US3685306A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Subsea pipe laying apparatus and method
Assignee: Texaco Inc
•
Filing: 1970-10-29
•
Granted: 1972-08-22
•
Expires: 1990-10-29
Abstract
Abstract The invention relates to a method and apparatus for laying a continuous pipeline or conduit from a floating barge, onto the floor of a body of water. The apparatus includes a floatable barge which supports an upstanding spool of continuously wound rigid, though resilient walled pipe. The spool is operably carried in an upright position on a reel stand whereby the conduit can be controllably unwound and the reel promptly replaced. Immediately after leaving the reel and prior to entering the water, the conduit is passed progressively through a pipe tensioner, a straightener, and a strain sensor. By coordinating the tension in the pipe with the forward movement of the barge, the configuration of the pipe between the barge and the ocean floor, can be regulated to minimize tensional and bending strain induced into the pipe by reason of its extending to the ocean floor.
Inventors
- 👤 George E Mott
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 04:30
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16L; F16L1/00; F16L1/12; F16L1/20; F16L1/202; F16L1/203
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
188 words
Marine apparatus for laying a continuous pipeline onto the floor of a body of water from the surface thereof, which comprises; a floatable vessel, and means for propelling said vessel along the water''s surface, at least one upstandingly positioned pipe reel, including a drum having a center axis, and means for maintaining a continuous length of prewound pipe onto said drum, a pipe reel stand carried on said vessel, and being operable to removably engage said pipe reel whereby to align said drum cenTer axis in a substantially horizontal disposition and to permit rotation of the reel thereabout, pipe handling means including; an upright frame having upper and lower segments, tension means carried on the upper of said segments including; means to operably engage said pipe when the latter is in a curved condition, and to apply a longitudinal force thereto whereby to unwind said pipe from said drum, and pipe straightening means carried at the lower segment of said frame, being operable to receive curved pipe from said tension means and to apply a lateral force thereto whereby to straighten the pipe into a substantially non-curved configuration.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
188 words
Marine apparatus for laying a continuous pipeline onto the floor of a body of water from the surface thereof, which comprises; a floatable vessel, and means for propelling said vessel along the water''s surface, at least one upstandingly positioned pipe reel, including a drum having a center axis, and means for maintaining a continuous length of prewound pipe onto said drum, a pipe reel stand carried on said vessel, and being operable to removably engage said pipe reel whereby to align said drum cenTer axis in a substantially horizontal disposition and to permit rotation of the reel thereabout, pipe handling means including; an upright frame having upper and lower segments, tension means carried on the upper of said segments including; means to operably engage said pipe when the latter is in a curved condition, and to apply a longitudinal force thereto whereby to unwind said pipe from said drum, and pipe straightening means carried at the lower segment of said frame, being operable to receive curved pipe from said tension means and to apply a lateral force thereto whereby to straighten the pipe into a substantially non-curved configuration.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
48 words
In an apparatus as defined in claim 1, including; sensor means carried on said vessel, and when urged into contact with a straightened portion of said pipe, said sensor means being adapted to register the disposition of said pipe between said floor and the surface of said water.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
In an apparatus as defined in claim 1, including; a curved pipe guide means disposed intermediate said pipe tensioning and straightening means respectively, whereby to guide said curved portion of pipe into the latter.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
In an apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein said pipe guide means includes; a plurality of guide units spaced apart along a curved path, and adapted to slidably receive and guide said curved pipe.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
In an apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein said pipe guide means includes; a plurality of discrete roller guides spaced apart along a curved path, and adapted to receive and rollably guide said curved pipe toward said pipe straightening means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
In an apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said tension means is horizontally adjustable to be arranged in alignment with curved pipe leaving said upstandingly positioned pipe reel.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
45 words
In an apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said pipe handling means upright frame is pivotally operable in a horizontal plane whereby to align said tension means carried at the upper of said segments into alignment with the said at least one pipe reel.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
144 words
Marine apparatus for laying a continuous pipeline onto the floor of a body of water, which comprises; a vessel floatable at the surface of said body of water, and including means for propelling said vessel along said water''s surface, reel stand means including a plurality of adjacently disposed reel supports adapted to removably receive a plurality of pipe holding reels in a generally upright disposition, said reels support stands being operable to support a pipe reel and to permit controlled rotation of the latter for reeling pipe therefrom, pipe tensioning means disposed adjacent to said plurality of pipe reels to receive curved pipe therefrom, pipe straightening means carried on said vessel and positioned cooperatively with said pipe tensioning means to receive a curved pipe from the latter, whereby to straighten said pipe and direct the same toward the floor of said body of water.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
144 words
Marine apparatus for laying a continuous pipeline onto the floor of a body of water, which comprises; a vessel floatable at the surface of said body of water, and including means for propelling said vessel along said water''s surface, reel stand means including a plurality of adjacently disposed reel supports adapted to removably receive a plurality of pipe holding reels in a generally upright disposition, said reels support stands being operable to support a pipe reel and to permit controlled rotation of the latter for reeling pipe therefrom, pipe tensioning means disposed adjacent to said plurality of pipe reels to receive curved pipe therefrom, pipe straightening means carried on said vessel and positioned cooperatively with said pipe tensioning means to receive a curved pipe from the latter, whereby to straighten said pipe and direct the same toward the floor of said body of water.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2931185A
Cited
GB601103A
Cited
US3372461A
Cited
US3353762A
Cited
US3331212A
Cited
US3313346A
Cited
US3390532A
Cited
US3447213A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-08-22 | 1976-02-21 | 1976-08-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-08-22 | 1980-02-21 | 1980-08-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-08-22 | 1984-02-21 | 1984-08-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |