US3670511A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Rigid stinger with adjustable pipeline curvature means
Assignee: Fluor Corp
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Filing: 1970-04-01
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Granted: 1972-06-20
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Expires: 1990-04-01
Abstract
Abstract A nonarticulated stinger is provided which is towed through a body of water at a predetermined depth. Vertical and lateral position control means maintain the trailing end of a pivotally mounted rigid stinger at predetermined depths below the surface of a body of water. The pipeline guided by the stinger can be made to assume various radii of curvature by adjusting the elevation of pipeline support rollers and/or by adjusting the elevation of the trailing end of the pivotable stinger.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert G Gibson
- 👤 John G Mackin Jr
- 👤 Paul K Johnson
- 👤 Francis D Koop Jr
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 18:19
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16L; F16L1/00; F16L1/12; F16L1/20; F16L1/225; B; B63; B63B; B63B35/00; B63B35/03; F16L1/202; F16L1/203
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
178 words
A stinger system for guiding from a pipe-laying vessel a pipeline into a body of water, said system comprising: an unarticulated stinger adapted to bend said pipeline to a desired curvilinear configuration as said pipeline descends from the deck of said vessel into said body of water; first coupling means including pivot means on the rear end of said vessel and on the leading end of said stinger; said first coupling means being adapted to mount said stinger for rotation about a generally horizontal pivot axis, depthcontrol means below the surface of said body of water, said depth-control means adapted to automatically rotate said stinger about said pivot axis when the depth of the trailing end of said stinger varies from a predetermined depth range thereby controlling the radius of curvature of the portion of the pipeline guided by said stinger, and said coupling means articulately coupling said depth-control means to the trailing end of said stinger for transmitting only vertical exerting forces from said stinger to said depthcontrol means and from said depth-control means to said stinger.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
178 words
A stinger system for guiding from a pipe-laying vessel a pipeline into a body of water, said system comprising: an unarticulated stinger adapted to bend said pipeline to a desired curvilinear configuration as said pipeline descends from the deck of said vessel into said body of water; first coupling means including pivot means on the rear end of said vessel and on the leading end of said stinger; said first coupling means being adapted to mount said stinger for rotation about a generally horizontal pivot axis, depthcontrol means below the surface of said body of water, said depth-control means adapted to automatically rotate said stinger about said pivot axis when the depth of the trailing end of said stinger varies from a predetermined depth range thereby controlling the radius of curvature of the portion of the pipeline guided by said stinger, and said coupling means articulately coupling said depth-control means to the trailing end of said stinger for transmitting only vertical exerting forces from said stinger to said depthcontrol means and from said depth-control means to said stinger.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The stinger system of claim 1 wherein, said depth-control means includes: a depth-controlled paravane.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The stinger system of claim 2 wherein, said paravane includes at least one rotatably mounted wing for controlling the diving attitude of said paravane.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
274 words
A stinger system for guiding a pipeline between a floating platform and a body of water, said system including: a stinger coupling adapted to bend said pipeline to a generally constant desired curvilinear configuration as said pipeline moves between said platform and said body of water; first coupling means on the rear end of said platform and on the front end of said stinger coupling adapted to rotatably mount said stinger coupling to said rear end of said platform; at least one pipeline support means mounted on said stinger coupling, said pipeline support means being selectively, vertically adjustable to controllably vary the desired radius of curvature of the guided pipeline configuration; an unarticulated stinger section adapted to bend said pipeline to a desired curvilinear configuration as said pipeline descends into said body of water; second coupling means including pivot means on the rear end of said stinger coupling and on the leading end of said stinger section, said second coupling means being adapted to mount said stinger section for rotation about a generally horizontal pivot axis, depth-control means below the surface of said body of water, said depth-control means adapted to automatically rotate said stinger section about said pivot axis when the depth of the trailing end of said stinger section varies from a predetermined depth range thereby controlling the radius of curvature of the portion of the pipeline guided by said stinger section, and third coupling means articulately coupling said depth-control means to the trailing end of said stinger section for transmitting only vertical exerting forces from said stinger section to said depth-control means and from said depth-control means to said stinger section.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
274 words
A stinger system for guiding a pipeline between a floating platform and a body of water, said system including: a stinger coupling adapted to bend said pipeline to a generally constant desired curvilinear configuration as said pipeline moves between said platform and said body of water; first coupling means on the rear end of said platform and on the front end of said stinger coupling adapted to rotatably mount said stinger coupling to said rear end of said platform; at least one pipeline support means mounted on said stinger coupling, said pipeline support means being selectively, vertically adjustable to controllably vary the desired radius of curvature of the guided pipeline configuration; an unarticulated stinger section adapted to bend said pipeline to a desired curvilinear configuration as said pipeline descends into said body of water; second coupling means including pivot means on the rear end of said stinger coupling and on the leading end of said stinger section, said second coupling means being adapted to mount said stinger section for rotation about a generally horizontal pivot axis, depth-control means below the surface of said body of water, said depth-control means adapted to automatically rotate said stinger section about said pivot axis when the depth of the trailing end of said stinger section varies from a predetermined depth range thereby controlling the radius of curvature of the portion of the pipeline guided by said stinger section, and third coupling means articulately coupling said depth-control means to the trailing end of said stinger section for transmitting only vertical exerting forces from said stinger section to said depth-control means and from said depth-control means to said stinger section.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The stinger system of claim 4 wherein, said depth-control means includes: a depth-controlled paravane.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The stinger system of claim 5 wherein, said paravane includes at least one rotatably mounted wing for controlling the diving attitude of said paravane.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The stinger system of claim 12 wherein, said second coupling means is selectively vertically positionable to controllably vary said desired radius of curvature.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-06-20 | 1975-12-20 | 1976-06-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-06-20 | 1979-12-20 | 1980-06-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-06-20 | 1983-12-20 | 1984-06-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |