Lockheed Corporation

Oil States Industries Limited

Other

Shell Oil Comapny

Siemens Industry, Inc.

Kellogg Brown + Root LLC

Rapistan Systems Advertising Corp.

Wellstream, Inc.

Patient Technology, Inc.

Rapistan Advertising Corp.

George W Peppel

Paul E Sullivan

Danton Gutierrez-Lemini

James G Patrick

Carl C Spicer

Todd M Pottorff

Gregory P Cruse

Jesner H Pereira

Edward J Arlt, Iii

Charles M Reinhardt

Richard B Patrick

A flexible pipe joint has two annular elastomeric flex elements stacked in a co-axial fashion at an inner radius from a common center of rotation, and at least one elastomeric flex element disposed at an outer radius from the common center of rotation. The flex elements at the inner radius are coupled mechanically in series between the extension pipe and the housing of the flexible pipe joint, and the flex element at the outer radius is coupled mechanically in parallel with the series combination of the inner flex elements. The inner flex elements isolate the flex element at the outer radius from transport fluid, and the flex element at the outer radius reduces the axial compression of the inner flex elements. Thus, the inner flex elements may have a reduced radius and a different composition to handle a higher loading of heat and pressure.

Pressure isolation system for flexible pipe joints

A double-ended flexible pipe joint has first and second extension pipes extending from opposite ends of an outer housing, and first and second primary annular elastomeric flex elements mounting the first and second extension pipes to the outer housing. An inner housing is disposed in the outer housing, and first and second secondary annular elastomeric flex elements disposed in the inner housing mount the first and second extension pipes to the inner housing. Tension upon the first and second extension pipes places each of the first and second primary flex elements and each of the first and second secondary flex elements in compression. The first and second secondary flex elements contain fluid pressure within the first and second extension pipes so that the first and second primary flex elements are not subjected to the fluid pressure within the extension pipes.

Double-ended flexible pipe joint having stacked co-axial primary and secondary annular elastomeric flex elements

A flexible joint has an extension mounted to a housing for relative angular displacement. Two or more annular elastomeric flex elements are stacked in a co-axial fashion and joined mechanically to mount the extension to the housing so that the flex elements react in parallel to angular and axial displacements of the extension with respect to the housing so that tensile load upon the extension places each of the flex elements in compression to split and share the tensile load among the flex elements in proportion to their relative axial stiffnesses. Therefore, for a given housing size or footprint, the overall load capacity is increased, and the lifetime of the flexible joint is increased for a given load capacity. The flex elements may have a common center of rotation, and the flex elements may be disposed either on the same side of the center of rotation or on opposite sides.

Two-element tandem flexible joint

A diverter assembly according to the present invention includes a generally horizontal conveying surface, a pair of flipper assemblies, and an actuator for substantially concurrently actuating the flipper assemblies to an actuated position whereby the flipper assemblies are collinear. A driven diverting surface is defined on each flipper assembly wherein an article on the conveying surface is diverted when the article contacts one of the flipper assemblies when the flipper assembly is in its actuated position.

High speed baggage diverter

The invention provides a diverter assembly for transferring moving articles from one conveying surface to another conveying surface, comprising: a) a frame; b) at least one endless belt suspended between spaced apart pulleys supported on the frame, wherein the endless belt defines an unsupported belt span for contacting articles on the one conveying surface and transferring the contacted article to the another conveying surface; and c) an actuator operably connected to the frame to move the unsupported belt span in a position to contact the article moving on the one conveying surface to transfer the article to the another conveying surface.

A diverter assembly includes a frame and first and second driven conveying surfaces, which are supported by the frame. Each of the conveying surfaces is adapted to move between two positions. The first driven conveying surface is pivoted about an input end when moved between its first and second positions, while the second driven conveying surface is pivoted about an output end when moved between its first and second positions. The driven conveying surfaces are aligned when in their first positions and define a conveyor path for transporting articles from a first conveyor to a second conveyor. When in their respective second positions, the driven conveying surfaces define two separate conveyor paths&mdash;one aligned between the first and third conveyor to divert articles to the third conveyor, and the second driven conveying surface being generally horizontally aligned with the second conveyor.

Vertical diverter assembly

A swivel joint for coupling a first conduit to a second conduit includes a swivel bearing comprising a body of fluid. The swivel bearing eliminates the creation and transmission of torsional and shear loads when one or both of the conduits are axially loaded.

Swivel joint and method for connecting conduits

An end fitting/pipe coupling in which to receive a flexible pipe end to be joined includes an annular seal of chevron configuration supported in the fitting for surrounding the received pipe end and is comprised of an elastomer composition defining a plurality of uniformly spaced parallel separations each containing an annular metallic shim adapted to increasingly grip the pipe in response to a pull out force encountered by the pipe end.

End fitting seal for flexible pipe

A mechanical device for centralizing a subsea riser in an opening in a floating drilling vessel. The centralizing device includes at least three arms that are pivotally connected at one end to the vessel and pivotally connected at the other end to a rotating collar with the riser extruding through the collar.

Rising centralizing spider

An improved conduit seal is provided for the upper connector assembly (10) of a TLP where the upper end of a tether (14) is pivotally secured within the tether conduit (38) of a floating platform (12). The conduit seal includes an annular elastomeric seal (48) and a series of mounting blocks (52) bonded thereto. The tether mounts a CLB housing (24) which has an annular lip (74) with a continuous groove (80). Each of the mounting blocks is provided with a locking pin (84) which can be hydraulically driven into the groove (80) to lock the mounting blocks on the CLB housing, and confine the seal (48) relative to the CLB housing.

Conduit seal

The crash barrier of the invention generally comprises a track, a series of telescoping members, one or more tensioners, and a brake system. The series of telescoping members are slidably engaged on the track. The telescoping members can successively nest within each other. The members are provided with side walls that are sufficiently strong to withstand the impact of a vehicle that veers off the road into the crash barrier. The tensioner is formed of an elastic material. The tensioner is connected between one of the telescoping members and one end of the track. When the telescoping members are fully extended, the tensioners are in a substantially relaxed state. When the members telescope together under the impact of a vehicle, the tensioners stretch, thereby absorbing the kinetic energy of the vehicle. The tensioners are retained in the strained position by a one-way brake system. The brake system can be slowly released such that the stored strain energy of the tensioners can be used to substantially restore the telescoping members of the crash barrier to the extended condition.

Low maintenance crash barrier for a road divider

Several versions of a flex joint (10, 100, 200) are provided which provides for relative flexible movement between a first member and a second member about a pivot point. The pivotal motion is provided by the use of elastomeric assemblies which are placed in elastomeric shear as one member pivots relative to the other. With each of the flex joints, at least two concentric and separate passages are formed through the flex joint for carrying fluids and the like through the flex joint. The passages remain separate and essentially unchanging in cross-section throughout the entire range of pivotal motion of the flex joint.

Concentric piping flex joint

A rotating lug anchor connector (10) is disclosed for anchoring the tether (12) of tension leg platform (14) to the sea floor. The connector includes an anchor latch assembly (18) which is mounted on the lower end of the tether. The assembly includes a ring (50) from which three lugs (58) extend. The ring is secured to the tether through an elastomeric assembly (36) which permits the tether to pivot about a pivot point (28) relative to the ring. Guide surfaces on members (74, 76, 78) of the receptacle assembly (20) guide the lugs downward along vertical slots (104) and beneath notches (92) in the members. Upward movement of the tether engages the lugs and notches to secure the tether to the sea floor. For release the tether is lowered to move the lugs in an alignment with the vertical slots for removal.

Growing community of inventors

Arlington, TX, United States of America

George W Peppel