US3673974A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and mobile marine platform apparatus having floating submerged mat stabilization
Assignee: Dresser Industries Inc
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Filing: 1970-03-17
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Granted: 1972-07-04
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Expires: 1990-03-17
Abstract
Abstract Three levels in a vertical plane, being an elevated work platform, a middle hull and a submersible lower hull are connected together by six telescoping vertical support columns. The lower catamaran hull consists of two pontoon-type tubes connected together by a mat having freeing holes therein to reduce the mat''s resistance in the vertical plane when submerged. The middle hull is maintained above the water level when the lower hull is at the surface of the water, but settles down into the water to provide buoyant support when the lower hull is submerged. The lower hull, being buoyant and ballastable, is raised or lowered in the water by adding or removing water ballast. Action snubbers are provided to work in conjunction with the vertical columns to prevent any quick or fast relative movement between the lower hull and the combined middle hull and upper deck structure. An alternative embodiment utilizes the middle buoyant hull to floatably support a three column structure. Other alternative embodiments include non-telescoping columns, single column platform apparatus and means for varying the amount or number of freeing holes used to affect the mat resistance in the water.
Inventors
- 👤 James C Harper
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 21:11
CPC Classifications
B; B63; B63B; B63B1/00; B63B1/02; B63B1/10; B63B1/107; B63B35/00; B63B35/44; B63B35/4413; B63B39/00; B63B39/06; B63B2039/067
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
96 words
A mobile marine platform apparatus, comprising: a platform structure adapted to support supplies and equipment; a plurality of telescoping columnar members, each being fixedly secured at its upper end to said platform structure; a buoyant, ballastable structure fixedly secured to the lower end of each of said columnar members, including means to ballast and deballast said ballastable structure to submerged and floating positions, respectively; and a second buoyant structure fixed intermediate the ends of at least one of said columnar members to floatably support said platform apparatus when said ballastable structure is submerged a predetermined distance.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
96 words
A mobile marine platform apparatus, comprising: a platform structure adapted to support supplies and equipment; a plurality of telescoping columnar members, each being fixedly secured at its upper end to said platform structure; a buoyant, ballastable structure fixedly secured to the lower end of each of said columnar members, including means to ballast and deballast said ballastable structure to submerged and floating positions, respectively; and a second buoyant structure fixed intermediate the ends of at least one of said columnar members to floatably support said platform apparatus when said ballastable structure is submerged a predetermined distance.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
98 words
A mobile marine platform apparatus, comprising: a platform structure adapted to support supplies and equipment; a plurality of telescoping columnar members, each being fixedly secured at its upper end to said platform structure; a buoyant, ballastable structure fixedly secured to the lower end of at least one of said columnar members, including means to ballast and deballast said ballastable structure to submerged and floating positions, respectively; and a second buoyant structure fixed intermediate the ends of at least one of said columnar members to floatably support said platform apparatus when said ballastable structure is submerged a predetermined distance.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
98 words
A mobile marine platform apparatus, comprising: a platform structure adapted to support supplies and equipment; a plurality of telescoping columnar members, each being fixedly secured at its upper end to said platform structure; a buoyant, ballastable structure fixedly secured to the lower end of at least one of said columnar members, including means to ballast and deballast said ballastable structure to submerged and floating positions, respectively; and a second buoyant structure fixed intermediate the ends of at least one of said columnar members to floatably support said platform apparatus when said ballastable structure is submerged a predetermined distance.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
105 words
A mobile marine platform apparatus, comprising: a platform structure adapted to support supplies and equipment; a plurality of telescoping columnar members, each being fixedly secured at its upper end to said platform structure; a plurality of buoyant, ballastable structures, each of said ballastable structures being fixedly secured to the lower end of at least one of said columnar members, including means to ballast and deballast said ballastable structures to submerged and floating positions, respectively; and a flotation structure fixed intermediate the ends of at least one of said columnar members to floatably support said platform apparatus when said ballastable structures are submerged a predetermined distance.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
105 words
A mobile marine platform apparatus, comprising: a platform structure adapted to support supplies and equipment; a plurality of telescoping columnar members, each being fixedly secured at its upper end to said platform structure; a plurality of buoyant, ballastable structures, each of said ballastable structures being fixedly secured to the lower end of at least one of said columnar members, including means to ballast and deballast said ballastable structures to submerged and floating positions, respectively; and a flotation structure fixed intermediate the ends of at least one of said columnar members to floatably support said platform apparatus when said ballastable structures are submerged a predetermined distance.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said plurality of ballastable structures comprises a pair of parallel pontoons.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus according to claim 4, including in addition thereto, a perforated mat connected between said parallel pontoons.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
97 words
A mobile marine platform apparatus, comprising: a platform structure adapted to support supplies and equipment; a plurality of telescoping columnar members; a buoyant, ballastable structure fixedly secured to the lower end of at least one of said columnar members, including means to ballast and deballast said ballastable structure to submerged and floating positions, respectively; and a second buoyant structure fixed intermediate the ends of at least one of said columnar members to floatably support said platform apparatus when said ballastable structure is submerged a predetermined distance, said platform structure being fixedly attached to said second buoyant structure.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
97 words
A mobile marine platform apparatus, comprising: a platform structure adapted to support supplies and equipment; a plurality of telescoping columnar members; a buoyant, ballastable structure fixedly secured to the lower end of at least one of said columnar members, including means to ballast and deballast said ballastable structure to submerged and floating positions, respectively; and a second buoyant structure fixed intermediate the ends of at least one of said columnar members to floatably support said platform apparatus when said ballastable structure is submerged a predetermined distance, said platform structure being fixedly attached to said second buoyant structure.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
111 words
A mobile marine platform apparatus, comPrising: a platform structure adapted to support supplies and equipment; a plurality of columnar members; a buoyant, ballastable structure comprising a plurality of pontoons, and including in addition thereto, a perforated mat connected between said pontoons, fixedly secured to the lower end of at least one of said columnar members, including means to ballast and deballast said ballastable structure between varying depths of submersion; a second buoyant structure fixed intermediate the ends of at least one of said columnar members to floatably support said platform apparatus when said ballastable structure is submerged a predetermined distance, said platform structure being fixedly attached to said second buoyant structure.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
111 words
A mobile marine platform apparatus, comPrising: a platform structure adapted to support supplies and equipment; a plurality of columnar members; a buoyant, ballastable structure comprising a plurality of pontoons, and including in addition thereto, a perforated mat connected between said pontoons, fixedly secured to the lower end of at least one of said columnar members, including means to ballast and deballast said ballastable structure between varying depths of submersion; a second buoyant structure fixed intermediate the ends of at least one of said columnar members to floatably support said platform apparatus when said ballastable structure is submerged a predetermined distance, said platform structure being fixedly attached to said second buoyant structure.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
106 words
A mobile marine platform apparatus, comprising: a platform structure adapted to support supplies and equipment; a plurality of columnar members; a buoyant, ballastable structure comprising a pontoon having a center portion comprised of a perforated mat, fixedly secured to the lower end of at least one of said columnar members, including means to ballast and deballast said ballastable structure between varying depths of submersion; a second buoyant structure fixed intermediate the ends of at least one of said columnar members to floatably support said platform apparatus when said ballastable structure is submerged a predetermined distance, said platform structure being fixedly attached to said second buoyant structure.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
106 words
A mobile marine platform apparatus, comprising: a platform structure adapted to support supplies and equipment; a plurality of columnar members; a buoyant, ballastable structure comprising a pontoon having a center portion comprised of a perforated mat, fixedly secured to the lower end of at least one of said columnar members, including means to ballast and deballast said ballastable structure between varying depths of submersion; a second buoyant structure fixed intermediate the ends of at least one of said columnar members to floatably support said platform apparatus when said ballastable structure is submerged a predetermined distance, said platform structure being fixedly attached to said second buoyant structure.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
86 words
A mobile marine platform apparatus, comprising: a platform structure adapted to support supplies and equipment; a plurality of telescoping columnar support members, each being fixedly secured at its upper end to said platform structure, whereby the profile of the platform remains substantially constant regardless of the telescoping positions of said support members; and submersible means fixedly secured to the lower ends of said support members for extending said support members beneath the sea while maintaining said platform structure at or above the surface of the sea.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
86 words
A mobile marine platform apparatus, comprising: a platform structure adapted to support supplies and equipment; a plurality of telescoping columnar support members, each being fixedly secured at its upper end to said platform structure, whereby the profile of the platform remains substantially constant regardless of the telescoping positions of said support members; and submersible means fixedly secured to the lower ends of said support members for extending said support members beneath the sea while maintaining said platform structure at or above the surface of the sea.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
The platform apparatus according to claim 9, including in addition thereto at least one action snubber member connected between said platform structure and said submersible means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
50 words
The platform apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said action snubber comprises a liquid filled piston and cylinder having means for said fluid to move from one end of said cylinder to the other end of said cylinder as said platform apparatus moves vertically with respect to said submersible means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
44 words
The platform apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said piston requires a period of time to move from one end of the cylinder to the other end of the cylinder longer than the time of the longest seas to be encountered by said apparatus.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
The platform apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said period of time is at least 15 seconds.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
56 words
The platform structure according to claim 9 wherein said submersible means includes a cup-shaped chamber for each of said plurality of columnar support members and each of said support members has a member rounded at one end for fitting into said chamber, whereby said telescoping action is slowed down as said rounded member enters said chamber.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
95 words
A mobile marine platform apparatus, comprising: an elevated platform structure adapted to support supplies and equipment; a plurality of columnar members fixedly secured to said platform structure, whereby said platform structure is maintained above the surface of the water; a mat assembly fixedly secured to said columnar members and parallel to said platform structure, said mat assembly being adapted to be lowered to a given depth beneath the surface of water while always floating above the water floor, wherein said mat assembly comprises at least one metal plate having a plurality of freeing holes therein.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
95 words
A mobile marine platform apparatus, comprising: an elevated platform structure adapted to support supplies and equipment; a plurality of columnar members fixedly secured to said platform structure, whereby said platform structure is maintained above the surface of the water; a mat assembly fixedly secured to said columnar members and parallel to said platform structure, said mat assembly being adapted to be lowered to a given depth beneath the surface of water while always floating above the water floor, wherein said mat assembly comprises at least one metal plate having a plurality of freeing holes therein.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus according to claim 15 wherein some of said holes have been selectively closeD to achieve optimum stability in a given sea condition.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
92 words
A mobile marine platform apparatus, comprising: an elevated platform structure adapted to support supplies and equipment; a single vertical columnar member fixedly secured at its upper end to said platform structure whereby said elevated platform structure is maintained above the surface of the water; a metal plate fixedly secured to the lower end of said columnar member and parallel to said platform structure, said metal plate having a plurality of freeing holes therein; and means to cause said mat assembly to be lowered further in the water short of the ocean floor.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
92 words
A mobile marine platform apparatus, comprising: an elevated platform structure adapted to support supplies and equipment; a single vertical columnar member fixedly secured at its upper end to said platform structure whereby said elevated platform structure is maintained above the surface of the water; a metal plate fixedly secured to the lower end of said columnar member and parallel to said platform structure, said metal plate having a plurality of freeing holes therein; and means to cause said mat assembly to be lowered further in the water short of the ocean floor.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus according to claim 17 wherein some of said holes have been selectively closed to achieve optimum stability in a given sea condition.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
154 words
A mobile marine platform apparatus, comprising; an elevated platform structure adapted to support supplies and equipment; at least one buoyant structure fixedly secured to the underside of said platform structure, being maintained a given distance from said platform structure; a plurality of columnar members adapted to move with respect to said platform structure; a mat assembly fixedly secured to said columnar members and parallel to said platform structure; means to lower said mat assembly in the water; means to secure said platform structure to said columnar members; and means to release said means to secure said platform structure to said columnar members, whereby said mat may be lowered further in the water short of the water floor after said at least one buoyant structure has settled into the water without a further lowering of said platform structure, wherein said mat assembly comprises at least one metal plate having a plurality of freeing holes therein.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
154 words
A mobile marine platform apparatus, comprising; an elevated platform structure adapted to support supplies and equipment; at least one buoyant structure fixedly secured to the underside of said platform structure, being maintained a given distance from said platform structure; a plurality of columnar members adapted to move with respect to said platform structure; a mat assembly fixedly secured to said columnar members and parallel to said platform structure; means to lower said mat assembly in the water; means to secure said platform structure to said columnar members; and means to release said means to secure said platform structure to said columnar members, whereby said mat may be lowered further in the water short of the water floor after said at least one buoyant structure has settled into the water without a further lowering of said platform structure, wherein said mat assembly comprises at least one metal plate having a plurality of freeing holes therein.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus according to claim 19 wherein some of said holes have been selectively closed to achieve optimum stability in a given sea condition.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-07-04 | 1976-01-03 | 1976-07-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-07-04 | 1980-01-03 | 1980-07-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-07-04 | 1984-01-03 | 1984-07-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |