US3643446A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Marine platform foundation member
Assignee: Texaco Inc
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Filing: 1970-04-06
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Granted: 1972-02-22
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Expires: 1990-04-06
Abstract
Abstract The invention relates to an anchor or foundation member for positioning a buoyant platform at an offshore location characterized by a sloping or irregular floor surface. The anchor includes initially separable members which are floated to an operating or anchoring site. A coupling member depending from the anchor is adapted to engage the lower end of the elongated, buoyant structure for retaining the latter in place at the water''s surface. The coupling member is adjusted into vertical alignment with a connector depending downwardly from the marine structure. While being held in the upwardly aligned position by an enclosing retainer, a hardenable fluid such as cement is introduced to solidify and form the coupling and retainer member into a singular body.
Inventors
- 👤 George E Mott
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 16:30
CPC Classifications
B; B63; B63B; B63B35/00; B63B35/44; B63B35/4406; B63B21/00; B63B21/50; B63B21/502; E; E02; E02B; E02B17/00; E02B17/02; E02B17/027; E21; E21B; E21B41/00; E21B41/10; B63B2021/505
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
195 words
A subsea mooring for an elongated buoyant marine structure disposed in a generally upstanding position in a body of water, said structure having a submerged portion extending toward the ocean floor and having connecting means at said structure''s lower end, which subsea mooring anchor includes; a. a coupling member having a vertically upstanding connector adapted to engage said structure connecting means whereby to anchor and restrain lateral movement of said structure in response to displacing forces acting thereagainst, b. and a separable retainer positioned at the floor of said body of water in engagement with said coupling member to maintain the vertical attitude of said upstanding connector, c. said separable retainer including means forming a cavity therein, d. and said coupling member including a body confined within said means forming said cavity, said body being initially slidably retained in said means forming said cavity to permit said connector to be aligned to a vertically upstanding attitude, e. and said means forming said cavity being communicated with a source of a solidifiable fluid whereby to introduce a flow of said fluid to said means forming said cavity whereby to solidify said coupling body within said cavity.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
195 words
A subsea mooring for an elongated buoyant marine structure disposed in a generally upstanding position in a body of water, said structure having a submerged portion extending toward the ocean floor and having connecting means at said structure''s lower end, which subsea mooring anchor includes; a. a coupling member having a vertically upstanding connector adapted to engage said structure connecting means whereby to anchor and restrain lateral movement of said structure in response to displacing forces acting thereagainst, b. and a separable retainer positioned at the floor of said body of water in engagement with said coupling member to maintain the vertical attitude of said upstanding connector, c. said separable retainer including means forming a cavity therein, d. and said coupling member including a body confined within said means forming said cavity, said body being initially slidably retained in said means forming said cavity to permit said connector to be aligned to a vertically upstanding attitude, e. and said means forming said cavity being communicated with a source of a solidifiable fluid whereby to introduce a flow of said fluid to said means forming said cavity whereby to solidify said coupling body within said cavity.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
74 words
In a subsea mooring anchor as defined in claim 1 wherein said retainer includes; a cap having opposed upper and lower surfaces, said means forming said cavity extending through said cap and terminating at respective upper and lower surfaces, said opening at said upper surface being constricted and adapted to receive said connector, and a seating base connected at said cap lower side whereby to maintain said coupling in said means forming said cavity.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
89 words
In a subsea mooring anchor as defined in claim 1 wherein said retainer includes a cap having opposed upper and lower surfaces, said means forming said cavity including an opening at said pad upper surface that widens along an upper contoured wall into said cavity, said body connector being registered in said constricted opening and said body further including a contoured surface conformed to the contour of said cavity upper surface whereby to permit sliding movement of said body in said cavity when said contoured surfaces are in engagement.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
In a subsea mooring anchor as defined in claim 1 wherein said retainer includes buoyancy means incorporated therein and adapted to be adjusted whereby to vary the buoyancy of said retainer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
119 words
Subsea mooring for a buoyant marine structure, buoyantly positioned in an offshore body of water, which mooring includes; a coupling member having a connector extending outwardly from said mooring when the latter is positioned at the floor of said offshore body of water, a cap member having opposed upper and lower surfaces, a buoyant seating member detachably engaging the cap lower surface to define a cavity therebetween, and said coupling member being initially operably confined within said cavity and being slidably movable therein whereby to align said connector in a substantially upright disposition, and means for immobilizing said coupling member within said cavity to fixedly establish said coupling in said upright disposition when said mooring is at said floor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
119 words
Subsea mooring for a buoyant marine structure, buoyantly positioned in an offshore body of water, which mooring includes; a coupling member having a connector extending outwardly from said mooring when the latter is positioned at the floor of said offshore body of water, a cap member having opposed upper and lower surfaces, a buoyant seating member detachably engaging the cap lower surface to define a cavity therebetween, and said coupling member being initially operably confined within said cavity and being slidably movable therein whereby to align said connector in a substantially upright disposition, and means for immobilizing said coupling member within said cavity to fixedly establish said coupling in said upright disposition when said mooring is at said floor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
In a subsea mooring as defined in claim 5 including; guide means on said cap and seating members respectively and operable to remotely guide said respective members into engagement when at said floor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
73 words
In a subsea mooring as defined in claim 6 wherein said guide means includes; means projectinG upwardly from said seating member, and having a flexible cable attached thereto, and passage means formed in said cap member, said flexible cable being registered in said passage means and extending to the water''s surface whereby said cap is slidably lowerable along said flexible cable to engage said seating member when the latter is at said floor.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
134 words
Method for positioning a mooring anchor for a floatable marine structure in an offshore body of water, which structure includes a connecting end adapted to operably engage said mooring anchor, the latter including separably joined connector, cap and seating members, which method includes; positioning said mooring anchor at the surface of said offshore body of water, detaching said seating member from the anchor and controllably lowering said member to the floor of said body of water, guidably submerging said connector to engage said seating member, guiding said cap to said floor whereby to engage said seating member and position said connector therebetween, introducing a flow of a solidifiable material to said anchor to contact said respective connector, cap and seating members for unitizing said members upon solidification of said material into a hardened mass.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
134 words
Method for positioning a mooring anchor for a floatable marine structure in an offshore body of water, which structure includes a connecting end adapted to operably engage said mooring anchor, the latter including separably joined connector, cap and seating members, which method includes; positioning said mooring anchor at the surface of said offshore body of water, detaching said seating member from the anchor and controllably lowering said member to the floor of said body of water, guidably submerging said connector to engage said seating member, guiding said cap to said floor whereby to engage said seating member and position said connector therebetween, introducing a flow of a solidifiable material to said anchor to contact said respective connector, cap and seating members for unitizing said members upon solidification of said material into a hardened mass.
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) | 1975-02-21 | 1975-08-23 | 1976-02-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-02-21 | 1979-08-23 | 1980-02-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-02-21 | 1983-08-23 | 1984-02-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |