Patents by Inventor Thomas L. Elliston

Thomas L. Elliston 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: 4919050
    Abstract: An improved well perforating device comprising a body member in the form of a cylindrical pressure vessel containing shaped explosive charges positioned normal to the longitudinal axis of the body member. The perforating device body is systematically shaped externally at the foci of the hollow cones so that both focused and wall expansion energy of the explosive energy of detonation is sufficiently controlled to prevent excessive deformation of the outer diameter of the body member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 24, 1990
    Inventors: John W. Dobrinski, Thomas L. Elliston
  • Patent number: 4494415
    Abstract: A triplex plunger pump for liquid cryogen service includes a power end frame comprising a casing formed of welded plate sections and elongated tubular members interconnected to form a main bearing support structure which minimizes the transmission of pump reaction forces to the casing outer walls. The power end frame is provided with removable guide sleeves for supporting respective cylindrical crossheads. The sleeves are retained in the power end frame in bores formed in spaced apart support plates. The crank or eccentric shaft is a multipart assembly including a cylindrical shaft having spaced apart splined sections which are interfittingly engaged with splines formed on removable eccentrics. The shaft main support bearings and the eccentric bearings are cylindrical roller bearing assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1982
    Date of Patent: January 22, 1985
    Assignee: Hydra-Rig, Incorporated
    Inventor: Thomas L. Elliston
  • Patent number: 4478561
    Abstract: A hydraulic intensifier comprising a stationary working fluid plunger connected to a power fluid cylinder and piston arrangement disposed around the plunger. The power fluid piston is disposed around and integral with a working fluid cylinder member which is reciprocable with respect to the working fluid plunger to displace working fluid from the intensifier. A head member arranged at one end of the plunger includes a cavity for receiving the working fluid discharge valve which is coaxial with the working fluid plunger and in communication with a working fluid cylinder chamber by way of an elongated passage within the plunger. The working fluid inlet valve is disposed in a removable cover member attached to the head of the working fluid cylinder. The power fluid cylinder is removably connected to the head member by a releasable flange clamping connector assemblies. The inlet and discharge valves are accessible through valve covers which are held in assembly with the heads by similar connector assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1982
    Date of Patent: October 23, 1984
    Assignee: Hydra-Rig, Incorporated
    Inventor: Thomas L. Elliston
  • Patent number: 4436177
    Abstract: An operator cab for an over-the-road truck includes a forward disposed driver's compartment and a separate equipment control station disposed rearwardly of the driver's compartment. The control station includes a control panel disposed below a window in the rear wall of the cab. The cab provides standing head room at the control station whereby equipment on board the truck may be monitored and controlled from the control station and instrumentation on the driver's compartment instrument panel may also be viewed by the operator at the control station. A combination bunk and operator's seat is disposed across the interior of the cab between the driver's compartment and the control station and, together with foldable curtains disposed within the interior of the cab, defines a convertible sleeping compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1982
    Date of Patent: March 13, 1984
    Assignee: Hydra-Rig, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas L. Elliston
  • Patent number: 4417846
    Abstract: Apparatus for supporting a length of pipe to accommodate pipe stabbing and removal operations during launching or recovery of the length of pipe is disclosed. The apparatus is designed for use with a hoist rig of the type having a mast structure secured to a support platform, a traveling block, and power means including a sheave and cable assembly supported by the mast structure which are operatively connected to raise and lower the traveling block. A detachable elevator block is provided for supporting the length of pipe in a make up position at a stabbing station on the support platform. Latching means are carried by the traveling block for releasably coupling the elevator block to the traveling block during pipe running and recovery operations. In a preferred embodiment, the latching means are mounted for reciprocal and pivotal movement within a latching chamber of the traveling block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1977
    Date of Patent: November 29, 1983
    Assignee: Hydra-Rig, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas L. Elliston
  • Patent number: 4390315
    Abstract: An extendable utility boom assembly for assisting fire-fighting operations performed from a semi-submersible service vessel upon an offshore platform is disclosed. The boom assembly is moved to operating position by means of a carriage assembly which is mounted for movement along a track secured to the deck of the service vessel. Orientation of the boom assembly in azimuth and pitch is provided by a supporting frame which is pivotally mounted on the carriage assembly for angular movement through a horizontal plane, and a trunnion which is pivotally mounted on the supporting frame for angular movement through a vertical plane. An elongated utility boom is supported by roller bearing elements for axial movement through the trunnion. A first linear actuator is interconnected between the carriage assembly and supporting frame for displacing the supporting frame through the horizontal plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1980
    Date of Patent: June 28, 1983
    Assignee: Hydra Rig Incorporated
    Inventor: Thomas L. Elliston
  • Patent number: 4324194
    Abstract: A stabilized hoist rig for lowering, lifting, and supporting a pipe string from a vessel or floating platform in a deep ocean is disclosed. A resilient bearing member is disposed in load supporting relation intermediate the vessel and the hoist rig. A powered system is provided for angularly displacing the hoist rig with respect to the vessel to maintain vertical alignment of the hoist rig with respect to the pipe string as the vessel rolls and pitches during pipe stabbing and removal operations. In a preferred embodiment, the pipe string is supported by a slip bowl and a second resilient bearing member disposed intermediate the slip bowl and the hoist rig, and a system is provided for locking the hoist rig in a fixed position with respect to the vessel for permitting the vessel and hoist rig to roll and pitch with respect to the slip bowl in response to movements of the ocean in a passive support operating mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1979
    Date of Patent: April 13, 1982
    Assignee: Hydra-Rig, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas L. Elliston
  • Patent number: 4290495
    Abstract: A portable workover rig for handling a pipe string in a well casing includes a base platform and a collapsible mast which is movable from a reclining transport position to an erect elevated position of use. The mast is supported for free-standing operation by a carriage assembly including a cantilever support base mounted on the base platform for pivotal movement from the transport position to the position of use. The carriage assembly includes lift arms coupled in parallel relation intermediate the cantilever support base and the rig support platform for maintaining the cantilever support base in parallel alignment with the base platform. Hoisting and snubbing operations are performed by drawworks including a linear hydraulic actuator carried on the base platform, a traveling block supported for vertical movement along the mast by hoist and snub cables, and traveling sheaves carried by the actuator through a stroke pathway which is oriented transversely with respect to the mast.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1979
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1981
    Assignee: Hydra-Rig, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas L. Elliston
  • Patent number: 4285629
    Abstract: An extendable utility boom assembly for assisting fire-fighting operations performed from a semi-submersible service vessel upon an offshore platform is disclosed. The boom assembly is moved to operating position by means of a carriage assembly which is mounted for movement along a track secured to the deck of the service vessel. Orientation of the boom assembly in azimuth and pitch is provided by a supporting frame which is pivotally mounted on the carriage assembly for angular movement through a horizontal plane, and a boom housing which is pivotally mounted on the supporting frame for angular movement through a vertical plane. An elongated utility boom is supported by roller bearing elements for axial movement through the boom housing. A first linear actuator is interconnected between the carriage assembly and supporting frame for displacing the supporting frame through the horizontal plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1978
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1981
    Inventor: Thomas L. Elliston
  • Patent number: 4257456
    Abstract: A control valve for actuating a double acting hydraulic jack or lift cylinder features a pressure compensator assembly for limiting the rate of retraction of the cylinder and piston relative to each other under heavy loading conditions to prevent dropping a load or letting the load get out of control. Pressure compensation is provided by a floating piston which is movably coupled in releasable engagement with a spool, wherein engagement of the piston with the spool defines a restricted flow path for limiting hydraulic flow out of the blind end of the cylinder to tank during retraction. According to a preferred embodiment, the spool is provided with a plurality of notches defining restricted flow passages which are covered and uncovered by the piston as it moves into and out of engagement with the spool. A compression spring is coupled between the piston and the spool for biasing the piston for movement away from the spool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1979
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1981
    Assignee: Hydra-Rig, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas L. Elliston
  • Patent number: 4200054
    Abstract: A stabilized hoist rig for lowering, lifting, and supporting a pipe string from a vessel or floating platform in a deep ocean is disclosed. A resilient bearing member is disposed in load supporting relation intermediate the vessel and the hoist rig. A powered system is provided for angularly displacing the hoist rig with respect to the vessel to maintain vertical alignment of the hoist rig with respect to the pipe string as the vessel rolls and pitches during pipe stabbing and removal operations. In a preferred embodiment, the pipe string is supported by a slip bowl and a second resilient bearing member disposed intermediate the slip bowl and the hoist rig, and a system is provided for locking the hoist rig in a fixed position with respect to the vessel for permitting the vessel and hoist rig to roll and pitch with respect to the slip bowl in response to movements of the ocean in a passive support operating mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1976
    Date of Patent: April 29, 1980
    Inventor: Thomas L. Elliston
  • Patent number: 4128229
    Abstract: A hoist rig for lifting and lowering a pipestring is disclosed. The rig includes first and second vertical mast structures, a traveling block for engaging and transporting the pipestring, and a compound power transmission system for raising and lowering the traveling block and pipestring. The compound power transmission system includes traveling sheaves mounted on the extensible portion of the linear actuators, crown sheaves mounted on the upper ends of the mast structures, and first and second cable systems having end portions secured to the traveling block and having intermediate portions disposed in cooperative reeved engagement with the traveling sheaves and crown sheaves of each mast structure for displacing the traveling block in response to extension or retraction of the linear actuators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1977
    Date of Patent: December 5, 1978
    Assignee: Hydra-Rig, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas L. Elliston
  • Patent number: 3960360
    Abstract: A workover rig for lifting or lowering oil well pipe into a well casing is disclosed. The rig has a mast structure adapted to communicate hydraulic fluid to a drive cylinder which actuates a pulley system operably connected to a pipe hoist or traveling block with remotely operable pipe engaging grips. The dynamic loading on the mast is minimized by the drive cylinder which is affixed to a cross head at the mast crown and the fluid pressure force in the mast which automatically compensates for shock and weight loads on the mast. A hydraulic control system is operative in a regenerative high speed mode to permit multiple speed operation of the hoist. The structure is adapted to be supported at the well casing to transfer the load from the oil well platform to the casing. The method includes operating the mast in conjunction with an adjustable tension winch to efficiently transfer pipe between the mast and pipe storage area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1972
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1976
    Assignee: Thomas L. Elliston
    Inventor: Thomas L. Elliston