Apparatus for laying pipelines

Claim 1

An apparatus for operating on a relatively-inflexible movable pipeline, said apparatus including: a first pipe-engaging tool, said tool comprising: a first continuous chain; a first series of spaced blocks supported by said chain, said blocks having curved surfaces operable to engage longitudinally-spaced segments of a portion of said pipeline; a series of pins interlinking said blocks to allow said blocks to pivotally move relative to each other; a series of rollers on said pins; first roller-support track means, said rollers being adapted to roll on said track means; means operatively coupled with said first tool for maintaining and selectively moving said portion of said pipeline on said blocks against their curved surfaces, thereby allowing the pipe-engaging blocks to exert on the engaged portion of said pipeline a series of longitudinally-spaced stresses; said first track means including relatively-flexible track portions for supporting the rollers which are associated with said pipe-engaging blocks; hydraulically-operated means comprising longitudinallydisplaced support rods for supporting said flexible track portions, said support rods providing substantially-uniform support to said portion of said pipeline engaged by said first tool, and said support rods being automatically and reciprocatingly movable to uniformly distribute the load between said rods; and said hydraulically-operated means including a plurality of hydraulic cylinders, each cylinder having a reciprocating piston coupled to one of said rods, and said pistons having substantially-equal, effective, crosssectional areas.

Claim 2

An apparatus for operating on a relatively-inflexible movable pipeline, said apparatus including: a first pipe-engaging tool, said tool comprising: a first continuous chain; a first series of spaced blocks supported by said chain, said blocks having curved surfaces operable to engage longitudinally-spaced segments of a portion of said pipeline; a series of pins interlinking said blocks to allow said blocks to pivotally move relative to each other; a series of rollers on said pins; first roller-support track means, said rollers being adapted to roll on said track means; means operatively coupled with said first tool for maintaining and selectively moving said portion of said pipeline on said blocks against their curved surfaces, thereby allowing the pipe-engaging blocks to exert on the engaged portion of said pipeline a series of longitudinally-spaced stresses; said first track means including relatively-flexible track portions for supporting the rollers which are associated with said pipe-engaging blocks; hydraulically-operated means comprising longitudinallydisplaced support rods for supporting said flexible track portions, said support rods providing substantially-uniform support to said portion of said pipeline engaged by said first tool, and said support rods being automatically and reciprocatingly movable to uniformly distribute the load between said rods; and said hydraulically-operated means including a plurality of hydraulic cylinders, each cylinder having a reciprocating piston coupled to one of said rods, and said pistons having substantially-equal, effective, crosssectional areas.

Claim 5

An apparatus for operating on a relatively-inflexible movable pipeline, said apparatus including: a first pipe-engaging tool, said tool comprising: a first continuous chain; a first series of spaced blocks supported by said chain, said blocks having curved surfaces operable to engage longitudinally-spaced segments of a portion of said pipeline; a series of pins interlinking said blocks to allow said blocks to pivotally move relative to each other; each pin rotatably supports at least a pair of said rollers displaced from each other, and each roller of each of said pair of rollers forms part of a series of rollers riding on a distinct track means; means operatively coupled with said first tool for maintaining and selectively moving said portion of said pipeline on said blocks against their curved surfaces, thereby allowing the pipe-engaging blocks to exert on the engaged portion of said pipeline a series of longitudinally-spaced stresses, and said track means having a substantially oval configuration.

Claim 6

An apparatus for operating on a relatively-inflexible movable pipeline, said apparatus including: a first pipe-engaging tool, said tool comprising: a first continuous chain; a first series of spaced blocks supported by said chain, said blocks having curved surfaces operable to engage longitudinally-spaced segments of a portion of said pipeline; a series of pins interlinking said blocks to allow said blocks to pivotally move relative to each other; each pin rotatably supports at least a pair of said rollers displaced from each other, and each roller of each of said pair of rollers forms part of a series of rollers riding on a distinct track means; means operatively coupled with said first tool for maintaining and selectively moving said portion of said pipeline on said blocks against their curved surfaces, thereby allowing the pipe-engaging blocks to exert on the engaged portion of said pipeline a series of longitudinally-spaced stresses, and said track means having a substantially oval configuration.

Claim 7

An apparatus for operating on a relatively-inflexible movable pipeline, said apparatus including: a first pipe-engaging tool, said tool comprising: a first continuous chain; a first series of spaced blocks supported by longitudinally-spaced chain, said blocks having curved surfaces operable to engage longitudinally-spaced segments of a portion of said pipeline; a series of pins interlinking said blocks to allow said blocks to pivotally move relative to each other; a series of rollers on said pins, each pin rotatably supports at least a pair of said rollers displaced from each other; first roller-support track means, said rollers being adapted to roll on said track means; means operatively coupled with said first tool for maintaining and selectively moving said portion of said pipeline on said blocks against their curved surfaces, thereby allowing the pipe-engaging blocks to exert on the engaged portion of said pipeline a series of longitudinally-spaced stresses; a bottom plate; a top plate; means rotatably supporting said chain for rotation between said plates; and said rotatably supporting means being positioning rollers.

Claim 8

An apparatus for operating on a relatively-inflexible movable pipeline, said apparatus including: a first pipe-engaging tool, said tool comprising: a first continuous chain; a first series of spaced blocks supported by longitudinally-spaced chain, said blocks having curved surfaces operable to engage longitudinally-spaced segments of a portion of said pipeline; a series of pins interlinking said blocks to allow said blocks to pivotally move relative to each other; a series of rollers on said pins, each pin rotatably supports at least a pair of said rollers displaced from each other; first roller-support track means, said rollers being adapted to roll on said track means; means operatively coupled with said first tool for maintaining and selectively moving said portion of said pipeline on said blocks against their curved surfaces, thereby allowing the pipe-engaging blocks to exert on the engaged portion of said pipeline a series of longitudinally-spaced stresses; a bottom plate; a top plate; means rotatably supporting said chain for rotation between said plates; and said rotatably supporting means being positioning rollers.

Claim 12

An apparatus for operating on a relatively-inflexible movable pipeline, said apparatus including: a first pipe-engaging tool, said tool comprising: a first continuous chain; a first series of spaced blocks supported by said chain, said blocks having curved surfaces operable to engage longitudinally-spaced segments of a portion of said pipeline; a series of pins interlinking said blocks to allow said blocks to pivotally move relative to each other; a series of rollers on said pins; first roller-support track means, said rollers being adapted to roll on said track means; means operatively coupled with said first tool for maintaining and selectively moving said portion of said pipeline on said blocks against their curved surfaces, thereby allowing the pipe-engaging blocks to exert on the engaged portion of said pipeline a series of longitudinally-spaced stresses; and said roller-support tracks means including: two short-radius, curved, side tracks separated by two relatively-flat, main tracks, and each of said blocks having a length sufficiently shorter than the distance between two consecutive pins in said chain, thereby allowing each support block to rapidly accelerate in the transition region between a main track and an adjacent side track.

Claim 13

An apparatus for operating on a relatively-inflexible movable pipeline, said apparatus including: a first pipe-engaging tool, said tool comprising: a first continuous chain; a first series of spaced blocks supported by said chain, said blocks having curved surfaces operable to engage longitudinally-spaced segments of a portion of said pipeline; a series of pins interlinking said blocks to allow said blocks to pivotally move relative to each other; a series of rollers on said pins; first roller-support track means, said rollers being adapted to roll on said track means; means operatively coupled with said first tool for maintaining and selectively moving said portion of said pipeline on said blocks against their curved surfaces, thereby allowing the pipe-engaging blocks to exert on the engaged portion of said pipeline a series of longitudinally-spaced stresses; and said roller-support tracks means including: two short-radius, curved, side tracks separated by two relatively-flat, main tracks, and each of said blocks having a length sufficiently shorter than the distance between two consecutive pins in said chain, thereby allowing each support block to rapidly accelerate in the transition region between a main track and an adjacent side track.

Claim 17

An apparatus for operating on a relatively-inflexible Movable pipeline, said apparatus including: a first pipe-engaging tool, said tool comprising: a first continuous chain; a first series of spaced blocks supported by said chain, said blocks having curved surfaces operable to engage longitudinally-spaced segments of a portion of said pipeline; a series of pins interlinking said blocks to allow said blocks to pivotally move relative to each other; a series of rollers on said pins; first roller-support track means, said rollers being adapted to roll on said track means; means operatively coupled with said first tool for maintaining and selectively moving said portion of said pipeline on said blocks against their curved surfaces, thereby allowing the pipe-engaging blocks to exert on the engaged portion of said pipeline a series of longitudinally-spaced stresses; a second pipe-engaging tool, said second tool comprising: a second continuous chain; a second series of spaced blocks supported by said second chain, said second blocks having curved surfaces operable to engage longitudinally-spaced segments of a portion of said pipeline; a second series of pins interlinking said blocks to allow said second blocks to pivotally move relative to each other; a second series of rollers on said second pins; second roller-support track means, said second rollers being adapted to roll on said second track means; said second tool being operatively coupled with said first tool for maintaining and selectively moving said portion of said pipeline on said first and second blocks against their curved surfaces, thereby allowing said first and second pipe-engaging blocks to exert on the engaged portion of said pipeline a series of longitudinally-spaced stresses; a third pipe-engaging tool, said third tool comprising: a third continuous chain; a third series of spaced blocks supported by said third chain, said third blocks having curved surfaces operable to engage longitudinally-spaced segments of a portion of said pipeline; a third series of pins interlinking said third blocks to allow said third blocks to pivotally move relative to each other; third roller-support track means, said third rollers being adapted to roll on said third track means; and said third tool being operatively coupled with said first tool and second tool for maintaining and selectively moving said portion of said pipeline on said first, second and third blocks against their curved surfaces, thereby allowing said first, second and third pipe-engaging blocks to exert on the engaged portion of said pipeline a series of longitudinally-spaced stresses.

Claim 18

An apparatus for operating on a relatively-inflexible Movable pipeline, said apparatus including: a first pipe-engaging tool, said tool comprising: a first continuous chain; a first series of spaced blocks supported by said chain, said blocks having curved surfaces operable to engage longitudinally-spaced segments of a portion of said pipeline; a series of pins interlinking said blocks to allow said blocks to pivotally move relative to each other; a series of rollers on said pins; first roller-support track means, said rollers being adapted to roll on said track means; means operatively coupled with said first tool for maintaining and selectively moving said portion of said pipeline on said blocks against their curved surfaces, thereby allowing the pipe-engaging blocks to exert on the engaged portion of said pipeline a series of longitudinally-spaced stresses; a second pipe-engaging tool, said second tool comprising: a second continuous chain; a second series of spaced blocks supported by said second chain, said second blocks having curved surfaces operable to engage longitudinally-spaced segments of a portion of said pipeline; a second series of pins interlinking said blocks to allow said second blocks to pivotally move relative to each other; a second series of rollers on said second pins; second roller-support track means, said second rollers being adapted to roll on said second track means; said second tool being operatively coupled with said first tool for maintaining and selectively moving said portion of said pipeline on said first and second blocks against their curved surfaces, thereby allowing said first and second pipe-engaging blocks to exert on the engaged portion of said pipeline a series of longitudinally-spaced stresses; a third pipe-engaging tool, said third tool comprising: a third continuous chain; a third series of spaced blocks supported by said third chain, said third blocks having curved surfaces operable to engage longitudinally-spaced segments of a portion of said pipeline; a third series of pins interlinking said third blocks to allow said third blocks to pivotally move relative to each other; third roller-support track means, said third rollers being adapted to roll on said third track means; and said third tool being operatively coupled with said first tool and second tool for maintaining and selectively moving said portion of said pipeline on said first, second and third blocks against their curved surfaces, thereby allowing said first, second and third pipe-engaging blocks to exert on the engaged portion of said pipeline a series of longitudinally-spaced stresses.

Claim 38

An apparatus for laying a pipeline on a marine bottom, said apparatus comprising: a floating platform, a reel rotatably-mounted on said platform for supporting said pipeline, winding and unwinding means including: at least three continuous chains, each chain having a series of spaced blocks, said blocks having curved surfaces operable to engage longitudinally-spaced segments of a portion of the winding and unwinding pipeline; a series of pins interlinking said blocks to allow said blocks to pivotally move relative to each other, power means for controllably moving at least one of said chains; two of said chains being adapted to directly engage one side of a portion of said pipeline, and one of said chains being disposed on the opposite side of said pipeline so as to compressively engage said portion of said pipeline and to exert a series of longitudinally spaced continuously effective bending and counter-bending forces on said portion of said pipeline as it is being wound on and unwound from said reel.

Claim 39

An apparatus for laying a pipeline on a marine bottom, said apparatus comprising: a floating platform, a reel rotatably-mounted on said platform for supporting said pipeline, winding and unwinding means including: at least three continuous chains, each chain having a series of spaced blocks, said blocks having curved surfaces operable to engage longitudinally-spaced segments of a portion of the winding and unwinding pipeline; a series of pins interlinking said blocks to allow said blocks to pivotally move relative to each other, power means for controllably moving at least one of said chains; two of said chains being adapted to directly engage one side of a portion of said pipeline, and one of said chains being disposed on the opposite side of said pipeline so as to compressively engage said portion of said pipeline and to exert a series of longitudinally spaced continuously effective bending and counter-bending forces on said portion of said pipeline as it is being wound on and unwound from said reel.

Claim 40

An apparatus for straightening a long line of elasto-plastic metal pipe wound onto a coil mounted on a reel including: first means for winding and unwinding the pipeline on and from the Reel, second means for plastically reverse-bending the pipe to a constant curvilinear configuration as it is being wound and unwound, third means for subsequently plastically reverse-bending the pipe to a desired configuration after said pipe acquires said curvilinear configuration, and said second means comprising: a first continuous chain, a first series of spaced blocks supported by said chain, said blocks having curved surfaces operable to engaged longitudinally-spaced segments of a portion of said pipeline, a series of pins interlinking said blocks to allow said blocks to pivotally move relative to each other, a series of rollers on said pins, roller-support track means, said rollers being adapted to roll on said track means, and said third means being operatively coupled with said second means for maintaining and selectively moving said portion of said pipeline on said blocks against their curved surfaces, thereby allowing the pipe-engaging blocks to exert on the engaged portion of said pipeline a series of longitudinally-spaced operating forces.

Claim 41

An apparatus for straightening a long line of elasto-plastic metal pipe wound onto a coil mounted on a reel including: first means for winding and unwinding the pipeline on and from the Reel, second means for plastically reverse-bending the pipe to a constant curvilinear configuration as it is being wound and unwound, third means for subsequently plastically reverse-bending the pipe to a desired configuration after said pipe acquires said curvilinear configuration, and said second means comprising: a first continuous chain, a first series of spaced blocks supported by said chain, said blocks having curved surfaces operable to engaged longitudinally-spaced segments of a portion of said pipeline, a series of pins interlinking said blocks to allow said blocks to pivotally move relative to each other, a series of rollers on said pins, roller-support track means, said rollers being adapted to roll on said track means, and said third means being operatively coupled with said second means for maintaining and selectively moving said portion of said pipeline on said blocks against their curved surfaces, thereby allowing the pipe-engaging blocks to exert on the engaged portion of said pipeline a series of longitudinally-spaced operating forces.

Claim 45

An apparatus for handling a relatively-inflexible metal pipeline, said apparatus including: a reel rotatable about its axis; means for rotating said reel in opposite directions for respectively winding pipe thereon and unwinding pipe therefrom; combined bending and level wind means mounted adjacent said reel, said means comprising: three movable chain assemblies, each assembly being mounted for rotation about an axis extending substantially parallel to the axis of said reel, each pair of chains being at opposite sides of the line of travel of said pipeline, each of said chains comprising: a series of spaced blocks supported by said chain, said blocks having curved surfaces operable to engage longitudinally-spaced segments of a portion of said pipeline, a series of pins interlinking said blocks to allow said blocks to pivotally move relative to each other, a series of rollers on said pins, roller-support track means, said rollers being adapted to roll on said track means, and means operatively coupled with said chains for maintaining and selectively moving said portion of said pipeline on said blocks against their curved surfaces, thereby allowing the pipe-engaging blocks to exert on the engaged portion of said pipeline a series of longitudinally-spaced operating forces while said pipeline is being wound and unwound on and from said reel.

Claim 46

An apparatus for handling a relatively-inflexible metal pipeline, said apparatus including: a reel rotatable about its axis; means for rotating said reel in opposite directions for respectively winding pipe thereon and unwinding pipe therefrom; combined bending and level wind means mounted adjacent said reel, said means comprising: three movable chain assemblies, each assembly being mounted for rotation about an axis extending substantially parallel to the axis of said reel, each pair of chains being at opposite sides of the line of travel of said pipeline, each of said chains comprising: a series of spaced blocks supported by said chain, said blocks having curved surfaces operable to engage longitudinally-spaced segments of a portion of said pipeline, a series of pins interlinking said blocks to allow said blocks to pivotally move relative to each other, a series of rollers on said pins, roller-support track means, said rollers being adapted to roll on said track means, and means operatively coupled with said chains for maintaining and selectively moving said portion of said pipeline on said blocks against their curved surfaces, thereby allowing the pipe-engaging blocks to exert on the engaged portion of said pipeline a series of longitudinally-spaced operating forces while said pipeline is being wound and unwound on and from said reel.