US3797438A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for the construction of floating units of great dimensions
Assignee: FAYREN JOSE MARIA MARCO C/JOSE FENTANES 19-D MADRID-35
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Filing: 1971-06-11
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Granted: 1974-03-19
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Expires: 1991-06-11
Abstract
Abstract Method for constructing large floating units, like drilling rigs, comprising forming upright support columns on floating units and floating the floating units to a mounting site; ballasting the floating units with the upright columns thereon to temporarily submerge the units until only the tops of the columns are exposed; forming a rig carrying platform supported on floatable parallelepipedic bodies and floating the platform and bodies to the columns until the platform is over the submerged columns; deballasting the columns and floating units to cause the columns to rise into engagement with the platform and joining the columns and platform.
Inventors
- 👤 J Fayten
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 14:05
CPC Classifications
B; B63; B63B; B63B1/00; B63B1/02; B63B1/10; B63B1/107; B63B77/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
210 words
Method for the construction of a large floating unit, especially a submersible drilling rig, with the floating unit having a unit platform that is supported by columns which rest upon floating means, comprising the steps of: in each of two contiguous building berths that are separated by a platform, positioning a respective floatable parallelepipedic body; positioning a carrying platform for carrying items on the parallelpipedic bodies; arranging ground blocks under the parallelepipedic bodies to act as sliding ways and launching the bodies by sliding them out of their berths; mooring the carrying platform and floating parallelepipedic bodies to a quay for fitting out; positioning support columns on separate respective floating units; temporarily ballasting the floating units to cause them to have improved stability with the attached support columns; launching the floating units; moving the separate launched floating units together and bracing them together; moving the floating units to a desired location; partially immersing the columns and floating units through ballasting until only the top portions of the columns remain above water; anchoring the floating units against drifting; moving the carrying platform and parallelepipedic bodies over the columns; deballasting the columns and floatinG units until the columns rise into contact with the carrying platform; joining the columns to the carrying platform.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
210 words
Method for the construction of a large floating unit, especially a submersible drilling rig, with the floating unit having a unit platform that is supported by columns which rest upon floating means, comprising the steps of: in each of two contiguous building berths that are separated by a platform, positioning a respective floatable parallelepipedic body; positioning a carrying platform for carrying items on the parallelpipedic bodies; arranging ground blocks under the parallelepipedic bodies to act as sliding ways and launching the bodies by sliding them out of their berths; mooring the carrying platform and floating parallelepipedic bodies to a quay for fitting out; positioning support columns on separate respective floating units; temporarily ballasting the floating units to cause them to have improved stability with the attached support columns; launching the floating units; moving the separate launched floating units together and bracing them together; moving the floating units to a desired location; partially immersing the columns and floating units through ballasting until only the top portions of the columns remain above water; anchoring the floating units against drifting; moving the carrying platform and parallelepipedic bodies over the columns; deballasting the columns and floatinG units until the columns rise into contact with the carrying platform; joining the columns to the carrying platform.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
139 words
Method of construction of a large floating unit, which unit comprises a unit platform that is supported by columns which are carried on floating means, comprising the steps of: forming a plurality of platform support columns on respective floating means; floating the floating means and platform support columns in a manner such that the columns are upright and the tops of the columns are above the surface of the water; floating the unit platform above the surface of the water; then moving the floating unit platform and the floating columns together and moving the tops of the columns into engagement with the unit platform above the surface of the water so as to support the unit platform; said columns being caused to engage the unit platform by being caused to rise into engagement with the unit platform from beneath.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
139 words
Method of construction of a large floating unit, which unit comprises a unit platform that is supported by columns which are carried on floating means, comprising the steps of: forming a plurality of platform support columns on respective floating means; floating the floating means and platform support columns in a manner such that the columns are upright and the tops of the columns are above the surface of the water; floating the unit platform above the surface of the water; then moving the floating unit platform and the floating columns together and moving the tops of the columns into engagement with the unit platform above the surface of the water so as to support the unit platform; said columns being caused to engage the unit platform by being caused to rise into engagement with the unit platform from beneath.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
63 words
The method of construction of a large floating unit of claim 2, wherein before the unit platform and columns are moved together, the floating means are ballasted for stability and to lower the floating height of the column to permit assembly of the unit platform with the platform columns; the columns are caused to rise by gradually removing ballasting from the floating means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of construction of a large floating unit of claim 3, wherein after the columns rise into engagement with the unit platform, the columns are joined to the unit platform.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
92 words
The method of construction of a large floating unit of claim 3, wherein each column is assembled to a respective floating means; each assembled column and floating means is then launched individually next, the assembled columns and respective floating means are moved to desired relative positions and then are braced together; the braced assembled columns and floating means are moved to the desired location for the completed large floating unit and are then anchored at that location; thereafter performing said shifting of the platform unit over the columns prior to joining thereof.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
72 words
The method of construction of a large floating unit of claim 2, wherein the floating means and platform support columns are floated in a manner such that the columns are upright while the floating means are being supported in berths; then the attached upright columns and the floating means are launched out of their berths to float and afterwards the floating means and platform support columns and the unit platform are floated.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of construction of a large floating unit of claim 6, wherein before being floated, the unit platform is constructed in a berth and is supported in the berth; and after construction, the unit platform is shifted off the berth to float.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
62 words
The method of construction of a large floating unit of claim 7, wherein the unit platform is constructed by placing a carrying platform on two spaced apart parallelepipedic bodies that are each seated in a respective berth; and then sliding the parallelepipedic bodies out of their berths into the water, such that the unit platform is carried on the floating parallelepipedic bodies.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
85 words
The method of construction of a large floating unit of claim 7, wherein before the unit platform and columns are moved together, the floating means are ballasted for stability and to lower the floating height of the columns to permit assembly of the unit platform with the platform columns; the columns are caused to engage the unit platform by being caused to rise into engagement with the unit platform from beneath; the columns are caused to rise by gradually removing ballasting from the floating means.
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) | 1977-03-18 | 1977-09-17 | 1978-03-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-03-18 | 1981-09-17 | 1982-03-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-03-18 | 1985-09-17 | 1986-03-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |