Patents by Inventor Rockford Dee Lyle

Rockford Dee Lyle 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: 10648566
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure include systems and methods with a piston cylinder arrangement comprising an inner barrel positioned within an outer barrel, the inner barrel being linearly moveable along an axis. A primary sealing assembly at an upper end of the outer barrel includes a plurality of seals positioned to block debris from entering an interior chamber. Additionally, an end cap is coupled to the inner barrel and an end cap diameter is greater than an inner barrel outer diameter. Moreover a secondary sealing assembly is arranged between the end cap and the primary sealing assembly and includes a plurality of secondary seals positioned to block debris from entering the interior chamber of the riser tensioner, wherein the secondary sealing assembly reduces a stroke length of the inner barrel when installed above the primary sealing assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Vetco Gray, LLC
    Inventors: Rockford Dee Lyle, Jesse B. Riha, Daniel Louis Havelka, Robert James Wagner
  • Publication number: 20190264813
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure include systems and methods with a piston cylinder arrangement comprising an inner barrel positioned within an outer barrel, the inner barrel being linearly moveable along an axis. A primary sealing assembly at an upper end of the outer barrel includes a plurality of seals positioned to block debris from entering an interior chamber. Additionally, an end cap is coupled to the inner barrel and an end cap diameter is greater than an inner barrel outer diameter. Moreover a secondary sealing assembly is arranged between the end cap and the primary sealing assembly and includes a plurality of secondary seals positioned to block debris from entering the interior chamber of the riser tensioner, wherein the secondary sealing assembly reduces a stroke length of the inner barrel when installed above the primary sealing assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2018
    Publication date: August 29, 2019
    Applicant: Vetco Gray, LLC
    Inventors: Rockford Dee Lyle, Jesse B. Riha, Daniel Louis Havelka, Robert James Wagner
  • Patent number: 9803446
    Abstract: A mechanical lockdown system for a subsea wellhead connector includes a lockdown member or plate that engages with a tie rod that is connected to the wellhead assembly. The lockdown system includes a support member that is permanently secured to an annular ring through which the tie rod passes. The lockdown system also includes a first handle and a second handle that are installed using a plunger or spring loaded system such that mechanical lockdown system can be easily moved from a lockdown open position to a lockdown engaged position as and when desired with minimal ROV interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: VETCO GRAY INC.
    Inventors: Rockford Dee Lyle, Irving Jair Villasenor, Viviana Resendiz, Sergio Romero
  • Patent number: 9745817
    Abstract: A method for tying back a subsea well assembly to a surface platform and a tieback connector used to perform this operation. The tieback connector includes a mandrel having an axis, external threads, an upward facing lip on an external lower end portion of the mandrel, a backup ring having internal threads engaged with the external threads of the mandrel, a sleeve carried on an outside diameter of the backup ring. When the mandrel is rotated relative to the backup ring, the mandrel moves axially upward relative to the sleeve, deforming an annular seal assembly between the upward facing lip of the mandrel and the load bearing surface of the sleeve, thereby creating a seal between the apparatus and the wellhead housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: VETCO GRAY INC.
    Inventors: Rockford Dee Lyle, Joseph William Pallini
  • Patent number: 9482068
    Abstract: A subsea well connector for connecting a tubular member to a subsea wellhead assembly includes a tieback connector having an annular stationary connector body that circumscribes a portion of an annular moveable connector body. A tie rod with a tie rod profile extends axially from the stationary connector body. A dog ring circumscribes the tie rod and is moveable between a lockdown open position where the dog ring is spaced from the tie rod, and a lockdown engaged position where a dog ring inner diameter profile engages the tie rod profile, to axially couple the stationary connector body and the moveable connector body. An annular piston circumscribes the dog ring and has a region with a reduced inner diameter that engages an outer diameter of the dog ring to retain the dog ring in the lockdown engaged position. A cylinder circumscribes the annular piston, defining a lockdown piston cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Vetco Gray, Inc.
    Inventor: Rockford Dee Lyle
  • Publication number: 20160265297
    Abstract: A method for tying back a subsea well assembly to a surface platform and a tieback connector used to perform this operation. The tieback connector includes a mandrel having an axis, external threads, an upward facing lip on an external lower end portion of the mandrel, a backup ring having internal threads engaged with the external threads of the mandrel, a sleeve carried on an outside diameter of the backup ring. When the mandrel is rotated relative to the backup ring, the mandrel moves axially upward relative to the sleeve, deforming an annular seal assembly between the upward facing lip of the mandrel and the load bearing surface of the sleeve, thereby creating a seal between the apparatus and the wellhead housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2015
    Publication date: September 15, 2016
    Inventors: Rockford Dee Lyle, Joseph William Pallini
  • Publication number: 20160177651
    Abstract: A subsea well connector for connecting a tubular member to a subsea wellhead assembly includes a tieback connector having an annular stationary connector body that circumscribes a portion of an annular moveable connector body. A tie rod with a tie rod profile extends axially from the stationary connector body. A dog ring circumscribes the tie rod and is moveable between a lockdown open position where the dog ring is spaced from the tie rod, and a lockdown engaged position where a dog ring inner diameter profile engages the tie rod profile, to axially couple the stationary connector body and the moveable connector body. An annular piston circumscribes the dog ring and has a region with a reduced inner diameter that engages an outer diameter of the dog ring to retain the dog ring in the lockdown engaged position. A cylinder circumscribes the annular piston, defining a lockdown piston cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Applicant: VETCO GRAY INC.
    Inventor: Rockford Dee Lyle
  • Publication number: 20160090807
    Abstract: A mechanical lockdown system for a subsea wellhead connector includes a lockdown member or plate that engages with a tie rod that is connected to the wellhead assembly. The lockdown system includes a support member that is permanently secured to an annular ring through which the tie rod passes. The lockdown system also includes a first handle and a second handle that are installed using a plunger or spring loaded system such that mechanical lockdown system can be easily moved from a lockdown open position to a lockdown engaged position as and when desired with minimal ROV interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Publication date: March 31, 2016
    Inventors: Rockford Dee Lyle, Irving Jair Villasenor, Viviana Resendiz, Sergio Romero
  • Patent number: 9145745
    Abstract: A collet assembly connects two tubular members with a rotation of an outer sleeve. The collet assembly includes a first tubular member with a grooved outer diameter end. The end is inserted into a collet having grooved inner and outer diameter surfaces, and an outer annular sleeve is threaded onto the collet. A grooved outer diameter end of a second tubular member is inserted into the collet. The outer annular sleeve is rotated relative to the collet. The rotation causes the collet to partially disengage from the outer annular sleeve and fully engage the grooves of the ends of the first tubular member and the second tubular member, thereby securing the first tubular member to the second tubular member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: Vetco Gray Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph William Pallini, Jr., Ali Hasan, Rockford Dee Lyle
  • Patent number: 8757671
    Abstract: A subsea riser assembly connects two tubular members with axial movement of an outer sleeve. The assembly includes a first tubular member having an end, and a second tubular member having an end with a plurality of box end fingers separated by slots, the second tubular member coaxial with the first tubular member. The end of the first tubular member is inserted into the end of the second tubular member. An outer sleeve having an inner diameter that engages an outer diameter of each box end finger. Axial movement of the outer sleeve relative to the box end fingers causes the inner diameter of the outer sleeve to interact with the outer diameter of the box end fingers, thereby causing the box end fingers to contract radially. The radial contraction of the box end fingers secures the first tubular member to the second tubular member in a made-up position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Vetco Gray Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph William Pallini, Jr., Steven Matthew Wong, Rockford Dee Lyle
  • Publication number: 20130140813
    Abstract: A subsea riser assembly connects two tubular members with axial movement of an outer sleeve. The assembly includes a first tubular member having an end, and a second tubular member having an end with a plurality of box end fingers separated by slots, the second tubular member coaxial with the first tubular member. The end of the first tubular member is inserted into the end of the second tubular member. An outer sleeve having an inner diameter that engages an outer diameter of each box end finger. Axial movement of the outer sleeve relative to the box end fingers causes the inner diameter of the outer sleeve to interact with the outer diameter of the box end fingers, thereby causing the box end fingers to contract radially. The radial contraction of the box end fingers secures the first tubular member to the second tubular member in a made-up position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2011
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Applicant: VETCO GRAY INC.
    Inventors: Joseph William Pallini, JR., Steven Matthew Wong, Rockford Dee Lyle
  • Publication number: 20130076028
    Abstract: A collet assembly connects two tubular members with a rotation of an outer sleeve. The collet assembly includes a first tubular member with a grooved outer diameter end. The end is inserted into a collet having grooved inner and outer diameter surfaces, and an outer annular sleeve is threaded onto the collet. A grooved outer diameter end of a second tubular member is inserted into the collet. The outer annular sleeve is rotated relative to the collet. The rotation causes the collet to partially disengage from the outer annular sleeve and fully engage the grooves of the ends of the first tubular member and the second tubular member, thereby securing the first tubular member to the second tubular member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Applicant: Vetco Gray Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph William Pallini, JR., Ali Hasan, Rockford Dee Lyle
  • Patent number: 6682107
    Abstract: A connector for connecting two tubular members has a pin and a box, the box having a bore that receives the pin in stabbing engagement. The bore having a grooved profile, and a split lock ring mounted to the pin, the lock ring snapping into engagement with the grooved profile in the box when the box and pin are stabbed together to lock the tubular members together. An annular wedge shoulder is located on the pin axially spaced apart and facing a rim on the box. The wedge shoulder and rim are inclined relative to each other, resulting in a closer axial distance between them at outer diameters of the pin and box than farther inward. An annular recess is located on the pin at an inner portion of the wedge shoulder, the recess having an inner wall facing outwardly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Assignee: ABB Vetco Gray Inc.
    Inventors: Brian N. Munk, Joseph W. Pallini, Jr., Rockford Dee Lyle
  • Publication number: 20020163190
    Abstract: A connector for connecting two tubular members has a pin and a box, the box having a bore that receives the pin in stabbing engagement. The bore having a grooved profile, and a split lock ring mounted to the pin, the lock ring snapping into engagement with the grooved profile in the box when the box and pin are stabbed together to lock the tubular members together. An annular wedge shoulder is located on the pin axially spaced apart and facing a rim on the box. The wedge shoulder and rim are inclined relative to each other, resulting in a closer axial distance between them at outer diameters of the pin and box than farther inward. An annular recess is located on the pin at an inner portion of the wedge shoulder, the recess having an inner wall facing outwardly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2002
    Publication date: November 7, 2002
    Inventors: Brian N. Munk, Joseph W. Pallini, Rockford Dee Lyle