The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 26, 2001
Filed:
Apr. 27, 1999
Clarence Afton Schulte, Houston, TX (US);
Paul Nelson Stanton, Houston, TX (US);
Deep Oil Technology, Incorporated, Houston, TX (US);
Abstract
A subsea hydraulic control module that is totally enclosed such that the hydraulic fluid does not contact the seawater. The majority of the power for the module comes from the hydrostatic pressure of the sea itself. Two oil-over-seawater actuators each have an internal piston that separates the oil from the seawater. Each actuator is provided with two solenoid valves that control the flow of seawater. A fluid line and one solenoid valve on the seawater side of each actuator is in fluid communication with a seawater recovery reservoir. These two valves are also in fluid communication with each other through a common fluid line to the seawater reservoir. The remaining solenoid valve on the seawater side of each actuator may be selectively opened or closed to the ambient seawater. A hydraulic line on the oil side of each actuator is in fluid communication with the equipment to be controlled. The hydraulic lines from each actuator enter the equipment to be controlled on opposite sides of the equipment to allow control of the equipment. The solenoid valves are opened and closed in selected combinations to open, close, or maintain the equipment in selected operating positions.