Patents by Inventor Robert W. Franklin

Robert W. Franklin 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: 9297214
    Abstract: A free-standing riser system connects a subsea source to a surface structure. The system includes a concentric free-standing riser comprising inner and outer risers defining an annulus there between. A lower end of the riser is fluidly coupled to the subsea source through a lower riser assembly (LRA) and one or more subsea flexible conduits. An upper end of the riser is connected to a buoyancy assembly and the surface structure through an upper riser assembly (URA) and one or more upper flexible conduits, the riser also mechanically connected to a buoyancy assembly that applies upward tension to the riser. The riser may be insulated for flow assurance, either by a flow assurance fluid in the annulus, insulation of the outside of the outer riser, or both. The system may include a hydrate inhibition system and/or a subsea dispersant system. The surface structure may be dynamically positioned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignees: BP Corporation North America Inc., BP Exploration Operating Company Limited
    Inventors: Roy Shilling, Paul W. Gulgowski, Jr., Philip D. Maule, Kevin Kennelley, Walter Greene, Robert W. Franklin, Vicki Corso, Tony Oldfield, Adam L. Ballard, Graeme Steele, David E. Wilkinson, Ricky Thethi, Chau Nguyen, Steve Hatton
  • Publication number: 20150122503
    Abstract: A free-standing riser system connects a subsea source to a surface structure. The system includes a concentric free-standing riser comprising inner and outer risers defining an annulus there between. A lower end of the riser is fluidly coupled to the subsea source through a lower riser assembly (LRA) and one or more subsea flexible conduits. An upper end of the riser is connected to a buoyancy assembly and the surface structure through an upper riser assembly (URA) and one or more upper flexible conduits, the riser also mechanically connected to a buoyancy assembly that applies upward tension to the riser. The riser may be insulated for flow assurance, either by a flow assurance fluid in the annulus, insulation of the outside of the outer riser, or both. The system may include a hydrate inhibition system and/or a subsea dispersant system. The surface structure may be dynamically positioned.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2015
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventors: Roy Shilling, Paul W. Gulgowski, Jr., Philip D. Maule, Kevin Kennelley, Walter Greene, Robert W. Franklin, Vicki Corso, Tony Oldfield, Adam L. Ballard, Graeme Steele, David E. Wilkinson, Ricky Thethi, Chau Nguyen, Steve Hatton
  • Patent number: 8960302
    Abstract: A free-standing riser system connects a subsea source to a surface structure. The system includes a concentric free-standing riser comprising inner and outer risers defining an annulus there between. A lower end of the riser is fluidly coupled to the subsea source through a lower riser assembly (LRA) and one or more subsea flexible conduits. An upper end of the riser is connected to a buoyancy assembly and the surface structure through an upper riser assembly (URA) and one or more upper flexible conduits, the riser also mechanically connected to a buoyancy assembly that applies upward tension to the riser. The riser may be insulated for flow assurance, either by a flow assurance fluid in the annulus, insulation of the outside of the outer riser, or both. The system may include a hydrate inhibition system and/or a subsea dispersant system. The surface structure may be dynamically positioned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignees: BP Corporation North America, Inc., BP Exploration Operating Company Limited
    Inventors: Roy Shilling, Paul W. Gulgowski, Jr., Philip D. Maule, Kevin Kennelley, Walter Greene, Robert W. Franklin, Vicki Corso, Tony Oldfield, Adam L. Ballard, Graeme Steele, David E. Wilkinson, Ricky Thethi, Chau Nguyen, Steve Hatton
  • Publication number: 20130269947
    Abstract: A lower riser assembly connects a riser to a seabed mooring and to a subsea hydrocarbon fluid source. The assembly includes sufficient intake ports to accommodate flow of hydrocarbons from the hydrocarbon fluid source, as well as optional flow assurance fluid. The upper end of the member has a profile suitable for fluidly connecting to the riser. The lower end of the member includes a connector suitable for connecting to the seabed mooring. An upper riser assembly connects the riser to a near-surface subsea buoyancy device and to a surface structure. The assembly includes sufficient outtake ports to accommodate flow of hydrocarbons from the riser through a subsea flexible conduit to the surface structure. The upper end of the member includes a connector for connecting to a subsea buoyancy device. The lower end of the member comprises a profile suitable for fluidly connecting to the riser.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2011
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Applicant: BP Corporation North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Roy Shilling, Kevin Kennelley, Robert W. Franklin, Vicki Corso, Adam L. Ballard, Ricky Thethi, Chau Nguyen, Steve Hatton
  • Publication number: 20120085544
    Abstract: A free-standing riser system connects a subsea source to a surface structure. The system includes a concentric free-standing riser comprising inner and outer risers defining an annulus there between. A lower end of the riser is fluidly coupled to the subsea source through a lower riser assembly (LRA) and one or more subsea flexible conduits. An upper end of the riser is connected to a buoyancy assembly and the surface structure through an upper riser assembly (URA) and one or more upper flexible conduits, the riser also mechanically connected to a buoyancy assembly that applies upward tension to the riser. The riser may be insulated for flow assurance, either by a flow assurance fluid in the annulus, insulation of the outside of the outer riser, or both. The system may include a hydrate inhibition system and/or a subsea dispersant system. The surface structure may be dynamically positioned.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2011
    Publication date: April 12, 2012
    Applicants: BP Exploration Operating Company Limited, BP CORPORATION NORTH AMERICA INC.
    Inventors: Roy Shilling, Paul W. Gulgowski, JR., Philip D. Maule, Kevin Kennelley, Walter Greene, Robert W. Franklin, Vicki Corso, Tony Oldfield, Adam L. Ballard, Graeme Steele, David Wilkinson, Ricky Thethi, Chau Nguyen, Steve Hatton
  • Patent number: 5228188
    Abstract: SMD fuses having consistent operating characteristics are fabricated by forming a repeating lithographic fuse element pattern on an insulative substrate, passivating the structure, bonding a protective glass plate over the passivation layer, slicing the assembly so formed, terminating the slices and cutting the slices into individual fuses. Fuses thus manufactured may be of any desired dimensions, including standard and non-standard chip sizes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1993
    Assignee: AVX Corporation
    Inventors: Avner Badihi, Robert W. Franklin, Barry N. Breen
  • Patent number: 5166656
    Abstract: SMD fuses having consistent operating characteristics are fabricated by forming a repeating lithographic fuse element pattern on an insulative substrate, passivating the structure, bonding a protective glass plate over the passivation layer, slicing the assembly so formed, terminating the slices and cutting the slices into individual fuses. Fuses thus manufactured may be of any desired dimensions, including standard and non-standard chip sizes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1992
    Assignee: AVX Corporation
    Inventors: Avner Badihi, Robert W. Franklin, Barry N. Breen
  • Patent number: 5054569
    Abstract: A novel system for use in remotely starting a motor vehicle and operating vehicle accessories includes a remote unit having a digital controller which provides encoded digital command signals and a vehicle unit which receives the digital command signals and controllably operates the vehicle's engine and accessories in dependence thereon. The system is characterized by a frequency shift keying method of signal transmission which is highly reliable and not burdened by known carrier on, carrier off techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1991
    Assignee: Comfort Key Corporation
    Inventors: Steven S. Scott, Robert W. Franklin, Manfred Davis
  • Patent number: 4757423
    Abstract: A solid electrolytic capacitor has an anode body (1) and an anode wire (2) and lead out connections (8, 3). In series with the connections and the body is a fusable link (6) formed of a composite of low melting point conductive plastics metal matrix. The fusable link (6) is in the form of a pad of this material. In a preferred form this material is made by compressing into sheets metal-coated polymer particles. The sheet is cut into pads and inserted into the capacitor assemblies to act as a combined thermal and electrical fuse. Preferably the pads are less than 1 mm thick and coated on both sides with solder and approximately 1 mm square. The pads can be reflow soldered between the anode and the lead frame or negative wire termination. Alternatively it can be reflow soldered between the anode wire and the positive wire termination. As the current reaches high level if a fault develops in the capacitor, the metal layer will melt and also melt the plastics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1987
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1988
    Assignee: STC plc
    Inventor: Robert W. Franklin
  • Patent number: 4494299
    Abstract: Solid electrolytic capacitors are made in a batch process by etching a tantalum foil to form a number of rows of teeth, screen-printing tantalum powder ink onto the teeth, processing the sheet through sintering, anodizing and manganesing stages, sequentially encapsulating opposite edges of the rows of teeth in conductive epoxy and the "gap" with insulating epoxy and separating the individual capacitors from the rows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1982
    Date of Patent: January 22, 1985
    Assignee: International Standard Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Robert W. Franklin, Peter F. Briscoe