Charles M Moses

US Patent:

7341283, Mar 11, 2008

Filed:

Jan 29, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/767587

Inventors:

Charles J Moses - Arlington TX, US
Michael E Hogan - Arlington TX, US
Philip S Moses - Bedford TX, US
Todd M Pottorff - Crowley TX, US
Carl C Spicer - Arlington TX, US

Assignee:

Oil States Industries, Inc. - Arlington TX

International Classification:

F16L 51/02
F16L 27/10

US Classification:

285226, 285 49, 285223

Abstract:

For continuous high temperature operation over a service life in excess of twenty years, a flexible pipe joint includes various features that tend to reduce the temperature of the load-bearing flex element or reduce strain in the warmer elastomeric layers of the flex element. These features include a heat shield of low heat conductivity material integrated into the inner profile of the pipe extension and interposed between the central bore of the pipe joint and the flex element, low heat conductivity metal alloy components between the hot production fluid and the flex element, high temperature resistant elastomer at least in the warmest inner elastomer layer of the flex element, and a flex element constructed to shift strain from the warmer inner elastomer layers to the colder outer elastomer layers by providing greater shear area, different layer thickness, and/or higher elastic modulus elastomer for the warmer inner elastomer layers.

US Patent:

51335786, Jul 28, 1992

Filed:

Mar 8, 1991

Appl. No.:

7/666724

Inventors:

Gary L. Whightsil - Kennedale TX
Charles J. Moses - Alvarado TX

Assignee:

LTV Energy Products Company - Garland TX

International Classification:

A16L 2704

US Classification:

285166

Abstract:

A flexible joint 13 is employed to sealingly connect a pair of tubular members 16, 18 while still permitting limited articulated movement therebetween. The flexible joint 13 includes a housing 26 with upper and lower ring-like plates 32, 34 coaxially arranged about the tubular members 16, 18. A pair of annular elastomeric bearings 40, 42 are positioned within the housing 26 and act against shoulders 44, 46 of the tubular members 16, 18 to flexibly retain the tubular members 16, 18 within the housing 26. A bellows 20 sealingly couples the tubular members 16, 18 together while permitting movement therebetween. An annular chamber 56 formed between the bellows 20 and housing 26 is filled with a fluid, such as silicon or oil. Means is provided for adjusting the volume of the chamber 56 or volume of fluid in the chamber 56 to maintain an approximately zero pressure differential across the bellows 20.

US Patent:

59052120, May 18, 1999

Filed:

Jun 4, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/868824

Inventors:

Charles J. Moses - Mansfield TX
Michael E. Hogan - Arlington TX

Assignee:

Continental Emsco Company - Houston TX

International Classification:

G01L1/04

US Classification:

73862451

Abstract:

Force transducers are integrated in an elastomeric flex bearing to provide signals for determining the tension and torque upon a tension member coupled to the bearing and for computation of the azimuth and elevation of the tension member. Preferably the force transducers are mounted to or embedded in an outer metal load ring of the flex bearing and are bonded with the outer metal load ring to the elastomer of the flex bearing. The force transducer, for example, include a diaphragm bonded to the elastomer, and the diaphragm has a diameter in excess of the spacing between the outer metal load ring and the nearest laminated metal reinforcement of the bearing. In one embodiment, metal foil strain gages are bonded to the surface of the diaphragm opposite from the elastomer. In another embodiment, the diaphragm transmits pressure to hydraulic fluid between the diaphragm and the outer metal support ring. A proximity sensor sensing the position of the diaphragm with respect to the outer metal support ring can be used to detect any loss of hydraulic fluid and to calibrate the hydraulic transducer under an unknown load by injecting hydraulic fluid under pressure until the diaphragm assumes a position for which the fluid pressure is indicative of the pressure applied by the elastomer to the diaphragm.