Patents by Inventor Paul C. Berner

Paul C. Berner 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: 10066450
    Abstract: A stiffener assembly for a riser extending from a subsea well component through an opening in a floating platform has at least two partially cylindrical inner sleeve segments that mount around the riser. Inner sleeve grooves are on an outer surface of each of the inner sleeve segments, defining inner sleeve ribs. The inner sleeve segments have abutting side edges when mounted around the riser. At least two partially cylindrical outer sleeve segments are mounted around the inner sleeve segments. The outer sleeve segments have abutting side edges when mounted around the inner sleeve segments. Outer sleeve grooves on an inner surface of each of the outer sleeve segments define outer sleeve ribs that fit within the inner sleeve grooves between the inner sleeve ribs. The abutting side edges of the outer sleeve segments are circumferentially offset from the abutting side edges of the inner sleeve segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: The Technologies Alliance, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul C. Berner, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20170051564
    Abstract: A stiffener assembly for a riser extending from a subsea well component through an opening in a floating platform has at least two partially cylindrical inner sleeve segments that mount around the riser. Inner sleeve grooves are on an outer surface of each of the inner sleeve segments, defining inner sleeve ribs. The inner sleeve segments have abutting side edges when mounted around the riser. At least two partially cylindrical outer sleeve segments are mounted around the inner sleeve segments. The outer sleeve segments have abutting side edges when mounted around the inner sleeve segments. Outer sleeve grooves on an inner surface of each of the outer sleeve segments define outer sleeve ribs that fit within the inner sleeve grooves between the inner sleeve ribs. The abutting side edges of the outer sleeve segments are circumferentially offset from the abutting side edges of the inner sleeve segments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2016
    Publication date: February 23, 2017
    Applicant: The Technologies Alliance, Inc. (dba OilPatch Technologies)
    Inventor: Paul C. Berner, JR.
  • Patent number: 9068403
    Abstract: A riser tensioner for maintaining a tensile force on a riser extending through an opening in a deck of a floating platform includes a frame assembly that may be quickly bolted together in the field. The frame assembly includes a plurality of tensioner legs that may be installed on an un-level deck yet still provide a level support of the riser. Lower leg mounting assemblies include a slip ring for mounting directly to the deck and a deck mounting member received in the slip ring at a variable angle and having an upwardly extending shaft passing into a bore in a lower end of a tensioner leg.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: The Technologies Alliance, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul C. Berner, Jr., Edward M. Galle, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20140050536
    Abstract: A riser tensioner for maintaining a tensile force on a riser extending through an opening in a deck of a floating platform includes a frame assembly that may be quickly bolted together in the field. The frame assembly includes a plurality of tensioner legs that may be installed on an un-level deck yet still provide a level support of the riser. Lower leg mounting assemblies include a slip ring for mounting directly to the deck and a deck mounting member received in the slip ring at a variable angle and having an upwardly extending shaft passing into a bore in a lower end of a tensioner leg.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2013
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Applicant: The Technologies Alliance, Inc. (dba OilPatch Technologies)
    Inventors: Paul C. Berner, JR., Edward M. Galle, JR.
  • Patent number: 8579034
    Abstract: A riser tensioner system maintains a tensile force in a riser having an axis and extending from a subsea wellhead assembly through an opening in a floating platform deck. The tensioner includes a plurality of tensioner legs having lower ends mounted to the deck, and upper ends having slots formed therein to receive leg attachment plates having an opening therein through which a tubular support ring passes. A plurality of cylinders extend between the tubular support ring and a tensioner ring and couple to the support ring with cylinder attachment plates through which the tubular support ring passes. An upper end of each cylinder pivots about the mounting point, and a lower end of each cylinder adjustably mounts to the tensioner ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: The Technologies Alliance, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul C. Berner, Jr., Sammy Russell Moore, William Robert Cox
  • Publication number: 20120247783
    Abstract: A riser tensioner system maintains a tensile force in a riser having an axis and extending from a subsea wellhead assembly through an opening in a floating platform deck. The tensioner includes a plurality of tensioner legs having lower ends mounted to the deck, and upper ends having slots formed therein to receive leg attachment plates having an opening therein through which a tubular support ring passes. A plurality of cylinders extend between the tubular support ring and a tensioner ring and couple to the support ring with cylinder attachment plates through which the tubular support ring passes. An upper end of each cylinder pivots about the mounting point, and a lower end of each cylinder adjustably mounts to the tensioner ring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2012
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: The Technologies Alliance, Inc. (dba OilPatch Technologies)
    Inventors: Paul C. Berner, JR., Sammy Russell Moore, William Robert Cox
  • Patent number: 5044828
    Abstract: Built-up towers for offshore wells, production platforms and for microwave communications antennae, for example, are formed of triangular base members which may be made up of equilateral triangles which are arranged vertically spaced from each other and with their base legs laterally and vertically spaced, respectively, and so that the centroids of the triangles formed by said base members are aligned along a common longitudinal axis of the tower. Each of the triangular base members is connected to an adjacent base member by lateral braces which extend between the apices or nodes of each triangle to the adjacent apices or nodes of the adjacent base member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1991
    Assignee: Atlantic Richfield Company
    Inventors: Paul C. Berner, Jr., William C. Kazokas, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4844511
    Abstract: An improved tubular connector having a first tubular member with an external hub, an internal sealing surface and an external rib spaced from the hub, a second tubular member with an external hub, an internal sealing surface and an external dividing rib, a sleeve surrounding and slidable on the second tubular member and having an enlarged end extending beyond the end of the tub of the second tubular member in the retracted position of the sleeve, the sleeve having an internal rib engaging the exterior of the second tubular member and an internal tapered surface, a plurality of latching fingers supported between the interior of the sleeve and the exterior of the second tubular member, means for delivering fluid pressure to the space between the sleeve and the exterior of the second tubular member for movement of the sleeve in the direction toward the hub end of the second tubular member, means for limiting the movement of the latching members in the direction of movement of the sleeve whereby engagement of the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 4, 1989
    Assignee: Cameron Iron Works USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary L. Galle, Paul C. Berner, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4691780
    Abstract: A subsea wellhead structure including a casing hanger having an exterior downwardly facing shoulder for landing within a well bore, a central bore, means for connecting a casing thereto, an upper exterior surface tapering downwardly and outwardly, and an external surface below said shoulder tapering downwardly and inwardly for centering said hanger on landing, a seal assembly with a metal seal sleeve having downwardly extending fingers, an internal metal annular bulbous sealing surface and an external metal cylindrical sealing surface, means for latching said seal sleeve in sealing position, a protector sleeve and means for releasably securing said protector sleeve to said seal assembly and said latching means, the latching means including retaining means preventing premature setting or movement of the latching means prior to the setting of said sealing means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1987
    Assignee: Cameron Iron Works, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward M. Galle, Jr., Kevin Gendron, Paul C. Berner, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4580636
    Abstract: A pull in tool incorporating within its structure a winch 220 and a capstan 210. A track system 231 on the tool moves to engage openings 38 in the guidelineless reentry assembly 50. Thereafter the flow line termination 400 is passed down the track system 231 to achieve precise final positioning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1984
    Date of Patent: April 8, 1986
    Assignee: Vetco Offshore, Inc.
    Inventors: Rush L. Johnson, III, Paul C. Berner
  • Patent number: 4569404
    Abstract: A mudline casing hanger assembly in which the support collet 16 has the upper end and support segments biased outwardly, with the lower end (34) push down portion biased inwardly. The lower end can be expanded (58) at the support elevation with load applied on a nonlocking shoulder (36).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1984
    Date of Patent: February 11, 1986
    Assignee: Vetco Offshore, Inc.
    Inventors: Lionel J. Milberger, Donald Baron, Paul C. Berner
  • Patent number: 4561499
    Abstract: A tubing suspension system for undersea well production operations employs a nonoriented tubing hanger having an inner body for supporting a tubing string and a landing collar for supporting the tubing hanger on a wellhead casing. The tubing hanger includes three cooperating concentric sleeve assemblies which are employed to lock and seal the tubing hanger to the wellhead housing. The outer sleeve assembly includes a locking actuator and a dual seal assembly and is separately retrievable from the remainder of the hanger assembly. A nonorienting hydraulic set running tool is employed to run the tubing hanger, set the seals, lock the tubing hanger to the wellhead casing, retrieve either the outer sleeve assembly or the entire tubing hanger. The running tool includes a hydraulically controlled actuating sleeve which carries a latch dog assembly which locks with the tubing hanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1984
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1985
    Assignee: Vetco Offshore, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul C. Berner, Jr., Eugene L. Brickman