Apparatus and method for anchoring submerged conduit

Claim 2

In combination, anchoring apparatus and an elongate conduit submerged into a position on a submerged bottom, said anchoring apparatus comprising an elongate flexible envelope made of material strong enough to contain a bulk of non-soluble particulate solids, said flexible envelope having wall portions defining a pair of laterally disposed longitudinally extending enclosing volumes on each side of said conduit and having a shape sufficiently wide to enable the same to be draped over said conduit with said enclosing volumes extending continuously along each side thereof laterally away from the conduit along the adjacent submerged floor, said envelope and enclosing volumes extending continuously along the length of a section of said conduit, a quantity of particulate matter disposed in each of said enclosing volumes whereby the envelope assumes a dumbbell shape in cross section with lobes lying on each side and a web portion disposed between said volumes over said conduit, said particulate matter serving to weigh down each of said lobe portions, the web portion to thereby anchor the interposed section of conduit.

Claim 3

In combination a submerged elongate conduit and anchoring apparatus for holding said elongate conduit submerged in position on a submerged bottom, said anchoring apparatus comprising an elongate flexible envelope made of material strong enough to contain a bulk of non-soluble particulate solids, said flexible envelope having wall portions defining a pair of laterally disposed lobes on each side of said conduit and having a shape sufficiently wide to enable the same to drape over said conduit with said lobes lying on opposite sides thereof and extending laterally away from the conduit along the adjacent submerged bottom, said envelope and lobes extending continuously along the length of a section of said conduit, means forming a seam along the length of said envelope and between said lobes to separate said lobes and thereby prevent migration of material therebetween, a quantity of particulate material disposed in each of said lobes so that the envelope assumes a dumbbell shape in cross section, said particulate matter serving to weigh down each of said lobes and thereby anchor the interposed section of conduit by a lateral and downward restraining on the portion between said lobes and overlying said conduit.

Claim 4

In combination a submerged elongate conduit and anchoring apparatus for holding said elongate conduit submerged in position on a submerged bottom, said anchoring apparatus comprising an elongate flexible envelope made of material strong enough to contain a bulk of non-soluble particulate solids, said flexible envelope having wall portions defining a pair of laterally disposed lobes on each side of said conduit and having a shape sufficiently wide to enable the same to drape over said conduit with said lobes lying on opposite sides thereof and extending laterally away from the conduit along the adjacent submerged bottom, said envelope and lobes extending continuously along the length of a section of said conduit, means forming a seam along the length of said envelope and between said lobes to separate said lobes and thereby prevent migration of material therebetween, a quantity of particulate material disposed in each of said lobes so that the envelope assumes a dumbbell shape in cross section, said particulate matter serving to weigh down each of said lobes and thereby anchor the interposed section of conduit by a lateral and downward restraining on the portion between said lobes and overlying said conduit.

Claim 5

Anchoring apparatus as in claim 2 in which said envelope is made of sheeting having a liquid permeable structure such that water can pass through such sheeting but particulate material is retained thereby.

Claim 6

Anchoring apparatus as in claim 3 in which said sheeting consists of a woven plastic filter cloth.

Claim 7

Anchoring apparatus as in claim 2 in which said particulate matter is sand.

Claim 8

Anchoring apparatus as in claim 5 in which said sand is of the mineral containing, high density type.

Claim 9

Anchoring apparatus as in claim 2 in which said envelope is only partially filled so that the enclosed volume remains flexible and capable of conforming to the contour of the sea bottom.

Claim 10

Anchoring apparatus as in claim 2 in which said elongate flexible envelope is continuous along substantial length of said conduit.

Claim 11

Anchoring apparatus as in claim 2 further including means for delivering a slurry of said particulate matter to said envelope when the same is draped in situ over said submerged conduit.

Claim 12

In a method for anchoring submerged conduit on the submerged bottom, laying an elongate envelope over said conduit said envelope having a central web portion and laterally extending lobe portions, the lobe portions defining enclosing volumes for particulate non-soluble solid material, pumping a slurry of said particulate solid material into said lobe portions, while simultaneously withdrawing the suspending liquid from said slurry within each lobe portion to thereby at least partially fill each lobe with particulate material.

Claim 13

In a method for anchoring submerged conduit on the submerged bottom, laying an elongate envelope over said conduit said envelope having a central web portion and laterally extending lobe portions, the lobe portions defining enclosing volumes for particulate non-soluble solid material, pumping a slurry of said particulate solid material into said lobe portions, while simultaneously withdrawing the suspending liquid from said slurry within each lobe portion to thereby at least partially fill each lobe with particulate material.

Claim 14

A method as in claim 10 in which said filling step is terminated prior to each lobe attaining a fully filled conformation whereby each lobe is capable of deformation to conform to the contour of the sea bottom on which it is laid.

Claim 15

A method for anchoring submerged conduit as in claim 10 in which said envelope is constructed of permeable material, and in which a filling hose is disposed through the length of said lobe portions, and further including the step of simultaneously withdrawing hose as the slurry is delivered therethrough such that each of said lobes is only partially filled.