Patents by Inventor Michael J. A. Best

Michael J. A. Best 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: 4695190
    Abstract: Apparatus for connecting portions of subsea flow conduits includes a stab member with a body and having a bore therethrough, one end of which exits from the stab body through a side port. A stab receptacle includes a bore for receiving the stab body, and a flow bore intersecting the receiving bore and leading to the exterior of the receptacle. The side port communciates with the receptacle flow bore when the stab member is landed in the receiving bore. Seals above and below the side port seal the receiving bore above and below the intersection of the receptacle flow bore and receiving bore. The cross-sectional areas of the seals exposed to internal fluid pressure are substantially equal, resulting in zero blow-apart force on the stab connection. Alternatively, the lower seal can have a larger exposed cross-sectional area than the upper seal, resulting in a net force tending to hold the connection teogether.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1987
    Assignee: Smith International, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. A. Best, Richard H. Jones, Joseph H. Hynes, Richard J. Pond, Colin R. Gordon
  • Patent number: 4477205
    Abstract: A temporary hub cover for the hubs of flow lines, hydraulic lines, and electrical conduits and the mating hubs of the underwater production unit includes a body enclosing the hub, plungers within the body for releasably engaging into detents on the hub to hold the cover on the hub, and a trigger mechanism operable from a remote location to release the engagement between the cover and hub whereby the cover can be removed from the hub. A connector tool is lowered through the water and supports means for operating the trigger mechanism upon downward movement of the connector tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1982
    Date of Patent: October 16, 1984
    Assignee: Smith International, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles D. Morrill, Michael J. A. Best
  • Patent number: 4405016
    Abstract: A cap for an underwater Christmas tree having locking probes to lock down the operating rods of a connector connecting the Christmas tree to an underwater wellhead housing. The tops of the operating rods are housed within hollow canisters at the top of the Christmas tree.The cap includes a body having circumferentially disposed locking dogs housed therein for engagement with the top of the Christmas tree. The dogs are actuated by a cam ring which telescopically receives the body and has a tapered surface for sliding over a correlatively tapered surface on each of the dogs. The body includes a metal gasket seal for sealing engagement with the top of the Christmas tree, and seals are provided between the cam ring and body.The cap has downwardly extending locking probes which extend telescopically into the canisters above the operating rods. The locking probes each include a housing and a releasable tubular piston slidably disposed in the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1981
    Date of Patent: September 20, 1983
    Assignee: Smith International, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael J. A. Best
  • Patent number: 4371005
    Abstract: A temporary hub cover for the hubs of flow lines, hydraulic lines, and electrical conduits and the mating hubs of the underwater production unit includes a body enclosing the hub, plungers within the body for releasably engaging into detents on the hub to hold the cover on the hub, and a trigger mechanism operable from a remote location to release the engagement between the cover and hub whereby the cover can be removed from the hub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1979
    Date of Patent: February 1, 1983
    Assignee: Smith International, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles D. Morrill, Michael J. A. Best