Patents by Inventor William James Shepherd

William James Shepherd 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).

  • Apparatus and method for detecting defects within a flexible pipe
    Patent number: 10663422
    Abstract: A detection apparatus and method arranged to detect defects within a flexible pipe at least partially surrounded by seawater. The detection apparatus comprises a seawater electrode, an impedance monitor and a processor. The seawater electrode is arranged to be in contact with seawater surrounding at least part of a flexible pipe. The impedance monitor is arranged to measure the impedance between a metallic structural component of the flexible pipe extending at least partially along the length of the flexible pipe and the seawater electrode in response to an electrical test signal applied to the seawater electrode. The processor is arranged to determine the distance from the seawater electrode to a pipe defect electrically connecting the metallic structural component to seawater using the measured impedance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: GE Oil & Gas UK Limited
    Inventors: John Cross McNab, Geoffrey Stephen Graham, Philip Michael Hunter Nott, Phillip Edward Harley, William James Shepherd
  • DETECTION APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR A FLEXIBLE PIPE
    Publication number: 20190250118
    Abstract: A detection apparatus and method arranged to detect defects within a flexible pipe at least partially surrounded by seawater. The detection apparatus comprises a seawater electrode, an impedance monitor and a processor. The seawater electrode is arranged to be in contact with seawater surrounding at least part of a flexible pipe. The impedance monitor is arranged to measure the impedance between a metallic structural component of the flexible pipe extending at least partially along the length of the flexible pipe and the seawater electrode in response to an electrical test signal applied to the seawater electrode. The processor is arranged to determine the distance from the seawater electrode to a pipe defect electrically connecting the metallic structural component to seawater using the measured impedance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2019
    Publication date: August 15, 2019
    Applicant: GE Oil & Gas UK Ltd
    Inventors: John Cross McNab, Geoffrey Stephen Graham, Philip Michael Hunter Nott, Phillip Edward Harley, William James Shepherd
  • Detection apparatus and method for a flexible pipe
    Patent number: 10324057
    Abstract: A detection apparatus and method arranged to detect defects within a flexible pipe at least partially surrounded by seawater. The detection apparatus comprises a seawater electrode, an impedance monitor and a processor. The seawater electrode is arranged to be in contact with seawater surrounding at least part of a flexible pipe. The impedance monitor is arranged to measure the impedance between a metallic structural component of the flexible pipe extending at least partially along the length of the flexible pipe and the seawater electrode in response to an electrical test signal applied to the seawater electrode. The processor is arranged to determine the distance from the seawater electrode to a pipe defect electrically connecting the metallic structural component to seawater using the measured impedance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: GE Oil & Gas UK Limited
    Inventors: John Cross McNab, Geoffrey Stephen Graham, Philip Michael Hunter Nott, Phillip Edward Harley, William James Shepherd
  • DETECTION APPARATUS AND METHOD
    Publication number: 20170122894
    Abstract: A detection apparatus and method arranged to detect defects within a flexible pipe at least partially surrounded by seawater. The detection apparatus comprises a seawater electrode, an impedance monitor and a processor. The seawater electrode is arranged to be in contact with seawater surrounding at least part of a flexible pipe. The impedance monitor is arranged to measure the impedance between a metallic structural component of the flexible pipe extending at least partially along the length of the flexible pipe and the seawater electrode in response to an electrical test signal applied to the seawater electrode. The processor is arranged to determine the distance from the seawater electrode to a pipe defect electrically connecting the metallic structural component to seawater using the measured impedance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2015
    Publication date: May 4, 2017
    Applicant: GE Oil & Gas UK Ltd
    Inventors: John Cross McNab, Geoffrey Stephen Graham, Philip Michael Hunter, Phillip Edward Harley, William James Shepherd