Patents by Inventor Robert N. Rogers

Robert N. Rogers 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: 8474537
    Abstract: A wellhead connector for connecting a riser or production tree to a wellhead of a subsea well utilizes a singular annular piston to lock the connector onto the wellhead. The wellhead connector includes a housing that contains dogs for engagement with the exterior of the wellhead housing. A cam ring is also included, which has an inner side for engaging the dogs and moving them inward into a locked position with the wellhead housing. The cam ring is of a reduced proportion relative to prior art. As such, the cam ring outer side is dimensioned to contact the inner side of the connector housing under load. Connecting rods connect the piston to the cam rings. As the piston moves downward, the cam ring also moves downward, forcing the dogs inward into a locked position. As the piston moves upward, the cam ring also moves upward, thereby unlocking the connector. A secondary annular piston is also provided to guarantee unlocking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Vetco Gray Inc.
    Inventors: Robert K. Voss, Perry J. Stokes, David W. Hughes, Joseph W. Pallini, Jr., Robert N. Rogers, William T. Higgins
  • Patent number: 8087181
    Abstract: A technique is provided for detecting the surface profile of a seat pocket of a gate valve. An inspection tool is used to detect data at a plurality of points around the bore of the valve. The inspection tool has a sensor that is moveable between a retracted position and an extended position. The inspection tool is disposed within a valve body cavity with the sensor in the retracted position. The sensor of the inspection tool is then extended outward so that it is located within the portion of the bore of the valve having the surface profile to be detected. The sensor is rotated so that the sensor may obtain surface profile data at a plurality of points around the seat pocket of the valve body. The sensor of the inspection tool is connected to a processor-based device, such as a computer. The processor-based device processes the data from the sensor and provides it to a user in a form that is recognizable to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Vetco Gray Inc.
    Inventors: Robert N. Rogers, Rick C. Hunter
  • Publication number: 20100006298
    Abstract: A wellhead connector for connecting a riser or production tree to a wellhead of a subsea well utilizes a singular annular piston to lock the connector onto the wellhead. The wellhead connector includes a housing that contains dogs for engagement with the exterior of the wellhead housing. A cam ring is also included, which has an inner side for engaging the dogs and moving them inward into a locked position with the wellhead housing. The cam ring is of a reduced proportion relative to prior art. As such, the cam ring outer side is dimensioned to contact the inner side of the connector housing under load. Connecting rods connect the piston to the cam rings. As the piston moves downward, the cam ring also moves downward, forcing the dogs inward into a locked position. As the piston moves upward, the cam ring also moves upward, thereby unlocking the connector. A secondary annular piston is also provided to guarantee unlocking.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2008
    Publication date: January 14, 2010
    Applicant: Vetco Gray Inc.
    Inventors: Robert K. Voss, Perry J. Stokes, David W. Hughes, Joseph W. Pallini, JR., Robert N. Rogers, Willam T. Higgins
  • Publication number: 20090307918
    Abstract: A technique is provided for detecting the surface profile of a seat pocket of a gate valve. An inspection tool is used to detect data at a plurality of points around the bore of the valve. The inspection tool has a sensor that is moveable between a retracted position and an extended position. The inspection tool is disposed within a valve body cavity with the sensor in the retracted position. The sensor of the inspection tool is then extended outward so that it is located within the portion of the bore of the valve having the surface profile to be detected. The sensor is rotated so that the sensor may obtain surface profile data at a plurality of points around the seat pocket of the valve body. The sensor of the inspection tool is connected to a processor-based device, such as a computer. The processor-based device processes the data from the sensor and provides it to a user in a form that is recognizable to the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2008
    Publication date: December 17, 2009
    Inventors: Robert N. Rogers, Rick C. Hunter
  • Publication number: 20090014184
    Abstract: A wellhead connector for connecting a riser or production tree to a wellhead of a subsea well utilizes a singular annular piston to lock the connector onto the wellhead. The wellhead connector includes a housing that contains dogs for engagement with the exterior of the wellhead housing. A cam ring is also included, which has an inner side for engaging the dogs and moving them inward into a locked position with the wellhead housing. Connecting rods connect the piston to the cam rings. As the piston moves downward, the cam ring also moves downward, forcing the dogs inward into a locked position. As the piston moves upward, the cam ring also moves upward, thereby unlocking the connector. A secondary annular piston is also provided to guarantee unlocking.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2007
    Publication date: January 15, 2009
    Inventors: Robert K. Voss, Perry J. Stokes, David W. Hughes, Joseph W. Pallini, JR., Robert N. Rogers
  • Patent number: 7219741
    Abstract: A subsea wellhead assembly has a tubing hanger with a tubing annulus passage and a production passage. A metal-sealing shuttle valve is mounted in the tubing hanger for blocking upward flow through the tubing annulus passage. The shuttle valve has a retention mechanism that prevents the shuttle from moving to the open position when fluid pressure is applied from above. The running tool releases the retention mechanism after testing has been completed, causing the shuttle to close. The tree has an engaging member that can be stroked downward into the tubing hanger annulus passage to move the shuttle valve to the open position for communicating with the annulus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Assignee: Vetco Gray Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen P. Fenton, Jon E. Hed, Robert N. Rogers
  • Patent number: 7063160
    Abstract: In a subsea wellhead assembly, a tubing hanger in communication with the subsea well has a hanger port extending through its side. A diverter surrounds the tubing hanger and diverts well fluid transmitted from the hanger port around a portion of the tubing hanger. The diverter transmits the well fluid to the inner surface of a wellhead member. A production port extending through a side of the wellhead member transmits the well fluid from the tubing hanger and diverter to an exterior of the wellhead member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Assignee: Vetco Gray Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Paul Fenton, Robert N. Rogers, Jon E. Hed
  • Patent number: 6840323
    Abstract: A subsea wellhead assembly has a tubing hanger with a tubing annulus passage and a production passage. A metal-sealing shuttle valve is mounted in the tubing hanger for blocking upward flow through the tubing annulus passage. The shuttle valve has a retention mechanism that prevents the shuttle from moving to the open position when fluid pressure is applied from above. The retention mechanism is released by the running tool after testing has been completed, causing the shuttle to close. The tree has an engaging member that can be stroked downward into the tubing hanger annulus passage to move the shuttle valve to the open position for communicating with the annulus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2005
    Assignee: ABB Vetco Gray Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen P. Fenton, Jon E Hed, Robert N. Rogers
  • Publication number: 20040159439
    Abstract: In a subsea wellhead assembly, a tubing hanger in communication with the subsea well has a hanger port extending through its side. A diverter surrounds the tubing hanger and diverts well fluid transmitted from the hanger port around a portion of the tubing hanger. The diverter transmits the well fluid to the inner surface of a wellhead member. A production port extending through a side of the wellhead member transmits the well fluid from the tubing hanger and diverter to an exterior of the wellhead member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2003
    Publication date: August 19, 2004
    Inventors: Stephen Paul Fenton, Robert N. Rogers, Jon E. Hed
  • Publication number: 20030226666
    Abstract: A subsea wellhead assembly has a tubing hanger with a tubing annulus passage and a production passage. A metal-sealing shuttle valve is mounted in the tubing hanger for blocking upward flow through the tubing annulus passage. The shuttle valve has a retention mechanism that prevents the shuttle from moving to the open position when fluid pressure is applied from above. The retention mechanism is released by the running tool after testing has been completed, causing the shuttle to close. The tree has an engaging member that can be stroked downward into the tubing hanger annulus passage to move the shuttle valve to the open position for communicating with the annulus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2003
    Publication date: December 11, 2003
    Inventors: Stephen P. Fenton, Jon E. Hed, Robert N. Rogers
  • Patent number: 4058464
    Abstract: A filter includes a rigid core through which the filtrate passes and about which there are wound a number of elongated porous tubular filter mediums that contain a resilient grid, there being a scrubber screen between successive turns of each filter medium, and resilient means yieldably enclosing the outermost surfaces of the helically wound parts. The filter mediums compress radially and expand radially in response to fluid pressure variations to produce relative movement between the filter mediums and the scrubber screen by which cleaning takes place, thereby extending filter life. The solids that have been filtered out are collected and built up on the screen and the helical assembly expands diametrically a corresponding amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1976
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1977
    Assignees: John R. Coffey, Vincent B. Conliff, deceased
    Inventor: Robert N. Rogers
  • Patent number: 3945923
    Abstract: A modular filter assembly for cleaning and polishing of potable waters including a fabric turbidity removal module and an adsorptive taste and odor removal module. The modules are connected in series so as to have turbidity removal prior to taste and odor removal to extend the operating life of the taste and odor removal module. The turbidity removal module includes a porous, fabric material assembly which is of a rolled or wrapped construction which provides a large filtration area to prevent its clogging prior to the utilization of the adsorptive capabilities of the taste and odor removal module. The turbidity removal module includes a flow grid assembly having inner and outer flow grid to maximize the distribution of the fluid being filtered over the filtration area of the module and to assure lateral flow of the filtered fluid through the module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1974
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1976
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Robert N. Rogers, Michael O. Saar