Support for underwater pipe lines

Claim 2

A stiffening assembly for elongated pipe comprising: a rigid skeletal structure having a support beam angulated at its midportion; a brace connected to each end of the support beam and extending substantially perpendicular thereto; a column member connected at its respective ends to the ends of each respective braces remote from said support beam; and means for maintaining said support beam in fixed position along the length of said elongated pipe.

Claim 3

A stiffening assembly as recited in Claim 1 including: a guide means attached to one of said braces at the end thereof remote from said support beam for receiving a brace of a second similar adjoining stiffener assembly.

Claim 4

A structural stiffening assembly for an elongated element which is subjected to a limited amount of bending, said assembly comprising: a plurality of stiffener structures adapted to be secured to said elongated element in end-to-end relationship to each other, each of said structures comprising: a support beam having an apex, said beam being divergently angulated from said apex; a securing means for securing said support beam to said elongated element; a brace connected to each end of said support beam and extending substantially perpendicular thereto; a slidable guide means fixed to one brace of each structure and adapted to receive an adjoining brace of the adJacent structure; and a column connected at its respective ends to the free ends of said respective braces and remote from said support beam.

Claim 5

A structural stiffening assembly for an elongated element which is subjected to a limited amount of bending, said assembly comprising: a plurality of stiffener structures adapted to be secured to said elongated element in end-to-end relationship to each other, each of said structures comprising: a support beam having an apex, said beam being divergently angulated from said apex; a securing means for securing said support beam to said elongated element; a brace connected to each end of said support beam and extending substantially perpendicular thereto; a slidable guide means fixed to one brace of each structure and adapted to receive an adjoining brace of the adJacent structure; and a column connected at its respective ends to the free ends of said respective braces and remote from said support beam.

Claim 6

An assembly as recited in claim 3 wherein said securing means comprises: a saddle member positioned at the apex of said support beam for receiving said elongated element; and a connecting means for connecting said saddle to said elongated element whereby said stiffener structures may be secured in end-to-end relationship to each other in predetermined positions along the length of said elongated element.

Claim 7

An assembly as recited in claim 4 wherein said stiffener structure includes: a shoe mounted to each opposite end of said support beam, said shoe formed to receive said elongated element for engagement therewith, when said element has a bending moment in the direction of said shoe.

Claim 8

An assembly as recited in claim 5 wherein said stiffener structure includes: a guide means for positioning an adjacent stiffener in end-to-end alignment, said guide means fixed to one of said braces of the lower end thereof.

Claim 9

An assembly as recited in claim 6 wherein said stiffener structure further includes: a center brace support joined at one end to said support beam at the apex thereof, and the opposite end joined to said column intermediate the ends thereof; and a pair of diagonal supporting truss, each of said truss having one end fixed to said column and the opposite end thereof is fixed to said saddle member adjacent to said support beam.

Claim 10

A structural stiffening assembly for support of an elongated element which is subjected to a limited amount of bending comprising: a plurality of stiffener structures adapted to be secured to said elongated element in end-to-end relations, each said structure comprising: a nonlinear convexed support beam having free ends thereon; securing means for securing said stiffener structure to said elongated element, said means being positioned intermediate the free ends of said support beam; a pair of end braces each connected to each free end of said support beams and extending perpendicular thereto, and in spaced relationship with an adjoining end brace of the adjacent stiffener structure; and a truss arrangement interposed between said end braces and attached thereto.

Claim 11

A structural stiffening assembly for support of an elongated element which is subjected to a limited amount of bending comprising: a plurality of stiffener structures adapted to be secured to said elongated element in end-to-end relations, each said structure comprising: a nonlinear convexed support beam having free ends thereon; securing means for securing said stiffener structure to said elongated element, said means being positioned intermediate the free ends of said support beam; a pair of end braces each connected to each free end of said support beams and extending perpendicular thereto, and in spaced relationship with an adjoining end brace of the adjacent stiffener structure; and a truss arrangement interposed between said end braces and attached thereto.

Claim 12

A structural assembly as recited in claim 8 including: a guide means for end-to-end alignment with adjacent stiffener assembly, said guide means attached to one of said braces at the end thereof, remote from said support beam for receiving a brace of said adjoining stiffener assembly.

Claim 13

A structural stiffening assembly for support of elongated pipe element comprising: a first group of stiffeners attached to said elongated pipe element in end-to-end relationship to each other; and a second group of stiffeners attached to said elongated pipe element in end-to-end relationship with each other, and positioned adjacent and at right angles to said first group of stiffeners, whereby said elongated element becomes stable, wherein each of said stiffeners comprises a rigid skeletal structure having a support beam angulated at its midpoint; a brace connected to each end of the support beam and extending substantially perpendicular thereto; a column member connected at its respective end to the ends of each respective braces remote from said support beam; means for maintaining said support beam in fixed position along the length of said elongated pipe element; and a guide means attached to one of said braces at the end thereof, remote from said support beam for receiving a brace of a second similar adjoining stiffener assembly.

Claim 14

A structural stiffening assembly for support of elongated pipe element comprising: a first group of stiffeners attached to said elongated pipe element in end-to-end relationship to each other; and a second group of stiffeners attached to said elongated pipe element in end-to-end relationship with each other, and positioned adjacent and at right angles to said first group of stiffeners, whereby said elongated element becomes stable, wherein each of said stiffeners comprises a rigid skeletal structure having a support beam angulated at its midpoint; a brace connected to each end of the support beam and extending substantially perpendicular thereto; a column member connected at its respective end to the ends of each respective braces remote from said support beam; means for maintaining said support beam in fixed position along the length of said elongated pipe element; and a guide means attached to one of said braces at the end thereof, remote from said support beam for receiving a brace of a second similar adjoining stiffener assembly.

Claim 15

A structural stiffening assembly for support of an elongated pipe element having a positive and negative bending moment comprising: a first group of stiffeners attached to said elongated pipe element in end-to-end relationship to each other; and a second group of stiffeners attached to said elongated piPe element in end-to-end relationship with each other, and positioned diametrically opposite said first group, each group being separated from the other by half the circumference of said pipe element, wherein each of said stiffeners comprises: a rigid skeletal structure having a support beam angulated at its midpoint; a brace connected to each end of the support beam and extending substantially perpendicular thereto; a column member connected at is respective end to the ends of each respective braces remote from said support beam; means for maintaining said support beam in fixed position along the length of said elongated pipe element; and a guide means attached to one of said braces at the end thereof, remote from said support beam for receiving a brace of a second similar adjoining stiffener assembly.

Claim 16

A structural stiffening assembly for support of an elongated pipe element having a positive and negative bending moment comprising: a first group of stiffeners attached to said elongated pipe element in end-to-end relationship to each other; and a second group of stiffeners attached to said elongated piPe element in end-to-end relationship with each other, and positioned diametrically opposite said first group, each group being separated from the other by half the circumference of said pipe element, wherein each of said stiffeners comprises: a rigid skeletal structure having a support beam angulated at its midpoint; a brace connected to each end of the support beam and extending substantially perpendicular thereto; a column member connected at is respective end to the ends of each respective braces remote from said support beam; means for maintaining said support beam in fixed position along the length of said elongated pipe element; and a guide means attached to one of said braces at the end thereof, remote from said support beam for receiving a brace of a second similar adjoining stiffener assembly.