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US3754403A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Offshore marine structure embodying anchor pile means

Assignee: Texaco Inc
•
Filing: 1972-02-09
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Granted: 1973-08-28
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Expires: 1992-02-09
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Abstract

Abstract The invention relates to a buoyant marine structure as would be found, or is usable in a body of water which lies above a penetrable substratum. The structure is comprised of several operably connected components and is controllably buoyant as to be floated or propelled to a proposed working site. Thereafter, the buoyancy is regulated to sink the hull portion of the structure to a resting place on the ocean floor. A series of anchoring piles are carried on the structure in such manner that they can be readily released from a fixed position to enter the penetrable substratum, and thereafter be driven to a desired depth.

Inventors

  • 👤 G Mott
  • 👤 J Wilbourn

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-27 13:39
CPC Classifications
E; E02; E02D; E02D27/00; E02D27/32; E02D27/42; E02B; E02B17/00; E02B17/0004; E02B17/02; E02D27/425; E02D27/50; E02B2017/0056; E02B2017/0065; E02B2017/0073; E02B2017/0086

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim 229 words
A buoyant marine structure for an offshore body of water adapted to be releasably fixed to the floor beneath said body of water and comprising; a. a submergible hull having a deck support means extending upwardly therefrom, said hull including controllable buoyancy means therein adapted to regulate the disposition of said hull within said body of water, b. pile guide means positioned transversely of said hull, being canted inwardly toward said support means, said pile guide means including an inlet at the hull upper side and an outlet opening at the lower side thereof, c. a deck operably carried on said deck support means, and being movable along the latter between upper and lower positions with respect to said hull, at least one elongated cylindrical pile having the lower end thereof received in said pile guide means and having the upper end operably engaged at said deck, said at least one pile upper end being urged toward the deck whereby to bend the pile and cause the lower end thereof to be fixed within said pile guide means and to preclude downward movement of the pile when said deck is in the lowered position, and as said deck is elevated to its upper position, said pile being permitted to adjust into alignment with the pile guide means and to slide therethrough whereby to enter the substratum beneath said hull.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 229 words
A buoyant marine structure for an offshore body of water adapted to be releasably fixed to the floor beneath said body of water and comprising; a. a submergible hull having a deck support means extending upwardly therefrom, said hull including controllable buoyancy means therein adapted to regulate the disposition of said hull within said body of water, b. pile guide means positioned transversely of said hull, being canted inwardly toward said support means, said pile guide means including an inlet at the hull upper side and an outlet opening at the lower side thereof, c. a deck operably carried on said deck support means, and being movable along the latter between upper and lower positions with respect to said hull, at least one elongated cylindrical pile having the lower end thereof received in said pile guide means and having the upper end operably engaged at said deck, said at least one pile upper end being urged toward the deck whereby to bend the pile and cause the lower end thereof to be fixed within said pile guide means and to preclude downward movement of the pile when said deck is in the lowered position, and as said deck is elevated to its upper position, said pile being permitted to adjust into alignment with the pile guide means and to slide therethrough whereby to enter the substratum beneath said hull.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 33 words
In an apparatus as defined in claim 1, including pile positioning means disposed in said pile guide means to engage the lower end of a pile and at least partially support the pile.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 22 words
In an apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said pile positioning means includes a displaceable member engaging the pile lower end.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 22 words
In an apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said pile positioning means includes a frangible member engaging the pile lower end.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 38 words
In an apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said deck includes; an outer edge, clamping means carried on said deck edge being actuatable to releasably grasp a pile prior to the latter being lowered to the substratum.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 54 words
In an apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said deck is formed with a substantially circular peripheral configuration, said pile guides being circularly arranged in said hull whereby said plurality of piles will be brought into alignment with said respective pile guides substantially simultaneously as said deck is raised toward the upper position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 41 words
In an apparatus as defined in claim 1, including; pile locking means carried on said deck to operably grasp the pile, and being actuatable to releasably grasp a pile to regulate movement of the latter during upward movement of said deck.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 30 words
In an apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein said pile locking means includes; cooperatively arranged rollers disposed about said pile and being operable to regulate movement of the pile.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

DE1484432A1 Cited
US3668876A Cited
US3670507A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1976-08-27 1977-02-26 1977-08-28 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1980-08-27 1981-02-26 1981-08-28 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1984-08-27 1985-02-26 1985-08-28 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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