Patents by Inventor William Fontenot

William Fontenot 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).

  • Turret bearing structure for vessels
    Patent number: 8671864
    Abstract: A radial bearing arrangement (2) including a turret (14) carried by a vessel (10), the turret (14) having an outer annular rail (38) secured about its outer circumference. The radial bearing arrangement (2) also includes a plurality of rollers (104) attached to the vessel (10) via bearing assemblies (74). The bearing assemblies (74) are arranged and designed to urge the rollers (104) into contact with the annular rail (38), and to limit radial movement of the vessel (10) relative to the turret (14). A plurality of bearing pads (114) are attached to the vessel (10) and positioned circumferentially between the bearing assemblies (74). The bearing pads (114) are arranged and designed to contact the rail (38) under peak loading to limit radial movement of the vessel (10) relative to the turret (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: SOFEC, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Lindblade, William Fontenot, Caspar Heyl
  • TURRET BEARING STRUCTURE FOR VESSELS
    Publication number: 20130269582
    Abstract: A radial bearing arrangement (2) including a turret (14) carried by a vessel (10), the turret (14) having an outer annular rail (38) secured about its outer circumference. The radial bearing arrangement (2) also includes a plurality of rollers (104) attached to the vessel (10) via bearing assemblies (74). The bearing assemblies (74) are arranged and designed to urge the rollers (104) into contact with the annular rail (38), and to limit radial movement of the vessel (10) relative to the turret (14). A plurality of bearing pads (114) are attached to the vessel (10) and positioned circumferentially between the bearing assemblies (74). The bearing pads (114) are arranged and designed to contact the rail (38) under peak loading to limit radial movement of the vessel (10) relative to the turret (14).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Inventors: Stephen Lindblade, William Fontenot, Caspar Heyl
  • Dual-axis chain support assembly
    Publication number: 20060213418
    Abstract: A support assembly for a mooring line of a floating vessel comprises a trunnion block which is pivotally supported on the vessel and a stopper block to which the mooring line is releasably secured. One of the trunnion block and the stopper block comprises a convex surface and the other of the trunnion block and the stopper block comprises a concave surface. In operation, the convex surface engages the concave surface to thereby pivotally support the stopper block on the trunnion block.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2005
    Publication date: September 28, 2006
    Applicant: FMC Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: L. Boatman, William Fontenot, Roger Mickan