Patents by Inventor Peter Crowder

Peter Crowder 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: 12487205
    Abstract: An acoustic sand monitor system includes an exciter assembly and a receiver that are configured to be coupled to an accumulator vessel. Separating equipment separates sand from a fluid stream produced by a well. The accumulator vessel collects the sand separated from the fluid stream. The exciter assembly causes vibrations of the accumulator vessel and the receiver measures audio signals generated by the vibrations of the accumulator vessel. A control system analyzes the audio signal to determine the amount of sand collected in the accumulator vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2025
    Assignee: CHEVRON U.S.A. INC.
    Inventors: Lee David Rhyne, Peter Crowder, Hariprasad Janakiram Subramani
  • Publication number: 20240175848
    Abstract: An acoustic sand monitor system includes an exciter assembly and a receiver that are configured to be coupled to an accumulator vessel. Separating equipment separates sand from a fluid stream produced by a well. The accumulator vessel collects the sand separated from the fluid stream. The exciter assembly causes vibrations of the accumulator vessel and the receiver measures audio signals generated by the vibrations of the accumulator vessel. A control system analyzes the audio signal to determine the amount of sand collected in the accumulator vessel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2022
    Publication date: May 30, 2024
    Inventors: Lee David Rhyne, Peter Crowder, Hariprasad Janakiram Subramani
  • Patent number: 11976916
    Abstract: An optical strain gauge system measures strain on the exterior surface of a pipe to identify areas of wear on the interior surface of the pipe. The optical strain gauge system comprises an optical sensing interrogator and at least one optical fiber. The optical sensing interrogator comprises a light source and a light sensor. The at least one optical fiber includes fiber Bragg gratings along the length of the optical fiber. The optical fiber is arranged on the exterior surface of the pipe with the fiber Bragg gratings forming a two-dimensional array of points at which strain measurements are obtained. The two-dimensional array of strain measurement points provides an accurate assessment of the strains on the exterior of the pipe which can be used to identify areas of wear on the interior surface of the pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: CHEVRON U.S.A. INC.
    Inventors: Baha Tanju, Hariprasad Janakiram Subramani, Peter Crowder, Lee Rhyne, Nikolaos Ioannis Salmatanis, Pedro Vargas, Milind L. Prabhu
  • Publication number: 20230003511
    Abstract: An optical strain gauge system measures strain on the exterior surface of a pipe to identify areas of wear on the interior surface of the pipe. The optical strain gauge system comprises an optical sensing interrogator and at least one optical fiber. The optical sensing interrogator comprises a light source and a light sensor. The at least one optical fiber includes fiber Bragg gratings along the length of the optical fiber. The optical fiber is arranged on the exterior surface of the pipe with the fiber Bragg gratings forming a two-dimensional array of points at which strain measurements are obtained. The two-dimensional array of strain measurement points provides an accurate assessment of the strains on the exterior of the pipe which can be used to identify areas of wear on the interior surface of the pipe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2021
    Publication date: January 5, 2023
    Inventors: Baha Tanju, Hariprasad Janakiram Subramani, Peter Crowder, Lee Rhyne, Nikos Salmatanis, Pedro Vargas, Milind L. Prabhu