US3703151A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Biased taut line mooring system
Assignee: Ocean Design Engineering Corp
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Filing: 1970-09-04
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Granted: 1972-11-21
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Expires: 1990-09-04
Abstract
Abstract A buoyant surface object that tends to at all times occupy a fixed predetermined position due to the tensioning of at least two pennant lines that extend outwardly therefrom. Each pennant line is connected to a submerged float. The floats are in turn connected to mooring lines that extend downwardly and outwardly therefrom. The lower ends of the mooring lines are secured to anchors. The floats due to their buoyancy tend to move to positions where their mooring lines would be vertically disposed. This tendency to so move is prevented by the pennant lines. The pennant lines as a result of tending to restrain the buoys from moving are tensioned and when no exterior force is exerted on the surface object maintain the surface object in the predetermined position. In the event that an external force moves the surface object from said predetermined position, the tension on at least one of the pennant lines is increased, and the tension on another of the pennant lines decreased, and an unbalanced force system prevails. As soon as the external force ceases to act on the surface object, the floats move to their initial positions to exert balanced forces on the pennant lines, and the surface object returning to said predetermined position.
Inventors
- 👤 John C Clement
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 08:52
CPC Classifications
B; B63; B63B; B63B21/00; B63B21/50; B63B22/00; B63B22/18
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
188 words
A biased taut line mooring system tending to maintain a buoyant object at a predetermined position on the surface of a body of water subject to wind, current or wave action including: a plurality of anchors disposed radially outwardly of said position and resting upon the bottom of said body of water; a plurality of mooring lines extending generally upwardly from and radially inwardly of said anchors, said mooring lines terminating below the surface of said body of water; a plurality of buoyant floats connected to the upper extremities of said mooring lines, all of said floats being submerged radially inwardly of said anchors below the effect of surface wave action and exerting biases tending to vertically orient said mooring lines; and a plurality of pennant lines extending from said object to said floats and all rendered taut and maintained in tension by said biases of said floats, said tension in said pennant lines automatically varying according to movement of said object out of said predetermined position and tending to locate said object in said predetermined position when said tension in said pennant lines reaches a balanced condition.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
188 words
A biased taut line mooring system tending to maintain a buoyant object at a predetermined position on the surface of a body of water subject to wind, current or wave action including: a plurality of anchors disposed radially outwardly of said position and resting upon the bottom of said body of water; a plurality of mooring lines extending generally upwardly from and radially inwardly of said anchors, said mooring lines terminating below the surface of said body of water; a plurality of buoyant floats connected to the upper extremities of said mooring lines, all of said floats being submerged radially inwardly of said anchors below the effect of surface wave action and exerting biases tending to vertically orient said mooring lines; and a plurality of pennant lines extending from said object to said floats and all rendered taut and maintained in tension by said biases of said floats, said tension in said pennant lines automatically varying according to movement of said object out of said predetermined position and tending to locate said object in said predetermined position when said tension in said pennant lines reaches a balanced condition.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
188 words
A biased taut line mooring system tending to maintain a buoyant object at a predetermined position on the surface of a body of water subject to wind, current or wave action including: a plurality of anchors disposed radially outwardly of said position and resting upon the bottom of said body of water; a plurality of mooring lines extending generally upwardly from and radially inwardly of said anchors, said mooring lines terminating below the surface of said body of water; a plurality of buoyant floats connected to the upper extremities of said mooring lines, all of said floats being submerged radially inwardly of said anchors below the effect of surface wave action and exerting biases tending to vertically orient said mooring lines; and a plurality of pennant lines extending from said object to said floats and all rendered taut and maintained in tension by said biases of said floats, said tension in said pennant lines automatically varying according to movement of said object out of said predetermined position and tending to locate said object in said predetermined position when said tension in said pennant lines reaches a balanced condition.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
188 words
A biased taut line mooring system tending to maintain a buoyant object at a predetermined position on the surface of a body of water subject to wind, current or wave action including: a plurality of anchors disposed radially outwardly of said position and resting upon the bottom of said body of water; a plurality of mooring lines extending generally upwardly from and radially inwardly of said anchors, said mooring lines terminating below the surface of said body of water; a plurality of buoyant floats connected to the upper extremities of said mooring lines, all of said floats being submerged radially inwardly of said anchors below the effect of surface wave action and exerting biases tending to vertically orient said mooring lines; and a plurality of pennant lines extending from said object to said floats and all rendered taut and maintained in tension by said biases of said floats, said tension in said pennant lines automatically varying according to movement of said object out of said predetermined position and tending to locate said object in said predetermined position when said tension in said pennant lines reaches a balanced condition.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
A mooring system as defined in claim 1 wherein said anchors are substantially equally spaced from one another.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
A mooring system as defined in claim 1 wherein said anchors are substantially equally spaced from one another and from said object.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
A mooring system as defined in claim 1 wherein said floats are submerged sufficiently below said surface that they are generally unaffected by wave action on said body of water.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
83 words
A mooring system as defined in claim 1 wherein said floats each includes: a central tube extending therethrough; bearing means mounted in one end of said tube; a cable rotation housing disposed in said tube upon said bearing means, and one of said mooring lines extending through said housing; an a stop in said tube in abutment with said housing, said stop being affixed to said mooring line, whereby said float is rotatable relative to said housing, said stop and said mooring line.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
A mooring system as defined in claim 1 wherein said anchors and floats are each three in number and disposed at the apices of imaginary, concentric, equilateral triangles in which said predetermined position is centered.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
43 words
A mooring system as defined in claim 1 wherein said anchors and floats are each two in number, with said anchors and floats being in alignment, and with said object being located at equal distances from said floats when in said predetermined position.
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) | 1975-11-21 | 1976-05-22 | 1976-11-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-11-21 | 1980-05-22 | 1980-11-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-11-21 | 1984-05-22 | 1984-11-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |