Mac Melton Kennedy

US Patent:

8291938, Oct 23, 2012

Filed:

Sep 8, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/669038

Inventors:

Mac M. Kennedy - Houston TX, US
Scott D. Ward - Houston TX, US
Thomas M. Bell - Houston TX, US

Assignee:

Cameron International Corporation - Houston TX

International Classification:

F16L 55/04

US Classification:

138 31, 138 30, 137 14

Abstract:

A pressure-compensated accumulator bottle is provided. In one embodiment, the accumulator bottle includes a housing and an interior wall that generally define first, second, and third chambers within the housing. In this embodiment, a spring is disposed in the second chamber and configured to apply a biasing force on a first piston disposed within the first chamber. Further, in this embodiment, an additional piston is disposed within the third chamber and is configured to facilitate balancing of the pressure of a fluid disposed in the second chamber with the pressure of the external environment such that the magnitude of a second biasing force applied on the first piston by the pressure of the fluid depends at least in part on the pressure of the external environment. Hydraulic circuits and systems including a pressure-compensated accumulator bottle are also disclosed.

US Patent:

8578970, Nov 12, 2013

Filed:

Aug 16, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/587871

Inventors:

Mac M. Kennedy - Houston TX, US
Scott D. Ward - Houston TX, US
Thomas M. Bell - Houston TX, US

Assignee:

Cameron International Corporation - Houston TX

International Classification:

F16L 55/04

US Classification:

138 31, 138 30, 137 14

Abstract:

A pressure-compensated accumulator bottle is provided. In one embodiment, the accumulator bottle includes a housing and an interior wall that generally define first, second, and third chambers within the housing. In this embodiment, a spring is disposed in the second chamber and configured to apply a biasing force on a first piston disposed within the first chamber. Further, in this embodiment, an additional piston is disposed within the third chamber and is configured to facilitate balancing of the pressure of a fluid disposed in the second chamber with the pressure of the external environment such that the magnitude of a second biasing force applied on the first piston by the pressure of the fluid depends at least in part on the pressure of the external environment. Hydraulic circuits and systems including a pressure-compensated accumulator bottle are also disclosed.

US Patent:

20110147002, Jun 23, 2011

Filed:

Aug 4, 2009

Appl. No.:

13/003150

Inventors:

Johnnie E. Kotrla - Katy TX, US
Mac Kennedy - Houston TX, US
Nathan Cooper - Houston TX, US

Assignee:

CAMERON INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION - Houston TX

International Classification:

E21B 41/04

US Classification:

166363

Abstract:

An accumulator for a subsea blowout preventer unit including a blowout preventer includes a body. The body includes a hydraulic fluid chamber and a gas chamber. The hydraulic fluid chamber has a smaller inner diameter than the gas chamber. The accumulator further includes a hydraulic fluid port in fluid communication between the hydraulic fluid chamber and the subsea blowout preventer, a hydraulic piston slidably and sealingly mounted in the hydraulic fluid chamber, and a charge piston slidably and sealingly mounted in the gas chamber. A pressure port receives pressure to provide a force on the opposite side of the charge piston from the hydraulic piston.

US Patent:

20110302911, Dec 15, 2011

Filed:

Jun 15, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/815807

Inventors:

Don Coonrod - Katy TX, US
Melvyn F. Whitby - Houston TX, US
Gerrit M. Kroesen - Friendswood TX, US
Ronald W. Webb - Houston TX, US
Mac M. Kennedy - Houston TX, US
Katherine Harvey - Houston TX, US
David Gonzalez - Houston TX, US
Thomas M. Bell - Houston TX, US
James W. Wilkirson - Friendswood TX, US

Assignee:

CAMERON INTERNATIONAL, INC. - Houston TX

International Classification:

F15B 15/18
F04B 17/03
F15B 21/08

US Classification:

60369, 417416, 60420

Abstract:

In at least some embodiments, an apparatus includes a hydraulic directional control manifold and a plurality of electric piezopumps. The apparatus also includes an electric piezopump controller that operates the plurality of electric piezopumps in varying combinations to provide generation and directional control of hydraulic power to linear hydraulic actuators using localized closed-loop hydraulic fluid.

US Patent:

20190031308, Jan 31, 2019

Filed:

Jul 28, 2017

Appl. No.:

15/662529

Inventors:

- Houston TX, US
Mac M. Kennedy - Houston TX, US
Michael Urdiales - Montgomery TX, US
Gerrit Kroesen - Friendswood TX, US

International Classification:

B63G 8/00
B63G 8/14

Abstract:

An underwater vehicle is configured to transfer a payload between a first location and a second location at a subsea structure. The underwater vehicle includes a payload support configured to support the payload and a buoyancy control system. The buoyancy control system includes at least one of an exchange weight system configured to receive one or more exchange weights when delivering the payload, a floatation system having one or more floatation devices coupled to the payload, or a combination thereof.

US Patent:

20190032436, Jan 31, 2019

Filed:

Jul 28, 2017

Appl. No.:

15/662545

Inventors:

- Houston TX, US
MAC M KENNEDY - HOUSTON TX, US
MICHAEL URDIALES - MONTGOMERY TX, US
GERRIT KROESEN - FRIENDSWOOD TX, US

International Classification:

E21B 33/064
E21B 33/035
E21B 33/038

Abstract:

A blowout preventer (BOP) stack module includes a chassis core including a module frame, a remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV) coupling hardware coupled to the chassis core, wherein the ROV coupling hardware couples with an ROV configured to transport and selectively couple and uncouple the BOP stack module relative to a BOP stack, a mechanical connector coupled to the chassis core, wherein the mechanical connector couples to a stack frame of the BOP stack, an electrical BOP component coupled to the chassis core, wherein the electrical BOP component performs one or more electrical BOP functions of the BOP stack, and an electrical connector coupled to the chassis core and the electrical BOP component, wherein the electrical couples to a corresponding electrical connector of the BOP stack or an adjacent BOP stack module.

US Patent:

20190032437, Jan 31, 2019

Filed:

Jul 28, 2017

Appl. No.:

15/662554

Inventors:

- Houston TX, US
MAC M. KENNEDY - HOUSTON TX, US
MICHAEL URDIALES - MONTGOMERY TX, US
GERRIT KROESEN - FRIENDSWOOD TX, US

International Classification:

E21B 33/064
E21B 33/06
B63G 8/00

Abstract:

A blowout preventer (BOP) stack module includes a chassis core having a module frame, wherein the chassis core supports one or more submodules each configured to perform a function of a BOP stack, an underwater vehicle coupling hardware coupled to the chassis core, wherein the underwater vehicle coupling hardware couples with an underwater vehicle configured to transport and selectively couple and uncouple the BOP stack module relative to the BOP stack, and a mechanical connector coupled to the chassis core, wherein the mechanical connector couples to a stack frame of the BOP stack, and at least one port coupled to the chassis core, wherein the at least one port is a fluid port, a hydraulic port, a pneumatic port, an electrical port, or a combination thereof, wherein the at least one port couples with a corresponding port of the BOP stack.

US Patent:

20160201420, Jul 14, 2016

Filed:

Mar 18, 2016

Appl. No.:

15/074536

Inventors:

- Houston TX, US
Mac M. Kennedy - Tomball TX, US
Edward C. Gaude - Tomball TX, US

International Classification:

E21B 33/035
E21B 33/06

Abstract:

A blowout preventer system includes a blowout preventer stack having hydraulic components. The blowout preventer stack is coupled to a lower marine riser package that includes additional hydraulic components. The lower marine riser package includes control pods that enable redundant control of the hydraulic components of the blowout preventer stack and the additional hydraulic components of the lower marine riser package. These control pods include frames, valves, and stack stingers that facilitate connection of the control pods to hydraulic components of the blowout preventer stack, but do not include riser stingers that facilitate communication of control fluid to the additional hydraulic components of the lower marine riser package. The stack stingers extend through central apertures of bottom plates of the control pod frames and facilitate communication of control fluid from the valves to the hydraulic components of the blowout preventer stack. Additional systems, devices, and methods are also disclosed.