Patents by Inventor Williams C. Parks

Williams C. Parks 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).

  • Publication number: 20040207202
    Abstract: A riser assembly includes riser segments, each having threaded ends. A coupling nut is connected to the threaded end of the first riser segment. The threads of a second riser segment and a set of corresponding threads of the coupling nut are breech threads, which allow the second riser segment to stab into the coupling nut and engage the first riser segment. The coupling nut rotates a portion of a turn in order for the breech threads of the second riser segment and the first riser segment to engage each other. Castellations on the first and second riser segments engage each other to transmit torsional forces from one riser segment to the other instead of through the threads.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2003
    Publication date: October 21, 2004
    Inventor: William C. Parks
  • Publication number: 20040040975
    Abstract: The system includes a bin hopper which temporarily stores a plurality of small elements, such as medications. The elements are moved out of the bin and singulated into a one-by-one sequence by a series of singulating conveyors. The resulting sequence of elements is moved onto a main system conveyor where the element is identified and then moved to a loading mechanism which arranges the item so it is ready to be gripped and stored. The system includes a mass storage apparatus comprising a series of four upstanding cylindrical drums, each having a plurality of individually accessible and addressable cell storage locations for the elements. A gripping apparatus removes the elements from the loading mechanism and transfers them to a selected location in a cylindrical drum. When an article is to be; dispensed, the drum is rotated so that an ejection arm comes adjacent the desired location in the drum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2002
    Publication date: March 4, 2004
    Inventors: Steven N.W. Hunter, David M. Browning, Dennis J. Fuhrman, William C. Park
  • Patent number: 6161618
    Abstract: A subsea control module consists of three primary sections. The lower portion consists of a plate for carrying hydraulic couplings and hydraulic passages from valves to couplings. The lower portion contains a sub-assembly containing electro-optical couplings with direct sealed passages and wiring to a dry electronics chamber. The valve manifold has multiple pressure supply sources and a plurality of valves mounted therein. An outside portion of the valves are exposed so that the valves are externally accessible without disassembly of the subsea control module assembly, which facilitates an increase in accessibility and a reduction in maintenance times and costs. Electronics, wiring and solenoid valves are located in a one atmosphere, dry nitrogen purged chamber in a pressure vessel dome. The dry chamber has direct access to transducers and solenoid valves, thereby eliminating subsea cables. A mandrel extends below the device for engagement with a central locking mechanism in a receiver baseplate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2000
    Assignee: DTC International, Inc.
    Inventors: William C. Parks, J. Douglas Smith
  • Patent number: 6070668
    Abstract: A spanner joint assembly for connecting between an upper riser and a conventional dual bore tubing hanger in a subsea well. The spanner joint assembly includes upper and lower spanner joint portions connected to each other through an emergency disconnect portion. The upper spanner joint portion has a longitudinal production bore and a longitudinal annulus. The lower spanner joint portion has a longitudinal production bore with a production bore valve and a longitudinal nonconcentric annulus access bore. The emergency disconnect portion includes an upper mandrel connected to the upper spanner joint portion and a lower mandrel connected to the lower spanner joint portion. A releasable mechanical connector includes a retaining groove in the lower mandrel and a collet connected to the upper mandrel. The collet has a latching portion extending beyond the upper mandrel which is adapted to be received in the retaining groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2000
    Assignee: Sonsub Inc.
    Inventors: Williams C. Parks, Walter S. Going, III, Michael W. Spiering, Reginald L. Currier
  • Patent number: 5732773
    Abstract: A bore selector assembly having a unitary bottom section having primary and secondary inlet passageways extending therethrough, a unitary interior section having a bore therethrough, a unitary top section with a primary outlet passageway therethrough, and an outer sleeve extending over the interior section and securing the bottom, interior and top sections together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1998
    Assignee: Sonsub, Inc.
    Inventors: William C. Parks, Michael Spiering
  • Patent number: 5535827
    Abstract: A hydraulic connector having a first assembly releasably connected to a second assembly. The first assembly includes a substantially cylindrical body having a longitudinal bore therethrough and a receptacle portion surrounding the longitudinal bore. The first assembly has an internal circumferential chamber therein. The chamber has an upper portion and a lower portion. The second assembly includes a substantially cylindrical body having a longitudinal bore therethrough and a protruding portion having an external circumferential groove. A movable locking ring is housed in the lower portion of the chamber. The locking ring has a first surface to matingly engage the circumferential groove. A piston is slidably received in the chamber. The piston is permitted to move axially relative to the first assembly. The piston has an upper head and a lower head connected by a sleeve segment. The piston and the chamber form individual chambers for locking and unlocking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1996
    Assignee: Sonsub, Inc.
    Inventors: Jerry C. Graff, William C. Parks
  • Patent number: 5526882
    Abstract: An improved subsea template system. A drilling template is adapted to rest on the seafloor. The drilling template includes at least one conductor guide through which a well is drilled. An alignment structure is attached to the top of the conductor guide and fits within a conductor guide of a production template. The production template includes at least one conductor guide more than the drilling template. Once engaged, the alignment sleeve serves to coaxially align the conductor guide of the drilling template with a corresponding conductor guide of the production template.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 18, 1996
    Assignee: Sonsub, Inc.
    Inventors: William C. Parks, Walter S. Going, III
  • Patent number: 5433274
    Abstract: A hydraulic connector having a first assembly releasably connected to a second assembly. The first assembly comprises a substantially cylindrical body having a longitudinal bore therethrough and a receptacle portion surrounding the longitudinal bore. The first assembly has an internal circumferential chamber therein. The chamber has an upper portion and a lower portion. The second assembly comprises a substantially cylindrical body having a longitudinal bore therethrough and a protruding portion having an external circumferential groove. A movable locking ring is housed in the lower portion of the chamber. The locking ring has a first surface to matingly engage the circumferential groove. A piston is slidably received in the chamber. The piston is permitted to move axially relative to the first assembly. The piston has an upper head and a lower head connected by a sleeve segment. The piston and the chamber form individual chambers for locking and unlocking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 18, 1995
    Assignee: Sonsub, Inc.
    Inventors: Jerry C. Graff, William C. Parks
  • Patent number: 5423575
    Abstract: A concentric riser joint comprising inner and outer tubular assemblies each having a longitudinal bore therethrough. An annular space is formed between the inner and outer tubular assemblies. The outer tubular assembly comprises a tubular element having a pin end coupling connected to a first end and a box end coupling connected to a second end of the tubular element. A cylindrical retainer plate is received in the pin end coupling. The cylindrical retainer plate has an inner bore for receiving the inner tubular assembly therethrough. The retainer plate further includes a plurality of longitudinal bores extending therethrough. A seal sub is connected to one end of the inner tubular assembly. The seal sub is partially received in the box end coupling and includes a plurality of longitudinal passageways extending therethrough. A threaded nut connects the outer tubular assembly to an adjoining concentric riser joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 13, 1995
    Assignee: Sonsub, Inc.
    Inventor: William C. Parks
  • Patent number: 5417459
    Abstract: An improved umbilical connector for preferable use in a subsea application. The apparatus includes a female portion and a male portion having connections located within, and a threadable fastener on the male and female halves intended to threadably engage thereby advancing and locking the male half within the female half of the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 23, 1995
    Assignee: Sonsub, Inc.
    Inventors: David A. Gray, William C. Parks