Float device for pipelines

Claim 2

A float for providing buoyancy to a pipe in a pipeline section being laid in or across a body of water, said float comprising, a solid float member of buoyant material having a pipe engaging bottom side and a top side, the respective opposite end portions of said pipe engaging side terminating in an inclined surface extending upwardly and outwardly to the respective ends of said float member, said inclined surfaces being normally out of contact with a pipe when said float member is disposed thereon, and said float member adapted to be disposed on a pipe with said pipe engaging side in contact therewith and to be releasably attached to the pipe by the encircling engagement thereof of a releasable strap at each respective end portion of said float member so that with said pipe with attached float member being in a body of water, the releasing of one of said straps resulting in the loosened end of said float member rising so that said inclined surface on the opposite end is tilted into contact with the pipe whereby the buoyancy of said float member will permit it to slip free from the unreleased strap.

Claim 3

A device as defined in claim 1 including: a float member retrieval line of indeterminate length, and means on a said float member for removably attaching the same to said retrieval line.

Claim 4

A device as defined in claim 2 wherein said means for attaching said float member to said retrieval line includes said float member being provided with a longitudinal through passageway through which said retrieval line extends.

Claim 5

A device as defined in claim 2 wherein said means for attaching said float member to said retrieval line includes a retrieval line engaging hook member secured to said float member.

Claim 6

A device as defined in claim 4 wherein said hook member includes: a retrieval line engaging portion and an integral shank portion depending therefrom, and said shank portion being imbedded in said float member.

Claim 7

A device as defined in claim 4 including: said hook member being disposed on the top side of said float member, said bottom side of said float member being provided with a well, and said float member adapted for a stacking arrangement with other like float members whereby said hook member on one float member will be disposed in the well of an adjacent ascending stacked float member.

Claim 8

A device as defined in claim 4 wherein said hook member includes: a plurality of convolutions of a substantially rigid material, said convolutions being in spaced relationship to each other to define a circuitous passageway from a peripheral entrance point to an axially disposed chamber, and said convolutions providing a means for engaging a flexible line by the movement of such line at any point on its length through said passageway from said entrance point to said chamber.

Claim 9

A device as defined in claim 7 including: a second like plurality of convolutions defining a second hook member, said respective hook members disposed at respective opposite end portions of said float member, and the entrance point to said passageway on each hook member being oriented perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of said float member but oppositely oriented relative to each other.

Claim 10

A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said pipe engaging side is concave to permit said float member to be placed astraddle a selected area on a pipe.

Claim 11

A device as defined in claim 1 including: a float adapter of solid buoyant material, means for securing said float adapter to the pipe engaging side of said float member, and said adapter having a pipe engaging side of like construction as that on said float member but suitable for a different size pipe than that for which said float member is designed.

Claim 12

A device as defined in claim 10 including: a float member retrieval line of Indeterminate length, and means on said float member for removably attaching the same to said retrieval line.

Claim 13

A device as defined in claim 11 wherein said means for attaching said float member to said retrieval line includes a retrieval line engaging hook member secured to said float member.

Claim 14

A device as defined in claim 12 wherein said hook member includes: a retrieval line engaging portion and an integral shank portion depending therefrom, and said shank portion being imbedded in said float member and also in said adapter to serve as the means for securing said float member thereto.

Claim 15

A float device for providing buoyancy to a pipe in a pipeline section being laid in or across a body of water, said float device comprising: a solid float member of buoyant material, a base of solid buoyant material having a pipe engaging side, the respective opposite end portions of said pipe engaging side terminating in an inclined surface extending upwardly and outwardly to the respective ends of said base, said inclined surfaces being normally out of contact with a pipe when said base is disposed thereon, said float member disposed on said base, means for securing said float member to said base, and said float member with attached base adapted to be disposed on a pipe with said pipe engaging side of said base in contact therewith and to be releasably attached to the pipe by encircling engagement thereof of a strap at each respective end portion of said float member so that with said pipe with attached float member and base being in a body of water, the releasing of one of said straps resulting in the loosened end of said float member and attached base rising so that said inclined surface on the opposite end of said base is tilted into contact with the pipe whereby the buoyancy of said float member and attached base will permit said float device to slip free from the unreleased strap.

Claim 16

A float device for providing buoyancy to a pipe in a pipeline section being laid in or across a body of water, said float device comprising: a solid float member of buoyant material, a base of solid buoyant material having a pipe engaging side, the respective opposite end portions of said pipe engaging side terminating in an inclined surface extending upwardly and outwardly to the respective ends of said base, said inclined surfaces being normally out of contact with a pipe when said base is disposed thereon, said float member disposed on said base, means for securing said float member to said base, and said float member with attached base adapted to be disposed on a pipe with said pipe engaging side of said base in contact therewith and to be releasably attached to the pipe by encircling engagement thereof of a strap at each respective end portion of said float member so that with said pipe with attached float member and base being in a body of water, the releasing of one of said straps resulting in the loosened end of said float member and attached base rising so that said inclined surface on the opposite end of said base is tilted into contact with the pipe whereby the buoyancy of said float member and attached base will permit said float device to slip free from the unreleased strap.

Claim 17

A device as defined in claim 14 including: a float member retrieval line of indeterminate length, and means on said float member for removably attaching the same to said retrieval line.

Claim 18

A device as defined in claim 15 wherein said means for attaching said float member to said retrieval line includes a retrieval line engaging hook member secured to said float member.

Claim 19

A device as defined in claim 16 wherein said hook member includes: a retrieval line engaging portion and an integral shank portion depending therefrom, and said shank portion being imbedded in said float member and also in said base to serve as the means for securing said float member to said base.

Claim 20

A device as defined in claim 14 wherein the pipe engaging side of said base is concave to permit said base to be placed astraddle a selected area on a pipe.