US3583169A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Submarine pipeline laying
Assignee: Boeing North American Inc
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Filing: 1969-07-08
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Granted: 1971-06-08
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Expires: 1989-07-08
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus are described for laying pipelines or the like on the bottom where the degree of bending in the line at all points between a lay barge and the bottom are controlled. The line is paid out of the barge in a horizontal direction with positive buoyancy at the surface. Means are provided for gradually decreasing the positive buoyancy of the pipeline as a function of distance aft of the barge until the line is neutrally buoyant and then gradually increasing negative buoyancy of the line as a function of distance until the line is near the bottom. A plurality of buoyancy controlling elements within the pipeline and attached to the barge by means of a cable is employed for gradually changing buoyancy.
Inventors
- 👤 George W Morgan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 16:02
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16L; F16L1/00; F16L1/12; F16L1/16; F16L1/18; F16L1/163
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
69 words
A method of laying a submarine pipeline comprising: paying a positively buoyant pipeline overboard from a floating vessel in a substantially horizontal direction: placing an elongated member having nonuniformly distributed weight within said pipeline in the segment between said floating vessel and the sea floor; fixing said elongated member to said floating vessel; and moving said elongated member along said pipeline as it is payed overboard from said vessel.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
69 words
A method of laying a submarine pipeline comprising: paying a positively buoyant pipeline overboard from a floating vessel in a substantially horizontal direction: placing an elongated member having nonuniformly distributed weight within said pipeline in the segment between said floating vessel and the sea floor; fixing said elongated member to said floating vessel; and moving said elongated member along said pipeline as it is payed overboard from said vessel.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as defined in claim 1 further comprising: distributing weight on said elongated member in a nonuniform distribution as a function of length of said member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method as defined in claim 2 wherein the step of distributing further comprises: distributing said weight in a gradually and substantially smoothly increasing weight per unit length in a direction aft of said floating vessel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
95 words
A method as defined in claim 1 further comprising the steps of: temporarily connecting said elongated member to said vessel at a point intermediate thE ends of the member; disconnecting a portion of said member forward of the temporary connection; threading the disconnected portion of said member through a new segment of pipeline; reconnecting the disconnected portion of said member to the balance of said member; disconnecting the temporary connection between said member and the vessel and permanently interconnecting the new segment of pipeline to the segment of pipeline already payed overboard from said vessel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
75 words
A combination for laying submarine pipeline on the sea floor comprising: a floating vessel; means for moving the vessel along a path where a pipeline is desired; means for paying a pipeline overboard from said vessel in a substantially horizontal direction; an elongated member having nonuniform mass per unit length arranged inside said pipeline so as to continuously and progressively increase in mass per unit length as a function of distance aft of said vessel.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
75 words
A combination for laying submarine pipeline on the sea floor comprising: a floating vessel; means for moving the vessel along a path where a pipeline is desired; means for paying a pipeline overboard from said vessel in a substantially horizontal direction; an elongated member having nonuniform mass per unit length arranged inside said pipeline so as to continuously and progressively increase in mass per unit length as a function of distance aft of said vessel.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
50 words
A combination as defined in claim 5 wherein said means for changing buoyancy comprises a flexible tension member connected at one end to said vessel and extending aft therefrom along the length of an inside said pipeline; and a plurality of weights having mass nonuniformly distributed along said tension member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
110 words
A combination for laying a pipeline on a submarine bottom from a floating vessel, said combination controlling bending of the pipeline between the bottom and the vessel comprising: an elongated weighted member positioned within the pipeline and extending from a portion of the pipeline adjacent the bottom to a portion of the pipeline near the vessel; means for connecting the elongated member to the vessel to effect progressive movement of the member through the pipeline as the pipeline is deployed from the vessel; and said elongated member having a distributed weight that gradually and substantially continuously increases in weight per unit length as a function of distance from the vessel.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
110 words
A combination for laying a pipeline on a submarine bottom from a floating vessel, said combination controlling bending of the pipeline between the bottom and the vessel comprising: an elongated weighted member positioned within the pipeline and extending from a portion of the pipeline adjacent the bottom to a portion of the pipeline near the vessel; means for connecting the elongated member to the vessel to effect progressive movement of the member through the pipeline as the pipeline is deployed from the vessel; and said elongated member having a distributed weight that gradually and substantially continuously increases in weight per unit length as a function of distance from the vessel.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
43 words
A combination as defined in claim 7 wherein said elongated member includes a portion of discontinuous change in weight per unit length; and further comprising: means for flooding a portion of the pipeline between the bottom and the portion having a discontinuous change.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
62 words
A combination as defined in claim 7 wherein said means for connecting the elongated member to the vessel includes; means for temporarily disconnecting a portion of said member from the vessel; means for stringing the disconnected portion through a length of pipe to be connected to said pipeline; and means for reconnecting the disconnected portion to the balance of the elongated member.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
101 words
A combination for laying a pipeline on a submarine bottom from a floating vessel, said combination controlling bending of the pipeline between the bottom and the vessel comprising: an elongated weighted member positioned within the pipeline and extending from a portion of the pipeline adjacent the bottom to a portion of the pipeline near the vessel; means for connecting the elongated member to the vessel to effect progressive movement of the member through the pipeline as the pipeline is deployed from the vessel; and a portion of said elongated member having a positive buoyancy and another portion having a negative buoyancy.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
101 words
A combination for laying a pipeline on a submarine bottom from a floating vessel, said combination controlling bending of the pipeline between the bottom and the vessel comprising: an elongated weighted member positioned within the pipeline and extending from a portion of the pipeline adjacent the bottom to a portion of the pipeline near the vessel; means for connecting the elongated member to the vessel to effect progressive movement of the member through the pipeline as the pipeline is deployed from the vessel; and a portion of said elongated member having a positive buoyancy and another portion having a negative buoyancy.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-06-07 | 1974-12-07 | 1975-06-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-06-07 | 1978-12-07 | 1979-06-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-06-07 | 1982-12-07 | 1983-06-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |