Patent US3834169A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3834169A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for laying large diameter pipeline segments offshore
Assignee: Brown and Root Inc
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Filing: 1973-07-11
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Granted: 1974-09-10
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Expires: 1993-07-11
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for laying a pipeline upon the bed of a body of water. The apparatus includes a generally cylindrical male member operable to be positioned within the interior of one of a submerged pipeline segment and at least one pipeline segment to be laid. Operating in conjunction with the male member is a female member which is designed to be positioned within the interior of the other of the submerged pipeline segment and at least one pipeline segment to be laid. Expandable circumferential friction collars are mounted upon the male and female members to releasably secure the members within the interior of the pipeline segments. A flexible cable is securely connected to one of the male and female members operably connected within the pipeline segment to be laid and extends through the other of the male and female members operably positioned within the interior of the submerged pipeline segment for aligning the male and female members within the body of water. Following alignment, the flexible cable may serve to pull the male and female members into stabbing engagement and one end of the pipeline segment to be laid into abutting contact with the free end of the submerged pipeline segment. The method includes the steps of positioning one member of a male and female member guide assembly within the free end of a submerged pipeline segment and positioning the other member of the male and female member guide assembly within at least one pipeline segment to be laid. The guide member positioned within at least one pipeline segment to be laid is fitted at one end with at least a first cable and at the other end with at least a second cable. The guide members and the at least one pipeline segment to be laid are lowered into body of water and the cables are tensioned to align the male and female member guide assembly within the body of water. Following alignment the male and female members of the guide assembly are interocnnected and stabbed into full engagement to position the pipeline segment to be laid in abutting contact with the free end of the submerged pipeline segment. The one member of the male and female member guide assembly which is connected to the free end of the submerged pipeline segment is then axially drawn to the free end of the thus laid at least one pipeline segment. The other member of the male and female member guide assembly is then disconnected and raised to the surface to be positioned within another at least one pipeline segment to be laid.
Inventors
- 👤 P Houston
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 18:25
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16L; F16L1/00; F16L1/12; F16L1/16; F16L1/161; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/53; Y10T29/5367
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
260 words
A guide assembly for facilitating the alignment and mating of a submerged pipeline segment and at least one submergible pipeline segment to be laid comprising: a generally cylindrical male member operable to be positioned within the interior of one of a submerged pipeline segment and at least one submergible pipeline segment to be laid; means mounted upon the exterior surface of said generally cylindrical male member for releasably securing said generally cylindrical male member within the interior of the one of the submerged pipeline segment and at least one submergible pipeline segment to be laid; a generally cylindrical female member operable to be positioned within the interior of the other of the submerged pipeline segment and at least one submergible pipeline segment to be laid; means mounted upon the exterior surface of said generally cylindrical female member for releasably securing said generally cylindrical female member within the interior of the other of a submerged pipeline segment and at least one submergible pipeline segment to be laid; means connected to one of said male and female members for aligning said one member and said at least one submergible pipeline segment to be laid, upon submerging said at least one submergible pipeline segment, with the other of said male and female members and said submerged pipeline segment; and means connected to one of said male and female members for stabbing said one member into engagement with said other member of said female and male members and abutting said at least one submergible pipeline segment to be laid with said submerged pipeline segment.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
260 words
A guide assembly for facilitating the alignment and mating of a submerged pipeline segment and at least one submergible pipeline segment to be laid comprising: a generally cylindrical male member operable to be positioned within the interior of one of a submerged pipeline segment and at least one submergible pipeline segment to be laid; means mounted upon the exterior surface of said generally cylindrical male member for releasably securing said generally cylindrical male member within the interior of the one of the submerged pipeline segment and at least one submergible pipeline segment to be laid; a generally cylindrical female member operable to be positioned within the interior of the other of the submerged pipeline segment and at least one submergible pipeline segment to be laid; means mounted upon the exterior surface of said generally cylindrical female member for releasably securing said generally cylindrical female member within the interior of the other of a submerged pipeline segment and at least one submergible pipeline segment to be laid; means connected to one of said male and female members for aligning said one member and said at least one submergible pipeline segment to be laid, upon submerging said at least one submergible pipeline segment, with the other of said male and female members and said submerged pipeline segment; and means connected to one of said male and female members for stabbing said one member into engagement with said other member of said female and male members and abutting said at least one submergible pipeline segment to be laid with said submerged pipeline segment.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
83 words
A guide assembly for facilitating the alignment and mating of a submerged pipeline segment and at least one submergible pipeline segment to be laid as defined in claim 1 wherein said male member comprises: a cylindrical outer shell; a cylindrical inner shell coaxially mounted within said outer shell and having one end thereof axially extending beyond said outer shell; said axially extending end of said inner shell having a cone member coaxially affixed thereto for facilitating alignment of said male and female members.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
74 words
A guide assembly for facilitating the alignment and mating of a submerged pipeline segment and at least one submergible pipeline segment to be laid as defined in claim 2 wherein said means for releasably securing said male member to the interior of the one of the submerged pipeline segment and the at least one submergible pipeline segment to be laid comprises: at least one hydraulically extendible friction collar circumferentially mounted upon said male member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
71 words
A guide assembly for facilitating the alignment and mating of a submerged pipeline segment and at least one submergible pipeline segment to be laid as defined in claim 1 wherein said female member comprises: a cylindrical outer shell, a cylindrical inner shell coaxially mounted within said outer shell, and a conical guide surface at one end of said female member extending from said outer shell slopingly inwardly to said inner shell.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
75 words
A guide assembly for facilitating the alignment and mating of a submerged pipeline segment and at least one submergible pipeline segment to be laid as defined in claim 4 wherein said means for releasably securing said female member to the interior of the other of the submerged pipeline segment and at least one submergible pipeline segment to be laid comprises: a plurality of axiaLly spaced hydraulically extendible friction collars circumferentially mounted upon said female member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
63 words
A guide assembly for facilitating the alignment and mating of a submerged pipeline segment and at least one submergible pipeline segment to be laid as defined in claim 1 and further comprising: a plurality of circumferential ballast chambers formed within said one of said male and female member positionable within the interior of said at least on submergible pipeline segment to be laid.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
87 words
A guide assembly for facilitating the alignment and mating of a submerged pipeline segment and at least one submergible pipeline segment to be laid as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for aligning comprises: a flexible cable connected to one end of said one of said male and female members positioned within the interior of the at least one submergible pipeline segment to be laid and extending coaxially through the other of said male and female members positioned within the interior of the submerged pipeline segment.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
71 words
A guide assembly for facilitating the alignment and mating of a submerged pipeline segment and at least one submergible pipeline segment to be laid as defined in claim 7 wherein said means for aligning further comprises: at least a second flexible cable connected to the other end of said one of said male and female members positioned within the interior of the at least one submergible pipeline segment to be laid.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
87 words
A guide assembly for facilitating the alignment and mating of a submerged pipeline segment and at least one submergible pipeline segment to be laid as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for stabbing comprises: a flexible cable connected to one end of said one of said male and female members positioned within the interior of the at least one submergible pipeline segment to be laid and extending coaxially through the other of said male and female members positioned within the interior of the submerged pipeline segment.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
84 words
A guide assembly for facilitating the alignment and mating of a submerged pipeline segment and at least one submergible pipeline segment to be laid as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for stabbing comprises: at least one hydraulic piston and cylinder assembly operably connected between the submerged pipeline segment and the at least one submergible pipeline segment to be laid for drawing the at least one submergible pipeline segment to be laid into abutment with the free end of the submerged pipeline segment.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
399 words
A guide assembly for facilitating the alignment and mating of a submerged pipeline segment and at least two submergible pipeline segments to be laid comprising: a female member operably positionable within the free end of the submerged pipeline segment and including a cylindrical outer shell, a cylindrical inner shell coaxially mounted within said outer shell, and a conical guide surface positioned at one end of said female member adjacent the free end of the submerged pipeline segment and extending from said outer shell slopingly inwardly to said inner shell and a plurality of axially spaced hydraulically extendible friction collars circumferentially mounted upon said female member for releasably securing said female member within the free end of the submerged pipeline segment; a male member operably positionable within the interior of at least two submergible pipeline segments to be laid and including a cylindrical outer shell, a cylindrical inner shell coaxially mounted within said outer shell and having one end thereof axially extending beyond said outer shell, said axially extending end of said inner shell having a cone member coaxially affixed thereto for facilitating alignment of said male and female members, and at least two hydraulically extendible friction collars circumferentially mounted upon said male member, said at least two collars being spaced axially whereby at least one of said collars engages one of the at least two submergible pipeline segments to be laid; a first flexible cable means connected at one end to the apex of said cone member positioned at one end of said male member and coaxially extending through said cylindrical inner shell of said female member; and at least a second flexible cable means connected at the other end of said male member, said first and at least a second flexible cable means, upon applying axial tension thereto, operably serving to align said male member carrying the at least two pipeline segments to be laid with said female member positioned within the free end of the submerged pipeline segment, and said first flexible cable means, upon applying further axial tension thereto, operably serving to draw said conical member of said male member into alignment and guiding engagement with said conical guiding surface of said female member and further serving to engage one end of said at least two submergible pipeline segments carried by said male member into abutting contact with the free end of said submerged pipeline segment.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
399 words
A guide assembly for facilitating the alignment and mating of a submerged pipeline segment and at least two submergible pipeline segments to be laid comprising: a female member operably positionable within the free end of the submerged pipeline segment and including a cylindrical outer shell, a cylindrical inner shell coaxially mounted within said outer shell, and a conical guide surface positioned at one end of said female member adjacent the free end of the submerged pipeline segment and extending from said outer shell slopingly inwardly to said inner shell and a plurality of axially spaced hydraulically extendible friction collars circumferentially mounted upon said female member for releasably securing said female member within the free end of the submerged pipeline segment; a male member operably positionable within the interior of at least two submergible pipeline segments to be laid and including a cylindrical outer shell, a cylindrical inner shell coaxially mounted within said outer shell and having one end thereof axially extending beyond said outer shell, said axially extending end of said inner shell having a cone member coaxially affixed thereto for facilitating alignment of said male and female members, and at least two hydraulically extendible friction collars circumferentially mounted upon said male member, said at least two collars being spaced axially whereby at least one of said collars engages one of the at least two submergible pipeline segments to be laid; a first flexible cable means connected at one end to the apex of said cone member positioned at one end of said male member and coaxially extending through said cylindrical inner shell of said female member; and at least a second flexible cable means connected at the other end of said male member, said first and at least a second flexible cable means, upon applying axial tension thereto, operably serving to align said male member carrying the at least two pipeline segments to be laid with said female member positioned within the free end of the submerged pipeline segment, and said first flexible cable means, upon applying further axial tension thereto, operably serving to draw said conical member of said male member into alignment and guiding engagement with said conical guiding surface of said female member and further serving to engage one end of said at least two submergible pipeline segments carried by said male member into abutting contact with the free end of said submerged pipeline segment.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
93 words
A guide assembly for facilitating the alignment and mating of a submerged pipeline segment and at least a pair of submergible pipeline segments to be laid as defined in claim 11 and further comprising: a plurality of circumferential ballas chambers formed between said inner and outer cylindrical shells of said male member for controlling the buoyancy of the male member and the at least two submergible pipeline segments carried thereby for facilitating the alignment and connection of the at least two submergible pipeline segments with the free end of the submerged pipeline segment.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
389 words
A method for laying a pipeline upon the bed of a body of water composed of pipeline segents joined end to end comprising the steps of: positioning one member of a male and female member guide assembly within the free end of a submerged pipeline segment with the mating end thereof outwardly directed at the free end of the submerged pipeline segment; positioning the other member of the male and female member guide assembly within the interior of at least one submergible pipeline segment to be laid, connecting the mating end of the other member of the male and female member guide assembly to a first cable extending coaxially through the one member of the male and femael member guide assembly positioned within the free end of the submerged pipeline; connecting the other end of the other member of the male and female member guide assembly to at least a second cable; lowering the other member of the male and female member guide assembly and the at least one submergible pipeline segment into the body of water; taking up the first cable to draw the other member of the male and female member guide assembly into alignment with the one member of the male and female guide assembly; connecting the other member of the male and female guide assembly to the one member of the male and female guide assembly; stabbing into full engagement the male and female members of the alignment assembly and thereby positioning the at least one submergible pipeline segment into abutting alignment with the free end of the submerged pipeline segment, drawing the one member of the male and female member guide assembly from within the free end of the submerged pipeline segment axially through the at least one submergible pipeline segment to a position at the free end of the at least one submergible pipeline segment; disconnecting the other member of the male and female member guide assembly from the one member of the male and female member guide assembly; raising the other member of the male and female member guide assembly at least to the surface of the body of water and repeating the foregoing steps beginning at the step of positioning the other member of the male and female member guide assembly within at least one submergible pipeline segment to be laid.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
389 words
A method for laying a pipeline upon the bed of a body of water composed of pipeline segents joined end to end comprising the steps of: positioning one member of a male and female member guide assembly within the free end of a submerged pipeline segment with the mating end thereof outwardly directed at the free end of the submerged pipeline segment; positioning the other member of the male and female member guide assembly within the interior of at least one submergible pipeline segment to be laid, connecting the mating end of the other member of the male and female member guide assembly to a first cable extending coaxially through the one member of the male and femael member guide assembly positioned within the free end of the submerged pipeline; connecting the other end of the other member of the male and female member guide assembly to at least a second cable; lowering the other member of the male and female member guide assembly and the at least one submergible pipeline segment into the body of water; taking up the first cable to draw the other member of the male and female member guide assembly into alignment with the one member of the male and female guide assembly; connecting the other member of the male and female guide assembly to the one member of the male and female guide assembly; stabbing into full engagement the male and female members of the alignment assembly and thereby positioning the at least one submergible pipeline segment into abutting alignment with the free end of the submerged pipeline segment, drawing the one member of the male and female member guide assembly from within the free end of the submerged pipeline segment axially through the at least one submergible pipeline segment to a position at the free end of the at least one submergible pipeline segment; disconnecting the other member of the male and female member guide assembly from the one member of the male and female member guide assembly; raising the other member of the male and female member guide assembly at least to the surface of the body of water and repeating the foregoing steps beginning at the step of positioning the other member of the male and female member guide assembly within at least one submergible pipeline segment to be laid.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
79 words
A method for laying a pipeline upon the bed of a body of water composed of pipeline segments joined end to end as defined in claim 13 and further comprising the step of: subsequent to said step of connecting the other end of the other member to at least a second cable, ballasting the other member of the male and female guide assembly to render the other member and the at least one submergible pipeline segment slightly positively buoyant.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
78 words
A method for laying a pipeline upon the bed of a body of water composed of pipeline segments joined end to end as defined in claim 14, wherein said step of lowering the other member into the body of water is achieved by a deck crane mounted upon a barge and following said step of ballasting the step of: releasing the connection of the deck crane from the other member of the male and female member guide assembly.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
67 words
A method for laying a pipeline upon the bed of a body of water composed of pipeline segments joined end to end as defined in claim 14 wherein said step of stabbing comprises the step of: tensioning the first cable to draw the other member of the male and female member guide assembly into engagement with the one member of the male and female member guide assembly.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
60 words
A method for laying a pipeline upon the bed of a body of water composed of pipeline segments joined end to end as defined in claim 14 wherein said step of stabbing comprises the step of: actuating hydraulic piston and cylinder assemblies operably extending between the free end of the submerged pipeline segment and the at least one pipeline segment.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
71 words
A method for laying a pipeline upon the bed of a body of water composed of pipeline segments joined end to end as defined in claim 13 and further comprising the step of: simultaneously with said step of taking up the first cable the step of paying out the at least a second cable to facilitate axial alignment of the at least one submergible pipeline segment with the submerged pipeline segment.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
100 words
A method for laying a pipeline upon the bed of a body of water composed of pipeline segments joined end to end as defined in claim 18 and further comprising the steps of: guiding the at least a second cable from at least one winch mounted on board a barge around a snatch block mounted on an anchor positioned ahead of the position of the barge generally along the intended route of the pipeline to be laid; and controlling payout of the at least a second cable from the at least one winch mounted upon the deck of the barge.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
162 words
A method for laying a pipeline upon the bed of a body of water composed of pipeline segments joined end to end as defined in claim 13 and further comprising the steps of: following said step of positioning the other member of the male and female member guide assembly within the interior of at least one submergible pipeline segment to be laid; the step of actuating concentric hydraulic gripping means carried by the other member to radially project therefrom and releasably securely engage the interior of the at least one submergible pipeline segment to be laid; and prior to said step of drawing the one member of the male and female member guide assembly from within the free end of the submerged pipeline segment, the step of deactuating the concentric hydraulic gripping means carried by the other member to radially withdraw the gripping means from engagement with the interior of the at least one submergible pipeline segment after it has been laid.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
137 words
A method for laying a pipeline upon the bed of a body of water composed of pipeline segments joined end to end as defined in claim 20 and further comprising the steps of: prior to withdrawing the one member of the male and female member guide assembly from within the free end of the submerged pipeline segment, the step of deactuating a plurality of gripping means encircling the one member to radially withdraw the gripping means from engagement with the interior of the submerged pipeline segment; and following said step of drawing the one member to a position at the free end of the at least one submergible pipeline segment, the step of actuating the plurality of gripping means encircling the one member into secure contact with the interior of the at least one submergible pipeline segment.
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) | 1977-09-09 | 1978-03-11 | 1978-09-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-09-09 | 1982-03-11 | 1982-09-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-09-09 | 1986-03-11 | 1986-09-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |