Patent JPS4885151A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US3919958A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3919958A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Deep ocean mining ship
Assignee: Global Marine Inc
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Filing: 1974-06-13
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Granted: 1975-11-18
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Expires: 1994-06-13
Abstract
Abstract A ship with special features for mining the ocean floor while operating in water depths in excess of 18,000 feet. These include first, a very large well in the center of the ship, passing through, but enclosed by the hull. The well is closable across the bottom by movable gates. Second, a pipe-handling system for moving large diameter mining pipe sections between the storage hold in the hull and the rig floor in the derrick where they are joined to or disconnected from the existing pipe ''''string'''' from which the mining machine is supported. Third, the lift system which operates to raise or lower the pipe string on continuous feed basis. Lastly, the derrick, derrick pipe-handling equipment and entire lift system are motion compensated in roll, pitch and heave such that the derrick and suspended pipe string remain vertical with respect to the earth, isolated from the actual seainduced motions of the ship. The entire motion compensated system is supported over the center well by a large structural A-Frame.
Inventors
- 👤 John R Graham
- 👤 Robert C Crooke
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 07:05
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B19/00; E21B19/14; E21B19/15; E21B19/155; B; B63; B63B; B63B35/00; B63B35/44; B63B35/4413; E21B15/00; E21B15/02; E21B19/002; E21B19/08; E21B19/09; E21B19/143; E21B7/00; E21B7/12; E21B7/128; E21C; E21C50/00; E21C50/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
138 words
A mining ship for lowering, operating and raising subsea mining apparatus, comprising a hull including a deck and having an opening extending vertically through the hull to provide access from the deck to the water below the hull, a frame mounted on the hull and bridging the opening, a two-axis gimbal system including an outer gimbal ring and an inner gimbal frame pivotally mounted on the outer gimbal ring, means pivotally mounting the outer gimbal ring on the bridging frame over the opening, and pipe lifting means mounted on the inner gimbal frame for raising and lowering mining apparatus through the opening, said means supporting the outer gimbal ring on the bridging frame including heave compensating means for controlling vertical movement of the gimbal system relative to the bridging frame in response to vertical movement of the ship.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
138 words
A mining ship for lowering, operating and raising subsea mining apparatus, comprising a hull including a deck and having an opening extending vertically through the hull to provide access from the deck to the water below the hull, a frame mounted on the hull and bridging the opening, a two-axis gimbal system including an outer gimbal ring and an inner gimbal frame pivotally mounted on the outer gimbal ring, means pivotally mounting the outer gimbal ring on the bridging frame over the opening, and pipe lifting means mounted on the inner gimbal frame for raising and lowering mining apparatus through the opening, said means supporting the outer gimbal ring on the bridging frame including heave compensating means for controlling vertical movement of the gimbal system relative to the bridging frame in response to vertical movement of the ship.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus of claim 1 further including gate means for closing the well from the sea, and docking means for retrieving and stowing the mining apparatus within the well.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
Apparatus of claim 1 further including a derrick mounted on top of the inner gimbal frame and tiltable therewith for moving pipe sections into and out of position to be lowered or raised as part of a connected string of pipe sections by the pipe lift means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
apparatus of claim 1 wherein the inner gimbal frame and pipe lifting means combined have a center of gravity below the axes of the gimbal system.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
71 words
Apparatus of claim 4 further including a derrick mounted on top of the inner gimbal frame and tiltable therewith for moving pipe sections into and out of position to be lowered or raised as part of a connected string of pipe sections by the lifting means, the weight of the derrick not being sufficient to raise the center of gravity of the gimbal frame and lifting means above the gimbal axes.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
106 words
In a vessel for lowering equipment to the ocean floor, the combination comprising gimbal support means mounted on the vessel, the gimbal support means including a platform tiltable relative to the vessel about two axes which permit the platform to remain substantially horizontal with rolling and pitching movement of the vessel, and lift means secured below the platform for imparting vertical movement to the equipment, the center of gravity of the platform and lift means being below said axes, said gimbal support means including means for continuously adjusting the vertical position of said platform relative to the vessel to compensate for heave motion of the vessel.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
106 words
In a vessel for lowering equipment to the ocean floor, the combination comprising gimbal support means mounted on the vessel, the gimbal support means including a platform tiltable relative to the vessel about two axes which permit the platform to remain substantially horizontal with rolling and pitching movement of the vessel, and lift means secured below the platform for imparting vertical movement to the equipment, the center of gravity of the platform and lift means being below said axes, said gimbal support means including means for continuously adjusting the vertical position of said platform relative to the vessel to compensate for heave motion of the vessel.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus of claim 6 wherein said epuipment includes a segmented string of pipe extending vertically through the center of the gimbal support means and through the lift means for raising and lowering said equipment.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus of claim 7 further including derrick means mounted on the platform above the lift means for moving pipe segments into and out of position to be added to or removed from said pipe string.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
176 words
A deep ocean mining vessel for operation of mining machinery at great depths from the surface, the vessel comprising: a hull having a large open well in the center of the vessel extending laterally a major part of the beam of the hull and being longer in the fore-aft direction than laterally, a frame bridging the top of the well and anchored to the hull on either side thereof, a stable working platform, means supporting the platform, from said bridging frame above the well, the supporting means including a gimbal system providing tilt of the platform relative to the vessel about two perpendicular axes extending respectively longitudinally and laterally of the vessel, said means supporting the outer gimbal ring on the bridging frame including heave compensating means for controlling vertical movement of the gimbal system relative to the bridging frame in response to vertical movement of the ship, and means mounted on the platform and connected to the mining machinery through the well for raising and lowering the mining machinery in the water beneath the vessel.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
176 words
A deep ocean mining vessel for operation of mining machinery at great depths from the surface, the vessel comprising: a hull having a large open well in the center of the vessel extending laterally a major part of the beam of the hull and being longer in the fore-aft direction than laterally, a frame bridging the top of the well and anchored to the hull on either side thereof, a stable working platform, means supporting the platform, from said bridging frame above the well, the supporting means including a gimbal system providing tilt of the platform relative to the vessel about two perpendicular axes extending respectively longitudinally and laterally of the vessel, said means supporting the outer gimbal ring on the bridging frame including heave compensating means for controlling vertical movement of the gimbal system relative to the bridging frame in response to vertical movement of the ship, and means mounted on the platform and connected to the mining machinery through the well for raising and lowering the mining machinery in the water beneath the vessel.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
48 words
Apparatus of claim 9 further including movable gate means along the bottom of the vessel for opening and closing the bottom of the well, and means for pumping water out of the well, thereby providing a dry storage and maintenance facility within the hull for the mining machinery.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
55 words
Apparatus of claim 9 further including two rigid structural support members, one on either end of the opening in the ship, adapted to releasably grip the mining machinery, and means for moving the support members vertically to move the mining machinery into and out of the bottom of the well when the gates are open.
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) | 1978-11-17 | 1979-05-19 | 1979-11-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-11-17 | 1983-05-19 | 1983-11-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-11-17 | 1987-05-19 | 1987-11-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |