Ben Lee Burke

US Patent:

42734711, Jun 16, 1981

Filed:

Jun 13, 1979

Appl. No.:

6/048130

Inventors:

Ben G. Burke - Lafayette CA

Assignee:

Chevron Research Company - San Francisco CA

International Classification:

E02B 1702
E02D 2752

US Classification:

405203

Abstract:

A drilling sub-base assembly for use from an offshore drilling vessel wherein drilling operations are conducted through a moon pool and at a drilling site where the bottom soil conditions are soft or unstable such that a conventional drilling sub-base dimensioned to pass through the moon pool would not provide an adequate foundational base for the carrying-on of drilling operations. The drilling sub-base assembly includes a main section dimensioned for ease of passage through the moon pool of the vessel and secondary sections pivotally affixed to the main section on at least two opposite sides thereof to be in a substantially vertical position relative to the main section when the drilling sub-base assembly is located in the moon pool and to be in a substantially horizontal position relative to the main section when the drilling sub-base assembly is positioned on the underwater bottom. With the secondary sections extended into their horizontal position and restrained from moving to a position above the horizontal, the drilling sub-base assembly provides the necessary cross-sectional bearing area to support drilling operations conducted into the soft underwater bottom. With the secondary sections in their vertical position, the drilling sub-base assembly may pass through the moon pool.

US Patent:

42449227, Jan 13, 1981

Filed:

Sep 5, 1978

Appl. No.:

5/939765

Inventors:

Ben G. Burke - Lafayette CA
Douglas J. Legg - Menlo Park CA

Assignee:

Chevron Research Company - San Francisco CA

International Classification:

B01J 802

US Classification:

422218

Abstract:

In an apparatus for contacting fluid with subdivided contact material, such as a radial-flow catalytic reactor, means having a substantially horizontal surface is attached to a lower portion of a vertically movable member within the reactor, the member being selected from center pipes and particle-retaining screens. The weight of contact material on the means restrains upward movement of the member during temperature cycling, and thus prevents problems caused by the upward movement.

US Patent:

44741723, Oct 2, 1984

Filed:

Oct 25, 1982

Appl. No.:

6/436396

Inventors:

Ben G. Burke - Lafayette CA

Assignee:

Chevron Research Company - San Francisco CA

International Classification:

F24J 302

US Classification:

126449

Abstract:

The present invention discloses a solar water heating panel and method of constructing such a solar panel from a pair of thin sheets bonded together around their peripheral edges and having at least one of the sheets formed with resiliently flexible areas defined by a plurality of abutting concave hexagonal areas or zones. The center of each hexagonal zone is formed as a dimple, concave with respect to the opposite sheet, whose radius of curvature is greater than the radius of an inscribed circle within said zone. The abutting zones between each hexagonal zone are formed convex relative to the opposite sheet and have a radius less than that of an inscribed circle. In a preferred form, the sheets are joined together at the center of alternate spaced-apart hexagonal areas. In this way, except for the centers bonded near the panel edges, each joined hexagonal center is surrounded by six unjoined areas to form both transverse and longitudinal flow passages through the panel.