US3828561A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Drilling platform
Assignee: SONAT OFFSHORE DRILLING Inc
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Filing: 1973-06-08
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Granted: 1974-08-13
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Expires: 1993-06-08
Abstract
Abstract A floating vessel suitable as a drilling platform in which the vessel has legs extending therethrough which in their upper position are tightly held by the vessel and each leg includes a footing which can be secured thereto or to the vessel when the legs are lowered to raise the vessel into operating position to provide the lower end of the legs with an extended bearing surface for engagement with the bottom.
Inventors
- 👤 F Pease
- 👤 W Moore
- 👤 G Richardson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 01:47
CPC Classifications
E; E02; E02B; E02B17/00; E02B17/04; E02B17/06; E02B17/02; E02B17/021; E02B2017/0056; E02B2017/006; E02B2017/0073; E02B2017/0082; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T403/00; Y10T403/57; Y10T403/5741; Y10T403/70; Y10T403/7041
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
163 words
A floatable structure suitable for drilling, comprising a floating vessel, a plurality of legs, each of said legs including a plurality of connectible sections, and means for releasably connecting said sections together, each of said sections including a plurality of tubular members and a plurality of bracing members securing said tubular members in generally parallel relationship to each other throughout the length of said tubular members, said vessel defining a plurality of holes through which said legs are adapted to extend, means associated with each of said holes for jacking said legs through said holes, and means associated with each of said holes for guiding said legs in their movement through said holes, said connecting means between sections releasably connecting the tubular members of said sections together and being of a diameter not larger than the diameter of said tubular members whereby said connecting means allows desired coaction of said jacking and guiding means throughout the movement of said legs through said holes.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
163 words
A floatable structure suitable for drilling, comprising a floating vessel, a plurality of legs, each of said legs including a plurality of connectible sections, and means for releasably connecting said sections together, each of said sections including a plurality of tubular members and a plurality of bracing members securing said tubular members in generally parallel relationship to each other throughout the length of said tubular members, said vessel defining a plurality of holes through which said legs are adapted to extend, means associated with each of said holes for jacking said legs through said holes, and means associated with each of said holes for guiding said legs in their movement through said holes, said connecting means between sections releasably connecting the tubular members of said sections together and being of a diameter not larger than the diameter of said tubular members whereby said connecting means allows desired coaction of said jacking and guiding means throughout the movement of said legs through said holes.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
90 words
A floatable structure according to claim 1 wherein said tubular members terminate in pin and box ends for mating between said tubular members of adjacent sections and said connecting means includes at least one mating annular groove in each of said pin and box ends, a plurality of segments adapted to be wholly contained within the grooves of one of said pin and box ends, and means for moving said segments into a position partially in each of the two mating grooves to secure the pin and box ends together.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
49 words
An elongate structure according to claim 2, wherein said moving means includes at least one threaded screw secured to each of said segment members and extending through the wall of said box end for rotation from the exterior thereof to positively move said segment members to their desired position.
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) | 1977-08-12 | 1978-02-11 | 1978-08-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-08-12 | 1982-02-11 | 1982-08-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-08-12 | 1986-02-11 | 1986-08-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |