US3756033A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Offshore structure with rotating and indexing mechanism for placing piles
Assignee: Chicago Bridge and Iron Co
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Filing: 1971-11-12
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Granted: 1973-09-04
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Expires: 1991-11-12
Abstract
Abstract An offshore structure having a base resting on a sea floor, a plurality of vertical pile-receiving sleeves in the base, an elongated rigid vertical member joined to the base by a connection which permits angular pivotal displacement and rotation of the vertical member, and at least one vertical pileguiding means positioned on the vertical member to be axially alignable with a plurality of the vertical pile-receiving sleeves on an individual sleeve basis upon rotation of the vertical member about its vertical axis.
Inventors
- 👤 F Kouka
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 12:05
CPC Classifications
B; B63; B63B; B63B35/00; B63B35/44; B63B35/4406
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
125 words
An offshorE structure adapted to be supported on a sea floor comprising: a base adapted to rest on a sea floor; a plurality of substantially hollow vertical pile-receiving sleeves in the base for receiving piles driven into the sea floor; an elongated rigid normally substantially vertical member joined to the base by a mechanical connection having means for angular pivotal displacement of the vertical member about said connection, said connection having means for rotation of the vertical member about the axis of said vertical member; and the vertical member having at least one vertical pile-guiding means positioned thereon to be axially alignable with a plurality of the vertical pile-receiving sleeves on an individual sleeve basis upon rotation of the vertical member about its vertical axis.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
125 words
An offshorE structure adapted to be supported on a sea floor comprising: a base adapted to rest on a sea floor; a plurality of substantially hollow vertical pile-receiving sleeves in the base for receiving piles driven into the sea floor; an elongated rigid normally substantially vertical member joined to the base by a mechanical connection having means for angular pivotal displacement of the vertical member about said connection, said connection having means for rotation of the vertical member about the axis of said vertical member; and the vertical member having at least one vertical pile-guiding means positioned thereon to be axially alignable with a plurality of the vertical pile-receiving sleeves on an individual sleeve basis upon rotation of the vertical member about its vertical axis.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
An offshore structure according to claim 1 having index means to align and position the pile-guiding means axially to pile-receiving sleeves on an individual sleeve basis.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
An offshore structure according to claim 1 in which a substantial number of the pile-receiving sleeves are essentially equidistant radially from the mechanical connection means and the pile-guiding means is the same radial distance from the mechanical connection means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
An offshore structure according to claim 1 in which the pile-guiding means includes a hollow tube.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
An offshore structure according to claim 1 having a plurality of pile-guiding means alignable simultaneously with a plurality of pile-receiving sleeves.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
An offshore structure according to claim 1 in which the mechanical connection is a universal joint.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
An offshore structure according to claim 1 in which the mechanical connection includes vertical telescoping cylindrical members, one of which is rotatable axially with respect to the other.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
192 words
The method of securing an offshore structure to a sea floor by piles which comprises: positioning the offshore structure in sea floor supporting position, said offshore structure having a base resting on the sea floor, a plurality of substantially hollow vertical pile-receiving sleeves in the base, an elongated rigid normally substantially vertical member joined to the base by a mechanical connection means which permits angular pivotal displacement of the vertical member about said connection and rotation of the vertical member about the axis of said vertical member, and at least one vertical pile-guiding means positioned on the vertical member to be axially alignable with a plurality of the pile-receiving sleeves on an individual sleeve basis upon rotation of the vertical member about its vertical axis; aligning the pile-guiding means with a pile-receiving sleeve; feeding a pile along the pile-guiding means into the aligned pile-receiving sleeve; driving the pile into the sea floor; rotating the vertical member until the pile-guiding means is in alignment with a second pile-receiving sleeve; feeding a pile along the pile-guiding means into the aligned second pile-receiving sleeve; driving the pile into the sea floor; and repeating said method.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
192 words
The method of securing an offshore structure to a sea floor by piles which comprises: positioning the offshore structure in sea floor supporting position, said offshore structure having a base resting on the sea floor, a plurality of substantially hollow vertical pile-receiving sleeves in the base, an elongated rigid normally substantially vertical member joined to the base by a mechanical connection means which permits angular pivotal displacement of the vertical member about said connection and rotation of the vertical member about the axis of said vertical member, and at least one vertical pile-guiding means positioned on the vertical member to be axially alignable with a plurality of the pile-receiving sleeves on an individual sleeve basis upon rotation of the vertical member about its vertical axis; aligning the pile-guiding means with a pile-receiving sleeve; feeding a pile along the pile-guiding means into the aligned pile-receiving sleeve; driving the pile into the sea floor; rotating the vertical member until the pile-guiding means is in alignment with a second pile-receiving sleeve; feeding a pile along the pile-guiding means into the aligned second pile-receiving sleeve; driving the pile into the sea floor; and repeating said method.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 8 in which the pile are driven into the sea floor from a position on the vertical member above the sea.
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) | 1976-09-03 | 1977-03-05 | 1977-09-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-09-03 | 1981-03-05 | 1981-09-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-09-03 | 1985-03-05 | 1985-09-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |