US3846992A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System of connection of a pipeline to an underwater pipeline and a method of putting it into effect
Assignee: Total Compagnie Francaise des Petroles SA
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Filing: 1973-04-05
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Granted: 1974-11-12
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Expires: 1993-04-05
Abstract
Abstract A system for connecting an oil pipeline to an underwater system of piles consists of a baseplate anchored to the seabed with the aid of a drilling ship. The baseplate is provided with a pulley and a locking element. By means of a cable, an end of a frame bearing the first section of pipe to be connected to a conduit is displaced until it locks in the element. The frame also bears a guide structure. A tool bearing connectors coupled by a conduit is then lowered and introduced into the guide structures successively to obtain the desired connection.
Inventors
- 👤 J Liautaud
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 16:47
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16L; F16L1/00; F16L1/26; B; B63; B63B; B63B35/00; B63B35/04; B63B35/06; E; E21; E21B; E21B43/00; E21B43/01; E21B43/013; E21B43/0135; F16L1/12; F16L1/16; F16L1/165; F16L37/00; F16L37/002
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 43
Claim 1
Independent Claim
168 words
Apparatus for connecting an upwardly extending member of an underwater pipe system to the surface, said apparatus comprising: 1. a baseplate adapted to be anchored on the bottom of a body of water; 2. a reception and attachment device integrally connected to said baseplate, said reception and attachment device being shaped to engage a locking head to be recited; 3. a connection frame, the lower surface of which is shaped to conform to the upper surface of said baseplate; 4. a locking head mounted on said connection frame, said locking head being shaped to engage said reception and attachment device and to orient said connection frame with respect to said baseplate; 5. a guide and mating structure mounted on said connection frame, said guide and mating structure being shaped to surround an upwardly extending member of an underwater pipe system; and 6. means for bringing said locking head into engagement with said reception and attachment device, thereby fixing said connection frame on the upper surface of said baseplate.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
168 words
Apparatus for connecting an upwardly extending member of an underwater pipe system to the surface, said apparatus comprising: 1. a baseplate adapted to be anchored on the bottom of a body of water; 2. a reception and attachment device integrally connected to said baseplate, said reception and attachment device being shaped to engage a locking head to be recited; 3. a connection frame, the lower surface of which is shaped to conform to the upper surface of said baseplate; 4. a locking head mounted on said connection frame, said locking head being shaped to engage said reception and attachment device and to orient said connection frame with respect to said baseplate; 5. a guide and mating structure mounted on said connection frame, said guide and mating structure being shaped to surround an upwardly extending member of an underwater pipe system; and 6. means for bringing said locking head into engagement with said reception and attachment device, thereby fixing said connection frame on the upper surface of said baseplate.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said reception and attachment device has:
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
10 words
a guide cone surrounding the entrance to the cavity, and;
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
10 words
a guide cone surrounding the entrance to the cavity, and;
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
a reception and attachment device integrally connected to said baseplate, said reception and attachment device being shaped to engage a locking head to be recited;
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
a reception and attachment device integrally connected to said baseplate, said reception and attachment device being shaped to engage a locking head to be recited;
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
a sleeve slidably mounted within said housing, said plurality of knives being mounted in said sleeve;
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
a sleeve slidably mounted within said housing, said plurality of knives being mounted in said sleeve;
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
74 words
a plurality of knives extending into the cavity, said knives having a profile identical to that of said locking head, whereby, when said locking head is brought into engagement with said reception and attachment device during use, any seaweed or other marine dirt which may have come to cover said locking head during its passage from the surface will first be torn off by said knives or forced into the spaces separating said knives.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
74 words
a plurality of knives extending into the cavity, said knives having a profile identical to that of said locking head, whereby, when said locking head is brought into engagement with said reception and attachment device during use, any seaweed or other marine dirt which may have come to cover said locking head during its passage from the surface will first be torn off by said knives or forced into the spaces separating said knives.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
7 words
a sleeve slidably mounted within said housing;
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
7 words
a sleeve slidably mounted within said housing;
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 and further comprising a shaft connecting said connection frame to said locking head, the end of said locking head adjacent to said shaft forming a shoulder relative to said shaft.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
37 words
a plurality of knives fixedly mounted within said sleeve, said knives having profiles identical to that of said locking head, said plurality of knives and said sleeve together defining the cavity in said reception and attachment device;
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
37 words
a plurality of knives fixedly mounted within said sleeve, said knives having profiles identical to that of said locking head, said plurality of knives and said sleeve together defining the cavity in said reception and attachment device;
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
a shearpin attaching said sleeve to said housing in a first position in which the bottom of said sleeve is spaced from the bottom of said housing; and
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
28 words
a shearpin attaching said sleeve to said housing in a first position in which the bottom of said sleeve is spaced from the bottom of said housing; and
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
19 words
a connection frame, the lower surface of which is shaped to conform to the upper surface of said baseplate;
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
19 words
a connection frame, the lower surface of which is shaped to conform to the upper surface of said baseplate;
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
48 words
an opening in the bottom of the cavity, whereby said locking head can be drawn into the cavity by means of a cable attached to the end of said locking head and passed through the opening in the bottom of the cavity in said reception and attachment device.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
48 words
an opening in the bottom of the cavity, whereby said locking head can be drawn into the cavity by means of a cable attached to the end of said locking head and passed through the opening in the bottom of the cavity in said reception and attachment device.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
27 words
a shearpin attaching said sleeve to said housing in a first position in which the bottom of said sleeve is spaced from the bottom of said housing;
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
27 words
a shearpin attaching said sleeve to said housing in a first position in which the bottom of said sleeve is spaced from the bottom of said housing;
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
31 words
a locking head mounted on said connection frame, said locking head being shaped to engage said reception and attachment device and to orient said connection frame with respect to said baseplate;
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
31 words
a locking head mounted on said connection frame, said locking head being shaped to engage said reception and attachment device and to orient said connection frame with respect to said baseplate;
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
78 words
means for trapping said locking head in the cavity in said reception and attachment device when the bottom of said sleeve rests against the bottom of said housing, whereby, when said locking head has seated itself against said knives, said shearpin will shear, said sleeve will move from its first position to a position in which its bottom rests against the bottom of said housing, and said locking head will be trapped in said reception and attachment device.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
78 words
means for trapping said locking head in the cavity in said reception and attachment device when the bottom of said sleeve rests against the bottom of said housing, whereby, when said locking head has seated itself against said knives, said shearpin will shear, said sleeve will move from its first position to a position in which its bottom rests against the bottom of said housing, and said locking head will be trapped in said reception and attachment device.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
13 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein said reception and attachment device comprises:
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
39 words
a latch slidably mounted in said housing a distance from the bottom thereof slightly in excess of the length of said locking head and in an orientation generally perpendicular to the cavity in said reception and attachment device; and
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
39 words
a latch slidably mounted in said housing a distance from the bottom thereof slightly in excess of the length of said locking head and in an orientation generally perpendicular to the cavity in said reception and attachment device; and
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
13 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said reception and attachment device has:
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
29 words
a guide and mating structure mounted on said connection frame, said guide and mating structure being shaped to surround an upwardly extending member of an underwater pipe system; and
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
29 words
a guide and mating structure mounted on said connection frame, said guide and mating structure being shaped to surround an upwardly extending member of an underwater pipe system; and
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
26 words
means for bringing said locking head into engagement with said reception and attachment device, thereby fixing said connection frame on the upper surface of said baseplate.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
26 words
means for bringing said locking head into engagement with said reception and attachment device, thereby fixing said connection frame on the upper surface of said baseplate.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
170 words
a keeperpin preventing said latch from extending into the cavity in said reception an attachment device when said sleeve is in its first position with respect to said housing, but not preventing said latch from extending into the cavity when the bottom of said sleeve rests against the bottom of said housing, whereby, when said locking head is drawn into the cavity in said reception and attachment device during use: any seaweed or other marine dirt which may have come to cover said locking head during its passage from the surface will first be torn off by said knives or forced into the spaces separating said knives, then when said locking head has seated itself against said knives, said shearpin will shear, said sleeve will move from its first position to a position in which its bottom rests against the bottom of said housing, and saId latch will engage the shoulder formed between said locking head and said shaft, thereby trapping said locking head in said reception and attachment device.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
170 words
a keeperpin preventing said latch from extending into the cavity in said reception an attachment device when said sleeve is in its first position with respect to said housing, but not preventing said latch from extending into the cavity when the bottom of said sleeve rests against the bottom of said housing, whereby, when said locking head is drawn into the cavity in said reception and attachment device during use: any seaweed or other marine dirt which may have come to cover said locking head during its passage from the surface will first be torn off by said knives or forced into the spaces separating said knives, then when said locking head has seated itself against said knives, said shearpin will shear, said sleeve will move from its first position to a position in which its bottom rests against the bottom of said housing, and saId latch will engage the shoulder formed between said locking head and said shaft, thereby trapping said locking head in said reception and attachment device.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
13 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein said reception and attachment device comprises:
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 and further comprising means for emitting signals indicating that said shearpin has been sheared.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
97 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means for bringing said locking head into engagement with said reception and attachment device comprise a pully mounted on said baseplate and means for attaching a cable to said locking head and said reception and attachment device has an opening therein through which a cable may be passed, whereby said locking head can be drawn into engagement with said reception and attachment device by means of a cable attached to said locking head, passed through the opening in said reception and attachment device, and then passed around said pulley.
Claim 42
Independent Claim
199 words
A method for connecting an upwardly extending member of an underwater pipe system to the surface, said method comprising the steps of: a. passing a cable through a reception and attachment device mounted on a base member before the reception and attachment device and the base member are lowered into a body of water; b. attaching a first end of the cable to a first surface vessel; c. attaching the second end of the cable to a winch mounted on a second surface vessel; d. lowering the base member to the bottom of the body of water; e. attaching the base member to the bottom of the body of water; f. detaching the first end of the cable from the first surface vessel; g. attaching the first end of the cable to a locking head mounted on a connection frame; h. lowering the connection frame to the bottom of the body of water while pulling on the cable by means of the winch on the second surface vessel, thereby guiding the locking head into the reception and attachment device on the base member; and i. joining the connection frame to an upwardly extending member of an underwater pipe system.
Claim 43
Independent Claim
199 words
A method for connecting an upwardly extending member of an underwater pipe system to the surface, said method comprising the steps of: a. passing a cable through a reception and attachment device mounted on a base member before the reception and attachment device and the base member are lowered into a body of water; b. attaching a first end of the cable to a first surface vessel; c. attaching the second end of the cable to a winch mounted on a second surface vessel; d. lowering the base member to the bottom of the body of water; e. attaching the base member to the bottom of the body of water; f. detaching the first end of the cable from the first surface vessel; g. attaching the first end of the cable to a locking head mounted on a connection frame; h. lowering the connection frame to the bottom of the body of water while pulling on the cable by means of the winch on the second surface vessel, thereby guiding the locking head into the reception and attachment device on the base member; and i. joining the connection frame to an upwardly extending member of an underwater pipe system.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-11-11 | 1978-05-13 | 1978-11-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-11-11 | 1982-05-13 | 1982-11-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-11-11 | 1986-05-13 | 1986-11-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |