Patents by Inventor Troy L. McKey, III
Troy L. McKey, III 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).
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Patent number: 9910176Abstract: Controllable tail buoy. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are methods including: towing a sensor streamer and tail buoy through water, the sensor streamer defining a proximal end and a distal end with the tail buoy coupled to the distal end, and the towing with the sensor streamer and the tail buoy submerged; and during the towing controlling depth of the distal end of the sensor streamer at least in part by the tail buoy; and steering the distal end of the sensor streamer at least in part by the tail buoy.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2017Date of Patent: March 6, 2018Assignee: PGS Geophysical ASInventor: Troy L. McKey, III
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Publication number: 20170184749Abstract: Controllable tail buoy. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are methods including: towing a sensor streamer and tail buoy through water, the sensor streamer defining a proximal end and a distal end with the tail buoy coupled to the distal end, and the towing with the sensor streamer and the tail buoy submerged; and during the towing controlling depth of the distal end of the sensor streamer at least in part by the tail buoy; and steering the distal end of the sensor streamer at least in part by the tail buoy.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2017Publication date: June 29, 2017Applicant: PGS Geophysical ASInventor: Troy L. McKey, III
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Patent number: 9630684Abstract: Controllable tail buoy. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are methods including: towing a sensor streamer and tail buoy through water, the sensor streamer defining a proximal end and a distal end with the tail buoy coupled to the distal end, and the towing with the sensor streamer and the tail buoy submerged; and during the towing controlling depth of the distal end of the sensor streamer at least in part by the tail buoy; and steering the distal end of the sensor streamer at least in part by the tail buoy.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2015Date of Patent: April 25, 2017Assignee: PGS Geophysical ASInventor: Troy L. McKey, III
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Patent number: 9506581Abstract: Retriever systems for marine geophysical survey cables. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are methods including causing a submerged sensor streamer to surface. The causing may be by moving a piston within a cylinder of a housing coupled to the sensor streamer, the moving of the piston responsive to pressure exerted on a face of the piston as the sensor streamer reaches or exceeds a predetermined depth, wherein the pressure exerted on the face of the piston overcomes a latching force tending to hold the piston in place at depths above the predetermined depth; and responsive to the piston overcoming the force that latches the piston releasing a ballast weight, wherein prior to the releasing the ballast weight is at least partially held in place based on position of the piston, and the releasing responsive to movement of the piston.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2016Date of Patent: November 29, 2016Assignee: PGS Geophysical ASInventors: Andre Stenzel, Youlin Hu, Troy L. McKey, III
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Publication number: 20160169415Abstract: Retriever systems for marine geophysical survey cables. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are methods including causing a submerged sensor streamer to surface. The causing may be by moving a piston within a cylinder of a housing coupled to the sensor streamer, the moving of the piston responsive to pressure exerted on a face of the piston as the sensor streamer reaches or exceeds a predetermined depth, wherein the pressure exerted on the face of the piston overcomes a latching force tending to hold the piston in place at depths above the predetermined depth; and responsive to the piston overcoming the force that latches the piston releasing a ballast weight, wherein prior to the releasing the ballast weight is at least partially held in place based on position of the piston, and the releasing responsive to movement of the piston.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 22, 2016Publication date: June 16, 2016Applicant: PGS Geophysical ASInventors: Andre STENZEL, Youlin HU, Troy L. McKey, III
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Patent number: 9316334Abstract: Retriever systems for marine geophysical survey cables. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are methods including causing a submerged sensor streamer to surface. The causing may be by moving a piston within a cylinder of a housing coupled to the sensor streamer, the moving of the piston responsive to pressure exerted on a face of the piston as the sensor streamer reaches or exceeds a predetermined depth, wherein the pressure exerted on the face of the piston overcomes a latching force tending to hold the piston in place at depths above the predetermined depth; and responsive to the piston overcoming the force that latches the piston releasing a ballast weight, wherein prior to the releasing the ballast weight is at least partially held in place based on position of the piston, and the releasing responsive to movement of the piston.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2014Date of Patent: April 19, 2016Assignee: PGS Geophysical ASInventors: Andre Stenzel, Youlin Hu, Troy L. McKey, III
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Publication number: 20150331129Abstract: Controllable tail buoy. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are methods including: towing a sensor streamer and tail buoy through water, the sensor streamer defining a proximal end and a distal end with the tail buoy coupled to the distal end, and the towing with the sensor streamer and the tail buoy submerged; and during the towing controlling depth of the distal end of the sensor streamer at least in part by the tail buoy; and steering the distal end of the sensor streamer at least in part by the tail buoy.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 29, 2015Publication date: November 19, 2015Applicant: PGS GEOPHYSICAL ASInventor: Troy L. McKey, III
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Patent number: 9126661Abstract: Controllable tail buoy. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are methods including: towing a sensor streamer and tail buoy through water, the sensor streamer defining a proximal end and a distal end with the tail buoy coupled to the distal end, and the towing with the sensor streamer and the tail buoy submerged; and during the towing controlling depth of the distal end of the sensor streamer at least in part by the tail buoy; and steering the distal end of the sensor streamer at least in part by the tail buoy.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 2011Date of Patent: September 8, 2015Assignee: PGS Geophysical ASInventor: Troy L. McKey, III
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Patent number: 8998535Abstract: Retriever systems for marine geophysical survey sensor streamers. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are methods including attaching a retriever system to a sensor streamer by: wrapping a lifting bag assembly at least partially around the sensor streamer, the lifting bag assembly comprising a deflated lifting bag, a gas cylinder, and a depth trigger mechanism; and covering the lifting bag assembly with an outer cover.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2012Date of Patent: April 7, 2015Assignee: PGS Geophysical ASInventors: Andre Stenzel, Youlin Hu, Troy L. McKey, III
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Publication number: 20150037102Abstract: Retriever systems for marine geophysical survey cables. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are methods including causing a submerged sensor streamer to surface. The causing may be by moving a piston within a cylinder of a housing coupled to the sensor streamer, the moving of the piston responsive to pressure exerted on a face of the piston as the sensor streamer reaches or exceeds a predetermined depth, wherein the pressure exerted on the face of the piston overcomes a latching force tending to hold the piston in place at depths above the predetermined depth; and responsive to the piston overcoming the force that latches the piston releasing a ballast weight, wherein prior to the releasing the ballast weight is at least partially held in place based on position of the piston, and the releasing responsive to movement of the piston.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 9, 2014Publication date: February 5, 2015Applicant: PGS Geophysical ASInventors: Andre STENZEL, Youlin HU, Troy L. McKey, III
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Patent number: 8882391Abstract: Retriever systems for marine geophysical survey cables. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are methods including causing a submerged sensor streamer to surface by flooding an intermediate chamber with water, the intermediate chamber defined within a cylinder of a housing coupled to the sensor streamer, the flooding of the intermediate chamber responsive to the sensor streamer reaching or exceeding a predetermined depth; and responsive to flooding the intermediate chamber moving a first piston within the cylinder; and thereby puncturing a seal of a compressed gas cylinder responsive to movement of the first piston, the puncturing makes the sensor streamer more positively buoyant.Type: GrantFiled: April 3, 2012Date of Patent: November 11, 2014Assignee: PGS Geophysical ASInventors: Andre Stenzel, Youlin Hu, Troy L. McKey, III
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Patent number: 8753038Abstract: A marine geophysical survey cable retriever system. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are methods including causing a submerged survey cable to surface. In some cases, causing the submerged survey cable to surface includes: shedding ballast weights when the survey cable reaches or exceeds a first predetermined depth; and inflating a lifting bag when the survey cable reaches or exceeds a second predetermined depth.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2011Date of Patent: June 17, 2014Assignee: PGS Geophysical ASInventors: Andre Stenzel, Troy L. McKey, III, Youlin Hu
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Publication number: 20130309017Abstract: Retriever systems for marine geophysical survey sensor streamers. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are methods including attaching a retriever system to a sensor streamer by: wrapping a lifting bag assembly at least partially around the sensor streamer, the lifting bag assembly comprising a deflated lifting bag, a gas cylinder, and a depth trigger mechanism; and covering the lifting bag assembly with an outer cover.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 18, 2012Publication date: November 21, 2013Applicant: PGS GEOPHYSICAL ASInventors: Andre STENZEL, Youlin HU, Troy L. MCKEY, III
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Publication number: 20130033960Abstract: Controllable tail buoy. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are methods including: towing a sensor streamer and tail buoy through water, the sensor streamer defining a proximal end and a distal end with the tail buoy coupled to the distal end, and the towing with the sensor streamer and the tail buoy submerged; and during the towing controlling depth of the distal end of the sensor streamer at least in part by the tail buoy; and steering the distal end of the sensor streamer at least in part by the tail buoy.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 5, 2011Publication date: February 7, 2013Applicant: PGS GEOPHYSICAL ASInventor: Troy L. McKey, III
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Publication number: 20130028662Abstract: A marine geophysical survey cable retriever system. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are methods including causing a submerged survey cable to surface. In some cases, causing the submerged survey cable to surface includes: shedding ballast weights when the survey cable reaches or exceeds a first predetermined depth; and inflating a lifting bag when the survey cable reaches or exceeds a second predetermined depth.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 29, 2011Publication date: January 31, 2013Applicant: PGS GEOPHYSICAL ASInventors: Andre Stenzel, Troy L. McKey, III, Youlin Hu
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Publication number: 20130028663Abstract: Retriever systems for marine geophysical survey cables. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are methods including causing a submerged sensor streamer to surface by flooding an intermediate chamber with water, the intermediate chamber defined within a cylinder of a housing coupled to the sensor streamer, the flooding of the intermediate chamber responsive to the sensor streamer reaching or exceeding a predetermined depth; and responsive to flooding the intermediate chamber moving a first piston within the cylinder; and thereby puncturing a seal of a compressed gas cylinder responsive to movement of the first piston, the puncturing makes the sensor streamer more positively buoyant.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 3, 2012Publication date: January 31, 2013Applicant: PGS GEOPHYSICAL ASInventors: Andre STENZEL, Youlin HU, Troy L. MCKEY, III
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Patent number: 7518948Abstract: A seismic streamer includes a jacket covering an exterior of the streamer. At least one strength member extends along the length of the streamer and is disposed inside the jacket. At least one seismic sensor is disposed in a sensor spacer affixed to the at least one strength member. An encapsulant is disposed between the sensor and the sensor spacer. The encapsulant is a substantially solid material that is soluble upon contact with a void filling material. A void filling material is disposed in the interior of the jacket and fills substantially all void space therein. The void filling material is introduced to the interior of the jacket in liquid form and undergoing state change to substantially solid thereafter.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 2008Date of Patent: April 14, 2009Assignee: PGS Geophysical ASInventors: Andre Stenzel, Bruce William Harrick, Troy L. McKey, III, James Andrew Langley, III
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Publication number: 20090038140Abstract: A seismic streamer includes a jacket covering an exterior of the streamer. At least one strength member extends along the length of the streamer and is disposed inside the jacket. At least one seismic sensor is disposed in a sensor spacer affixed to the at least one strength member. An encapsulant is disposed between the sensor and the sensor spacer. The encapsulant is a substantially solid material that is soluble upon contact with a void filling material. A void filling material is disposed in the interior of the jacket and fills substantially all void space therein. The void filling material is introduced to the interior of the jacket in liquid form and undergoing state change to substantially solid thereafter.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 14, 2008Publication date: February 12, 2009Inventors: Andre Stenzel, Bruce William Harrick, Troy L. McKey, III, James Andrew Langley, III
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Patent number: 7460434Abstract: A seismic streamer includes a jacket covering an exterior of the streamer. At least one strength member extends along the length of the streamer and is disposed inside the jacket. At least one seismic sensor is disposed in a sensor spacer affixed to the at least one strength member. An encapsulant is disposed between the sensor and the sensor spacer. The encapsulant is a substantially solid material that is soluble upon contact with a void filling material. A void filling material is disposed in the interior of the jacket and fills substantially all void space therein. The void filling material is introduced to the interior of the jacket in liquid form and undergoing state change to substantially solid thereafter.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2006Date of Patent: December 2, 2008Assignee: PGS Geophysical ASInventors: Andre Stenzel, Bruce William Harrick, Troy L. McKey, III, James Andrew Langley, III