer diameter of the tubular hanger. The tubular hanger is supported by the wellhead housing with a hanger support located in the annular cavity. A flow-by passage is in fluid communication with the annular cavity at locations above and below the hanger support. The flow-by passage intersects with the gallery slot and intersects an outer radial surface of the tubular hanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: VETCO GRAY, LLC
    Inventors: Mayur Mansukh, Aniruddha D. Gadre, Daniel Caleb Benson, David Lawrence Ford
  • Publication number: 20190234169
    Abstract: A wellhead assembly includes an outer wellhead member having a bore and an inner wellhead member located in the bore, defining an annular pocket between the outer and inner wellhead members. A sealing assembly is located within the annular pocket, the sealing assembly having an annular seal and an energizing ring. The energizing ring engages inner and outer legs of the annular seal to push the inner and outer legs into sealing engagement with the inner and outer wellhead members. A retainer nut is threadingly attached to the free end of the outer leg of the sealing assembly. Mating grooves are located on one of an inner diameter of the retainer nut and an outer diameter of the energizing ring and mating protrusions located on the other. The mating protrusions mate with the mating grooves to prevent relative axial movement between the energizing ring and the annular seal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2019
    Publication date: August 1, 2019
    Applicant: Vetco Gray, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Jen-Yue Du, Dinesh Narayan, Durai Balaji, David Lawrence Ford, Baozhi Zhu, Krishnanand Anandan, Kendra Limbrick
  • Publication number: 20190136108
    Abstract: Disclosed are compositions comprising at least one iodocarbon compound and preferably at least one stabilization agent. These compositions are generally useful as refrigerants for heating and cooling, as blowing agents, as aerosol propellants, as solvent composition, and as fire extinguishing and suppressing agents.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2018
    Publication date: May 9, 2019
    Applicant: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: RAJIV R. SINGH, HARIDASAN K. NAIR, RAYMOND H. THOMAS, LAWRENCE A. FORD, DAVID P. WILSON
  • Patent number: 10233711
    Abstract: A wellhead assembly includes an outer wellhead member having a bore and an inner wellhead member located in the bore, defining an annular pocket between the outer and inner wellhead members. A sealing assembly is located within the annular pocket, the sealing assembly having an annular seal and an energizing ring. The energizing ring engages inner and outer legs of the annular seal to push the inner and outer legs into sealing engagement with the inner and outer wellhead members. A retainer nut is threadingly attached to the free end of the outer leg of the sealing assembly. Mating grooves are located on one of an inner diameter of the retainer nut and an outer diameter of the energizing ring and mating protrusions located on the other. The mating protrusions mate with the mating grooves to prevent relative axial movement between the energizing ring and the annular seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: VETCO GRAY, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Jen-Yue Du, Dinesh Narayan, Durai Balaji, David Lawrence Ford, Baozhi Zhu, Krishnanand Anandan, Kendra Limbrick
  • Publication number: 20190055442
    Abstract: Disclosed are compositions comprising at least one iodocarbon compound and preferably at least one stabilization agent comprising a diene-based compound. These compositions are generally useful as refrigerants for heating and cooling, as blowing agents, as aerosol propellants, as solvent composition, and as fire extinguishing and suppressing agents.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2018
    Publication date: February 21, 2019
    Inventors: Rajiv R. Singh, Haridasan K. Nair, Raymond H. Thomas, Lawrence A. Ford, David P. Wilson
  • Patent number: 10184311
    Abstract: A wellhead assembly has a casing hanger for supporting a string of casing, the casing hanger having an external upward-facing shoulder. A radially movable annular lockdown member is carried on the shoulder for movement between a retracted position while the casing hanger is being run and an expanded position. In the expanded position, the lockdown member is in engagement with a lockdown profile shoulder in a wellhead housing. A casing hanger seal is carried by the casing hanger above the lockdown member. The casing hanger seal has a lower extension that includes a connection leg and a nose ring. The nose ring has a cam surface that engages and moves the lockdown member to the expanded position while the casing hanger seal is being lowered into a set position. Slots are formed in the extension to reduce the axial stiffness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: VETCO GRAY, LLC
    Inventors: Aniruddha D. Gadre, Mayur Mansukh, Joseph W. Pallini, David Lawrence Ford, Baozhi Zhu
  • Patent number: 10174574
    Abstract: A wellhead assembly having an insert that is disposed between a wellhead housing and casing hanger. Axial slots through the insert define a flow path between the wellhead housing and casing hanger. The insert is made from a higher strength material and supports a load exerted between the casing hanger and wellhead housing. The insert is a ring like member, and the slots can more easily be machined in the insert than in the wellhead housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: VETCO GRAY, LLC
    Inventors: Mayur Mansukh, Aniruddha D. Gadre, Daniel Caleb Benson, David Lawrence Ford
  • Patent number: 9988506
    Abstract: A tetrafluoroethylene (TFE) copolymer film having a first endotherm between about 50° C. and about 300° C., a second endotherm between about 320° C. and about 350° C., and a third endotherm between about 350° C. and about 400° C. is provided. In exemplary embodiments, the third endotherm is approximately 380° C. In some embodiments, the second endotherm is between about 320° C. and about 330° C. or between about 330° C. and about 350° C. TFE copolymer films have a methane permeability less than about 20 ?g*micron/cm2/min. In addition, the dense articles have a void volume of less than about 20%. Methods for dense articles from core shell tetrafluoroethylene copolymers are also provided. The dense articles exhibit improved physical and mechanical properties such as adhesion and barrier properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignees: W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc., W. L. Gore & Associates GmbH
    Inventors: Lawrence A. Ford, Michael E. Kennedy, Shaofeng Ran, Todd S. Sayler, Gregory J. Shafer
  • Publication number: 20180073319
    Abstract: An annular seal for sealing an interface between a wellhead housing and a casing hanger. The annular seal includes a central body portion and a first pair of seal legs extending in a first direction from the central body portion. Each of the first pair of seal legs sealingly engages one of the wellhead housing or the casing hanger, and are further energized by bore pressure. The annular seal also includes a second pair of seal legs extending in a second direction from the central body portion. Each of the second pair of seal legs sealingly engages one of the wellhead housing or the casing hanger, and is further energized by annulus pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2016
    Publication date: March 15, 2018
    Inventors: David Lawrence Ford, Joseph William Pallini, Thomas Allen Fraser, Daniel Ralph Barnhart, Daniel Caleb Benson
  • Patent number: 9797214
    Abstract: A wellhead assembly has a casing hanger for supporting a string of casing, the casing hanger having an external upward-facing shoulder. A shoulder ring is mounted on the shoulder. A radially movable annular lockdown member is carried on the shoulder ring for movement between a refracted position while the casing hanger is being run and an expanded position for engaging an interior surface of a wellhead housing. A casing hanger seal is carried by the casing hanger above the lockdown member. The casing hanger seal has a nose on a lower end that engages and moves the lockdown member to the expanded position while the casing hanger seal is being lowered into a set position. The shoulder ring is formed of a material of greater yield strength than the shoulder. Flow channels between the shoulder and the shoulder ring assist in flowing debris from above the shoulder to below.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: VETCO GRAY INC.
    Inventors: Aniruddha D. Gadre, Mayur Mansukh, David Lawrence Ford
  • Patent number: 9797215
    Abstract: A wellhead assembly includes an outer tubular wellhead member and an inner tubular wellhead member with a seal pocket between them. A seal ring is located in the seal pocket. An annular energizing ring urges the seal ring into sealing engagement with the outer tubular wellhead member and the inner tubular wellhead member. A recess is located on an outer diameter of the annular energizing ring or a radially inner diameter of the seal ring, and a ratcheted retainer is on the other. A ratchet clip with a clip profile is located within the recess. The recess and the ratchet clip extend less than a full circumferential distance around the outer diameter of the annular energizing ring or the radially inner diameter of the seal ring. A retainer profile on the ratcheted retainer selectively engages with the clip profile of the ratchet clip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: VETCO GRAY INC.
    Inventors: David Lawrence Ford, Daniel Ralph Barnhart, Daniel Caleb Benson
  • Patent number: 9765588
    Abstract: A wellhead assembly includes a wellhead housing having a bore and a locking profile including a gallery slot, and an annular notch. An inner wellhead assembly is selectively landed in the bore of the wellhead housing, the inner wellhead assembly having a lock ring with a lock ring profile that engages the locking profile. The engaging surface is a sloped downward facing surface at an axially upper end of the gallery slot. The annular notch has a notch engaging profile with a downward facing notch upper shoulder and an upward facing notch lower shoulder. The locking profile includes an inlay, the inlay being located on the notch upper shoulder and the engaging surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: VETCO GRAY INC.
    Inventors: Mayur Mansukh, Aniruddha D. Gadre, David Lawrence Ford
  • Patent number: 9732582
    Abstract: A wellbore system includes a sealing assembly for creating an annular seal between wellbore members. The sealing assembly includes a wicker profile defined a first sealing surface for engaging and embedding into a radially adjacent, second sealing surface. The wicker profile includes a first section having a first hardness and a second section adjacent to the first section and having a second hardness greater than the first hardness. Both the first and second sections of wickers are embedded into the second sealing surface, and can thus provide a high degree of both sealing and lockdown performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: VETCO GRAY INC.
    Inventors: Mayur Mansukh, Aniruddha D. Gadre, David Lawrence Ford, Baozhi Zhu, Robert Du
  • Publication number: 20170210865
    Abstract: A tetrafluoroethylene (TFE) copolymer film having a first endotherm between about 50° C. and about 300° C., a second endotherm between about 320° C. and about 350° C., and a third endotherm between about 350° C. and about 400° C. is provided. In exemplary embodiments, the third endotherm is approximately 380° C. In some embodiments, the second endotherm is between about 320° C. and about 330° C. or between about 330° C. and about 350° C. TFE copolymer films have a methane permeability less than about 20 ?g*micron/cm2/min. In addition, the dense articles have a void volume of less than about 20%. Methods for dense articles from core shell tetrafluoroethylene copolymers are also provided. The dense articles exhibit improved physical and mechanical properties such as adhesion and barrier properties.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2017
    Publication date: July 27, 2017
    Inventors: Lawrence A. Ford, Michael E. Kennedy, Shaofeng Ran, Todd S. Sayler, Gregory J. Shafer
  • Patent number: 9695662
    Abstract: A retention system for limiting axial and radial movement of a wellbore lock ring. The retention system includes pins for resisting axial movement of the lock ring and assemblies for limiting radial outward movement of the lock ring. The lock ring circumscribes and couples to a wellbore hanger. The pins project radially from the hanger into the lock ring and into slots, where the slots extend a distance along the inner surface of the lock ring. The assemblies also project radially into the hanger and each have a portion that registers with a channel on a lower end of the lock ring. Lock ring outer radial movement is limited by contact between the portions of the assemblies and inner surfaces of the channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: VETCO GRAY INC.
    Inventors: Mayur Mansukh, Aniruddha D. Gadre, Joseph William Pallini, David Lawrence Ford