Method and apparatus for laying pipelines
Abstract
Abstract A METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR LAYING PIPELINES OR OTHER ELONGATE FLEXIBLE MEANS ON A SUBMERGED SURFACE USING A VARIABLE BUOYANCY, ARTICULATED RAMP, PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO A FLOATING VESSEL MEANS. THE ARTICULATED RAMP IS FORMED BY A STRING OF BUOYS PIVOTALLY INTERCONNECTED BY FLEXIBLE OR RIGID SPACERS. THE PIVOTAL CONNECTIONS MAY PROVIDE FOR HORIZONTAL, VERTICAL, OR UNIVERSAL MOVEMENT OF THE BUOYS. EACH OF THE BUOYS IS PROVIDED WITH A DEPENDING CRADLE FOR SLIDABLY SUPPORTING THE PIPELINE. THE BUOYS ARE AT LEAST PARTIALLY FLOODED IN RESPONSE TO "STRIPPING-OUT" OF THE PIPELINE FROM THE CRADLES SO THAT THE BUOYANCY OF THE RAMP IS ADJUSTED IN RESPONSE TO CHANGES IN THE SUPPORTED PIPE WEIGHT, WHEREBY DESIRABLE STRESS CONDITIONS ON THE PIPELINE LEAVING THE RAMP ARE MAINTAINED.
Inventors
- 👤 Leif H Smith
Bibliographic Details
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 0References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-03-01 | 1974-08-31 | 1975-03-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-03-01 | 1978-08-31 | 1979-03-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-03-01 | 1982-08-31 | 1983-03-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |