Patents by Inventor Stephen P. Lindblade

Stephen P. Lindblade 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: 7007623
    Abstract: A mooring yoke and method for using same to connect or disconnect a shuttle vessel to a body, such as an LNG liquefaction and storage vessel (LNG/FPSO). The yoke is pivotably connected at one end to the LNG/FPSO. The other or tip end of the yoke includes a buoyant element and a male connector element to be received in a female receiver element carried by the shuttle vessel. A tension element is arranged and designed to run through the male connector element and to be clamped on the shuttle vessel. A yoke windlass, alternatively mounted on the yoke or the LNG/FPSO pulls on the tension element thereby pulling the tip end of the yoke out of the sea and the male connector element into the female receiver element. A locking mechanism selectively locks the male element to the female receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2006
    Assignee: FMC Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: L. Terry Boatman, Stephen P. Lindblade, Jane C. McCollum, legal representative, Jerry L. McCollum, deceased
  • Publication number: 20040261683
    Abstract: A turret mooring system for a vessel which includes a moon pool comprises a turret which is positioned in the moon pool, a buoy and anchor chain assembly for anchoring the turret to the sea floor, a bearing assembly for rotatably connecting the turret to the vessel, and a bearing support assembly which comprises an upper ring member to which the bearing assembly is connected, a lower ring member which is connected to the vessel in the moon pool, and a number of elongated support beams which are connected between the upper and lower ring members. In addition, the lower ring member is connected to the vessel near the vertical center of the vessel in order to minimize the deflections of the bearing assembly due to hogging and sagging of the vessel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2004
    Publication date: December 30, 2004
    Applicant: FMC Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen P. Lindblade, Quoc A. Dang
  • Publication number: 20040261682
    Abstract: A turret mooring system for a vessel comprises a turret which is rotatably connected to the vessel and comprises a lower end, a buoy which is anchored to the sea floor and is releasably connectable to the lower end, and a bearing assembly which is positioned between the buoy and the vessel when the buoy is connected to the turret. In this manner, horizontal mooring loads acting on the buoy are transmitted through the bearing assembly to the vessel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2004
    Publication date: December 30, 2004
    Applicant: FMC Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen P. Lindblade
  • Publication number: 20040094082
    Abstract: A mooring yoke and method for using same to connect or disconnect a shuttle vessel to a body, such as an LNG liquefaction and storage vessel (LNG/FPSO). The yoke is pivotably connected at one end to the LNG/FPSO. The other or tip end of the yoke includes a buoyant element and a male connector element to be received in a female receiver element carried by the shuttle vessel. A tension element is arranged and designed to run through the male connector element and to be clamped on the shuttle vessel. A yoke windlass, alternatively mounted on the yoke or the LNG/FPSO pulls on the tension element thereby pulling the tip end of the yoke out of the sea and the male connector element into the female receiver element. A locking mechanism selectively locks the male element to the female receiver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2003
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Applicant: FMC Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: L. Terry Boatman, Stephen P. Lindblade, Jerry L. McCollum, Jane C. McCollum
  • Patent number: 6631745
    Abstract: An arrangement and pull-in method for fluidly coupling a steel riser to a flowline of a turret on a FSO/FPSO. The riser is pulled into a connector by a pull-in line inside the flowline. A pull-in head is releasable secured inside the upper end of the riser. The pull-in head is released from the riser after the riser is locked into the connector. A flex joint is placed above the connector to provide alignment of the connector to the riser during installation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: FMC Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: William L. Fontenot, Charles L. Garnero, Brent A. Salyer, Stephen P. Lindblade, L. Terry Boatman
  • Patent number: 6564740
    Abstract: A single hoisting mechanism is positioned on a turret of either an external or an internal turret mooring system for a FSO or FPSO vessel and is releasably securable to each of a plurality of anchor leg chains. The mechanism is mounted for angular rotation about the center-line of the turret in order that the hoist can be angularly aligned and selectively engaged with each of the anchor leg chains or riser/umbilicals spaced around the turret.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Assignee: FMC Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Miles A. Hobdy, Stephen P. Lindblade, David M. Seaman, Michael G. Shuhatovich
  • Publication number: 20030000447
    Abstract: An arrangement and pull-in method for fluidly coupling a steel riser to a flowline of a turret on a FSO/FPSO. The riser is pulled into a connector by a pull-in line inside the flowline. A pull-in head is releasable secured inside the upper end of the riser. The pull-in head is released from the riser after the riser is locked into the connector. A flex joint is placed above the connector to provide alignment of the connector to the riser during installation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2002
    Publication date: January 2, 2003
    Applicant: FMC INDUSTRIES , INC.
    Inventors: William L. Fontenot, Charles L. Garnero, Brent A. Salyer, Stephen P. Lindblade, L. Terry Boatman