US3592014A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Pipe-connecting system for the remote connection of pipe ends
Assignee: Boeing North American Inc
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Filing: 1969-09-04
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Granted: 1971-07-13
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Expires: 1989-09-04
Abstract
Abstract A pipe-connecting system for the remote connection of a pipe, such as a flowline, where the pipe is guided to an exact position at a remote location and connected, for example, to a pipe connector at a submerged sea station.
Inventors
- 👤 Walter Brown
- 👤 Donald E Smith
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 22:57
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16L; F16L1/00; F16L1/26; E; E21; E21B; E21B43/00; E21B43/01; E21B43/013; E21B43/0135; F16L37/00; F16L37/002
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
152 words
A pipe-connecting system comprising: a. movable means having at least one pipe end secured thereto and movable therewith, b. fixed means spaced from said movable means to receive said movable means, c. complementary mating means carried by said movable and fixed means for exact positioning of said movable means in both the vertical and horizontal axes as received by said fixed means, d. connector means having at least one pipe and being movably mounted on said fixed means to engage the pipe end secured to said movable means so that said pipes communicate with each other, e. drive means acting, through said fixed means, on said movable means to bring said movable means into mating engagement with said fixed means through said complementary mating means, and f. actuating means for moving said connector means into engagement with said movable means after said movable means and said fixed means are in mating engagement.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
152 words
A pipe-connecting system comprising: a. movable means having at least one pipe end secured thereto and movable therewith, b. fixed means spaced from said movable means to receive said movable means, c. complementary mating means carried by said movable and fixed means for exact positioning of said movable means in both the vertical and horizontal axes as received by said fixed means, d. connector means having at least one pipe and being movably mounted on said fixed means to engage the pipe end secured to said movable means so that said pipes communicate with each other, e. drive means acting, through said fixed means, on said movable means to bring said movable means into mating engagement with said fixed means through said complementary mating means, and f. actuating means for moving said connector means into engagement with said movable means after said movable means and said fixed means are in mating engagement.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
136 words
The pipe-connecting system of claim 1 in which said movable means is a stinger beam assembly comprising: a. support beam means generally defining a longitudinal axis, b. stinger means secured to said support beam means and positioned generally normal to the beam means longitudinal axis, said stinger means connected in fluid communication with the pipe end, c. at least first and second members connected to said support beam means, said members diverging outwardly from a generally defined stinger beam assembly apex and forming said complementary mating means carried by said movable means, and d. release means spaced from said guide means and generally positioned at said apex normal to a plane defined by said stinger means and the beam means longitudinal axis, said release means adapted to engage said drive means acting through said fixed means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
100 words
The pipE-connecting system of claim 2 in which said fixed means comprises: a. cradle means developing a cradle profile adapted to receive said movable means, b. at least first and second members connected to said cradle means, said members converging outwardly from said cradle means to a generally defined cradle means apex and forming said complementary mating means carried by said fixed means, c. said cradle means and said first and second converging members aligning said movable means in the mating engagement so that said pipe end is accurately positioned in both the horizontal and vertical axes of the system.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
77 words
The pipe-connecting system of claim 3 in which said cradle means includes: a. at least first and second generally U-shaped members defining generally parallel and spaced-apart plane surfaces, and b. an intermediate generally J-shaped member generally parallel with and between said first and second U-shaped members, c. said first and second U-shaped members and said intermediate J-shaped member coacting thereby defining said cradle profile as a cradle opening generally parallel with said support beam means longitudinal axis.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The pipe-connecting system of claim 4 in which said movable means includes a first guide means engaging said drive means to guide said movable means into the mating engagement.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
The pipe-connecting system of claim 5 in which said fixed means includes a second guide means engaging said drive means to coact with said first guide means and guide said movable means into the mating engagement.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
The pipe-connecting system of claim 6 in which said second guide means is a guide tube positioned in the plane defined by said intermediate J-shaped member and having a first end generally positioned at said cradle means apex.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
The pipe-connecting system of claim 1 in which said movable means includes a controlled buoyancy means opposing said drive means as said movable means is brought into the mating engagement.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
187 words
A method of remotely connecting a pipe to a submerged sea station from an upper station, the method comprising: a. engaging the pipe in a stinger beam having first alignment-camming surfaces, b. providing the sea station with an alignment system having second alignment-camming surfaces and a selectively oriented sea station connector that is movable with respect to the sea station to engage the pipe, c. extending a drawline from the upper station around said sea station and up through said sea station alignment system, d. securing the upward extending end of said drawline to said stinger beam, e. applying tension to the other end of said drawline at said upper station to pull the stinger beam and thereby the pipe into said sea station alignment system, thereby causing the first and second alignment surfaces of said stinger beam and said sea station alignment system into both vertical and horizontal alignment so that the pipe is coaxially oriented in spaced relationship with said sea station connector, f. moving said sea station connector into mating engagement with the pipe, and g. connecting said sea station connector to the pipe.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
187 words
A method of remotely connecting a pipe to a submerged sea station from an upper station, the method comprising: a. engaging the pipe in a stinger beam having first alignment-camming surfaces, b. providing the sea station with an alignment system having second alignment-camming surfaces and a selectively oriented sea station connector that is movable with respect to the sea station to engage the pipe, c. extending a drawline from the upper station around said sea station and up through said sea station alignment system, d. securing the upward extending end of said drawline to said stinger beam, e. applying tension to the other end of said drawline at said upper station to pull the stinger beam and thereby the pipe into said sea station alignment system, thereby causing the first and second alignment surfaces of said stinger beam and said sea station alignment system into both vertical and horizontal alignment so that the pipe is coaxially oriented in spaced relationship with said sea station connector, f. moving said sea station connector into mating engagement with the pipe, and g. connecting said sea station connector to the pipe.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 9 which includes guiding the stinger beam from the upper station to said sea station alignment system by slidably engaging the stinger beam with the upwardly traveling drawline.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 9 which after connecting said sea station connector to the pipe includes releasing said drawline from said stinger beam, and pulling said drawline through said sea station alignment system to the upper station.
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) | 1974-07-12 | 1975-01-11 | 1975-07-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-07-12 | 1979-01-11 | 1979-07-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-07-12 | 1983-01-11 | 1983-07-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |