Patents by Inventor Robert E. Smith

Robert E. Smith 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: 10844986
    Abstract: A probe seal for a female hydraulic coupling member has both internal and external pressure-energized seals. The outer wall or opposing ends of the seal have one or more pressure-energized seals for sealing between the body of the probe seal and the body of a coupling member in which the probe seal is installed. Annular, L-shaped, T-shaped or angled grooves in the inner wall of the seal form cavities and sealing projections that can be urged in an inward, radial direction by fluid pressure within an associated cavity to increase the sealing effectiveness between the body of the seal and the probe of a male hydraulic coupling member inserted in the receiving chamber of the female coupling member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: National Coupling Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert E. Smith, III
  • Publication number: 20200332621
    Abstract: A female undersea hydraulic coupling member is equipped with a plurality of pressure-energized metal seals configured to seal between the body of the female member and the probe of a corresponding male hydraulic coupling member in response to ambient hydrostatic pressure and/or hydraulic fluid pressure. Pressure-energized metal seals may also be provided to seal between the body of the female coupling member and a removable seal retainer or seal cartridge. In one particular preferred embodiment, the pressure-energized seals are back-to-back metal C-seals separated by annular seal supports having a generally T-shaped cross section and retained on one or more shoulders in the body of the female member by a removable seal cartridge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2020
    Publication date: October 22, 2020
    Inventors: Robert E. Smith, III, Scott Stolle, Chris Roy
  • Publication number: 20200096114
    Abstract: A pilot-actuated spool valve comprises a generally cylindrical valve cage having a central axial cavity open at both ends and a plurality of generally radial openings connecting the central axial cavity to the external cylindrical surface of the cage; a valve sleeve sized to slide within the central axial cavity of the cage and having a first sealing surface at a first end and a second sealing surface at an opposing second end; a piston responsive to fluid pressure at a pilot inlet of the valve; a piston rod connected at a first end to the piston and having a threaded second end opposite the first end; and a cap nut in threaded engagement with the second end of the piston rod securing the valve sleeve to the piston rod. The cap nut is sized and configured to provide a clearance gap between the cap nut and the valve sleeve when the cap nut is fully tightened onto the threaded second end of the piston rod.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2019
    Publication date: March 26, 2020
    Inventors: Max Stetzer, Robert E. Smith, III, Frank Harold Hollister, Chris Roy, Stephen L. Wells
  • Publication number: 20200080657
    Abstract: A subsea hydraulic system comprises a dual (or dual action) check valve on a port for connection to a remotely operated vehicle (ROV). The check valve provides backpressure to flow in either direction. This keeps hydraulic fluid in the hydraulic system, and seawater out. If flow needs to return to the ROV, it may flow out the port, subject to a selected back pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2019
    Publication date: March 12, 2020
    Inventors: Robert E. Smith, III, Timothy Goggans, Frank Harold Hollister
  • Patent number: 10557577
    Abstract: A female hydraulic coupling member has a pressure-energized C-seal having an internal cavity that is positioned to seal between the body of the coupling and the probe of a corresponding male hydraulic coupling member inserted in the receiving chamber. A metal sleeve lines at least a portion of the receiving chamber to resist galling. The main portion of the sleeve has an inside diameter (i.d.) and an outside diameter (o.d.) with a first end of the sleeve abutting a shoulder in the central axial bore of the coupling member. An opposing second end of the sleeve has an annular, axial extension with a larger i.d. and a smaller o.d. than the main portion of the sleeve. At least a portion of the extension projects into the internal cavity of the pressure-energized C-seal so as to retain and position it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: National Coupling Company
    Inventors: Robert E. Smith, III, Scott Stolle
  • Patent number: 10495245
    Abstract: A probe seal for a female hydraulic coupling member has both internal and external pressure-energized seals. The outer wall or opposing ends of the seal have one or more pressure-energized seals for sealing between the body of the probe seal and the body of a coupling member in which the probe seal is installed. Annular, L-shaped, T-shaped or angled grooves in the inner wall of the seal form cavities and sealing projections that can be urged in an inward, radial direction by fluid pressure within an associated cavity to increase the sealing effectiveness between the body of the seal and the probe of a male hydraulic coupling member inserted in the receiving chamber of the female coupling member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: National Coupling Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert E. Smith, III
  • Publication number: 20190352996
    Abstract: A female undersea hydraulic coupling member is equipped with a plurality of pressure-energized metal seals configured to seal between the body of the female member and the probe of a corresponding male hydraulic coupling member in response to ambient hydrostatic pressure and/or hydraulic fluid pressure. Pressure-energized metal seals may also be provided to seal between the body of the female coupling member and a removable seal retainer or seal cartridge. In one particular preferred embodiment, the pressure-energized seals are back-to-back metal C-seals separated by annular seal supports having a generally T-shaped cross section and retained on one or more shoulders in the body of the female member by a removable seal cartridge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2019
    Publication date: November 21, 2019
    Inventors: Robert E. Smith, III, Scott Stolle, Chris Roy
  • Publication number: 20190327559
    Abstract: Described herein is a device that includes: a storage with a data repository of BlueTooth (BT) listening device identification and corresponding features; and an audio processor coupled to the storage. The audio audio processor is further configured to execute instructions to: scan, connect, and receive an identification of a connected BT listening device; detect features of the connected BT listening device based from the received identification; manipulate an audio signal based from the detected features; and facilitate transmission of the manipulated audio signal to multiple connected BT listening devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2018
    Publication date: October 24, 2019
    Inventor: Robert E. Smith
  • Patent number: 10415715
    Abstract: A subsea hydraulic system comprises a dual (or dual action) check valve on a port for connection to a remotely operated vehicle (ROV). The check valve provides backpressure to flow in either direction. This keeps hydraulic fluid in the hydraulic system, and seawater out. If flow needs to return to the ROV, it may flow out the port, subject to a selected back pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: National Coupling Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert E. Smith, III, Timothy Goggans, Frank Harold Hollister
  • Patent number: 10400541
    Abstract: A female undersea hydraulic coupling member is equipped with a plurality of pressure-energized metal seals configured to seal between the body of the female member and the probe of a corresponding male hydraulic coupling member in response to ambient hydrostatic pressure and/or hydraulic fluid pressure. Pressure-energized metal seals may also be provided to seal between the body of the female coupling member and a removable seal retainer or seal cartridge. In one particular preferred embodiment, the pressure-energized seals are back-to-back metal C-seals separated by annular seal supports having a generally T-shaped cross section and retained on one or more shoulders in the body of the female member by a removable seal cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: National Coupling Company
    Inventors: Robert E. Smith, III, Scott Stolle, Chris Roy
  • Publication number: 20190195406
    Abstract: A probe seal for a female hydraulic coupling member has both internal and external pressure-energized seals. The outer wall or opposing ends of the seal have one or more pressure-energized seals for sealing between the body of the probe seal and the body of a coupling member in which the probe seal is installed. Annular, L-shaped, T-shaped or angled grooves in the inner wall of the seal form cavities and sealing projections that can be urged in an inward, radial direction by fluid pressure within an associated cavity to increase the sealing effectiveness between the body of the seal and the probe of a male hydraulic coupling member inserted in the receiving chamber of the female coupling member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2019
    Publication date: June 27, 2019
    Inventor: Robert E. Smith, III
  • Patent number: 10288184
    Abstract: Upper and/or lower seal plates of a sub plate mounted, pilot actuated spool valve are reinforced with one or more metal rings. In a number of preferred embodiments, the metal ring is comprised of steel. Portions of the seal plates may comprise an engineering thermoplastic such as polyoxymethylene (POM) sold by E. I. DuPont de Nemours under the DELRIN® trademark. The plastic material may be molded to the metal ring. In other embodiments, the plastic material and metal ring(s) are mechanically connected together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: Hunting Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert E. Smith, III, Frank Harold Hollister, Richard R. Watson, Dane Tipton
  • Publication number: 20190113146
    Abstract: A subsea hydraulic system comprises a dual (or dual action) check valve on a port for connection to a remotely operated vehicle (ROV). The check valve provides backpressure to flow in either direction. This keeps hydraulic fluid in the hydraulic system, and seawater out. If flow needs to return to the ROV, it may flow out the port, subject to a selected back pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2018
    Publication date: April 18, 2019
    Inventors: Robert E. Smith, III, Timothy Goggans, Frank Harold Hollister
  • Patent number: 10247322
    Abstract: Upper and/or lower seal plates of a sub plate mounted, pilot actuated spool valve are reinforced with one or more metal rings. In a number of preferred embodiments, the metal ring is comprised of steel. Portions of the seal plates may comprise an engineering thermoplastic such as polyoxymethylene (POM) sold by E. I. DuPont de Nemours under the DELRIN® trademark. The plastic material may be molded to the metal ring. In other embodiments, the plastic material and metal ring(s) are mechanically connected together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: Hunting Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert E. Smith, III, Frank Harold Hollister, Richard R. Watson, Dane Tipton
  • Patent number: 10174857
    Abstract: A subsea hydraulic system comprises a dual (or dual action) check valve on a port for connection to a remotely operated vehicle (ROV). The check valve provides backpressure to flow in either direction. This keeps hydraulic fluid in the hydraulic system, and seawater out. If flow needs to return to the ROV, it may flow out the port, subject to a selected back pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: National Coupling Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert E. Smith, III, Timothy Goggans, Frank Harold Hollister
  • Publication number: 20180328510
    Abstract: A subsea hydraulic system comprises a dual (or dual action) check valve on a port for connection to a remotely operated vehicle (ROV). The check valve provides backpressure to flow in either direction. This keeps hydraulic fluid in the hydraulic system, and seawater out. If flow needs to return to the ROV, it may flow out the port, subject to a selected back pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2018
    Publication date: November 15, 2018
    Inventors: Robert E. Smith, III, Timothy Goggans, Frank Harold Hollister
  • Patent number: 10054239
    Abstract: A subsea hydraulic system comprises a dual (or dual action) check valve on a port for connection to a remotely operated vehicle (ROV). The check valve provides backpressure to flow in either direction. This keeps hydraulic fluid in the hydraulic system, and seawater out. If flow needs to return to the ROV, it may flow out the port, subject to a selected back pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: National Coupling Company
    Inventors: Robert E. Smith, III, Timothy Goggans, Frank Harold Hollister
  • Publication number: 20180163879
    Abstract: A sliding metal seal valve comprises one or more non-circular (oblate) metal seals. Use of non-circular (oblate) sliding metal seals, permits the rotor of a rotary sliding metal seal valve to have a smaller diameter which permits a smaller overall valve size. Reduced rotor diameter also reduces the torque required to turn the rotor, permitting smaller actuator motors to be used. Axially sliding valves such as bar valves may also employ such non-circular sliding metal seals to permit a reduction in the width of such valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2017
    Publication date: June 14, 2018
    Inventors: Robert E. Smith, III, Thomas Rogala
  • Publication number: 20180106403
    Abstract: A female hydraulic coupling member has a pressure-energized C-seal having an internal cavity that is positioned to seal between the body of the coupling and the probe of a corresponding male hydraulic coupling member inserted in the receiving chamber. A metal sleeve lines at least a portion of the receiving chamber to resist galling. The main portion of the sleeve has an inside diameter (i.d.) and an outside diameter (o.d.) with a first end of the sleeve abutting a shoulder in the central axial bore of the coupling member. An opposing second end of the sleeve has an annular, axial extension with a larger i.d. and a smaller o.d. than the main portion of the sleeve. At least a portion of the extension projects into the internal cavity of the pressure-energized C-seal so as to retain and position it.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2017
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Inventors: Robert E. Smith, III, Scott Stolle
  • Publication number: 20180094498
    Abstract: A female undersea hydraulic coupling member is equipped with a plurality of pressure-energized metal seals configured to seal between the body of the female member and the probe of a corresponding male hydraulic coupling member in response to ambient hydrostatic pressure and/or hydraulic fluid pressure. Pressure-energized metal seals may also be provided to seal between the body of the female coupling member and a removable seal retainer or seal cartridge. In one particular preferred embodiment, the pressure-energized seals are back-to-back metal C-seals separated by annular seal supports having a generally T-shaped cross section and retained on one or more shoulders in the body of the female member by a removable seal cartridge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2017
    Publication date: April 5, 2018
    Inventors: Robert E. Smith, III, Scott Stolle, Chris Roy