US3765184A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Device and method for the attachment of pipelines to an underwater surface
Assignee: DES PETROLES AND TECHNIQUES LOUIS MENARD CO FR
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Filing: 1971-09-27
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Granted: 1973-10-16
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Expires: 1991-09-27
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus and a method of securing an underwater pipeline to the bed of a body of water is provided. A buoyant boom is attached to a floating line to be guided down to the pipeline. The floating line is secured to the pipeline by a clip that can utilize compressed air to penetrate the underwater bed. The buoyancy of the boom can be controlled to regulate both ascent and descent. A sled like base member is attached to the boom by a cardan joint and carries both a source of compressed air and a control panel. A television system can be utilized to monitor the control panel and the actual sinking of inverted L-shaped piles by a vibro-piledriver.
Inventors
- 👤 L Menard
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 12:39
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16L; F16L1/00; F16L1/12; F16L1/20; F16L1/201
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
123 words
Apparatus for the placement and anchoring of underwater pipelines to the bed of a body of water comprising: a boom; a float; means for connecting the boom to a pipeline comprising a first means connecting the pipeline to the float and a second means for slIding the boom on the first means, means for connecting the pipeline to the underwater bed; means on the boom for automatically embedding the connecting means in the underwater bed; a remotely controlled ballast tank means connected to the upper portion of the boom, and control means for remotely controlling the buoyancy of the ballast tank means and of the embedding means, whereby the apparatus can be easily moved from anchor point to anchor point along the pipeline.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
123 words
Apparatus for the placement and anchoring of underwater pipelines to the bed of a body of water comprising: a boom; a float; means for connecting the boom to a pipeline comprising a first means connecting the pipeline to the float and a second means for slIding the boom on the first means, means for connecting the pipeline to the underwater bed; means on the boom for automatically embedding the connecting means in the underwater bed; a remotely controlled ballast tank means connected to the upper portion of the boom, and control means for remotely controlling the buoyancy of the ballast tank means and of the embedding means, whereby the apparatus can be easily moved from anchor point to anchor point along the pipeline.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
Apparatus as in claim 1, where the means connecting the pipeline to the float include a clip member and at least one line, whereby the boom can be connected to the line and slid into place adjacent the pipeline.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus as in claim 1, where the means for connecting the pipeline to the underwater bed include a substantially inverted L-shaped pile.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the means for embedding the connecting means in the underwater bed include a remotely controlled vibro-piledriver.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus as in claim 1, further including a sled like base member capable of being removably mounted over the pipeline and connected to the boom by a cardan joint.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus as in claim 1, further including means mounted on the boom for detecting departures from verticality in any direction and means operatively connected thereto for vertically aligning the boom by thursts of compressed air.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
116 words
Apparatus as in claim 1, where the means for embedding the connecting means is a vibro-piledriver device having a jack placed under a bell, the bell having a high-pressure air intake valve so as to increase its buoyancy and an air evacuation valve so as to reduce it, the boom supporting the vibro-piledriver device and having a locking mechanism and a stop in its upper portion cooperating with the locking mechanism which is controlled by the jack of the vibro-piledriver device, the jack having a hydraulic anvil cooperating with the connecting means, so that, during the unlocking of the locking mechanism, the assembly of the vibro-piledriver, anvil, and anchoring means will fall parallel to the boom.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus as in claim 2, where the float carries at least one reel and a source of compressed air for varying the buoyancy.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
51 words
Apparatus as in claim 2, where the clip member is hollow and a source of compressed air can be connected to the clip so as to permit the compressed air to be blown through the hollow interior of the clip, thereby facilitating connection of the clip to a partially embedded pipeline.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
40 words
Apparatus as in claim 5, where the boom is prismatic and where the vertical axis of the cardan joint which connects the boom to the sled-like base member coincides with the axis of the boom when the latter is vertical.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus as in claim 5, where a tube of compressed air is mounted on the sled-like base member.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus as in claim 5, where a control panel operatively connected to the control means is mounted on the sled-like base member.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus as in claim 12, where a television camera for monitoring the control panel and the connecting operation of the pipeline to the bed is mounted on the sled-like base member.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
118 words
A method of anchoring an underwater pipeline to a bed of a body of water comprising the steps of: attaching a removable clip to the pipeline; inflating a float attached by a line to the clip, which float is adapted to float at a level selected so as to avoid any disturbance caused by waves attaching a buoyant boom means to the line and remotely regulating the buoyancy of the boom means so it descends to the pipeline; activating means on the boom means to sink a pile member into the bed for securing the pipeline; increasing the buoyancy of the boom means by remote control after securing the pipeline so that it ascends, and removing the clip.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
118 words
A method of anchoring an underwater pipeline to a bed of a body of water comprising the steps of: attaching a removable clip to the pipeline; inflating a float attached by a line to the clip, which float is adapted to float at a level selected so as to avoid any disturbance caused by waves attaching a buoyant boom means to the line and remotely regulating the buoyancy of the boom means so it descends to the pipeline; activating means on the boom means to sink a pile member into the bed for securing the pipeline; increasing the buoyancy of the boom means by remote control after securing the pipeline so that it ascends, and removing the clip.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method of anchoring as in claim 14, where the buoyant boom is vertically aglined by a pendulum control means which activates a discharge of coMpressed air to produce an aligning thrust force.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method of anchoring as in claim 14, where compressed air is ejected from the ends of the clip during attachment to facilitate attachment to a partially embedded pipeline.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
86 words
Apparatus for the placement and anchoring of underwater pipeline to the bed of a body of water comprising: a boom; a remotely controlled ballast tank means connected to the upper portion of the boom; means for connecting the boom to a pipeline; means for automatically embedding the connecting means in the underwater bed; control means for remotely controlling the buoyancy of the ballast tank means and of the embedding means, whereby the apparatus can be easily moved from anchor point to anchor point along the pipeline.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
86 words
Apparatus for the placement and anchoring of underwater pipeline to the bed of a body of water comprising: a boom; a remotely controlled ballast tank means connected to the upper portion of the boom; means for connecting the boom to a pipeline; means for automatically embedding the connecting means in the underwater bed; control means for remotely controlling the buoyancy of the ballast tank means and of the embedding means, whereby the apparatus can be easily moved from anchor point to anchor point along the pipeline.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
44 words
Apparatus as in claim 17, where the remotely controlled ballast tank means further includes a sliding collar member and a pair of electrodes mounted thereon for determining the relative position of water in the ballast tank and generating a signal to the control means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
39 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 17, where the remotely controlled ballast tank means contains an internal framework surrounding a perforated cylindrical tube capping the boom and radially perforated panels serving as support for the outside walls of the tank.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
68 words
Apparatus as in claim 17, where the remotely controlled ballast tank means has an opening in its upper wall, a tube with both ends open sliding in a sealing fashion in the opening, means to make the tube slide in the opening, a valve for the admission of air into the interior of the ballast tank means, and water level detection means controlling the closing of the valve.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
50 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 20, where the remotely controlled ballast tank means contains a thick slide carrying a series of contacts closing or opening an electrical circuit including an indicator marker in case of the passage of the means for the detection of the water level opposite the contact.
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) | 1976-10-15 | 1977-04-16 | 1977-10-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-10-15 | 1981-04-16 | 1981-10-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-10-15 | 1985-04-16 | 1985-10-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |