US3589580A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for laying pipe on the bottom of a body of water
Assignee: IND NV
•
Filing: 1969-10-13
•
Granted: 1971-06-29
•
Expires: 1989-10-13
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for laying pipe on the bottom of a body of water is carried by a floating vessel and includes a plurality of opposed pairs of tires mounted for rotation on and relative to axles which in turn are rotatable relative to their bases. Selectively applicable brakes interconnect the axles and tires, and hydraulic means are provided for rotating the tires stepwise to raise the pipe. During the dwell between steps, a hydraulic motor pressurizes a hydraulic accumulator; and during the step, the accumulator rotates the axle with the brake means applied. The apparatus also serves as a brake for lowering the pipe, during which time the accumulator opposes rotation of the tire when the pipe drives the tire; and to limit the action of the accumulator, the brake is at least partially released after a predetermined rotation of the axle. When the brake is released, the accumulator tends to rotate the axle in the opposite direction; but the brake is self-applying, so that equilibrium is established between the action of the brake and the action of the accumulator thereby to apply a substantially constant braking torque.
Inventors
- 👤 August Hendrik Maria Smulders
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 17:47
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16L; F16L1/00; F16L1/12; F16L1/20; F16L1/23; B; B63; B63B; B63B35/00; B63B35/03; F16D; F16D63/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
136 words
In apparatus for laying a pipe on the bottom of a body of water, said apparatus being carried by a vessel on the water and including a plurality of wheel units each having a tire that bears against the pipe in the direction of the center line of the pipe; the improvement comprising a base, an axle mounted on the base for rotation of the axle relative to the base, the tire being concentric with the axle for rotation relative to the axle, selectively engageable brake means acting between the axle and the tire, power means for exerting a torque on the axle in one direction, and accumulator means for storing energy when said power means exerts torque on the axle and for releasing energy by applying to the axle a torque in the opposite direction.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
136 words
In apparatus for laying a pipe on the bottom of a body of water, said apparatus being carried by a vessel on the water and including a plurality of wheel units each having a tire that bears against the pipe in the direction of the center line of the pipe; the improvement comprising a base, an axle mounted on the base for rotation of the axle relative to the base, the tire being concentric with the axle for rotation relative to the axle, selectively engageable brake means acting between the axle and the tire, power means for exerting a torque on the axle in one direction, and accumulator means for storing energy when said power means exerts torque on the axle and for releasing energy by applying to the axle a torque in the opposite direction.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , said power means comprising a cylinder and piston assembly and means for supplying a fluid under pressure to the cylinder of said assembly.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, said fluid supply means comprising a hydraulic pump.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
71 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, and means continuously urging said brake means toward engaged position said accumulator means resisting rotation of said axle and tire together as a unit when said brake means is applied, and means at least partially releasing said brake means upon a predetermined rotation of said axle and tire together as a unit thereby to limit the force with which said accumulator means opposes said rotation.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, and abutment means movable with said brake means upon rotation of said axle and tire together as a unit and engageable with fixed abutment means at least partially ro release said brake means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
60 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, said accumulator means comprising a cylinder and a piston movable in said cylinder against the action of a body of fluid, and a tension member interconnecting said axle and said piston to move said piston against said action of a body of fluid upon rotation of the tire and axle together as a unit.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
39 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 6, and abutment means movable with said brake means upon rotation of said axle and tire together as a unit and engageable with fixed abutment means at least partially to release said brake means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, and means operable upon rotation of said axle through a predetermined angle for disengaging the brake means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
56 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, said accumulator means comprising cylinder aNd piston means, a closed body of fluid in communication with one side of a piston of said cylinder-and-piston means, and means for supplying fluid under pressure to another side of a said piston of said cylinder-and-piston means from a source of fluid under pressure.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
100 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 9, said cylinder-and-piston means comprising a pair of cylinders with a piston slidable in each cylinder, the pistons being interconnected by a flexible member that has a portion trained about and movable with said axle so that said pistons move in opposite directions in their respective cylinders upon rotation of the axle relative to the base, one said piston communicating with a body of fluid and acting to compress the body of fluid upon rotation of the axle, and means for supplying fluid under pressure to the other cylinder so as to rotate the axle.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
39 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 10, and abutment means movable with said brake means upon rotation of said axle and tire together as a unit and engageable with fixed abutment means at least partially to release said brake means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
45 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, there being a plurality of said tires arranged in opposed pairs on opposite sides of the pipe, the tires of each said pair lying in a plane disposed at a substantial angle to the tires of each adjacent pair.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 12, and means for selectively individually rotating and braking the tires of each said pair.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 13, and means for selectively individually moving the tires of each pair toward or away from the pipe.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 12, and rectangular frame means along the diagonal planes of which said tires are disposed.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 15, and hollow girders secured midway on either side of the rectangular frame means and having inwardly directed sides on which said bases are swingably mounted.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3017796A
Cited
US3388890A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-06-28 | 1974-12-28 | 1975-06-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-06-28 | 1978-12-28 | 1979-06-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-06-28 | 1982-12-28 | 1983-06-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |